Try a couple of PenPPS Pens. They make great and very reasonably priced vacuum and piston fillers. The PenBBS 456, for instance.
2021 all new Fountain pens, stationery, wax seal etc thread
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Try a couple of PenPPS Pens. They make great and very reasonably priced vacuum and piston fillers. The PenBBS 456, for instance.
Yeah, Pilot Metro is good stuff. If you then want to graduate to something more expensive, then I recommend a Pilot Custom 823. It's a vacuum filter so a bit more difficult to clean, but you get a really good ink capacity in a similar feeling pen.
Keep in mind with the Metro, you can use the Iroshizuku ink cartridges. They have good capacity, and a wide range of really nice colors. I feel like their capacity is pretty good.
Keep in mind with the Metro, you can use the Iroshizuku ink cartridges. They have good capacity, and a wide range of really nice colors. I feel like their capacity is pretty good.
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I did not know I could use fancier cartridges like that with the metro. I will try some of those.
I do really like the concept of vacuum fill. Maybe I'll give some of those another look.
My main concern is less price and more that I might buy a nice pen and then end up not really using it much. That's happened a couple of times. But kind of hard to predict.
Thanks!
I do really like the concept of vacuum fill. Maybe I'll give some of those another look.
My main concern is less price and more that I might buy a nice pen and then end up not really using it much. That's happened a couple of times. But kind of hard to predict.
Thanks!
Try going to a pen meet or show, or if you have a pen shop that sells used pens, so try some out. It takes a bit, but you settle into a preferred style, weight, shape, and nib. I started with a Metro also, and my ideal for the last ten years plus has been my Pilot Custom 823 with a Fine nib. It's such a great pen.
I also started with a Metropolitan, but I have landed on the Pilot Custom 74 as my daily driver -- I have three of them now. It uses the Con 70 converter, so I get the convenience of cleaning that comes with cartridge converter pens, but a much better ink capacity from the Metropolitan. If you're willing to give up the metal body on the Metropolitan, the Pilot Explorer uses the exact same feed and nib as the Metropolitan, but has the Con 70 converter, and a nice, inexpensive price point. I keep one of those inked up for those times I need a finer nib than what I use in my Custom 74s.
The upshot to the Custom 74 is that it has a gold nib, vs the steel nibs on the Metropolitans and the Explorers.
The upshot to the Custom 74 is that it has a gold nib, vs the steel nibs on the Metropolitans and the Explorers.
Seconding the Metropolitan -> Custom 74 (… and beyond!) train.
Started with Metro’s, and my first gold nib pen was the Custom 74 in fine. Which feels astoundingly good to write with.
I have two Custom 74’s, and one of them is pretty much always inked.
I need a medium nibbed 74 to match my fine and broad, but that’s going to wait a bit.
Started with Metro’s, and my first gold nib pen was the Custom 74 in fine. Which feels astoundingly good to write with.
I have two Custom 74’s, and one of them is pretty much always inked.
I need a medium nibbed 74 to match my fine and broad, but that’s going to wait a bit.
Like a moron, I picked the wrong pen to travel with.
I have a pen rotation and I stuck to it when going on a business trip to Chicago. I was doing a journal entry on the plane and uncapped my Moonman M1. Well, it's a dropper filler and was mostly empty, so as soon as the air pressure started equalizing, the higher pressure air in the barrel spurted ink all over the pen and my hand.
I am usually good about only using my vacuum fillers or the Opus 88, which all have shut-off valves while on a plane, but guess what happens when I only sleep four hours before getting up to catch my flight?
Robert Oster Dragon's Night sheens beautifully on skin, and it was murder to clean up at the hotel.
I have a pen rotation and I stuck to it when going on a business trip to Chicago. I was doing a journal entry on the plane and uncapped my Moonman M1. Well, it's a dropper filler and was mostly empty, so as soon as the air pressure started equalizing, the higher pressure air in the barrel spurted ink all over the pen and my hand.
I am usually good about only using my vacuum fillers or the Opus 88, which all have shut-off valves while on a plane, but guess what happens when I only sleep four hours before getting up to catch my flight?
