Fountain Pens

[Petrov]

Due to my injured and arthritic trigger fingers I recently switched to using fountain pens since they require no pressure and aggravate my hand much less.
Writing with a fountain pen is a really pleasant experience for me and I dont know how but it makes my hand writing much neater and brings the joy of writing to me.
I had a couple of class mates look at me funny and weird and ask me what the hell that thing in my hand was and how does it work.
Any one else here writes with fountain pens?

 

[Changed]

While I don't use them exclusively I do enjoy using them in the office. I have a fondness for my Pelikan 805, but find myself using my Pelikan demonstrator, Namiki, or Lamny Safari the most.

The do, indeed, make writing a joy.

Chip

 

[EventHorizon]

I use a Dunhill AD2000 fountain pen. Love it. I have a matching ballpoint as well. I use the fountain for taking meeting notes and writing letters (yes, I use snail mail still) and the ballpoint for most receipts as the glossy paper used most often doesn't take the ink from the fountain.

 

[steve123]

I've got some weird fantasy about having a fancy damascus steel fountain pen. And a matching knife, fork and spoon set. Where do I get all these crazy desires anyhow???

 

[ORD]

When I sign docs, I have a really nice Pelikan Souveran Black n' Blue M600 Fine point with that I keep filled with royal blue ink I was gifted many, MANY years ago. Still going strong to this day and a joy to write/sign with!!

 

[shulette]

I have been using fountain pens for over 20 years. I made the switch because my script is very small and I tend to grip a pen or pencil very tightly which resulted in cramped hands and a large callous on my finger. After switching to fountain pens those problems went away. I swap between Pelikan, Mont Blanc, Bexley, Sailor, Conway Stewart, and a few others. The Sailor Professional Gear pen with a fine nib is my absolute favorite. I cannot use any nib larger than a fine because of my small handwriting. All of my pens are bottle fill and that can be messy if you aren't careful and you need to make sure your pen is full before you leave the house (I don't carry those little supplemental fill bottles). I have had numerous people warn me about flying with fountain pens and having the pen 'burp' ink due to altitude changes. I have never had that happen and I use to fly quite frequently. Lastly you have to be careful about the paper you use to prevent feathering. I find that either the cheap notebooks or the expensive notebooks work best. The middle of the road quality notebooks give me poor results. I should also mention that I write left-handed which adds to the fun.

 

[Deputy D.A.]

Virtually everyday I write with one of my fountain pens. May sound trite and silly, but older methods such as a fountain pen, straight razor, etc. give me a sense of simpler, better times. I still like to occasionally send a handwritten letter or note to my wife, family, and friends; it just seems to have a more personal feeling than an e-mail, text, etc.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

I've been using fountain pens for over a decade. Have a number of Waterman's, as well as one that I'd requested our resident pen-maker to create for me. I much prefer to use these (even though I too am writing left-handed) over the typical ball-trash-point pen. There's just something to be said for an iridium nib. I was once a 'recording secretary' for the union I was in, and got to taking notes pretty much verbatim.

That came in handy very much, whilst taking university courses as well. Though I will say, all these bottle-filled fountain pens don't help my shooting, reloading, or marksmanship any better. Well, I guess the notes that I take for my loads comes into play, eh?

This will be accepted and agreed-upon by those who know, and shunned and ridiculed by 'the great un-washed'. (to take a quote from one of our esteemed colleagues)

One thing I haven't done though, is gotten into "blending inks" in a presidential style. I don't need that, at all. Anyone?

 

[MarinePMI]

I don't use fountain pens, but on occasion I do break out a calligraphy pen, when I want the writing to look nice. A throw back to my childhood years I suppose, and a mother that felt discipline came in many forms, one of them formal handwriting, and was used exclusively when my father was deployed. I hated it then (despised it really), but look back and am in many ways grateful I was made to learn it.

Virtually everyday I write with one of my fountain pens. May sound trite and silly, but older methods such as a fountain pen, straight razor, etc. give me a sense of simpler, better times. I still like to occasionally send a handwritten letter or note to my wife, family, and friends; it just seems to have a more personal feeling than an e-mail, text, etc.

I tend to agree about some of the older methods/ways; I just started using a badger hair brush for shaving (about 3 months now). I (finally) now understand why my grandfather swore they gave you the best/closest shaves over those "new and expensive" cans of wonder cream.

Not everything new, is necessarily better, eh?

 

[MarinePMI]

I should also mention that I write left-handed which adds to the fun.

You might give look at "Copperplate" script/cursive. It was a true bitch to learn, being right-handed (did I mention my mother was evil to me as a child?)...only to learn later it was originally created specifically for left handed people, so that they didn't smear the ink as they wrote.

Just a thought...

Here's an example (though slightly different than what I learned).

 

[fx77]

Used to love fountain pens, but every one I had, no matter how much it cost leaked or:
When It sat in my shirt pocket, the heat of my body would seemingly vaporize the ink, and it would condense in the pen's grip. Then I would take off the cap to write, and my fingers would get smeared in black ink, yeech! No more..
Switched to roller ball...

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Used to love fountain pens, but every one I had, no matter how much it cost leaked or:
When It sat in my shirt pocket, the heat of my body would seemingly vaporize the ink, and it would condense in the pen's grip. Then I would take off the cap to write, and my fingers would get smeared in black ink, yeech! No more..
Switched to roller ball...

I have heard of this, a number of times. I've personally never experienced it, or anything close. Not even once. Sorry it happened to you.

