# The Way of the Fountain Pen **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 8, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842 "2013-05-08T20:56:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/41 "2013-05-10T06:27:26Z")
(Sorry for the hijack) > [@RandMcnally](#): > > I didn’t know they made thinner. Where do I find such things? I can just find them at any bookstore here. Maybe you could try Amazon? [Amazon.com: Uni-ball Signo DX UM-151 Gel Ink Pen Black Blue 0.38mm (10 pens) : Office Products](http://www.amazon.com/Uni-ball-Signo-Um-151-Blue-Black/dp/B004OYZEPO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1368166514&sr=8-4&keywords=uni+signo+dx+0.38) they come in a fantastic range of colours as well, such as mandarin orange. I think the 0.38 and 0.28 feel about the same to write, but the 0.28’s ink tube is much narrower so it should run out faster. I DO NOT like the 0.18 ([Amazon.com: Uni-ball Signo Bit UM-201 Gel Ink Pen - 0.18 mm - Black : Office Products](http://www.amazon.com/Uni-ball-Signo-Bit-UM-201-Gel/dp/B001B2MSEM/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368166700&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=uni+signo+dx+0.18)) it’s very scratchy. It’s also a needle point, while the broader ones are “cone” points. If you want to carry many colours at once, you could get the Uni Style Fit, which is like those Bic 4 colour pens, but you get to choose the refills yourself ([Amazon.com : uni style fit](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?rh=k%3Auni+style+fit%2Ci%3Aoffice-products&keywords=uni+style+fit&ie=UTF8&qid=1368167138)) Speaking of needle points, these are just like the Pilot Hi-Tec-C (0.4 mm, needle point), but with “cone” points. I prefer cones. You could also try drawing pens, e.g. the Copic Multiliner SP goes all the way down to 0.03 mm ([http://www.copicmarker.com/products/pens/multiliner-sp](http://www.copicmarker.com/products/pens/multiliner-sp)). ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/42 "2013-05-10T06:53:32Z")
I was recently given one of these and it has immediately become [my pen of choice](http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-SWPENMPBK-Military-Tactical/dp/B003D7K07K/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_z). ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/43 "2013-05-10T15:53:24Z")
> [@Mathematics](#): > > Do you guys like to use fountain pens for writing? > > I do, and here are some of the reasons: > > - It’s better for the environment because you aren’t constantly throwing away pens/refills. That is assuming you use bottles and not cartridges. I can count on the fingers of one elbow the number of pens I’ve managed to exhaust the ink on before losing them. On the other hand, the environmental cost of tossing out shirts after fountain pens have leaked all over them was pretty high. ---
**Author:** ![minionkat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@minionkat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minionkat)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/44 "2013-05-10T16:07:51Z")
> [@Mathematics](#): > > Interesting, I don’t really know much about ink erasers. > I pretty much use Noodler’s ‘bulletproof’ inks, so they can’t be erased, I’d assume. > > Do you have to use special ink for those? I don’t recall using special ink for it. I always just bought the little box of tn Waterman cartridges. The eraser was like a two headed pen with caps. One side had the eraser part, which was a white fine felt tip. It had some sort of neutralizer in it. The other side was a blue fine felt tip for writing over, because the fountain ink wouldn’t work over the spot you erased. I will do.some.looking around to see if I still have one. Something tells me I tucked one away in a drawer just in case I came across one and wanted to compare. ---
**Author:** ![buckgully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@buckgully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buckgully)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/45 "2013-05-10T19:04:57Z")
I have a bunch, but rarely use them because I change altitude too much and they all wind up leaking. They wind up sitting at home and dry out and get gummed up. Well, except for my Pilot Varsity, I love those guys. I do use dip pens. Over the past few years I’ve been trying to improve my terrible handwriting by learning to do copperplate/engraver’s script. The only problem is that I’ve found that that style of writing has more to do with drawing than handwriting, so my script is very pretty, but my normal day-to-day handwriting hasn’t changed significantly. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/46 "2013-05-10T21:11:11Z")
