Just discovered the fountain pen hobby. You're right on all 13 points. Years ago a friend defined a hobby: an activity that consumes all of your time and all of your money.
Thank you for using your statement fountain pen. Basically, writing by hand is a highly complex process because the brain and the muscles of the hand form a connection at the moment of activity that is not present when writing digitally. It appeals to many senses. Feeling the pen, seeing how the ink sticks to the paper as you write and how it changes depending on the ink, and later reading what you have written is wonderful. None of this can be replicated digitally. Writing with fountain pen can be a meditative moment; it slows down hectic everyday life. Hartelijk dank en vriendelijke groeten uit het buurland. Je abonnement is gegarandeerd.
Writing forces the brain to slow down when you intake your information. The one BIG negative about the digital world is the intake of information is too much too fast! Hence, lately, people are living in a retarded/zombified state!!
As a left handed writer, I exclusively used mechanical pencils, for the resistance they provide while writing. This is need for me to form letters correctly. With that in mind, I then decided to purchase my first fountain pen, a Lamy Vista, to find out if it was the same. And yes indeed, the Vista does provide a similar resistance. I underwrite with a back slant, so smudging is kept to a minimum.
As a dutch person I got forced to use a fountain pen in elementary school. They got me hooked. My pen lasted me for 13,5 years. No cleaning EVER. Now I own a lamy abc.
Perfect summation as to why fountain pens reign supreme. Thirteen clear-cut reasons for adopting such a creative, therapeutic passtime - & isn't it wonderful to receive a handwritten missive ? The surprise (& elation) I feel when a letter from a friend drops on the doormat is one of the most satisfying; then there's the anticipation prior to opening that envelope, & finally, reading what your friend has to say - & more significantly, their own unique style - both in handwriting & the way (they) express themselves. Therein begins the reciprocal aspect in responding to that other individual's 'piece of soul', for it is my belief that when we begin to read that communique, the words 'lift' from the page & our conscious minds absorbs same, as a sponge. Whether the content is filled with either levity or brevity - or a combination of the two - your concentration becomes absolute, so it is an excellent way of retaining mental focus. I know that it seems I have overly-romanticised the use of these writing instruments, but in point of fact, they are just that: Romantic, ecologically more sound, & effortless in their employment. Excellent presentation - thank you ! 🙂Subscribed.
I’m just getting into fountain pens and am so excited to be just starting to fall down this rabbit hole! I’m interested in more info about the pages where you have recorded details about your different inks? Haha love the “nerdy” stuff!
I love fountain pens, and use them for everything. This is an absorbing hobby. There are so many great pen people -- you mentioned three of my favorites. Glad to see a new channel.
Watching your videos is fun! I'm glad to see youngsters being enthusiast about fountain pens. My fountain pen hobby had been in hyberarnation mode for almost a decade. As a child I was addicted to collecting pens (and Lego). As a student I worked in a luxury department store as a fountain pen seller, so my addiction was alive again, and with special sales (Drie Dwaze Dagen) I bought my first Waterman, Parker and Sheaffer pens with the hard earned money. Now, in my early fifties I've started to enjoy writing with fountain pens at work, making notes in an old, second hand, worn out refillable Filofax organiser. And man... it feels good to write comfortably instead of typing on the crappy laptop I got from work :) . Well... keep up the spirit and good luck with your projects. Ik ben geabonneerd!!
I wish I had the guts to carry my dip pen and ink well around with me everywhere.. Need me to sign something? No problem! Where's the nearest desk where I can set up?
Some artisans make dip pens with caps so you can carry them in your pocket, and with 5ml ink vials you can have your ink with you too ^^. I don't know if those pens are easily available online but there's a shop in Paris that have some handmade ("L'Ecritoire", St-Martin street). Could be a fix if you make your own ink mixing you'd be afraid to use in a fountain pen (eg: I added some Noodler's "Whiteness of the whale" to their "Black belted kingfisher" so that if I sign with it the original would be different than a high-end copy because of the glow-in-UV effect, but the densities of the 2 base inks are different and I wouldn't find it secure to use in a FP, so when I want to write with it I shake the vial and take a dip pen)
Correcting some things: 5:43 Most nibs are not interchangeable, you are holding the Lamy Safari which is renowned for it's many options when it comes to nibs and interchangeability, which is something almost only Lamy does because it's not that big of a deal for 99% of users. Nibs from Lamy cannot fit into pen handles from another brand and vice versa. 7:45 This one had a weird, incomplete conclusion, which didn't really give me a reason as to why I should use a fountain pen. 9:30 All that ink is not worth $20, it is worth much more, at least $100. The small one you held up is $8 before tax + shipping. 12:00 The most commonly recommended fountain pens are almost entirely plastic, and are recommended solely as "beginner" pens which people throw in a drawer or the trash once they're done with school or get better pens. On top of this, as I later mention, most models still rely on the old cartridge system which are disposable pieces of plastic. 12:55 A ballpoint Bic pen costs about $0.20/pen if you buy a 10 or 36 pack, or ~$0.10/pen if you buy a 144 or 240 pack (at most costing $32). Good ballpoint pens aren't even $0.40/pen. The Lamy AL-star is just shy of $40 and with the single disposable plastic cartridge of black ink it comes with, it doesn't last very long compared to a $6 10-pack of the best ballpoint pens. Oh boy, where to start with this next one... 13:26 Ink does last a long time, but for someone who writes as much as you, $5/yr doesn't sound remotely believable. Actual investment price would depend on what people get, but let's go with the standard beginner outfit: Lamy Safari - $37 Diamine Jet Black Ink 30ml - $8 LAMY Z 28 Converter - $5 Subtotal: $50 This doesn't even include the heftier paper needed to actually start writing as most paper today is designed with small, quick drying oil-based inks from ballpoint pens in mind. That's a whole other expense that is certainly an expense and can add up very fast. Again, because the world is designed around ballpoint pens, you can't just use your fountain pen on documents or sign receipts with it, even the driest inks are too wet. This means you have to buy dedicated paper for it to use just for writing or drawing, meaning it's strictly a hobby tool, and due to it mostly being for hobbyists these days who are always consuming and upgrading, it is absolutely NOT cheaper in the long run. *INHALE* OKAY Sorry, I'm both ADHD and autistic as hell and don't mean to sound insulting or type so much. I haven't even received my first fountain pen (just ordered it tonight) but I've learned a lot about them since my obsession began 4 months ago and some of these points ended up being misleading or just dead ends. I love fountain pens, I can say that before I've even had much if any real experience. I genuinely believe society should ditch ballpoint pens as the standard and return to fountain pens as it's objectively superior. Ballpoints were literally designed for quick work, sacrificing comfort and quality to obtain near instantaneous dry times. Yes, people should get fountain pens. I agreed with a lot of the points, just about every point I didn't mention. All you really need to do to convince most people is show them some pretty ones and tell them it's way more comfortable and easy to use than ballpoints. Leave the rest to their imagination and let their curiosity get the better of them. Hell, tell America that Neil DeGrasse Tyson loves fountain pens, ~50k new users right there.
