Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'beginner'.
-
Very quickly getting hooked... not sure of the next step
BJ Backitis posted a topic in Fountain & Dip Pens - First Stop
Many years ago I was given a Waterman fountain pen (medium nib) which I used on occasion (after having to clean out the dried ink first), and over the years picked up a couple of cheapo Cross fountain pens to play around with (hated the ink in those cartridges and the converters for them were a disaster). I finally decided to step up my game a bit (as a Notary Public I wanted to use a fountain pen I could trust) and recently picked up a Hongdian 1861 and a Lamy Safari, both with fine nibs (plus ink converter for the Lamy). The Hongdian 1861 is okay, I guess... not happy with the ink flow (Noodler's Ink Brevity Black). That Lamy Safari... NOW we're talking. Got it in Red to use with my Noodler's Empire Red ink, and that sucker writes like a dream!! The Waterman has blue ink in it (Noodler's 54th Massachusetts) but the medium nib is too heavy for my writing. So I'm looking for a nicer (but still "budget") pen to use for my black ink notary work, then eventually another for the blue ink, both with fine nibs. Looking at a TWSBI Eco but I don't think it has quite the right visual "vibe" I'm looking for as a Notary... also looking at the Pilot Metropolitan. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!! -
I am planning on penabling my wife for her birthday. What should be on a penable checklist and what is the priority order? This is what I've thought of so far: 1. Fountain pen 2. Ink: cartridge(s), or bottle(s) 3. PF friendly paper: notebook, or pad 4. Pen case or pen rest 5. Ear cleaning bulb 6. Ink syringe 7. Ink samples Any suggestions or recommendations of what else to add or remove from the list above, or reordering of the list? Any suggested ink color family that I should cover as first ink or two? A black (or blue) as a first, and then a blue (or black) as a second? Right now I've got the pen and paper covered. She probably doesn't need a pen stand since she already uses a mug for her other pens. Just struggling with that ink color because I can't ask her outright without giving away the surprise factor. I've been surveying her work desk and she seems to use both blue or black equally. I've not seen a pattern from the gel pens she uses whenever she sometimes does some destressing coloring books with my daughter.
-
HELLO FPN MEMBERS I am a Delhi based research student who has just entered in the world of fountain pens. I purchased two fountain pens Pilot Metropolitan and Jinhao X750 from Ravi’s Pens point very recently after my disappointment with Camlin Trinity (its ink flow turned out to be terrible). I have decided I won’t upgrade to Lamy or TWSBI now. I know you guys might get be getting this a lot to the extent it might sound little banal but I am looking for budget fountain pens under 1000 INR (15 dollars). I am thinking to buy a platinum preppy soon but I really want to try some Indian fountain pens and will be glad to get some recommendations especially that are decent writers for long writing sessions. I prefer my Jinhao over my Metropolitan so I think I have a preference for a medium nib. Also I have realized, a paper has a considerable impact on the performance of a fountain pen. After the recommendation by Ravi, I tried locating JK cedar 100gsm in North Delhi only to end my search in dismay (couldn’t find it anywhere in stationaries but I have not tried Nayi Sadak). The price offered by Amazon for Cedar is more than 400 INR (including delivery charges). I am looking for budget decent performing notebooks or sheets for note-making and daily writing that are good alternatives to Cedar. Other issue I am facing is drying of ink in my Metropolitan. I used Ravi’s (pen point South ex) Ink with my Metropolitan but I have realized I have to shake it repeatedly otherwise it stops writing and it also dries quickly. I can’t write and read simultaneously with metropolitan’s cap dismounted. Although I didn’t face the same problem when I used Pelikan 4001 with Jinhao and the uncapped Jinhao performs decently even after I don’t put back the pen cap quickly. I think it is the drying problem of the ink and not the pen. I have used Camlin royal blue ink and found it a decent performing ink. What are other decent budget inks that don’t get dry quickly? Any insights on the above issues would be appreciated.
-
Beginner flex nibs and FPR Ultra flex combinations?
