First Timer Entering The World Of Fountain Pens

[ac12]

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A few weeks ago Fountain Pens weren't on my radar until I got an email from Massdrop.com that was advertising a few pens which lead me to youtube to watch reviews and then that lead me to a few websites including this one to learn more about fountain pens. After all the research I have done I made the decision to become a fountain pen user. My only experience with fountain pens was a gift my brother gave me a few Christmas's ago from Walgreens. I think it was called JML classic or something along those lines. The gift set had like pencils, pens, cartridges etc... Well, I pulled it out of the drawer and started writing and that was made me want to get a better pen as opposed to gel and ballpoint.

There is a company by me called Paradise Pens that has a wide variety of pens so I went there to just see what it was like to write with some of the more upper-end pens and wow talk about smooth; I, however, don't want to start there as it's a bit too much price since I am a college student. I also don't think I would purchase from Paradise since their prices are more than other sites and retailers.

Getting to my question here, I plan on spending $70 and under for a pen and here were the choices I ended up narrowing it down to in no particular order.

TWSBI Eco
Lamy Safari/Al-Star/Vista
Jinhao 450 / 750
Platinum Preppy
Pilot Metropolitan
Pilot Prera
Monteverde Impressa
Noodlers Piston Filler
Parker IM/Urban/Sonnet
Faber-Castell Loom

I know that's a lot; let me assure you I have spent I don't know how many hours coming up with that list lol. Some of those pens are super cheap so if I don't get one of the higher priced ones I might end up buying a few different of the cheaper ones and may even pair them with Goulet nibs.

I would greatly appreciate thoughts and opinions on a good entry level pen; would any of those pens be a good foray into fountain pens? Feel free to chime in on any other pens too that I should consider. There are so many pens out there so I appreciate any help that can be offered.

 

General note. I like and use light pens, under 20 grams, and preferably under 15 grams. So most metal body pens which tend to be heavy have been retired from use, simply because of their weight.

 

First do NOT get a Noodler's pen. Those pens are really made for tinkerers. You may get a good pen out of the box, or you may have to tinker with it...for hours. I never got my 2 working even half decently, and they sit in their box unlikely to ever see ink.

 

The TWSBI Eco is a good pen. I've had mine inked for about a year.

 

The Parker IM is another good pen, but it is a bit too heavy for me. I like light pens, so it has been retired.

The Parker Urban is similar to the IM.

The Parker Sonnet, has mixed reviews here on FPN. I have one and it has worked just fine for me. I no longer use mine, but I do not remember why I retired it. But it was NOT for a problem. It may have been the weight of the metal body.

Parkers come with MEDIUM nibs. If you don't like the M nib, you have 28 days from purchase to initiate a nib exchange, to get a different nib. But note that not all pen lines will have all the different sizes available. Example, the IM and Urban only have Medium or Fine, so your only exchange option is the Fine.

 

The Pilot Metropolitan is a sleeper. For an $18 pen, the M nib pen is it a SMOOTH writing pen. The Pilot M nib is similar to an Eco F nib. The Metro has a step shape at the section/barrel junction that bothers some people. It also has a metal body. I think I retired mine because it was too heavy for me.

 

The Safari family has a faceted grip that people either like or hate, it all depends on how you hold the pen. It works for me. The neat thing about the Safari, is that the nibs are easily changed to a different size . . . by YOU. It does not have to go back to Lamy to change nibs. From EF to B and 3 cursive italic sizes. At home, I prefer to use the joy, as it feels better balanced than the Safari.

 

You should also look at the Rossetta Explorer. A $15 pen that is surprisingly good. But only available in a Medium nib.

 

BTW, for taking to school/college, I recommend a pen (actually TWO pens) in the lower price range. The reason for 2 pens is to carry a primary and backup pen. When the primary pen stops writing, just switch to the backup pen, and deal with the stopped pen when you have time, not in the middle of class. School is a "high risk" environment for damage, loss and theft, so that is my reason for a low cost pen. If the pen is lost or damaged, replacing it should not be a financial hit to your budget.

My college pens were a pair of Parker 45s with Fine nibs (same as a Lamy XF nib).

Edited September 9, 2016 by ac12

[Sailor Kenshin]

The Met is less than $15 if you have Amazon Prime *gleefully considers yet another color*

[Vunter]

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General note. I like and use light pens, under 20 grams, and preferably under 15 grams. So most metal body pens which tend to be heavy have been retired from use, simply because of their weight.

