Fountain Pens [Merged]

[lewis82]

I bought a Lamy Safari a month ago and I love it. I've used a lot of fountain pens before (my brother has a collection) and it is amongst my favorites in terms of writing quality.

As for the ink, I have gone with Noodler's Bulletproof black which is a permanent ink that reacts with cellulose in the paper. It's pretty thick which makes it suitable for writing on any type of paper since it won't go trough it as easily as thinner inks.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

In recent years, my favourite fountain pen has been a Caran d'Ache, which is an elegant yet sturdy pen and writes beautifully; I have small hands, and I have found that some of the Parker pens are too thick to hold comfortably.

I used to have Cross pens and I quite liked them; however, again, some of them were too large to wield comfortably. Actually, if a pen is too large or too heavy, writing at length becomes tiring.

 

[OnceYouGoMac]

A little off topic, I know, but... have any of you tried writing with a quill? I've been joking with a friend that we should write to each other with a quill and parchment ( the whole email/text message thing is getting boring ). Is it as simple as finding a feather and a bottle of ink? Or should I be looking for a particular feather?

I'm a Harry Potterhead and I noticed they used quills in the books and movies so I tried to write with one. The one I had was actually a ballpoint pen with a feather on top, but I couldn't find a quill so I used that. I thought it was fun to write with and my friends were admiring it. Didn't use parchment though. Where do you get it? Do I have to go to Diagon Alley? (for anyone unfamiliar with Harry Potter, that's the street where the witches and wizards did a lot of their shopping).

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I'm a Harry Potterhead and I noticed they used quills in the books and movies so I tried to write with one. The one I had was actually a ballpoint pen with a feather on top, but I couldn't find a quill so I used that. I thought it was fun to write with and my friends were admiring it. Didn't use parchment though. Where do you get it? Do I have to go to Diagon Alley? (for anyone unfamiliar with Harry Potter, that's the street where the witches and wizards did a lot of their shopping).

Sometimes, you can get good quality paper in a specialist stationary shop; much modern paper is of quite a poor quality, but suffices for printing off material.

However, if you use poor quality paper when writing with a fountain pen, you will notice that the ink 'bleeds', and the nib 'catches', whereas, when writing with a pen and ink on a better quality paper, you will note that the ink holds its shape and dries naturally on the paper.

It is possible to get very good quality paper for printing purposes - and use that when writing with a fountain pen. While it is not parchment, it is a lot better than the inferior grade paper. Needless to say, as is often the case, quality paper costs more than the inferior grade stuff.

I'm rather partial to Harry Potter myself.

 

[Grey Beard]

Another resurrection

**eek** another resurrection, this time after eight years in the ground. Is there something of the zombie in the air.

And I like my Parker to stay on topic.

KGB

 

[juanm]

No fountain pens for me as they don't seem to work well for left-handers. Something about us pushing while writing vs. pulling (for right handers). Any left-handers here find a solution for this?

daniel

Write in in mirror-image like Leonardo Da Vinci?

 

[Thomas Veil]

I hear "fountain pen", I think of this:

 

[OnceYouGoMac]

Sometimes, you can get good quality paper in a specialist stationary shop; much modern paper is of quite a poor quality, but suffices for printing off material.

However, if you use poor quality paper when writing with a fountain pen, you will notice that the ink 'bleeds', and the nib 'catches', whereas, when writing with a pen and ink on a better quality paper, you will note that the ink holds its shape and dries naturally on the paper.

It is possible to get very good quality paper for printing purposes - and use that when writing with a fountain pen. While it is not parchment, it is a lot better than the inferior grade paper. Needless to say, as is often the case, quality paper costs more than the inferior grade stuff.

I'm rather partial to Harry Potter myself.

Ah that's interesting. Where do you get the good stuff? Have you seen all the Harry Potter movies and read all the books? Which characters are your favourites?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Ah that's interesting. Where do you get the good stuff? Have you seen all the Harry Potter movies and read all the books? Which characters are your favourites?

Small, specialist shops which sell fountain pens (and other good quality pens), often sell good quality paper as well. Paradoxically, in the former communist world, I have noticed that the quality of the paper in ordinary note books, or copybooks, tends to be excellent.

No, I have not seen all of the (HP) movies, but I have read all of the books.

