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Left Handed People With A Regular Fountain Pens?


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I'm left handed sidewriter, few days ago I got a regular Lamy Vista with Fine nib w/ an original Lamy Z26.

 

Lamy Vista is sure a good pen, but I'm having a small problem using it.

Depending how I'm using it, the lines become as thick as a Parker 45 (not sure the nib size) but never as fine as my broken Yiren 3239 (cheap plastic section broke, I used to like that pen) and I have a problem when I try to make fine lines.

I'm not sure if the ink is the problem, but the inks I'm using are Sheaffer black (bought like 10 years ago) and Pelikan 4001 Torquoise, Green and Light Brown.

Newbie question, Is there a correct way to hold fountain pens when you're left handed? Am I doing anything wrong? Do I really need a lefty nib/pen?

 

I'm also interested in buying a Noodler's Ahab (or any good flex/semi-flex nib pen), will I have this problem with those too?

 

(offtopic: Is Yiren the same brand as Hero?)

 

Note to self: never buy pens with plastic sections again.

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I'm left handed sidewriter, few days ago I got a regular Lamy Vista with Fine nib w/ an original Lamy Z26.

 

[snip]

 

Newbie question, Is there a correct way to hold fountain pens when you're left handed? Am I doing anything wrong? Do I really need a lefty nib/pen?

 

I'm also interested in buying a Noodler's Ahab (or any good flex/semi-flex nib pen), will I have this problem with those too?

 

(offtopic: Is Yiren the same brand as Hero?)

 

Note to self: never buy pens with plastic sections again.

 

There seen to be a lot of different questions here. If you've been writing with a fountain pen for ten years (I'm thinking of the Sheaffer ink bought ten years ago), you should have reached an understanding of writing with fountain pens by now. You've been doing it.

 

Many left-handed people write with regular fountain pens and regular nibs. I am left-handed and I've been writing with fountain pens for sixty years at least. Nobody told me there was a problem. I held my pen the way the other kids in school held their pens. (It is called the tripod grip.) I just put the nib on the paper and wrote. (I'm what's called an underwriter.)

 

Sometimes my line is narrower than I would like, but that isn't because I'm holding the pen the wrong way, or writing the wrong way, or need a different pen. It tends to be because I've got an ink flow problem or the pen has too narrow a nib.

 

As for plastic sections, some of the most highly regarded fountain pens money can buy have plastic sections. Many prefer them. But if you prefer metal sections, they're easy to find.

 

From this posting I have no idea whether you have been doing anything wrong. Or three or four things wrong. There are lots of variables.

Edited by Jerome Tarshis
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My wife uses a Lamy Safari with a regular 1.1 stub/italic nib. She turns her paper down, at 90 degrees & writes cursively downwards with no smearing issues.

She's developed this style since she was a little schoolgirl with an inkwell on her desk. Her teachers at the time were not pleased,.......but for her it has worked. A light touch too.

 

The Lamy vista pen's triangular section already establishes how you are going to hold your grip. Perhaps you may need to alter your paper's position for an improved performance with that fine nib.

At least, give it a try.

*Sailor 1911S, Black/gold, 14k. 0.8 mm. stub(JM) *1911S blue "Colours", 14k. H-B "M" BLS (PB)

*2 Sailor 1911S Burgundy/gold: 14k. 0.6 mm. "round-nosed" CI (MM) & 14k. 1.1 mm. CI (JM)

*Sailor Pro-Gear Slim Spec. Ed. "Fire",14k. (factory) "H-B"

*Kaweco SPECIAL FP: 14k. "B",-0.6 mm BLS & 14k."M" 0.4 mm. BLS (PB)

*Kaweco Stainless Steel Lilliput, 14k. "M" -0.7 mm.BLS, (PB)

 

 

 

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Left handed pen? Some say they make them, like Pelikan. I think it's hogwash, and I have been left handed since 1953. The ink might get on the left edge of your hand, that touches the paper. That's if the ink doesn't dry fast enough. I use the same pens right handed people use. Any ineptitude is strictly my own.

