Pen-Fi (FPs, RBs, BPs, etc...) [56k Warning]

[gshan]

My current everyday-carry rotation:

Zebra F-701
Zebra F-301 compact
Inka Stainless Steel





The Zebras are made in Japan and have pretty smooth writing inks compared to say, your average disposable ballpoint. They even write better than the pressurized Fisher Space Pen cartridge that comes with the Inka, though the Fisher has the advantage of being able to write well even when sideways/upside-down.

The Inka is a $20 keychain pen. It's really durable, and also has a yellow plastic stylus inside that can be used for PDAs and such. There's a titanium version for about three times the price.

The 301 is combination plastic/steel and a great value for 2-pk @ $6 compared to the Inka. It has a hole in the cap so it can be used for keychains as well.

Zebra's F-701 is a little pricier at around $7 for one, but it has a super-thick stainless steel body (eyeballing it at 1.5-2mm). It looks really nice with the knurled grip and all as well. The clicky doesn't give off cheap snapping sounds either, the feedback is little bit softer than the average cheap clicky pen.


And just for fun, here's my ultimate budget carry pen:



It's a standard Bic, but any free clicky or capped pen can be substituted. I removed the body tube and cut/disposed of a large segment between the rubber grip and the tail. To cut down the ink tube I just used a pair of scissors. I added the hole at the top by twisting a drill bit through with my fingers. The tip of a blade can be used as an awl to start things off.

[Uncle Erik]

Originally Posted by appophylite

I've had fountain pens skip before but never my more expensive ones: more often, it was the cheaper Chinese Hero pens that I used for every day writing. Most of that was due to a slightly rough nib, which, as school-kids, we fixed by running the pen 4-5 times across fine grit sandpaper. The result was a much smoother nib with less skipping. I still recommend this for cheaper pens, but if this pen is something more expensive like a Mont Blanc, I'd be apprehensive trying this unless I knew that someone else had done it with positive results.

You can sand a gold/iridium nib without too much concern - I do it with every pen, and I've got about 50 now.

Do not use regular fine grit sandpaper from the hardware store. You should buy at least 2000 grit wet/dry from an auto paint place. It'll be a few dollars, but worth it, and a single sheet can last a very long time.

Once you're ready, wet the sandpaper by putting it on a flat surface like a kitchen counter and pouring water on it. There's no amount or trick to this, but you absolutely must have water on the sandpaper.

Now write or print about 6-7 words on the sandpaper using the amount of pressure and style you usually write in. Do not just swipe the nib around, you have to write like you always do. Don't worry about getting your hand wet.

Next, wipe the nib and write on paper. If it doesn't feel glassy smooth, write a few more words on the sandpaper and repeat until you get the nib where you want it.

This just speeds up the natural break-in of a nib to your hand. The same thing happens over several months as you write on paper. Wet sanding with fine grit makes that go faster with minimal risk to the nib. Try it!

A 51 should not be $100 unless it is rare or exceptional. I'm carrying a blue/lustraloy 1947 Vac I picked up at the LA Pen Show a couple weeks ago. Nice shape and it was $35. Got several other 51s and averaged about $60-$70 each.

[plainsong]

Well you guys have gotten me browsing FP sites, so thanks for that.

It's all so confusing, but one thing that isn't is the wide variety of inks, and the decent paper to put it on.

I guess I'll start out with ye old Lamy Safari. Lamy's been so and so to me. The Lamy Accent multi-pen was great until it was stolen. The Lamy 4 Color I replaced it with has worst QC than a disposable. The action is scratchy, the material feels cheap, and the feeling of writing with it, although it's just a ballpoint "refill holder" is crap. The Accent was so smooth. It was supposed to come with a stylus replacement, and Lamy sorta forgot to include it. It's not a pen I'd care so much about had it not been so expensive. Live and learn.

I kind of migrate to the Pelikans though, but I want to test it with some less expensive pen first. After all the only FP experience I have is with a calligraphy set I got as a kid, and I specifically remember not liking how it felt like I was writing with a fingernail.

So to keep the thread going, what do we think are decently priced FPs that are good at note taking and smooth, a joy to use?

[meat01]

Lamy Safaris have been hit or miss for me. I have heard great things about Lamy 2000s, but I have not had any experience with one.

I have had great luck with Pelikans. The Pelikan Go! which is discontinued is a great pen for the money as are Pelikanos. I really like the M200s also.

[appophylite]

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik

You can sand a gold/iridium nib without too much concern - I do it with every pen, and I've got about 50 now.

Do not use regular fine grit sandpaper from the hardware store. You should buy at least 2000 grit wet/dry from an auto paint place. It'll be a few dollars, but worth it, and a single sheet can last a very long time.

Once you're ready, wet the sandpaper by putting it on a flat surface like a kitchen counter and pouring water on it. There's no amount or trick to this, but you absolutely must have water on the sandpaper.

Now write or print about 6-7 words on the sandpaper using the amount of pressure and style you usually write in. Do not just swipe the nib around, you have to write like you always do. Don't worry about getting your hand wet.

Next, wipe the nib and write on paper. If it doesn't feel glassy smooth, write a few more words on the sandpaper and repeat until you get the nib where you want it.

This just speeds up the natural break-in of a nib to your hand. The same thing happens over several months as you write on paper. Wet sanding with fine grit makes that go faster with minimal risk to the nib. Try it!

A 51 should not be $100 unless it is rare or exceptional. I'm carrying a blue/lustraloy 1947 Vac I picked up at the LA Pen Show a couple weeks ago. Nice shape and it was $35. Got several other 51s and averaged about $60-$70 each.

Thanks for the info Uncle Erik! This will probably help when I start breaking in some of my Father's older pens that he bought but never used.

[plainsong]

Originally Posted by meat01

Lamy Safaris have been hit or miss for me. I have heard great things about Lamy 2000s, but I have not had any experience with one.

I have had great luck with Pelikans. The Pelikan Go! which is discontinued is a great pen for the money as are Pelikanos. I really like the M200s also.

And the head-fier in me also migrates to the Heritage woody pens, but that might be going a bit to the deep end for someone whose last FP was in a calligraphy set for kids. I did take care of my pen though.

Speaking of wood, I also like the looks of the Faber-Castell e-motion. But I really like what I read about Pelikan. I'm not locked into any one brand, other than it sounds like you and I have the same mixed feelings about Lamy.

[meat01]

I have wanted to try other brands like Omas or Mont Blanc, but the low price for quality and a nice piston filler has kept me with Pelikan. A lot of the others are just too expensive.

I have also had good luck with old Sheaffer touchdown pens and a lot of people love Parker 51s.

Another one on my list to try is the Pilot Vanishing Point, because it is so unique.

[Barry]

In response to Plainsong's request and to others who are interested in a great writing, moderately priced fountain pen, I offer the following url.

Franklin-Christoph M-14 Magnetic Fountain Pen and Rollerball

I have a pretty decent fountain pen collection and this is one of my favorite everyday writers. Really, a terrific pen.

[plainsong]

That is a nice looking pen. I went ahead and added to my growing list of pen bookmarks. The Pelikan M215 though looks like a whole bunch of awesome.

[majurglery]

I would never even think of spending over a dollar for one pen as i loose far to many. Plus im perfectly happy with my cheap 10 cent pens...