I got a cheap calligraphy FP from Hobby Lobby last year and while I liked the marks it dried out almost instantly (like after a few minutes even when writing) so I decided to put it aside until later. Fast forward to this Christmas Dad got us all decent quality FPs (standard nibs) so I got some Waterman Serenity Blue cartridges and found I really like writing with one. I put the same ink into my cheap pen and it turns out it was an issue with the ink, the pen works nicely now and gives me a variation in my art/writing pen collection I didn’t previously have. I can’t wait to start branching out into bottled ink and the colors I could get!
My first fountain pen in college was a lovely Pelikan 120 Merz & Krell. Ballpoint pens didn't write fast enough. Then I saw a Mont Blanc 149 in a stationery store and I obsessed over it for several months before I could afford it ($75 at the time). A student's life can be hard on pens and eventually the 149 needed a rebuild. Now I think my favorite is a Parker 75 Sterling silver Ciselle. Damn-near bulletproof, the ciselle pattern offers a non-slip grip, it's very elegant in an understated way, and sports a 14 carat gold nib (same as the 149 but smaller). Next I expect to purchase a Pilot Custom 823 and a white Pelikan 400. It's a sickness. BTW - TWSBI is a great newcomer with a great variety of pens and excellent customer service.
Bought my first fp while attending university back in the 70’s-80’s. Nothing compares to the many attributes of using one right to this very day. Recently bought a Waterman Carene and simply love it. Great video btw! 😊
You mentioned the quality of handwriting using a fountain pen. Using a ballpoint creates a lot of drag on paper so my handwriting deteriorates. With a fountain pen, (I leaned cursive using dip pens and the Palmer method) my handwriting automatically becomes a thing of beauty. I have had positive comments on my handwriting observed by others based when I used a fountain pen.
I notice you haven’t posted a video in a while. I hope this doesn’t mean you’re giving up on the channel. Your videos are good. I have close to 300 fountain pens so I’m some what serious about the hobby. I have followed many fountain pen channels; most I don’t follow anymore. Personally I’m not crazy about pen reviews-if I’m interested in a pen, I simply do a search on TH-cam and look at the reviews. I’m more interested in fountain pen care and use, including inks-I do love ink reviews. 😊 Handwriting, and paper, are important to me too. Your channel addresses these things so I hope you continue your channel.
Hi Frank, thanks for leaving a comment, my turn. I haven't, although it might have looked like it! I can relate to your observation. I like to focus more on fundamentals than anything else, and your suggestions are very helpful to me, so thanks. Also, don't mind me noticing that you have a lot of pens.
I love using my fountain pen now I have proper ink for it through videos like this it helped me find and get rid of the cheap ink that's often found in stores before I was having alot of trouble with my pen soon as I changed the ink it writes so much smoother it's less tiring on the hand less cramping more flowing looks and reads nicer and makes you focus on each letter more perfecting its shape with each stroke
Why do I use fountain pens? Barely know where to even start. So, in no particular order: I grew up with them - school in Germany meant writing with fountain pens from second grade on. Although I don't have particularly pretty handwriting, I came to appreciate it - for some reason, taking notes with a fountain pen seemed to translate into remembering them well later on, even without re-reading. Today, in the age of typing and swiping, all handwriting is cool. It's local patriotism - I come from the region where Pelikan pens are made, so that's the brand I use. Fountain pen writing is recognizable as fountain pen writing - every line has life, depth, shading, flow; and there are no impressions because you write basically effortlessly, without pressure. Even if you aren't an artist, you can feel like one while writing with a fountain pen - you don't need to think about pressure, you can just do as many and as wide and fanciful loops and flourishes as you want. It's like swinging a tiny little paintbrush that does not run dry. You can even use force - apply pressure for thicker lines. Fountain pens are beautiful, and you have all the choice you want - they are playful, elegant, distinguished, imposing, light, heavy, colorful, metal, plastic, resin, steel, gold, simple, decorated, etc. They require some maintenance now and then, but there is little you cannot solve with some water and a Kleenex. You can't be afraid of the occasional ink stain, but that's no problem if you stick with water-soluble ink, and if you don't, a little ink on your hand is a mark of distinction!
I love pens and notebooks. I love writing. I write since I was 11. But I haven’t thought of that about fountain pens. I’m glad I subscribed and found your channel.
I am just getting into the fountain pen thing still learning. I found one of my sons pen he had in high school and it would NOT write at all which made me very frustrated, so I am on a quest to find out how to fix it. I love listening to you , keep on posting thank you.
I also have a Shaeffer Targa Slim and they are amazing! Gold nib in bold and its suuuuper smooth. Only problem is using converters in it, It will only fit a kaweco mini converter
WOW! I'm impressed. I love fountain pens and I can also look at maps for hours on end. Knowing this, I subscribed immediately. I agree with you on all counts. THANKS!
just getting into using a fountain pen, I love the colour purple, so I got some purple gel pens to try out, they are good-ish, but then I saw an extra fine nib (0.34mm) cheap fountain pen with purple ink, and so far I think I am hooked, and as you say they write effortly and are so so much easyer to use
Wow, thanks man! You made me a convert. I was looking for refillable ballpoint pen and wanting something to have a good pen to write checks or sign documents. That’s when I considered getting a fountain pen.
