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Do you have 50 more cents?
Oh no. Word of caution: Dish soap will NOT kill all kinds of mould! At least not reliably.
I'm sorry that I can't help but maybe this picture of a kitten that looks like it's screaming at a flower will cheer you up?
Here is one on Amazon. They also come in clear.
Yeouch. I actually really like it, but I totally get it.
This is my favorite part about this hobby. If everyone liked the same thing, there would be one manufacturer making one pen. But we all like different stuff.
I have a Rembrandt, and I get what you mean. The metal part is weird and slippery.
I have the children's hospital edition. It was a limited edition, and it was the first one where each one was unique. There were only the solid colored ones at the time. Also, it has people holding hands around the cap, which is pretty cool.
I got it because part of the money was donated to a children's hospital. I probably wouldn't have gotten it otherwise, and I won't get another because I'm not really a fan. I just thought it was a good cause.
Great choices, How are you liking it so far?
Might I suggest a storage option for your ink samples. Holds 25 samples perfectly.
https://www.amazon.com/MTM-Multi-Gauge-Round-Shotshell/dp/B0051L2SJO
This one comes in a squeeze tube and you can poke the tiniest hole in the nozzle to allow for super precise application.
It’s five star loose leaf binder paper. It’s relatively smooth and heavy compared to others. FP ink doesn’t feather but if you’re using a juicy nib it will bleed. The only reason I use this instead for proper paper is because of the price. Being in school, I can go through 20 sheets in a day. I bought 1600 sheets for about $45.
I'd say you're maybe a bit paranoid, but the pen is clearly important to you, so don't take it to school if you are worried about it. It's a pretty durable pen, but bringing it to school does expose it to the risk of being lost or stolen.
If you're looking for something more discreet, a Pilot Metropolitan is a good choice. You can get them in black, they're good writers, and they're cheap (~$10 if you buy at the right time). Another option is ultra-cheap Chinese pens, like the Wing Sung 3001:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DGF74TY
They're a bit more showy than a black Metro, but they perform well and they're a great deal at 5 for $14.
FOUND IT! (most likely)
Best screenshot I could take. Judging by the large step from the barrel to the section , absence of threads in lieu of a snap cap and the un-ergonomic shape of the pen, I'm guessing it's some random kit pen he's using as a prop.
Almost certainly the product in this amazon listing, or something very similar to it. There's a ton of cheap Chinesium "luxury" fountain pens on amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0797LMTMR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_q8D0BbYKHBDSQ
I learned working in public safety using one of these.
You weren't allowed to have the script touching the base line, nor indent line, nor have uneven spacing. You get used to it after about 50 pages of writing.
I had a minor outpatient surgery today and my doctor whipped out a fountain pen to sign his side of the consent documents. I was so startled I commented “oh! A fellow fountain pen user! Nice pen!”
It was a totally unexpected fun little chat we had, pre-anesthesia, about pens. Made me happy.
It was especially unexpected because the Navy has rules and regulations about types of pen and ink that are allowed to be used (spoiler: NOT fountain pens! black or blue-black ink only in ball point pens) and this was a military doctor at a military hospital. I get strange looks at work when I use my fountain pen because it’s so SO unusual for Sailors to use anything other than this basic skillcraft pen .
Nope. There are no retractable fountain pens in that price range. The closest you'll get are the Japanese versions with the steel nibs, which can be found on Amazon for around $80.
Care to explain how this is a rip off of the Metro?
To my eye, it is a standard cigar shaped fountain pen, different section than the metro, different barrel band than the metro.
Honestly, this is closer to the Metro than the OP pen, and it isn't all that close either.
Get an ultrasonic cleaner. I was on the fence for months. I use it nearly every other day, and not just on pens. That thing has paid for itself many times over. Here's the one I got - wow over 4 years ago and it's still kicking.