IanP2303 posted a topic in Fountain & Dip Pens - First Stop
Hello, I am looking to buy a flex pen for beginners, I have already read some of the threads here regarding beginner flex pens, but I am not sure whether some new, quality and affordable flex pens are released recently. Therefore, I started this topic and I hope that you blokes can help me with it. I also heard that Fountain Pen Revolution has a great Ultra Flex nib, are there any pens that are suitable for this nib, as I would love to try it out. Thanks, Ian -
What is your favorite beginner fountain pen?
collectorofmanythings posted a topic in Fountain & Dip Pens - First Stop
Please help beginners! Things like this are things that I’m sure many beginners look at to see which pen to first buy. Thank you to all who participate! -
Most commericals pens do not arrive ready to be used as eyedroppers. Conversion is a possibility but sealing and ink flow problems often plague the converted pens. A lot of cartrifge pens also do not have feeds capable of buffering large amount of ink in the reservoir. Can any users recommend me beginner pens (below 50 USD) that have the ability to accomodate a converter, cartridge or ink straight from the tank? I already have ebonite eyedropper pens and also one made by Pilot. It would be good to know of a few more commercial eyedroppers.
-
Hey everyone! Im Alex! I am very new to this site and I made my first post a couple days ago! I lots of great feedback from this amazing community! A little bit about me, my name is Alex and I live in New York City. I am very new to the fountain pen world as I got my first 2 fountain pens, a Pelikan m800 and a Mont Blanc no. 32, right before Thanksgiving. I only got them because I got a box of assorted pens for $1 at a yardsale and I guess I hit the jackpot. I made a post recently because after buying starter pens, I noticed thaty they write much better than the other two do. I am going to have the pens looked at by the staff of the Fountain Pen Hospital soon! I just have one quick question about this site: When I try to edit a post I have made or try to change my name it says I need 5 more approved posts. What is that? Nice to meet you all! Alex
-
Good evening dear community, My name is Kevin, I am 15 years old and I come from Germany. I recently started collecting fountain pens so I just got into the hobby. I found out about the fountain pen community through English speaking sources such as "Goulet Pens" or Sven-Raphael Schneider and I learned a lot about the beauty of ballpoints, rollerballs, pencils and of course fountain Pens. I kind of always had pretty messy handwriting but miraculously as I started to think about writing and writing instruments and working with them, I managed to better my handwriting by quite a bit. I discovered the fun in writing and now have a small collection of 10 fountain pens as a strong and solid beginning. I hope I can learn many new things on this site. Best regards, Kevin
-
Proof That Instruction And Guides Are Better Than Figuring It Out On Your Own
AAAndrew posted a topic in Pointed Pen Calligraphy
So, about a month ago I began playing around with my first flexible fountain pen, and then for the past few days with some dip nibs and my attempts at shaded writing looked like this just two days ago (the 6th). Yesterday evening I printed out my first practice sheets and started working my way through Dr. Vitolo's wonderful eBook for the iPad Script in the Copperplate Style. It's a multimedia compendium of his articles and videos on how to write using the Copperplate or Embossed style of calligraphy. And then today I was able to run over to John Neal (just an hour west of here) and pick up an oblique holder (was using a straight holder with my vintage nibs). I have a day job so I've only made it through the small letters and a few capitol letters, and only the barest introduction to these forms (no long hours of practice yet), but just that little bit of actually doing it the right way, with the right tools has made my letters only horrible rather than criminal. I still need tons of work on just about every aspect (sizing, consistency, proportion, angle) but already I can see a huge difference. So, if you're wanting to learn, don't try to do it on your own. Find some good instruction, there is a lot out there for free on the internet, and the practice sheets you can get for free on the IAMPETH web site truly make a difference. And if you own an iPad, download this free book now. It's incredible with great explanations, illustrations and even embedded videos. It will make a huge impact on your progress. -
A Question From A Beginner To The Experts
The_Beginner posted a topic in Fountain & Dip Pens - First Stop
Hello, I'm a new fountain pen user currently I was given as a gift from a colleague a Montegrappa nerouno medium size My question was at times when I'm writing I write at a slight slant and the pen would stop feeding ink and I couldn't continue to write unless I readjusted the angle, so I was wondering why this was and how I could mediate this. The ink I'm currently using is quink from Parker (black) I'm sorry if this is posted in the incorrect location, I'm still trying to navigate through the forums, if it can be moved please do so or let me know thank you. Thank you for reading, Thebeginner -
I received a very beautiful, if broken, vintage button filler some time ago and started working on it last week. It needs a new sac and this I can handle, but the pressure bar is quite rough and a little rusted in some places. This is my first repair so I'm not quite sure what I can and can't do. Should I replace the bar? I can't find a right size replacement (7 cm) anywhere so I'm thinking of just using this old one. The bar is not snapped or cracked and it's still very springy.