Re characters, I love the story arcs of both Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. In stories of that sort - the Lord of the Rings is one of the obvious sources of inspiration for one of the strands of HP - the Guide or Mentor character, who reveals and guides the eponymous Hero to his (or her) destiny, must somehow be removed from the plot before the final conflict/resolution, for the Hero must face the final conflict alone, having taken the entire length of the series to grow into his (or her) role & strength, protected, guided and advised by his (or her) teachers/guides while learning to do so. Only at the end is the Hero strong enough to be able to face his (or her) destiny with any sort of equanimity and the necessary skills (painfully acquired) to do so successfully.

Thus, I had been expecting the death (or incapacitation, or removal from the plot) of Dumbledore to occur somewhere in the final three books - in fact, it would not have surprised me to have seen it happen at the end of the Order of the Phoenix, and, when it didn't happen then, I was certain it would happen in the following book (Half Blood Prince), which, of course, it did.

However, one of the interesting things about the series is the clever and layered and nuanced narrative skills brought to the task by JK Rowling. Normally, in a story of this kind, I would have expected Dumbledore to be the stock, almost clichéd, 'wise mentor' - the standard Gandalf type - character, but, in the final book, he became so much more, when his backstory was given which rounded out his character exceptionally well. His back-story - and even more so, - that of Severus Snape, are, to my mind, the real triumph of the final book of the series and act as the sort of moral heart - and moral compass - of this superbly realised universe.

In fact, to my mind, that last book - Deathly Hallowes - (so often a sort of anti-climax in an otherwise excellent series) was an absolute tour de force.

Naturally, I really liked the trio, especially Hermione; it is always refreshing to have an intelligent and strong female leading character in a work of literature. Needless to say, I also liked Neville and Luna - and have liked both all the way through the series. Professor McGonagall and Remus Lupin - especially his sensitive thoughtful role in Prisoner of Azkaban - were also favourite characters of mine.

 

[OnceYouGoMac]

Small, specialist shops which sell fountain pens (and other good quality pens), often sell good quality paper as well. Paradoxically, in the former communist world, I have noticed that the quality of the paper in ordinary note books, or copybooks, tends to be excellent.

No, I have not seen all of the (HP) movies, but I have read all of the books.

Re characters, I love the story arcs of both Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. In stories of that sort - the Lord of the Rings is one of the obvious sources of inspiration for one of the strands of HP - the Guide or Mentor character, who reveals and guides the eponymous Hero to his (or her) destiny, must somehow be removed from the plot before the final conflict/resolution, for the Hero must face the final conflict alone, having taken the entire length of the series to grow into his (or her) role & strength, protected, guided and advised by his (or her) teachers/guides while learning to do so. Only at the end is the Hero strong enough to be able to face his (or her) destiny with any sort of equanimity and the necessary skills (painfully acquired) to do so successfully.

Thus, I had been expecting the death (or incapacitation, or removal from the plot) of Dumbledore to occur somewhere in the final three books - in fact, it would not have surprised me to have seen it happen at the end of the Order of the Phoenix, and, when it didn't happen then, I was certain it would happen in the following book (Half Blood Prince), which, of course, it did.

However, one of the interesting things about the series is the clever and layered and nuanced narrative skills brought to the task by JK Rowling. Normally, in a story of this kind, I would have expected Dumbledore to be the stock, almost clichéd, 'wise mentor' - the standard Gandalf type - character, but, in the final book, he became so much more, when his backstory was given which rounded out his character exceptionally well. His back-story - and even more so, - that of Severus Snape, are, to my mind, the real triumph of the final book of the series and act as the sort of moral heart - and moral compass - of this superbly realised universe.

In fact, to my mind, that last book - Deathly Hallowes - (so often a sort of anti-climax in an otherwise excellent series) was an absolute tour de force.

Naturally, I really liked the trio, especially Hermione; it is always refreshing to have an intelligent and strong female leading character in a work of literature. Needless to say, I also liked Neville and Luna - and have liked both all the way through the series. Professor McGonagall and Remus Lupin - especially his sensitive thoughtful role in Prisoner of Azkaban - were also favourite characters of mine.