Here you go
Karter Scientific 208U2 Plastic Test Tube Rack for 15/17 mm Tubes, Holds 50, Detachable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005Z4QWIK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pWFDCbW4RRGJ5
$5.50 on Amazon and Prime eligible.
Japanese pens are much cheaper on the grey market.
More like $1 each.
That would make it more like $2,080 over 80 years, though I suspect those pens last longer than 2 weeks.
Currently $40 in Goulet pens: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/travelers-notebook-brown-passport?variant=11884780290091
$20 at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Midori-Travelers-Notebook-Starter-Passport/dp/B01BVJPP0I
The paper is alright.. it does tend to ghost and show writing on the back of pages. I’d recommend a Tomoe river paper insert.
Besides that, it’s super customizable and I love it for that. You can add pockets/folders to carry things like business cards etc.
It is a Triple Pen Case and Note Jotter by Metier Life. Triple Pen Case and Note Jotter by Metier Life https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071WQ7RFW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Nr9oCbFNQ5CF6
I'd guess there's others like this although cloth cases are not in the majority. My one complaint is the pen slots are a bit narrow the center one is stiched wide enough for the vac 700 but the two edge ones have quite a bit of resistance getting the pen back out, for any narrower pens it wouldn't be a problem though.
Lamy Blue ink is erasable. Lamy even sells a special pen with an “eraser” on one end, and a felt tip on the other with Lamy Blue Ink in it. It lets you erase a mistake, then correct it.
I got it here. Unfortunately it looks like it isn't available right now. But they make it in a few other colors.
At $70 you've hit the magic number to be able to get a Platinum 3776 on Amazon.
3 pen case, I'd go with either a rickshaw bags clover case, or a Nock case (either sinclair or Lookout)
edit for links:
Platinum 3776, Black, Medium Nib
This plus the Converter is under $70 for a great pen with a gold nib, and cap that will keep the pen from drying out for over a year.
Well the obvious recommendation for this is 350mL of Pilot blue/black. Should last a lifetime! Other than that, it would be worth checking out the various blue/blacks offered by Diamine, Pilot/Iroshizuku, Lamy, Monteverde, Pelikan, and Robert Oster.
I was checking my wish list and found this beauty on Amazon dropped from $130~ to $88.56. You only get the deal if you buy a Medium point in blue / rhodium which happened to be the one I wanted. I hope someone else needs one like I did. P.S., there are only 7 left! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002ZQB10/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I got it at a convention but I found it on Amazon! There's also an Orange Tabby version.
Pilot E95 is a really pretty pen. It's not pink, though, but is different and classy. Takes the con40 converter which isn't optimal but works.
Rohrer and Klinger Cassia has pretty much become my favorite non-blue/black ink of all time. That purple is worthy of consideration.
Yep, the consensus is that it's the same stuff. I bought one of the 70ml bottles off of Amazon, since they have an inner cap to help with filling. I figure when I run out of that, I'll buy one of those 350ml bottles and refill.
https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-fountain-70ml-Black-japan/dp/B001AX3TA4/
It's also worth noting that they sell 30ml bottles for only $8, if you're really just looking to dip your toe in.
What I usually do is take the J Herbin bottles and dump the contents directly into a 50 ml sample vial (Amazon). This way I don't have to limit myself to bottles that are actually designed with the use case in mind.
If you love Perle Noir, then this is an inexpensive way to keep using it effectively.
EDIT: As a bonus, J Herbin labels peel fairly nicely, allowing them to be transferred directly on to the vial.
The MTM Case-Gard shotshell case...bought mine via Amazon, but sometimes available at local bigbox stores and sports/outdoors stores. Here is the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/MTM-Multi-Gauge-Shotshell-Forest/dp/B004Y7CKT4/
I’ve learnt some Spencerian from Michael Sull, but he has a book that is specifically for American Cursive:
The Art of Cursive Penmanship: A Personal Handwriting Program for Adults https://www.amazon.com/dp/1510730524/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WAQC5RPT21SZ521SDM50?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 which might be a good resource.
