Starter fountain pen

[softouch]

Delta Dolcevita Oversized!

Might be a liitle more than the OP wants to spend, but it is a beautiful and wonderful writer.

Purchased here: http://www.hisnibs.com/oversized.htm

This guy examines and "tweaks" the nib before shipping his pens; kinda like honing a razor before shipping to the buyer. Mine has a fine nib. This is a very large fountain pen and uses a converter, will take a cartridge, & can be filled by an eye-dropper. I am currently using the converter with "Private Reserve Ink" Midnight Blues.

I have had a couple of fountain pens, but this is my 1st quality pen & I feel worth the money. I don't treat this as a show-piece; it is a daily writer.

 

[Rev. Nathan]

Would you guys suggest the Al-Star by Lamy? If I read correctly, it's the same as the Safari, but aluminum instead of plastic. Seems it would be nicer for an everyday. Thoughts on it?

 

[Miles]

I've heard good things about the Al-star, and in fact just received one in the mail today. It's essentially the same pen, just in aluminum. The only downside is that aluminum is a lot softer than the plastic they use for the Safari, therefore it can be easily dented. This said, I like both my Safari, and (so far) the Al-star. My girlfriend finds the angled grip section to conflict with her writing style, but they work great with mine. Of course both pens are relatively inexpensive, and I'd be willing to bet that if you found you did not like then pen yourself, it would fly away like hotcakes in our B/S/T section.

 

[beardsareforcavemen]

How about SHEAFFER® STARS OF EGYPT COLLECTION
Engraved Solid Gold Pen with .25ct diamond
Hey it's only $20,000.00
Nice pen, but not a first pen or for a daily writer. If I had one I wouldn't even put ink in it! lol

I really like Sheaffer fountain pens made in USA. Their lowest priced fountain pens write nice too. I prefer to use a low priced pen for a take along daily writer. I'm also pretty sure that their converter fits all of their fountain pens.

I'd recommend to try out a lower priced pen for a "first fountain pen" from any of the companies that also make high end fountain pens.
Then if it turns out you really enjoy writing with a fountain pen... you can never have too many of them.

 

[Rev. Nathan]

Alright, nabbed a 3-pack of Pilot Varsities to test the waterz. If I get the angle wrong, it doesn't write or writes dry. Is this the same with most other fountain penz?

EDIT: What thickness would you call a Varsity? Since it's unlabeled and all. Fine? Medium?

 

[dchasef]

If you are interested in a good cheap fountain pen with a fine tip, try a Hero 329. I just received one a couple of days ago, and it has been a surprisingly good pen. And, the best part is that it only set me back $9 (via an ebay seller in the UK)!!

Regards,
Chase

 

[SRock]

www.montgomerypens.com i picked up a lamy safari and a converter for under $30 new.

check out the speakeasy, lotsa fountain pen tlak going on in there also


*edit, the converter allows you to use bottled inks vs ink catridges (bottled inks are cheaper in the long run and you don't fill up landfills with little pieces of plastic )

Yes that fountain pen tLak sure will help.

 

[beardsareforcavemen]

Alright, nabbed a 3-pack of Pilot Varsities to test the waterz. If I get the angle wrong, it doesn't write or writes dry. Is this the same with most other fountain penz?

EDIT: What thickness would you call a Varsity? Since it's unlabeled and all. Fine? Medium?

Nothing wrong with trying out fountain pen writing with a disposable fountain pen. The same type of writing concept. Writing with a fountain pen is much much different than writing with a ballpoint. It is important to hold the fountain pen more at an angle and don't press hard. You simply glide the pen over the paper. Yea, if you don't have the correct angle the ink will not write. Also the nib (the part that touches the paper) has to be facing in the correct direction the whole time whilst writing. I'm not sure how to explain this part. Google "how to write with foutain pen"
Remember no pressure, and hold proper angle. If you press on the pen like you would with a ballpoint it can ruin the nib. Another good reason to not start out with an expensive pen.
I haven't wrote with the Varsity pens but I know they make fine and medium point nibs. Look closely on the nib for lettering it probably says fine or medium.
I'm assuming you're a right-hand writer? because left-handed people have a terrible time writing with fountain pens and are better off learning to write with the right hand instead.

 

[Legion]

Nothing wrong with trying out fountain pen writing with a disposable fountain pen. The same type of writing concept. Writing with a fountain pen is much much different than writing with a ballpoint. It is important to hold the fountain pen more at an angle and don't press hard. You simply glide the pen over the paper. Yea, if you don't have the correct angle the ink will not write. Also the nib (the part that touches the paper) has to be facing in the correct direction the whole time whilst writing. I'm not sure how to explain this part. Google "how to write with foutain pen"
Remember no pressure, and hold proper angle. If you press on the pen like you would with a ballpoint it can ruin the nib. Another good reason to not start out with an expensive pen.
I haven't wrote with the Varsity pens but I know they make fine and medium point nibs. Look closely on the nib for lettering it probably says fine or medium.
I'm assuming you're a right-hand writer? because left-handed people have a terrible time writing with fountain pens and are better off learning to write with the right hand instead.

A fountain pen is to writing what a DE is to shaving. No pressure, get the angle right, and the results will be far superior. A ballpoint is like mashing a Mach 3 into your face.

