Jump to content

New User Question


Guest ketan889

Recommended Posts

Guest ketan889

Hey guys,

I'm brand new to fountain pen usage. I just ordered a Wality 52 fine point from isellpens.com after reading some positive reviews on here. I really wanted something to use to take notes during my classes and I am trying to improve my handwriting. I used to write in cursive(7ish years ago), and have now switched to print(although my friends call it chickenscratch). I am looking forward to getting this pen(along with some Noodler's black that I ordered).

 

I have used a fountain pen once or twice before(Waterman Expert II Medium) and stayed away from them because it wrote lines that were too thick for my liking and sometimes bled through in my college ruled 5 star notebooks I use for school. I hope this won't be a problem with the Wality...

 

I don't know if I made a good decision going with the fine Wality or if I should have tried an extra fine with some pen. I have never tried fine or extra fine so I just chose fine...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 8
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Onion

    2

  • amurphy1

    2

  • wimg

    1

  • amh210

    1

Top Posters In This Topic

I( just got a wality 52 piston filler today and it is amazing. I paid under 10 bucks for it (without shipping) and it is right there with my pelikan in terms of nib smoothness and writing pleasure(ok maybe just about there). I will be adding more of these to my collection.

I figured for 10 bucks I could live with a less than quality pen... I am truely amazed by this pen. I also got an oversize 62L eyedropper but it leaks a little so I need to add something to the threads to make it airtight. Stay away from that one for the time being but as far as the 52 you will enjoy it. nice fine line and smooth.

I also have an Expert II medium, the 52 is very fine compared to my expert II... I think you will be happy... if you don't like the Wality I will buy it from you!

Edited by Johnny Mannion
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest ketan889

Thanks for the input! I can't wait to try out this pen. Is there anything I need to do as far as cleaning it before I fill it with ink(it is coming brand new)?

Any other recommendations for a first time user?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Preface to my comment: A dabblers perspective...

 

 

Ketan, It's all about finding the right combo of pen, nib (material, flex, size, etc.) and ink. Not to mention the type of paper you typically use. I use fountain pens all day long (I write a lot) and I must write on 5+ types of paper consistently. The same pen behaves totally different with each paper. I have $10.00 pens that (to me) are better feeling and writing than pens that cost hundreds.

 

The good news is your larger $$ investment comes in the pen. The inks and paper are typically not a lot of money.

 

So, if you spend a little time at trial and error, you will find what's good for you.

 

A fine nib (generally speaking) should not result in the issues you had before.

 

In closing, finding the right pen and combo of the above elements will change your whole outlook on writing in general. I love writing!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the input! I can't wait to try out this pen. Is there anything I need to do as far as cleaning it before I fill it with ink(it is coming brand new)?

Any other recommendations for a first time user?

Typically, no. I always flush my pen out with water (same with ink, but with cool, clean water), wait a bit, draw your ink in (sloooooowly), expel the ink, and then draw it in again (slooooooowly). I was given the 2x's trick by a very knowledgeable guru of pens and it's served me with great flowing pens. Coincidence? Maybe not...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I always flush with water first, and wrap the nib in a soft cloth gently to absorb excess water then fill with ink. I dispel 3 drops of ink put the pen nib up and tighten the piston filler. The pen writes perfectly for me.

enjoy the wality

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest ketan889

Thanks, I'll try that flush/fill method.

One other question, how do you store the pen when not in use? Someone told me fountain pens must be kept with the nib up when not in use...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Ketan,

 

IMO and experience, that is really only true for vintage pens. Modern pens, unless they are sacced pens (lever fillers and the like) or EDs without a closing valve, can be stored in virtually any way. Modern pens have a proper capillary feed, which essentially means they have a very controlled leak, provided the ink can get replaced easily. This happens while writing. Sacced pens and EDs seem to have more problems with pressure variations and temperature changes than other pens though, so leak in a less controlled way, as do vintage pens, which essentially have a gravity feed rather than a capillary one.

 

I do prefer to store my pens upright, but just as often I don't, and I only ever have problems as a result with the categories of pens with a less well controlled leak, as mentioned above :D.

 

HTH, warm regards, Wim

the Mad Dutchman
laugh a little, love a little, live a lot; laugh a lot, love a lot, live forever

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the input!  I can't wait to try out this pen.  Is there anything I need to do as far as cleaning it before I fill it with ink(it is coming brand new)? 

Any other recommendations for a first time user?

Many users fill the pen with a slightly soapy solution (1 drop of soap in a cup of lukewarm water) and run it in and out a few times to remove any oil left over from the machining process. I don't do this as often as I do it and it has only made a difference on a few of my pens. You need to rinse with plain water after the soapy water and get as much of the water out as possible before you ink the pen.

 

There have been a few posts on FPN where Wality users reported on a funky odor so rinsing should deal with that as well. I never noticed it in mine.

 

Enjoy the pen. It is one of the few things in life where the bargain is really as good as the high-price item.

 

Andy

"Andy Hoffman" Sandy Ego, CA

Torrey View is Andy's BlOG and Facebook me! If you visit my blog, click on the ad. I'll send all proceeds to charity.

For my minutiae, FOLLOW my Twitter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33501
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26627
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...