# 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:** 4
**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, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/61 "2013-05-13T19:22:54Z")
I’m not trying to diss the dip pen; I think they’re great. That is a nice reason to use them too. Although I’m not sure it’s exactly practical for most people. ---
**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, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/62 "2013-05-13T19:29:09Z")
It’s not practical to carry around. You have to use it sitting at your own desk. And even if you could carry it around, it would cause too much rumpus to pull out a bottle of ink in the middle of a meeting, say, and start dipping your pen. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/63 "2013-05-13T21:32:30Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I try to keep another pen on me that I can hand to others. Sorry for being totally weird, but I think that’s very romantic. My grandfather did that too. 🙂 ---
**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, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/64 "2013-05-13T22:47:57Z")
I won’t be weird about it if you aren’t. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/65 "2013-05-13T22:57:54Z")
I keep a cheap ballpoint to give to people when they ask for a pen. If I’m using a cheap fountain pen like a Preppy I don’t mind handing that to people. It’s pretty sturdy. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/66 "2013-05-13T22:58:48Z")
I Use one of the cheaper RotRing cartridge pens from Fountain Pen Hospital. It is called _Core_ and has a medium nib. I find it makes me write neater and I think people still appreciate a hand-written note. Thanks Q ---
**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, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/67 "2013-05-13T23:11:59Z")
I love Rotring as well. A few of their designs are a bit _unconventional_. Some may say ugly. But I think they are well made and pleasant to use! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/68 "2013-05-13T23:32:05Z")
I wanted to add that I _never_ hand my fountain pen to others. Not because I think I won’t get it back, but because they usually don’t have the “hand” (for lack of a proper word) to use one. My wife for instance, makes whatever she writes look like scratches on the page. Q ---
**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 14, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/69 "2013-05-14T00:26:45Z")
Which is why I love my Lamys - the flow is so steady that it’s almost like writing with a ballpoint. I’ve converted my mother and cousin to fountain pens in the last six months. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/70 "2013-05-14T04:15:09Z")
Besides not knowing how to write with one, they don’t know how to open it. I’m still furious at the TSA agent who grabbed my Reform pen out of my pocket and stripped the threads by pulling the cap off. ---
**Author:** ![Mathematics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@Mathematics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathematics)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/71 "2013-05-14T04:45:50Z")
:eek: Christ! I’m not familiar with Reform pens. Are they expensive? Even if not, that is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![And\_his\_buzzer\_goes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/and_his_buzzer_goes/32/377_2.png) [@And\_his\_buzzer\_goes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/And_his_buzzer_goes)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/72 "2013-05-14T08:54:28Z")
While most of my writings are digital (as an IT guy). I carry my [Lamy logo](http://www.lamyusa.com/lamy_fountain_L05_logo.php) with me to take notes. Now you guys make me want a new pen… ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/73 "2013-06-13T04:15:19Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > 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…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. In practice, in my experience, if you’re keeping a manageable number of pens inked and using them all regularly then storing them on their sides (as I generally do) isn’t problematic at all. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/74 "2013-06-13T04:22:09Z")
> [@Mathematics](#): > > Do you guys like to use fountain pens for writing? Yep! - my favorite is my Pelikan M200. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/75 "2014-04-11T20:55:38Z")
If you crack a zombie joke over a year old thread, you’ve got issues. That being said, I just found myself getting into fountain pens, partly because they’re cool, partly because they’re pretty much the best of the limited options out there for everyday writing with brown ink. I bought some Platinum Preppy pens a few years ago, enjoyed using them, and thought I’d delve a bit deeper. I started with a Lamy Safari, then a Pilot Metropolitan, and most recently a Jinhao 250. It’s an inexpensive diversion if you stick to entry level pens (which seem to write quite well), and don’t get obsessive over ink collecting and paper snobbery. They’re also great conversation starters. I’m tempted to go a step deeper, and try out Noodler’s infamous Baystate Blue ink. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/76 "2014-04-11T23:14:45Z")
I like brown inks. Noodler’s Walnut is my everyday ink - waterproof, dark but still recognizably brown. What do you use? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/77 "2014-04-11T23:37:16Z")
Seventy-six posts and **no one** has mentioned the sex appeal factor?!? :dubious: I once had a girl fall head over heels in love with me after I started writing to her weekly\* with a fountain pen. She thought my handwriting was waaaaaaay cool! :o \*And no, it wasn’t a strictly long-distance relationship. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/78 "2014-04-12T00:27:22Z")
In high school, I used a Faber-Castell drafting pen with capillary flow of India ink – waterproof and no bleed. The tip was a needle tube with a wire attached to a small weight, I got in the habit of shaking the pen (bouncing the weight in the nib) to get the ink flowing. It took a very soft touch, I did not loan that pen out. I think I still have a few of those lying around here somewhere – they are no longer available from Faber-Castell, though I think the Koh-i-noor Rapidograph is pretty similar. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/79 "2014-04-12T03:07:54Z")
> [@tellyworth](#): > > I like brown inks. Noodler’s Walnut is my everyday ink - waterproof, dark but still recognizably brown. What do you use? Right now, Pelikan Brilliant Brown. I’m just getting started with bottled ink, though. I have Diam​ine Anci​ent Copp​er on my shopping list, but it might be a bit too bright for professional use. Oh … I’ve got another Pilot Metropolitan on the way. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842/80 "2014-04-12T06:22:57Z")
I love fountain pens. I used to find them a pain to carry around but I seem to have learned how to do it (after bleeding ink across three continents and ruining various nice handbags). I like Waterman pens and I like Waterman ink, but I also like a variety of colors, which either Waterman doesn’t make or I can’t find, so I have some others. But I like Waterman’s brown ink just fine–also South Seas blue. The Pilot Varsity are good everyday pens and I will let someone else use one of those. I like the ones that come in packs of 7. Rainbow colors! I also have Private Reserve Orange Crush, but it doesn’t really look orange on the page. Kind of light brown. I would like a better orange and a good yellow-green. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-of-the-fountain-pen/657842.md?page=5)