Pipes and fountain pens

[snowyowl]

@snowyowl: Sorry, it should've been gouletpens. Why I wrote "gourmet", I don't know. Maybe I'm hungry.
Were you actually listen to some Robert Goulet, and that got you turned around?!

---
But, thanks, you've got me thinking about getting a fountain pen...

 

[gambit88]

Well. Let's see 'em!

Snowyowl I've only made two(3rd blew on the lathe) and have some ideas I might try this weekend when I go though my scrap bin. This is the first tamper I made. Second is similar.

 

[gambit88]

Well. Let's see 'em!

Snowyowl I've only made two(3rd blew on the lathe) and have some ideas I might try this weekend when I go though my scrap bin. This is the first tamper I made. Second is similar.

 

[gordebak]

@snowyowl:
If you like writing utensils, I definitely recommend investing in a good fountain pen. Like pipes, fountain pens may require a lot of trial and error. You don't want to spend a lot without knowing what you'll get. There are some very nice inexpensive pens too. You need to decide what you'd want in a pen, and do a research.
But if you like that Uniball, it means you're more into XF nibs. For starters, I suggest looking at Japanese fountain pens with F nibs. Japanese F nibs are close to Western XF nibs, but a tad broader, just about the same size as your Uniball, give or take. Btw, there are a lot of nice writer pens for people with a tight budget. So don't think you need to spend a lot to get a good pen. It's basically similar to pipes.
You might know all this stuff already, but since you said you've no "Dunhill" pens, I assumed you might need a direction in that regard. I might have been wrong, if so, I'm sorry.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

Pilot Metropolitan (Fine) would be good in this regard. That wouldn't even be a "Peterson" pen. Probably more like a "basket pen," to continue the pipe analogy.
Or just spend $40 and get a TWSBI hehe

 

[gordebak]

I second Pilot. And Namiki is good too.
And btw, when you're certain about what you want, just tell me. I might have something like that in my collection. And I can send it to you. Of course, you won't be certain enough before trying the pen, but still...
Edit: I meant no charge.

 

[jefff]

I have found a fountain pen forces me to slow down. Both in my handwriting and in my thinking as I write.

 

[gordebak]

@jefff: That's exactly what I think, it slows you down. I think clearer if I write longhand with a fountain pen, because I can totally concentrate. And the ideas I come up with are usually better ones.

 

[shutterbugg]

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".

@snowyowl, as a matter of fact it is pronounced "mole skin", as in the stuff people stick on corns and callouses. The notebooks you refer to are Moleskine, with an "e" at the end, the name of the manufacturer. When you want to imply someone else is ignorant, it's a good idea to make sure your comments aren't
@gambit88, those are some beautiful pens! Great craftsmanship. I never said there's anything inherently wrong with a fountain pen, hell, there's nothing wrong with a goose quill either. Classical literature was mostly written with those. I only said a fountain pen is a pain in the ass (even if you don't accidentally sit on it)
Actually I prefer a mechanical watch even though it doesn't keep time like a quartz, and I prefer a stickshift to a floppy paddle automatic even though the latter can shift faster. I wear the badge of Luddite proudly.

 

[gordebak]

@shutterbugg: I'm really sorry, if I misunderstood you.
You're right though, fountain pens are hard to maintain, and can easily be a mess. I never experienced messy stuff myself, except maybe some ink on the fingers while loading my pens, but I'm pretty sure it's always a possibility. You should always be careful when carrying one, and probably carry them in a pouch or maybe in a bag or something. It's prone to accidents. But in my experience, the joy in using one makes the maintaining all the worthwhile.

 

[hierophant]

Ah...once bitten by the fountain pen bug there's no going back; I use fountain pens almost exclusively. My favorites are a Lamy 2000 and a Pelikan Souveran 800. It'll cut in to your pipe and tobacco funds are the only bad things about them.

 

[flmason]

A great shop is in Arkansas
www.vanness1938.com
The shop is family owned and has been open since 1938. The owners are Mike and Lisa. They have lots of items and not all are listed on their website. If you call their shop they will help you.

 

[gordebak]

@hierophant: I really like my Pelikan Souveran 800. But it writes a bit wet for my taste, even if it's an F nib. I got a Lamy Safari as a gift, but I couldn't bring myself to liking Lamys. I kinda like more plain and serious looking pens. If it's a vintage pen also, all the better.
But yeah, fountain pen bug is hard to get rid of. It can get pretty expensive too, if you don't have a lot of self-control. I think I'm onto something when I say it's very similar to smoking pipe hobby.

 

[gmjabsky]

Me too! And lately, slide rules...

 

[jefff]

And always, Bamboo fly rods

 

[fearsclave]

And vintage rifles :P.
This thread just cost me a couple of hours of my life spent researching fountain pens and has made me realize that said life is incomplete, blighted by reliance, up to now, on cheap uncomfortable unstylish writing implements...

 

[gordebak]

@fearsclave: You've just bitten by the fountain pen bug. Say hello to new experiences.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

Start watching YouTube videos on fountain pens. Lost 4 months of my life that way.

 

[iamn8]

I just recently got one of these where the nib lowers into the shaft making it more portable. It's a great pen!!

 

[pipesmokingtom]

Mont Blanc. The Dunhill of fountain pens!