> [@Mathematics](#): > > But I got something interesting in the mail today that those of you who don’t like fountain pens may enjoy. It’s a [refillable roller ball pen](http://www.jetpens.com/J.-Herbin-Refillable-Roller-Ball-Pen-Medium-Point/pd/9760). You fill it with normal fountain pen ink. Years ago, I got a [Monteverde Mega Ink Ball](http://www.monteverdepens.com/megaball_gold.html) pen that’s similar - fountain pen feed, roller ball tip, takes a refillable ink converter or cartridges. It’s OK, but I’m not really happy with it. The feed is unreliable. It’s a shame, because it’s attractive, feels good in the hand, and has a more abuse-resistant tip than a traditional fountain pen. If anyone has one of these and has been happy with it, I’d love to know what kind of ink you’re using. I’ve been using [Private Reserve Tanzanite](http://www.amazon.com/Private-Reserve-Bottled-Ink-Refill/dp/B0013IOAUO) ink. It’s a glorious purple-blue color, and it handles nicely in my other 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:** [May 13, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/47 "2013-05-13T02:06:06Z")
One thing I never quite understood. All the advice says that pens should be store upright. But unless you’ve got it in your pocket, I don’t see a very convenient way to store pens upright. Even the fancy stationery box I have that came with a couple of fountain pens (true, they’re not particularly great ones) has space for storing them flat. I really am not interested in investing money (and space!) in acquiring a lot of specialized storage cases that stand upright or have loops that hold a pen upright. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/48 "2013-05-13T02:45:13Z")
> [@Mathematics](#): > > - It strains the hand a lot less. It _stains_ the hand a lot more. But yeah, I like FPs. I’m even left-handed, which makes them especially tough to write with. Still like 'em. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/49 "2013-05-13T03:14:34Z")
Back when I did a lot of writing at work, I used either my Parker Vector or my Pelikan Pelikano, and used primarily a lot of Noodler’s Legal Lapis, and occasionally dipped into my bottle of Parker Penman Ebony ink if I wanted really, really black writing for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/50 "2013-05-13T03:18:39Z")
Oh, yes, I love me a good fountain pen. I’m a pen guy - I love using 'em, looking at 'em, playing with 'em. I use a fountain pen exclusively anymore. I have a battered but much-loved Waterford, a custom-made fountain/ballpoint that I bought at a pen show (it leaks like crazy, but I like the heft and balance), and my current everyday pen, a Lamy Safari. Very inexpensive - plastic body - but it has the easiest inkflow and softest drag of any pen I’ve used. Plus the grip is ergonomic and easy on the hand. I do prefer a metal body, so I just last week bought a Lamy Studio. Love it, but don’t love the medium nib I bought, so I’m sending it to Lamy U.S.A. to have them put in a fine nib. One of my dreams one day is to own a Montblanc Meisterstuck. > [@gracer](#): > > I have three calligraphy pens, and two should be fountain pens, but I find that the ink doesn’t run through smoothly so I dip instead. Can anyone suggest a good calligraphy fountain pen? Try the Lamy Joy. [http://www.lamyusa.com/lamy\_fountain\_L15\_joy.php](http://www.lamyusa.com/lamy_fountain_L15_joy.php) Won’t set you back too much, and, like every Lamy I’ve used, the inkflow is easy and generous. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/51 "2013-05-13T04:11:10Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > One thing I never quite understood. All the advice says that pens should be store upright. But unless you’ve got it in your pocket, I don’t see a very convenient way to store pens upright. Even the fancy stationery box I have that came with a couple of fountain pens (true, they’re not particularly great ones) has space for storing them flat. I really am not interested in investing money (and space!) in acquiring a lot of specialized storage cases that stand upright or have loops that hold a pen upright. Huh? Put them in a coffee mug? An EMPTY mug. ---
**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:** [May 13, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/52 "2013-05-13T12:51:13Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > Huh? Put them in a coffee mug? > > An EMPTY mug. That means they are out in the open and any mug in my vicinity will get knocked over sooner or later. I’d rather keep them in a box. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/53 "2013-05-13T12:53:04Z")
The secret to keeping pens is to be just enough of a jerk about it whenever someone “borrows” your pen that they give it back. Hesitate just a fraction of a second before saying “Sure,” and handing over a pen. Make sure they notice you are still looking directly, obsessively at the pen after they’ve used it, instead of looking them in the eyes. ---
