Hi,

I'm a 32 year old engineer in New York whose originally poor handwriting has been devolving over the years. I just "went into rehab" and purchased the Write On italic cursive method book by Getty and Dubay and a few Pilot Varisty disposable fountain pens to start off. And hopefully, if I stick with it and my writing improves enough, I hope to purchase myself a nice, but not too expensive fountain pen (seems that the Pelikan M215 gets high praises here). One quick question to put the cart before the horse. I've noticed that there's nice (looking) wood barrelled fountain pens to be had that are sold by woodworkers on the internet - are these to be stayed away from?

Welcome to FPN! Yes, the Pelikan 215 is a great starter pen. You will soon desire others...

On your question about wood pens, others can probably answer better than I, since I don't turn my own pens. I have found, however, that wood tends to crack when made a thin as possible for a fountain pen. Wood is (was) living tissue, so it expands and contracts. You don't get that with plastics, celluloid or rubber (ebonite) to the same extent, so those pens tend to last longer.

I have some experience in this. My one wooden pen has a crack in the barrel.

Also, make sure you get a good nib, the most important part of the pen. Some wooden pens come with indifferent nibs, so be careful on that front as well and find out before you buy!

Welcome again!

Erick

Hi and welcome too!

As to wood, at least do a search here on the forum. About 3-4 weeks ago a few new members said the were getting into lathing of pens too..
All the best
Mike

Welcome to the FPN!!

Jump over to the Pen Turners forum and that could help with you with you dilemma as to buy one or not.

Welcome to the boards. You're handwriting should be well on the way to reconstruction soon.

Enjoy.

Hello and welcome to FPN!

Welcome to FPN.

Welcome to the FPN, I love to write by hand but I do not spend a lot of time doing it anymore.

Mark

Hello and welcome to FPN.