I was looking at a Platinum Preppy, but seeing as the converter is $7...id like to see if there is another good, cheap option. What do you suggest?

Hi JD,

About how much do you want to spend? I like rOtring Core, and they can be had for about 10.00 (www.swisherpens.com). You already know Lamy Safari, I think, which can be purchased for under 30.00. Sometimes, those hobby/craft stores sell cheapo pens on a blister pack for 10.00 or less. Earlier today, in the 'for sale' section, someone was selling a Wality for 22.00.


diane

Hi Diane,

Thanks for the response. The Platinum Preppy was attractive at $3.75, but the $7 converter that must be bought separately was kind of a turn off. If there's a refillable fountain (converter cartridge or ED) in the $5 range, that would be most appealing.

I've heard that the Petit1 can be ED-ed, and it goes for $4.50 at jetpens.com. Or buy a bottle of some types of Noodler's ink (Bay State?) and get an ED-converted Preppy for "free."

Also, tons of cheap Chinese pens from isellpens.com. If you're buying other things as well, the shipping wouldn't have to be a deal-killer.

Pendemonium and Swishers both sell the preppy ED at around $6. You get what you pay for with a cheap pen, though. It holds a ton of ink, but the nib is not truly ideal. Might want to add a little more silicone grease to the threads. I have one that has been going for a while now, though. Got it free with Nikita Red ink.

Im was looking to get ink from Swishers along with the Preppy (im getting BSB so thats why i want a cheaper pen). They only sell the ED if you buy it with Noodler's ink, i think its only certain kinds of Noodler's, I just emailed them about that.

I believe the Preppy takes international cartridges, so that's a way to use one cheap. You aren't gonna beat $10 for a FP, I don't think!

Peter

Sheaffer No Nonsense pens are cheap, use cartridges and I have read that some people use them successfully as eye dropper pens.

Agreed, that would be a good route to go. But my purpose for a cheap fountain pen is to put Baystate Blue in it. That way if something goes wrong, i only spent $5 on the pen.

Some Hero pens are as cheap as $0.50 bought locally in China. You can find some 10-packs on line for cheap, although you'll not see that cheap unless you visit China yourself. Shipping cost more than the pens! And you might get a couple duds in a 10-pack. So search around online for the cheapest multi-pack of "Hero" brand, factoring in their shipping.

Every Hero I've seen either fills from bottle or includes a converter with the pen. I don't think they care for cartridges in China, at all.

--John

I am reluctant to buy a Hero pen because I have heard of some quality control issues. Shipping is also an issue. I checked Isellpens.com and to ship a $5 pen, it would cost $10, so I might as well buy the Preppy.

I think the shipping stays the same up to some order total, so you could buy several $5 pens and still pay only $10 for shipping. Consider driving to your nearest B&M store and sticking to their selection - can you do that for $10?

I am reluctant to buy a Hero pen because I have heard of some quality control issues.

That's an admirable sentiment, but any pen you buy for $10 or less is going to have quality control issues. I've bought a bunch of Hero 616s (about $5 each) and never had trouble with them, more than I can say for most $20 non-Hero pens.

If you can find a Parker Vector locally, they're pretty good for a few bucks...

Good point. Hero makes some interesting looking pens. I will be buying some eventually....can't say when that is but eventually =]

I found that I can get a 4.5 oz bottle of BSB with a free Platinum Preppy ED Pen, for $15. Thats a whole lot better than buying the 3 oz. bottle, a Preppy, and a convertor (about $20). Yay for Swisherpens!

I have seen a pen called the BEE or BUSY BEE for about $1.50...but it was a while ago....

As to your dilemma...why not just buy the ink, fill some of your used cartridges with the Bay State Blue and use them in whatever pen you have that you DO like? Or, as an alternative, there is at least one seller (PearTree Pens? Peach Tree Pens? Partridge Pens??) that offers sampler sized inks that you could purchase for a lot less than a full bottle of BSB...

Just a couple of thoughts...

If you're willing to spend $11, you can get a Reform 1745 from Lexaf shipped to your door (ie: $8 for the pen, and $3 for shipping). He only has one left, so I'd really hurry on this one. You can not, and will not, find a better pen than this in your price range. It will run with Pelikans costing five times as much.

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=64235

EDIT: It says toward the beginning of the thread that he sold out, but if you scroll to the very last post he says that someone backed out on the deal, thus the one left.