New Fountain Pen Owner From Oklahoma

[ChefK]

I'm about a week behind on introducing myself!

 

My name is Kevin and I'm from Oklahoma City. Last week I was at Galleria Mall in Texas and I wondered by a store and saw a few Cross pens glistening in the window so I HAD to stop by and take a look. After visiting with the salesman for a while we got on the topic of fountain pens. I'd never owned, or even written with one before. He handed me a 12 year old Japanese fountain pen and let me give it a try (please forgive me, I don't remember the name of the pen) and I instantly fell in love. I asked him to point me in the direction of a "starter pen" and he pointed to a case full of Lamy pens. I picked out a nice white, medium nib pen and went ahead and picked up a converter for it as well. I got to visit with the salesman and another gentleman who had wandered into the store (who was a regular and quite the pen aficionado if I may add) and they educated me on the importance of using good inks and paper etc.

I couldn't WAIT to get back to the hotel room and practice. I think I went through the first cartridge of ink in about 4 days, so then I had to go find some ink to try out the refillable cartridge. When I got back to Oklahoma I went to a local Hobby Lobby, hoping they'd have something. I found their (very limited) fountain pen and calligraphy section. I found what they called "calligraphy ink" and thought "surely it's the same thing, this should work" and found a nice "grass green" ink and really like the color. I got home, filled up the cartridge and popped it into my Lamy. The pen seemed to write great that evening, then the next day when I got to work I noticed that the ink wasn't really flowing from the pen. I had to work the nib back and forth, up and down and all around before the ink began to flow through the nib again. This was my first lesson in fountain pens and ink. If an ink is cheap, there's a reason for that (not unlike most things in life). I quickly went online and found a similar green ink made by Waterman. I ordered the ink and received it within a few days and immediately went to work cleaning my pen out, disassembling it all the way down to removing the nib. Once I got the gummed up ink out, I filled the refillable cartridge with the new ink. Once I wrote with the pen and the new ink I instantly knew the difference in inks.

 

I have been extremely satisfied with my pen (and now good ink) and I've practiced my writing and penmanship for the last week and I feel like I'm really starting to get a feel for the pen and how to use it. I'm very excited to be a part of this group and I look forward to sharing with you all and reading your stories in the future!

[northstar]

Hello and welcome to FPN.

[OCArt]

The Lamy Safari is a tried and true pen and you will be happy with it. Replacement nibs are inexpensive and you could try out a different size in the future-- I recommend a 1.1 mm stub. Good choice in Waterman inks, they are very dependable.

 

Welcome to our little corner of the universe from a pen user in San Diego. I'm sure you will enjoy your time here ChefK.

[jar]

Welcome home. Pull up a stump and set a spell.

[DaveT]

Hello and welcome from Indiana!

[mreich1964]

Hello from Idaho. Enjoy the site and the wonderful people that keep it relevant.

Edited April 2, 2016 by Propman

[Sasha Royale]

Greetings, ChefK !

 

It isn't that the ink was "cheap". It was not fountain pen ink ! Most "art" inks contain lacquer and non-compatible materials that are beautiful on paper, but not intended to flow through a fountain pen feed system. Fountain pen ink ONLY in fountain pens. (Sorry that we got to you late.) If you detect any further flow problems, mix a solution one part household ammonia and nine parts water. About three ounces total will do. Fill and expel it through the nib and feed six or eight times, to remove any lacquer. Then, cycle clean, cool, tap water through the pen several times to rinse.

 

LAMY makes great pens. Save the empty cartridges. We will tell you how to refill them. Very convenient !

 

Write with joy.

[bobje]

ChefK, from a Kansas native, welcome to the Fountain Pen Network! Bob

[Chrissy]

Hello Kevin and welcome to FPN.

[FOUR X FOUR]

That was a good intro. Welcome aboard

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! Glad to have you as a member!!

[ThomasB]

Hello and welcome from Baton Rouge, Louisiana...Enjoy your time here

[Wahl]

Hi Kevin,

[Pen Nut]

Hello and a warm welcome to you http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-greet009.gif

[Buzz_130]

Welcome to FPN! You were very lucky that you could clean out the old ink, and you'll find many outstanding fountain pen inks. Head over to Inky Thoughts, and you'll find a wide open world of inky goodness.

 

Buzz