Thanks. I've seen all the movies. My favourite ones had to be Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix. The first two are too childish for me now. Snape was a complicated character really. I always thought he hated Harry as he was nasty to him all the time in Hogwarts, but in the end it turned out he was protecting him. Snape loved Harry's mother but didn't like his father and he compared Harry to his father all the time. I think Harry eventually respected Snape and referred to him as "one of the bravest men I ever knew".

As for characters, I like the trio of course. I also love all of the Weasleys (except Percy, he seems like a pompous git to me), Neville and Luna. As for the Hogwarts professors, I think Professor Lupin has to be my favourite. I would have loved to have been one of his students. I loved the way he was friendly with Harry in Prisoner of Azkaban (that was when he taught at Hogwarts). He told him about his parents and everything. He seemed sweet. *whacks herself over the head with MacBook Air* I've seen some fanfiction where Lupin has to take care of Harry because he's sick or upset or has a problem or something along those lines. If you want links let me know. The character of Lupin in the fanfics seems exactly like him. I was upset when Rowling killed him off in Deathly Hallows

 

[cambookpro]

I love fountain pens, granted I've only had 3, but they're so much better than Biros.

My first one was a Parker that was £20-30, can't remember the exact model. Unfortunately it got stolen during PE at school

Then I had a plastic Parker, think it was the cheapest one you could get, but because I'd use it every day the plastic eventually snapped because of the continuous pressure put on it.

Now I have a great Parker that is metal, not too expensive at £12 so if it gets lost/stolen etc I can replace it easily. I use washable blue ink, at home I've used my dad's pen which uses a lovely sepia ink, but unfortunately we can only write in blue or black at school.

 

[Martin29]

Fountain pen users or collectors out there?

I have used fountain pens for many years and enjoy using good quality pens with good ink and nice paper.. All complements my macs when working.

I just wondered over this holiday period, how many other users here enjoy using fountain pens, which ones you like, why you like them etc.

I'll take some photos of mine later, and hope there will be some more from among forum members.

Happy new year to you all!

 

[jondunford]

I have used fountain pens for many years and enjoy using good quality pens with good ink and nice paper.. All complements my macs when working.

I just wondered over this holiday period, how many other users here enjoy using fountain pens, which ones you like, why you like them etc.

I'll take some photos of mine later, and hope there will be some more from among forum members.

Happy new year to you all!

I like using fountain pens too , however I use cheaper ones as after 2-3 months the nib always seem to bend apart

 

[Martin29]

Ok, here's the one I'm using this week..

It's a 1953 Parker Duofold, English made and in constant use throughout the last 60 years. Writes perfectly and has to be one of my favourite pens.

 

[velocityg4]

I have a Montefiore. There's nothing special about it just black and gold paint. I'd like to use it more often but it is a real pain to use. It keeps drying out and I have to quickly dip it water to unclog it.

It probably wouldn't do that If I used it more often. But I can go for weeks at a time without needing a pen at home.

 

[Kurwenal]

Big fan of fountain pens, ink and, especially, fine paper.

For the past few years, I have been collecting Pelikans.

Cleaning pens is one of the great, calm experiences of the week.

 

[Martin29]

That's a nice looking collection of Pelikan's you have there. I couldn't agree more, the pleasure of using a nice pen comes also from a good ink and high quality paper..

 

[kellen]

I use a Montblanc Boheme fountain pen daily at work. I used to have a white coat full of pens and would routinely lose them or leave them behind. Working at a hospital that didn't have electronic medical records I went through a lot of ink between histories, orders, progress notes, all on paper. I started with a Lamy but then upgraded to the Montblanc. One pen, only one I use. Always look for it, so I don't leave it behind.

Only drawback is that fountain pens don't work on carbon copy paper for consents, but I can find a ballpoint somewhere.

 

[WoodNUFC]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a waterproof red ink? I've seen that Noodler's has one - Empire Red - but I'd like to sample some others before I buy a bottle.

 

[pivo6]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a waterproof red ink? I've seen that Noodler's has one - Empire Red - but I'd like to sample some others before I buy a bottle.

Go to Goulet Pens. You can get sample bottles of just about any ink you can imagine.

 

[WoodNUFC]

Go to Goulet Pens. You can get sample bottles of just about any ink you can imagine.