The plastic Parker 51 and it's descendants, no is going to blink an eye at you pulling it out, most will think it is a mid level ball point. For a simple, no-nonsense pen or two, go and grab a Jinhao 51a or two, or this set, a little more expensive than say AliExpress, but still a good price, and enjoy. Ink up with a Black, a Blue, and a Red ink. No one will know it is a fountain pen, they write well, and are not flashy.
Now, I don't understand you wanting to hide it, but that will work.
Happy Father's Day! What do you have now that you like? My initial thought is something like a Lamy 2000, a Pilot Custom 74 or Heritage 92, or this Sailor 1911 Large.
I've gotten compliments on my Yongsheng 052 (mislabeled in the listing on amazon as a Wing Sung. Even from people who aren't into pens. Compact (but weighty due to a brass body), balanced, seems well-made, and has a nice nib too.
Picasso does some lovely pens, and I think the quality of the nibs is a few steps above the Jinhao offerings -- better balance than a lot of the Hero pens as well. Although as with many brass-bodied offerings, a lot of their pens are a little bit back-heavy (but manageably so).
Hero has quite a wide variety of pen styles, some of which are lovely -- the catch is that build quality and balance of their pens can be a bit of a crapshoot. This is a good one to look at reviews for before buying. On a side note, I really need to do a post up of my trip to a couple stationary stores in China, since there were Hero pens you can't get online.
The Jinhao X450/X750 are nice and the Jinhao 159 as well if you like the more classic look -- just budget for nib replacements on them to get something a nit nicer (or at least plan on some tuning work). They become quite nice pens with a Goulet #6 nib.
Note I'm omitting Wing Sung -- great nibs, but the design is more functional than aesthetic (although there are some charms to the demonstrators).
If you want really striking pens and are willing to pay a slightly higher price, India has some gorgeous handmade pens. Asa, Gama, Ranga, and a ton of smaller companies doe hand-made pens turned out of ebonite and acrylic. The prices are a bit higher than your <$10 Chinese pens, but especially the demonstrators can be especially strking.
Oh man, buying someone who is into fountain pens a fountain pen without knowing anything about what the person likes is a Herculean task.
You may be better off buying some fountain pen ink and notebooks. Maybe look for some special edition inks like Montblanc The Beatles Psychadelic Purple and a couple nicer notebooks.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077VRM5NZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_2F4iDb8B3S0V2
Or a nice case - I have never had too many cases.
If you’re bent on getting him a pen, search eBay for a restored Sheaffer snorkel. You can probably get something for about $100 with a gold nib and, if the boss doesn’t have any they will think it is cool - and if they do have one, they’re probably already addicted.
I got a beautiful black Sheaffer Saratoga for $80 with a matching pencil. Not a white dot, but in beautiful condition.
It is a Pelikan M1000 Moonlight Raden Limited Edition. The Sunlight Raden costs $3500 at nibs.com, so you maybe are not so far off the target.
I came across this, courtesy of a friend. Many people know of the company Gerstner, who has made fine wood tool chests for many years - elegant and well-made, but not cheap. Many people also know that Harbor Freight has sold knockoffs of them for a while for just south of $100. But Costco has a version that is miles better in quality (than Harbor) for only $39.97 with free shipping. I picked one up and am amazed at the quality, including magnetic catches for a couple of the closures. All you need to do is purchase some pen trays, if you want, cut to fit the drawers, and you can have voluminous and nice-looking storage for a lot of pens, as well as tools and inks and whatever. Take a look here.
Any standard international converter should work. This seems to be the cheapest one that's eligible for Prime shipping. Then you can use any bottle of fountain pen ink you want, just don't buy calligraphy ink or India ink or drawing ink.
Wing Sung 698 - ~$15 off eBay, great nibs, piston-filler. Probably the best value of this lot.
