|
Post by Lupine on Jan 28, 2021 17:07:56 GMT
Welcome all who can offer their voice of experience. There are many kinds of writing instruments because there are many kinds of people and to each her own yadda, yadda, yadda. Of course that's true, but your experiences are valuable. You have all been incredibly helpful to me since I jumped on here. I'm the kind of person who likes advice. I take advice. What advice do you have? To start this, I'll share that I just yesterday bought a yellow lacquer Eros Yookers for about $31 USD with a 1.0 tip. It's a felt tipped pen that uses a converter or cartridge so you can fill it with your fountain pen ink and it is exactly perfect for writing that requires stopping and pausing for a long time and then starting up again. So, crosswords, grocery lists, and flipping through dates on my calendar. Yes, I think a fountain pen can take a little pause for reflection, but most of my pens give me a tiny balk when starting up after a long pause with the cap off. (I suppose because the ink evaporates a little from tip of the nib (?).) Anyway, this Yookers is brilliant for just those occasions, and probably very, very good for sketching for the same reason. The Eros cap snaps on and off magnetically and that makes it even faster to grab and jot. It magnetically posts too which is cool. The "yellow" version is NOT a sunny yellow. It's kinds like this: www.mountainofink.com/blog/ink-institute-zhonghe-xinlu (sorta), which is great for my personal aesthetics. There is almost no grip section. I just hold the barrel, so that's not great, and the felt tip refill part screws out a little very easily so you have to twist it back in a lot and that shouldn't really happen. But it uses my own bottled ink. That's the beauty part right there.
|
|
|
Post by sails on Jan 28, 2021 17:49:07 GMT
Price does not necessarily reflect quality in the fountain pen world. I get a great writing experience from my sub-$50 fountain pens, the obvious Pilot Metropolitans, the Lamy Safaris/AlStars, but also the Hero, Wing Sung, Jinhao, vintage Sheaffer school pens, Esterbrooks, and Osmiroids
|
|
|
Post by Catida on Jan 28, 2021 19:23:09 GMT
Lupine, Have you had that pen long enough to say how durable the felt tip is? I see there are replacement tip units available. I like fibre tip pens with waterproof pigment, like Sacura Pigma, but the tip always wears off before the pen runs out of ink. Not sure if the problem lays within the pens or if my hand is too heavy. Or maybe it's because they're called "drawing pens", but I like to write with them Anyway, I was thrilled when I found the Copic Multiliner SP, a fibre tip pen with a replaceable tip, AND the finest tip size is 0.03! (Not really a writing instrument, with a tip so small, but great for drawing tiny details.) So far I only have one and have not needed to replace the tip yet (it's not that often that I have to draw tiny details...). But if changing the tip turns out to be easy enough, I should probably buy a couple more for other tip sizes. On the other hand my disposable fibre tip markers last a lot longer now that I mostly write my letters with fountain pens
|
|
|
Post by although on Jan 28, 2021 21:18:30 GMT
Here are a few thoughts:
Desk Pen - I keep a desk pen (fountain pen) on my office desk all the time. They are great for something that you use to jot down a quick note. You just stick it back in the holder.
Penwell - I don't own one (I use proper desk pens) but, there are holders that are designed to allow a pocket pen to function like a desk pen. You jam the cap of the pen into a snug foam liner in the holder. Then treat it like it's a desk pen.
Drafting pens - Back in the day (pre CAD days), draftsmen used pens that were a lot like fountain pens. They had thin tubular nibs that worked well with straight edges and T-squares and stencils and such. I have a plastic carousel made by Koh-i-noor that can hold something like 8 pens (with different nib sizes) that clamps to the top of your tilted drafting table. It has a sponge in the bottom of it that you add a bit of distilled water to periodically. It keeps the humidity high around the pens so that the ink in the nibs doesn't dry up so quickly. Once again, you put them back in their holders when not in use. I don't know if the drafting pens are more resistant to drying out than open fountain pen nibs, it might be worth doing some experimenting?
Anyway... That's what leapt to mind when you talked about pens drying out while pondering.
