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wobbly
my own mixed rather than home made.
Fountain pen - recommendations
- Thread starter HackneyE9
- Start date
my own mixed rather than home made.
toggle
wobbly
trying to use what i have, rather than obsessively collecting something else......
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
My Platinum Preppy is still flawlessly fulfilling its' function as an eyedropper fountain pen, no leaks, and no drying out of the nib.
izz
Increased Leisure Citizen
Does anyone have a J.Herbin Tempete ?
http://www.bureaudirect.co.uk/j-herbin-tempete-fountain-pen/p3789
I'm intrigued but put off by the review which says its 'chunky'.
http://www.bureaudirect.co.uk/j-herbin-tempete-fountain-pen/p3789
I'm intrigued but put off by the review which says its 'chunky'.
Virtual Blue
ready
poor ink flow as well...
Vintage Paw
dead stare and computer glare
I saw this and thought of you all:
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
I saw this and thought of you all:
What sort of pen is this? and where would you purchase one?
Cid
Proper break this time
To be mores specific High Voltage Scribblers do a fair selection of nibs and you can get an oblique holder here. Copperplate nibs are what you want, specifically one with loads of flex. There are flex fountain pens but you'd have trouble writing like that due to angles (Copperplate is ridiculously impractical, although that particular example is more upright that most and might be manageable). Athos knows about flex nib fountain pens, they turn up on ebay occasionally - I actually have one but the name has slipped my mind. The right nibs are quite rare. mrs quoad had a bit of a foray into copperplate somewhere in the depths of this thread I think.
Athos
Well-Known Member
High Voltage, I agree with Cid that it's a dip pen with an offset (aka oblique) nib holder, into which there's been fitted an extra-fine, extra-flexible nib. I'd say ebay's your best bet. Maybe look up an inexpensive brand like Speedball. Often, they do sets with the pen and a selection on nibs. I doubt the ones in the sets are quite as fine and flexible as that, but, to be honest, until you get used to using it, it'd be too much to go straight to a nib like the one in the gif. You can always buy a finer, more flexible nib separately, later. mrs quoad is the one who knows most about this stuff, though.
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
For the record - I didn't say that I WAS going to buy one - merely were could one buy one is one was so inclined
I am that transparent aren't I
Thanks for the information both - I'll make sure I don't go anywhere near that Scribblers web site - just to take temptation away from me
Yeah. That's a bit more than an offset holder with nib - it looks as if they've attached a sponge beneath the nib as an ink reservoir. Excellent idea, tbh, if it works that well.
Copperplate / Spencerian are completely practicable with a standard flexnibbed FP, but they do need you to learn a different way of writing. Tbf, oblique nib holders reduce that challenge - but only fractionally. I'd be surprised if there were many people who found an inordinate difference between straight and oblique, and you're never going to get great results until you're pulling down (not sideways) on the fat strokes anyhows.
Speedball - eminently sensible. I've got a lovely hand turned wood oblique holder, but it's functionally identical to a speedball. Nibs... There's a standard super flex whose name I can't remember (Gil... Something. And a number).
Nearly all my writing these days is with super flex FPs anyhows, so I've kinda lost touch with disposable nibs. The Spencerian adjusted pilot falcon namiki, from nibs.com, is about the most joyful pen I own.
Copperplate / Spencerian are completely practicable with a standard flexnibbed FP, but they do need you to learn a different way of writing. Tbf, oblique nib holders reduce that challenge - but only fractionally. I'd be surprised if there were many people who found an inordinate difference between straight and oblique, and you're never going to get great results until you're pulling down (not sideways) on the fat strokes anyhows.
Speedball - eminently sensible. I've got a lovely hand turned wood oblique holder, but it's functionally identical to a speedball. Nibs... There's a standard super flex whose name I can't remember (Gil... Something. And a number).
Nearly all my writing these days is with super flex FPs anyhows, so I've kinda lost touch with disposable nibs. The Spencerian adjusted pilot falcon namiki, from nibs.com, is about the most joyful pen I own.
It almost looks like a brush pen.http://www.nibs.com/NamikiFalconPage.htm
*cough* comes in at about £200 for the Mottishaw Spencerian grind.