 

First do NOT get a Noodler's pen. Those pens are really made for tinkerers. You may get a good pen out of the box, or you may have to tinker with it...for hours. I never got my 2 working even half decently, and they sit in their box unlikely to ever see ink.

 

The TWSBI Eco is a good pen. I've had mine inked for about a year.

 

The Parker IM is another good pen, but it is a bit too heavy for me. I like light pens, so it has been retired.

The Parker Urban is similar to the IM.

The Parker Sonnet, has mixed reviews here on FPN. I have one and it has worked just fine for me. I no longer use mine, but I do not remember why I retired it. But it was NOT for a problem. It may have been the weight of the metal body.

Parkers come with MEDIUM nibs. If you don't like the M nib, you have 28 days from purchase to initiate a nib exchange, to get a different nib. But note that not all pen lines will have all the different sizes available. Example, the IM and Urban only have Medium or Fine, so your only exchange option is the Fine.

 

The Pilot Metropolitan is a sleeper. For an $18 pen, the M nib pen is it a SMOOTH writing pen. The Pilot M nib is similar to an Eco F nib. The Metro has a step shape at the section/barrel junction that bothers some people. It also has a metal body. I think I retired mine because it was too heavy for me.

 

The Safari family has a faceted grip that people either like or hate, it all depends on how you hold the pen. It works for me. The neat thing about the Safari, is that the nibs are easily changed to a different size . . . by YOU. It does not have to go back to Lamy to change nibs. From EF to B and 3 cursive italic sizes. At home, I prefer to use the joy, as it feels better balanced than the Safari.

 

You should also look at the Rossetta Explorer. A $15 pen that is surprisingly good. But only available in a Medium nib.

 

BTW, for taking to school/college, I recommend a pen (actually TWO pens) in the lower price range. The reason for 2 pens is to carry a primary and backup pen. When the primary pen stops writing, just switch to the backup pen, and deal with the stopped pen when you have time, not in the middle of class. School is a "high risk" environment for damage, loss and theft, so that is my reason for a low cost pen. If the pen is lost or damaged, replacing it should not be a financial hit to your budget.

My college pens were a pair of Parker 45s with Fine nibs (same as a Lamy XF nib).

 

Yeah I wasn't sure on a lot of nib sizes as far as medium and broad. After trying out multiple nibs at a store I learned I tend not to prefer fine and extra fine nibs; although I think I will keep a fine nib pen around just in case i want one. I ended up purchasing multiple pens of the same type except with different nibs so I could see which I preferred, then I am going to return the one I don't like. I already checked with the sites I bought them from and the responses I got back was that was perfectly fine.

 

I already received a TWSBI Eco medium, broad, and fine, and I prefer the broad. I returned the other two with no issues at all. I know that many brands of pens have nib sizes that though they are called medium and broad can sometimes feel more like other sizes in other brand of pens; however based on all the pens I tried at a store it seemed like I leaned more towards medium and broad.

 

So I plan on buying medium most of the time

[ac12]

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Yeah I wasn't sure on a lot of nib sizes as far as medium and broad. After trying out multiple nibs at a store I learned I tend not to prefer fine and extra fine nibs; although I think I will keep a fine nib pen around just in case i want one. I ended up purchasing multiple pens of the same type except with different nibs so I could see which I preferred, then I am going to return the one I don't like. I already checked with the sites I bought them from and the responses I got back was that was perfectly fine.

I already received a TWSBI Eco medium, broad, and fine, and I prefer the broad. I returned the other two with no issues at all. I know that many brands of pens have nib sizes that though they are called medium and broad can sometimes feel more like other sizes in other brand of pens; however based on all the pens I tried at a store it seemed like I leaned more towards medium and broad.

So I plan on buying medium most of the time

 

Realize that there is NO industry standard of nib sizes.

Each company defines their own table of what width nib = what label size.

Generally, the Western nibs are about a size larger than the Japanese/Chinese nibs, but there are exceptions.

BTW, TWSBI uses nibs made in Germany, not China, so the sizing is European.

Even with the same company, the nib size definition may change over time. Example, the current European Parker nib sizes are about a size wider than the old US Parker nibs. I understand similar for the old Lamy vs. the new/current Lamy nibs.

 

It is for this reason that I started measuring the width of the tips on my pens. That way, I have an objective number of the nib size that is not subject to discussion and interpretation, and I can compare any of my nibs. Although there are yet other variables that will affect the width of the ink line.