Just getting into fountain pens, and am looking for my second. Learning how to write with one was pretty easy, as I used to practice calligraphy. Still have those pens in storage somewhere. 😁
Great video buddy. Really enjoyed the cander and the delivery. As a guy who has used ballpoint religiously since secondary school and has terrible handwriting i will definitely be checking out the rest of your videos. 👍
I’m just getting back to using my fountain pens on a daily basis and I’d like to know where you’re getting them, and the ink, so inexpensively. I bought a Scrievener which I really like to use alongside my old Sheaffer and it was over $80. A bottle of Waterman ink is around $18. Far more expensive than the throwaway ballpoint pens but so much more satisfying and aesthetically pleasing.
Although I have quite a collection of fp's, and inks, I don't agree that bp's are inferior. A good quality bp - fitted with a Schmidt Easy flow refill can be used at the same angle as a fp and with the same pressure. I agree with most of what you say but, maybe, you have bought into a narrow- minded view which confuses dispossible bp's with high quality refillable ones. That said, I do prefer my fp's, but occasionally, I enjoy using a BP or pencil.
I've ALWAYS loved fountain pens. I recently got back into fountain pens after finding some cheap-o retractable ones online... & doooowwwwnnn the Rabbit Hole I went! I've gotten quite a few different inexpensive ones just to try out different nibs & filling mechanisms to get an idea of what I like & treat myself to "the good stuff" periodically when I find something I love. I'm planning to get my "grail" pen when I get my bonus from work this year... But I use many different ones on a daily basis. Never going back to ballpoint!
Just found your channel. Very enjoyable video. I had an experience where some of my mail was stolen including checks I had written. Since I use fountain pens, the bank was able, very easily, to identify the forgery and return my money. Another good reason to use fountain pens and indelible ink.
Ja, du hast Recht - ich habe jetzt 10 verschidene Füllfederhalter und viel Spaß damit. Ich bin Autor und schreibe Bücher, natürlich mit meinem Computer als Schreibwerkzeug. ABER wenn ich mich informiere und techerchiere für eine neue Buch-Idee, dann schraibe ich mit einem Füllfederhalter meine Recherche-Ergebisse auf und dabei überlege ich, für wen mein Buch genügend Interesantheit und Spaß bringt und eben auch Interesse weckt, mein Buch zu kaufen! ... Grüsse aus Deutschland von Roland W. Schulze
I still got a pair of those disposable Zebras I started with, got hooked but always been a blue ink person, they're something else so I'm moving up soon to something less single-use so to speak.
Thanks for the great video. I'm looking to purchase my first fountain pen in the $50 to $200 range. I was wondering if you could make a couple recommendations of a few of your favorites? Thanks!
Hi, I just stumbled across your channel as I'm starting down the delightful fountain pen rabbit hole. I'm waiting for a Twsbi Eco with a fine nib. Can you tell me why I would want a more advanced level pen if I don't do calligraphy? I write a daily journal. My creative writing is done on a laptop. So far anyway!
I went years unable to write due to medical problems. In the few months Ive have gotten into fountain pens Ive written a book and on my second short story, although the second is quickly becoming a book.
I guess all of us are compulsive 🙂 especially those who have the audacity to start using a quality fountain pen! Love the simplicity of your videos.. keep up the good work brother 👍
you remind me of my social studies teacher, you look and sound a little like him which I think is cool! i also like your videos! just got into using a fountain pen, my fountain pen should be arriving in a hour or so after posting this comment and you will help me a lot with using them!
25 years old here. My handwriting is ok... for a nine grader. When I started my high school freshman year we were told to purchase a laptop for studying. As a result my handwriting development stagnated and now that I am a grown man it's really embarrassing. I decided to purchase a fountain pen to force myself developed my handwriting.
I have only one reason: because I want to! Who can resist that title, though?! I love fountain pens and have more pens, than my need for them 😁 I don’t know much about pens, and I imagine there are some sort of “containers” to carry fountain pens safely. I use mainly cartridge pens, and the only fountain pen that I would be almost 100% confident wouldn’t leak in my purse is my disposable Bics! I would love to hear if there are others. It has a good snap-on lid, and unlike ones like my Shaeffer, don’t unscrew themselves in my bag if I haven’t been using them for a while. If I want to be super careful I put them in a Ziploc bag. I’m sure there are classier ways 😁
I've heard Bics CAN actually leak as well, although I've never seen it. Cartridge pens leak less often than eyedroppers. The more air inside the ink container, the easier it leaks... Some pens are known for not leaking. I have a very old Parker 51 that has never leaked and I carry it everywhere.
I used fountain pens when studied. Still have my old Parker. Now I use ball-point gel pens and they are much better than fountain pens for everyday use and refills are not so expensive. Last time I bought a cheap fountain pen, but more for fun than real everyday use.
And in the background, unplussed in its pink bookcloth, rests a Kafka . . . Good and informative video. Even though I always found a fountain pen to be more work and less flexible.
ปีที่แล้ว +1
To me is that it's easier on my hands, it's very pretty (both because of inks choice & pens) and it's ecological since you're not discarding pens every so often. Also, many inks are vegetable based so they're not impactful on the environment & bottles can be refilled or reused.
Keep up videos like this, and you'll have me shopping for a fountain pen any day now. Recommendations for a "first-timer"? What was it you said? A Pilot Metropolitan? Let me know please.
I really enjoy the Lamy Al Star - still use it daily. Twsbi Eco (broad) I find ugly, still use it daily because it’s such a great writer. Pilot Metropolitan is a good pen though a bit more boring.
