Hi everybody,

After lurking on this forum for quite a while, I think it's time for a short introduction.

I recently re-discovered my appreciation for fountain pens. I think, the trigger event was when I found my Lamy Safari in my desk drawer, which has been there for more than two years, took it and tried to write with it, expecting to find it dry. Nope! It functioned just as if I had used it the day before. This blew me away! What a remarkable writing instrument!

So, I did my homework, reading as much as I could about fountain pens, and started my humble collection. I must admit, I'm not really a collector, just trying to find out what I like best. This is now the third field of interest (after wrist watches and straight edge razors), where I find that price is not necessarily correlated to quality. I'm convinced that one can find very good quality items at a very reasonable price. One just has to look for it. ;-)

This is my inventory so far (in no particular order):

Fountain pens:
1. Lamy Safari red
2. Lamy Safari blue
3. Lamy Safari Al-Star silver
4. "Jim Mauldin" custom turned of Zebra wood
5. Duke D17 black
6. Baoer #388 silver/gold
7. Jinhao X750 stainless steel
8. Jinhao X750 black
9. Jinhao P37 "White Pearl Wave" (ordered)
10. Jinhao silver/gold (ordered)
11. Jinhao X450 black /w calligraphy nib

Inks:

Private Reserve:
Black Cherry
Sonic Blue
Sherwood Green

Noodler:
Polar Black

I also like to mix inks. So far I like either of the PR inks diluted with distilled water (1:1) and then added a little Noodler's Polar Black.

Thank you for having me on this very interesting forum!

Welcome to FPN.

Welcome! I'm a Black Cherry lover too.

Welcome to FPN- you have stumbled into a great community of wonderfully friendly folks who will encourage you in your penand ink addiction!!!!!

Welcome to FPN. Diluted Sherwood Green???!! The horror. To each his own, I guess. I personally love the full strength version.

Welcome, Klaus. As one who grew up sailing around Whidbey, Bainbridge, Blake, Vashon, etc., I know your island well. Sometimes I think too well when I remember some of the trips through Deception Pass.

I too like the Jinhao's.

Thank you very much for your warm welcome, everybody!
This is indeed a forum where one can learn something new every day. Love it!

I did like the full strength, too, - in the beginning. That was about three weeks ago. My taste changes sometimes pretty fast, especially while I'm in an experimental phase, like now.

I'm not quite happy with my blend Black Cherry/Water/Polar Black, - yet. I think I'll have to cut back on the Polar Black since it is very intense. One or two drops per filling are probably sufficient.

Welcome to FPN. I haven't been to Whidbey Island since 1985. Stopped there on a ship. It was October, and crisp. I was stationed at Subase Bangor from 1980-82, so Whidbey Island was not all that far from my former home.

Donnie

Greetings from Seattle! It's always nice to see another local join this happy madhouse. Hope you enjoy your time here.

Welcome to FPN!