Wing Sung 3003/3008 - $2 off eBay, great nibs. I can personally vouch for the 3003 because after trying one I've ordered a bunch more to give people to introduce people to fountain pens.
Metropolitan, $10-15 depending on sales. I still love using it even though I have much fancier pens now.
I've gotten compliments on my Yongsheng 052 (mislabeled in the listing on amazon as a Wing Sung. Even from people who aren't into pens. Compact (but weighty due to a brass body), balanced, seems well-made, and has a nice nib too.
Jinhao X750 & 159 pens are okay as long as you know how to tune a nib well. Their stock nibs suck though - so either fix 'em, buy a bunch of extra nibs, or swap in nibs from a better maker.
Platinum Preppie for $3. Looks like a gel pen, but hides a solid fountain pen nib. Eyedropper convertible as well, and that will hold a ton of ink.
Jinhao 9009 is rather nice (hooded), but the style is a tad gaudy
Some people here like the Jinhao 992, I dunno
Platinum 3776 on amazon, around $70. Gold nib, comes in a black version with gold trim. Get that, plus the converter, and it'll blow away anything else on your list.
https://smile.amazon.com/Platinum-3776-CENTURY-Black-nib/dp/B005KE5ZWO/
20 ml glass scintillation vials for lab use are great for ink. They have relatively wide mouths so most pens will fit nicely inside, are pretty strong, and don't leak. Unfortunately, they usually come in massive quantities.
Here is an amazon listing for a pack of 72, which is the smallest quantity I could find.
I had the exact problem with a Lamy nib (first safari was great, second was terrible). I used advice from two tutorials that I found and got it working well.
First, I followed the suggestions here for adjusting the tines. Mine were not level and I had to separate them a bit.
Secondly, I burnished the nib using this youtube tutorial.
Doing both of those things has made a useless nib write well, and it's gotten better as I've continued to use it.
The Jinhao 250 is NEVER $40. When buying cheap Chinese pens, unless shipping time is a factor, I would highly recommend using ebay.
I would recommend that pen to anyone who doesn't mind having a fairly broad and wet writer.
Hrrrrm, no. Ink is like about 98% water, and the difference in formulation between companies won’t make that much difference.
Pen caps have different designs, and some caps seal more air-tight than others.I think you’ve got the right idea using a plastic tub.
It may be overkill, but there humidity control packets from a company called Boveda. Serious collectors of things like cigars, marijuana, and certain types of tea use Boveda packs to keep their stashes in good condition. For pens you could use something like this inside your tub, and it should keep everything from drying out.
Just letting you know that they are usually cheaper on Amazon if you are in the US. Just look under other sellers. They are about the same base price but shipping is free.
Edit:Amazon link
Pilot Custom 74 or Platinum 3776 have Music nib options. Order from Japan via Amazon or eBay. Both brands are well regarded, in general.
Either one needs refill cartridges or piston converters to draw ink into them that are brand-specific.
Franklin Christoph has a music nib option, but a little more money. They have great customer service if you need help, too.
Consider avoiding Noodler's pens--cheaper, sure, but the recipient needs to know how/be willing to tinker around with them to get them working correctly. If you don't know what to look for or your recipient is not familiar with fountain pens, it could be a rather frustrating experience.
This ridiculous Jinhao. It is solid, thick metal and I'm pretty sure it would make a great self defense weapon. Way too heavy for anything but ceremonial use.
The only "fountain pen" I know of with a non-sharp-metal-nib is the Pentel Stylo "Plastic Fountain Pen."
It's not really a fountain pen, as it doesn't really have a nib with a visible slit for capillary action... and it also doesn't really look like a fountain pen. Tbh I'm not sure what the "nib" is made of / how it works. But it's interesting and writes rather well.