 

[Rev. Nathan]

Nothing wrong with trying out fountain pen writing with a disposable fountain pen. The same type of writing concept. Writing with a fountain pen is much much different than writing with a ballpoint. It is important to hold the fountain pen more at an angle and don't press hard. You simply glide the pen over the paper. Yea, if you don't have the correct angle the ink will not write. Also the nib (the part that touches the paper) has to be facing in the correct direction the whole time whilst writing. I'm not sure how to explain this part. Google "how to write with foutain pen"
Remember no pressure, and hold proper angle. If you press on the pen like you would with a ballpoint it can ruin the nib. Another good reason to not start out with an expensive pen.
I haven't wrote with the Varsity pens but I know they make fine and medium point nibs. Look closely on the nib for lettering it probably says fine or medium.
I'm assuming you're a right-hand writer? because left-handed people have a terrible time writing with fountain pens and are better off learning to write with the right hand instead.

I am a lefty! I tried a little more at it tonight and I understand the gliding concept. It's nice.

I have unique problems as a southpaw. I don't like pencils as my hand drags and picks up loose graphite. If I'm doing some hardcore math work or sketching, I'll have a grey hand. With pens, I have the same basic problem with my hand dragging and having to pick it up again. However, it doesn't seem like ink is picking up on my hand. Is this the problem you are referring to? I think it would be too hard to learn how to switch to my right hand!

 

[Uncle Erik]

I'll chime in again for the Parker 51. My fountain pen acquisition disorder has been running for, oh, about 16 years. In that time, I've accumulated at least 100 pens and have owned or tried all the popular models.

Most are good or great, but the pen that's in my pocket right now is a plain gray 51 aerometric with a stainless cap. Great pen, and I take it everywhere. I occasionally take a Sheaffer Snorkel along, but the 51 is my favorite. I always recommend them and so do a lot of other longtime pen geeks.

 

[pal]

A fountain pen is to writing what a DE is to shaving. No pressure, get the angle right, and the results will be far superior. A ballpoint is like mashing a Mach 3 into your face.

+1 a fountain pen is to be finessed. Just recently I acquired a Wahl Oxford full flex ink pen. I am still learning to use it.

 

[beardsareforcavemen]

Yep you got it, lefty's hand smudges the ink while writing. When you get a refillable pen you'll want to find an ink that drys fast and/or also use a fine nib since it puts less ink on the paper, therefore it dries faster. Also certain nibs don't work as well being pushed instead of pulled, so when you shop for a pen keep that in mind. I don't know much about it, so I'm not sure what nibs work better. I noticed that some pens are listed as "left handed pen." Did you give a try to write with your right hand? I'm glad you're starting to get the fountain pen writing concept going. Fountain pens are very enjoyable.

I didn't notice the original poster elsmooth post back here yet.

 

[Lowkeyberserk]

You get the point.

unintentional Pun?

 

[Rev. Nathan]

Did you give a try to write with your right hand? I'm glad you're starting to get the fountain pen writing concept going. Fountain pens are very enjoyable.

I didn't notice the original poster elsmooth post back here yet.

I'll try it. I'm closer to ambidextrous than anything, but my left hand is much better at cursive.

 

[kesmed]

The Lamy Safari line is a good fountain pen at <$50. Pelikan also makes a nice pen (200 series) for <$100.

I like the Pilot Varsity as writing instruments, but the ink tends to feather a bit, and $2 is more than I want to spend for a pen that I'm going to throw in the trash.

 

[BaldRick]

Have to agree with suggested Waterman Phileas Pen made by Bald1

I have two of these beauties, along with 2 x Parkers (a 45 and a Reflex), and a Tropen Scholar.

The Waterman is my everyday-but-stay-on-the-desk pen, while the Parker Reflex is the general carry in pocket pen (much cheaper & people aren't so keen to 'borrow' it)

Have a look at this write up: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yae9uxj

Waterman really are great pens - their inks are also great. .

Have a good look through the Fountain Pen Network site. Many suggestions outlined there. Much like B & B - different horses for different courses.
(http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/)

Check eBay or similar, or www.goldspot.com are showing as stocking these magnificent writing implements.

To resist such beauty is difficult:

 

[beardsareforcavemen]

I'll try it. I'm closer to ambidextrous than anything, but my left hand is much better at cursive.

Of course if writing doesn't seem like it's going to work with your right hand, the usual left hand fountain pen writing problems can be overcome. Writing with the hand over or under the writing line (overwriting or underwriting) and left hand friendly nib. Maybe there are other people here who write left handed that can give more tips.
Once you get the hang of it I'm sure you'd find writing with a refillable pen even a little more enjoyable. Kind of like shaving with a DE instead of a disposable.
I think that's a great idea to learn on a disposable fountain pen.

 

[Thebigspendur]

I used fountain pens for years and years but now that I'm retired have no use for them since I hardly do any writing. I sold just about all of them. However I'm left handed and never had any problems with writing with any fountain pens and I had about 15 of them mostly mid range models though I never wrote the overhanded way.

Personally, to tell someone who is lefthanded to learn write with his right hand is demeaning plain and simple. Like years ago they forced left handed people to write with their right hands and still do in some countries.

 

[beardsareforcavemen]

I used fountain pens for years and years but now that I'm retired have no use for them since I hardly do any writing. I sold just about all of them. However I'm left handed and never had any problems with writing with any fountain pens and I had about 15 of them mostly mid range models though I never wrote the overhanded way.

Personally, to tell someone who is lefthanded to learn write with his right hand is demeaning plain and simple. Like years ago they forced left handed people to write with their right hands and still do in some countries.

Rev. Nathan,
Just to let you know I definitely wasn't trying to sound "demeaning" by any means, by telling you that left-handed people have a terrible time writing with fountain pens and are better off learning to write with the right hand.

That is what I have always heard about lefties having the trouble with ink smudge and certain nibs not liking to be pushed instead of pulled. I wasn't trying to steer you wrong, I was just trying to be helpful and pass on this info.