Should You Only Keep 3 Fountain Pens Inked Up at a Time?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 พ.ย. 2021
- Drew thinks that it's best to only keep 3 fountain pens inked up at any given time. In this video, he gives his reasons why, and recommends some ways you can try it!
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I’m a professor and I write all day long on a with a desk camera using my fountain pens. It takes me about 5 pens to get through the week. So I ink them up on Sunday and then I don’t have to worry about refilling my pens during the week. So I keep five in rotation.
Wow! That's a lot of writing! - Drew
Philip!!
@@Gouletpens Yep same here, I carry 5 pens with different colors of ink in a Lochby tool roll.
I am using seven so I can understand you.
I have a Levenger Write & Read glasses case that I'm using as a pen case. It holds 5 pens. I need a pen with black ink for all the writing I do, one inked up with red ink for editing, and three accent colors for color coding my notes and writing.
My rule is that I only keep as many pens inked up as I have cases or pen sleeves for. And then I definitely don't just buy more cases and pen sleeves. I definitely don't do that.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
You definetely don't 😂
Definitely…..
You would never do that…….
I have about 12 pens inked up at a time. I’m a student and like to use different pens & colors to organize my notes like title, subtitle, definition, highlights, etc.
I’m just getting into fountain pens for planning and bullet journaling. I color code all my stuff based on specific family members and categories. I was just wondering if 12 pens would be too many so this makes me feel better and not crazy.
I must be on "team Brian"... I just counted 24 pens inked-up in my office (although one is due to be cleaned today, so the total will be 23 by the end of the day)!
Finally! A voice of reason to counter Drew's lunacy.
@@paullambert7840 🤣🤣🤣
I’m with you on this one, Drew. Although my policy is “no more than four pens inked”. That means sometimes is just one or two but never more than four. That way I get to enjoy each and every pen in my collection and cleaning is not a daunting task. Thanks for all you do.
I'm with you on this, Drew. With only three pens inked at any one time, you can spend more quality time with each pen and not have ink sitting around for too long in any one pen.
I had the entirety of my humble 9-pen collection inked up for a while and it got so overwhelming that I now have one and the rest are clean xD
I've been keeping a higher number of pens inked, currently around a dozen. I make sure to rotate between them regularly, using a different pen as my "pen of the day" every day. The main reason is that I have gotten a lot of really attractive inks lately, and I want to use them all! I've lowered the number of pens I keep inked, over time, but I still struggle to keep it super low.
I tend to keep only 2-4 pens inked up at any given time. Anything beyond 4 honestly makes me feel anxious, as there are then too many for me to keep track of and concentrate my enjoyment of. There are usually two that I write with regularly throughout the day and one as my "purse" pen; sometimes a 4th stored with my checkbook.
The three-pen system is the result of a stroke of genius (or just a stroke?). I also ink just three pens and keep them in a three-pen case for manageability reasons, but I rotate all three pens at once. But I do--hush--have a pen dedicated to my 3-year journal and one dedicated to my daily planner. Both sit in pen loops attached to those journals and I will use the same two pens for the whole year.
Yeah, technically I keep three inked up that go everywhere with me - but also keep one inked up that stays one my desk in case I forget to bring my bag to work. - Drew
@@Gouletpens So you actually have 4 pens inked up..
Guys, I think he have caught him in a redhanded LIE!!!
Heresy I say! 🤣
@@johannesmuller2956 LOL! Actually sounds like Drew's 4th pen is a spare, so it would be a bit like saying my car has five wheels though one is always in the trunk. But we should reframe Drew's position as disciplined inking.
@@edreilly6674 haha Yeah I know... ;)
I also ink up only three pens one for the purse and two at home with different inks and nibs, but now that I’ve discovered all of these new wonderful inks, that’s going to change!
Three pens. ONLY three pens? There's something WRONG with you, Drew. (Walks away shaking his head in befuddlement.)
@TheNightowl001 🤣🤣🤣 I'm right there with you. lol. Three. That's like having a whole bag of m&m's and only eating one.
I currently have 16 pens inked... and yet I basically agree with you. My situation is driven by my love of trying new inks, so this is just the only way I can get through a batch of samples in a timely fashion. But if I wanted to be practical and focus on enjoying the pens, and my ink choices were more stable, I'd definitely aim for closer to three at a time.
