Any Fountain Pen Writers?

[Cyclops]

So far I've not bought a single pen this year.  Yet.  But I've got my eye (the only working one I have) on a Jinhao 10 retractable.  But I gotta wait for a bit first.  Oh, well.

I like the Platinum Preppy.  Fine will work, but I much prefer the EF for as small and tight as I write.  Kakunos are real good too.  I have two, and will probably be getting more, all in EF.  I also want to get the rest of the Metropolitan line, but that'll take a while.  I have 2, so I'm only 12 (I think) shy of the whole set.

Someday I'll have such a collection of pens, inks, notebooks, and paper, that I'll need a Wooton patent desk to store it all.  At least for starters.

[Kasimir he/him]

On 2/4/2025 at 6:47 AM, Slowswift said:

This is why I'd probably just end up using nice ball pens at the office instead. There aren't many fountain pens I'd trust in an office (Preppy aside), and that's assuming the office in question stocks paper that works with fp ink.

Yeah that's always a big problem in offices. I do have a Muji pad I keep just for that, but I also do have easy access to the Japanese/Taiwanese markets, thankfully.

On 2/4/2025 at 6:47 AM, Slowswift said:

Ideally, I'd only ever need one desk pen, and that pen would be the Platinum one, but I don't need a desk pen, so I'll stick with the dozen or so normal ones I keep at hand instead.  

Reasonable tbh

On 2/4/2025 at 6:47 AM, Slowswift said:

Sigh. Maybe I'll find a nice limited-edition Realo second-hand sometime.

I really hope you find a nice one on the market!

20 hours ago, Coolmint said:

I have a very nice (Esterbrook) desk pen, but it's a dipper.

I'm curious, what model is it?

[Coolmint]

3 hours ago, Kasimir said:

Yeah that's always a big problem in offices. I do have a Muji pad I keep just for that, but I also do have easy access to the Japanese/Taiwanese markets, thankfully.

Reasonable tbh

I really hope you find a nice one on the market!

I'm curious, what model is it?

I really don't know… but I call it The Hockey Puck, 'cause that's what the base looks like.

[Kasimir he/him]

On 2/5/2025 at 9:17 PM, Coolmint said:

I really don't know… but I call it The Hockey Puck, 'cause that's what the base looks like.

I...what

[OoklaApologist She/her]

I bought my first Lamy Safari about a month ago, it's pink, and I got a bunch of compliments for it! Any advice for getting into pens?

[Kasimir he/him]

3 hours ago, KelsierApologist said:

I bought my first Lamy Safari about a month ago, it's pink, and I got a bunch of compliments for it! Any advice for getting into pens?

What's the nib size, what are you using it with? How's your user experience so far?  

[OoklaApologist She/her]

5 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

What's the nib size, what are you using it with? How's your user experience so far?  

I don’t remember the size off the top of my head (probably fine) but I like it! It writes super smooth and I ended up writing even more because of it. My cursive has gotten a lot better. 

[Kasimir he/him]

38 minutes ago, KelsierApologist said:

I don’t remember the size off the top of my head (probably fine) but I like it! It writes super smooth and I ended up writing even more because of it. My cursive has gotten a lot better. 

Not sure you need to get into pens then, you're already in!  Any types of inks you particularly like/have been using? No paper issues?

[OoklaApologist She/her]

16 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

Not sure you need to get into pens then, you're already in!  Any types of inks you particularly like/have been using? No paper issues?

Actually, yeah, I was wondering, do you have any notebook recommendations? On the ones I have currently, I need to skip two pages when I write with most pens

[Kasimir he/him]

23 minutes ago, KelsierApologist said:

Actually, yeah, I was wondering, do you have any notebook recommendations? On the ones I have currently, I need to skip two pages when I write with most pens

@Cyclops? @Slowswift? Either of you know good NA-side value-for-money recs for paper?

I'll ask a local pen friend who heads down to the US pretty often for work. I know he keeps finding the damnedest high performing budget options. I know everyone swears by more exotic options but I'm also of the view that especially if you're starting out, you shouldn't be needing to break the bank for paper.

[+Slowswift]

Leuchtturm is my go-to for notebooks. There are better papers such as Tomoe River, but they tend to be even pricier. Stay away from Moleskine.

Edited March 11, 2025 by Slowswift

[Cyclops]

15 hours ago, Kasimir said:

@Cyclops? @Slowswift? Either of you know good NA-side value-for-money recs for paper?

I'll ask a local pen friend who heads down to the US pretty often for work. I know he keeps finding the damnedest high performing budget options. I know everyone swears by more exotic options but I'm also of the view that especially if you're starting out, you shouldn't be needing to break the bank for paper.

