FridgeMagnet
Administrator
Ballpoints are dead cheap. Even the Promecha is less than a tenner on Cultpens iirc.
Fountain pen - recommendations
- Thread starter HackneyE9
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FridgeMagnet
Administrator
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wobbly
i used to be able to pick them up in the college shop for under a quid. very, very nice, but also made me realise that what i wanted in a pen was something that felt as much like a fountain pen as possible, so why not just get some.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
I succumbed to penphilia and bought myself a Guider Marala (handmade Indian ebonite fp) from Fountain Pen Revolution.
I went for the green, with an Indian fine nib. It writes beautifully, and has that lovely "live" feel that celluloid, ebonite and bakelite pens have. I'm well pleased, especially as I got it at 2/3rds of the usual price!
I went for the green, with an Indian fine nib. It writes beautifully, and has that lovely "live" feel that celluloid, ebonite and bakelite pens have. I'm well pleased, especially as I got it at 2/3rds of the usual price!
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
I have recently had a bit of a splurge at Cult Pens. Whilst not entirely Fountain pen related, a fountain pen is included.
So, tempted by the Platinum carbon ink range of stuff (at 20% off) - I got a bottle of that, and the carbon pen to go with it - very fine and almost scratchy to write with but the ink is lovely and black
and the desk top holder
- I've somehow justified this as a permanent work pen solution
Also a Fude 1.6mm really thick roller ball pen and a small selection of Gel pens and 2 OHTO Graphic liner pens (1.0 and a 0.7 - the 0.7 doesn't write nicely but it's OK but the 1.0 is great) and a couple of brush pens (one for Mrs Voltz)
and an A4+ writing pad - the search for the perfect paper continues
For some reason I also decided to get 2 x 12 packets of pencils <shrugs> - which meant I also got a 3 hole pencil sharpener - which is nice
They included an FoC Staedtler stripey pen, which I don't like so gave away - they also missed one my pens off the delivery so when that arrived next day they'd also included a little gift by way of saying sorry - there's no need for them to do that but they did - so once, again, Cult pens - damn fine on-line shop
So, tempted by the Platinum carbon ink range of stuff (at 20% off) - I got a bottle of that, and the carbon pen to go with it - very fine and almost scratchy to write with but the ink is lovely and black
and the desk top holder
- I've somehow justified this as a permanent work pen solution
Also a Fude 1.6mm really thick roller ball pen and a small selection of Gel pens and 2 OHTO Graphic liner pens (1.0 and a 0.7 - the 0.7 doesn't write nicely but it's OK but the 1.0 is great) and a couple of brush pens (one for Mrs Voltz)
and an A4+ writing pad - the search for the perfect paper continues
For some reason I also decided to get 2 x 12 packets of pencils <shrugs> - which meant I also got a 3 hole pencil sharpener - which is nice
They included an FoC Staedtler stripey pen, which I don't like so gave away - they also missed one my pens off the delivery so when that arrived next day they'd also included a little gift by way of saying sorry - there's no need for them to do that but they did - so once, again, Cult pens - damn fine on-line shop
Pelikan m205 highlighter now available in green.
The yellow keeps on becoming one of my preferred pens, if only because the "F" that's now fitted in it is just about the fattest, wettest nib I own, and the piston-powered ink store is massive. I can pretty much guarantee a full barrel will last for a sizeable chunk of fieldwork, when most of my other pens (EF Platinum Carbon aside) would be running low.
I never liked the highlighter function, or ink. The BB nib was too thin for highlighting, requiring multiple attempts at highlighting anything. And the ink just wasn't bright enough to meaningfully highlight. Or visible enough to write notes with. Pelikan's uk stockist very kindly replaced it with an F, and refused to charge for postage (something like £8, iirc).
Tbh, the F nib isn't that great, either. There's a scratchiness to it, which seems bizarre given its a <£100 pen with a nib that's like a fucking pudding bowl compared to most of my other nibs.
The green version would tempt me more, were I buying from scratch / without already failing with the yellow version. It at least goes some way towards addressing the problem of shit / invisible ink.
http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US_INTL.FWI.displayShop.166862./duo-205-shiny-green
The yellow keeps on becoming one of my preferred pens, if only because the "F" that's now fitted in it is just about the fattest, wettest nib I own, and the piston-powered ink store is massive. I can pretty much guarantee a full barrel will last for a sizeable chunk of fieldwork, when most of my other pens (EF Platinum Carbon aside) would be running low.