Ideally and practically, I think I'd aim for about four pens:
The BB italic I keep inked with a different color each month for journal headings.
A pen that's quick to cap and uncap for taking quick book notes and marking off to-dos.
A pen capable of writing very fine in tight spaces.
And my Kaweco just so I always have a small tossaround pen I can drop in a pocket.
Of the two that are only loosely defined, one would probably almost always be the fine 3776 because it's just solid all around and does an excellent job of reverse-writing an EF line, and the other one would be vintage.
Another pro to the three pen philosophy for listing/calendars--one is your listing color, one is your completion and/or notation color, and the third is perhaps, as in my case, my "push to tomorrow" color. Choosing just three colors isn't too hard and it consistently looks organized and clean every time.
Great idea! I have been trying to figure out a system like this myself to not get overwhelmed. I'm going to try the three pen now system now and see how it works out. Thanks!
I agree, three pens is about my limit. At this moment, I have a Parker 51 (Green), a Platinum 3776 (Blue), and a Pilot Falcon (Red). I do a lot of voluntary writing during my day and switch between these pens and colors often.
I agree wholeheartedly Drew! Generally I only keep about 2, 3 at the most, pens inked up at one time and they're just mini pens I leave out on my desk for note taking. The third one will be a nicer one for cards or something. I don't write as much as I used to write.
Since I primarily use my pens for daily journaling, I settled on six. My rational being, that gives me the opportunity to write with each pen five days each month. And, still makes cleaning manageable!
I do the same! I only have three pens that I use at a time: professional, fun, and personal :D Also agree with having a smaller carrying case that physically limits you!
Great wisdom and well said :)
I am trying to get mine down to 5 inked up, including use for journaling and work. Right now I think I have around 20 inked up. That is because there are many I used exclusively for work, but still it's way, way too many. My goal is 5 at a time, and my goal date is by the end of the year. So I've not been inking up new pens, and trying to run through the ones that are close to empty. I needed this video.
So many different experiences and viewpoints! That's the thing I love about fountain pens - you can really adapt it to you. My approach is similar to Drew's but with a higher pen count! I keep about 20 pens inked, and clean them out when I notice I'm no longer wanting to use that particular pen-ink combo. These mostly stay at home, since I work from home a lot, and if I go out to work, I take a three pen case of that day's favourites. This gives me the variety I need as well as taking care of my pens in a manageable way. Best of both worlds!
Exactly! Adaptable to whatever works for you! - Drew
Now I have a justification to buy a three-pen case. Thanks!
I only have three in rotation. Eyedropped Platinum Preppy for everyday use. And my Lamy Safari and Pilot Kakuno in different ink colors for journal writing. I like to get ~fancy~ with my journals 😂
I’m with you Drew. I ink up 3 pens and keep them in a pen holder like yours. Makes fountain pen life workable and enjoyable.
An excellent minimalist perspective by Drew! My philosophy of inking is harmonious with his. It hinges on how we use our pens. I use them at work for pratical, workplace reproduction technology purposes: good photocopying ink that doesn't bleed through execrable copy paper. I use them for journaling where all I ask is that it behave well on the books I purchased without complete assurance that they would handle fountain pens. Some assurance. I use them for correspondence, where I can choose my paper and pen and ink with abandonment. So . . . Black; Blue-Black; Blue; Suitable nib for the paper; Gold nibs; Funky inks; and, just in case. Seven.
i need to start doing this, great tip, thanks!
Hi Drew! Good to see you. I tried it your way but want more variety in ink and pen so I have a case with ten pens I rotate. To remember the ink I write it on a paper and keep it in my case. So true about cleaning. But would rather get out all the cleaning tools for three pens than one. And I do clean them very good. Thanks for these little videos too. I looked for the answer for this question and couldn't find it. Why do inks start out dark and fade as you write? BLESSINGS
I have a case of 6 . I think that is ideal. Just enough to play with different color inks, but not too much where it is a chore to clean them. I highly agree need a barrier or holder system.
I'm close to this. Though I struggle with throwing away ink when I'm sick of it, and so usually keep a pen in rotation until I've used up the filling. So I will go up to four or maybe five pens from time to time.