At my elementary school in Belgium, fountain pens were mandatory, and these were the loaner pens they would give you if you forgot your (proper) fountain pen at home that day.
https://www.cultpens.com/i/q/PN42517/pentel-stylo-jm11-plastic-nib-fountain-pen
As far as real fountain pens go though, yeah all of them by design have a sharp metal pointy bit and are eminently usable as makeshift shanks lol. The Waterman Carène with it's inlaid nib is probably the least shank-y I can think of, but it's very much so not cheap.
EDIT - here's the same "plastic fountain pen" idea but seemingly refillable instead of disposable:
https://www.amazon.com/Fountain-plastic-Pentel-Pulaman-Cartridge/dp/B00N9U7QOQ
Which model pen is this? It's kinda reminiscent of my MUJI and I'm digging it, and I wouldn't mind getting one to live alongside my Lx Ruthenium and my AL-Star :)
Thank for posting! I did one of these custom a while back and recently got another order, so I thought I'd show it off.
Since the capacity is so large, the burping phenomena will probably be worsened. However, the first one that I made has been used for about 6-7 months, and the owner hasn't made me aware of any problems.
I figure that if you fill when you are about 1/8 full, you should be fine.
The Kaweco calligraphy sport is a great pen for trying a stub nib—in part because if you don’t love it, you can buy Sport nib assemblies in lots of other sizes and they’re super easy to change, so you don’t have to worry about investing in a pen that you end up not liking to write with. Personally, I LOVE my Sport with the stub nib. It shows off cool inks like a champ!
For a little less money than the Kaweco Sport or the TWSBI ECO, TWSBI makes a bottled-ink-only plunger-fill pen called the GO ($19.50 from JetPens.com last time I checked) that you can also get in a 1.1 mm stub. It’s a little funky looking, but feels great in the hand.
https://www.jetpens.com/TWSBI-GO-Clear-Fountain-Pen-Stub-1.1-mm-Nib/pd/27626
But I think the sleeper choice—not fancy, but a glorious nib that will make your writing instantly more elegant and impressive—is the Pilot Plumix. You can buy one, in your choice of three colors, from JetPens.com for $7.50. OR you can go on Amazon and get a set of three, with fine, medium, and bold cursive italic nibs, a converter, and three packets of Pilot cartridges, for under $30.
https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Lettering-Calligraphy-Writing-Collection/dp/B07D7NFHP7
~$28 - Sailor lecoule (rekuru on amazon?)
https://www.amazon.com/Sailor-Pen-fountain-Rekuru-11-0311-330/dp/B00GD47TG0/
edit: this one is $28.42! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GD44GI4/ref=psdc_1085704_t1_B00GD47TG0
In case you would like to expand your prera collection, they are $30 with prime shipping all the time on Amazon, and $25-$29 regular shipping on Amazon all the time. Solid colors, transparent colors, even calligraphy (stub) nib. Here's a link! Sorry it's so long, I'm on mobile :) but maybe you are in Canada and I could be wrong (Amazon.ca?)
They like to get you sometimes with those quick deals! How do you like that click of the cap?! It's my favorite!
Honestly, I can't. About 5 years ago I just searched Amazon for the best one (by review) under $30 and bought it (not handy at the moment or I'd get the brand) but it has performed flawlessly, though I don't use it daily or anything. This one looks very, very close, the interior basket looks identical. You could always return if it doesn't seem to perform the way you expect.
Kokuyo Campus Notebook Semi B5("9.8×"7)- 6 mm - 35 Lines X 30 Sheets - Pack of 10 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I41D36/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_2KWtCb0C9WG9V
Found great prices on Amazon for Kokuyo Campus notebooks. They are small, 30 pages each, but there really isn't bleed through and you should be able to use both sides of the paper so at that price it comes to 60 pages foR writing at $1.60 USD
I started about halfway through my career. So for the first half of my career I was saving a standard 10% or so in my 401k, and for the second half, about 75%.