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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I'm a lefty, underwriter. Have never owned a "lefty" pen, as there has never been any evident reason for not using a standard fountain pen. And 40 some odd, to date, pens that support me.

 

"Side writer"? Do you mean that you push the pen left to right with the nib pointed due east?

 

If so, there might be a problem with fine or extra-fine nibs being pushed along, especially on poor or textured paper. Stub or cursive italic nibs put down a line of different width, depending on whether they're moving "vertically" with respect to the nib's center line (wider line), or "horizontally" (thinner line).

 

You might try rotating your paper clockwise, leaving your hand and arm in the same position, to let you move the nib parallel to the (possibly non-existent) lines on the page. I tend to turn my page 15-30º clockwise so that my forearm is perpendicular to the lines on the page. Might be worth a try.

 

As for metal/plastic sections, I have yet to find a metal section that feels tolerable. A plastic section should be more than strong enough for years of normal use, unless there's a defect in the part, or the writer puts waaaaay too much force on it while writing.

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Line size is a function of three things, ink, paper and nib size. Most of today's paper is very absorbent and will increase the line size. Wet inks will also produce broader lines. You might try using HP Premium Choice Laserjet paper, it is relatively inexpensive and works well with fountain pen inks.

Depending how I'm using it, the lines become as thick as a Parker 45 (not sure the nib size) but never as fine as my broken Yiren 3239 (cheap plastic section broke, I used to like that pen) and I have a problem when I try to make fine lines.

...............................................................

We Are Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams

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I find the idea of a special left hand pen interesting. Let me explain why.

 

Although there is a difference between using your left hand or right hand for writing, this depends mainly on the language you write in. Left handed people who write from left to right (English and most other languages) push the pen from the start point (nib points forward), while right handed people pull it from the start point (nib points backwards). However, it is exactly the opposite for those who write from right to left (Arabic, Hebrew, and some other languages).

 

Since I assume there is no physical/mechanical difference in the way left handed and right handed people write, except for the direction, the idea of "left hand" Vs. "right hand" pen seems to me as a non-existing issue, as "left had pen" for a person writing in English will be a "right hand pen" for a person writing in Arabic.

 

Personally, as a native Hebrew writer, I have not felt any difference when using any of my fountain pens writing in English (left to right) or in Hebrew (right to left).

Edited by lisadan

Dan

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May just be a matter of paying close attention to nib orientation and keeping the sweet spot on the paper as you go across the paper writing.

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I found the Lamy vista to be a problematic writer for me since I too am a lefthander. The section forces me to write with an unnaturally skewed nib and I battled it to have it write my way... But no, Lamy wants you to write THEIR way.

 

So I gave the Lamy Vista away.

 

As for metal sections, I had a Lamy Studio that I dearly liked the looks of but the sections design caused a constant slippery feeling. My fingers keep migrating further towards the nib until I would have to stop and reposition my finger grip. Had to give that one away too.

 

Currently the only pen I have with a metal section is a Montblanc Starwalker. I would say that not buy pens with non metal sections would severely limit your options for buying a very decent writing pen. All my best writers have none metallic sections.

What Would The Flying Spaghetti Monster Do?

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Just curious Rudy, when writing , do you hold your pens as right handers do except in the left or do you southpaw? I'm ambidextrous now & prefer to write with my right & draw with my left. Was born as a left hander but that was "beaten" out of me by well meaning teachers, etc.....

*Sailor 1911S, Black/gold, 14k. 0.8 mm. stub(JM) *1911S blue "Colours", 14k. H-B "M" BLS (PB)

*2 Sailor 1911S Burgundy/gold: 14k. 0.6 mm. "round-nosed" CI (MM) & 14k. 1.1 mm. CI (JM)

*Sailor Pro-Gear Slim Spec. Ed. "Fire",14k. (factory) "H-B"

*Kaweco SPECIAL FP: 14k. "B",-0.6 mm BLS & 14k."M" 0.4 mm. BLS (PB)

*Kaweco Stainless Steel Lilliput, 14k. "M" -0.7 mm.BLS, (PB)

 

 

 

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My two cents worth.