I agree! I keep 2 inked, that way I'm not so overwhelmed at cleaning time. I also don't fill the converter (or cartridge) all the way, so they get rotated out quicker. It's fun to pick out the next pen and ink and enjoy the variety in my collection.
Drew, that was very interesting and sounds quite functional for you. I usually limit myself to 10 inked pens at a time, which is the number that fits in the top shelf of my pen case. Since I have my office in my home, I don't "carry" pens every day, so I feel I can have a few more pens inked at a time. I also have a variety of colors that I use each day. It takes me about 2 weeks to go through the ink in my pens. But whether I have used all the ink or not, all of my 10 pens get cleaned and stored, then I rotate in another 10 and ink them. Also, I do not use inks that are really difficult to clean, and I only use permanent inks infrequently.
I've been a two pen guy for a long time, only recently bumped it up to 3. So I keep 3 inked at all times now. I'm on your side!
This is brilliant - a simple system that can work! Thanks!
Good luck! - Drew
Very good idea. I should limit myself... 3 inked up plus 2 Kaweco for the pocket. Fair deal.
Hey Drew, I got to admit I failed after a few days. But stumbling over this video again after like half a year, I feel like I should give it another try.
I tried very very hard to follow Drew's advice. And I managed to do it. For one month. But then I caved. Still, I managed to keep to just 7. I'll try harder next month, Drew.
Thanks Drew. This is really helpful. I used to use the "Brian method" of having lots of pens inked up at the same time, but that doesn't work well for me. So...... here's what I'm going to try. I have 2 pens inked for sketching...... and those always stay inked. For "regular writing" for every day stuff and in my daily journal, I'm going to do the 3 pen system. I just received my turquoise Coozy 3 -pen holder thanks to your recommendation. Thanks for the idea !!!
I have somewhere between 50 and 60 inked at any one time, divided between a bulging case of maybe 30 I take to work for my own amusement, and the rest which stay at home. Many are cheap pens, generally Chinese, but some are a bit more upmarket. I keep a log of what's in each and, in most cases, its nib size since that's often not obvious. I know this is far too many and indicates a problem, with the main one being that my nicest pens rarely get used. Those are a Lamy 2000, Elite/E95S, Custom 74 and a Capless/VP. Maybe one of these days I'll flush out all the mountain of others & just use that group of four lovelies as my inked pens. Realistically I fear pigs will fly first.
I use my fountain pens for drawing and have narrowed it down to 3 as well. EF for fine details, F for general and M for filling in larger areas. (All Pilot)
I keep six inked at a time, but like you, the number is based on how many my case will hold. It definitely makes life easier to ink fewer and just clean as needed. I never have a “pen cleaning day”, since I clean and swap as soon as a pen is emptied. It also helps make each cleaning easier when the ink isn’t allowed to dry up in the pen.
Yes! The case is a big part of it. Much like a purse or backpack, it'll always end up full! - Drew
I saw the pen cast episode where this was debated and decided to give it a try because previously I was using Brian’s method and well let’s say there was a lot of dried out pens and a lot of wasted ink. I also combined with with having a pen of the day. I am a student taking notes and found switching pens mid lecture difficult. With the combination of these two systems I have almost completely written 2 piston fillers empty (previously I almost couldn’t get through a converter without changing or having to clean). This system has been a revelation for my fountain pen use and it’s all thanks to Drew 👍🏻
Yay! That's awesome to hear! - Drew
It sounds like you need different pens. The worst of my pens will go at least a month without drying out. I also have some cheap pens, primarily the Pilot Petit1, that seem to never dry out. They go months without going dry. I had one that went over a year. Platinum pens can go two years, or longer, without going dry.
For that matter, my TWSBI Eco and 580ALR pens never seem to dry out, either. I easily go through a full fill without have a hard start, and I've gone through several fills without having to clean a pen.
I never had a problem changing pens at a meeting or a lecture. I often change because I want to use a different color of ink. My padfolio holds more than enough paper to last me a week, and it holds four pens. Just slip one in, and pull a different one out.
Before I had this padfolio, I carried pens in my shirt pocket. This made it very easy to change pens.
This is why I love demonstrators!
