Student Daily Pen Suggestions

[FayeV]

I like how the Lamy Safari looks cheap and won't temp anyone to steal it. Theft happens in school (from personal experience).

 

On the other hand, if you get a Pilot Metropolitan, you'll have the last laugh when someone steals it thinking it is an expensive pen. LOL

[LamyOne]

Hello Geena,

 

I would suggest one of two choices:

 

First Choice: A Lamy Al-Star, (I prefer the Al-Star to the Safari because the Al-Star has a polished body and feels smoother in the web of the hand than a Safari does - it also has a little more weight to it and comes in cool metallic colors). It also has a transparent section that allows you to see that is has been properly flushed out.

 

Second Choice: A Lamy Studio - get the brushed stainless steel version with the rubberized grip, ($71 @ Goulet, I would figure about the same in Europe as well). This pen is a little heavier than the Al-Star, but a little lighter than a Sheaffer Prelude. It also sports the interchangeable nibs - and I would add to this, that while all the pens use Z-50 nibs, I swear Lamy spends a little more time on the ones that go on Studios - mine is ultra-smooth - much smoother than any of the Z-50 nibs on my eleven Safari/Al-Stars. Also, the Studio is a pen you will use for life - it will never look juvenile to you and it's design will never go out of fashion, (except for maybe the propeller clip).

 

The only downside to this pen is that other kids will want to steal it.

 

Either of these pens can be bounced off walls and still work - as long as they don't hit the wall nib first.

 

 

Aside from the 2K, (which is out of your budget), I would say the Studio and the Al-Star are Lamy's best offerings. The caps on the Logo's can be irksome to remove and bulb flushing a CP-1 is near impossible.

 

Just my two cents, I hope it helps.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited October 16, 2014 by LamyOne

[LamyOne]

.............Theft happens in school (from personal experience).................

 

Hello FayeV,

 

I can attest to this - when I was in the fifth grade, I had a Snoopy pencil box - jammed full - with my favorite pens and pencils. It was clipped from me during recess and I never saw it again.

 

Some of the pens and pencils in there were irreplaceable - especially in the pre-internet days of the 1970s.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

[Icywolfe]

I like how the Lamy Safari looks cheap and won't temp anyone to steal it. Theft happens in school (from personal experience).

 

On the other hand, if you get a Pilot Metropolitan, you'll have the last laugh when someone steals it thinking it is an expensive pen. LOL

Pilot Metro looks and feels more expensive than it really it.

 

They can always go for the Pilot 78g that shares the Metro nib I think. Now you will really have the last laugh. (Seriously my 78g looks like a mini C74)

 

As weird as this may sound, it's best to keep pens on your body as somebody need to come up to you to steal it.

[LamyOne]

As weird as this may sound, it's best to keep pens on your body as somebody need to come up to you to steal it.

 

Nothing weird about that at all... that is why pens have typically always had pocket clips. (In fact, my shirt pocket is the only place I keep a pen when I'm out and about).

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited October 16, 2014 by LamyOne

[OcalaFlGuy]

These are my two work pens. A Parker 45, 14k Fine nib, and a Parker 180 Flighter BP with an Itoya Gel refill (any "Jotter" style Parker BP

with a nicer refill would work).

 

 

IMO, they'd both serve a student well too.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[lmarine0510]

As a cheaper and more readily-available alternative to the P51, I would suggest a Hero 100 in the "fligher" finish. It offers the same benefits as the P51 in that you can put it down uncapped for a few minutes without worrying about it drying up, which is useful in class. It has a durable stainless steel body, which gives it a little bit of heft. The nib is 14k gold and comes in only one size - on my example it is on the fat side of fine and extremely smooth and enjoyable to write with. The filling system is reliable, and although it does not have the biggest capacity, it lasts a decent time between fillings because of the fine nib.

 

It is not a very flashy pen, because the nib is mostly hidden under the hood, but at school it might be a good thing to avoid drawing too much attention. I use one every day in the laboratory and I know that I don't need to baby it and that it will write perfectly every time I pick it up. I wish I'd had one at school! They are available by Buy It Now on eBay for about $45 shipped.

in the $45 price range, one could find the real thing if they looked hard enough for a deal. I got mine for $49 off of the 'Bay including shipping.

[Icywolfe]

 

Nothing weird about that at all... that is why pens have typically always had pocket clips. (In fact, my shirt pocket is the only place I keep a pen when I'm out and about).

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Well I keep about 6-8 pens in my pockets. Plus the 2 on my front pocket.

 

Some people might say that if you are carrying that much you need to keep it in those cases. (And my response would be: And so they can just jack that can leave me with negative 500 USD.)

 

I'm sure most thieves rather not be confrontational. If they are I have my utility knife ready. And maybe pepper spray if I ever decide to buy that.

[LamyOne]

Hello Icy,

 

Why do you need to carry 8-10 pens with you?

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited October 17, 2014 by LamyOne

[Icywolfe]

Hello Icy,

 

Why do you need to carry 8-10 pens with you?

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Umm.....