 

I am left-handed (born in 1952). I used to be an overwriter where I curled my left hand clockwise and dragged it through the ink to get the same slant on my writing as right-handed people. My fifth grade teacher's mission in life was for me to have legible, neat handwriting - difficult to do with dip pens and a curled hand. I eventually changed and became an underwriter and to this day I still get compliments on my handwriting.

 

@lisadan - What a well-written, thoughtful response. Given that fountain pens have been around a lot longer than ball point, you have raised an interesting issue.

 

@tinta - Since the accepted definition of the term southpaw is someone who is left-handed, a left-handed pitcher, or a boxer who leads with his right hand, I'm curious to know what you meant when you asked "... or do you southpaw?"

 

Lastly, I use normal fountain pen nibs, not those specific to left-handed writers. My current pen of choice is a fine pointed Parker 61 but I also have a Lamy Safari and Studio both with XF nibs and a Pilot Metropolitan and 78G both with fine nibs.

 

Gord

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I change my position frequently but I default to overhand. Perhaps a switch to a finer nib would be useful: pen position becomes much less important.

My favorite nibs are fine and flexible; if you can get your hands on one it might solve your problem.

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My two cents worth.

 

I am left-handed (born in 1952). I used to be an overwriter where I curled my left hand clockwise and dragged it through the ink to get the same slant on my writing as right-handed people. My fifth grade teacher's mission in life was for me to have legible, neat handwriting - difficult to do with dip pens and a curled hand. I eventually changed and became an underwriter and to this day I still get compliments on my handwriting.

 

 

 

@tinta - Since the accepted definition of the term southpaw is someone who is left-handed, a left-handed pitcher, or a boxer who leads with his right hand, I'm curious to know what you meant when you asked "... or do you southpaw?"

 

.

 

Gord

My mistake Gord, I should have made it clearer as a south paw hook grip.

*Sailor 1911S, Black/gold, 14k. 0.8 mm. stub(JM) *1911S blue "Colours", 14k. H-B "M" BLS (PB)

*2 Sailor 1911S Burgundy/gold: 14k. 0.6 mm. "round-nosed" CI (MM) & 14k. 1.1 mm. CI (JM)

*Sailor Pro-Gear Slim Spec. Ed. "Fire",14k. (factory) "H-B"

*Kaweco SPECIAL FP: 14k. "B",-0.6 mm BLS & 14k."M" 0.4 mm. BLS (PB)

*Kaweco Stainless Steel Lilliput, 14k. "M" -0.7 mm.BLS, (PB)

 

 

 

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Line size is a function of three things, ink, paper and nib size. Most of today's paper is very absorbent and will increase the line size. Wet inks will also produce broader lines. You might try using HP Premium Choice Laserjet paper, it is relatively inexpensive and works well with fountain pen inks.

 

FOUR things. You forgot the writer. Press harder and you get a wider ink line.

 

To the OP

If you want a narrower ink line, you should replace the Fine nib with an ExtraFine nib. Asian nibs are in general finer than western nibs, due to the need to write the Chinese characters, which fit a LOT of strokes into a small space.

 

There is nothing wrong with a plastic section. Most modern pens come with plastic sections.

 

WARNING WARNING. A Noodler's pen is a gamble/flip of the coin; some work fine 'out of the box,' others requires tinkering with the nib and feed, and others refuse to behave despite hours of tinkering.

 

Tip, if you want flex at an inexpensive price, you should look into dip pens. You can get dip pen nibs that will make most flex fountain pens look bad, for a relatively low cost . . . about $3. And the straight holder will cost you all of $5, or $20 for a NICE one.

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There seen to be a lot of different questions here. If you've been writing with a fountain pen for ten years (I'm thinking of the Sheaffer ink bought ten years ago), you should have reached an understanding of writing with fountain pens by now. You've been doing it.