Robert Oster Dragon's Night sheens beautifully on skin, and it was murder to clean up at the hotel.
I didn't realize that the blood of innocents was so good for getting out ink stains. Noted for future use. I suppose it's fortunate that you're traveling as you'll be a hard suspect to nail down as long as you don't stay in Chicago very long.
Latest ink order arrived. 7 samples I picked out, plus a random sampler. A bulb syringe to replace the one I had that split on me. An Endless Recorder dot grid notebook. Oh, and a bottle of Pelikan Edelstein Golden Lapis. It's pretty much going to be loaded continuously into my Custom 74 with the broad nib. Which means I'm probably going to swap the grip/nib from the Forest Green (where the broad nib currently lives) over to my Clear pen. Yeah. Think that's going to happen.
ANYWAY!
The reason behind this post? Of the 8 random samples, 3 of them are inks I have tried before: Diamine Oxford Blue, Diamine Red Dragon, and Robert Oster Sydney Lavender. I mean, I know it's random, but c'mon!
ANYWAY!
The reason behind this post? Of the 8 random samples, 3 of them are inks I have tried before: Diamine Oxford Blue, Diamine Red Dragon, and Robert Oster Sydney Lavender. I mean, I know it's random, but c'mon!
I am deeply intrigued by the 18K Journaler nib - it reminds me of the Franklin-Christoph S.I.G. nibs, but in GOOOOOOLD.
I'd be interested in hearing your impressions.
So................
When does it show up?
<goes to take a look at the 18k Journaler nib>I am deeply intrigued by the 18K Journaler nib - it reminds me of the Franklin-Christoph S.I.G. nibs, but in GOOOOOOLD.
I'd be interested in hearing your impressions.
So................
When does it show up?
THAT'S SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS ON THAT PEN.
No! Bad Diabolical!
So I dusted off my pen collection after a bit, as I will. My current favorite is my old Lamy Safari (medium nib), and I'm using the last of an "asa-gao" sample in it (cobalty blue Pilot Iroshizuku). I have a couple of big bottles of Iroshizuku blues (kon-peki and ama-iro). So I'll probably keep it blue. But I went to goulet and saw this dark red Lamy Safari so got one in a bold nib, and I got three red/orange Iroshizuku samples to play with. The orange one leaked a bit in shipping but it's mostly okay, but I'll try the redder ones first.
I have a Pilot metropolitan in medium (red namiki cartridge) but it's not as favorite as the Safari. I am also using a Pilot kakuno in extra fine (blue-black namiki cartridge) and it's a bit too fine for me (I pick up paper fibers and cannot sign my signature with it).
I have a scriveiner that was a gift but I prefer my Lamy and my pilots for now. My older Safari's nib is really rough looking but it's writing so well I won't touch it for now - I think it's just damaged finish on the $5 nib (I went to medium from fine).
It's funny, but in my youth I was all about extra-fine writing, and in the last 10 years or so I vastly prefer bold pens. Despite being a lefty which means all pens that aren't Zebra Sansa Dry can be trouble for me!
I have a Pilot metropolitan in medium (red namiki cartridge) but it's not as favorite as the Safari. I am also using a Pilot kakuno in extra fine (blue-black namiki cartridge) and it's a bit too fine for me (I pick up paper fibers and cannot sign my signature with it).
I have a scriveiner that was a gift but I prefer my Lamy and my pilots for now. My older Safari's nib is really rough looking but it's writing so well I won't touch it for now - I think it's just damaged finish on the $5 nib (I went to medium from fine).
It's funny, but in my youth I was all about extra-fine writing, and in the last 10 years or so I vastly prefer bold pens. Despite being a lefty which means all pens that aren't Zebra Sansa Dry can be trouble for me!
Do you write in script with the bolds? Or in print?
Every time I try and use something beyond a medium for script, I feel like I am writing in some weird child-like font. Letters clownishly large, anything that would have a loop has no actually loop, four words fit on a line, etc.
I'm a lefty as well, but I've learned to deal with the extra ink over the years, so smudging is less of an issue with decent paper...it's really just the way the writing comes out.