I can think of another reason to use fountain pens,, for the "save the planet" category: they can be used instead of highlighter pens for people who stubbornly (and wrongly!) persist to use ball points. Here is how: all highlighter pens use water-based ink, so that they will not smudge the oil-based ink they are highlighting. All fountain pen inks are water-based, so all we have to do is pick one that is bright and probably yellow, like the Firefly ink produced by Noodler's. Then one needs a proper writing instrument, as it would be tiresome to use a regular fine nib fountain pen to draw over text to highlight. You can use Pilot Parallel, they come in a variety of width, I chose the 3.8 mm, it works well, but another option would be the 'Monster Arabic Nib" made by Bobby Nib (sold on eBay), both choices about the same price.
Thanks for a really good and interesting video. Subscribed. You make a lot of good points about the advantages of using fountain pens. I am a writer, who drafts all of his work in longhand, but tend to write in ballpoint (a refillable Lamy 2000, mostly), fineliner or pencil. There are two reasons for this. First, fountain pens are hard to use. You have to think about angling the nib and holding the pen just so. The Lamy Safari is un-useable thanks to its grip. When I write, I need to be able to concentrate on what I am trying to write, and not how to use the pen. Second, if you pause for while when using a fountain pen, then it usually dries out or hard starts! They are not very good for note taking in meetings for this reason. Pencils are best. That said, I write letters to friends using a fountain pen and enjoy all of the benefits of fountain pens you listed. Thanks and good luck with the channel.
Being a mild pen nerd, anyone buying multi-packs of ballpoint probably won't take up FP's. I prefer mid-quality ball points with ink cartridges, which I kept the same pen for multiple years using several packs of cartridges. Fountain pens are the next step for people like me.
I just got one with a couple of ink cartridges unopened ones I just learned how to put the ink cartridge into the pen but I have watched the videos of how to get the flow working and even how to flush it if it doesn't flow I've done them and still the pen doesn't work? Any other suggestions I've set the nib in water for hrs even but nothing works?
He may be able to address this, but I have seen videos on how to tweak the name itself. Maybe that would help? I have problems with one pen in particular being very skippy. I soaked it and ran tapwater through it which helped, but the main problem I noticed is that the cartridge would seem to come free while in the barrel. If you’re using a cartridge pen you may want to check for that?
Hi Rob, rather late response but I might be able to help. I have a video on this that you could try: th-cam.com/video/blh4W0HgwT8/w-d-xo.html Also, make sure to really push the cartridge in there, it might take some force to install them properly.
I want to get a fountain pen but i hear it writes wetter than normal ballpoint/gel pen which means it easily can be smear or worst, bleed through the paper which is a huge no for me.
I watch this as I try out my new set of jinhao sharks. Haha. I needed a set of pens for all the colours you get in a bic for school. I lost a nice pen at school I'm a teacher don't want anything I'll get upset about loosing
You miss the most impotant thing, the pleasure! Also ir can be come a form Of mediátion. The aventure to sit down and write can be very revealing of your ínter fellings. To throgh some ink in a piece Of paper can be very relaxing. But above all, the unshamed pleasure.
I use fountain pens because they are fun. But, the advent of multipart forms, where you have to press hard, killed off the general use of fountain pens. The advent of computerized forms, has allowed fountain pens to make a comeback to general use. Regards, KC.
People keep trying to bully me because I use fountain pens, but when I ask them to list the advantages of using a ballpoint pen and I list the advantages of using fountains, they just stop talking 😂
Thanks for the videos, I am a little intrigued… where are you from? You talk about bucks, yet some other expressions mislead me…. And my English is declining to truly tell… I have bought my second pen in part because of your videos. First one was a gift…
📖FREE Guide -7 Secrets That Will Instantly 10x Your Writing: onepenshow.com/secrets
Sorry, I'm a bit late to the party. I wish you success with your channel. You are a very likeable fellow.
Just discovered the fountain pen hobby. You're right on all 13 points. Years ago a friend defined a hobby: an activity that consumes all of your time and all of your money.
Whoops now you're in you won't be able to get out
Thank you for using your statement fountain pen. Basically, writing by hand is a highly complex process because the brain and the muscles of the hand form a connection at the moment of activity that is not present when writing digitally. It appeals to many senses. Feeling the pen, seeing how the ink sticks to the paper as you write and how it changes depending on the ink, and later reading what you have written is wonderful. None of this can be replicated digitally. Writing with fountain pen can be a meditative moment; it slows down hectic everyday life. Hartelijk dank en vriendelijke groeten uit het buurland. Je abonnement is gegarandeerd.
I’m sorry but this is like comparing actual sweet love making to porn. 😆😆😆
Of course writing with anything at all is better than digital awfulness. 🙂
Writing forces the brain to slow down when you intake your information. The one BIG negative about the digital world is the intake of information is too much too fast! Hence, lately, people are living in a retarded/zombified state!!
As a left handed writer, I exclusively used mechanical pencils, for the resistance they provide while writing. This is need for me to form letters correctly. With that in mind, I then decided to purchase my first fountain pen, a Lamy Vista, to find out if it was the same. And yes indeed, the Vista does provide a similar resistance. I underwrite with a back slant, so smudging is kept to a minimum.
As a dutch person I got forced to use a fountain pen in elementary school. They got me hooked. My pen lasted me for 13,5 years. No cleaning EVER. Now I own a lamy abc.
Perfect summation as to why fountain pens reign supreme. Thirteen clear-cut reasons for adopting such a creative, therapeutic passtime - & isn't it wonderful to receive a handwritten missive ? The surprise (& elation) I feel when a letter from a friend drops on the doormat is one of the most satisfying; then there's the anticipation prior to opening that envelope, & finally, reading what your friend has to say - & more significantly, their own unique style - both in handwriting & the way (they) express themselves. Therein begins the reciprocal aspect in responding to that other individual's 'piece of soul', for it is my belief that when we begin to read that communique, the words 'lift' from the page & our conscious minds absorbs same, as a sponge. Whether the content is filled with either levity or brevity - or a combination of the two - your concentration becomes absolute, so it is an excellent way of retaining mental focus. I know that it seems I have overly-romanticised the use of these writing instruments, but in point of fact, they are just that: Romantic, ecologically more sound, & effortless in their employment. Excellent presentation - thank you ! 🙂Subscribed.
