Fountain pen - recommendations
- Thread starter HackneyE9
- Start date
Cid
Proper break this time
Thinking of adding an exam writing pen to my collection... I'm finding the grip on my Lamy studio far too slippy, perhaps a little wide too, but I think that's only because it's in combination with the slippiness... The nib's ok but perhaps a little smooth. Been looking at Faber Castell pens and tempted by the basic, also like the look of the Lamy Accent (rubber grip). The nib's tricky though - I really want something that gives slight line variation but writes consistently and quickly. That pretty much means no flex, last thing I want to think about when writing to a time limit... Also consistent line width suits my writing better. Er... by which I mean straight Italic nib, no flex.
I like the Rotring artpen, but it would be an arse writing with that for three hours... I've got a 1.1mm nib on that, slightly narrower would be better, but most calligraphy pens seem to stop there. Has anyone got any experience with broad nibs? I'm presuming this just means a thicker line, but no straight cut so not much in the way of variation... Also wondering whether the nib from a Lamy joy calligraphy pen can be swapped for the one on the Accent. suppose that's one to ask the Cult Pens team though. Otherwise any experiences with Faber Castell nibs in general, probably EF?
I like the Rotring artpen, but it would be an arse writing with that for three hours... I've got a 1.1mm nib on that, slightly narrower would be better, but most calligraphy pens seem to stop there. Has anyone got any experience with broad nibs? I'm presuming this just means a thicker line, but no straight cut so not much in the way of variation... Also wondering whether the nib from a Lamy joy calligraphy pen can be swapped for the one on the Accent. suppose that's one to ask the Cult Pens team though. Otherwise any experiences with Faber Castell nibs in general, probably EF?
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
The replaceable nib Lamys all take the same nibs, so Joy ones will fit an Accent. You can just buy the nibs on their own.
Lamy are known for making stiff nibs so would be a good choice on that score. However, they don't have an italic under 1.1mm. I have one of those - it's usable for general purposes if you have big handwriting, but it's definitely italic rather than a stub (one that's still rounded but broader than it is high at the tip, semi-italic sort of thing).
Lamy are known for making stiff nibs so would be a good choice on that score. However, they don't have an italic under 1.1mm. I have one of those - it's usable for general purposes if you have big handwriting, but it's definitely italic rather than a stub (one that's still rounded but broader than it is high at the tip, semi-italic sort of thing).
Cid
Proper break this time
Right, cheers... Probably worth buying a couple of nibs and trying them out on my studio then. The 1.1 is presumably similar to the Rotring, it's a bit frustrating, just slightly too wide for my handwriting... Quite like to experiment with a bit of nib modding actually, but I imagine it would just end up fucked. Still, I've wasted £4.50 in far more ridiculous ways before.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
I've found some decent o-rings on ebay, nitrile 9mm internal diameter, 1mm cross-section, from this seller (and others). Did a belt and braces job on a Preppy - o ring and sili grease, and works like a charm.
KeeperofDragons
Crazy dragon lady
This thread has inspired me to look at writing with a fountain pen generally, though I do use a dip pen for calligraphy & writing out cards when I want to be neat. Any suggestions for the ambidextrous - fairly cheap as I plan to use it for work as no one can read my writing when I use the standard roller ball pens supplied.
ETA: Though I write left-handed more often than not as it slows me down and I'm less scrawly. I have been told that when I write left-handed it's upside down as I don't write with my hand above the line.
ETA: Though I write left-handed more often than not as it slows me down and I'm less scrawly. I have been told that when I write left-handed it's upside down as I don't write with my hand above the line.
I have just ordered a Platinum Carbon with desk stand. For desk-based writing, exclusively with pigment ink. (I only have Platinum's brown archive ink atm; I might be tempted by another one. If there are any interesting pigment ink colours out there? Mauve, or some such?)
(I do have a Platinum Carbon, but regrettably the barrel has cracked. The pen itself - and its awesome EF nib - are a close-run second to some of my £100ish pens. If anyone's ever tempted by an EF, IMO it's incredible value at <£10.....)
(I do have a Platinum Carbon, but regrettably the barrel has cracked. The pen itself - and its awesome EF nib - are a close-run second to some of my £100ish pens. If anyone's ever tempted by an EF, IMO it's incredible value at <£10.....)
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
Cult Pens have 10% off everything with the code TRUSTPILOT10 until 1st April.
I'm not even going to say how much money I just spent there.
I'm not even going to say how much money I just spent there.