Cheers! mike
|
|
|
Post by jamberrychoux on Jan 29, 2021 2:01:28 GMT
To start this, I'll share that I just yesterday bought a yellow lacquer Eros Yookers for about $31 USD with a 1.0 tip. It's a felt tipped pen that uses a converter or cartridge so you can fill it with your fountain pen ink and it is exactly perfect for writing that requires stopping and pausing for a long time and then starting up again. So, crosswords, grocery lists, and flipping through dates on my calendar. Yes, I think a fountain pen can take a little pause for reflection, but most of my pens give me a tiny balk when starting up after a long pause with the cap off. (I suppose because the ink evaporates a little from tip of the nib (?).) Anyway, this Yookers is brilliant for just those occasions, and probably very, very good for sketching for the same reason. Wow, this is a new product that is something I definitely need! I was so excited to read about it. I had no idea that this type of pen even existed. What store did you purchase yours from?
|
|
|
Post by stompie on Jan 29, 2021 4:23:34 GMT
I do not like writing with a pen that gives a single consistent line so I use mostly Italic/stub nib fountain pens.
My best go to pens are made in the UK by Manuscript Pen Co. I get these at The Range when they have them on specials, which is quite often. The pen plus 3 nibs, Broad, Medium and Fine and 2 cartridges for £3.00. They are real hardy pens and I have a lot of them!
Yes, ink dries out in them, because some stand (lay in a storage box)for over a year without being used, but I just dip them in some water and off they go again.
I always liked a fibre tip pen back in the day but I see that here the Yookers is £50 and nib units are £14. The nib is supposedly good for a year with "normal use" whatever that may be.
Like Sails, I get a lot of fun out of sub £50 fountain pens and the Jinhao especially is a very easy nib to grind to the shape and size I want however, for my best writing experience, I go to my dip pen nibs, I feel real good when dipping into ink bottles and then writing with them.
|
|
|
Post by Lupine on Jan 29, 2021 12:59:43 GMT
Price does not necessarily reflect quality in the fountain pen world. I get a great writing experience from my sub-$50 fountain pens, the obvious Pilot Metropolitans, the Lamy Safaris/AlStars, but also the Hero, Wing Sung, Jinhao, vintage Sheaffer school pens, Esterbrooks, and Osmiroids This is such an important point because those pen makers you mention really do catch my eye, but I'm so confused by their price! I own an Esterbrook and it is a very, very good writer. I agree, but it still cost me above $100. I really want to try a pretty Wing Sung, but was worried that I might be "wasting money" because there must be SOMETHING sub-par. I've been an idiot. I'm going to try a less expensive pen. Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by Lupine on Jan 29, 2021 13:08:24 GMT
Catida it sounds like stompie can get a year's worth of writing out of a felt tip. I see the new screw in felt tip parts cost about $17 USD, and that is a consideration. Yes, I guessed that these might be excellent for drawing. I wanted a smaller tip (.8) but that was sold out for the Yookers on sale that I bought. I'm glad to read it might've been too skinny for writing. @jamberrychoux I bought it on sale at Pen Chalet, but they are available at Jet Pens, Pen Boutique, Goulet Pens, Atlas Stationers (to name a few). I bought online, without touching or trying because of the pandemic. I had to be brave!
|
|
|
Post by Lupine on Jan 29, 2021 13:17:01 GMT
Here are a few thoughts: Desk Pen - I keep a desk pen (fountain pen) on my office desk all the time. They are great for something that you use to jot down a quick note. You just stick it back in the holder. Penwell - I don't own one (I use proper desk pens) but, there are holders that are designed to allow a pocket pen to function like a desk pen. You jam the cap of the pen into a snug foam liner in the holder. Then treat it like it's a desk pen. Drafting pens - Back in the day (pre CAD days), draftsmen used pens that were a lot like fountain pens. They had thin tubular nibs that worked well with straight edges and T-squares and stencils and such. I have a plastic carousel made by Koh-i-noor that can hold something like 8 pens (with different nib sizes) that clamps to the top of your tilted drafting table. It has a sponge in the bottom of it that you add a bit of distilled water to periodically. It keeps the humidity high around the pens so that the ink in the nibs doesn't dry up so quickly. Once again, you put them back in their holders when not in use. I don't know if the drafting pens are more resistant to drying out than open fountain pen nibs, it might be worth doing some experimenting? Anyway... That's what leapt to mind when you talked about pens drying out while pondering. Cheers! mike Okay, this is fascinating. Yes, the desk pen. I have SERIOUSLY looked at beautiful Penwells several times. It is the perfect answer for sitting at a desk. Nakaya makes a penwell that goes with their desk pen (that I own) and guess what? I think it's ugly. I loved the info on drafting! My Sister and Husband drew/draw interiors and exteriors professionally and drew by hand in college. Your Koh-i-noor carousel sounds amazing. I went down the Google rabbit hole with Koh-i-noor and ended up at squirel hair paint brushes. That's a cool word. Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by sails on Jan 29, 2021 14:41:38 GMT
Price does not necessarily reflect quality in the fountain pen world. I get a great writing experience from my sub-$50 fountain pens, the obvious Pilot Metropolitans, the Lamy Safaris/AlStars, but also the Hero, Wing Sung, Jinhao, vintage Sheaffer school pens, Esterbrooks, and Osmiroids This is such an important point because those pen makers you mention really do catch my eye, but I'm so confused by their price! I own an Esterbrook and it is a very, very good writer. I agree, but it still cost me above $100. I really want to try a pretty Wing Sung, but was worried that I might be "wasting money" because there must be SOMETHING sub-par. I've been an idiot. I'm going to try a less expensive pen. Thanks! You are NOT an idiot. But in what universe does an Estie cost $100? 😱 We've paid, at most, $30, and they're among the easiest pens to re-sac.