I never liked the highlighter function, or ink. The BB nib was too thin for highlighting, requiring multiple attempts at highlighting anything. And the ink just wasn't bright enough to meaningfully highlight. Or visible enough to write notes with. Pelikan's uk stockist very kindly replaced it with an F, and refused to charge for postage (something like £8, iirc).
Tbh, the F nib isn't that great, either. There's a scratchiness to it, which seems bizarre given its a <£100 pen with a nib that's like a fucking pudding bowl compared to most of my other nibs.
The green version would tempt me more, were I buying from scratch / without already failing with the yellow version. It at least goes some way towards addressing the problem of shit / invisible ink.
http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US_INTL.FWI.displayShop.166862./duo-205-shiny-green
I also bought the desk stand for the platinum carbon, as it was / is one of my favourite pens. Tremendously reliable ink flow for an EF.
In practice, it never gets used. It kinda irritates me that it's just a thing to wedge the lid in, rather than acting as a replacement lid. It's just a mildly inconvenient lump of plastic that makes my pen rather less accessible. Which seems suboptimal, for a pen accessory with a theoretical purpose.
E/a: I also thought it felt cheap and plasticky.
In practice, it never gets used. It kinda irritates me that it's just a thing to wedge the lid in, rather than acting as a replacement lid. It's just a mildly inconvenient lump of plastic that makes my pen rather less accessible. Which seems suboptimal, for a pen accessory with a theoretical purpose.
E/a: I also thought it felt cheap and plasticky.
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
The m205 with EF nib was one of my favourite pens. I'm annoyed that I lost it. If I were more fussed I would get a new EF for the highlighter, though I am not.
Currently using the ice green LE Capless with an F nib unit and Sailor carbon ink, which works out to be one the finest combinations I have, due to the fact that carbon ink just doesn't spread. This I use to make sprawling journal entries in my Traveler's Notebook and draw diagrams of how my glasses hurt.
I don't get to use any fountain pens at work due to my choosing to use a nice-looking but dreadful Pantone notebook which seems to repel all fountain pen ink in a way that I've never seen another one do. On the other hand, co-workers are amazed at my handwriting with biros in it. Though it's not hard to amaze programmers with handwriting.
Currently using the ice green LE Capless with an F nib unit and Sailor carbon ink, which works out to be one the finest combinations I have, due to the fact that carbon ink just doesn't spread. This I use to make sprawling journal entries in my Traveler's Notebook and draw diagrams of how my glasses hurt.
I don't get to use any fountain pens at work due to my choosing to use a nice-looking but dreadful Pantone notebook which seems to repel all fountain pen ink in a way that I've never seen another one do. On the other hand, co-workers are amazed at my handwriting with biros in it. Though it's not hard to amaze programmers with handwriting.
Just signed up and don't feel like reading all 38 pages (as much as I love pens!) but I just thought I'd share my next target with you all! I've got my eyes on an an engraved fountain pen from Executive Pens Direct[
The pen is a Waterman Hemisphere fountain pen matt in black chrome trim
Simple, but effective - I'll be treating myself to this one this Christmas! Also Athos I plan to go to the WES show next year, I'd love it if you could tell me or anyone else who's interested a little more about what it was like if that's possible?!
Thanks a lot!
Pen Fanatic
*editor: spammy smelling links removed
The pen is a Waterman Hemisphere fountain pen matt in black chrome trim
Simple, but effective - I'll be treating myself to this one this Christmas! Also Athos I plan to go to the WES show next year, I'd love it if you could tell me or anyone else who's interested a little more about what it was like if that's possible?!
Thanks a lot!
Pen Fanatic
*editor: spammy smelling links removed
Last edited by a moderator:
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
I'll admit to being a little "intimidated" (it's the wrong word but will suffice) by the reputation and warning given to the Platinum carbon ink on the Cult Pens web site:-
So it was with no little trepidation that, on returning to work after a period of 6 days off due to illness, I took the pen from the desk top holder expecting it to be set good and solid and that I'd pretty much written off the pen.
No such problem - ink flow was immediate without even a hint of drying in the pen - I probably wouldn't want to leave it much longer to be honest and I think I'd dis-assemble the pen and chuck it in a water to keep it from drying out - maybe
So it was with no little trepidation that, on returning to work after a period of 6 days off due to illness, I took the pen from the desk top holder expecting it to be set good and solid and that I'd pretty much written off the pen.
No such problem - ink flow was immediate without even a hint of drying in the pen - I probably wouldn't want to leave it much longer to be honest and I think I'd dis-assemble the pen and chuck it in a water to keep it from drying out - maybe
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
The carbon ink thing is way overplayed - like the reputation of iron gall inks. Unless you leave pens uncapped, or forget about them for years, it's not going to happen - and even then it's not hard to clean them, you just use an ultrasonic cleaning bath (which are dead cheap, I have one).
