Pipes and fountain pens

[gordebak]

Okay, I take my word back about ballpoints being a step backwards in evolution. There is a place and time for using ballpoints for me too. Especially in some occasions I don't want to ruin a perfect nib. But you know, I DIDN'T mean to insult you personally or any ballpoint user for that matter.

 

[gordebak]

All I intended with this thread is putting forward an observation about the similarities between MY two hobbies. And I thought there might me more people like me too.
You're not one of them. That's okay for me. If you don't like my choices, that's fine too. But please don't hijack an otherwise friendly thread. I didn't wrote those things about ballpoint pens on your ballpoint pen thread. If you don't like the thread, just don't read it.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

And I thought there might me more people like me too.

There are! I am 100% with you on this. I like both fountain pens and pipes for a lot of the same reasons. Variety, style, pleasure, things that aren't just disposable.
What pen forum are you a member of? I've never gotten on a pen forum before.

 

[gordebak]

fountainpennetwork.com is awesome, similar to these forums in a lot of ways. I removed my account some time ago though, not because anything was wrong, but because I wasn't very active for some time, and I tend to remove all my inactive accounts from time to time.
Edit: I highly recommend it. But beware, FPs are as much addictive as pipes.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

Yeah, I know. I've got more different inks than blends of tobaccos, for sure. Probably more pipes than pens, though.

 

[daveinlax]

There have been and still are some high level pen collectors in the pipe hobby. I think one of the early Chicago Pipe Show piggybacked on a pen show one year. 8O

 

[gordebak]

I knew it! I knew I wasn't the only weird cool one out there.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

Yes. Now buy a TWSBI Mini.
Edit: Or a Conklin Duragraph. That's a close 2nd place for me.

 

[gordebak]

Oh, don't make me buy more pens. At least not right now. I bought one pipe yesterday, and two today. They are inexpensive pipes, but I also need to buy some tobaccos. Oh my...

 

[pipesmokingtom]

They are like 40-45 dollar pens. No sweat

 

[gordebak]

I promise, I will get me a TWSBI demonstrator. But not right now.
All in good time. I'm just concentrated more on pipes right now, as I have a lot to learn yet. Hopefully I will smoke my first corn cob tomorrow. But thanks for the recommendation. I saw a lot of people who swear by TWSBI.

 

[gambit88]

Pen making is a hobby of mine. Something to do while smoking a pipe. I find it very relaxing. My doctor uses fountin pens exclusively so I made one for him. I liked the look and feel so much I made another for myself.
A few of the fountain pens I've made.

 

[gordebak]

Good job! I suppose you also like making pipes?

 

[snowyowl]

Setting aside the philistine at our gates... that's you, shutterbugg (insert some appropriately y-gen, smiling/winking emoji here)

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I started using fountain pens in the early 60s. My mother was a professional artist-teacher who earned money in college doing calligraphy (in the 1930s, doing diplomas and invitations, all by hand). I used fountain pens right up through the cartridge period, to computers. In that epoch I was also, and naturally, gravitating toward pipes.
Alas, I type much more than I write by hand. I have and do write/type for money, now and then. I still gravitate toward good writing instruments and stuff to write upon, but not the fine ones. No Dunhill pens (as a metaphor); Peterson pens mostly (not a real pen either).
This thread -- thanks to gordebak -- has my interest renewed. This is a site I originally found for not-fountain pens, via The New York Times, but they have a very nice section for browsing such quills:

http://www.jetpens.com/Fountain-Pens/ct/214
In the field, I just love a particular Japanese gel. Like electronics back in the 90s, Tokyo has stuff we don't see. This 0.28 tip is just a joy. The fuselage is light and the cap snaps with soft precision into place when in use. The point is mechanically-fine, but glides like Fitzgerald :

http://www.jetpens.com/Uni-ball-Signo-UM-151-Gel-Pen-0.28-mm-Black/pd/295

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/magazine/letter-of-recommendation-uni-ball-signo-um-151.html
On the matter of paper, I liked to mention a coupe of notebook-types that I use: Moleskin and Rhodia, in both I use the light-blue graph grid background. FYI, shutterbugg -- Moleskin is not pronounced "mole skin". Rhodia makes flip notepads ("Papier Velin Superieur") in a nice variety of sizes, even beyond letter.
I like good pencils for note-taking as well. The one in the image is a Kuru Toga, also Uniball. BTW, the Jetpens site is devoted to jotting all things (imported from Japan, ahead of schedule):

http://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Kuru-Toga-Auto-Lead-Rotation-Mechanical-Pencil-Pipe-Slide-0.5-mm-Black/pd/15067

http://www.jetpens.com/

---

 

[gambit88]

I've only made one pipe and it was by hand from a hobby kit. I've turned a few tampers but haven't tried turning a pipe yet. I'm fairly close to the famous Pauls pipe shop. Next time I go up there I plan on buying another kit.

 

[gordebak]

@gambit88: See how hobbies overlap?
@snowyowl: Hey, you're more into writing utensils than me. You use a wide range of things. I use them too, especially Uniball Signo, I'm a fan of it, but not for writing, for drawing. You wouldn't believe how intricate details you can draw with that thing. But drawing utensils may take a long time to discuss. For writing though, I'm exclusively an FP guy.
And Rhodia, I know it's a personal taste thing, but that things are just awesome for me. I love Rhodia Webnotebooks, which have just smooth plain ivory papers. But with B or even with some M nibs, it can bleed I think. I haven't tested it though.
And jetpens is great. You might also want to look at gourmetpens. They are nice people with a good selection of things.
Cheers!

 

[gambit88]

@gordebak the whole reason I got my lathe was to play with pipe making.I had no experience at the time with wood turning so I started with pens. they are fairly straightforward and a good way to learn.

 

[gordebak]

Yeah, if you buy the kits, it seems pretty straightforward. But I couldn't turn one if I tried I guess. I once tried to make a pen from polymer clay by sculpting. If you sculpt the polymer clay and bake it, it turns into something like hard plastic. My experiment didn't go well, since sculting a nice looking pen barrel is harder than it seems.

 

[snowyowl]

I've turned a few tampers

Well. Let's see 'em!
I have just acquired my first tamper, a Randy Wiley "Briar and Bocote". Looks a bit like a fountain pen... depending on how you hold it:

 

[gordebak]

@snowyowl: Sorry, it should've been gouletpens. Why I wrote "gourmet", I don't know. Maybe I'm hungry.
Edit: Very nice tamper, btw.