How Many Inked Pens?

[Papermint]

  On 3/17/2017 at 7:27 PM, Mercian said:

I may be wrong, but did you say (in the thread asking people to name their first pen) that all your pens are AL-Stars?

Once you start buying different types of pen you may find that the feeling of 'guilt' about 'neglecting' a particular type of pen while repeatedly using pens of another type gets stronger in you :-D

Then again, the Pathetic Fallacy is ridiculously strong in me... :-(

I have 8 Al-Stars and 4 other brands. All of them currently inked... not feeling any guilt so far. Anyway, you're "neglecting" all of your pens (minus 1) while using one of them.

I still don't really get it (and i don't think I want to ;-))

I own dozens of shoes for example and never felt anything like guilt or that the ones I don't war as often as others are neglected. I might be not pathetic enough ;-)

[bayindirh]

  On 3/17/2017 at 7:27 PM, Mercian said:

I may be wrong, but did you say (in the thread asking people to name their first pen) that all your pens are AL-Stars?

 

Once you start buying different types of pen you may find that the feeling of 'guilt' about 'neglecting' a particular type of pen while repeatedly using pens of another type gets stronger in you :-D

 

Then again, the Pathetic Fallacy is ridiculously strong in me... :-(

 

 

Most of fountain pens are Lamys and their majority is Al-Stars with some Safaris, however I have other pens (Kaweco, Stypen, Sheaffer, Pelikan, etc.) too. I've currently inked a Lamy CP1, a Lamy Vista, a Lamy Al-Star and a Sheaffer Targa.

 

Al-Star comes everywhere with me. Vista carries colored inks, CP1 and Targa are my table writing pens with different inks. I have too many Lamys inked, because both I need to use down my aging cartridge stock first and I really like Lamys for many reasons. Only Sheaffer drinks from bottles for now, but all Lamys have converters, so I can use them non-stop when the cartridges finally run out.

 

I already want to use my other pens, but I cannot consume inks faster than this pace. If I try to, it will become a duty to keep inks in liquid state. Currently it just happens.

[bayindirh]

  On 3/17/2017 at 11:55 PM, Papermint said:

I have 8 Al-Stars and 4 other brands. All of them currently inked... not feeling any guilt so far. Anyway, you're "neglecting" all of your pens (minus 1) while using one of them.

I still don't really get it (and i don't think I want to ;-))

I own dozens of shoes for example and never felt anything like guilt or that the ones I don't war as often as others are neglected. I might be not pathetic enough ;-)

 

 

Actually all your pens have a different writing feeling, even same brand with same nib width, because the nibs are somewhat, slightly different. Some pens and nibs work really well with a particular ink or inks.

 

I've seen an old writing in my journal from three years back. It was Lamy blue ink and it was lovely. I wondered which pen it was. Same ink becomes another lovely deep navy when used in Cross Century medium 14K. Also Century nib is so smooth, you don't get any feedback.

 

Similarly, one of my medium safari is so wet, it actually writes kind of broad. It's also smoother than my other pens and behave differently. Sometimes you need, want or crave that exact feeling, so you ink that particular pen. My current configuration is both enjoyable and functional for me, for now; so that's why I use these pens.

Edited March 18, 2017 by bayindirh

[Papermint]

  On 3/18/2017 at 12:02 AM, bayindirh said:

Actually all your pens have a different writing feeling, even same brand with same nib width, because the nibs are somewhat, slightly different. Some pens and nibs work really well with a particular ink or inks

And that's exactly why I like having "many" pens inked, which gives me the possibility to decide between many inks/writing feelings or whatever. :-)

[bayindirh]

  On 3/18/2017 at 12:14 AM, Papermint said:

And that's exactly why I like having "many" pens inked, which gives me the possibility to decide between many inks/writing feelings or whatever. :-)

 

 

This is because both you are getting the taste of it (since you said that you're a newbie), and you prefer to get this taste, with that particular way. There's nothing wrong with it.

 

As one of my good friends say:

Continue doing what you're doing.

[ethernautrix]

  On 3/17/2017 at 2:28 PM, Papermint said:

Maybe I still have to reach this point where I feel stressed by too many inked pens. As a newbie right now I just feel excited my having the choice between so many inks and pens. I would create more pressure to have too many inks and pens I DON'T use. So I never fully ink a pen, I just use half a converter or piston filling so I'm able to have more inks in rotation. Also I guess it depends on how much you write. If you're only taking occasional notes at work a piston filling probably lasts a lot longer than for someone like me who also regularly writes journals and letters and loves to change ink/pen with every new letter or journal entry.

 

I did not mean to offend anyone, just find it funny and a bit strange that someone who is collecting inks AND pens tries to challenge themselves not to ink too many pens at the same time (I understand that 20 or 25 might bee a wee bit to much though ;-))

I tend to have between five and ten pens inked, and use at least three of them extensively everyday, with the others filled with "highlight" or contrast inks, which I use for a sentence or two here and there.