I’m just getting into fountain pens and am so excited to be just starting to fall down this rabbit hole! I’m interested in more info about the pages where you have recorded details about your different inks? Haha love the “nerdy” stuff!
I love fountain pens, and use them for everything. This is an absorbing hobby. There are so many great pen people -- you mentioned three of my favorites. Glad to see a new channel.
I agree, and I have to stop fiddling with my pens to actually get some work done!
I appreciate the welcome Sue, and welcome to you too!
Watching your videos is fun! I'm glad to see youngsters being enthusiast about fountain pens. My fountain pen hobby had been in hyberarnation mode for almost a decade. As a child I was addicted to collecting pens (and Lego). As a student I worked in a luxury department store as a fountain pen seller, so my addiction was alive again, and with special sales (Drie Dwaze Dagen) I bought my first Waterman, Parker and Sheaffer pens with the hard earned money. Now, in my early fifties I've started to enjoy writing with fountain pens at work, making notes in an old, second hand, worn out refillable Filofax organiser. And man... it feels good to write comfortably instead of typing on the crappy laptop I got from work :) . Well... keep up the spirit and good luck with your projects. Ik ben geabonneerd!!
Uitstekend Richard, thanks for dropping in! I agree on the writing experience of FP vs crappy laptops - no search function however
I wish I had the guts to carry my dip pen and ink well around with me everywhere.. Need me to sign something? No problem! Where's the nearest desk where I can set up?
Haha that would be a sight to behold.
Lol, I would love to see someone do that. If you regularly sign stuff you could always keep it at your desk for such occasions
Some artisans make dip pens with caps so you can carry them in your pocket, and with 5ml ink vials you can have your ink with you too ^^. I don't know if those pens are easily available online but there's a shop in Paris that have some handmade ("L'Ecritoire", St-Martin street). Could be a fix if you make your own ink mixing you'd be afraid to use in a fountain pen (eg: I added some Noodler's "Whiteness of the whale" to their "Black belted kingfisher" so that if I sign with it the original would be different than a high-end copy because of the glow-in-UV effect, but the densities of the 2 base inks are different and I wouldn't find it secure to use in a FP, so when I want to write with it I shake the vial and take a dip pen)
Geese feathers, anyone ?
@@semibiotic yes, me.
Correcting some things:
5:43 Most nibs are not interchangeable, you are holding the Lamy Safari which is renowned for it's many options when it comes to nibs and interchangeability, which is something almost only Lamy does because it's not that big of a deal for 99% of users. Nibs from Lamy cannot fit into pen handles from another brand and vice versa.
7:45 This one had a weird, incomplete conclusion, which didn't really give me a reason as to why I should use a fountain pen.
9:30 All that ink is not worth $20, it is worth much more, at least $100. The small one you held up is $8 before tax + shipping.
12:00 The most commonly recommended fountain pens are almost entirely plastic, and are recommended solely as "beginner" pens which people throw in a drawer or the trash once they're done with school or get better pens. On top of this, as I later mention, most models still rely on the old cartridge system which are disposable pieces of plastic.
12:55 A ballpoint Bic pen costs about $0.20/pen if you buy a 10 or 36 pack, or ~$0.10/pen if you buy a 144 or 240 pack (at most costing $32). Good ballpoint pens aren't even $0.40/pen. The Lamy AL-star is just shy of $40 and with the single disposable plastic cartridge of black ink it comes with, it doesn't last very long compared to a $6 10-pack of the best ballpoint pens.
Oh boy, where to start with this next one...
13:26 Ink does last a long time, but for someone who writes as much as you, $5/yr doesn't sound remotely believable. Actual investment price would depend on what people get, but let's go with the standard beginner outfit:
Lamy Safari - $37
Diamine Jet Black Ink 30ml - $8
LAMY Z 28 Converter - $5
Subtotal: $50
This doesn't even include the heftier paper needed to actually start writing as most paper today is designed with small, quick drying oil-based inks from ballpoint pens in mind. That's a whole other expense that is certainly an expense and can add up very fast. Again, because the world is designed around ballpoint pens, you can't just use your fountain pen on documents or sign receipts with it, even the driest inks are too wet. This means you have to buy dedicated paper for it to use just for writing or drawing, meaning it's strictly a hobby tool, and due to it mostly being for hobbyists these days who are always consuming and upgrading, it is absolutely NOT cheaper in the long run.
*INHALE* OKAY
Sorry, I'm both ADHD and autistic as hell and don't mean to sound insulting or type so much. I haven't even received my first fountain pen (just ordered it tonight) but I've learned a lot about them since my obsession began 4 months ago and some of these points ended up being misleading or just dead ends. I love fountain pens, I can say that before I've even had much if any real experience. I genuinely believe society should ditch ballpoint pens as the standard and return to fountain pens as it's objectively superior. Ballpoints were literally designed for quick work, sacrificing comfort and quality to obtain near instantaneous dry times.
Yes, people should get fountain pens. I agreed with a lot of the points, just about every point I didn't mention. All you really need to do to convince most people is show them some pretty ones and tell them it's way more comfortable and easy to use than ballpoints. Leave the rest to their imagination and let their curiosity get the better of them. Hell, tell America that Neil DeGrasse Tyson loves fountain pens, ~50k new users right there.
I got a cheap calligraphy FP from Hobby Lobby last year and while I liked the marks it dried out almost instantly (like after a few minutes even when writing) so I decided to put it aside until later. Fast forward to this Christmas Dad got us all decent quality FPs (standard nibs) so I got some Waterman Serenity Blue cartridges and found I really like writing with one. I put the same ink into my cheap pen and it turns out it was an issue with the ink, the pen works nicely now and gives me a variation in my art/writing pen collection I didn’t previously have. I can’t wait to start branching out into bottled ink and the colors I could get!
I love collecting and using fountain pens. This is an amazing hobby. Thanks for sharing your experience.