Is this what you mean about struggling with occupational health questions about addiction?
Tbf, whatever you spent, you spent 10% less. So the more you spent; the more you saved.
Did you win anything good?
I remain tempted by Iroshozu (sp?) ink. Mostly because its absurd price makes it look extra appealing.
One for a birthday list, I reckon!
Virtual Blue
ready
The best fountain pen is the Parker 51 - anyone who knows about pens will knows this.
Lamy Safari EF or F - one of the best budget pens I've used.
I have a soft spot for the Waterman Philea.
Pleasure to write with.
Lamy Safari EF or F - one of the best budget pens I've used.
I have a soft spot for the Waterman Philea.
Pleasure to write with.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
It's not about "what's best", it's about recommendations.
And anyway, Parker 51s are okay, but they're overpriced.
Athos
Well-Known Member
Saw this and thought of you; it's a cheap way to try a few Iroshizuku inks:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INK-SAMPL..._WritingEquipment_SM&var=&hash=item2c6d9f3ec7
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
I might possibly have bought a replacement for a Lamy 2000 that I lost (and then got back a long time afterwards but which was broken) which was probably my favourite pen. Also technically it was a present from my mother. The large quantity of assorted biros I got on top of that, less excusable.
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
I have some of the Iroshozikitsoid ink - a friend brought me some back from Tokyo a while ago, the mauve one named after a poet and the grey one (I don't seem to be very good at remembering names today). It's nicely shaded ink with a good balanced flow, but no, it's not noticeably better in a pen than J Herbin or Diamine. On the other hand it's not _that_ expensive for a personal indulgence, and the bottles are lovely.
I gave my Lamy 2000 away.
The person I gave it too gave me a curly wurly in kinda return.
Which I thought was a more than fair deal.
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
This has an M nib - you'd like it even less. Maybe half a Topic or a couple of coffee Revels.
Athos
Well-Known Member
Half a topic is better than a curly wurly!
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
Ew, I hate Topics. A chocolate bar is no place for nougat.
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
That reminds me that my mother brought me back a dip pen with a glass stem from Venice:
and some sepia ink.
and some sepia ink.
Oh. I've got exactly that but in blue. And with a glass nib. Murano? The box is identical in design, though mine was square in shape. The ink was shit.
Something like £20 shipped and new, from Huddersfield (oddly enough).
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
I dunno - there's no obvious brand on it. The ink says "Il Papiro / Inchiostro Finissimo / Seppia / Made In Italy". I wrote her a thank-you card with the combination and they both seem to operate within expected parameters.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
TBF, so does his mother.
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
Well, I've had a couple of little spends on C*lt Pens - damn them
I've got a retractable fountain pen - one of the Pilot ones - as a medium, the line is, probably, a little too thick, but it writes beautifully, the only down side is that it doesn't hold much ink, but I'll forgive it for how it writes
and whilst I was as it got one for SO
Then, in a fit of madness - it comes with a fine roller ball refill, but I also got a medium. To be honest, it's a bit of a let down, fine for novelty / sex toy Fnarr Fnarr, but as a pen, Hmmm!!!, 3/10
And, though I say it myself, this is a stroke of genius from the people at Kaweco, this more than makes up for the let down of the egg pen
Which is a rollerball pen YET USES FOUNTAIN PEN INK CARTRIDGES - so I got a selection of Diamine cartridges as well
And I've also bought my FIRST CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR CHRISTMAS 2013 - now that the nights are drawing in, you can't start early enough, imvho
I've got a retractable fountain pen - one of the Pilot ones - as a medium, the line is, probably, a little too thick, but it writes beautifully, the only down side is that it doesn't hold much ink, but I'll forgive it for how it writes
and whilst I was as it got one for SO
Then, in a fit of madness - it comes with a fine roller ball refill, but I also got a medium. To be honest, it's a bit of a let down, fine for novelty / sex toy Fnarr Fnarr, but as a pen, Hmmm!!!, 3/10
And, though I say it myself, this is a stroke of genius from the people at Kaweco, this more than makes up for the let down of the egg pen
Which is a rollerball pen YET USES FOUNTAIN PEN INK CARTRIDGES - so I got a selection of Diamine cartridges as well
And I've also bought my FIRST CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR CHRISTMAS 2013 - now that the nights are drawing in, you can't start early enough, imvho
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
You can get a squeeze convertor for the Capless which holds considerably more ink than the little screw one - I also find that the screw ones are impossible to fill completely. (Or, there are always cartridges, but not in very exciting colours.)
