In need of an everyday pen...

[-Paolo-]

I'm looking for a fine nib for everyday use.

I'm currently using a Shaeffer Javelin Medium, and I find that it leaves a really thick line.

 

I've narrowed it down to the following.

Cross ATX

Lamy Safari (Al-star)

Shaeffer Javelin

 

But if you have other recommendations, I'd like to find out more as well.

 

All are fine nibs, but I was looking for some input. Also, I think I would be using the converter for the pens rather than cartriges.

 

Thanks.

 

EDIT:

 

Also, I'm from Canada, so if anyone knows a good website to buy pens from with cheap shipping to me, let me know. Most of the links I've seen are from Europe.

Edited February 25, 2007 by -Paolo-

[SallyLyn]

I really like the Hero pens, they are hooded and look like Parker 51, 61s. Inexpensive pens. The 616 is $10+ shipping. The 616, 329 and others are Fine nibs, write well and last a long time with ink. For a couple dollars more, $15, I believe the Hero 110 has an even smoother fine nib. If you want to go super Fine, hisnibs.com may still have a Hero 327-1 for $10+ shipping. The 327-1 I have on order, but I've used the other Heros and they work very well, day in day out. Nice looking, but won't cry if I drop or leave. Buy two.

isellpens.com

cutepens.com

hisnibs.com

All sell the Heros at good prices and with good service.

[OldGriz]

Of the three you have mentioned I would choose the Lamy... you won't go wrong with the pen and the price is reasonable enough to purchase two and have a spare inked and ready to go... even with a different color is you want...

Jim Partridge at Pear Tree Pens is a great place to purchase one... he is a member here and a very good dealer to work with...

I believe he is currently on holiday for a week or two.

[corniche]

Greetings Paolo,

 

I concur with Tom. The Lamy Safari enjoys an excellent reputation and the aluminum models, (the Al-Star), have beautiful metallic paint finishes. I would also consider a Waterman Phileas with a fine nib- I have one and I love it. (The only problem is they have gone out of production so you MAY have to do a little scrounging to find one).

 

Best wishes and good luck with your quest,

 

Sean

 

 

 

[davidmigl]

I use Al-stars for school and really like them. Lamy nibs run very wide, and I have found that it takes an EF to get any type of a "fine" line (the width of such is comparable to a .7mm Pilot G2). If marketed as a ballpoint, the F nib would probably be labeled B (but remember, that's in ballpoint terms, not FP).

 

I have found that the EF tends to be dry but still smooth, and the F is a bit wetter. In terms of shading: the inks that I run in my Al-stars seem to shade between a lighter color and a darker color. The EF is 100% light, and the F is 75% light, 25% dark. Something like a Pel M200 is 100% dark.

[-Paolo-]

The Lamy studio has caught my attention too...

But since its in the $60 USD Range, what would compare to it?

 

 

So many choices

[Chris_PA]

I would go with the Safari, but as mentioned with the EF nib. I also have the Studio, but in the Palladium finish which increased cost a bit above the $60USD, but I actually prefer the Safari for everyday writing between the two.

[-Paolo-]

http://homepage.mac.com/hdougmatsuoka/images/pen/vistauncapped2.jpg

 

Judging from HDoug's picture, I think a fine point would suffice.

 

The only real turn-off with the Safari is the clip...

Edited February 25, 2007 by -Paolo-

[davidmigl]

The Lamy studio (non-palladium) uses the same nib as the safaris and alstars, so you won't get any improvement in writing performance, just a body upgrade. Around that price point I bet the M200 would give it some serious competition.

[jsonewald]

The Safari or AL-Star with F or EF nibs would be my first choice. A Hero 800 in stainless is an excellent alternate.

[-Paolo-]

Thanks for the input guys!

I'm going to stick with the Lamy then!

If I remember, I'll post my impressions of it from a newbies point of view

[goldkiwi]

Hi Paolo,

 

Where in Canada are you? I'm in Vancouver, and I know in addition to shipping charges, another concern when purchasing online are the potential duties you might have to pay... I haven't ordered from them personally, but Boutique du Stylo has pretty good prices and their shipping within Canada runs from $7-9, and I think a few people here have spoken well of them.

 

If duties aren't a concern for you, then I'll echo others in recommending James from Pear Tree Pens- he offers good prices and awesome service. He is on vacation until March 5th or 6th though.

 

I have the Lamy Vista with a F nib, and I found it to be a bit scratchy. It might have just been a faulty nib, though. I dropped it a few weeks ago and in attempts to get it to write again, have mangled it into a slightly smoother, if broader, working condition. I also bought a 1.1 nib which is super-smooth, but not too practical in my daily writing (which is I guess, another plus for the Lamy pens, their relative ease in replacing nibs should you need/want to).

[-Paolo-]

I'm from BC.

Coquitlam actually

[EventHorizon]

Good decision on the Lamy

[goodguy]

Two excellent choices could be:

 

1.Waterman Phileas

2.Parker 51

[alvarez57]

QUOTE (goldkiwi @ Feb 25 2007, 11:37 PM)

I haven't ordered from them personally, but Boutique du Stylo has pretty good prices and their shipping within Canada runs from $7-9, and I think a few people here have spoken well of them.

Thanks for the link!

[cowboyjack]

I have a Javelin and, like you, find the medium to be pretty broad.

 

I used a fine pointed Phileas daily for at least a year and they come up for sale on this board and on the green board pretty often.

 

Have a Lamy Safari with a fine nib and find it a bit broad, but a lovely pen and it makes a good knock-a-round later when you get some more expensive writers and face it... this hobby is hopelessly addictive -- you'll be getting more pens.

 

If I have one piece of advice I wish I had known back when I started collecting fountain pens... buy what you want first, no matter the price, as it is always cheaper in the long run.

[-Paolo-]

Yeah, this hobbie is quite endless... Same thing goes with my audiophile issues

 

I find everything I find an interest in is an endless avenue of upgrades for example, the car, my sound equipment, and fountain pens...

 

 

[bernardo]

Get yourself a Pelikan Future. You'll not regret it; it's a great writer and very cheap.

[Samovar]

QUOTE (alvarez57 @ Feb 25 2007, 08:02 PM)

QUOTE (goldkiwi @ Feb 25 2007, 11:37 PM) I haven't ordered from them personally, but Boutique du Stylo has pretty good prices and their shipping within Canada runs from $7-9, and I think a few people here have spoken well of them.  Thanks for the link! The people at Boutique du Stylo are great. I stop by the Montreal boutique almost every week. They know pen! They will also let you try any pen and will special order anything you might dream of. It's a chain of 4 stores, so if they don't have it in one store, they call right away and you get it the next day.   The selection of pen is really good. I have never ordered from them since I live downtown, but they really take care of their customers.   Samovar