Currently, I only have 3 fountain pens to ink up, so that solves that problem. ;-) Who knows what birthday/holiday presents will bring...maybe I will receive a fourth pen, so I can switch one out of the rotation!
I am also a 3 inked pen person, it just works for me. However I only have 2 currently as I have an Opus 88 in the mail so on my ink switching day (today) i only inked up 2 today in anticipation. My Galen leather folio holds my 3 and my token rollerball nicely.
When I was in person for classes I usually kept 3-4 pens inked up. One or two in black depending on ink capacity or how full the first black one was or on nib size. If I had a black in a medium then I would also have a black in a fine or extra fine since I wasn’t always writing on pen friendly paper. Then I had a blue pen. Then I had a usually a red pen or I would use that one to try out new inks. I didn’t have a three pen case I had a typical pencil pouch because I also had to carry a pencil, a regular ball point pen, highlighters, post it tabs. I found that works best for me and I usually would go a week in between needing to fill them. When I took a creative writing class and I was hand writing stuff daily I would fill my black pens every other day.
I second this strategy. I like the comforting idea of having most of my pens cleaned, stored and ready to be inked at my whim.
I wish I could join your faction, Drew. But you post your pens and I'm a non-poster, therefore our respective parties still have a lot of negotiations to do before we could find an mutual agreement. 😄
Fair enough. I'm sure we can meet in the middle somewhere. Lol - Drew
I'd have a hard time having only three inked up at a time. Right now I'm at twelve out of fourteen ready to write. It's easy to remember what ink is in what pen with the help of of a ridiculously complicated multi page spreadsheet.
Great video with great rationale. My sweet spot for number of pens is six. I'm a writer and my first drafts are done with fountain pen and notebook so I go through my pens rather quickly but six keeps me from having to clean more than one or two at a time
I keep six in a Nock case. There's also a little notebook in there for writing ideas (I write fiction as a hobby and hopefully soon, a job) and in the back I keep a record of what is filled with which ink. (I have far too many blues in nearly identical shades) The only time I find multiple pens needing cleaning is when i'm sampling inks - to control variables I use the same Pilot Metros and Clairefontaine paper, so the only variable is the ink. But sometimes it means the three of them need to be cleaned and put away after.
I recently acquired a glass dip pen and I'd like to change over the process, it just means resampling a hundred or so different inks ^^
Yes! This is my rule, too. I allow myself up to 4, but usually have 3 inked. I don't fill them up all the way, because I like to switch them out often. Don't really keep them in a case anymore, since I work from home now. They sit in an antique crystal tray on my desk, lol.
I have felt intrigued by your talk of the three-pen system, Drew, but in this video you reveal what I think is the key that cinches it, the three-pen case! I think that could work for me moving forward, but I don't have the crucial case with which to restrain myself. Good thing I know where I could go find one...! :)
I'm with you, but for a different reason. If I have more than 2 or 3 pens inked, I can't seem to settle down and just use one pen through a writting session - be it journaling, letters or getting work done. I start feeling aggitated and want to switch pens mid-stream. Like someone continually tapping me on the shoulder waiting their turn. Just 2 or 3 is more peaceful. Just sayin'......
I totally agree with you Drew! Once again, because I also love brown pens. Hi!! 👋 from Chile 🇨🇱
Hello! - Drew
I do this too. ❤️
I fall in Brian's camp. I have made a real effort to keep my inked pen number to below 20. I know it's crazy but at least it's not like when I had 30+ pens inked up. I have a small number of always inked pens that never are stored and always have the same ink in them, and the remainder are rotation pens and rotation inks.
I love that, I'm crazy but at least I'm not as crazy as I used to be😆
Drew, you inspired me. I am now down to just one inked pen.
Wow! That's a big deal! - Drew
I agree, this way I actually use all the pens, and get a variety by trading out a pen every week or two, I also have that exact same case!
I ink 2 at a time. One for my EDC, which is usually my Pilot Decimo with a fine nib. Always a blue ink thats water resistant. Usually a Noodler's ink. The second is my journaling pen. Inked with whatever feels right for that fill.
I only own two pens and two inks (as of now) and only recently started keeping both inked up with their respective ink
I usually have 5 pens inked up. (Maybe because I only own 5)
I have 2 twsbi eco's, one with Diamine majestic blue and one with aurora borealis.
