Fountain Pens And Rulers

[svfd757]

Is it okay to use a fountain pen with a ruler? I have not read anything to say there could be a problem, but something tells me it is not a good idea.

[1point1mm]

Is it okay to use a fountain pen with a ruler?

 

You mean like on a regular day-to-day basis? I'm no expert on the subject, but me thinks not. Would scoring of the nib be an issue soon thereafter?

[jar]

It depends on the pen and the ruler. You do not want to draw a line where the ink will wick under the ruler.

[Edgar Allan Bo]

there was this thread about a nib that was obviously used with a ruler quite often...

 

EDIT: ah, found it, the thread is HERE, see specially post #32

 

 

but don't get afraid, this nib must have been used (if it was?) very excessive with a ruler (or something else)!

Edited December 27, 2011 by Edgar Allan Bo

[P.A.R.]

Solution: Use a Preppy and get some marker tips from gouletpens to swab out the nib with.

[Land Cruiser]

I use mine with a ruler from time to time. Perhaps few times a week. Nothing so far...

[fuchsiaprincess]

Shouldn't be an issue, other than the wicking problem, or if the ruler is metal.

[dickydotcom]

A lot of rulers have at least one edge which does not rest on the paper, and so prevents wicking.

I use mine once a month to rule off a new page in my accounts book but I don't put any side pressure on it so hopefully I won't be wearing the nib. (If work is doing well then twice a month. Fingers crossed I'm going over the page today)

I also think a plastic ruler is unlikely to cause wear.

 

Dick D

[Malcy]

As mentioned above, the bevel on one side of many rulers was a design feature to allow use of the ruler with fountain pens. Just place the ruler so the bevel is on the underside which keeps the ruler edge off the paper and avoids any problems when using your FP.

[rwilsonedn]

+1 to what other folks have said. Ideally, you would use a straight edge, not a ruler. The old experts would never use a rule to draw a line. But it's hard to find a straight edge these days unless you have an old drafting outfit, so find a wooden or plastic ruler without a metal strip along the edge--one that is designed so that the edge is beveled up and does not rest on the paper. Then draw along the edge without pressing the nib into the ruler--just letting it touch. Should be no problem.

ron

[deansellers]

My 2¢ worth: fountain pen nibs aren't designed to work well as ruling pens. Seems like dragging one tine along a ruler is a tailor-made method of adjusting your nib (not in a good way)! Get yourself a Rapidograph or an Inkograph! Or a true ruling pen, which features two opposing nibs; adjustable line width by means of a thumb screw.

[someonesdad]

I occasionally need to draw a line with a fountain pen and I do it without worrying about the nib. If I was doing a lot of line drawing, I'd worry about wearing down a gold nib, but a steel nib will be more durable. But I've never met a draftsman or engineer who would ink lines with a fountain pen; they'd use a technical pen or, like in the old days, use an inking pen that came in drafting sets.

 

You can find drafting triangles that have a recessed edge for use while inking. See the picture (it was a triangle made by Berol) for details.

[deansellers]

I occasionally need to draw a line with a fountain pen and I do it without worrying about the nib. If I was doing a lot of line drawing, I'd worry about wearing down a gold nib, but a steel nib will be more durable. But I've never met a draftsman or engineer who would ink lines with a fountain pen; they'd use a technical pen or, like in the old days, use an inking pen that came in drafting sets.

 

You can find drafting triangles that have a recessed edge for use while inking. See the picture (it was a triangle made by Berol) for details.

You can easily modify any straight-edge for inking by applying a few strips of masking tape on one side, being sure to hold it back from the edge. It's what I always did when I was a draftsman.

[nxn96]

Here's what I've learned over time:

 

With a pencil or a ballpoint, you can point the tip at the 90 degree angle, or even pointing into the straight edge. If the pencil is a wood pencil, you'll probably lose precision as the wood from the pencil wears into the edge. With a good mechanical pencil, the metal edge at the tip should maintain the precision along the line. With a liquid ink pen (and I'm including here the India Ink pens that used to come from old drafting sets), the point/nib needs to be at an angle away from the edge to avoid bleed. It works, but you have to adjust your edge line to accomodate.

 

Hope this helps.

[Tweel]

I find, in brief, that trying to rule lines with a FP is a messy and frustrating experience. If you're going to do it more than a couple of times, I'd suggest getting at least one size of technical pen and a plastic straightedge with an inking edge, like the triangle pictured in post #12. It's cleaner, quicker and more accurate.

[svfd757]

Thanks for the response. I am no drafter or anything like that. I need to draw straight lines seperating data on about 10 pages every day. I am currently using Sharpe pens but as a Fountain Pen user, I would rather use them. Right now I have a wooden ruler with a metal edge. I was worried about the metal edge wearing the nib as pictured above or misaligning the tines. I am going to purchase a plastic ruler this weekend and hope for the best.

[picautomaton]

agreed 100%

 

I only use a plastic ruler and gently draw the line I then lift the ruler straight up to avoid the odd wicking issue.

[Kaptenmork]

i do as Picautomation, it works very well

[lallin]

Thanks for the response. I am no drafter or anything like that. I need to draw straight lines seperating data on about 10 pages every day. I am currently using Sharpe pens but as a Fountain Pen user, I would rather use them. Right now I have a wooden ruler with a metal edge. I was worried about the metal edge wearing the nib as pictured above or misaligning the tines. I am going to purchase a plastic ruler this weekend and hope for the best.

An Inkograph (the brand, not generic for tech pen) would be my choice. You can write with it and draw ruled lines, you can write on multi-part forms and you can use whatever FP ink you prefer. Heck, you can even lend it to a ham-fisted colleague without much risk of damage.

 

The celluloid and plastic ones are readily available on eBay at pretty low prices; look for one that has been refurbished if you aren't experienced. They are just different enough that you might not want it to be your first repair job.

 

One caveat about buying an Inkograph on eBay; make sure you know the shipping charge before bidding. There are a couple of sellers that list Inkographs at low starting or Buy It Now prices; but, charge BIG $$$ for shipping.

 

You'll not have problems with an Inkograph if you use it regularly and flush it well between fillings. If you let it sit for days/weeks with ink in it, it need a long soak to free up the drop-weight.