Search the Community

As per the request of Sailor Kenshin, a review of Noodler's Squeteague - on Rhodia dotPad N°16 paper - with a TWSBI Diamond 580, medium nib - from a 2 ml sample Moderate shading: Noodler's Black < Noodler's 54th Massachusetts < Noodler's Squeteague < Noodler's Navajo Turquoise front: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/8975678076_e79efb00dc_o.jpg Noodler's Squeteague by jakoblwells, on Flickr back: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5326/8975704972_9a0d4c4e11_c.jpg Noodler's Squeteague [back] by jakoblwells, on Flickr rough draft, front: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/8977234977_1fc5cb4758_o.jpg Noodler's Squeteague, rough draft by jakoblwells, on Flickr rough draft, back: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/8978428820_07de65b6fe_o.jpg Noodler's Squeteague, rough draft [back] by jakoblwells, on Flickr

Hey there Everyone, This is my first post in a long while but I've been driven back here for the same reason that originally brought many of us together: I'm looking for a new pen to buy! As the title says I'm looking for a pen that would be good for writing Japanese characters - Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. I'm currently taking a Japanese class and not knowing the writing systems well is crippling as we're already expected to use full Hiragana on assignments and are currently learning Katakana. (After less than three weeks) I'm no foreigner to language classes but this is my first non-Western language and I want to make writing practice a bit more enjoyable. I think we can all agree that joyful writing and fountain pens go hand in hand. I currently own a Lamy Safari - EF, Lamy Studio - F, a F Aurora of a model I can't currently recall but it was about $100 at the Fountain Pen Hospital and a F Parker IM. I like each of these pens but it's been quite some time since my last pen purchase and this is good enough cause for me. Seeing as this will be my go to pen for any and all Japanese writing (and I'll be doing quite a bit of it) I'm willing to invest a bit but am still restricted by a students budget. Something in the $100-$150 range is comfortable and a bit more is possible. I'm looking for something with good line variation. Japanese characters were originally made with a brush and a pen with more variation will give a similar effect. Something a bit lighter than the Studio would be nice. I find my hand tires out when going so slow and concentrating on each character while using it. I always love an elegant nib but that's pretty secondary if the pen writes like a true gem. Other than that I have no preferences. Pen colour and body material are totally open. Thanks in advanced for your insight and happy writing!

Omas Green- on Rhodia dotPad N°16 paper- with a Lamy Al-Star, extra-fine nib- from a 2 ml sample Ink characteristicsFlow? No complaints. (average?)Lubrication? Average.Shading? Moderate.Spread? No complaints. (none?)Feathering? None observed on Rhodia paper.Saturation? Sweet spot. (medium?)Show-through? Very little—almost none on Rhodia paper.Bleed-through? None on Rhodia paper.Smear (dry)? No.Waterproof? No. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2834/8987881277_5d616e8ffc_o.jpgOmas Green by jakoblwells, on Flickr http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5341/8987883073_34c3162332_c.jpgOmas Green [back] by jakoblwells, on Flickr http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/8993124654_afb2823c50_o.jpgOmas Green [extra] by jakoblwells, on Flickr

Noodler's La Couleur Royale - on Rhodia dotPad N°16 paper - with a TWSBI Diamond 580, medium nib - from a 2 ml sample Ink characteristics Flow? Good flow. Lubrication? Above average. Shading? Just below moderate. Spread? No complaints. (none?) Feathering? None observed on Rhodia paper. Saturation? Medium-high; well-saturated. Show-through? Some on Rhodia paper. Bleed-through? None on Rhodia paper. Smear (dry)? No. Waterproof? No. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7365/9052004336_b5805cab4a_o.jpgNoodler's La Couleur Royale by jakoblwells, on Flickr http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7303/9052005732_9f7446ae06_b.jpgNoodler's La Couleur Royale [back] by jakoblwells, on Flickr http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/9049773315_912e9c3b58_o.jpgNoodler's La Couleur Royale [extra] by jakoblwells, on Flickr

Lamy Green - on Rhodia dotPad N°16 paper - with a Lamy Al-Star, extra-fine nib - from a 2 ml sample - very similar to Omas Green Price comparison Lamy Green: $7.50 / 50 ml = $0.15 per milliliter + ink blotter tape (jetpens.com) Omas Green: $15.50 / 62 ml = $0.25 per milliliter (gouletpens.com) Ink characteristics Flow? No complaints. (average?) Lubrication? Average. Shading? Moderate. Spread? No complaints. (none?) Feathering? None observed on Rhodia paper. Saturation? Sweet spot. (medium?) Show-through? Very little—almost none on Rhodia paper. Bleed-through? None on Rhodia paper. Smear (dry)? No. Waterproof? No. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3795/9046997252_96aa658711_o.jpg Lamy Green by jakoblwells, on Flickr http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/9047021840_1e222cbf46_b.jpg Lamy Green [back] by jakoblwells, on Flickr http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/9045530715_a368b227be_o.jpg Lamy Green [extra] by jakoblwells, on Flickr