The other one is a Parker pen which used to have blue quink in it but I replaced it just yesterday with j herbin perle noir! I plan on using this pen for journaling.
The other two pens are my fine and extra fine kaweco sport pens. I use both with black ink for drawing exclusively and Sometimes take one out with me for notetakimg
I came into this video ready to (playfully) judge you for your choices, but one of the three pens you had was the TWSBI 580 ALR Prussian Blue, so you are correct. Especially if you have Robert Oster Fire and Ice in it.
I tend to stick to four or five. I don't have many pens, but I do like having different colours. Usually two basic colours, and maybe two others with cooler colours.
So blue, black, and or red, then green, pink, violet, etc.
Currently saving for a Noodler's Ahab that my local shop stocks now.
Writegear. Love em.
I'm just starting and I only have 4 pens with a 5th on the way as well as 16 ink colors. I want to have a variety to chose from and I use them all enough that they shouldn't dry out. Once I get my samples I'll get another bottle or two and a pen or two and see how that goes!
This a really great idea. Since most of my pens are now dried out. This is a very implacable method. Thanks
It works for me! - Drew
I take two pens with me to work each day and give a lot of thought to which pen I want to take and what colors I want to write with, so this plan won’t work for me. But it is certainly something worth thinking about and I’ll bet this is a great idea for many people.
I keep more like 20-24 inked. I admire those who only ink three, but I can't manage that. Cleaning is not an issue though. I never batch clean; instead, I clean as I empty and clean one pen at a time, usually while having my morning coffee. That makes it a pleasant ritual, and it's easy to find a place to set it to dry. I also do partial fills of converter-fill pens so that I can change inks more often. I do think 24 is too many and am trying to cut back a little, but new pens and new inks keep me wanting to fill up more.
You have developed a cogent and reasonable methodology for keeping track of your ready-to-write pens. As for me... nah... not gonna happen. I thrive in an atmosphere of semi-controlled chaos. Great video as always... WTH
I love that quote! Semi-controlled chaos. Hey, that's pretty perfect for the here-and-now! - Drew
🤣🤣🤣
I have three Opus 88s with Pilot #15 PO, WA and C nibs in them(with the help of Flexible Nib Factory housings) and the same three inks; that covers every nib need I have. Then I have a Custom 823 that I put a FM nib into which always has iron gall ink in it in case I need something waterproof, and a Conid Regular with a BB with whatever ink I fancy. The only other pens I own are all 3B ink blunderbusses and I just pick one to ink up to write a letter or do calligraphy from time to time. They usually projectile vomit their whole ink capacity in one to three days, so they get cleaned quickly.
My carrier is about the same size of yours, but I have 12 pens in there with a range of ink colors. Each pen is associated with an ink and doesn’t really get ink swapped. I write A LOT for work. I only use fountain pens so every Sunday night, I have to take the time to clean/reink my pens for the week, usually for anywhere from 9-10 pens needing it. If I only carried three, that would carry me only thru Tuesday afternoon. But you do you. That’s the beauty of it.
A three inked pens limit!? You're a monster! A MONSTER!
🤣🤣🤣
I only have 4 pens but I have different ink in each and constantly use them. I am planning on getting about 5 more and will likely have them all inked at once since I love using multiple colors and line weights for writing and drawing. I understand the thought behind your limit but I don’t think it would work for me.
I tend to gravitate to that same amount of pens inked, between 2-4. It's not as if I have a lot of options to choose from, so that probably helps.
I know people tend to buy a lot more new pens and ink than I do, but I first started writing with a fountain pen because of ecological reasons and as much as it tempts me to go wild with the purchases it'd be counterproductive.
Ink bottles go a long way and I want to actually get through them, there's something satisfying about that. I also only ever swap a pen once it's running dry for a similar reason. Since I mostly use long cartridges I refill manually (for the bigger ink capacity) they stay with me for a long time.
I thought deeply about my pen rotation and I have settled on 12 pens inked up. On each day I bring six pens to work. Normally I choose two flexible nibs, one medium nib, two fine nibs (blue and black inks), one specialty nib like the Naginata-Togi. Then after two to three months, I choose another 12 pens for the next rotation.