 

I've been using fountain pens for around 30 years. Before fountain pens, I had hundreds of ballpoints and felt-tips (back then, rollerballs were too skippy, unlike the gel pens these days (which are fabulous)), and I wasn't neurotic about the perfect daily-carry number or "too many." That fixation began only several years ago, and it's finally fading (although not completely yet).

 

In any case, I didn't perceive any offense in your comment.

[Tas]

  On 3/17/2017 at 10:56 PM, cattar said:

 

Aw. I've got 4 in hospital now, resacs & a grind.

I've seen your inky posts. How much ink do you go through in a week?

 

 

I wish them all a speedy recovery.

 

As for ink usage, not that much at all . . . although I no longer consider an ink too precious to use regularly. If I'm in the mood for Mont Blanc Midnight Blue (old formula) I'll use it. The "But Tas, there's not much left" voice gets told "Thanks for sharing. I'm going to use it anyway" . . .

[TSherbs]

  On 3/17/2017 at 11:55 PM, Papermint said:

I have 8 Al-Stars and 4 other brands. All of them currently inked... not feeling any guilt so far. Anyway, you're "neglecting" all of your pens (minus 1) while using one of them.

I still don't really get it (and i don't think I want to ;-))

I own dozens of shoes for example and never felt anything like guilt or that the ones I don't war as often as others are neglected. I might be not pathetic enough ;-)

 

I am interested in reducing my number, but not out of guilt. I have ink evaporating in pens, and that annoys the miser in me. And, I really enjoy the feel of becoming reacquainted with a pen that I have put away for 6 months and have not even seen. It's like a new present without having to spend additional $ (please the miser).

[eyesa]

Generally 4, each with a different favorite ink and often a 5th (for black) and an occasional 6th if I am sampling. I do always have some disposables(refillable cheapies) around for loaners, but I don't count them

[Arkanabar]

  On 3/17/2017 at 11:56 PM, bayindirh said:

I have too many Lamys inked, because both I need to use down my aging cartridge stock first and I really like Lamys for many reasons. Only Sheaffer drinks from bottles for now, but all Lamys have converters, so I can use them non-stop when the cartridges finally run out.

 

Save those empty cartridges. Eventually, the converters wear out, and refilling carts you've already bought (blunt ink syringes are sold by a number of vendors) is cheaper than buying new converters.

[bayindirh]

  On 3/20/2017 at 11:54 AM, Arkanabar said:

 

Save those empty cartridges. Eventually, the converters wear out, and refilling carts you've already bought (blunt ink syringes are sold by a number of vendors) is cheaper than buying new converters.

 

Hey! Thanks for the warning

 

I'm saving some for the exact same reason, however converters are pretty invincible as far as I can see. My father's cross' converter is still working perfectly after 20+ years and 10+ bottles of W. Germany made Mont Blanc blue.

 

I already fill some giant Pelikan cartridges for a pen which doesn't have a converter already. BTW, which brand's converter is suitable for international cartridge pens?

[Youssou]

  On 3/20/2017 at 12:07 PM, bayindirh said:

 

BTW, which brand's converter is suitable for international cartridge pens?

 

Basically, every brand that sells international cartridge pens: Pelikan, Kaweco, Faber-Castell etc.

[Mercian]

  On 3/20/2017 at 12:07 PM, bayindirh said:

BTW, which brand's converter is suitable for international cartridge pens?

  On 3/20/2017 at 3:22 PM, Youssou said:

Basically, every brand that sells international cartridge pens: Pelikan, Kaweco, Faber-Castell etc.

Also rotring, but the cheapest ones I've seen are made by a company named Schmidt.

 

You also need to know that I once bought one (very cheap) pen that took International cartridges, and later found that its barrel was too short for any converter :-(

But that was only one, very cheap, pen.

If you are not certain whether a converter will fit your pen or not, my advice is to buy a cheap converter first to test the fit.

 

For reference, see also this page:

 

https://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/reference.php?id=7

[bayindirh]

  On 3/20/2017 at 3:34 PM, Mercian said:

Also rotring, but the cheapest ones I've seen are made by a company named Schmidt.

 

You also need to know that I once bought one (very cheap) pen that took International cartridges, and later found that its barrel was too short for any converter :-(

But that was only one, very cheap, pen.

If you are not certain whether a converter will fit your pen or not, my advice is to buy a cheap converter first to test the fit.

 

For reference, see also this page:

 

https://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/reference.php?id=7

 

Thanks for your warning and reply

Actually, I will buy two converters, to two full size pens, which happily accept giant international cartridges, so I don't think the length will be a problem.

 

 

  On 3/20/2017 at 3:22 PM, Youssou said:

 

Basically, every brand that sells international cartridge pens: Pelikan, Kaweco, Faber-Castell etc.

 

 

Thank you

Edited March 20, 2017 by bayindirh