# Does anyone use Fountain Pens? **URL:** \ **Category:** Unrelated Discussion\ **Created:** [February 1, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354 "2015-02-01T03:14:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Davion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Davion](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Davion)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/1 "2015-02-01T03:14:38Z")
## If So ## Hello everyone, I recently stumbled upon fountain pens like yall.  I was taking the SAT and discovered I didin’t remember how to write in cursive. I went to my best friend the Internet lol and re learned cursive. While learning it I stumbled upon fountain pens and here I am now    I guess you can say I fell in Love like all of yall Here is my first video on Youtube support will be greatly Loved:) [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/8/2/8/828bf79997ffee29e80d75f401c072e84805dd94.jpeg "Writing with the Jinhao X 450 Fountain Pen") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scZTbuFEWpg) ---
**Author:** ![abby1371](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/abby1371/32/1075_2.png) [@abby1371](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/abby1371)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/2 "2015-02-01T04:21:33Z")
My dad uses them we are planning on getting one for his birthday… So I had to educate myself on them to buy him one so now I want one now too :p. And also same dude on the cursive thing for the SATs. except I only learned the letters in my name because my handwriting was that bad So I ended up learning how to type instead. ---
**Author:** ![Davion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Davion](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Davion)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/3 "2015-02-01T04:25:26Z")
Oh wow thats great, I hope I have the website out by then, did you check out the photo ---
**Author:** ![abby1371](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/abby1371/32/1075_2.png) [@abby1371](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/abby1371)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 4:33am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/4 "2015-02-01T04:33:07Z")
> [@Davion](#): > > Oh wow thats great, I hope I have the website out by then, did you check out the photo what photo? ---
**Author:** ![Davion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Davion](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Davion)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/5 "2015-02-01T04:46:46Z")
Oh Im sorry I mean the video and subscribe and wait for more videos ---
**Author:** ![gijoey959](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gijoey959/32/7958_2.png) [@gijoey959](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/gijoey959)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/6 "2015-02-01T15:56:04Z")
I write exclusively in fountain pens, but I have more fun with collecting different inks in terms of it being a hobby. I have 3 Noodler’s Ahabs, 2 Noodler’s nib creepers, and a Lamy Al-Star to write with, but I kinda want an italic nibbed pen at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Schnayke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Schnayke](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Schnayke)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/7 "2015-02-01T17:09:43Z")
Yeah just some cheapo I got at staples. Sheaffer M, 1.5 mm. I want a thinner one this thing runs out of ink so fast. ---
**Author:** ![Davion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Davion](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Davion)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/8 "2015-02-01T17:28:37Z")
Well I will keep yall posted on my online pen store ---
**Author:** ![gijoey959](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gijoey959/32/7958_2.png) [@gijoey959](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/gijoey959)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/9 "2015-02-01T17:43:52Z")
> [@Schnayke](#): > > Yeah just some cheapo I got at staples. Sheaffer M, 1.5 mm. I want a thinner one this thing runs out of ink so fast. That fountain pen sucks so bad, lol. It was my first pen too, and it writes more like a marker than anything Pick up a large bottle of Noodler’s ink, the 4.5 oz ones. Certain inks come with a free fountain pen. It will either be a platinum preppy or the Noodler’s nib creeper depending on the ink. Imo, the nib creeper is the best budget pen you can get, but my girlfriend loves the preppy so much, she went and bought more of them on their own. Plus the preppy is $4 on its own, and writes decently, especially considering the price. If you want to spend a bit more on a SUPER solid everyday writer, the Lamy Safari just can’t be beaten. I liked it so much, I went and bought the aluminum version, the Al-Star. I personally prefer the fine point, but the medium nib writes nice and wet, and it feels like writing with butter on hot glass. ---
**Author:** ![Schnayke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Schnayke](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Schnayke)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/10 "2015-02-01T21:57:49Z")
cool I will look into it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![beherenow](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/beherenow/32/125309_2.png) [@beherenow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/beherenow)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/11 "2015-02-01T22:30:19Z")