 

I take:

 

- Pilot VP: Quick note taking

- Pilot Elabo: Mini Titles Flexy writing

- Pilot Justus95: Garbage paper writing. (Non black ink) And story writing.

- Wancher Platinum PTL5000: Garage page writing. (Platinum Carbon Black ink ONLY)

- Pilot C74 MS: Just for the fun of it

- Jinhao FC 1.9mm Music/Stub Nib: When people ask to try my C74 with the MS nib I tell them to use the steel nib.

- FPR Flex pen: When people want to try a flex pen.

- Waterman 515 Vintage Flex: Fancy note titles

- Platinum/Kuretake Brush Pen: Why not?

- TWSBI Vac700: My go to blue ink pen.

- Jinhao X750 GPC/Jowo B nib: Filled with Blue Ghost and used for invisible highlighting of the textbook.

 

Occasional:

 

- RK Glassdip pen

- Deleter GNib dip pen

- Pilot 78g BB stub

- Sheaffer Statesman Triumph nib: Occasional when I feel like using Sheaffer Peacock Blue to burn some eyes.

 

Well yeah...... I need to slimline this.

 

But this semester I have yet to use a dip pen in class though. I might use it again some time soon in my english class as my teacher likes the "Past." As in handwritten stuff and he uses BPs/LPs and he thinks that is old. Dip pen anybody?

 

------------------------

 

By the way aren't you the demon cat person?

Edited October 17, 2014 by Icywolfe

[SujiCorp12345]

Umm.....

 

I take:

 

- Pilot VP: Quick note taking

- Pilot Elabo: Mini Titles Flexy writing

- Pilot Justus95: Garbage paper writing. (Non black ink) And story writing.

- Wancher Platinum PTL5000: Garage page writing. (Platinum Carbon Black ink ONLY)

- Pilot C74 MS: Just for the fun of it

- Jinhao FC 1.9mm Music/Stub Nib: When people ask to try my C74 with the MS nib I tell them to use the steel nib.

- FPR Flex pen: When people want to try a flex pen.

- Waterman 515 Vintage Flex: Fancy note titles

- Platinum/Kuretake Brush Pen: Why not?

- TWSBI Vac700: My go to blue ink pen.

- Jinhao X750 GPC/Jowo B nib: Filled with Blue Ghost and used for invisible highlighting of the textbook.

 

Occasional:

 

- RK Glassdip pen

- Deleter GNib dip pen

- Pilot 78g BB stub

- Sheaffer Statesman Triumph nib: Occasional when I feel like using Sheaffer Peacock Blue to burn some eyes.

 

Well yeah...... I need to slimline this.

 

But this semester I have yet to use a dip pen in class though. I might use it again some time soon in my english class as my teacher likes the "Past." As in handwritten stuff and he uses BPs/LPs and he thinks that is old. Dip pen anybody?

 

------------------------

 

By the way aren't you the demon cat person?

Why do you highlight with invisible ink?

[jaqcp]

If you want to go vintage, I suggest in looking for a Parker 45, a good, solid -almost bombproof in the Flighter finish- pen that can be had for as little as 15$ or less, and sometimes can have a gold nib! Anyway, the nib is easily interchangeable, if any problem appears, and restoration is pretty straight forward to do.

 

Maybe a Parker 51 can fit in your budget. As a student myself, I use my dear 51 as a workhorse, and it really works well!

 

Bomb-proof is a very accurate description for the venerable 45 flighter. Solid weight and dependable, solid build. They also use the Parker "pregnant" converter which holds nearly as much as their large 1.7 ml cartridges. End of discussion.

[Icywolfe]

Why do you highlight with invisible ink?

I go crazy when I open a book with yellow highlighter ink everywhere.

 

And.... resell value is higher for a "cleaner book." And when I let my friends borrow my book they aren't annoyed or read my horrible side notes.

[LamyOne]

Umm.....

 

I take:

 

- Pilot VP: Quick note taking

- Pilot Elabo: Mini Titles Flexy writing

- Pilot Justus95: Garbage paper writing. (Non black ink) And story writing.

- Wancher Platinum PTL5000: Garage page writing. (Platinum Carbon Black ink ONLY)

- Pilot C74 MS: Just for the fun of it

- Jinhao FC 1.9mm Music/Stub Nib: When people ask to try my C74 with the MS nib I tell them to use the steel nib.

- FPR Flex pen: When people want to try a flex pen.

- Waterman 515 Vintage Flex: Fancy note titles

- Platinum/Kuretake Brush Pen: Why not?

- TWSBI Vac700: My go to blue ink pen.

- Jinhao X750 GPC/Jowo B nib: Filled with Blue Ghost and used for invisible highlighting of the textbook.

 

Occasional:

 

- RK Glassdip pen

- Deleter GNib dip pen

- Pilot 78g BB stub

- Sheaffer Statesman Triumph nib: Occasional when I feel like using Sheaffer Peacock Blue to burn some eyes.

 

Well yeah...... I need to slimline this.

 

But this semester I have yet to use a dip pen in class though. I might use it again some time soon in my english class as my teacher likes the "Past." As in handwritten stuff and he uses BPs/LPs and he thinks that is old. Dip pen anybody?

