Greetings to the group. I'm a cardiologist from the San Diego. As opposed to the other physician-post, my handwriting is quite readable. However, nutritionists as a group have the most impressive handwriting in the hospital chart. Up until my recent purchase, I have written with a Retro 51 Tornado for about 5 years. However, I lost that pen, which had become quite beat up; and replaced it with another Tornado. That pen fell apart. Disappointed with the workmanship, I chose never to buy a Retro 51 again. I love the look of rollerballs, but hate replacing the cartridges every 2 weeks at $3 to $4 a pop. I then decided to look at a fountain pen with a piston filler. I chose a Pelikan M215 with the fine nib. I find the refilling piston to be a bit loose. I'm wondering if others who may have the same pen experience the same problems. I have the following inks:

Aurora Black
Diamine Burnt Sienna
Waterman Florida Blue
Pelikan Fount India (Black)
Sailor Blue Black

My two favorites are Aurora Black and Sailor Blue Black. Waterman's Florida Blue and Diamine's Burnt Sienna are the opposite of waterproof, and will smear to vanishing at the drop of water. But they look amazing on the page. My favorite part of the day is unscrewing the cap on the pen and writing into the chart. I'm still looking for brightly-colored fun-inks that look good in medical charts, but still copy well. Click to view attachment

I am loving some of these new screennames! Excellent! I like addressing someone called ToasterPastry!

Welcome to FPN, ToasterPastry!


I have the M215, the same model you have. It is one of my favorite pens. No, my piston-filler knob is not loose at all. Hrm....

As for inks, Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo photocopies nicely. It's a... Legal Lapis color. Hold on, here's Immoteus's scan (tsuki-yo is the last one), and here's the review. I can send you a sample if you're interested.

Sheaffer Skrip Red -- not waterproof at all -- photocopies (as reds will) very nicely.

I think the Tsuki-yo looks classy. Just like San Diego. (Nods to the Anchorman.)

ToasterPastry, you will get many recommendations, I am sure.

Welcome, welcome!

Lisa

The name is my on-line "gaming" name on first-person-shooter games I've had for the past 5 years; and my second-life persona. I started playing with guys named Avenger, Patriot, Warrior, etc. I wasn't very good; so I thought of the most harmless name I could think of, and the name stuck.

Thanks for the ink recommendations. The Pel M215 is indeed a blast to write with, but the nib is a bit on the scratchy side. I have nothing to compare it to, though.

Welcome.

A cardiologist who calls himself ToasterPastry. That's the kind of cardiologist I need, someone with a sense of humor who knows words other than "lose weight" and "exercise more."

About your scratchy Pelikan.

• Do a search on the threads about amateur nib smoothing. The most interesting technique involves a paper grocery bag. Another one involves a copper penny.
• Check the nib under a magnifying glass. Often scratchiness is misalignment. You may be able to coax the nib back into alignment yourself. Lots of thread discussion about this, use the search feature.
• Chartpak is Pelikan's distributor and repair service in the US. They are wonderful to work with and quite reliable. If your nib is messed up, check with them they may offer you a repair or swap.
• Dillo, a member here on FPN, has offerred Pelikan 200 series nibs for sale. I think they were about $20. If you ask Dillo to pick out an extra smooth one for you he will do what he says.
• Specialty Pelikan nibs are available from Richard Binder's web site. If you want your pen professionally adjusted to perfection, or to purchase a non-standard nib, he is worth checking out.

What part of San Diego do you call home? I'm in Carmel Valley.

Enjoy your time here with us!

Andy

Welcome to the forum, you have a great selection of pens.

welcome TP!

about the retro 51, i have the tornado as well. i hasn't come apart.... yet, anyways!! mine has a very smooth nib, but i found out that skips on some smooth papers, like office depot laser 28lb!!! weird!

your P215 looks very classy!!!

welcome, again!!!

Welcome to FPN.

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome to FPN!!!

Greetings and welcome to FPN from New York City. I love your name. It's making me HUNGRY!!

I always knew that doctors were simply sadistic, evil creatures. Your making me hungry with a mere glance at your username is proof of that.

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Inks...inks inks inks. Noodler's Bulletproof Black is about the safest ink in terms of permanency. Nothing short of a fire would get it off a page that it's been written on...unfortunately, it stains horribly if you get it on your clothes, so watch out.

Lisa's mentioned Sheaffer Skrip Red, a nice, bright red that's easily readable and distinguishable on paper. I like it.

Welcome and I love your moniker!

Hi there and welcome too. The M215 is a great pen! Mine has a piston which is nice and tight. Take it back and get Pelikan to fix it.

Mike

Welcome to FPN!!

Welcome Dr. You have a legible signature !! Nah surely not