I bought that bottle long ago with a cheap fountain pen ($2), which I lost. And, as I was busy with study and stuff, I hadn't much time to buy another fountain pen. That's why I kinda forgot how to use a fountain pen. :P

 

As for plastic sections, some of the most highly regarded fountain pens money can buy have plastic sections. Many prefer them. But if you prefer metal sections, they're easy to find.

 

From this posting I have no idea whether you have been doing anything wrong. Or three or four things wrong. There are lots of variables.

My problem with the metal sections is that, with some use, they get a strong smell and I have no idea how to remove. My Vista doesn't have this problem. (my Lamy seems to be a bit fragile, tho...)

(I wash and dry my hands before using those pens)

 

"Side writer"? Do you mean that you push the pen left to right with the nib pointed due east?

 

If so, there might be a problem with fine or extra-fine nibs being pushed along, especially on poor or textured paper. Stub or cursive italic nibs put down a line of different width, depending on whether they're moving "vertically" with respect to the nib's center line (wider line), or "horizontally" (thinner line).

 

You might try rotating your paper clockwise, leaving your hand and arm in the same position, to let you move the nib parallel to the (possibly non-existent) lines on the page. I tend to turn my page 15-30º clockwise so that my forearm is perpendicular to the lines on the page. Might be worth a try.

 

As for metal/plastic sections, I have yet to find a metal section that feels tolerable. A plastic section should be more than strong enough for years of normal use, unless there's a defect in the part, or the writer puts waaaaay too much force on it while writing.

Sidewriter is almost like the example in this http://blog.gouletpens.com/2015/08/fp101-fountain-pens-for-lefties.html

I'll try rotate that as soon as I get home, forgot the pen at home.

The problem with that Yiren pen was the following: heavy metal body, cheap plastic section. That pen fell a single time from like 50 cm and broke. :\ (pen was w/o the cap rolled down the table)

 

Line size is a function of three things, ink, paper and nib size. Most of today's paper is very absorbent and will increase the line size. Wet inks will also produce broader lines. You might try using HP Premium Choice Laserjet paper, it is relatively inexpensive and works well with fountain pen inks.

Maybe the paper is the problem, I was using my notebook and some regular sulfite paper (is this the name? Not sure its name in english)

HP Laserjet paper? I'll buy it tomorrow to test. (If I can find)

 

To the OP

If you want a narrower ink line, you should replace the Fine nib with an ExtraFine nib. Asian nibs are in general finer than western nibs, due to the need to write the Chinese characters, which fit a LOT of strokes into a small space.

 

There is nothing wrong with a plastic section. Most modern pens come with plastic sections.

 

WARNING WARNING. A Noodler's pen is a gamble/flip of the coin; some work fine 'out of the box,' others requires tinkering with the nib and feed, and others refuse to behave despite hours of tinkering.

 

Tip, if you want flex at an inexpensive price, you should look into dip pens. You can get dip pen nibs that will make most flex fountain pens look bad, for a relatively low cost . . . about $3. And the straight holder will cost you all of $5, or $20 for a NICE one.

Hm... I guess that Yiren had a XF nib, then I'll be buying some Hero and/or Jinhao to test.

By the way, Hero and Jinhao pens' has good plastic sections? Or they'll break like Yiren?

Are Jinhao X750 and Hero 9xxx (forgot exact model)?

 

I was thinking about getting a Noddler's because they're reasonably cheap and has semi/flex nibs.

 

I'm not a big fan of dip pens, ink. Ink everywhere. =p

 

 

Thank you all people :D

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My school experience was similar to Good K. and I became a lefty underwriter and the issue was resolved.

 

However, I do have a "left-handed" pen. Several years ago, Richard Binder crafted a cursive italic nib for me at a show. I wrote, he ground, and we repeated until it fit me. The nib started life as a Bexley broad, now narrower with a left-footed slant of about 2-3 degrees to accommodate the angle my hand is to the written line.

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I write with my left hand. I hold the pen in the traditional tripod grip, held the way right handers write (underwriting I think). Normal nib's worked fine for me for 50+ years and I knew no better. I recently tried out a left foot oblique nib which feels really good if not better than the normal nibs.

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