Read "Your Money or Your Life". If you enjoy that, read "Early Retirement Extreme". Some people really like the Mr Money Mustache blog. A good resource for future projections and comparing past asset allocation performance is PortfolioCharts.com. MadFientist.com and GoCurryCracker.com have some good advice on tax minimization (when you spend little and save most of your income, income taxes quickly become a larger expense than everything else combined)
Get one of these and you'll never have to worry. (I'd never buy it from that place, but that decision is up to you) The stories of nibs down the drain go in cycles - the main thing is don't be running water, so that if it falls in, worst case is that you can take the trap off under the sink and get it out of there.
Thanks. It was a matte black ebonite version to start with and I did the inlay using a little engraving tool, some turquoise mica powder mixed with CA glue, and then sanding to a satin finish.
Durable Flexi 690100 Filing Strip Fastener 34 x 150 mm - Assorted Colours (Pack of 250) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AS1BSG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_V69R2WPF87X0217DW4G4
Personally, I’m a fan of prongs with compressors because the prongs then stay near and don’t get caught up on each other. Officemate Prong Paper Fasteners, 2 inch Capacity, 2.75 inch Base, Box of 50 Complete Sets, (99852), Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IBAO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_5CJMD7RTW3WWDPTDYVPW
Thank you for your reply. Actually it is my friend's pen . I did some searching on internet and found its name Sheaffer intensity Again Thank you for your reply
Jinhao 992 Füllfederhalter Set, Schüler 6 Farb Stift Set, Silberclip, Volltonfarben (schwarz, blau, grün, grau, rot, weiß)
Jinhao 992 Füllfederhalter set, Studenten 6 Farben Kugelschreiber Set, goldener Clip, Uni Farben (schwarz, blau, grün, grau, rot, weiß)
I bought a Ink Miser that works REALLY well for the smaller amounts of ink left in a sample vial or bottle.
Really nice gift and looks like you're set on ink for awhile
Once you're empty on the cartridges I would recommend a Lamy converter which is currently on Amazon for a couple of bucks. Will let you use bottled ink: Lamy Z24
Carene is also going for an insane price on Amazon - I've heard people say it has one of the smoothest nibs they've used, I'm thinking of investing.
It does have "LAMY" printed on the other side. I got it from Amazon for nearly OEM price: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002T401Y/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0. I thought I was playing it safe, but it was shipped from a just-opened affiliate. Some of the other reviews suggest that counterfeits have worked their way into the supply.
> Because I'm ignorant
Not ignorant, just hadn't asked yet. I use a pipette, others like a blunt syringe, both can be had cheap somewhere like Amazon or eBay. Can probably grab sample vials too. https://www.amazon.com/BCP-50pcs-Plastic-Graduated-Orange/dp/B07BBK3Y4D vials and https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Essential-Bottles-Disposable-Graduated/dp/B073WLCQWD pipettes. $16 and set for all the ink you can imagine, both wash out so you will use these for long time.
You could also consider this Jinhao Porcelain Dragon , as it would combine the Asian theme with the dragon theme. I think you can even find it cheaper on Amazon than that link.. and it’s a surprisingly really nice pen.
6mm inner diameter x 1mm thickness should work for the section O-ring--I just opened up one of my M2's for comparison. A quick search on Amazon or Ebay should turn up a bunch of options to buy 20-100 of these for a reasonable price.
For the nib unit, you'll want 5mm inner x 0.5mm thick. Those are a bit trickier to find, but they are out there.
The BPA is powdered, even, so it rubs right off onto your skin when you handle it.
Because of people recycling receipts, products containing recycled content are also full of BPA. Something to think about when buying toilet paper made with post consumer recycled content...
I think you should shrinkwrap (some clear film and a hair dryer might do the trick) the pen and have it suspended in ice to make it look like this older Pilot VP packaging
You could also used boiled water to make the ice and therefore have it be super clear and beautiful.
So, /u/BraveLittleToastie kindly linked just one of the sites that has some of my scans. I'm not sure how often theinkcyclopedia.com is updated. But this site is the one that I myself maintain--it's definitely less fancy, but it is much easier to add inks to it whenever I finish a batch of scans. It has all of the current swabs, as well as a list of swabs I'm working on next (check the "Status" column to see the up-and-coming inks).