 

[xdpatriot]

I use a carpenters pencil and a big chief pad

 

[DocB]

Had to use fountain pens to write cursive in elementary school. Later in life found Platignum italic/calligraphic fountain pens which didn't leak all over, which were inexpensive and nice until teachers I worked with decided they like them more. Platignum went out of business and I haven't been able to find something with similar feel and cost since then.

Any suggestions for a replacement?

Thanks,
DocB

 

[Switchblade]

I have no problem using a fountain pen...until I see that I have swiped half of what I have written and have an ink stained hand a blotchy crap paper. Each time I have bought a decent pen, I always put them in a box after 45 days or so because I just cannot get past making a black ink mess...maybe one of these days

 

[Changed]

You might give look at "Copperplate" script/cursive. It was a true bitch to learn, being right-handed (did I mention my mother was evil to me as a child?)...only to learn later it was originally created specifically for left handed people, so that they didn't smear the ink as they wrote.

Just a thought...

Here's an example (though slightly different than what I learned).

Marine,

Have you ever experimented with a flexible nib on a pen? Performance Flex - Vintage Fountain Pens, Flexible Nibs, Super Flex Nibs, Wet Noodles, and Penmanship

With your "training" I bet you would have great results.

Chip

 

[MarinePMI]

Actually, yes. I have a few of those, and they do indeed give nice results. The link you posted shows basically a calligrapher's pen. Like so many things, once you use them, no one else can use them without ruining the nib. The nibs conform to your personal style of writing, so if someone uses it, you know almost immediately, as the nib will change (permanently) and never write the same way again.

 

[Petrov]

I have no problem using a fountain pen...until I see that I have swiped half of what I have written and have an ink stained hand a blotchy crap paper. Each time I have bought a decent pen, I always put them in a box after 45 days or so because I just cannot get past making a black ink mess...maybe one of these days

I am a left hand person who takes lots of notes, never had that problem. I think you need better ink and paper combo.

 

[Petrov]

Had to use fountain pens to write cursive in elementary school. Later in life found Platignum italic/calligraphic fountain pens which didn't leak all over, which were inexpensive and nice until teachers I worked with decided they like them more. Platignum went out of business and I haven't been able to find something with similar feel and cost since then.

Any suggestions for a replacement?

Thanks,
DocB

This one is a stub Italic nib Fountain Pens | TWSBI Mini - Black, 1.1mm Stub Italic | GouletPens.com

If you go back couple of categories you can find all sorts of nibs to suite your taste.

 

[Handloader]

Due to my injured and arthritic trigger fingers I recently switched to using fountain pens since they require no pressure and aggravate my hand much less.
Writing with a fountain pen is a really pleasant experience for me and I dont know how but it makes my hand writing much neater and brings the joy of writing to me.
I had a couple of class mates look at me funny and weird and ask me what the hell that thing in my hand was and how does it work.
Any one else here writes with fountain pens?

Forgive the direct link, but there are many adaptive pieces of equipment that can assist you with your stated condition. Often the "Trigger-finger" can be surgically managed with alterations to the annular pulleys. That said, this is a catalogue I used many times over when I practiced in Occupational Therapy. Hope it helps.....
Patterson Medical - Aids to Daily Living
With a favorite preference for http://www.pattersonmedical.com/app.aspx?cmd=getProductDetail&key=070_921136022

 

[Unknown]

I love fountain pens. This morphed into learning about papers, inks and other writing tools. One trick is to refill used ink cartridges using an old syringe rather than buying new cartridges every time. That way, you can use the much cheaper ink out of bottles. But be careful as some inks are only for dip pens, and if you put those inks into a nice fountain pen, you will really clog it up.

To unclog pens, soak them alternately in hot water and alcohol. If you get a cheap one and pull it apart, you can learn much about how they work, and how to fix them.

 

[eli polite]

I have always loved a good fountain pen I have 2 montblanc pens and I love them both

 

[DocB]

Petrov,

I'll look at their pens closely later. Price is a little higher than the Platignum (10X) but not out of my range.

Thanks,
DocB

 

[RJW]

Used my fountain pens for 40 years, everytime a signature was required for business. Waterman, Monte Blanc, Pelikan and Dupont, all equally favored. Still use them for hand written notes and letters, but not used nearly enough. Maybe it is time to write the great American classic.

 

[RSA-Raven]

Interesting to see how many of us enjoy fountain pens...
I suspect it has something to do with our temperament and appreciation for well made things...
It's the only pens I write with. a quick glance over my desk, I count about 7 of them.
Mostly cheapish, but still way better than any roller ball or other pens. I have a Waterman & few other very expensive ones, but they actually live in my safe with my rifles...
I love having a few colours of ink around & sometimes even mix to get own colours. Pilot (Namiki) makes an amazing rage of inks but not available in South Africa

Namiki :: Parts & Accesories - Iroshizuku Bottled Fountain Pen Ink

Rgds
R-Raven

 

[xs hedspace]

Egad! I suffered with fountain pens which leaked in my shirt pockets, and smeared my fingers with ink back in grade school, like before 1950. Drop them on the floor, and the nib would turn into a forked tail if it hit point first. Parents gave me a matched gold plated set of Watermans for graduation from high school---never used them. Remember the nerd IBM pocket protectors? Guess why you needed them......

 

[Petrov]

Egad! I suffered with fountain pens which leaked in my shirt pockets, and smeared my fingers with ink back in grade school, like before 1950. Drop them on the floor, and the nib would turn into a forked tail if it hit point first. Parents gave me a matched gold plated set of Watermans for graduation from high school---never used them. Remember the nerd IBM pocket protectors? Guess why you needed them......

You need them when you have crappy leaky pens?