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Hi, I recently decided to upgrade my paper with Rhodia, but so far I have had only terrible experience with it. I write with Waterman's Harmonious Green, but the ink seems to never fully absorb. It is safe to touch with e.g. paper towel or another page in just about 30 seconds, but even after a week or more all it takes is just to lightly touch the paper with little sweaty hand and the ink smears like it was fresh. When I write on regular Xerox paper or a normal notepad from a supermarket, it is just perfectly fine and no problems there. So, I reckon it must be either me or the ink. Since I never had any problems with my sweat being overly aggressive (watch straps or plating on them last me for years) my bet is on the ink. I think it is just not compatible with Rhodia paper. Can someone here perhaps tell me if you have encountered same problem with Waterman on better papers? Also, if anyone can recommend me some other emerald-green-ish ink that is holding well on Rhodia it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Being new to the FP writing hobby and enjoying the nib>feed>ink>paper interface, I have been writing postcards to friends and family just for the pleasure of a lovely image on the front and the nuance of the weighted line on the back. Having spent >16 years in Europe, I prefer recognizable images of landmarks because they are emotive. I purchased a postcard set that was art images of Parisian landmarks and had a terrific start. The cards were well printed and the side for correspondence accepted J-fine nib*- Heart of Darkness (who knows where a postcard will go on its return to France). So, I bought a packet of "Vintage, retro" postcards of travel images from via Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ED8O3P8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00 When the well wrapped package arrived I enjoyed the reproduction photos of travel postcards on the front. The very glossy reverse side (where you write) rejected HoD even after 60 minutes dry time. Is the expectation that the writing tool of the era (vintage, retro) a fountain pen, would be rejected by these cards? I have posted elsewhere the chicken-egg conundrum of FP use. Is it the pen that can't write on the paper or the paper that won't accept the ink? I do feel duped by the retro promise but the return postage was more than the value of the cards. Maybe I forgot my Latin and caveat emptor. *J-fine nib is to differentiate Japanese line width as opposed to W-fine nib for Western.

Last January I bought a Lamy Palladium, medium nib, that was love at the first sight - finishing, balance, look and feel, superb design, everything was there, expect for the fact that it writes really wet. I'm not a left-handed, but write in a way that my hand drags over the previously written line. You know what happens. After a bit of research I found Noodler's Bernanke Blue, a quick drying ink that would solve the problem. As I have never used a "special" ink, I was kind of skeptic, what made the outcome even more satisfying - no smearing WHATSOEVER. It literally takes ONE second to dry! I want to congratulate Noodler's for the terrific product and Goulet Pens for the amazing service! http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b519/biggi675/HUGS%20AND%20KISSES/kiss-and-thank-you-smiley-emoticon_zpsnif5jqsy.gif Marcelo

I have always used ballpoints/gell/rollerball/pencils etc. I have recently started on fountain pens, but quickly found out, much to my surprise, that the ink does not dry instantly. I always rub the side of my pinky against my letters, making them smudge as I write out the line underneath the previous line. The only cure I found so far is to turn the paper slightly sideways or do double spacing or to just lift my hand off the paper as I write. All of those postures are either tiring, makes the writing ugly, very uncomfortable to use, or all three. Is there a proper way to use fountain pens?