I currently have a pretty cheapo fountain pen I got at our local Hobby Lobby back in September and I’m getting sick of it. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing with it because the ink comes out so smoothly and my hand doesn’t ache from writing anymore. But the damn thing leaks, as cheap fountain pens will. I’ve tried searching for better fountain pens, but the cheapest I’ve seen have been $40. I know people at school who have good fountain pens that don’t look too expensive, and their don’t seem to leak. I ask them where they get theirs and I always get the same, “I don’t know. This was given to me by my mom.” response. So, the question is, does anyone know where I could get a fountain pen that is under 15 or 20 dollars and doesn’t leak constantly?
Sheaffer made a line of inexpensive fountain pens for under $20. I used a couple of them and they worked fine.
I don’t know if the barrel is long enough to do this, but most fountain pens are designed to keep two cartridges there; I’ve been told by the pen experts at my local store (Fahrney’s Pens - these people are good) that keeping two cartridges in the barrel ensures a tight seal around the cartridge being used as the ink supply, thus preventing leaks. You might try that before you switch pens.
Parker makes a fountain pen that sells for under ten bucks. You can get it in the pen aisle at the local Office Whatever. The barrel is designed to hold one cartridge, but that’s OK because the cartridges are designed for the pen. I’ve had one for a while, and it works pretty well.
Pilot Pens also makes a disposable fountain pen. It’s called the Varsity, and it should be available at most office supply stores as well. I’ve ordered these by the dozen, and they’re OK.
Parker makes damn fine pens, so I can agree with the above.
A friend of mine takes all his class notes (and in law school, that’s a lot of freakin’ notes) with a Rotring Core fountain pen, and he’s loving it. Rotring is a quality pen maker, so it shouldn’t give you any trouble. Looks really cool, too. Costs about $25.
Lamy makes some damn fine fountain pens, and I own several different ones. None of them cost me more than $25. They are all well designed and write beautifully, and I’ve abused them and let them dry up and they spring right back to full function after a rinse of the tip in warm water. Check out the Lamy web page at:
I am particularly fond of the Lamy Safari. It is kind of big and clunky, but my hands are big and I am clumsy, and this pen is easy to grip. A picture of The Safari (for GOD sakes don’t buy the awful yellow, get a nice white or black one) is here:
Rotring also makes some excellent fountain pens, some people prefer them but I don’t, they’re a little too hard-edged and look more like some sort of medical instrument than a pen. Rotring mostly makes drafting instruments and you can tell by their pen designs. Unfortunately, their website (www.rotring.com) is inaccessible at the moment or I’d point you to some of their better models.
Of course, I’d prefer a custom nib Montblanc, but I don’t have hundreds of bucks to spend on a stupid pen. On the other hand, fountain pens are the only pens people won’t swipe from me, I must have had hundreds of bucks worth of pricey ballpoints swiped from me over the years.
Hope I am not violating any rules but this dealer offers “demo” pens at 45% off: http://www.franklinpen.com
Some of them are of course, a little more than you are willing to pay, but they are supposedly in great condition and will allow you to write with an expensive pen at a fraction of the cost of a new one.
I am not affiliated with this merchant. I just like writing with fountain of calligraphy pens.
:::sigh::: Nobody writes anymore: We all type. This simply wouldn’t have happened had you written your post:D. (On the other hand, it might have taken me a bit longer to draw that laughing smilie;)).
You seriously writing this from Florence? If so, you’re one lucky pup. That is a beautiful city.
(Hmmm: Would have had to carry an extra pen - or tip - for them italics. Maybe there is something to be said for the keyboard after all).
My “every day” pen is a Waterman Phileas. I’ve seen them at Office Depot for under $30. It’s a nice-looking pen that people always think is expensive. Mine is a dark marbled blue with gols accents. It came with a disposable cartridge that I’ve never used, and a reservoir. To fill the reservoir, put the tip of the pen into the inkwell and twist the screw at the back. A plunger sucks the ink up. My personal ink preference is blue-black, and I usually use Waterman ink.
This is a very smooth pen to write with. I have the fine point, but it’s not as fine as some other pens. But I write very small. I’m willing to write a little larger so that I can use the Waterman pen. I’ve dropped the pen a few times because I often carry my shades in my pocket. The glasses sometimes snag the pen and pull it out. No damage, dispite having been dropped on hard floors.
I’ve had a few Scheaffer disposable-cartridge pens (the kind that come in the bubble pack in the stationery section) and have never been happy them. Sometimes you get what you pay for. I’ve never had any problem with the Waterman, and at under $30 it’s been a fine value.
Just found a page that shows several different color schemes of the Rotring Core Pen. Check out the fourth picture down, it shows off the “saddleback” design of the grip. It puts your fingers a bit more in line with the tip of the pen, and supposedly gives you a better “feel”.
I got a stainless steel Sheaffer fountain pen from my grandmother when I graduated from high school (1982). Probably didn’t cost more than $25. I’ve still got it and use it every day. I even chased a guy down who had walked out of my office with it (an accident he claimed - now if anyone asks if I have a pen I say, “yes, but you can’t use it, sorry.”) I use the little replaceable cartridges that you buy in six packs at the drug store. Black ink. Never had a minutes problem, but have had to replace the nib (medium) once or twice.