I've got another 3-4 more samples to swab up before I do my next batch of scanning/uploading. I've been really busy with some IRL stuff recently, so I haven't been able to swab as often--so I'll probably do a post to highlight the new additions when I get them finished.
I am pretty happy with the LIHITLAB Zipper Pen Case although if you want to carry new blackwings it is very tight (diagonal) fit .
Or... you could just get actual tube racks from amazon and not worry about vials sloshing about $6 for 50 spots and free prime shipping.
I taken to 50 ml conical bottom centrifuge bottles. Absolutely will not leak, completely nonreactive, unbreakable. I fill them about half way full and they are cheap.
I got a ream of 24lb HP Laserjet paper from Amazon a little while back after reading on here that it was good for fountain pens. Today I finally got around to testing it and here are the results.
Feathering:
- The Apache Sunset also showed some feathering, but I was using a Neponset with that ink which lays down a TON of ink so that's not surprising.
- I was impressed that it was able to handle the Ahab with a bit of flexing and not feather at all.
Bleed/Ghosting
- Very slight bleed on the Baystate Blue, but that isn't surprising considering how much that ink tends to soak in and how wet my Jinhao writes
- Pretty significant bleed with the Apache Sunset, but again that was using a Neponset which was laying down a small lake with each stroke
- Slight bleed with the Ahab in areas where I flexed it
Overall
Definitely a serviceable paper for everyday use with fountain pens. When using normal nibs and ink it doesn't have any trouble with feathering or bleeding. It certainly isn't Tomoe River, but considering it is 7.5 times cheaper I would definitely use it for normal writing and save the good stuff for the flex pens.
Best budget entry for stubs, probably the Pilot Plumix, the Nemosine pens with stub, or just the Nemosine stub nibs. For cheap italic, the Dollar 717i with italic nib is interesting. Supposedly there is a Pilot Metro with the Plumix stub available too, but I haven't seen it.
Just to try, I would probably go with a Nemosine and extra nibs, so you can try the .6mm, .8mm and 1.1mm stubs they offer. This would also allow you to grab the Knox nibs off of amazon https://www.amazon.com/Knox-German-Fountain-Silver-Calligraphy/dp/B01BNZR7VK in 1.5mm and 1.9mm. This would probably give you the greatest flexibility and experience with stubs.
I bought a 30x jeweler's loupe off of Amazon for less than $6.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BXQVO2/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I use this to check to see if the nib is out of whack.
Since we're playing around with developing, I'd go with something like that. Your photo is under-exposed by a couple stops. I like the DOF you got on the shot though. What camera/lens did you use? You also should consider getting a grey card if you're going to do this a recurrent thing, they're very helpful for exposure and white balance. You can get cheap ones on amazon that have white/18% grey/black. You can get different sizes, and they're very useful.
I need to get myself a lightbox.
Materials:
empty box from local cigar shop
1/4"x12" dowels
1 yard faux suede off Amazon
Glue (Yes! Paste), scissors, old paint brush, white marking pencil, ruler, and something to cut the dowels
I spent about $60 and have materials to make 4 of these.
This was the only box that looked nice by simply removing the labels. I need to figure out what to do with the outside of the other 3.
Yeah. Try Noodlers Black for around 12 bucks for a 3oz[ 90 ml] bottle or you can buy a 350 ml bottle of Pilot Black for like 20 bucks with Amazon Prime... It really depends on what features you want in your ink.
Amazon. Just bought these two, they work great with medium nib pen, no feathering or “see-through”.
