New To Fountain Pen's - Bought A Franklin Covey

[alc3261]

Hello, I'm new to fountain pens, on a whim I bought a Franklin Covey fountain pen at Staples, it was $13.00 after the cashier gave me a coupon. I picked up a moleskin notebook and wanted a decent looking pen for meetings, I'm sick of using the scribbled legal pad and junk pens, and I love my iPad and smartphone but I always take meetings notes with a pen and paper, typing especially on a device is just terrible for meeting notes.

 

Anyway I thought the fountain pen would be a novelty and work decent but man this thing stinks, I have to turn the nib upside down to get the ink flowing, then when writing the right way it just scratches at the paper and the ink stops running, then I turn the nib over to get the ink going again and it will write for a couple more lines then peters out. I'm taking it back to staples tomorrow to see if I can get my money back.

 

I ended up doing some research for better options and the Lamy Safari, Waterman Phileas etc... But I'm a little gun shy now after this first experience with a basically unusable pen. Are these things just finicky? Or can you get a reliable pen that basically writes when you put the point to paper? I was also looking at a Pelikan m200 but it's a bit pricey, I don't mind paying money for something works and will last, but I don't want to spend the money and end up struggling trying to make a pen work.

I got one just to see what it was like and after some fiddling with it was OK - but not for a Newbie!!

[Mike_Dowling]

I got the Pelikan in the mail today and it writes much better than the Franklin Covey, I mean it actually writes when you put pen to paper which is always good and it isn't ripping the paper apart. The pen posted is a good size, un-posted it's a tad small for my hand, but I always post my pens anyway so I actually don't mind the light-weight and smaller size. I have the Safari coming in a couple days so I'll be able to compare them.

 

Overall I'm not blown away by the pen, but I didn't expect to be for $100. I look at pens as similar to watches, maybe a $100 pen is equal to a $400 watch, I wouldn't be blown away by a $400 watch either. Now a $300+ pen I would expect to be blown away by. The Pelikan isn't a pen where you're like "wow this is a really gorgeous pen", but it is clean and classic looking and definitely German, I like it.

 

The funny thing is they sent a $3.00 Pilot Varsity with the purchase and that thing writes pretty damn well to be honest. Not as nice as the Pelikan by any means, but not bad. I gave it to my son who loved it, he can't wait to break it out at school tomorrow.

 

I'm sure this will be the beginning of an obsession. I started learning the violin as an adult and later transitioned to fiddle and got pretty good at both, 12 fiddles, 9 bows, and many thousands later...

 

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An hour later, OK this thing is pretty awesome, I get the attraction of a fountain pen, I'm hooked.

Edited March 7, 2013 by Mike_Dowling

[akustyk]

I gave it to my son who loved it, he can't wait to break it out at school tomorrow.

 

An hour later, OK this thing is pretty awesome, I get the attraction of a fountain pen, I'm hooked.

 

Congratulations! These two things you said are priceless. Enjoy your new hobby!

[langere]

Hallelujah! Mike, you did make some very good purchases. The two pens you got will probably last you a lifetime and then your son can use them!

 

Erick

[thag]

I just started too. I have a penchant for Japanese pens, so I started with a Pilot Prera Clear. I love this pen. Japanese pens write very fine, so a medium Pilot would be like a Lamy fine.

 

A good article is here:

Jet Pens Guide To Choosing A Fountain Pen

[Edwaroth]

Welcome to the nuthouse! It's all downhill from here...

 

Regards,

Ed

[MrBooo]

I am the "other guy". Perhaps weird, but here I am. I did the exact same thing. I am on TDY so don't have my MB here and wanted to write with FP. I bought a FC FP at Staples. It is absolutely perfect. Smooth, buttery, ink on paper. Not sure why.

However, I am currently on Goulet with several pens and accessories in my wish list. I'll start with Brian's pick (Pilot Custom 74, etc) and go from there.

I am a lover of FP's from way back. (nearly 70). Love to write. Love cursive. Love scribbling, etc.

 

"Write on".

[SpecTP]

I would have suggested you pick up a pack of Platinum Preppy. Very cheap (practically throwaways) and pretty good writers.

 

I give you about 2 weeks and you'll be wanting more fountain pens...

[Cocobird]

I've had no trouble with my Lamy Safari. I do prefer my Pilot Metropolitans --they are smoother, and feel better in my hand.