fav fountain pens?

[alkemylabz]

my friend got me hooked on fountain pens a year or so ago and ive been really loving the look and feel of ink mediums since then. my favorite inks are diamine because im poor and basic but i have like 15 different fountain pens now, mostly cheap dupes of mid-price brands

i liek to draw and doodle with my pens a lot and i've been trying to get into dip pens but i prefer fountain pens because they're easy to take on the go and i dont have to worry about cleanup or spills. even though i never go anywhere i just like the option of not making a mess

here are my current pens:

my lamy safari dupe by jinhao :) its a neon green one i got for like a dollar, i loaded it with diamine kelly green and it writes super well


my platinum little meteor pen w/ diamine aurora borealis. ive heard the quality control varies on this one but for the most part ive had a pleasant experience with it. it writes extremely fine which was unexpected bc a lot of my fine tip pens look bold compared to it



+ for the questions of the post. do any of you guys like fountain pens too and which ones do you use and what inks :) i liek pens a lot

(and yes i took the writing and stationery category literally. lol)

[DiffydaDude]

I actually do have a Lamy Safari fountain pen. Its the charcoal black color and i filled it up with black ink i got with my dip pens. I got it for Christmas, and Ive been taking it to school with me. Its really cool and awesome but I wish it had some cool colors on it cuz all black is super boring

[kasperkat]

I'm now a little interested in learning more...I would hear more about fountain pens if anyone would care to speak on it :3

why do people use fountain pens over regular pens or markers?? what does it mean if you have a "more expensive" pen?

[Rosaria Delacroix]

why do people use fountain pens over regular pens or markers?? what does it mean if you have a "more expensive" pen?

There are lots of reasons people get into using fountain pens- but for me, I know that I primarily delved into the hobby as a result of ergonomics. Fountain pens do not require any pressure to write with, unlike traditional pens- they work through capillary action, where the paper draws out the ink, and so you can use an incredibly light, deft hand with them. This significantly reduces wrist and hand strain, which means that writing for longer sessions is less taxing on the body: which was a really important consideration for me, when my genetic disorder can prevent me from even being able to do something as small and simple as exert the force to write with a regular pencil or pen.

Fountain pen enthusiasts are often in general, stationery enthusiasts. Price doesn't necessarily dictate quality- one of the most commonly recommended beginner's pens will run you about six Canadian dollars, and its nib is comparable with much pricier offerings from the parent company, though there are vague 'tiers' that offer various features: perhaps it's the particular feel of the nib interfacing with the paper, specialty materials (steel versus gold nibs, nibs cut to flex or to be incredibly thin, urushi- a natural lacquer, inlays of abalone and mother of pearl, and so on), a particular filling mechanism or the age and history of particular pen models (pens worn as necklaces were once popular with ladies!), limited runs, and so on.

Most would agree that a good, solid pen for life will run you between 30 to 50 dollars or so once you've dabbled around to hone your precise preferences, (though many are quite happy with very cheap pens, I love my Platinum Preppy to bits still) and there are steeply diminishing returns on experience versus price, once you hit about the 100-200 dollar mark: then, it usually becomes a thing of extremely finicky preference on company, colour, luxury status, strange nibs, custom materials and body designs, etc.

I've often heard it described as a sort of functional hedonism- an elevation of a mundane, every day task, such as writing, and making it a deeply pleasurable experience, one that's custom tailored in every aspect to you, and what you like. Fountain pens are a highly personalized thing to get into: you can get picky about only collecting pink and cream pens, as I have, or become someone who hunts down interesting nibs that flex and bend to create a dizzying amount of line variation (waterproof / archival inks and a good flex in the nib to produce that variation are popular with more artistic sorts), and that's before even getting into the huge assortment of inks and paper: duo-chrome, sparkle and glitters and shimmer, scented inks- if you want it, someone's selling it.

