fountain pen taboos - don't enter if you're easily offended

[trdsf]

I admit I'm finding a bit of entertainment (and self-analytical) value in spotting the things in this thread that make me want to reply with some variation on "No, you're wrong, and here's why...."

[Xand3]

Poorly engineered snap-on caps!

Someone should explain manufacturers that they tend to get loose as time goes by. Why on earth would someone not choose a clutch-friction or screw-on cap? I'd happily pay the extra $5-10 for any of my pens to have this (vintage!) technology. I would then be reassured that I will not have to ditch another perfectly-other than being unable to be capped-working pen!

 

PLEASE people, If I'm buying a writing instrument that costs over $30-50, I expect it to last a while!

 

Oh, and please find a way for screw on caps to stay on while in my pocket. Ink does not look good on trouser pockets!

 

In short words, companies and especially R&D's should:

i) Work more,

ii) Check their (or other) brand's history of design!

 

Bling and fancy is not everything people, for the love of God, infuse some long term practicality to your products!

 

There, I've said it, it's out of my system now!

 

 

Out of curiosity, which snap cap pens do you find are properly engineered..?

 

I can't quite picture what a clutch friction cap would be, so I'm just curious.

[bokchoy]

This just came up as I was researching a pen I'm interested in: Demonstrators with clashing converters!

 

The Platinum Cool has silver trim but the converter has gold trim. I'm not a fan of the way a Lamy Vista + red Lamy converter looks either. I've heard that they can be hacked, but that's not the point.

 

If the inside of a pen isn't appealing, then what's the point of having a demonstrator?

 

Somebody will probably say, "But that's why I prefer piston-fillers!" in 3, 2, 1...

[Xand3]

This just came up as I was researching a pen I'm interested in: Demonstrators with clashing converters!

 

The Platinum Cool has silver trim but the converter has gold trim. I'm not a fan of the way a Lamy Vista + red Lamy converter looks either. I've heard that they can be hacked, but that's not the point.

 

If the inside of a pen isn't appealing, then what's the point of having a demonstrator?

 

Somebody will probably say, "But that's why I prefer piston-fillers!" in 3, 2, 1...

 

That is why the only situation in which I prefer a piston filler, is on a demonstrator. Hah!

[sotto2]

You know, frankly I don't know why anybody would get one of those things. I mean, first of all, there are needles involved, and questionable hygienic conditions, and who would want a fountain pen ta......oh, wait. I thought the title of this thread said "fountain pen tattoos".

 

Nevermind.

 

Edited July 1, 2014 by sotto2

[Blue_Moon]

You know, frankly I don't know why anybody would get one of those things. I mean, first of all, there are needles involved, and questionable hygienic conditions, and who would want a fountain pen ta......oh, wait. I thought the title of this thread said "fountain pen tattoos".

 

Nevermind.

 

[koulour]

 

 

Out of curiosity, which snap cap pens do you find are properly engineered..?

 

I can't quite picture what a clutch friction cap would be, so I'm just curious.

 

Nice question Xand3, got me on a "eeer, hmmm…" mood! Apart from the fact that click/snap on caps can all be considered poor engineering, some pens do have poorer choice of materials and/or design. Compare my Aurora Ipsilon to my Lamy Safari for example. I'd happily pay $10 more for a nicer design or materials for my (fourth in 2 years time) Safari, if only it'd keep up like the Ipsilon does. Now that it is close to it's death (guess what part failed!) I think I'm going to leave this option behind. Hero 616's cost a fraction and seem to keep up better as "beaters".

 

As far as the clutch-friction cap option here are some quite sturdy (as fpn knowledge has shown) designs: Parker 51, Parker 45, Lamy 2000, Sheaffer PFM (and likes)… All of them at least 40-50 years old!

Some have problems, but usually come up after years of abuse and most of the time easily fixed.

 

Is it that much difficult for manufacturers to keep in mind that their product is mostly to be used and not just shown off?

 

Enough with the bitterness, time for some poison: Parker Blue-Black!

 

It is a BB ink. If 2 minutes is your lifetime!

 

Cmon Parker, THE COLOUR IS CALLED TEAL!

[The Blue Knight]

Forget it.

Edited July 1, 2014 by The Blue Knight

[ethernautrix]

I prefer water-resistant, fade-resistant inks, and I never lose a moment of sleep (or even conscious energy) wondering why others use whatever inks they use. Or pens. Or paper. Or nib sizes. Or so on and on. These are not controversial issues.

 

But if it is to you... party on, Garth.

[mhphoto]

I hate it when people get butthurt about defining what is and isn't a flexible nib.

 

I hate it when people get butthurt while watching one of Nathan Tardif's videos.

 

And lastly, a bit of an embarrassing faux pas: I keep all but my best vintage pens in a tackle box drawer piled on top of each other. If their cosmetic condition is mint, it gets stored away carefully. If it's oxidized and scratched already, it just gets used as a wonderful writer and stored in the most efficient way.

Edited July 2, 2014 by mhphoto

[The Blue Knight]

Fanboys.I think it's a bit silly when people get offended when you say something slightly negative about a brand you have had bad experiences with. Go ahead and reason with a comment but don't take on the job of the founder of the company and get mortally offend when some one doesn't share the same view as you do about a company or model.

Edited July 2, 2014 by The Blue Knight

[sotto2]

Frankly, I can't think about anything now except getting butthurt by a fountain pen. Ow.

[discopig]

I hate it when people get butthurt about defining what is and isn't a flexible nib.

 

I hate it when people get butthurt while watching one of Nathan Tardif's videos.

 

And lastly, a bit of an embarrassing faux pas: I keep all but my best vintage pens in a tackle box drawer piled on top of each other. If their cosmetic condition is mint, it gets stored away carefully. If it's oxidized and scratched already, it just gets used as a wonderful writer and stored in the most efficient way.

 

I particularly hate the constant debates about "soft nibs" vs "flex nibs", especially the ones about the Namiki Falcon or others.

[79spitfire]

Frankly, I can't think about anything now except getting butthurt by a fountain pen. Ow.

+1 I can't "unsee" the mental image....

[79spitfire]

You know, frankly I don't know why anybody would get one of those things. I mean, first of all, there are needles involved, and questionable hygienic conditions, and who would want a fountain pen ta......oh, wait. I thought the title of this thread said "fountain pen tattoos".

 

Nevermind.

 

+1.....

[napalm]

The hype around flex nibs and "calligraphy" with heavily overdone "line variation", particularly in Gothic style. Stuff like this that hurts my eyes and is barely legible:

 

 

 

[JustWrite Pen Company]

I think the Maki-e pens with pictures of dragons, etc. on them are a little over the top.

 

I think they are over the top too ...but DELIGHTFULLY over the top.

I think they are absolutely beautiful and are more a Work of Art than merely a fountain pen.

[Algester]

pens that dont write brand new, out of the box... is this a taboo?

prejudice against lefties... <_< >_> please don't bother

Edited July 3, 2014 by Algester

[The Blue Knight]

prejudice against lefties... <_< >_> please don't bother

 

I have been on here for a while know and am yet to read one insult to left handedness. Is it even an occurrence on here and do tell what it was?

[Blue_Moon]

pens that dont write brand new, out of the box... is this a taboo?

prejudice against lefties... <_< >_> please don't bother

 

And especially people who DEFEND brand new pens that don't write smoothly and with no skips and hard starts right out of the box.