Lemome notebooks are good.  I got a couple of them some time back from Amazon.  The ones I have are cream colored paper, 180 pages, A5 size, college rule, hardcover, it's thicker paper but doesn't say what the GSM is.  My personal favorite feature, as a lefty, is the pen loop on the soft spine, therefore on the left side of the notebook.  I started a book manuscript in one using Diamine Writer's Blood.  No bleeding and very little to no ghosting.  It has the usual elastic closure band, pocket in the back, place-marker ribbon, and six stickers for page dividers.

Another notebook I could/would highly recommend, if you can find any, is the MAGGIFT A5 journal/notebook.  I found mine on flakebook marketplace about 2.5 years ago.  Mine are 5mm dot grid notebooks, 256 pages, and again, no clue as to the gsm.

 

As for paper, I like Hammermill Premium Inkjet and Laser paper, 24lb.  It works well with a lot of inks I've thrown at it.  If you like really thick paper, HP Premium32 is good.  But it does take up quite a bit more space than regular 20lb paper.

Hope this is at least a little bit of help.

These are 20, 24, and 32lb papers.  The difference is very noticeable.

HP Office20, Hammermill Premium Inkjet and Laser, and HP Premium32. 

Edited March 11, 2025 by Cyclops

[Kasimir he/him]

Thanks Slowswift and Cyclops! The market where I am is weird so I'm never 100% sure of the NA options  

Adding a little, friend says that there's a paper brand called Caliber sold by CVS Pharmacies. When he schlepped down last year, it was 150 sheets for USD$4.49. May come in a notepad or loose sheet format.

If you're really hardpressed, you might want to try some of the recommendations in this thread.

Of these, I'll only warn that Muji's bleedproof paper can be of inconsistent quality - I've had good pads that can take a wet Troublemaker Ink in a Pelikan Broad nib and some which...yeaaaah.

Edited March 12, 2025 by Kasimir

[Coolmint]

My current favorite notebooks are Apica.  Kokuyo Campus also.  Readily available.  Not costly.

I bought three Jinhao Dadao in a row...the first, black, M, was clearly used, and refused to write.  The second (F) barely does.  But it was supposed to be black...nope, it's dark blue.  Got a green M.  Cross your fingers!

 

Catching up here after being locked out, unable to sign in from mobile,or create new profile, and unable even to contact admins.

[Kasimir he/him]

20 minutes ago, Coolmint said:

Catching up here after being locked out, unable to sign in from mobile,or create new profile, and unable even to contact admins.

RIP, glad you managed to get back in!

20 minutes ago, Coolmint said:

I bought three Jinhao Dadao in a row...the first, black, M, was clearly used, and refused to write.  The second (F) barely does.  But it was supposed to be black...nope, it's dark blue.  Got a green M.  Cross your fingers!

Do you get yours from Taobao/AliExpress?

[Coolmint]

Neither, Kasimir; I can't use them.  It was Amazon, where for me, returns are easy.  Dadao are HUGE handsome pens, and lightweight, so I really wanted one.  We'll see if the latest specimen writes.

Still can't reply to anything from a mobile!  I should try contacting admins from here.

[+Slowswift]

Got a bottle of Birmingham Basil Pesto off someone at the local pen group. I struggle with green inks, so it's nice to find one I resonated with so strongly. (The other two I have and love are Kyo-no-oto Moegiiro and Bungubox Dandyism.)

[Kasimir he/him]

On 3/12/2025 at 11:11 PM, Coolmint said:

Still can't reply to anything from a mobile!  I should try contacting admins from here.

Hope this worked out!

On 3/13/2025 at 4:05 AM, Slowswift said:

Got a bottle of Birmingham Basil Pesto off someone at the local pen group. I struggle with green inks, so it's nice to find one I resonated with so strongly. (The other two I have and love are Kyo-no-oto Moegiiro and Bungubox Dandyism.)

Oh damn, this is a really nice colour and reminds me of Troublemaker's...I want to say Kelp Tea, maybe? Just such a nice brown tint/subdued green. Always feels a bit sad that Birmingham shipping to SEA is basically nuts so I've not really sampled their inks, but hey, Taiwanese market (self-consolation  )

Edited March 14, 2025 by Kasimir

[+Slowswift]

Last week at church, during a small meal after the meeting: one of the leaders was walking around, looking for people to foist leftovers onto, when he stopped and proclaimed me a man of culture and refined taste--he'd seen the pen in my pocket. (A 3776, and yes, those were his exact words.) He then pulled out his, a Kilk. We were about to get into it, but then the guy sitting next to me reached into his pocket and pulled out a TWSBI! We proceeded to nerd out together for the next half hour.

I think I'm in the right place, y'all.  