Coffee scented ink? Ink that looks exactly like human blood? Green that sheens red when the paper is tilted- gold or silver or iridescent or coppery-pink glitter? They also sell ink lines meant specifically for you to custom mix colors to your heart's delight, (which in theory you can, and I do, without needing to buy inks specifically made for it, though testing to avoid precipitate crashing out as a result of chemical interactions is prudent testing to be done ahead of time before loading up a pen), inks meant to last centuries and withstand water and light, ink 'potions' that add a dose of glittery glitz into any ink you want at all: it's like stepping into a world of alchemy right at your fingertips.

It's all up to you. It's all down to what you like. Your holy grail of a pen might be radically different from someone else's: many people hate and rave about pencil-like feedback from a particular manufacturer's nibs in particular, but at the end of the day: we all love our silly little pens, because we've curated our collections just for us.

[kasperkat]

There are lots of reasons people get into using fountain pens- but for me, I know that I primarily delved into the hobby as a result of ergonomics. Fountain pens do not require any pressure to write with, unlike traditional pens- they work through capillary action, where the paper draws out the ink, and so you can use an incredibly light, deft hand with them. This significantly reduces wrist and hand strain, which means that writing for longer sessions is less taxing on the body: which was a really important consideration for me, when my genetic disorder can prevent me from even being able to do something as small and simple as exert the force to write with a regular pencil or pen.

Fountain pen enthusiasts are often in general, stationery enthusiasts. Price doesn't necessarily dictate quality- one of the most commonly recommended beginner's pens will run you about six Canadian dollars, and its nib is comparable with much pricier offerings from the parent company, though there are vague 'tiers' that offer various features: perhaps it's the particular feel of the nib interfacing with the paper, specialty materials (steel versus gold nibs, nibs cut to flex or to be incredibly thin, urushi- a natural lacquer, inlays of abalone and mother of pearl, and so on), a particular filling mechanism or the age and history of particular pen models (pens worn as necklaces were once popular with ladies!), limited runs, and so on.

Most would agree that a good, solid pen for life will run you between 30 to 50 dollars or so once you've dabbled around to hone your precise preferences, (though many are quite happy with very cheap pens, I love my Platinum Preppy to bits still) and there are steeply diminishing returns on experience versus price, once you hit about the 100-200 dollar mark: then, it usually becomes a thing of extremely finicky preference on company, colour, luxury status, strange nibs, custom materials and body designs, etc.

I've often heard it described as a sort of functional hedonism- an elevation of a mundane, every day task, such as writing, and making it a deeply pleasurable experience, one that's custom tailored in every aspect to you, and what you like. Fountain pens are a highly personalized thing to get into: you can get picky about only collecting pink and cream pens, as I have, or become someone who hunts down interesting nibs that flex and bend to create a dizzying amount of line variation (waterproof / archival inks and a good flex in the nib to produce that variation are popular with more artistic sorts), and that's before even getting into the huge assortment of inks and paper: duo-chrome, sparkle and glitters and shimmer, scented inks- if you want it, someone's selling it.

Coffee scented ink? Ink that looks exactly like human blood? Green that sheens red when the paper is tilted- gold or silver or iridescent or coppery-pink glitter? They also sell ink lines meant specifically for you to custom mix colors to your heart's delight, (which in theory you can, and I do, without needing to buy inks specifically made for it, though testing to avoid precipitate crashing out as a result of chemical interactions is prudent testing to be done ahead of time before loading up a pen), inks meant to last centuries and withstand water and light, ink 'potions' that add a dose of glittery glitz into any ink you want at all: it's like stepping into a world of alchemy right at your fingertips.

It's all up to you. It's all down to what you like. Your holy grail of a pen might be radically different from someone else's: many people hate and rave about pencil-like feedback from a particular manufacturer's nibs in particular, but at the end of the day: we all love our silly little pens, because we've curated our collections just for us.

Wow!!! I had zero idea that the fountain pen "community" (?) was this intense! This actually makes a ton of sense and I really like the idea of being able to have a pen that puts less strain on your hands and wrist. And honestly, 30-50 is far less than I expected for a good fountain pen. Like I said in the chat earlier, I dabbled in quill pens (which I now know are called "dip pens") and some of them were ridiculously expensive. Fountain pens honestly seem like a much cheaper alternative!

