One Pen One Month Challenge

[sandy101]

You might learn something new, about the safe pen. If the "at odds" with really doesn't work, you can change it - but tell us what the problem was (someone might have a solution for you).

 

This is an exercise in fun and curiosity, not masochism.

[mwpannell]

Right, not masochism with a pen I hate, but a good one that's a little challenging. Can I learn to appreciate it or adjust in the month-long deep end? Not saying I will but the idea is interesting.

[Noihvo]

[Catrin]

After thinking about this, I will use one of my TWSBI 580's with the Fine nib. Nib switching seems to me to kind of get around the purpose of this - as I've two different nibs on both 580's, then for me switching nibs = switching pens. This will also help me to decide if I really do prefer fine nibs over medium like I think. I've also noticed some light shading even with the fine nib (Ancient Copper), so it will be interesting to see if that experience is repeated with other inks. Granted, this was on Rhodia paper...

[Noihvo]

[Didimauw]

I love this idea. I spent around 6 months or more writing with only my Parker jotter, and loved it. I'm very new to the fountain pen world, but I'm down to play. Since August first is now, ill have to wait till next month. I have 3 pens inked up that I don't want to dry out. So I'll use them up first.

[przeklasa]

This will be easy for me. I've been using fountain pens off and on for around 55 years now. But during the past 3 years, I've challenged myself to using ONLY fountain pens for EVERYTHING! Sort of All Fountain Pens All The Time...AFPATT. I'm 95% successful.

 

My criteria for a fountain pen for AFPATT are:

1. Cheap price. The pen is clipped somewhere on my body all day, every day. Loss is possible. Scratches and dings are a certainty.

2. Light weight...less than 3/4 ounce. This eliminates pocket sag.

3. Nib ink line width 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm, some feedback but no scratchiness. I reshape the nib to achieve the feel and width I want. Long ago I found even a typical Fine nib is just too wide for lots of paper. And sometimes you have to write very, very small.

4. Cap that posts securely.

5. Large-ish ink capacity. On converter pens, I affix an ink sac to the converter. This greatly increases ink capacity yet still allows easy filling. I achieve up to 1.9 ml capacity on larger girth pens. Although, eyedroppers are the best. I love eyedroppers.

6. Weak clip. I bend the clip open just a bit so I can easily slip the pen on and off my pocket or t-shirt collar.

7. Easy to obtain black, blue or blue-black ink...appropriate for forms of an official nature.

 

The pen I choose for the One Pen One Month Challenge is a Jinhao 992 modified with a 0.25 mm ink line width nib, and a converter/ink sac with a 1.5 ml ink capacity.

 

Typically, I have 4 to 8 pens inked and I use them indiscriminately. But starting.......NOW.....just the Jinhao for a month.

[sandy101]

OK, it os the 1st August - so the one pen one month challenge begins.

 

The challenge is to use only one fountain pen for the entire month of August. You can use all the features of your pen - so you can change inks, swap nibs or write upside down with it if you want to.

 

You do not have to use your pen exclusively - if you have to use other pens for work, then please do. You can also use alternative instruments such as pencils, crayon or computers. We don't want anyone losing their jobs over this, so if you have to use particular equipment at work - then please do so.

 

If you are having problems with your choice of pen - ask here and maybe someone will be able to offer advice. If you really can't live with your choice, then by all means change it, but let us know why.

 

Questions to think about at the beginning.

 

1/ Why have you chosen this pen?

2/ What do you hope to learn from using it it?

3/ What inks are you planning to use?

4/ Are there any problems or issues you think you might have?

5/ What are you planning to purchase next?

 

By thinking about answers to these questions now, we will have something to look back on at the end.

Edited August 1, 2017 by sandy101

[chromantic]

I've been anxiously awaiting this event, which for me will start at 10:30 pm when I go to work. That gives the whole day to make a final decision on which pen/ink combo to go with.

[Laefar]

So, there we go.
As I have gone a little crazy lately, my set of pens have changed like that:


I guess, I have a lot of cleaning to do...
The only exception will be this grey one - this is my "special occasion" pen and it'll stay inked, in case there's any.

I was actually tempted to use this Wing Sung 698 as my August pen, but it's too wet and too broad for the paper I have to use on daily basis. So Faber-Castell Loom in a Fine it is.

So, for the close month this is what my EDC kit looks like:

[TennesseeTrash]

Checking in here for Day 1. I'll be using a Conid Regular Bulkfiller with a titanium broad nib. The first ink is Sailor Doyou. I'm pretty excited about this. I may go most of the month without running out of ink.