Yep, I like them.  The only complaint I’ve seen on the Safari is the forced grip style but they are nice pens and the student pen in Germany.  I like the TWSBI pens too, the 580 (older 540) are great writers and hold a lot of ink as does the VAC 700, Mini, etc.  The Kaweco Classic Sport ($25) pocket pen is a really smooth writer too, especially the bold 24k plated nib.  The bold has some nice shading even without flex. If you want to have some fun pick up some Esterbrook pens off ebay and restore them.  Easy to do, usually just need a new sac and some plastic polish to get them looking and working like new.  The Parker Vacumatic’s are also nice restored and plentiful. The Ahab’s, Conrad’s, etc. are nice Noodler’s pens too.  You’ll learn a bit about them to tune them to your preference which was Nathan’s whole point, but worth it imho.  Some of the inks on the other hand can be a burden due to the properties, but many are just fine and you can get Bulletproof! If you want to learn different styles of cursive and lettering this is a good resource… [http://www.iampeth.com/lessons](http://www.iampeth.com/lessons) Michael Sull has a nice book on cursive too… > **[Spencerian Script ::: American Cursive](http://www.spencerian.com/)** > > Your source for information, materials and instruction pertaining to American vintage penmanship; Michael Sull is recognized nationally as the foremost practitioner and teacher of Spencerian Script. Review here:  [Susan Wirth](http://fpgeeks.com/2011/10/american-cursive-handwriting-by-michael-sull-349-pages-now-available/) ---
**Author:** ![gijoey959](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gijoey959/32/7958_2.png) [@gijoey959](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/gijoey959)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/12 "2015-02-01T23:09:01Z")
For me, the grip section on the safari style pens helps me keep the pen from rotating, and my fingers rest right on the flat parts with a normal grip anyway. But I also enjoy round sections, I just am not a huge fan of thinner pens. I tolerate the nib creepers because they are free and write well. Yeah, the Noodler’s pens you have to actually but are great for learning nib tuning. It’s a huge pain if you just want the pen to work, but if you want the perfect flex to flow ratio, it’s amazing, I love my Ahabs. I’ve been thinking about restoring some pens, but I’m lazy lol. Like I said, the hobby aspect of fountain pens is more on the ink side for me, I love having different inks ---
**Author:** ![beherenow](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/beherenow/32/125309_2.png) [@beherenow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/beherenow)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/13 "2015-02-03T01:43:51Z")
> [@gijoey959](#): > > For me, the grip section on the safari style pens helps me keep the pen from rotating, and my fingers rest right on the flat parts with a normal grip anyway. But I also enjoy round sections, I just am not a huge fan of thinner pens. I tolerate the nib creepers because they are free and write well. > > Yeah, the Noodler’s pens you have to actually but are great for learning nib tuning. It’s a huge pain if you just want the pen to work, but if you want the perfect flex to flow ratio, it’s amazing, I love my Ahabs. > > I’ve been thinking about restoring some pens, but I’m lazy lol. Like I said, the hobby aspect of fountain pens is more on the ink side for me, I love having different inks Yeah people seem to love or hate the safari grip. I’m ok with it but that’s really the only complaint on them I’ve ever read. I like a larger pen myself having larger hands. I’ve got several Ahab’s and even done some ‘angel wing’ modifications on some nibs. It gives a much easier flex for the nib but you really need to open up vents and carve out the center on the feed to keep it flowing well. Pretty simple with a file or dremel tool. Just take your time since Noodler’s doesn’t sale nibs alone. Here’s a link if you’re interested… [Noodler´s Ahab - Ease My Flex Mod - Fountain Pen Reviews - The Fountain Pen Network](http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/240492-noodlers-ahab-ease-my-flex-mod/) The restoration takes a little time but it’s worth it when you bring something 70 to 100 years old back to a fine looking and working condition and it writes great. I’m the same way with ink. Always looking for that spectacular well performing color! Have you tried Majestic Blue by Diamine? It has a nice red sheen in the blue in the right light. Nice ink properties too. ---
**Author:** ![French](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/french/32/70748_2.png) [@French](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/French)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/14 "2015-02-03T02:24:19Z")
I’m impressed so many have mentioned the Noodlers pens (Ahab, Konrad & nib creeper). I have a couple Ahabs and Konrads, but find the nib creeper too thin for my taste. It’s nice when you find people interested in two of your hobbies. You all probably know about [fountainpennetwork.com](http://fountainpennetwork.com), it is a very friendly online community dedicated to fountain pens. My screen name over there is also “French” ---