My first fountain pen in college was a lovely Pelikan 120 Merz & Krell. Ballpoint pens didn't write fast enough. Then I saw a Mont Blanc 149 in a stationery store and I obsessed over it for several months before I could afford it ($75 at the time). A student's life can be hard on pens and eventually the 149 needed a rebuild. Now I think my favorite is a Parker 75 Sterling silver Ciselle. Damn-near bulletproof, the ciselle pattern offers a non-slip grip, it's very elegant in an understated way, and sports a 14 carat gold nib (same as the 149 but smaller). Next I expect to purchase a Pilot Custom 823 and a white Pelikan 400. It's a sickness. BTW - TWSBI is a great newcomer with a great variety of pens and excellent customer service.
I bought a pilot stargazer as a student , my first fountain pen. 9 years later still going strong
Bought my first fp while attending university back in the 70’s-80’s. Nothing compares to the many attributes of using one right to this very day. Recently bought a Waterman Carene and simply love it. Great video btw! 😊
You mentioned the quality of handwriting using a fountain pen. Using a ballpoint creates a lot of drag on paper so my handwriting deteriorates. With a fountain pen, (I leaned cursive using dip pens and the Palmer method) my handwriting automatically becomes a thing of beauty. I have had positive comments on my handwriting observed by others based when I used a fountain pen.
I notice you haven’t posted a video in a while. I hope this doesn’t mean you’re giving up on the channel. Your videos are good. I have close to 300 fountain pens so I’m some what serious about the hobby. I have followed many fountain pen channels; most I don’t follow anymore. Personally I’m not crazy about pen reviews-if I’m interested in a pen, I simply do a search on TH-cam and look at the reviews. I’m more interested in fountain pen care and use, including inks-I do love ink reviews. 😊 Handwriting, and paper, are important to me too. Your channel addresses these things so I hope you continue your channel.
Hi Frank, thanks for leaving a comment, my turn. I haven't, although it might have looked like it!
I can relate to your observation. I like to focus more on fundamentals than anything else, and your suggestions are very helpful to me, so thanks.
Also, don't mind me noticing that you have a lot of pens.
Mission Ink - A lot of my pens are inexpensive that I buy to gift. Might make a new pen buddy. 😊
Dang, 300 pens you should think about donating one to me so I can start my own collection 😂😂
I love using my fountain pen now I have proper ink for it through videos like this it helped me find and get rid of the cheap ink that's often found in stores before I was having alot of trouble with my pen soon as I changed the ink it writes so much smoother it's less tiring on the hand less cramping more flowing looks and reads nicer and makes you focus on each letter more perfecting its shape with each stroke
I love my fountain pens and my life has gotten considerably more interesting since I adopted them into my lifestyle! Appreciate your channel!
Why do I use fountain pens? Barely know where to even start. So, in no particular order: I grew up with them - school in Germany meant writing with fountain pens from second grade on. Although I don't have particularly pretty handwriting, I came to appreciate it - for some reason, taking notes with a fountain pen seemed to translate into remembering them well later on, even without re-reading. Today, in the age of typing and swiping, all handwriting is cool. It's local patriotism - I come from the region where Pelikan pens are made, so that's the brand I use. Fountain pen writing is recognizable as fountain pen writing - every line has life, depth, shading, flow; and there are no impressions because you write basically effortlessly, without pressure. Even if you aren't an artist, you can feel like one while writing with a fountain pen - you don't need to think about pressure, you can just do as many and as wide and fanciful loops and flourishes as you want. It's like swinging a tiny little paintbrush that does not run dry. You can even use force - apply pressure for thicker lines. Fountain pens are beautiful, and you have all the choice you want - they are playful, elegant, distinguished, imposing, light, heavy, colorful, metal, plastic, resin, steel, gold, simple, decorated, etc. They require some maintenance now and then, but there is little you cannot solve with some water and a Kleenex. You can't be afraid of the occasional ink stain, but that's no problem if you stick with water-soluble ink, and if you don't, a little ink on your hand is a mark of distinction!
I never thought of using different colors for different projects or different days/timeframes. Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
I love pens and notebooks. I love writing. I write since I was 11. But I haven’t thought of that about fountain pens. I’m glad I subscribed and found your channel.
I am just getting into the fountain pen thing still learning. I found one of my sons pen he had in high school and it would NOT write at all which made me very frustrated, so I am on a quest to find out how to fix it. I love listening to you , keep on posting thank you.
I also have a Shaeffer Targa Slim and they are amazing! Gold nib in bold and its suuuuper smooth. Only problem is using converters in it, It will only fit a kaweco mini converter
Love your video! You have just convinced me to start writing with a fountain pen. Thank you for your video.
WOW! I'm impressed. I love fountain pens and I can also look at maps for hours on end. Knowing this, I subscribed immediately. I agree with you on all counts. THANKS!
Yes! #13 - they are fun to handle and to write or draw with.
i js started using fountain pens and this vid gives me mor reason to use it more often. ty for your interesting content. U just earned a sub
I’d love to see an ink tour and a fountain pen collection tour!
just getting into using a fountain pen, I love the colour purple, so I got some purple gel pens to try out, they are good-ish, but then I saw an extra fine nib (0.34mm) cheap fountain pen with purple ink, and so far I think I am hooked, and as you say they write effortly and are so so much easyer to use
Wow, thanks man! You made me a convert. I was looking for refillable ballpoint pen and wanting something to have a good pen to write checks or sign documents. That’s when I considered getting a fountain pen.
I am new in the fontain world an I love it
Just getting into fountain pens, and am looking for my second.
Learning how to write with one was pretty easy, as I used to practice calligraphy. Still have those pens in storage somewhere. 😁
Dude!!! Fountain pens look good and i will let them speak for themselves. Nice idea right there. I agree with everything you said.
Great video buddy. Really enjoyed the cander and the delivery. As a guy who has used ballpoint religiously since secondary school and has terrible handwriting i will definitely be checking out the rest of your videos. 👍
Yes I moved to fountain pens for environmental reasons, great video 😊
I’m just getting back to using my fountain pens on a daily basis and I’d like to know where you’re getting them, and the ink, so inexpensively. I bought a Scrievener which I really like to use alongside my old Sheaffer and it was over $80. A bottle of Waterman ink is around $18. Far more expensive than the throwaway ballpoint pens but so much more satisfying and aesthetically pleasing.