[BillH]

Decided to start the month with last year's B-day pen, a Pelikan M400 Tortoise SE with a medium nib, inked with Pelikan 4001 Blue Black. The choice came down to 400 or 800 size and since I've been using big pens the past couple months the B-day pen has been getting no love. It has been over a year since I only had one pen inked for daily use We'll see how it goes.

[sandy101]

I have chosen my Montblanc WE Shakespeare with some trepidation. It is alittle heaver than my usual everyday pen, so I hope by using it I'll get used to the weight. I'm using a current pen and pat of the reason is to see if these decorated jewlery pens are practical for everyday use. The ink I'm using is MB Royal Blue at the moment, but I have the rathe rlovely Leo Tolstoy ink, which is quite nice - and I'll put that in next. Fear is losing the pen - I have a case, and I'm making sure there is a Parker Jotter in the case for lending. I also have some pencils handy. I'm no planning on purchasing any more pens in the near future - at least not until the London Pen Show.

[Noihvo]

[wallylynn]

oh, it's just starting? I've been using my ahab for the past month already.

1/ Why have you chosen this pen? Hadn't used it in a long time.

2/ What do you hope to learn from using it it?
Find a way to keep it from drying out.

3/ What inks are you planning to use?
Liberty Elysium, Kung Te Cheng. (Was using Rome is Burning)

4/ Are there any problems or issues you think you might have?
Ink drying out. Hard starting. (More of a ink issue than pen issue)

5/ What are you planning to purchase next? Nothing for a while.

[chromantic]

Well, it's begun! Ground rules I'm applying:

 

> one month / one pen / one ink - this is the pen I take when I leave the house, i.e. work and errands

> allowed to take Herbin roller to work, can use only for the one NCR form I have to fill out

> pencil use required at work for making notes on printouts

> at home, ok to make squiggles in ink log with inked FP to keep feeds primed

> can still use M300 on glucose log, 1-2 entries/day (date/time/count)

 

Pen/ink considerations:

 

Definitely wanted a snap-on cap for convenience, that left out piston-fillers

Leaning towards brand cartridge v syringe-filled or C/C as I could carry spare refills in my bag

 

The finalists were:

 

1 Sheaffer 3rd gen school pen, F, with Skrip Turquoise - 3 carts on hand

2 Pelikano 450, M, with GvFC Deep Sea Green - 11 carts on hand, plus partial in pen

3 Waterman JIF, F, with Kana-cho Midnight

4 Waterman JIF, F, with Lamy Petrol

 

First elimination was #4 - even though I don't write all that much at work, Petrol is a finite resource

Next was #3 - still testing to see if this JIF is going to leak, like the previous one inked with K-c did

Next was #2 - 450 is, indeed, a "snap-on" cap, as opposed the push-on Sheaffer

 

Winner is the 3rd gen translucent blue Sheaffer school pen with Skrip Turquoise. This and the 450/DSG were the two that first came to mind when this challenge was announced and, later, I added the Midnight. Then, Petrol arrived ... <sigh> In the end, I went with my first choice, the Sheaffer combo.

 

Choosing the Sheaffer will provide an ancillary benefit, as well. While the cartridge had enough ink in it for a few days use, I went ahead and put a new one in. Now I'll be able to guage how much ink I actually use in a month.

 

That's the story of my preparations for the challenge. Good luck to all the others participating!

[sandy101]

My prep was - "Oh, my MB piston filler still has ink in it - better use that then." Not much thought, more accident. I'd like to try a month with a carene and a P51 later.

 

The ink ran out yesterday, so I've filled it with MB's Mysterious black - as black is a better colour to use for work and the Monokaki notebook looked like it needs black ink.

 

The pen is heaver - and I'm finding my arm is getting a bit tired after writing two pages. But I shall persevere and see if a lighter grip will help.

[25_15_3]

Going with a newly ground titanium EF in my Conid Minimalistica. Currently inked with Kobe #51.

[ralfstc]

Cool! I'm going to use an Onoto 1330 that I recently found in Australia. It's broader than most of my pens, and is a lever-filler (unusual in my herd). Using it for a month will be a great test of its capability as a 70 year old user!

 

(In the spirit of transparency, I will use a different pen at work, to save 20km a day on my bike. At work I'll use my 1955 Onoto K4)

 

Game on!

 

Ralf

[Bookman]

I'm waiting till September. The SF Pen Show happens at the end of this month. With my poor impulse control, I couldn't set a course for the calendar month of August. The pen show is out there, on the horizon, threatening to upend my boat.