 

In general, the finer nibs are more sensitive to the texture of the surface of the paper. IOW it will feel scratchy on less than smooth paper.

And similarly, the wider nibs will feel smoother on the less than smooth paper than the finer nibs.

 

gud luk in college.

[Vunter]

So I've been writing with my new pens and inks this past week and my conclusions are a lot different than I thought they would be. I had to hold off on the Faber-Castell since I thought I would get more ink colors instead. I will probably ask for the Faber-Castell for Christmas.

 

Wrote on Rhodia dotpad and Clairfontaine 1951.

 

TWSBI ECO - Broad Nib: - Ku-jaku Ink.
Pilot Met - Medium Nib - Edelstein Aquamarine Ink.

Jinhao X450 - Goulet Medium Nib - Kon Peki Ink.
Lamy Safari - Medium Nib - Eternal Polar Blue.

 

So take a guess out of all those pens what I actually thought had the smoothest experience and was the most comfortable in the hand? The Jinhao X450 with the goulet nib was a very unexpected surprise. I so thought the TWSBI Eco was going to be my favorite out of all those pens. It was a close tie between Jinhao x450 with Goulet nib and the TWSBI Eco. I should note that I preferred the Eco over the Jinhao when I had the Jinhao nib in rather than the goulet nib in.

Thats not to say I don't like those other pens; I love them all. I think when I go out and about I will take the Pilot Met and Lamy Safari; like shopping etc... I plan on taking them all with me when I do college projects at coffee shops or pretty much anywhere I take my laptop along. It was super fun to try them all and see my preferences.

Edited September 16, 2016 by Vunter

[Behike54]

Wait until you get interested in paper.

 

hahahahaha!

 

I was just thinking that!

 

mmmmmmmm, paper. *heavy sigh*

 

Don't worry, bro. We got you covered!

[Behike54]

So I've been writing with my new pens and inks this past week and my conclusions are a lot different than I thought they would be. I had to hold off on the Faber-Castell since I thought I would get more ink colors instead. I will probably ask for the Faber-Castell for Christmas.

 

Wrote on Rhodia dotpad and Clairfontaine 1951.

 

TWSBI ECO - Broad Nib: - Ku-jaku Ink.

Pilot Met - Medium Nib - Edelstein Aquamarine Ink.

Jinhao X450 - Goulet Medium Nib - Kon Peki Ink.

Lamy Safari - Medium Nib - Eternal Polar Blue.

 

So take a guess out of all those pens what I actually thought had the smoothest experience and was the most comfortable in the hand? The Jinhao X450 with the goulet nib was a very unexpected surprise. I so thought the TWSBI Eco was going to be my favorite out of all those pens. It was a close tie between Jinhao x450 with Goulet nib and the TWSBI Eco. I should note that I preferred the Eco over the Jinhao when I had the Jinhao nib in rather than the goulet nib in.

 

Thats not to say I don't like those other pens; I love them all. I think when I go out and about I will take the Pilot Met and Lamy Safari; like shopping etc... I plan on taking them all with me when I do college projects at coffee shops or pretty much anywhere I take my laptop along. It was super fun to try them all and see my preferences.

 

 

Dude, one of my first pens was a Jinhao 159 w/goulet nib.

 

It's stone cold and dirt cheap KILLER! Very smooth writer and consistent line.

 

Finally, you just barely scratched the surface. Now it's going to get really fun!

 

PM me your address and I'll send you some Tomoe River paper. No, REALLY! I got a lot of PIFs when I first started here. Time to return the favor.

 

 

Edited September 23, 2016 by Behike54

[Vunter]

I'd definitely recommend Faber Castell. It's one of my best writing pens that I enjoy using daily.

 

 

 

absolutely, their nibs are excellent. one of my EDC.

Just picked up the Faber-Castell Loom on MassDrop for 29.99; pumped to try it out.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/faber-castell-loom?referer=8TMXJ3#_=_

[dylim1]

 

 

Just picked up the Faber-Castell Loom on MassDrop for 29.99; pumped to try it out.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/faber-castell-loom?referer=8TMXJ3#_=_

 

Which color and what nib size did you get?

Edited September 28, 2016 by dylim1

[Vunter]

 

Which color and what nib size did you get?

Blue and Medium Nib

[SpecTP]

Blue and Medium Nib

 

You should try their EF nib