Anyways, it’s great to hear your insight, I’ll consider to have fewer pens for each day, though that won’t be easy due to the magnificence of each fountain pen. Cheers.
I usually have 9 inked up at any one time with varying nibs and inks. When I travel I either use the 3 pen case with 3 different inks different inks and nibs or my 2 pen case that has one with blue and blue 1 with black. Both are med nib Pelican brand.
I'm not great at this system, but it also has the benefit of allowing you to take breaks from certain pens and kind of discover them anew after a few weeks or months.
Definitely Team Brian here. I keep about a dozen faves inked with a variety of colors and nib sizes. They get used regularly, and don't dry up or need cleaning. Pens that don't get used...color is out of favor or just not that fun to write with compared to current faves, get rotated out. I have one box of ”in” pens, and another of ”out” pens. Seems to work for now. There are about 4-5 pens that have been in the ”in” box for decades.
Wow! A reasonable "voice in the wilderness". What great common sense advice. Thank you.
I don't feel like three is enough for me. I would rather have 5 at a time. 1- extra fine for small writing or writing on cheap paper. 2- medium for my Rhodia grid notebook. 3- flex or stub for beautiful headlines. 4 and 5 colorful inks for underlining
So this is my philosophy I started with this to improve my handwriting. My magic number is 5 pens inked up at a time kept in a beautiful Galen leather old school pen case.
I thought I would limit myself to 10 iconic pens or so I am trying. So far Monte Blanc Starwalker (Gift) Waterman Carene (My first decent pen and still by far the smoothest writing pen I own.) Pilot Vanishing point, Pilot E95S, Visconte Wheatfields with Crows, TWSBI 580 Diamond in rose gold, TWSBI Eco, Pelikan Limited edition M205 petrol. So the other two pens are the Pilot 823 Smoke fine, and of course the Lamy 2000. Now there are some notable maybes. The Visconti Homo Sapien Bronze Age EF though gone a bit cold on that one), and a Kaweco brass or Travelers brass travel pen or maybe the TWSBI Supra. Not sure how important it is to have a converter for travel. . Then I promised my wife I would stick to inks. So then if I want other pens I have to sell one of my 10. The philosophy being I wouldn't sell my children. Bottom line I do lots of other things but at the moment I am recovering from shoulder surgery so this has been alot of fun discovering the pen fraternity.Mind you that Laban is pretty sweet! Only 10 Paul! Only 10.
Makes sense to me. I have dry pens pop up too often.
I agree Drew. I also have a 3 pen system. I get a small anxiety attack when I must ink up more pens because of a pen meet or something like that 😄
I own 3 inexpesive fountain pens. I recently pulled them out after 2 years of just sitting. They are writing well for me. I am thinking about digging out my calligraphy stuff to do that again, after a couple of decades off. My go to pens for that...dip pens with broad sizes of nibs.
Hmm, that would be challenge for me. I routinely use ~ 6 different pens daily...and a different set of pens the following day. Yes, yes, I know...I have a disease! I rotate a few into use and a few out when the mood hits (about every other month).
Not bad. I get it. A little tight assey but it’s ok. Good for you to keep it simple. Great presentation btw❤️👌😘
That’s a very good presentation of your system! Although you “sell it” well, I’m not buying, lol.
I am not one who feels the need for multiple pens inked, but it’s really dictated by the nature of the pens and inks themselves…for example I have a lot of piston fill or eye dropper pens and their large ink capacity means they last a really long time (I don’t typically suffer from dry out issues, I guess they all have great caps), or certain nibs that are for artistic purposes or signing cards, necessitate the need for additional pens in use; and then there’s the inks that just aren’t for everyday writing or could be difficult to read in full page length, such as yellows, reds, purples, shimmer or big sheening - I might have only 3 pens currently inked, or I might have more (I have thus far not had a 12 case full of pens in use, but I don’t hold a mental limit to that maximum or any other, my purposeful use is my only limit).
I never clean a pen until the ink is entirely used, and I like batch cleaning (“bath day”), so for times when I have had only 3 pens in use, they sadly wait neglected until there’s at least 5 or 6 needing to be cleaned.
