# The Fountain Pen Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 27, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808 "2018-12-27T22:26:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/62 "2019-01-20T02:37:32Z")
I just use converters and bottled ink. I don’t mess with cartridges, unless it’s a pen that I haven’t got a compatible converter for. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/63 "2019-01-20T03:55:52Z")
A couple weeks ago I was at a work meeting, I prefer fountain pens so I had one with me to take notes, and at some point they asked me to borrow it to make some sketches. Not one person managed to use it, they tried sideways, they tried upside down, they looked at it funny; I think they thought it was broken. Just in case I’m bringing an extra ball pen next time. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/64 "2019-01-20T04:04:52Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > A couple weeks ago I was at a work meeting, I prefer fountain pens so I had one with me to take notes, and at some point they asked me to borrow it to make some sketches. Not one person managed to use it, they tried sideways, they tried upside down, they looked at it funny; I think they thought it was broken. > Just in case I’m bringing an extra ball pen next time. Ugh. Never lend your fountain pen. They could easily fuck up the nib. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/65 "2019-01-20T05:23:55Z")
**Ascenray** , very interesting post. I have read that there are places that can probably repair your beloved Parker 51, Cross Townsend or any other pen you like that is leaking. I can’t direct you to any specific place or person, but if you take a look at the Fountain Pen Network you can probably get leads there. I am very curious how an airport scanner can destroy a fountain pen? Should I be taking precautions? I am envious of your Jorg Hysek dip pen; I had never heard of them so I looked them up, and they are apparently not in production any more? Anyway, the only places I see on Google are auction houses or ebay. I found the website but when I click on “writing instruments” nothing comes up. And the prices for the used ones are $400 and up. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/66 "2019-01-20T06:02:18Z")
At airport security, the pen fell into the conveyor mechanism and got crushed by the moving parts. I don’t know how it happened exactly because it happened inside the hooded area of the machine. If you put your pens through the machine make sure they’re securely contained in something. Also, most fountain pens can’t handle the change of pressure in an airplane. If there’s too much air in the ink compartment, the higher air pressure inside will eject the ink out when the cabin air pressure drops. The Waterman Edson is the only pen I have that supposedly won’t succumb to this problem. If you can get the Jorg Hysek dip pen for $400, I’d highly recommend it. The list price for a new one was $800-900 if I recall correctly. Having that one is worth giving up multiple other pens. I know there are places that repair pens, but I haven’t got around to it because it’s such a pain in the ass to trek somewhere that will do it and who knows how much they’ll charge—possibly as much as the value of the pen, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/67 "2019-01-20T06:21:06Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > At airport security, the pen fell into the conveyor mechanism and got crushed by the moving parts. I don’t know how it happened exactly because it happened inside the hooded area of the machine. If you put your pens through the machine make sure they’re securely contained in something. > > Also, most fountain pens can’t handle the change of pressure in an airplane. If there’s too much air in the ink compartment, the higher air pressure inside will eject the ink out when the cabin air pressure drops. The Waterman Edson is the only pen I have that supposedly won’t succumb to this problem. > > If you can get the Jorg Hysek dip pen for $400, I’d highly recommend it. The list price for a new one was $800-900 if I recall correctly. Having that one is worth giving up multiple other pens. > > I know there are places that repair pens, but I haven’t got around to it because it’s such a pain in the ass to trek somewhere that will do it and who knows how much they’ll charge—possibly as much as the value of the pen, perhaps? As to the last question, you’d probably have to send it. All those folks seem to live in small towns in the little-known US state of pen-fix-ania. The takeaway from your anecdote about air travel with fountain pens seems to be don’t. I haven’t tried it yet. I’m so new at it, and retired, that none of my pens has left my home office. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/68 "2019-01-20T06:38:23Z")
If you travel with the pen completely full or completely empty, air bubbles should not be a problem. In zero gravity, vacuum, or underwater, though, you probably want to stick with your Space Pen instead. Why is that model of dip pen so expensive, by the way? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/69 "2019-01-20T06:59:24Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > If you travel with the pen completely full or completely empty, air bubbles should not be a problem. In zero gravity, vacuum, or underwater, though, you probably want to stick with your Space Pen instead. > > Why is that model of dip pen so expensive, by the way? It’s unlike any other pen I’ve ever seen. It’s gorgeously designed, its very comfortable to use, it’s durable, its ink flow is exceptional, it never blots, it requires minimal maintenance, and as I said before, it writes for pages and pages after one dip. Most dip pens require a fresh dip after about a line and a half of writing or even less. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/70 "2019-01-20T07:04:18Z")
Actually doing a quick search online for the Jorg Hysek dip pen, I think it might be the case that the pens in the $300-400 range are much smaller than the one I have and don’t come with a stand and ink well. I’d still say it’s worth the price, if it’s if the same quality. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/71 "2019-01-20T07:13:00Z")
Just to add, I rarely pay full price for a pen. Most of them I acquired second hand or on sale. Many of them show wear on the barrel and cap. I don’t think I could get a good resale price for any of my favorite pens. What is important to me is the functionality. That’s why I used the old Parker 51 so heavily. Until recently it was reliable and worked like a dream. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/72 "2019-01-20T07:24:43Z")
Oh and one of the Cross knockoffs I had was I believe a Colibri. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/73 "2019-01-20T13:23:47Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Ugh. Never lend your fountain pen. They could easily fuck up the nib. It’s a cheap [Lamy Safari](https://www.lamy.com/eng/b2c/safari), I got bored of having problems with the ink gland thingy in my Parker, I think the tropical heat and humidity degrades the rubber too quickly. The Lamy has a piston and works just great, even taking it on airplanes it has never leaked. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/74 "2019-01-20T15:04:25Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > It’s a cheap [Lamy Safari](https://www.lamy.com/eng/b2c/safari), I got bored of having problems with the ink gland thingy in my Parker, I think the tropical heat and humidity degrades the rubber too quickly. The Lamy has a piston and works just great, even taking it on airplanes it has never leaked. Well, it’s relatibely less expensive, but it runs $30-50, and that’s real money. Even if that’s not a problem, it’s not worth my time to repair a pen or replace it. I usually carry a ball point pen to lend out, but even that I’ve learned to keep in an inside pocket after an incident at airport security with someone arguing with a TSA guy. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/75 "2019-01-20T15:46:42Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s unlike any other pen I’ve ever seen. It’s gorgeously designed, its very comfortable to use, it’s durable, its ink flow is exceptional, it never blots, it requires minimal maintenance, and as I said before, it writes for pages and pages after one dip. Most dip pens require a fresh dip after about a line and a half of writing or even less. How does it compare to those old Esterbrook Dip-Less pens? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808/76 "2019-01-20T17:52:12Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > How does it compare to those old Esterbrook Dip-Less pens? I don’t think I’ve ever encountered one of those [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fountain-pen-thread/826808.md?page=3)