Hello from Ontario, Canada

[RosyBriar]

Hello to all,

This is my very first post on any kind of forum.  I always found it intimidating. Hope I'm doing this right.

 

When the pandemic hit, like most of us;  I had some time on my hands.  During this time, I came

to realize that I missed cursive writing.  You know, the actual act of pen to paper - for something more than

your signature or to-do lists.  I'd always loved any kind of stationery. I could spend hours in a shop.  So, I was familiar with

fountain pens; meaning I had seen them inside cabinets, in those stores. I had never actually  wrote with one.

 

Bought my first pen, online at Chapters in 2020... a Lamy Safari, with a fine nib.  I admit it seemed pretty light and insubstantial.

All my reservations about it changed, once I wrote with it.  I was hooked.  There's a bit of a learning curve & a whole new language;

but I had time.  Now, in 2023, my collection has grown to 13 various pens, and over 24 bottles of ink.  I admit I am a bit obsessed. 

My collection started to grow with 4 or 5 TWSBIs, and a Kaweco Sport.  Then I found Pilot pens and gold nibs!  I now have 3 Pilots,

a Pineider, a Leonardo, and my latest is a Scribo Piuma with a fine, gold flex nib.  Along the way, I figured out what I liked and wanted in a 

fountain pen:  juicy, smooth with some flex in the nib.  I didn't think I'd be able to top my Pilot Custom 912, with a FA nib.  

Until I got my Scribo.   I think I can probably stop my search for the perfect pen....but I know I won't.

 

Sorry, if this post is a little long; especially being an intro.  I'm just happy I finally jumped into this forum.

I'm looking forward, to learning so much more, from more experienced pen aficionados, than myself.

 

Thanks.  Have a good night.

 

 

[OCArt]

[RosyBriar]

Thank you!

[inkstainedruth]

Greetings from Pittsburgh, PA!  Welcome to FPN!  (I just answered a post you had on another thread before seeing this one, BTW).

Which Pilot pens do you have?  I was just using one of my Metropolitans yesterday, as it happens; I had recently inked it up to show a woman in my choir, who was picking my brain last fall about good pens to recommend to beginning calligraphers (she didn't like the nib sizes on the Pilot Parallels, and was thinking that the Plumix model might be a good beginner pen; I don't have either of those, but I like the metal body of the Metropolitans, which are still inexpensive pens but feel a little more substantial, and apparently the Plum and Metropolitans have the same nibs on them).  

Of course I ALSO really like my (vastly) more expensive Pilot Decimos as well, and my husband likes the full size Vanishing Point I gave him (it was a bit too heavy for me) which I happened into at an antiques and collectibles shop a few years ago (for about a third of the price of a NEW VP ) after I swapped out the F nib assembly in it for an EF assembly one from my first Decimo and then LOST it  (so of course had to get ANOTHER Decimo in that color to replace it, right? , and then later got the second Decimo in a different color with a stub nib -- just because...).

I generally suggest that new people to the forum click on the "New Content" button when they log in, to get a good overview of a range of topics (you can adjust how much/often it refreshes).  And to have a look at the pinned Index to the Ink Reviews Forum.  But I also warn them that we are all evil enablers here, who will happily help you spend your money on pens, inks, paper, storage, desk accessories, sealing wax (and of course seals), repair tools, pen shows, and ephemera.

Have fun here, enjoy the journey down the rabbit hole(s) of your choice, and don't be afraid to ask questions -- the only stupid questions are the ones that don't get asked (even if someone else posted a similar one in another thread, because the search function is a little wonky at times).  I'm constantly amazed (even after a decade) of the amount of collective knowledge from the people here, and humbled by their generosity as well.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[northstar]

Hello and welcome to FPN.

[Zookie]

Hi there. Greetings from upstate NY (the pretty part!).

[Recursion]

[jandrew]

Welcome from a neighboring province.

 

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! So glad to have you as a member!!

[Norfolk]

Welcome!

[christam]

Welcome to FPN.  I enjoyed your intro.

[Mark from Yorkshire]

hi there and welcome, always good to see new members join our community 

[mizgeorge]

Hello, and welcome

[Wahl]

[omarcenaro]

Welcome! You are already off to good start. 

 

You will finds lots of great information here BUT be careful because you will find even more suggestions to expand your collection.

 

Cheers,

Ozzy

[jrdavis]

Welcome!  Your fountain pen journey sounds somewhat similar to mine in that I wanted to return to cursive writing after I retired.  I recovered my old Lamy Safari then went to purchase ink at Phidon Pens in Cambridge, Ontario.  I went away with some ink but also a TWSBI Diamond 580.  Things developed from there.  Perhaps we'll meet at a fountain pen get-together in Ontario, or at Scriptus in Toronto.

