Do You Post?

[ThangMMM]

with my Sheaffer Prelude, i never post because the unposted pen is heavy enought for my hand, but with another, like Parker Frontier (with plastic barrel) i ussualy post it (yeah, i'm afraid that i will lose my cap if i don't post)

[smudgy]

I only post my little Kawecos. Everything else, I hold the cap in my right hand... or put it on the desk where it promptly becomes lost.

[Nimrud]

Wow, there are two polls on the same subject. This must be a burning issue for fp enthusiasts. I voted in both ... hope I was consistent because I forgot what I voted for the other one.

[Judybug]

To post or not to post? That is the question. Many years ago I never posted and was always misplacing caps. Now I post all the time - with one exception - a cheap Charles Hubert pen that has a cap that weighs a ton and is seriously unbalanced when posted.

 

I understand concerns about leaving marks on the barrel from posting. But I've just examined all my pens and I don't see any marks. I have two Waterman Phileases that I've been posting for years and their barrels are free of marks. Of course, my most expensive pen is a $60 Monteverde. Would I feel different if I had a $300 pen? I don't know. I might.

 

But I agree with whoever said that pens are working instruments.

 

Judybug

[pigpogm]

I voted 'never', but it's not entirely true - the only pen I post is the Pilot Birdie - it's a bit too small otherwise.

 

Most pens don't seem to be too upset by it (I've got some Flighters that get badly scratched with just posting a couple of times), but I usually find it spoils the balance for me - I like the weight low down, and posting usually moves the centre of gravity too high for my liking.

 

My wife posts almost everything - she likes the balance much more top-heavy, and hates using most pens un-posted.

[flybigj]

I always post. I have large hands and I like the length posting adds to the pen. It just feels better in my hand and more balanced. Honestly, I never even thought about not posting.

 

flybigj

[johnr55]

I always post. I haven't yet had a fountain pen scratch from posting, maybe I'm just lucky over the past 35 years. I use my pens for work and often lay the pen down and pick it back up. I suppose if my pens didn't ever roll I might consider setting the cap off to the side, but for now, I don't. None of my pens are much over $100 and I wouldn't buy them if they were. I bought my pens to use and if some scratching from posting (which, again, hasn't ever happened) I'd still do it. My older pens are scratched, if at all, from pocket wear and plain old use.

[Badger]

I like to post, because the pens I own feel too light and incomplete when I don't, having said that I don't want them to become damaged as I love them.

[wiglaf]

I post nothing except my Montegrappa Micra- otherwise I would lose it. Odd, I used to post everything, simply because I loved the sense of weight; after joining this forum, I realized what I loved was that sense of imbalance- I should have listened to my wife years ago-

 

Tony

[Patrick Hand]

I never post.... It's not that I worry about scratching the pen, none of mine are that good.... but when I draw with a technecal pen, the cap wobbles and won't stay posted... so I just got use to always holding the cap in my right hand (I'm left handed)..... Guess the habit just carried over to fountain pens.......

[Sard]

I always post. Of course, I only collect pens that are ment be used day-to-day. Half of the beauty of a pen is its function, the other half is its looks.

 

This is quite a subjective statement, but if you can't use it, or are worried about using it, it looses much of its value.

 

Some of the pens I love the most have been used for the last 40 years, and it shows. I think it adds character... much like the patina on a coin.

 

Kris

Edited November 23, 2006 by Sard

[Walter's daughter]

I never post. Part of the joyful writing experience for me is holding the cap in my non-writing hand. It just feels right!

[Pen Nut]

Well there's a thing..... one feature I do like about my Montegrappa Reminisance is the fact that the body of the pen is threaded alllowing secure posting whilst scribing. Oh forgot to mention it is a rollerball which probably excludes it from this thread.

[psfred]

I have a terrible time writing with most pens unless the cap is posted, they are too short (yes, I do have large hands). Thin pens are fine, but short is not.

 

I find the balance better most of the time, and with my Parkers (so far) I cannot seem to keep the nib in the correct orientation unless I have the cap posted so that the clip stops me from rolling the pen over too far.

 

I am not bothered by scratches on the barrel -- I do not collect "mint" pens, I write with almost everything I have.

 

Being a purist, I would also not polish out normal surface wear -- I'd rather have a pen that showed use than one polished to death.

 

Peter

[Arkanabar]

I usually post when I'm writing. It doesn't seem terribly important to not post my so very common Lamy Safari, Pelikan M200 and Pelikan M400. I may choose to not post my PFM-II. But I'm usually more comfortable with the cap posted than in my off hand. But I reckon a pen is for using, and I don't worry much about merely cosmetic damage. In fact, I'd buy a pen with light tooth marks if it saved me enough money.

 

When I hand pens to others, I keep the cap in my hand, every time. The pen always returns.

 

My advice to others in my article on selecting a fine pen is to either post or not post as you please, but to not slam the cap on the end of the pen.

[DavidM1]

After so many responses against the practice it almost seems boorish to admit that I post every pen regardless of age. Unposted pens look short and stumpy to me and the line, balance and weight of the pen is only correct when the pen is either capped or posted. It was pretty cool in fourth grade and it still seems cool now. :roflmho:

[Gerry]

After so many responses against the practice it almost seems boorish to admit that I post every pen regardless of age.  Unposted pens look short and stumpy to me and the line, balance and weight of the pen is only correct when the pen is either capped or posted.  It was pretty cool in fourth grade and it still seems cool now.  :roflmho:

Ya, me too...

 

Gerry

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I chose "never," but there is sometimes an exception. I will sometimes post my Stypen Ergo-Plume because the cap is so minimal that when I'm moving things around and want to keep the pen in my hand, and need the other hand to do the moving, I will post it. Otherwise I can get concerned that I'll misplace that small cap.

 

I mostly don't cap because of my experiences in grammar school decades ago. When I posted I found that the cap lip or the clip would poke the web between my thumb and index finger. I found that very unpleasant and began to avoid posting then.

 

I even do not post my Kaweco Sports. I keep the cap in my left hand or put it in my pocket. Luckily, i have small hands.

[guitarman19853]

I post my Phileases (Phileai?) because they balance better that way. I don't post my Tactical Carry II because the cap is so lightweight, it makes no difference in the balance.

[penmanila]

i've found that my duofold international posts very well; my m800 doesn't, nor does my 146. even unposted, the duofold fits in my fingers like a charm.