**Author:** ![abby1371](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/abby1371/32/1075_2.png) [@abby1371](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/abby1371)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/15 "2015-02-03T02:51:18Z")
Hey guys I’m shopping for a fountain pen for my dads birthday? Do you have and suggestions? Trying to keep it under $30 cause I’m also buying him a bottle of ink too. From what I have heard from my dad when I was talking to him it sounds like he wants something with a piston converter and a nib that makes a signature look nice on printer paper. ---
**Author:** ![gijoey959](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gijoey959/32/7958_2.png) [@gijoey959](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/gijoey959)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 3:16am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/16 "2015-02-03T03:16:27Z")
> [@beherenow](#): > > Yeah people seem to love or hate the safari grip. I’m ok with it but that’s really the only complaint on them I’ve ever read. I like a larger pen myself having larger hands. > > I’ve got several Ahab’s and even done some ‘angel wing’ modifications on some nibs. It gives a much easier flex for the nib but you really need to open up vents and carve out the center on the feed to keep it flowing well. Pretty simple with a file or dremel tool. Just take your time since Noodler’s doesn’t sale nibs alone. Here’s a link if you’re interested… [Noodler´s Ahab - Ease My Flex Mod - Fountain Pen Reviews - The Fountain Pen Network](http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/240492-noodlers-ahab-ease-my-flex-mod/) > > The restoration takes a little time but it’s worth it when you bring something 70 to 100 years old back to a fine looking and working condition and it writes great. > > I’m the same way with ink. Always looking for that spectacular well performing color! Have you tried Majestic Blue by Diamine? It has a nice red sheen in the blue in the right light. Nice ink properties too. actually, I have bought nibs and feeds by themselves, I’ve messed up my share of them just tinkering. I may do that mod to the broken Ahab I keep at home (my first Ahab that was a 1st gen and it was already old when I bought it, so the body was weakened and it cracked at the threads, which wouldn’t have been a problem is the converter didn’t break also :🙂 but that’s just a 1:1000000 story) I actually haven’t, but that sounds amazing! I actually have a thing for Diamine inks, my all time favorite ink is their Ox Blood! I write in that color almost every day, and I also enjoy the Conway Stewart colors they make, though the only bottle I could find was St. Blazey (favorite color is red if you can’t tell) I am a fan of Montblanc inks also, I use Johnathon Swift in my Al-Star, Leonardo is quickly becoming my 2nd favorite ink color though, it’s a gorgeous red-brown, and I have a bottle of their standard black that performs really well on standard notebook paper. Have you tried the J Herbin 1670 inks? The rouge hematite and blue (don’t remember the name) are beautiful on paper, and my girlfriend actually bought a bottle of the blue, but they have this almost glitter-like stuff in them, to add the metallic sheen, that likes to clog my feeds if I don’t constantly use them. You had to get me started on ink lol > [@abby1371](#): > > Hey guys I’m shopping for a fountain pen for my dads birthday? Do you have and suggestions? Trying to keep it under $30 cause I’m also buying him a bottle of ink too. > From what I have heard from my dad when I was talking to him it sounds like he wants something with a piston converter and a nib that makes a signature look nice on printer paper. Noodler’s Ahab, best pen made for $25. ---
**Author:** ![abby1371](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/abby1371/32/1075_2.png) [@abby1371](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/abby1371)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/17 "2015-02-03T20:16:00Z")
okay thanks! now since I’m shopping i remember my dad saying something about having a parker pen as his first fountain pen? what are your opinions on them? they look really solid but i cant tell if they have converters or not to be a piston pen ---
**Author:** ![gijoey959](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gijoey959/32/7958_2.png) [@gijoey959](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/gijoey959)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 1:49am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/18 "2015-02-04T01:49:40Z")
As far as I remember, you should be able to tell if it’s a piston filler or a cartridge converter operated filling system on them. It should actually tell you on the webstore you are looking into. Like here, [http://www.gouletpens.com/pkr1892552/p/PKR1892552](http://www.gouletpens.com/pkr1892552/p/PKR1892552) , at goulet pens, this one tells you that its a cartridge converter pen, and that the converter needs to be purchased separately ---
**Author:** ![abby1371](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/abby1371/32/1075_2.png) [@abby1371](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/abby1371)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/19 "2015-02-04T02:20:27Z")
Thanks! I’m thinking I’m going to spend a little more on a fountain pen now just so my dad can feel nostalgic about his first fountain pen. ---
**Author:** ![gijoey959](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gijoey959/32/7958_2.png) [@gijoey959](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/gijoey959)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354/20 "2015-02-04T02:45:15Z")
Awesome 8) [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/does-anyone-use-fountain-pens/72354.md?page=2)