 

------------------------

 

By the way aren't you the demon cat person?

 

Hello IcyWolfe,

 

An impressive list of pens - but you didn't answer my original question - WHY do you carry so many pens?

 

Yes, I was sporting the avatar of Boo, (the fierce looking black cat lying on a stone wall); however, I thought this new avatar may be more in keeping with the theme of FPN. What do you think? Do you prefer the Lamy logo or Boo?

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

[FayeV]

Well I keep about 6-8 pens in my pockets. Plus the 2 on my front pocket.

 

Some people might say that if you are carrying that much you need to keep it in those cases. (And my response would be: And so they can just jack that can leave me with negative 500 USD.)

 

I'm sure most thieves rather not be confrontational. If they are I have my utility knife ready. And maybe pepper spray if I ever decide to buy that.

 

Glad I'm not the only one who carries 6-8 FPs around with me.

 

But you guys don't know how lucky you are to have pockets to hold all that stuff! Some of my clothes don't even have pockets. And forget about it if it is a dress. I'd have a hard time wearing one pen. None of my tops have pockets, and only some of my pants have pockets. I have a hard enough time finding a way to carry my Fitbit without clipping it to a pocket.

 

I do agree that you're less likely to lose something, or have something stolen, if you're carrying it on you.

 

How do you safely carry your R&K Glass Dip Pen? I have one of those and am very careful while handling it inside my house. I can't imagine taking it out of the house.

[Icywolfe]

 

Hello IcyWolfe,

 

An impressive list of pens - but you didn't answer my original question - WHY do you carry so many pens?

 

Yes, I was sporting the avatar of Boo, (the fierce looking black cat lying on a stone wall); however, I thought this new avatar may be more in keeping with the theme of FPN. What do you think? Do you prefer the Lamy logo or Boo?

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Well.... I need those pens so.... I can have a variety of nibs. And for the flex pens I need doubles because of classmates wanting to try a hand at some fancy cursive.

 

Hmmm... I liked the demon cat.

 

 

Glad I'm not the only one who carries 6-8 FPs around with me.

 

But you guys don't know how lucky you are to have pockets to hold all that stuff! Some of my clothes don't even have pockets. And forget about it if it is a dress. I'd have a hard time wearing one pen. None of my tops have pockets, and only some of my pants have pockets. I have a hard enough time finding a way to carry my Fitbit without clipping it to a pocket.

 

I do agree that you're less likely to lose something, or have something stolen, if you're carrying it on you.

 

How do you safely carry your R&K Glass Dip Pen? I have one of those and am very careful while handling it inside my house. I can't imagine taking it out of the house.

I wrap my Glassdip pen in tissue paper then copy paper. Sometimes I pad the nib area extra well... (because once I have no idea how this happened, I sat down and stabbed my no-no area.... and the class was wondering why I had a weird expression on my face.) But once I wrap it up I just slip it into my pockets. But I have to watch out sitting too fast or walking too fast. My pants pocket is a blackhole. Like once I had to carry my groceries in my pockets because of the dum 10 cent for a bag law.

 

Can't you sew some pockets to your clothes? I love to sow more pockets like a dedicated dip pen pocket but..... I can't sow....

Edited October 17, 2014 by Icywolfe

[LamyOne]

Well.... I need those pens so.... I can have a variety of nibs. And for the flex pens I need doubles because of classmates wanting to try a hand at some fancy cursive.

 

Hmmm... I liked the demon cat.

 

Hello Icy,

 

Personally, I don't think I could take carrying all of those pens - but I like your style.

 

<<<< BTW, I brought Boo back; he isn't really a demon cat, he just looks that way when he's watching birds.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

[Icywolfe]

 

Hello Icy,

 

Personally, I don't think I could take carrying all of those pens - but I like your style.

 

<<<< BTW, I brought Boo back; he isn't really a demon cat, he just looks that way when he's watching birds.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Well school can be boring sometimes so I try to add some fun to it.

 

Well that picture is one of those pictures that seem to look at you no matter the place you are in.

Edited October 17, 2014 by Icywolfe

[de_pen_dent]

Whatever pen that has a lot of ink capacity and you can afford to drop.

 

I went through school using a bunch of Wing Tsuns (which copied the Sheaffer conical triumph nib) and Heros, with the Sheaffer Imperial and PFM being my lucky exam day pen.

 

These days, I'd pick up a couple of Pelikan M205s/TWSBIs or one of the ebonite ED pens with an upgraded feed from Teri @ Peyton Street Pens.

 

Ixnay on cartridges and converters - unless you guys write a lot less these days than back in my day, you'll be running out of ink far too often.

[bogiesan]

Vasity disposables. About $20 for a pack of seven in different colors.

Nice nibs, dirt cheap, nice inks, nice colors, discreet presence, no tears if lost or dropped nib first onto a concrete floor.

Let your parents or grandparents buy you a fine writing instrument after you have demonstrated you can appreciate the value and know a bit more about what style and brand you might like to carry.