Fountain Pen Beginner's Experience

[J85909266]

 

 

I've been dipping my toes into fountain pen use since June, and I wanted to share some of my experiences. This is not a review.

 

All of the pens started fine and had no skipping.

 

I modified the Preppy to become an eyedropper.

[Redbarchettayyz]

It's interesting to take a step back and look at the pen path from the beginning of getting into the hobby up to current day. It's pretty surprising some of the twists and turns your pen taste can take.

[slide13]

Nice comparison. I'm curious, what are your two favorites?

[J85909266]

Well, the Lamy 2K just destroys anything I've used before. The piston filling, the crazy smooth nib, the beautiful aesthetics...

 

That said, it's the only pen I enjoy more than my eyedropper Preppy.

[kidde]

I like your style. Instead of following the crowd you chose what you liked, pens and inks alike. You do realize that paper is next, right? I am amazed at how each thing has such an effect on the other. Watch out for vintage, it can be an addiction all its own.

Oh yeah, WELCOME!!!

 

Paul

[estie1948]

Very nice, indeed. Now it is time for you to really experience a fountain pen. I mean, of course, the fantastic Esterbrook J! You have tried the rest. Now try the best!

 

-David.

[J85909266]

Very nice, indeed. Now it is time for you to really experience a fountain pen. I mean, of course, the fantastic Esterbrook J! You have tried the rest. Now try the best!

 

-David.

i am actually interested in vintage pens. I want to try an Esterbrook J and a restored Vacumatic.

 

Lead the way, FPN. I trust you.

[Art]

Nice group of pens.

[Mishka5050]

Very nice and how interesting that Preppy beat Metro

 

Happy writing!

[Wolverine1]

Joe- are you going to the Ohio Pen Show in Dublin, OH? It is on in 2 weekends.

[J85909266]

I didn't know about it. I think I would love to go.

[cancoi]

You'll love a Vacumatic! I have an 1945 P51 Vac & it's one of my favorite pens! Enjoy!

[kidde]

If you can you really want to go to that pen show. Nothing else exists that will let you see so much at one time. If you do try older pens be prepared to get swept up. One Esterbrook dollar pen turned into 40 in a short time span. I know of no pen easier to bring back to life than an Estie. I have two Pelikans from the 50's, a 120 and 140, that fight for the spot of favorite. Just know that a 50 year old pen will generally hold its price where a new pen is worth less once you ink it.

 

Paul

[ScienceChick]

i am actually interested in vintage pens. I want to try an Esterbrook J and a restored Vacumatic.

 

Lead the way, FPN. I trust you.

 

Once you reach Gold (30 posts not in Chatter and 30 days membership), check out the Estie Loaner program https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/226468-the-esterbrook-forum-estie-loaner-program/ Many choices of pens and nibs for you to try. It sure got me hooked

 

Edited to add link

Edited October 26, 2014 by ScienceChick

[B_Type13X2]

Very nice and how interesting that Preppy beat Metro

 

Happy writing!

 

 

It's actually funny how the cheap little preppy beats a lot of other pens. there are some 150$+ pens that the cheap little preppy puts to shame in my collections. Every few months I order about 20 of them as I so often give them away.

[J85909266]

I used a magic eraser to remove all text and labels from my Preppy and converted it to an eyedropper. It's been my favorite pen, beating my Pilot Metro and Kaweco Sport in smoothness and wetness. My Lamy 2K is the first pen to knock it out of my pocket.

 

I will be so sad the day it cracks or fails.

[B_Type13X2]

I used a magic eraser to remove all text and labels from my Preppy and converted it to an eyedropper. It's been my favorite pen, beating my Pilot Metro and Kaweco Sport in smoothness and wetness. My Lamy 2K is the first pen to knock it out of my pocket.

 

I will be so sad the day it cracks or fails.

buy 20 of them and when something unfortunate happens you'll have plenty of replacements, I always carry a preppy at work, and I'll never stop, have given more of those away then any other pen.

[Riayain]

It's interesting that you found the Platinum Preppy a lot smoother than the Pilot Metropolitan! But considering that you did order it in an F nib, which is more like a Western XF to me, that's not too surprising. I have the Pilot Metropolitan in an M nib and I find it extremely smooth. Writes like a Western F nib. Way more smooth than my Platinum Preppy or Lamy Safari with an F nib!

 

You've got the Lamy 2000. Are you thinking of trying out a Pilot Vanishing Point or are you moving on to "greener" pastures (e.g. vintage, more expensive modern pens)?

[gweimer1]

If you go to the Ohio Pen show, I'll probably be there, and I'll have a couple of Esterbrooks with me.

[Buzz_130]

Welcome to FPN!

 

You started with a great selection of pens, and my own journey started similarly. If you really like your Lamy 2k, the world of fountain pens is going to be amazing. For modern pens, the Japanese make incredible pens. From the innovative design of the Pilot Vanishing Point to the classic lines and incredible nibs of the Sailor 1911 and Pro Gear, you'll find a great deal to enjoy with the pens from the Land of the Rising Sun. For vintage pens, you're already pointing in the right direction. For what you paid for your 2k, you can get several Parker 45s or Easterbrook Js with replaceable nibs. The Esties have a huge selection of nibs to meet every writing need, and it's fun going out to find some NOS boxes for a different type of nib. As you move up to the Parker "51", Vacs, Snorkels, and Balance style of pens, you're going to find that for the money you spent on the 2k, you'll have an amazing 70 year old pen that is a pleasure to hold and use (and for some, collect).

 

Buzz