**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:** [May 13, 2013, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/54 "2013-05-13T12:59:28Z")
I’d go a step further—never let anyone use your pen. Once you’ve started using it, the nib starts to change shape based on your own hand, angle, etc. Letting someone else use it will screw it up. And in any case, most people have no idea how to use a fountain pen. They don’t know that you have to position the nib a certain way. They don’t know that you can’t twist/turn the nib while writing. They scribble too much to get the ink flowing. They press too hard, endangering the nib. Most importantly _ **They don’t care, because they aren’t used to the idea of a pen that you have to care about.** _ I try to keep another pen on me that I can hand to others. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/55 "2013-05-13T13:12:27Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’d go a step further—never let anyone use your pen. Once you’ve started using it, the nib starts to change shape based on your own hand, angle, etc. Letting someone else use it will screw it up. > > And in any case, most people have no idea how to use a fountain pen. They don’t know that you have to position the nib a certain way. They don’t know that you can’t twist/turn the nib while writing. They scribble too much to get the ink flowing. They press too hard, endangering the nib. Most importantly _ **They don’t care, because they aren’t used to the idea of a pen that you have to care about.** _ > > I try to keep another pen on me that I can hand to others. Oh, yeah, I was just addressing people who say they can’t keep _any_ pens long enough to run them empty of ink. I would never lend out a _fountain_ pen; if there is some time-important reason to write something down, I’ll write it _for_ the penless. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/56 "2013-05-13T13:18:39Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > That means they are out in the open and any mug in my vicinity will get knocked over sooner or later. I’d rather keep them in a box. And that box won’t stand on its side? ---
**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:** [May 13, 2013, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/57 "2013-05-13T13:21:52Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > And that box won’t stand on its side? 1. No, it won’t. It would fall open or fall over 2. Keeping it on its side would create more opportunities for everything to fall out when I retrieved it. 3. Even if it did, all the pens would still be lying flat in the box, not upright. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/58 "2013-05-13T17:53:47Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > The secret to keeping pens is to be just enough of a jerk about it whenever someone “borrows” your pen that they give it back. Hesitate just a fraction of a second before saying “Sure,” and handing over a pen. Make sure they notice you are still looking directly, obsessively at the pen after they’ve used it, instead of looking them in the eyes. I always say “Nib up” as I’m handing over the pen. Makes the recipient look at the pen and realize it’s not a cheapie Bic or Paperwrite. Also intimidates a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![Mathematics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@Mathematics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathematics)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/59 "2013-05-13T19:06:58Z")
The reactions I get at college when people ask to borrow my pen are priceless. One person said referring to my [Rotring Intial](http://www.shop.deutschepens.com/images/1235962730665613562841.jpg), “Oh, my dad used to use **real** fountain pens.” I was confused, and they said, “Yeah, that actually take ink, not one of these fashionable pens to made to look like fountain pens.” It was confusing because the Rotring Initial barely _does_ look like a fountain pen. Anyway, the other reactions tend to be that people are afraid they’re going to break it, or jamming it into the paper like a ballpoint, holding the nib upside down, asking why I gave them a calligraphy pen to use, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/60 "2013-05-13T19:18:09Z")
> [@Mathematics](#): > > some people do still use dip pens One person I know uses a dip pen because it is slow. He takes his time to think carefully before he writes, and as he writes. BTW, he’s a judge, and a very good one at that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842.md?page=4)