Fountain pen - recommendations

[High Voltage]

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.)

Can you actually "see" ink showing in the window on the screw converter - only on mine, the clear window remains, that, CLEAR - so either I'm doing something wrong or it's not sucking up ink. Which would explain why I have to fill the pen on a very regular basis

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Can you actually "see" ink showing in the window on the screw converter - only on mine, the clear window remains, that, CLEAR - so either I'm doing something wrong or it's not sucking up ink. Which would explain why I have to fill the pen on a very regular basis

You should be able to see _some_. Note that you actually have to immerse the whole long nib section up to the round bit in ink to fill it when plugged in (which can be a right pain with some bottles). You could also fill the convertor with a syringe I suppose.

 

[High Voltage]

. . . You could also fill the convertor with a syringe I suppose.

I like this idea - I wonder if Cult Pens sell a syringe filling kit OR, I seem to remember you(?) raving about a mucho cheap purveyor of fine Indian writing equipment and I seem to remember that they did such filling kits

 

[FridgeMagnet]

The Indian pens are usually eyedropper-fillers - i.e. they have wide necks and you put ink directly into them with an eyedropper. I've seen some syringe kits on pen sites though, they're usually used for refilling cartridges.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I like this idea - I wonder if Cult Pens sell a syringe filling kit OR, I seem to remember you(?) raving about a mucho cheap purveyor of fine Indian writing equipment and I seem to remember that they did such filling kits

I use a syringe and (wide-bore) needle to fill my eyedropper pens. I've got a couple of spare sets, so if you're in the UK, PM me your snail-mail address and I'll stick one in the post to you.

E2A: After use, just separate the syringe components and flush through with water, then allow to air-dry.

 

[mrs quoad]

Falcon Namiki.

John Mottishaw's / nibs.com's Spencerian customisation.

Most awesomely fun / enjoyable nib I've owned. (Though the Nakayas do work better / smoother for daily use).

 

[Athos]

Falcon Namiki.

John Mottishaw's / nibs.com's Spencerian customisation.

Most awesomely fun / enjoyable nib I've owned. (Though the Nakayas do work better / smoother for daily use).

Nice!

 

[mrs quoad]

I bought a bottle of iroshizuku tsutsuji (bright pink, looking at the Writing Desk's online swatch; more fuschia grenadine IRL).

I was a bit sceptical of how grenadine it was at first. But it flows *superbly.* Sailor Jentles were struggling a bit in my Spencerian pilot, but this has just been going, and going, and going. Lovely stuff.

 

[Athos]

I bought a bottle of iroshizuku tsutsuji (bright pink, looking at the Writing Desk's online swatch; more fuschia grenadine IRL).

I was a bit sceptical of how grenadine it was at first. But it flows *superbly.* Sailor Jentles were struggling a bit in my Spencerian pilot, but this has just been going, and going, and going. Lovely stuff.

Nice.

Thought of you today - just had a Namiki Falcon arrive in the post.

 

[white rabbit]

I use a Cross Black Star Lacquer. I can't say my writing is much better, but it's more satisfying to use somehow.

 

[mrs quoad]

Nice.

Thought of you today - just had a Namiki Falcon arrive in the post.

You can't stop there (!)

What kind? Soft F / EF I'm guessing - but Mottishawed?

I don't think I've use another pen since this one arrived.....

 

[Athos]

I use a Cross Black Star Lacquer. I can't say my writing is much better, but it's more satisfying to use somehow.

Nice. I like the weight and balance of a lot of the Cross pens.

 

[Athos]

You can't stop there (!)

What kind? Soft F / EF I'm guessing - but Mottishawed?

I don't think I've use another pen since this one arrived.....

Fine. But not Mottishawed. I just wanted a modern semi-flex, that's reliable. And so far I've been very, very impressed. Have written about 20 pages with it this morning, and it's never failed to start, never skipped, and never had the tramlines. The writing really looks beautiful, too, without much effort.

I also took delivery of a Kaweko Lilliput this morning. A lovely little pocket pen, and much smaller than the Sport when closed.

 

[Athos]

Used the Namiki Falcon again today. Probably the best pen for around £100 I've bought in a while - really like it.

Also used really pleased with the Lilliput - in my opinion the best Kaweko. A perfect pocket pen; really small, quite robust, and with a tight-fitting screw cap. I got the EF nib, because I want to use it in a pocket notebook.

In which regard I have a new favorite: a Clairefontaine Classic side staple-bound, but with the tough 'Life Unplugged' cover, in 3"x4.75" format. Bought some in a shop, but can't see them in the Claiefontaine catalogue, or anywhere on line, and am desperate to get some more.

Also ordered another pen yesterday: a vintage 1980's gold-plated Montblanc Noblesse. I'm not a massive MB fan, but this one caught my eye.

 

[mrs quoad]

Do you sell pens too, Athos? And / or have an ideal / stable number?