Although I have quite a collection of fp's, and inks, I don't agree that bp's are inferior. A good quality bp - fitted with a Schmidt Easy flow refill can be used at the same angle as a fp and with the same pressure. I agree with most of what you say but, maybe, you have bought into a narrow- minded view which confuses dispossible bp's with high quality refillable ones. That said, I do prefer my fp's, but occasionally, I enjoy using a BP or pencil.
I've ALWAYS loved fountain pens. I recently got back into fountain pens after finding some cheap-o retractable ones online... & doooowwwwnnn the Rabbit Hole I went! I've gotten quite a few different inexpensive ones just to try out different nibs & filling mechanisms to get an idea of what I like & treat myself to "the good stuff" periodically when I find something I love. I'm planning to get my "grail" pen when I get my bonus from work this year... But I use many different ones on a daily basis. Never going back to ballpoint!
I loved learning about this! I am a convert to this and I am looking forward to learning more.
Just found your channel. Very enjoyable video. I had an experience where some of my mail was stolen including checks I had written. Since I use fountain pens, the bank was able, very easily, to identify the forgery and return my money. Another good reason to use fountain pens and indelible ink.
Thank you very much for these amazing content.😊🙏🎶 Your advices mean too much for me. Bests 👊🏻
Very welcome Hakan
This was an awesome video. Very well done! May I ask what the gorgeous pens were that you showed off?
Excellent! “Write on”❣️✍️❤👏👏😊 Thanks.
Ja, du hast Recht - ich habe jetzt 10 verschidene Füllfederhalter und viel Spaß damit. Ich bin Autor und schreibe Bücher, natürlich mit meinem Computer als Schreibwerkzeug. ABER wenn ich mich informiere und techerchiere für eine neue Buch-Idee, dann schraibe ich mit einem Füllfederhalter meine Recherche-Ergebisse auf und dabei überlege ich, für wen mein Buch genügend Interesantheit und Spaß bringt und eben auch Interesse weckt, mein Buch zu kaufen! ... Grüsse aus Deutschland von Roland W. Schulze
Amazing video! Thanks for sharing!
Cheers from Brazil!
I still got a pair of those disposable Zebras I started with, got hooked but always been a blue ink person, they're something else so I'm moving up soon to something less single-use so to speak.
i have good fountain pens and i also love those zebras. my favourite ballpoint is a zebra
Loving your channel!
Thanks for the great video. I'm looking to purchase my first fountain pen in the $50 to $200 range. I was wondering if you could make a couple recommendations of a few of your favorites? Thanks!
I found the 1.75 playback speed setting on this to be most effecient. Great info, thanks!
Even at 2x it's so slow
I just stopped video at 3:00 because it was going way to slow.
Hi, I just stumbled across your channel as I'm starting down the delightful fountain pen rabbit hole. I'm waiting for a Twsbi Eco with a fine nib. Can you tell me why I would want a more advanced level pen if I don't do calligraphy? I write a daily journal. My creative writing is done on a laptop. So far anyway!
Great Post! I love my pens
You explain the very soul of a pen.
Great Video, you bring many different good points in the Video, after a break of 20 jears i have return to Fountain Pen :)
I went years unable to write due to medical problems. In the few months Ive have gotten into fountain pens Ive written a book and on my second short story, although the second is quickly becoming a book.
I guess all of us are compulsive 🙂 especially those who have the audacity to start using a quality fountain pen! Love the simplicity of your videos.. keep up the good work brother 👍
you remind me of my social studies teacher, you look and sound a little like him which I think is cool! i also like your videos! just got into using a fountain pen, my fountain pen should be arriving in a hour or so after posting this comment and you will help me a lot with using them!
I'm glad it's worked, I was going for that!
25 years old here. My handwriting is ok... for a nine grader. When I started my high school freshman year we were told to purchase a laptop for studying. As a result my handwriting development stagnated and now that I am a grown man it's really embarrassing. I decided to purchase a fountain pen to force myself developed my handwriting.
I have only one reason: because I want to! Who can resist that title, though?! I love fountain pens and have more pens, than my need for them 😁
I don’t know much about pens, and I imagine there are some sort of “containers” to carry fountain pens safely.
I use mainly cartridge pens, and the only fountain pen that I would be almost 100% confident wouldn’t leak in my purse is my disposable Bics! I would love to hear if there are others. It has a good snap-on lid, and unlike ones like my Shaeffer, don’t unscrew themselves in my bag if I haven’t been using them for a while.
If I want to be super careful I put them in a Ziploc bag. I’m sure there are classier ways 😁
I've heard Bics CAN actually leak as well, although I've never seen it. Cartridge pens leak less often than eyedroppers. The more air inside the ink container, the easier it leaks...
Some pens are known for not leaking. I have a very old Parker 51 that has never leaked and I carry it everywhere.
Great video! Thank you!
Amazing, im gonna fish out one of my old pens
Already ordered one, just binge watching fountain pen videos to make up for the eternal wait.
I love fountain pens and I love you :)🥰
Je hebt volledig gelijk, op alle punten.
Bedankt, al zijn vulpennen vrij gemakkelijk te verdedigen.
I used fountain pens when studied. Still have my old Parker. Now I use ball-point gel pens and they are much better than fountain pens for everyday use and refills are not so expensive. Last time I bought a cheap fountain pen, but more for fun than real everyday use.
I love fountain pens for everyday use but use a pencil as well for measurements etc.
Good & to the point! Am a new fan !
Nice thoughts!
And in the background, unplussed in its pink bookcloth, rests a Kafka . . .
Good and informative video.
Even though I always found a fountain pen to be more work and less flexible.
To me is that it's easier on my hands, it's very pretty (both because of inks choice & pens) and it's ecological since you're not discarding pens every so often. Also, many inks are vegetable based so they're not impactful on the environment & bottles can be refilled or reused.