Thanks for the link. I already have a few selected based on what I've read on Badger and Blade - tried to vary the manufacturers to get a wider feel for inks. Just looking to see if anyone here has prior experience with a waterproof red ink.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

For the last year and a half, I have been using a Mont Blanc fountain pen; a small, black, Mont Blanc Meisterstuck. Although I have been a huge fan of fountain pens since I was at school, and use them daily, I had persuaded myself that the Mont Blancs were for wealthy middle aged businessmen and were something of a triumph of style over substance.

When my Caran d'Ache pen needed (yet again) to be repaired, (the nib kept suffering from ink glue or something similar, or other malfunctions, inexcusable in a pen which cost the price it did, and which was designed to write, - all in all, while I loved them, they ended up spending an incredible amount of time being repaired), so, in late 2012 I switched to Mont Blanc.

Okay, these are an absolute dream to write with. In my working life, I write a lot, and the ink - and thus, pen - glides over the page; one can write and write - without wrist fatigue - for as long as required. This is a pen which has given me no trouble whatsoever, and has been an unbelievable pleasure to own and use. It just writes beautifully, without a problem, for as long as one wants or needs. So, as of now, you can say that I'm completely sold on the brand - they are simply brilliant.

Re ink, I buy (in bulk) the ink that comes recommended for Mont Blanc pens, cartridges rather than ink bottles, in three colours: Blue, Navy Blue, and Black.

And re paper: this is one of the more problematic issues, when one writes with fountain pens, given the dire quality of paper widely available in the west. Old fashioned stationary stores tend to stock some good quality paper; also, the US leather maker, Colonel Littleton, makes excellent quality paper (albeit at a price, this is not cheap) for their notebook and portfolio products.

 

[Kurwenal]

The only (mostly) waterproof red ink I have experience with is Noodler's Red Fox. Nice ink.

I agree with the recommendation for Goulet samples. If you want to receive monthly samples at a very reasonable price, check out the Goulet Ink Drop.

 

[B...]

For the last year and a half, I have been using a Mont Blanc fountain pen; a small, black, Mont Blanc Meisterstuck. Although I have been a huge fan of fountain pens since I was at school, and use them daily, I had persuaded myself that the Mont Blancs were for wealthy middle aged businessmen and were something of a triumph of style over substance.

When my Caran d'Ache pen needed (yet again) to be repaired, (the nib kept suffering from ink glue or something similar, or other malfunctions, inexcusable in a pen which cost the price it did, and which was designed to write, - all in all, while I loved them, they ended up spending an incredible amount of time being repaired), so, in late 2012 I switched to Mont Blanc.

Okay, these are an absolute dream to write with. In my working life, I write a lot, and the ink - and thus, pen - glides over the page; one can write and write - without wrist fatigue - for as long as required. This is a pen which has given me no trouble whatsoever, and has been an unbelievable pleasure to own and use. It just writes beautifully, without a problem, for as long as one wants or needs. So, as of now, you can say that I'm completely sold on the brand - they are simply brilliant.

Re ink, I buy (in bulk) the ink that comes recommended for Mont Blanc pens, cartridges rather than ink bottles, in three colours: Blue, Navy Blue, and Black.

And re paper: this is one of the more problematic issues, when one writes with fountain pens, given the dire quality of paper widely available in the west. Old fashioned stationary stores tend to stock some good quality paper; also, the US leather maker, Colonel Littleton, makes excellent quality paper (albeit at a price, this is not cheap) for their notebook and portfolio products.

Which Montblanc do you have? The 149, Le Grande or Classique? I ask because I have the 149 and find it a pleasure to write with.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Which Montblanc do you have? The 149, Le Grande or Classique? I ask because I have the 149 and find it a pleasure to write with.

I have the Meisterstuck classique (black resin & gold) fountain pen (which is used daily) and the same model as a roller-ball (a back up, in case I need it, and it is sometimes very useful, as some surfaces defy fountain pen ink, or, occasionally, a setting will not allow for a swift change of ink cartridge).

Without doubt, it is the best pen I have ever had - it is simply superb, and is so comfortable and well balanced and easy to write with. The pen (and ink) just glide so smoothly, and my wrist never tires (again, unlike others I have written with). It is worth every cent I spent on it.

Moreover, unlike the Caran d'Ache, and the Cross instruments I used to write with (Parker was always too big & heavy in my hand), it has not given me one minute's difficulty or trouble. The thing writes and writes, and I have the greatest pleasure in using it - sometimes for hours - a day.