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
Iron gall inks eh!
Ultrasonic cleaning do dah! Hmmm!
Tell me more - I'm assuming that these are vital to a collector of pens
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
Iron gall inks are just a specific type - they were historically one of the permanent types, and used for serious writing like church records and novels and the Declaration of Independence. They're waterproof and dry very quickly but are also vulnerable to sunlight, much more so than dye based inks, which means some historical documents have to be kept out of it. There are several brands that are I-G these days - bottled Lamy Blue-Black is maybe the easiest to find (not cartridge) but the Rohrer & Klingner ones are better, Salix (blue) and Scabiosa (lovely dusky violet). Diamine also make Registrar's Ink specifically for church registrars which is good and dries to a really dark colour.Iron gall inks eh!
Ultrasonic cleaning do dah! Hmmm!
Tell me more - I'm assuming that these are vital to a collector of pens
Ultrasonic cleaners are just water baths with a vibrating base plate. They're normally used for cleaning jewellery but they are excellent for pens, as not only can they clean nibs but also all the crap out of the insides that you would normally have a hard time getting at. They're dead cheap on Amazon or whatever and if you deal with antique pens they're very much worth it.
Athos
Well-Known Member
The WES show is good. A variety of stalls, selling mostly fountain pens, plus some other pens, pencils and related items e.g. cases. Everyone is very friendly, and you can pick up some real bargains. Some big-name manufacturers have tables e.g. Conway Stewart, and a few of the smaller independent manufacturers, plus lots of collectors/dealers.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
I'm a big fan of the R & K iron gall inks. I was quite shocked to find out that they're not widely stocked in Germany, and that they sell more abroad than at home. One stationer in Berlin didn't even know there were German companies making pen inks!
KeeperofDragons
Crazy dragon lady
Mr Keeper is getting me a posh pen for my birthday, I tried a few to see how the feel in my hand & plumped for a Schaeffer as the others felt way to light. Interestingly my first good pen was a Schaeffer I inherited from my Grandad.
Virtual Blue
ready
been using the Waterman Phileas fountain pen on a fine nib.
easily, my top 3 writer.
easily, my top 3 writer.
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
Now I know that this isn't a fountain pen - but will be covered by the broader "stationery" monicker
I've seen this advertised
And with Christmas coming up I knew that my best friend of 40+ years would really appreciate it
and it arrived last week - and it really is a thing of great beauty - if you're "into" engineering then you must MUST get one of these for yourselves
when you pull the pen out of the ruler - there's a slight "pop" as the air rushes back in - and when you let the pen back into the ruler the machining is so accurate that is slowly floats back down until it's fully seated with the escaping air acting as a shock absorber
So simple, so very very well made
I've seen this advertised
And with Christmas coming up I knew that my best friend of 40+ years would really appreciate it
and it arrived last week - and it really is a thing of great beauty - if you're "into" engineering then you must MUST get one of these for yourselves
when you pull the pen out of the ruler - there's a slight "pop" as the air rushes back in - and when you let the pen back into the ruler the machining is so accurate that is slowly floats back down until it's fully seated with the escaping air acting as a shock absorber
So simple, so very very well made
Virtual Blue
ready
Now I know that this isn't a fountain pen - but will be covered by the broader "stationery" monicker
I've seen this advertised
And with Christmas coming up I knew that my best friend of 40+ years would really appreciate it
and it arrived last week - and it really is a thing of great beauty - if you're "into" engineering then you must MUST get one of these for yourselves
when you pull the pen out of the ruler - there's a slight "pop" as the air rushes back in - and when you let the pen back into the ruler the machining is so accurate that is slowly floats back down until it's fully seated with the escaping air acting as a shock absorber
So simple, so very very well made
How does it write?
How does it refill?
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
The metal tube has a very nicely machined screw end on it and it uses a standard Pilot refill
I "might" have had a little go on it before handing over - and it writes exactly as you would expect a Pilot refill to write - it's a little too fine for my tastes but I'm sure you could get a medium to fit as well
I "might" have had a little go on it before handing over - and it writes exactly as you would expect a Pilot refill to write - it's a little too fine for my tastes but I'm sure you could get a medium to fit as well
Virtual Blue
ready
Rhodia notebook.
Thick but nice
Thick but nice
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Yes, but not a fountain pen, a rather nice metal-bodied lidded ballpen-cum-tablet stylus.