If not, how the heck do you rotate them?

I struggle to keep 3 in regular use (2 Nakayas, 1 Namiki). Even with a fair bit of writing. I'm aware that means that 2x£100ish pens - a Pelikan and Sailor, both of which I really do love - just never get used. That's before even beginning to consider the Platinum Carbons, Lamy Safaris, Mabe-Swann, etc. Which I get out from time to time as a good will gesture, but which - tbh - don't really stand a chance. When I *knew* the Lamy 2000 was never going to make it back into any form of remotely feasible rotation, I gave it away.

Do you have any planned throughflow? Or are you primarily a reservoir?

 

[Athos]

Do you sell pens too, Athos? And / or have an ideal / stable number?

If not, how the heck do you rotate them?

I struggle to keep 3 in regular use (2 Nakayas, 1 Namiki). Even with a fair bit of writing. I'm aware that means that 2x£100ish pens - a Pelikan and Sailor, both of which I really do love - just never get used. That's before even beginning to consider the Platinum Carbons, Lamy Safaris, Mabe-Swann, etc. Which I get out from time to time as a good will gesture, but which - tbh - don't really stand a chance. When I *knew* the Lamy 2000 was never going to make it back into any form of remotely feasible rotation, I gave it away.

Do you have any planned throughflow? Or are you primarily a reservoir?

I occasionally thin the collection. Sometimes by giving them away, sometimes dismantling for parts; very occasionally I sell. But last time I did, I regretted it, and bought replacements of some that I sold. I aim to use 8 a week, so my normal rotation takes me more than a month, notwithstanding the fact that there's half of them I almost never use.

 

[High Voltage]

. . . . because I want to use it in a pocket notebook.

In which regard I have a new favorite: a Clairefontaine Classic side staple-bound, but with the tough 'Life Unplugged' cover, in 3"x4.75" format. Bought some in a shop, but can't see them in the Claiefontaine catalogue, or anywhere on line, and am desperate to get some more . . . .

Have a look at the Windsor and Newton sketch pads

http://www.ryman.co.uk/0371040401/W...Twinwire-A4-110gsm-80-Pages-40-Sheets/Product

110gsm paper - LOVELY surface - my pens seem to float over the surface

 

[Athos]

Have a look at the Windsor and Newton sketch pads

http://www.ryman.co.uk/0371040401/W...Twinwire-A4-110gsm-80-Pages-40-Sheets/Product

110gsm paper - LOVELY surface - my pens seem to float over the surface

It is nice. Though, for bigger pads, I prefer the Rhodia - either R+ or Dotpad.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Leuchtturm do some pocket books. I prefer the Clairefontaines though.

Midori have a range of sizes and generally excellent paper, but I've not tried any of the pocket ones.

 

[Athos]

Leuchtturm do some pocket books. I prefer the Clairefontaines though.

Midori have a range of sizes and generally excellent paper, but I've not tried any of the pocket ones.

I noticed a bit of bleed on the Leuchtturms. But, the Clairefontaine ones I found are perfect. Except I can't see them on line. Like finding the Holy Grail then losing it!

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I noticed a bit of bleed on the Leuchtturms. But, the Clairefontaine ones I found are perfect. Except I can't see them on line. Like finding the Holy Grail then losing it!

http://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/showproduct.php?brand=Clairefontaine&range=Duo&cat=Notebooks ?

eta: oh, those are smaller. I've never seen larger ones tbh. There are the "Age Bag" ones (called so for no apparent reason).

 

[Athos]

http://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/showproduct.php?brand=Clairefontaine&range=Duo&cat=Notebooks ?

eta: oh, those are smaller. I've never seen larger ones tbh. There are the "Age Bag" ones (called so for no apparent reason).

No, they're the ones. You fucking beauty!

 

[FridgeMagnet]

No, they're the ones. You fucking beauty!

Oh cool then. Those are terrific, yes. The Roadbooks are good as well, though larger and thicker.

 

[Athos]

Just ordered a Danitrio Cum Laude. Never used that brand before, but heard good things. And it looks purdy.

 

[Athos]

Also bought a vintage gold Montblanc Noblesse. Not usually a MB fan (although have found myself hankering for a 149 recently), but this caught my eye.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

First one good, second one yuk, really.

 

[Cid]

Bloody hell Athos, how much did that cost?

 

[Athos]

First one good, second one yuk, really.

I know what you mean. I'm not convinced by it myself, but something about it appeals to me.

 

[Athos]

Bloody hell Athos, how much did that cost?

Not a lot - about £100 - because it's only gold plate, and not a particularly popular model.

 

[Cid]

I like the nib, nice and minimal... Not a massive fan of bodies like that, but it has got a pleasing touch of Deco to it... Not sure about the other one though, plastic bodies don't really do it for me. Also it is apparently made out of cellulose, which is a worrying material.