Very true Silvia, thanks for dropping by
Keep up videos like this, and you'll have me shopping for a fountain pen any day now. Recommendations for a "first-timer"? What was it you said? A Pilot Metropolitan? Let me know please.
I really enjoy the Lamy Al Star - still use it daily. Twsbi Eco (broad) I find ugly, still use it daily because it’s such a great writer. Pilot Metropolitan is a good pen though a bit more boring.
can you do a video how to better travel (by air) with a fountain pen (Montblanc is what I have).
12:24 what to do with the glass/plastic bottle of ink
it is the only thing why i am reluctant to buy a fountain pen
I will worry about that once I have finished a bottle.
I can think of another reason to use fountain pens,, for the "save the planet" category: they can be used instead of highlighter pens for people who stubbornly (and wrongly!) persist to use ball points. Here is how: all highlighter pens use water-based ink, so that they will not smudge the oil-based ink they are highlighting. All fountain pen inks are water-based, so all we have to do is pick one that is bright and probably yellow, like the Firefly ink produced by Noodler's. Then one needs a proper writing instrument, as it would be tiresome to use a regular fine nib fountain pen to draw over text to highlight. You can use Pilot Parallel, they come in a variety of width, I chose the 3.8 mm, it works well, but another option would be the 'Monster Arabic Nib" made by Bobby Nib (sold on eBay), both choices about the same price.
What ink is he using that is so cheap? I would like to buy it.
Thanks for a really good and interesting video. Subscribed. You make a lot of good points about the advantages of using fountain pens. I am a writer, who drafts all of his work in longhand, but tend to write in ballpoint (a refillable Lamy 2000, mostly), fineliner or pencil. There are two reasons for this. First, fountain pens are hard to use. You have to think about angling the nib and holding the pen just so. The Lamy Safari is un-useable thanks to its grip. When I write, I need to be able to concentrate on what I am trying to write, and not how to use the pen. Second, if you pause for while when using a fountain pen, then it usually dries out or hard starts! They are not very good for note taking in meetings for this reason. Pencils are best. That said, I write letters to friends using a fountain pen and enjoy all of the benefits of fountain pens you listed. Thanks and good luck with the channel.
Being a mild pen nerd, anyone buying multi-packs of ballpoint probably won't take up FP's. I prefer mid-quality ball points with ink cartridges, which I kept the same pen for multiple years using several packs of cartridges. Fountain pens are the next step for people like me.
I just got one with a couple of ink cartridges unopened ones I just learned how to put the ink cartridge into the pen but I have watched the videos of how to get the flow working and even how to flush it if it doesn't flow I've done them and still the pen doesn't work? Any other suggestions I've set the nib in water for hrs even but nothing works?
He may be able to address this, but I have seen videos on how to tweak the name itself. Maybe that would help?
I have problems with one pen in particular being very skippy. I soaked it and ran tapwater through it which helped, but the main problem I noticed is that the cartridge would seem to come free while in the barrel. If you’re using a cartridge pen you may want to check for that?
Hi Rob, rather late response but I might be able to help.
I have a video on this that you could try:
th-cam.com/video/blh4W0HgwT8/w-d-xo.html
Also, make sure to really push the cartridge in there, it might take some force to install them properly.
I also have one or two pens that continue skipping whatever I do (looking at you Parker).
i'm glad Deryck's doing fine post Sum 41.
Sub'd, just off the back of this video! 👍🏽 👍🏽
I want to get a fountain pen but i hear it writes wetter than normal ballpoint/gel pen which means it easily can be smear or worst, bleed through the paper which is a huge no for me.
I watch this as I try out my new set of jinhao sharks. Haha. I needed a set of pens for all the colours you get in a bic for school. I lost a nice pen at school I'm a teacher don't want anything I'll get upset about loosing
You miss the most impotant thing, the pleasure! Also ir can be come a form Of mediátion. The aventure to sit down and write can be very revealing of your ínter fellings. To throgh some ink in a piece Of paper can be very relaxing. But above all, the unshamed pleasure.
Wow!!!”
4:30 "A bit nerdy" yes it is. But you're not the only one 🙂
My handwriting without one is awful but they somehow force me to write neater. I can't explain it but they just do
Spot on
Fountain pens are cool
Yes I agree very much.
Where do you find bottled ink for $3.50 a bottle? Man, Ive seriously been over-paying.
You forgot to tell they are good for children development
My big gripe with ball points is they stop working way before they run out of sludge.
Not all but most will indeed, what a waste
I use fountain pens because they are fun. But, the advent of multipart forms, where you have to press hard, killed off the general use of fountain pens. The advent of computerized forms, has allowed fountain pens to make a comeback to general use. Regards, KC.
I’m the only one at work that uses a fountain pen, yet I’ve had at least 3 of them go missing…
If you're going to develop a habit of collecting something, it might as well be a relatively expensive item. lol
collecting pens is cheaper than collecting watches. ;)
I have several pens I like, for different reasons.. though I probably will not need many more.
Miss your videos. Where are you dude? Hope you're well
Thanks, I appreciate it. I'm busy working on all kinds of things. I have made a couple of new videos which will be coming out shortly.
*I AM A BELIEVER*
People keep trying to bully me because I use fountain pens, but when I ask them to list the advantages of using a ballpoint pen and I list the advantages of using fountains, they just stop talking 😂
Your eyes are hypnotic
Mostly subjective. And, for me, video lacks of closeups for illustration (f/ex. different nibs, and writing examples).
I use a fountain pen almost exclusively.
Me too, I have no use for ballpoints
U SAID IN THE LONG RUN IT'S CHEAPER, BUT WE KNOW IT'S NOT, U KEEP GETTING MORE FOUNTAIN PENS XD
So true, but it is nice to have variety, I got four pens, two inks, and I'm only 8 months into the hobby lol.
Thanks for the videos, I am a little intrigued… where are you from? You talk about bucks, yet some other expressions mislead me…. And my English is declining to truly tell… I have bought my second pen in part because of your videos. First one was a gift…