Minimalism Art | Classic Notebook Journal, Size: 5" X 8.3", A5, Brown, Plain/Blank Page, 240 Pages, Hard Cover/Fine PU Leather, Inner Pocket, Quality Paper - 80gsm | Designed in San Francisco https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076YQBCM4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_kR8CAbB3JV3T1
(Set of 3) A5 Dotted Notebook/Travel Journal - 5.5 x 8.25 Dot Grid Paper for Bullet Journaling, Total 120 Sheets/240 Pages, Black/White/Kraft Brown Cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072FDGMW1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_yR8CAbFY6B0W5
I recommend this pen Pilot Custom Heritage 91. On Amazon for $74.22 shipping included. Is a 14K gold nib Rhodium plated, advantage over Custom Heritage 74 is that this pen support the large converter con70. But the 74 is also a solid pen. Pilot nibs to me are very smooth and nice to use! In my Link here (not affiliated): Pilot Fountain Pen Custom Heritage 91, SFM-Nib, Black Body (FKVH-1MR-BSFM) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ZFMXEO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_hYdLAbVD73GA8
I got mine on eBay and it came with a free fountain pen like this set here.
I got these mini black lights on Amazon. You can pinch them just once to turn on the light or you can switch the light on and keep it on. They also come with a battery you can switch out. They work really well and during the day. You might think who needs a whole pack of 10? No one, but 10 for $10...? I've included them in notes I've written to people with no instructions, and I let them figure it out. They've all thought it's pretty fun: they receive a "blank" envelope with a "blank" piece of paper and this little light.
This roll from amazon. Works well for what i need it for, really only acting as storage at home. Cheap and easy.
I'm not entirely sure of the intricacies of Amazon availability in other locations, but would this be available?
It's a Pilot Metropolitan, a beginner pen that punches far above its weight class. One of the nicest writing and cheapest pens I have.
If it still writes well, you can call it a WA/waverly nib -- PenBBS pens usually come with a nib that looks like that & they write smoothly at a wide range of angles.
I'm guessing it doesn't feel as great as before the drop. To fix which, you'll likely need to re-align the tines with a loupe. You can get decent loupes on Amazon for a couple bucks; I prefer the style you hold with your brow so both hands are free to address the work.
You can also get a Plumix/Penmanship for about $7, which has a compatable nib in EF/F/M/1.0-italic, they swap easily.
> What would you do?
I'd probably hit it with a hammer to see if I could fix it. But I have nibs to spare -- I don't actually recommend others try that. Any time you involve a hammer, your chance of breaking something goes up.
Look at books like The Artist Way or The War of Art. Can give you a framework to start with.
Also try 5 minute journal. https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/the-five-minute-journal
You can find the 5 questions in the ad copy (3 am question and 2 pm questions ).
Something with a structure is a great place to start.
I have one, you are mostly paying for the craftsmanship which is superb. They are works of art as much as they are fountain pens, the nibs are made by Platinum and are great nibs.
$9.99 at costco online if you have a costco membership. Min order of 2. Shipping included.
Sorry for the bad photos. I can't figure out how to capture their beauty exactly.
They write really well too, especially once one smooths the nibs a bit.
There's no filling, you have to dip it after a couple of words.. Wash immediately after using to prevent rush. Mobility is virtually non-existent. You can't use fountain pen ink with dip pens too btw, they need something more viscous.
On the other hand, much cheaper, more line variation. And of course you can draw with them, they're staples for comic artists.
How about Kaweco AL. Also made in Germany, aluminum body, durable, attractive shape, easy to carry in the pocket.
Kaweco AL Sport Fountain Pen Deep Red, Fine Nib with Kaweco Sport Octagonal Clip Chrome https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YD1SRZL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_T5X58C6P4CGV3G189H57
Ive been using the end of these stir sticks i got on amazon
They hold the ink well enough to do a nice swatch!
Hong Dian Black Forrest, 15 bucks and free shipping for with prime. It’s a steal!
Black Forest Fountain Pen Fine Nib Classic Design with Converter and Metal Pen Case Set by Hongdian https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y8L9JQ1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_6JJJZWHQC3BV627H740N?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1