Any Fountain Pen Affcianados? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TheDon · #1 10-03-2010, 12:59 AM

I'm bored and surfing the net and I had a thought. I'd like a fountain pen. I spend a ton of money on disposable pens and why not just buy a decent fountain pen and the ink and just have a quality pen.

This logic worked for my sunglasses. I'd spend a ton of money on cheap sunglasses. I spent some money on a nice pair of Oakleys and they are still going strong.

What should I look for in a fountain pen? I'm not going for a Montblanc, but the pinewood scented ink looks cool ($16 for 30 ml's.)

I did find a website Noodlers Inks or something that looks to be a pretty good proprietor of inks.

#2 10-03-2010, 01:16 AM

I have a waterman that I use occasionally, fountain pens are pretty cool but you can spend a bunch of money on them.

TheDon · #3 10-03-2010, 01:19 AM

You can spend a lot of money on many things.

It's all about self control

#4 10-03-2010, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

You can spend a lot of money on many things.

It's all about self control

LOL, that's what they keep telling me.

TheDon · #5 10-03-2010, 01:23 AM

-twitch-

compu_85 · #6 10-03-2010, 01:55 AM

Go to Staples and pick up a pack of Pilot Varsity Disposable fountain pens. They cost next to nothing, and write better then many more expensive pens. They aren't designed to be refilled, but you can work around that if you desire.

I love nice pens, but I also tend to loose them all the time, so a $5 fountain pen makes sense for me.

-J

elchivito · #7 10-03-2010, 10:02 AM

I'm curious. I remember as a kid that fountain pens were prone to leakage, clotting up of the tip with paper fibers, old dried ink etc and subsequent smearing and skipping and the ink took forever to dry. Have they gotten past this with the new pens?

Honus · #8 10-03-2010, 10:54 AM

I haven't bought a pen in years. I'll buy Sharpies now and then, but the freebies at places like the bank or the tire shop get me by just fine.

compu_85 · #9 10-03-2010, 11:49 AM

I've never had a varsity pen leak, and I even put one threw the washing machine once!

-J

#10 10-03-2010, 11:50 AM

They still tend to leak and clog, that's part of the "experience." If you have to actually write something, nothing beats a nice pen. Just about the only time I actually write on paper is to sign something anyway.

Dee8go · #11 10-03-2010, 06:12 PM

Good quality fountain pens are like good quality anything else. I have a pretty good collection of fountain pens. I just buy what I like. I have a couple of Mont Blancs, but to me they are like Rolexes, more about status that about loving the process of writing.
Check out The Fountain Pen Hospital in New York and Fahrney's in Washington, DC. They are good, reliable sources for pens, repairs, and information about pens. Whenever you see the President signing an important bill and handing out the pens, they came from Fahrney's.

strelnik · #12 10-03-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

I'm bored and surfing the net and I had a thought. I'd like a fountain pen. I spend a ton of money on disposable pens and why not just buy a decent fountain pen and the ink and just have a quality pen.

This logic worked for my sunglasses. I'd spend a ton of money on cheap sunglasses. I spent some money on a nice pair of Oakleys and they are still going strong.

What should I look for in a fountain pen? I'm not going for a Montblanc, but the pinewood scented ink looks cool ($16 for 30 ml's.)

I did find a website Noodlers Inks or something that looks to be a pretty good proprietor of inks.

I have several ink pens. Waterman is great, it comes with multiple points and cartidge vs bladder pump- botusable in the same pen.

When I was a business executive, it was a nice touch and for handwritten notes. Women like them.

When I was on active duty in the Army it made no sense. Now I keep a couple for letters.

My son has my Mont Blancs, I kept the watermans and the Pelikans.

Pelikan makes some inexpensive, good pens and thyey sell some with the MB logo on them for about 10-20 bucks, but they can be hard to find.

My advice: go to Staples' or a pen store, check them out, then buy online after you know what you want.

Good luck!

mgburg · #13 10-04-2010, 02:36 AM

Get yourself a caligraphy kit and practice writing with that first.

A decent kit will have a few various nibs you can practice with and the ink is, usually, included in the kits.

Some will have refillable pens but most have insert-cartridges that get pierced when you screw the nibs onto the body of the pen.

It's the best way to see if you really want to follow your yearnings for fountain pens and it's also a neat way to meet the ladies. It brings out the "artsy" part of your personality and some chicks dig that kind of "spirit" in guys.

What you got to loose?

BTW: I've been into caligraphy for quite a long time...it started when I ran across the fountain pen collection of my grandparents after they passed away in the 60s. What I wouldn't give to see those pens again and see, exactly, what my G-Father had in those cigar boxes.

Go to Sheaffer Pens and see what they have to offer...I've bought two the past few years and they ran me about $70/piece plus the ink cartridges and related materials. They also include the "bladder" for those that still use the jars of ink...which they sell too.

Good luck exploring the possiblilities!