I do find it useful to keep a passport sized notebook of Currently Inked, not only to remember what colour inks are in which pens (I never purposely match the colour of the ink with the colour of the pen, but they sometimes match up randomly), but also to note how long ago the pens were inked before they were written dry; which helps me find patterns of use and preferences.
I do think I might feel overwhelmed with 30 inked pens, or whatever, but that’s down to my writing habits (and time available for writing), it would be excessive to my needs, unless they had mini ink capacities. I happily applaud all those who are able to use a double-digit amount of inked pens - write on! ❣️😉
I have a F nib pen that I write with on my English journal, an M nib for my Spanish journal, another two (M with black and stub with red) for my note taking, one Pilot Parallel to cross the day of my calendar and finally I have got a Pilot F for my Bujo, so I have 6 pens inked all the time ❤️✍️✒️
Woah, I’m freaking out right now, because I made a video about this exact same subject on my channel, like 3 months ago. Totally agree (even though I break it all the time).
Oh my gosh! That's so cool! Good know I'm not alone! - Drew
Thanks a lot for the magic number
I like this idea. I'm going to run all my pens until they are empty then give this a try.
Maybe a hybrid approach? Whatever works for you! - Drew
I only have three FPs, so i guess its an easy choice for me. I have my copper lilliput for my pocket, my Cheapie pilot for my work desk, and I also have my cross just because. It's a medium nib so I like it better for signing
Although I could never limit myself to three, this video is interesting even for the idea of limiting to *a number.* Maybe 10-12? 🤔
Drew, how about that Goulet Merch ??? Stop making me drool !!!
You are my inspiration.
Arrived to the same: 1) a Pilot Metro with a F nib, inked up in black, 2) Parker Jotter with a M nib, inked in blue, and 3) Lamy Vista Clear with a M nib, which can be inked up with a fav ink. Stored in a 3-pen Galen Crazy Horse, this goes with me everywhere.
I came to this conclusion earlier this year, and with the same 3 pen sleeve. 1 for my use, 1 for writing on not-great paper (VP in F), and one in a blue/whatever ink for color contrast. It was more practical when I was traveling for work, instead of trying to pack in a pen roll and a bunch of different paper for certain pens, etc.
But now I work at home, and I keep eying my larger pen rolls. I see the draw to both really, but for me it narrows to one question: how much time do you want to spend cleaning pens on a weekly/biweekly basis.
I currently have thirteen inked up, and wish I could whittle it down to three!
I have several journals and notebooks that all have their dedicated pens attached to them. So therefore i know what ink they contain. Apart from that, i keep an ink journal because i find it fun to keep track of my ink use (to find what pen or nib i like best for what ink, how much ink i use, whick ink i use most or need to use more of). I'm still under 15 pens and about 20 inks. But i guess that i have only 3 in rotation, and 5 have their dedicated spots.
That's a really well-structured system you have there! Nicely done! - Drew
I usually have two fountain pens inked and have a ballpoint / rollerball added for filling forms etc.
Only 3 pens wouldn’t ever work for me. I’ve always had around 15-20 pens inked at once. It eventually got problematic. But I still cannot do without 10 pens inked at any given time every day of the year. Because I greatly like using many different favorite pens, through the week or occasionally even during the same day. with different nibs, and a varied palette of inks. Cleaning is a bit of a chore, but I don’t mind much. In any case, I had resolved at the start of this year that I would begin to fully savor the joys of using (not simply storing) almost all of my fountain pens consistently, by rotation. I’m now doing just that.
I only keep about 3 pens inked at a time. I do not use the case method you do. I keep one black, one orange and one with a sample color I am trying out. I will eventually maybe swap to a non-sample color pen and just pick some fun color. But I have found not inking too many helps keep the cleaning down.
I do two times 3 pens. 1st 3 for writing in 3 different colors. 2nd 3 for drawing/ sketching with different nibs (fude) with waterproof ink.
Excellent video Drew! Thank you! What were some of those awesome rock bands you recommended (a while ago in one of the podcasts)? It was some high-energy stuff like Allied Forces, Fortuner, or Yngwie Malmsteen...
Avantasia is awesome - and if you search for European Power Metal I'm sure you'll be pleased. - Drew
@@Gouletpens Awesome! Thanks Drew