E2a: and, tbf, you'll get better extreme flex from a G whatsit disposable super-flex steel nib.
E2a2: Gillott 303 or 404. One of them (I think 404) goes fatter, and still bounces back. I tried a plethora or more expensive alternatives - these, at about £0.40 from a local art shop - consistently proved my pre-Namiki favourites.
*cough* comes in at about £200 for the Mottishaw Spencerian grind.
E2a: and, tbf, you'll get better extreme flex from a G whatsit disposable super-flex steel nib.
E2a2: Gillott 303 or 404. One of them (I think 404) goes fatter, and still bounces back. I tried a plethora or more expensive alternatives - these, at about £0.40 from a local art shop - consistently proved my pre-Namiki favourites.
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
*cough-thank-you* - that's now marked as a place on the interweb to avoid at ALL COSTS
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
I'm glad I moved from fountain pens before I got into custom nibs - I'm just too lazy for calligraphy.
Mind you I then started buying cameras and lenses so that wasn't really the best idea for saving money.
Mind you I then started buying cameras and lenses so that wasn't really the best idea for saving money.
I'd be tempted to challenge one of your assumptions - that "custom nib" implies a necessary plural.
Mottishaw's Spencerian-grind Pilot namiki is, as it happens, perfection. It's the last pen I bought, because no-one needs another pen once they have one of those.
Might nonetheless be worth mentioning that Noodlers make some well-reviewed flex-nibbed FPs. There's at least one solid uk online supplier, whose website I regularly dribble over. The only thing that stops me from buying e.g. a Noodlers Ahab is my belief that it'll never even be properly tested, let alone used.
If I was starting afresh, though, I'd explore Noodlers pens *far* more thoroughly.
Pure pens has just received an order of "thousands" of noodlers pens: http://www.purepens.co.uk/acatalog/Noodlers-Pen-s-.html
Tbh, I find that about as tempting as a new fp offer is likely to get!
On the one hand, I'm just not sure I'd ever use it. I struggle to routinely use all of my 5 / 6 top end pens as it is.
On the other hand, some of my finest pens are the cheaper ones. Well, one of them, at least. (Platinum Carbon). And noodlers does have an interesting / remarkably strong reputation.
Tbh, I find that about as tempting as a new fp offer is likely to get!
On the one hand, I'm just not sure I'd ever use it. I struggle to routinely use all of my 5 / 6 top end pens as it is.
On the other hand, some of my finest pens are the cheaper ones. Well, one of them, at least. (Platinum Carbon). And noodlers does have an interesting / remarkably strong reputation.
Virtual Blue
ready
how do these compare to Lamy Safaris?
I have literally no idea.
They've got a reputation as a solid, cheap, flex-nibbled offering.
Noodlers has a reputation as an eccentric company, prone to producing eccentric inks (apparently made by hand in a garage) and unpredictable batches of usually-unavailable pens.
I've seen them reviewed as highly favourable by pen geeks. Their reputation, eccentricity and flex leaves me curious.
Virtual Blue
ready
hah, yes that is what i have heard too.
they're priced slightly more than a lamy safari, am wondering if they're better or even on the same level as a pilot mr.
am tempted.
Virtual Blue
ready
mechanical pencils allowed?
i found these amazing value and they cost under a tenner from a certain japanese seller on amazon.
perfect weight for writing. solid feel and construction.
Comparing e.g. an Ahab with a Safari is not comparing like with like.
If you're talking about the safari I think you're talking about (I was sent one free with a Lamy 2000 (I bloody well hated the 2000 and eventually gave it away)) then it's basically a decent, fat-nibbed, standard plastic writing pen.
Where - IMU - noodlers become particularly interesting is their ability to offer a low (relatively) end flex nib.
If I wasn't interested in flex, I wouldn't be (personally) looking at them - apparently some people like the design, though imo they do look a bit like vomit viewed through the beautiful lens of far too much lsd.
