I had a great deal of pleasure using my fountain pens and although my care list sounds finicky...it's really not that difficult and when you write a report using a fountain pen....it's not just a report as it would be with a ball point pen...but with the fountain pen...it's a document.Hello!
I asked a couple of questions in the thread about how you rate your own penmanship a while ago and while I got some answers and recommendations they are still far from complete to get me to buy what I need.My penmanship has always been lousy. Years ago my high school chemistry teacher told me to print-write (his words) ...I've done that ever since and my handwriting now...is barely readable...a marked improvement over what it was originally.
I want to know what are all the essentials that you need. I can imagine that both the pen and ink are quite important but there must also be some other stuff?
I've been looking at Noodler's and Lamy pens and the reviews seem to be a bit mixed. I've seen some reports of the Lamy pens leaking with Noodler's ink and well, that wouldn't be much fun!I'm retired now, but was a professional and a manager of professionals, for over 30 years and in that time I was constantly writing. I found ballpoints hard to write with...I hold the pen tightly, perhaps too tightly and I found the resistance of the ball point...tiring.
So about 35 years ago I tried fountain pens. Eureka...much less resistance...a good fountain pen flows. I've had a lot of fountain pens over the years...but my favorite workhorses were and are the Sheaffer White Dot...with a medium gold nib. I used both bottled ink and cartridges...but I find cartridges more convenient.
The key to reliable fountain pen operation is to:
-continually write with them...don't let them sit for 2 weeks , otherwise the ink feed tube will clog due to the ink drying up. When that happens, drain the ink or remove the cartridge, take the pen apart, hold it under a sink faucet, with a light to medium not high pressure flow as you don't want to damage the inner workings. This flow of water will wash the ink out. You'll know the tube is clear , when the water running through the nib is clear. Then let the individual parts dry out on a paper towel overnight. Gently dry off any components with a light application of a paper towel. In the morning re-assemble and replace the ink.
-Don't let anyone else write with your fountain pen...a fountain pen 'adjusts' to your hand pressure...lending it out will affect this...I carry another pen (a cheap ballpoint) if someone wants to borrow my pen...they get the ballpoint.
-Remember the fountain pen is a fine instrument. Take care not to drop it (usually seems to land on the nib point which isn't good) and be careful the fountain pen doesn't roll off the desk...also keep the cap on...when finished or not using it...ink could dry otherwise.
So what I want is just a list of all the essentials like a good pen and a good ink or two (Bulletproof seems to be the way to go) and whatever other things you need for maintenance and such.
Thanks!
//Unkas
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