-
Hi,all My son-in-law uses fountain pens so I decided that a pen would make a nice birthday or Christmas present. I played with using a fountain pen in high school (a million years ago) and did some calligraphy in my 30s. I am a lefty, so I used a left-handed Osmiroid calligraphy pen. Recently I bought a Pilot Metro Retro and Im enjoying using it.. I know my SIL would love having a vintage pen, so I looked some on EBay and that generated questions cause I really didnt understand the terminology, and somehow I got to FPN. To make a long story a little but shorter, Ive been on my computer looking and lurking for the last three days! I think Im In trouble! I would like to do some pen sketching so I ordered a bottle of Noodlers ink that will come with a Platinum Preppy pen and today I ordered an ONLINE Switch from Goulet Pens. And I dont think my SIL will get either one! Anyway, Hello and Im glad to be here.
-
Hello All, Been looking for a new pen and have been eyeing the vintage market again. Any advice for the go to Italian vintage fountain pen? Personally I'm looking for a useable every day type of pen that will be a pleasure to use. Thanks!
-
My new boss always carries his Montblanc BP with him and I immediately was struck by the beauty in its design. After some research I found a good rate on a Pilot Sonnet RB and after using it for a couple days decided it wasn't for me, and thus began my adventure into the world of fountain pens. Fast forward a few weeks of obsessively reading through the FPN forums and watching Brian Goulet's videos (no relation, just a happy customer)—last night I received 16 ink samples, a Lamy Safari Petrol XF and a Pilot Metropolitan F. I already had a Muji FP and a glass dip pen lying around so that is where my collection stands currently. I immediately tested all the inks I received and have shared the results below (please excuse the poor penmanship, I have yet to begin the rigorous journey of re-learning cursive I plan to embark on shortly. http://image.ibb.co/cHR2xw/COLLAGE_1.jpg Unfortunately you cannot see the subtleties in many of the ink swatches due to my phone's potato-quality camera, but I was totally blown away by some, especially the Robert Oster inks. I will admit I was a bit disappointed by the Noodler's inks which everyone seems so fond of. I was excited to use them because of their "bulletproof" nature, but found the 54th Massachusetts and Bad Blue Heron particularly wet/runny. Is this a common complaint, or maybe it is just because I was using them with a glass dip pen and there wouldn't be an issue once I load them into a converter? One thing that exceeded my expectation was how easy it is to use the Muji pen as an eyedropper. No o-ring, no special lubricant/sealant, just pour in the ink and go—I didn't even have an eyedropper so I just dumped the ink sample right in! It probably only filled up the pen 1/3 of the way at most, and there have been absolutely zero issues, very pleased! So if you made it this far, hello, and thank you for all the knowledge and resources you have provided here! After just a few weeks I feel like I am already years ahead of where I should be and am excited to jump into this hobby headfirst. Ultimately, I would love to master calligraphy to the point that I can incorporate it into my art and professional life as a graphic designer
-
Hello, I am new in the world of fountain pens and I want help choosing my first fountain pen under 50, I want something durable, with a good ink capacity(0.8mL or more), comfortable to the hand and with a smooth fine or medium nib. Thanks, Rafael Cordano
-
I'm new to FPs. Last time I used one was in my school days. It's been 15+ years since then. After some research I've narrowed down on Pilot MR crocodile medium tip as my starter pen. I prefer 0.5mm gel pens. Anything narrower can be a bit too fine for me, but I don't want to go for anything too wide either. I've read that japanese pens are usually finer than their european counterparts. So is Pilot M the right nib size for me ? I've looked at some sample writing online and it doesn't seem too thick. Next up is ink. I'm still getting my head around wet and dry pens/inks. I'm thinking of purchasing 30ml diamine woodland green and matador. Is this a good match for the pen ?
-
Any Good Inks That Have A Fast Dry Time, Little To No Feathering, And No Bleed Through?