On 3/14/2025 at 10:53 AM, Kasimir said:

Oh damn, this is a really nice colour and reminds me of Troublemaker's...I want to say Kelp Tea, maybe? Just such a nice brown tint/subdued green. Always feels a bit sad that Birmingham shipping to SEA is basically nuts so I've not really sampled their inks, but hey, Taiwanese market (self-consolation  )

This is my first ink of theirs I've tried since their soft relaunch a few years back. I think they've won back a customer.

I managed to get some Troublemaker samples after wanting to try them for a while. I've only tried Petrichor so far, but it's just as lovely as I'd imagined! Gives me high hopes for the rest, especially Milky Ocean.

Edited March 28, 2025 by Slowswift

[Kasimir he/him]

9 hours ago, Slowswift said:

I think I'm in the right place, y'all.  

Congratulations on creating a local pen group

9 hours ago, Slowswift said:

I managed to get some Troublemaker samples after wanting to try them for a while. I've only tried Petrichor so far, but it's just as lovely as I'd imagined! Gives me high hopes for the rest, especially Milky Ocean.

Let me know how you find them! I have Milky Ocean and love it

9 hours ago, Slowswift said:

This is my first ink of theirs I've tried since their soft relaunch a few years back. I think they've won back a customer.

What happened before that?

[+Slowswift]

1 hour ago, Kasimir said:

What happened before that?

Nothing, really. They were fine. I had a couple really good inks, one that feathered way too much, and one that went bad in the bottle. There wasn't any big scandal as far as I'm aware, I had just lost enthusiasm.

1 hour ago, Kasimir said:

Let me know how you find them! I have Milky Ocean and love it

Will do!

1 hour ago, Kasimir said:

Congratulations on creating a local pen group

Apparently.  Though one of the guys isn't there normally, so idk if anything'll come of it.

[Cyclops]

On 3/28/2025 at 5:29 AM, Slowswift said:

Last week at church, during a small meal after the meeting: one of the leaders was walking around, looking for people to foist leftovers onto, when he stopped and proclaimed me a man of culture and refined taste--he'd seen the pen in my pocket. (A 3776, and yes, those were his exact words.) He then pulled out his, a Kilk. We were about to get into it, but then the guy sitting next to me reached into his pocket and pulled out a TWSBI! We proceeded to nerd out together for the next half hour.

I think I'm in the right place, y'all.  

This is my first ink of theirs I've tried since their soft relaunch a few years back. I think they've won back a customer.

I managed to get some Troublemaker samples after wanting to try them for a while. I've only tried Petrichor so far, but it's just as lovely as I'd imagined! Gives me high hopes for the rest, especially Milky Ocean.

A few years back, not long into my relatively recent pastorate, my unofficial associate became a fountain pen convert.  I had a TWSBI Go EF that I really liked but really didn't at the same time.  I was astounded and very pleased with how much ink it held.  In a JOT brand composition notebook from Dollar (and a quarter) Tree, I wrote 92 pages before having to refill it.  (And I write fairly small, especially with an EF nib.)  But I didn't like the high level of feedback I was getting.  So I asked him if he would like to have it.  I had already given him a Pilot Petit and a Varsity, so that Go wasn't his first rodeo.  It also wasn't his last, as I would give him a few more before I left that church.  He seemed to really like them. 

[Kasimir he/him]

On 4/4/2025 at 5:49 AM, Cyclops said:

It also wasn't his last, as I would give him a few more before I left that church.  He seemed to really like them. 

Nice work penabling

I don't use the fountain pen subreddit as much anymore but I think a lot of people there were talking about how they foresee their engagement in the hobby changing as a result of tariffs. I'm not entirely sure how we'll be affected here as the Asian market is probably more self-contained, but I'm hoping the smaller penmakers/pen stores and ink stores will be able to weather it. Granted, I rarely buy American because sorry y'all, the shipping just makes no monetary sense for me.

[AquaRegia he/him]

I still only own one pen:

I like it a lot; it lives at work, since I have a (mostly) private space and I do most of my writing there.

I have found recently that on some office paper, the ink spreads to a disturbing degree, while on other sheets of (as far as I can tell) the same paper, it stays nice and tight.  Is it possible that humidity/moisture content will affect how paper takes ink?

[Quivil]

A few years ago (when I was still in public school) I was given a fountain pen and some ink (in capsules). I didn't know anything about taking care of them and ended up bending the nib (and making the gap too big to write with anymore) by pushing too hard, and then my family moved, so I haven't had a fountain pen for the past couple years.

Also though I bought a new one recently and it got here today. Both this one and my first one are/were Jinhao pens with medium nibs.

I do have a question though. One of the things I remember being a problem with my first pen was that sometimes it would leak while it was capped. I don't remember if that happened only after I abused it or if it was before too. If my current pen starts leaking too, how do I make it stop leaking?

Edited April 29, 2025 by Quivil