ALSO THE INK?? HELLOO?? ugh that is SO cool! like i'm SUCH a sucker for anything I can customize in strange and unusual ways............I'm so tempted to buy a fountain pen and start practicing so I can use those interesting inks.

Would you have any recommendations for a starter fountain pen? Or sites that sell such fountain pens and ink? I'm quite intrigued now and perhaps my next paycheck will go towards this fascinating hobby...

I do really like the idea of "functional hedonism". I use a lot of that in my daily life to keep myself engaged with daily activities - like buying interesting toothpaste and a nice toothbrush to remind myself to brush my teeth, or a fascinating waterbottle so I drink more water. I like the idea of elevating the mundane to a more pleasurable level :3

[Rosaria Delacroix]

Would you have any recommendations for a starter fountain pen? Or sites that sell such fountain pens and ink?

Oh yes- there's whole communities around it! Two of the larger areas of congregation are the subreddit /r/fountainpens, which have voted with Diamine on producing special colors for a particular year that their community votes on, and a forum called The Fountain Pen Network, which is very old and rather established.

There's a huge range in prices, of course- but as long as you're mindful about your purchasing and consumption, it's a hobby you can engage in quite cheaply, especially as ink is very economical- I use an extra-fine or fine nib on all of my pens, and even with daily writing of 3-4 A4 sized pages in my diary, I am only just beginning to close in to finishing out 30mL of ink, over five or so years. You can also veer into the outlandishly lavish by chasing say, special limited edition luxury models- but there's a pen out there to fit just about anyone's budget and preference.

My go to recommendation for anyone wanting to try out a fountain pen is the Platinum Preppy- I think it might particularly appeal to some users on here, as it has a very y2k coloured-transparent plastic electronics feel to it: it's about six Canadian dollars, its light in the hand, it shows off its large ink capacity- and comes pre-loaded with a very sturdy, generously sized cartridge that matches the body of the pen (you can refill it with a blunted syringe and a bottle of ink for years, as I have, or purchase new cartridges for a very reasonable price, about 1.25CAD for 2 of them when I visit my local penshop.)

The Preppy has two great features for newcomers: super impressive sealing tech in the build that has been tested by community members as lasting quite well upwards of a year: that is, you can cap the pen, and it won't dry out for at least a year, so at any point you can pick it up and begin writing as if no time at all had passed. This is very, very impressive among fountain pens: which ideally benefit from daily use, but most agree should be used weekly, or else maintained to set aside properly to avoid clogging issues. (Nothing a bit of warm water can't fix in many cases, or else the tiniest drop of a gentle, very dilute ammonia cleaning solution.)

Additionally, their nibs are buttery smooth- and very, very comparable to more expensive offerings by the parent company: you can get a gorgeous writing experience for a fraction of the price. And- if you'd like to upgrade, they also offer a Platinum Plaisir, which features the same nib- and a pretty aluminum body: which offers a sturdier pen without the lingering smell or heft of copper bodies, (though some enjoy those and the unique patina you can develop!)

JetPens is also a popular retailer in the states- I'm Canadian, so most of my store familiarity would differ/not be as cost effective with shipping, depending on where you're at.

[kasperkat]

Oh yes- there's whole communities around it! Two of the larger areas of congregation are the subreddit /r/fountainpens, which have voted with Diamine on producing special colors for a particular year that their community votes on, and a forum called The Fountain Pen Network, which is very old and rather established.

There's a huge range in prices, of course- but as long as you're mindful about your purchasing and consumption, it's a hobby you can engage in quite cheaply, especially as ink is very economical- I use an extra-fine or fine nib on all of my pens, and even with daily writing of 3-4 A4 sized pages in my diary, I am only just beginning to close in to finishing out 30mL of ink, over five or so years. You can also veer into the outlandishly lavish by chasing say, special limited edition luxury models- but there's a pen out there to fit just about anyone's budget and preference.