Size of the writing matters. Too large of a nib for the size of the script will make it look weird. Scale up the writing for larger nibs to really get the benefit from them. You've got to step up your fancy if you want to go big. Think calligraphically. Or pretend you're a monk making illuminated manuscripts. Or the most elaborate of them all: @SunRaven01 making DM guide notes for an upcoming campaign.
I struggle. I used to write TINY, and for a while I used to need to write in Japanese, and both of these favor super fine writing. I was ecstatic when the old Lamy Safari was so easy to use (it wasn't always so in the past).
But, as I've aged I'm mainly writing short-form print onto cheap corporate office paper. I can get away with super bold writing though if I need to write more then I might struggle and it's time to get a finer nib out. Also if signing something a bolder nib works way better. These are docs that typically get scanned quickly so I don't worry about the ink being susceptible to water mostly, the paper likely gets shredded after a bit. All of the paper gets shredded after a bit. This writing is very temporary, like life.
But, as I've aged I'm mainly writing short-form print onto cheap corporate office paper. I can get away with super bold writing though if I need to write more then I might struggle and it's time to get a finer nib out. Also if signing something a bolder nib works way better. These are docs that typically get scanned quickly so I don't worry about the ink being susceptible to water mostly, the paper likely gets shredded after a bit. All of the paper gets shredded after a bit. This writing is very temporary, like life.
Yeah, I get that. I'm just saying that for my business notes (which outside my journal is 95% of my writing) it just doesn't work for me.
Not me designing my own 5mm planner because the 3.7mm Hobonichi grid is just too hard for my eyes ...
This is from a few years ago, but this is my note taking for one of the D&D games. Loosely based on the Cornell notes taking system, I think? Printed on 5mm Rhodia dot pad. Pens were Pilot Custom 74 in broad, Kon-peki, and Lamy Vista in broad, Emerald of Chivor. The headings are Mildliner felt tipped pens, overlaid with Retro 51 rollerball.
Too Far To Swim was our ship name.
Too Far To Swim was our ship name.
I bought some 3-ring binders years and years ago that have these neat rubberized hinges on the covers and I luuuuuuurve them. And they have cool windows on the spines for labels. That's where my D&D notes go for letter-sized stuff. I've got some gorgeous printed-cover ones too that I use.Three-hole punch! What fresh heresy is this?
I am not a 3-ring hater!
That's cool. I use a modified Cornell Notes system for business meetings and will take notes electronically for my upcoming PF2 game.
I used to be an EF fan on script vs. nib size but moved to an Asian Fine as my current go-to. It's a nice compromise between the size of my script, which fits in the 5mm dot grid I usually use for journals and notepads, the smoothness of the writing experience, and the bold line for my old man's eyes.
I used to be an EF fan on script vs. nib size but moved to an Asian Fine as my current go-to. It's a nice compromise between the size of my script, which fits in the 5mm dot grid I usually use for journals and notepads, the smoothness of the writing experience, and the bold line for my old man's eyes.
The EF gold Jowo nib I have on my Edison Comet is pretty much my baseline these days, but I also like my fine and even medium nibs on my Vac700Rs.
I have a bold nib for the Vac700R and just can't use it.
I do think I should keep trying, and maybe with the dot Grid paper instead of the normal lined pages...
I have a bold nib for the Vac700R and just can't use it.
I do think I should keep trying, and maybe with the dot Grid paper instead of the normal lined pages...
I still want to get one of those elaborate paper punch binder thingies that doesn't need the three holes.
You mean like an Arc punch for making disc bound notebooks, or something else? I have one of those, too, but I don't like it as much. The pages don't flip as easily on the disks, in my experience.
I'm a big fan of three ring binders.
My normal notes go onto 8.5x11 Clairefontaine spiral bounds that are already punched.
I basically just rip a page out, write, put into binder.
Easier grip angle one sheet at a time as you're not competing with the binding.
My normal notes go onto 8.5x11 Clairefontaine spiral bounds that are already punched.
I basically just rip a page out, write, put into binder.
Easier grip angle one sheet at a time as you're not competing with the binding.
Exactly. Thanks again.
p.s. Holy cow! Forum search worked:
Now I just have to remember to bookmark it so I don't have to ask (again) about what discbound systems trade names are called in another year or two.