Cid
Proper break this time
Yeah, they look bloody awful. I'd be tempted otherwise... Might anyway, flex is interesting although I rarely use my er... flex pen I've forgotten the name of (tend to end up with 2 tines rather than a solid line).
My standard pen is a Lamy accent (rubber grip)... It's my exam pen, so invariably the one I try to use for most other writing. It has a consistent flow rate, a consistent line thickness, easily changeable nibs. It will happily get through 4 essays in 3 hours without faltering. Dependable. I actually also like some of the nibs, I know mrs quoad finds their fine too fat, but I've taken to using a 1.1mm Italic... The easiness of changing them and the cheapness of new nibs also opens up potential for messing about with custom nib grinding, although I've yet to do this - too many other things. I use cartridge ink for exams, Monteverde which are Lamy compatible but have a darker black.
I doubt very much I'd swap it for the Noodler, but it's still an interesting pen. I'd buy it more out of curiosity than any thought I'd use it regularly (or even on neat letters etc).
My standard pen is a Lamy accent (rubber grip)... It's my exam pen, so invariably the one I try to use for most other writing. It has a consistent flow rate, a consistent line thickness, easily changeable nibs. It will happily get through 4 essays in 3 hours without faltering. Dependable. I actually also like some of the nibs, I know mrs quoad finds their fine too fat, but I've taken to using a 1.1mm Italic... The easiness of changing them and the cheapness of new nibs also opens up potential for messing about with custom nib grinding, although I've yet to do this - too many other things. I use cartridge ink for exams, Monteverde which are Lamy compatible but have a darker black.
I doubt very much I'd swap it for the Noodler, but it's still an interesting pen. I'd buy it more out of curiosity than any thought I'd use it regularly (or even on neat letters etc).
Cid
Proper break this time
On a different note I've recently resurrected my Rotring Isographs. There is no finer pen for technical drawing... They are unforgiving, but nothing else (except the faber equivalent) will give you a precisely defined line thickness in increments as low as 0.02mm. Not suitable for fibrous papers (although my sister used, possibly still uses, them for illustration).
These 3 are genius, but very fragile...
Crispy
These 3 are genius, but very fragile...
Crispy
My two penn'orth: my automatic pencil obsession predated my fp obsession. Particularly those that held v small / 0.3mm leads.
mechanical pencils allowed?
i found these amazing value and they cost under a tenner from a certain japanese seller on amazon.
perfect weight for writing. solid feel and construction.
I had the Graphgear 1000 and 500; and the Ohto Promecha and Super Promecha.
In both cases, the more basic models outlasted their posher siblings by donkeys years. The rotating lead indicator on my 1000 didn't last a fortnight, and the whole bloody thing ended up snapping in half (just behind the lead indicator / at the main join). Shit went wrong with the Super, too.
Both their more basic counterparts were just stonking workhorses though - each lasted years (and iirc only died when I did something stupid and bent the final thin nib bit / lead holder)
Virtual Blue
ready
I was wrong!
My Promecha *actually hasn't died yet*
It was on my desk in front of me, ha.
Ordered 13th November 2008
Well, well worth it.
nice!
i think i may have the newer version of that.
mine has suffered an injury - a bent nib
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
I got a Super Promecha recently and it packed up within about a week or two. Just won't advance the lead any more. The cheapo ones seem to last forever no matter what I do with them.
I did get a Rotring 600 recently—that's got a nice weight to it, and hasn't broken yet. I suspect the little silver bit at the end will bend eventually though. Apparently there is an 800 with a retractable tip.
RoyReed
Must fly!
I used to have a set of Rotring Rapidograph pens (never knew what the difference was between the Rapidograph and Isograph ranges). I used the 0.1mm all the time. In fact I used that one so much I wore at least two out. They were a real bugger to keep clean and even if you used their own-brand ink they clogged up within minutes if you left the top off.On a different note I've recently resurrected my Rotring Isographs. There is no finer pen for technical drawing... They are unforgiving, but nothing else (except the faber equivalent) will give you a precisely defined line thickness in increments as low as 0.02mm. Not suitable for fibrous papers (although my sister used, possibly still uses, them for illustration).
These 3 are genius, but very fragile...
Crispy