I have perhaps too many Wing Sung, etc, but I read a review of a new model and I absolutely must try one, but then Amazon sells them in groups of four or five, and it works out to about $3 or $4 per pen. So I tell myself, 'Ohhh, go ahead, you'll have spares!’ 😜
And then I'm looking at dozens of pens and scolding myself.
|
|
|
Post by distractedmom on Jan 30, 2021 17:36:58 GMT
My favorite of the "cheapish" pens is the Pilot Metropolitan. Medium nib writes like butter and it's good and sturdy. I, like sails, have a tendency to buy the multi-packs of the Wing Sungs. My most recent set was the 3010. I like to have lots of cheap pens around so I can keep them filled with all of my inks.
|
|
|
Post by sails on Jan 30, 2021 17:43:16 GMT
My favorite of the "cheapish" pens is the Pilot Metropolitan. Medium nib writes like butter and it's good and sturdy. I, like sails , have a tendency to buy the multi-packs of the Wing Sungs. My most recent set was the 3010. I like to have lots of cheap pens around so I can keep them filled with all of my inks. There's a 3010? I stopped at the 3009.
I am in SO much trouble.
|
|
|
Post by distractedmom on Jan 31, 2021 17:41:12 GMT
sails, I was in a mood last night and ordered a set of six Jinhao 992 pens and a set of 12 of the Jinhao shark pens. It came out to less than $2/pen. Maybe I’ll share, maybe I’ll just keep hoarding.
|
|
oregonclaire
Pencils
Posts: 96
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
Country I live in is: USA
|
Post by oregonclaire on Jan 31, 2021 18:03:28 GMT
My favorite pen is a Jinhao 994 that was 98 cents on eBay. My next favorite pen is a Jinhao 51A that was $1.35 on eBay. I have two of the 994 now because one is for glitter ink I've never actually written with a pen that was more than about 10 bucks because my first fountain pen was a Parker Vector I bought when I was a freshman in college in 1997 and I used it for years and years. Then, when I started with this letter writing hobby, it was sort of like "You must be a responsible adult because you have small children who need shoes, so you can either buy a single more expensive pen and use the large bottle of blue ink you own, or buy lots of ink samples and cheap pens." I think you can guess which choice won I do want to get one of those shark pens, just for the cuteness factor!
|
|
|
Post by sails on Jan 31, 2021 18:55:31 GMT
My favorite pen is a Jinhao 994 that was 98 cents on eBay. My next favorite pen is a Jinhao 51A that was $1.35 on eBay. I have two of the 994 now because one is for glitter ink I've never actually written with a pen that was more than about 10 bucks because my first fountain pen was a Parker Vector I bought when I was a freshman in college in 1997 and I used it for years and years. Then, when I started with this letter writing hobby, it was sort of like "You must be a responsible adult because you have small children who need shoes, so you can either buy a single more expensive pen and use the large bottle of blue ink you own, or buy lots of ink samples and cheap pens." I think you can guess which choice won I do want to get one of those shark pens, just for the cuteness factor!
They are excellent writers, these Sharks! I also have the fude set, and it's as good as any I've used.
|
|