Goes to show how preferences change, eh? LOL.
The disks are prettier, that much is still true. And you can't pinch your fingers on them. But I got annoyed with not being able to flip the pages in the way I liked.
I have a specific "travel Pen" that seems to work well... The Travellers Company brass pen. Never had any issues, maybe because it's cartridge? Sometimes the cartridge has popped off but since it's all contained inside and screwed together, it's held up well.
My Custom 823 is usually excellent. I was just too dumb to remember to fill it before traveling, and it was down to a tiny bit of ink in the pen, so when I unscrewed the piston knob in the back to allow more ink to flow, the air behind the ink expanded, and it started burping ink. I usually use a converter or cartridge pen, like the Myu 701, a Vanishing Point, or Fermo, when in the air; I just forgot.
Not again.
Not again.
I've only flown with a fountain pen twice so far. It was a little annoying, but it was a week long trip so what I did was drain and clean the pen before the flight. I took a small bottle of ink with me, and then just filled it when I got to my hotel.
Normally if I feel like I'm going to need a pen "on the plane" I'll do something like bring my Montblanc roller ball. I try not to do that though since I've had it since graduating HS and I just don't want to risk losing a potential "heirloom pen".
Normally if I feel like I'm going to need a pen "on the plane" I'll do something like bring my Montblanc roller ball. I try not to do that though since I've had it since graduating HS and I just don't want to risk losing a potential "heirloom pen".
That reminds me. I have a traveling inkwell for vacuum fillers I need to refill and bring with me. I carry extra cartridges for Pilot Blue-Black, my preferred cartridge ink for the Myu and Vanishing Point. I refill the cartridges from a bottle of the same ink at home, but keep a few spare cartridges in my backpack for the road.
I think it was the Frankfurt airport that had a Kaweco store, and sold cartridges. Very helpful!
I just picked up two new pens.
Majohn V60 Transparent Grey in Fine: Nice snap cap, attractive, decent writer. Not a bad homage to the Omas 360, and if anything, has a better piston. The nib is nicely wet, but a tiny bit toothy, and will benefot from a little smoothing with mcir mesh. I did not know it, but the grey is a rare version and I lucked out ordering it.
Asvine J16 in Matte Titanium in Fine: Nicely balanced. The included Jowo nib is very smooth. It feels great to wroite with and feels tough as hell, but still pretty light in hand.
Now that I got my last quarter's commission check, I will lurk on r/Pen_Swap to fill out my collection of premium pen brands. I am looking for a MB 146 (149 is too big as I found out when I ordered a Jonhao X149 years ago), a Pelikan M805 (I prefer the rhodium hardware to the gold), or something else that catches my eye.
Majohn V60 Transparent Grey in Fine: Nice snap cap, attractive, decent writer. Not a bad homage to the Omas 360, and if anything, has a better piston. The nib is nicely wet, but a tiny bit toothy, and will benefot from a little smoothing with mcir mesh. I did not know it, but the grey is a rare version and I lucked out ordering it.
Asvine J16 in Matte Titanium in Fine: Nicely balanced. The included Jowo nib is very smooth. It feels great to wroite with and feels tough as hell, but still pretty light in hand.
Now that I got my last quarter's commission check, I will lurk on r/Pen_Swap to fill out my collection of premium pen brands. I am looking for a MB 146 (149 is too big as I found out when I ordered a Jonhao X149 years ago), a Pelikan M805 (I prefer the rhodium hardware to the gold), or something else that catches my eye.
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Does yours get ink on the section when uncapping? It may be a coincidence since it was the first time I used it after filling. I may have forgotten to wipe it down thoroughly after filling it.
It does feel great though. It may be worth a nib swap.
It does feel great though. It may be worth a nib swap.
Doh. It was the snap cap on the V60 that I suspected of sucking ink out of the nib. The J16 is one of the most well-behaved and great out-of-the-box writers I have ever bought. While it's not quite as good a writer as my first Pilot Custom 823, it's very close for a small fraction of the price.
Mine is inked with Diamine Graphite, an ink I had out of rotation for years.
Mine is inked with Diamine Graphite, an ink I had out of rotation for years.