Shamalama posted a topic in Inky Thoughts
I'm looking for an ink (I am a newbie) and I plan on using this in school, so I need a ink that is either blue or black (preferable black) that has a fast dry time and handles various types of paper. P.S. I am planning on buying a Lamy Safari as my first fountain pen. -
Hello All, I am a Delhi based research student who has just entered in the world of fountain pens. I have to spend a substantial part of my time amidst note-making and drafting my essays. Typing on PC's was a dull process and somehow I preferred writing on paper first and then rewriting it on my PC. Fountains pens have greatly increased my interest in note-making and writing drafts. I have started my penmanship with a Pilot metropolitan and Jinhao x750. Looking forward to learn about these wonderful instruments and it auxiliaries here.
-
Brand sparkling new to the FP arena. I am Left handed, and write below the line, mirroring my right-handed friends Where i live no shop have; fountain pens, ink or cartridge. So i have FP and ink on the way by mail. The style i like is "overhand cursive" that might change. Now i am looking for some paper i can print out with the alphabet in the margin. Cheers Post script: While waiting for my pen and ink to arrive, i use a pencil when learning to write "overhand cursive".
-
Help! I Need A Good Beginner Fountain Pen.
Shamalama posted a topic in Fountain & Dip Pens - First Stop
Currently, I am being overwhelmed with the many fountain pen options. I am looking to buy two inexpensive ($10-$30) fountain pens that I could start with. -
Hi, I was wondering if anyone could give me a suggestion on inks for a beginner/student. The paper i write on varies, so I would prefer one that wouldn't bleed through and feather. I also plan on making the Lamy Safari my first fountain pen, and an ink that pairs with this pen would be nice. So far, I am looking at the Noodler's Black and the Diamine Intense Black. Any suggestions on a better starter pen would be nice too.
-
Hello, my name is Justin and I've been a fountain pen user for 2 days. I'm a Marine Biology graduate student in California and two weeks ago I saw a classmate using fountain pens; we talked about it, I wrote with one for a little, and then I was hooked. The next few days I fell down a deep, dark hole known as YouTube (especially the Goulet Pens channel) while researching fountain pens. Then I made my first order, which arrived yesterday: Noodler's Black, Jinhao x750s Matte Black and Shimmering Sands with medium nibs, and some ink syringes for mess-free refilling. I figure that I'll either switch out one of the medium nibs for something unique like a flex nib or I'll leave mediums on both pens and use different colored inks in each. So far, I really like the way the x750 writes. Also, I was pleasantly surprised to find that some of the value-priced notebooks I use for school handle the wet x750 nib quite well without feathering, with little ghosting, and with no bleed through. I'm still planning on ordering some fountain pen-specific paper to use for journaling and penmanship practice. I am still waiting on my second order to ship via Amazon: a blue Lamy Safari EF nib with converter and a green Pilot Metropolitan F nib. It should be arriving by Friday of this week. I can't wait to try them out! My extensive blog-reading-and-You-Tube-sleuthing mania during the last week guided me in selecting these three pen models as a beginner fountain pen user. I'm not sure what I am looking for in a fountain pen though, so I figured that different pens and different nib sizes was a good place to start. I look forward to this new hobby and all the people, pens, papers, and inks I get to meet along the way. Nice to meet you all and thanks for stopping by.
-
Hi Everyone Myself from India. Excited to join FPN after reading lot of information about my new hobby of starting again with Fountain Pens. I have started with Pilot Metropolitan , Lamy Safari (the dark Lilac color), Baoer 388 and Baoer 507. I have started with Water man Serenity Blue and also Private Reserve Midnight Blues. Looking forward to lot of interactions with everyone here. Thanks Nitin Arora
-
Hello! due to my excitement, I bought my first fountain pen, Lamy Nexx even without knowing much about it. There doesn't seem to be a lot of forums about the Nexx. I hope someone can help me with my questions here: 1. is the nib replaceable with other sizes? 2. can I use other cartridges other than the T10? Parker Quink, maybe? 3. I've heard about z24 and z26, which of the two is better? (I don't care about the red color) 4. should I not post the cap? 5. how do I clean it? Thanks! -rhjn
-
Just starting out with pens and am in the market for a nice fountain pen. What kind of features am I looking for? What should I ask? How do I know I'm not getting ripped off?? Tips and suggestions much appreciated!