My go to recommendation for anyone wanting to try out a fountain pen is the Platinum Preppy- I think it might particularly appeal to some users on here, as it has a very y2k coloured-transparent plastic electronics feel to it: it's about six Canadian dollars, its light in the hand, it shows off its large ink capacity- and comes pre-loaded with a very sturdy, generously sized cartridge that matches the body of the pen (you can refill it with a blunted syringe and a bottle of ink for years, as I have, or purchase new cartridges for a very reasonable price, about 1.25CAD for 2 of them when I visit my local penshop.)

The Preppy has two great features for newcomers: super impressive sealing tech in the build that has been tested by community members as lasting quite well upwards of a year: that is, you can cap the pen, and it won't dry out for at least a year, so at any point you can pick it up and begin writing as if no time at all had passed. This is very, very impressive among fountain pens: which ideally benefit from daily use, but most agree should be used weekly, or else maintained to set aside properly to avoid clogging issues. (Nothing a bit of warm water can't fix in many cases, or else the tiniest drop of a gentle, very dilute ammonia cleaning solution.)

Additionally, their nibs are buttery smooth- and very, very comparable to more expensive offerings by the parent company: you can get a gorgeous writing experience for a fraction of the price. And- if you'd like to upgrade, they also offer a Platinum Plaisir, which features the same nib- and a pretty aluminum body: which offers a sturdier pen without the lingering smell or heft of copper bodies, (though some enjoy those and the unique patina you can develop!)

JetPens is also a popular retailer in the states- I'm Canadian, so most of my store familiarity would differ/not be as cost effective with shipping, depending on where you're at.

Wow! I googled the pen you mentioned and it's only about $7 in USD, which is SUPER cheap. Also, being able to buy refills easily is a super bonus for me, as when I'm getting started with something, I like to keep it as a low-stress as I can! Also having it not dry out is a HUGE bonus. I have the craziest ADHD and I will legitimately forget about something I wanted to do for months without meaning to.

But the copper smell - is that guaranteed? How pervasive is it? I've had a few sketchbooks that used copper for binding and I had to stop using them because the smell bothered me so much.

[Rosaria Delacroix]

But the copper smell - is that guaranteed? How pervasive is it? I've had a few sketchbooks that used copper for binding and I had to stop using them because the smell bothered me so much.

Ah, sorry, I may have been unclear while writing in my previous reply- I was quite tired after a pretty eventful interview and day. The Platinum Preppy has a plastic body, and the Platinum Plaisir (if you later wanted to try out a metal body) is made of aluminium- neither will leave a coppery smell on your hands!

There are just other fountain pens with copper bodies that can develop a unique patina overtime from handling and skin oils- and those tend to be very contentious on whether people love or hate using them, haha.

[Rosaria Delacroix]

This thread also reminded me last night that I really ought to add a picture of my fountain pen collection onto my website- since I mention the inks and pens I use in my FAQ!



From top to bottom:

- Extra-Fine Light Rose Pink Lamy Safari
- Fine Peony Blossom Kaweco Perkeo
- Fine Night Cherry Blossom Sailor Shikiori
- Fine Pink Platinum Preppy
- Fine Girl Pink Pilot Kakuno
- Extra-Fine Cream Lamy Safari
- Fine White Muji Fountain Pen.

I most often write with the pink Lamy Safari- its purported to be an EF grind, but there's often variability in Lamy nibs, so it writes a bit thicker: more similar to something between a fine and a medium. I've since added a sparkly rhinestone on the top and some Hello Kitty nail stickers onto the pen body for fun too.

It turns out that Sailor's feedback isn't really up my alley unfortunately, but it's a really beautiful pen and was a pretty cheap way to figure that out for myself before scooping up a Pro-Gear or something.

When I'm on campus, I'll usually bring my small My Melody themed pencil case to hold them all in- and I typically bring both Lamys, the Preppy, and the Kakuno, since being able to determine at a glance when I need to swap pens, and having pens that write readily and can hold a decent amount of ink is important.

And from said FAQ, which still holds true: "Most typically, I'm mixing up custom blends of ink on spur of the moment whimsy at each refill, but especially favour pink and purple tones. The inks I often reach for are from Diamine's range, and favourites include: Hope Pink and Electric Pink, with a tinge of Enchanted Ocean."