[amberleadavis]

[RosyBriar]

On 1/12/2023 at 8:00 PM, jrdavis said:

Welcome!  Your fountain pen journey sounds somewhat similar to mine in that I wanted to return to cursive writing after I retired.  I recovered my old Lamy Safari then went to purchase ink at Phidon Pens in Cambridge, Ontario.  I went away with some ink but also a TWSBI Diamond 580.  Things developed from there.  Perhaps we'll meet at a fountain pen get-together in Ontario, or at Scriptus in Toronto.

Thank you jrdavis.  I also discovered TWSBI’s at Phidon Pens.  I now have 3 580’s & the Iris 580 has been tempting!  

[RosyBriar]

On 1/10/2023 at 4:42 AM, inkstainedruth said:

Greetings from Pittsburgh, PA!  Welcome to FPN!  (I just answered a post you had on another thread before seeing this one, BTW).

Which Pilot pens do you have?  I was just using one of my Metropolitans yesterday, as it happens; I had recently inked it up to show a woman in my choir, who was picking my brain last fall about good pens to recommend to beginning calligraphers (she didn't like the nib sizes on the Pilot Parallels, and was thinking that the Plumix model might be a good beginner pen; I don't have either of those, but I like the metal body of the Metropolitans, which are still inexpensive pens but feel a little more substantial, and apparently the Plum and Metropolitans have the same nibs on them).  

Of course I ALSO really like my (vastly) more expensive Pilot Decimos as well, and my husband likes the full size Vanishing Point I gave him (it was a bit too heavy for me) which I happened into at an antiques and collectibles shop a few years ago (for about a third of the price of a NEW VP ) after I swapped out the F nib assembly in it for an EF assembly one from my first Decimo and then LOST it  (so of course had to get ANOTHER Decimo in that color to replace it, right? , and then later got the second Decimo in a different color with a stub nib -- just because...).

I generally suggest that new people to the forum click on the "New Content" button when they log in, to get a good overview of a range of topics (you can adjust how much/often it refreshes).  And to have a look at the pinned Index to the Ink Reviews Forum.  But I also warn them that we are all evil enablers here, who will happily help you spend your money on pens, inks, paper, storage, desk accessories, sealing wax (and of course seals), repair tools, pen shows, and ephemera.

Have fun here, enjoy the journey down the rabbit hole(s) of your choice, and don't be afraid to ask questions -- the only stupid questions are the ones that don't get asked (even if someone else posted a similar one in another thread, because the search function is a little wonky at times).  I'm constantly amazed (even after a decade) of the amount of collective knowledge from the people here, and humbled by their generosity as well.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Thank you for all the info!  I will clumsily muddle my way around the site😆… your   suggestions will definitely be a good place to start!  The Pilots I currently own are a Falcon with a SM nib, a 912 with a FA nib, & my latest Pilot acquisition is a 743 also with a FA nib.   The 912 gave me the line variations I was looking for; but lately I’ve been so frustrated with the feed!  That’s actually how I found this site. I was trying to find out if it was something I was/wasn’t doing.  I’ve since found out that’s a common problem, with some Pilots; but especially that one.  I’ve been looking up how to replace that feed with an ebonite one that will keep up with the nib.  I’m really nervous to do it myself though; so I’m procrastinating & it’s been in my desk drawer.  For Christmas, I’d given a Capless to a friend.  It took some willpower not to keep it 🤣.  Is there a big difference in size between your Decimo & the Vanishing Point?  Also just trying to clarify, the Capless and the Vanishing Point are the same pen, aren’t they?

 

Best wishes to everyone for the new year!

[inkstainedruth]

Basically (Capless and Vanishing Point are just different names for the same pen in different markets.).  The Decimo is a smaller size and lighter weight, and fits my hand better -- but the internal part is the same for both sizes, so, are, theoretically interchangeable.  In the case of my first Decimo, it turned out that the shoulders needed to be ground down a bit so the little door would close properly.  And then right after that was done, I lost the pen and had to buy another one (this time NOT with an EF nib).  The first one I bought through someone at a pen show, because he had contacts in Japan.  The second one I bought directly from a Japanese seller on eBay (both of those were a color that Pilot STILL doesn't sell in the US -- Pilot USA told me that it was a "marketing decision").  Well, Pilot USA's loss.  Even with the $13 International shipping from Japan I still saved money and got the color I wanted, from an excellent seller with 100% positive feedback, in under two weeks. And was able to track the package through Japan Post and then (once it got out of US Customs in NY -- which took a matter of only a few hours, BTW) through the USPS up to our old mailman knocking on my door because I had to sign for the package.  My second one was more expensive because I got it from a US dealer, but by then Pilot DID sell the dark blue Decimos here (they STILL don't sell the Light Grey ones though... ).  The Light Grey has the F nib, and the Dark Blue has a stub, and I love both of them.

At some point, I should take another look at the full size VPs, though -- my tolerance for pen weight has gone up some over the years since buying the two Decimos.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth