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Hi! I have a vintage Sheaffer student pen (about the 70s model) that I found at an antique store. The previous owner had let the ink run out and then just set it down. Thankfully, the ink was water soluble so that the ink was easily removed with lots of flushing and soaking. I got a new cartridge with the exact ink that was in it before (Skrip since the cartridge was still attached) but it won't flow out. If I place a paper towel on top of the nib, ink flows onto the paper towel, it just won't flow to the very tip of the nib. The nib is inlaid and can't be adjusted. I'm not sure what else to try.

Quite a few German pen companies seem to tailor a portion of their line for students, starting with primary and all the way up to university. The German pen company, ONLINE, is one of them, and they offer quite a range of economical fountain pens for youngsters and adults alike. The company is fairly new - established in 1991 - and currently offers two major lines: Young.Line, and Top.Line. The Young.Line is mainly purposed for students, with trendy styles and durability in mind. They also offer things like erasers, pen cases, and other pen paraphernalia. Since they are a newcomer to the German pen industry where many major players have been waging marketing wars for a century, they seem to have focused on everyday-usable pens. For European customers, the Online pens are available - guess what - online, and probably in retailers if you are in Germany. If you are in the US, their products are available from Paradise Pen, but ONLY the Academy Flash line. ______________________________________________________________________ Appearance & Design (1-10) - A modern spin on Lamy Safari? The pen is not flashy in design, despite its name. Germans seem to have some preference for big, silver clips, and this one is no exception, with a big, "look at me" kind of a silver clip attached to the cap from a black top. I purchased the pink model, but they are also available in black, orange, red, white, and yellow. They also have the "same design but different metalwork" kind of a model, called Viva Colori, which are available in black, purple, lilac, blue, green, and yellow. In this version, all the black parts are replaced by stainless-steel-looking equivalents. The logo of the company and the country of origin are engraved on the cap's black portion, right above where the clip is attached, and also on the nib. http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w614/GabrielleduVent/DSC_0278_zps67dc39b5.jpg There is something a little odd going on with the cap, and where the cap end generally meets if you cap the pen or post it. For some reason, the cap end is cut into a wave, with the back of the end cut slightly lower than the front. This dictates the orientation of the cap - it doesn't allow rotation without getting the cap loose - which was something new for me. http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w614/GabrielleduVent/DSC_0279_zpse62d3b95.jpg It does, however, allow seamless attachment. http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w614/GabrielleduVent/DSC_0276_zps9fc4b6f6.jpg 9/10 Construction & Quality (1-10) - It seems to handle some beating well. It's clearly a student pen, so it's designed to handle a 10 year old running around with a rock inside the bag next to the pen. I haven't tried to scratch it or drop OED on it, so I'm not sure just how much pressure or momentum this thing can suffer, but the construction is quite sturdy. The nib is made of iridium, and it doesn't allow much flexing. The clip won't be coming off any time soon. A bit of rough-handling won't mar this pen. The grip is an ergonomic grip, and has a rubbery texture. It feels comfortable, but has the same scheme as Lamy Safari's "thou shalt place thy finger here in this manner" kind of a "wedge". For those who abhor that Lamy grip, this won't be your new best friend. http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w614/GabrielleduVent/DSC_0283_zps52ef1e31.jpg http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w614/GabrielleduVent/DSC_0286_zps22818f94.jpg 9/10 Weight & Dimensions (1-10) - German pens seem to have a standard. Weight: 41g Length: 141mm x 17mm x 12mm, 169mm long posted Upon comparison, the length is almost identical (capped, at least) to Lamy Safari. http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w614/GabrielleduVent/DSC_0275_zpsc8f006a4.jpg It fits my hand well, and it's not too thin nor too thick. The cap is light, so it doesn't make the pen head-heavy when I post it. 10/10 Nib & Performance (1-10) - Slippery when wet? The nib is only available in M if you are in the US. If you are buying directly from ONLINE, you can also purchase in EF; there are also nib/grip portions available separately as L (for lefties) and ballpoint. http://www.online-pen.de/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/G/r/Griffstuecke_Academy.jpg_14.jpg The nib itself allows very little flexing, and the tip is rounded. This, for some reason, returned almost NO feedback; it isn't the smoothness of slicing into cheese with a very sharp knife, which is what a Japanese pen feels like, but rather slipping on oil that someone spilt on a tile floor. As I'm not used to that kind of slippery nib, it took me by surprise. The nib is not the angular shape Lamy Safari and Platinum Preppy sport, but the standard shape. It has the engraving "ONLINE Germany" on it. http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w614/GabrielleduVent/DSC_0277_zps64cf4f34.jpg Or it might be the ink. I filled it with Noodler's Shah's Rose. 7/10 Filling System & Maintenance (1-10) - Cartridge system, will take international converters The filling system is your regular international cartridge, and accepts long international converters. http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w614/GabrielleduVent/DSC_0280_zpscc0238e2.jpg It came with a blue cartridge, and an inexplicable object that is shaped like a cartridge, but is empty, and has no bottom. The part where the nipple goes into the feed is a slightly transparent plastic, and the plastic itself is almost black, so I don't think I'll notice if there was any staining anyway. http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w614/GabrielleduVent/DSC_0281_zpsdac58611.jpg 10/10 Cost & Value (1-10) - It's priced appropriately for a student pen. The price in the US is $18.95, plus local tax. If you buy it direct from the website, it is 10,99 plus 19% tax (that's roughly $15, tax not included). It's not going to break your bank, and it serves as a pen, and it probably handles rough handling. Including tax (which came out to be 13,08 euros), the US equivalent would be about $18. So either way, it's very appropriately priced. The exchangeable nibs are 3,99 per grip/nib, plus 19% tax. 10/10 Conclusion - It's a good pen for students, and those who want a pen that they don't have to fuss about. While this pen would not be replacing my most often-used pen, it's definitely going to be kept in rotation. My only gripe was the lack of nib varieties, but I generally don't use italic so I have no problem with that. It'd look odd on an executive desk, but for students, writers, and those who are looking utility rather than design/prestige, this would be a good pen to buy. TOTAL: 9.16/10 (Grip image courtesy of ONLINE Schreibgeräte.)

What are your thoughts on the 78g as a student pen? If you know me, I've pen searching for a new pen for the next academic year, which includes looking at Lamy's and Pilot's. So how does the 78g do?

Hey there, this is my first post on The Fountain Pen Network and I'm a 16 year old high school student from New Delhi, India. I'm a beginner in the Fountain Pen world and I only own a Dark Lilac Lamy Safari (Medium Nib) and a Pilot Metropolitan (Fine Nib). I use Sheaffer Skrip Blue for my Lamy and Pilot Black Ink for my Metropolitan to write on my school notebooks with bad quality paper. Now considering that we in India, have a low supply of foreign fountain pen brands and what's available to me either online on Amazon India or in a local pen shop williampenn.net costs a great deal than what folks in the US pay, for instance my question is, which gold nib fountain pen would be a good option for me under or in the ballpark of $200-$250 (about INR.5000 to INR. 15000). I definately want it to be a gold nib as i want to feel the experience of writing with one getting some feedback with it maybe. Also, I feel that my Lamy Medium nib is a tad bit too thick for me and my Fine Metropolitan nib is way too thin for my liking. I feel that a European Fine or a Japanese Medium would do (As I am considering to buy a Lamy 2000 or a Platinum 3776). One last thing is that we don't get a lot of inks here in India, but I have managed to find Edelstein, Waterman, Private Reserve and Diamine Inks either online or in William Penn and I want a good Bright blue (I am considering Diamine Oxford Blue for INR. 800/$13) so which color would be a good option for an everyday blue? P.S, if anyone could find me cheaper priced gold nib pens like the Lamy 2000 with cheap international shipping online, or somewhere in Delhi, I would be very thankful. Thank You for your time!

Hey everyone I'm wondering what nibs I should use for Sanskrit (Devanagari) and Tibetan scripts. Also, I am looking for cheap pens with said nib for a class I'll be teaching in September. The students will be required to write in Sanskrit in a notebook for homework. Ideally one that is an eye-dropper or converter. So I want a decent pen/nib for myself but need a cheap alternative for my students.

A few years ago I bought some of these pens that were advertised as Reform Student fountain pens. I bought them from an individual, not an on-line store, not from Flea-Bay. They write well, but I have always wondered if they are really a product of the Reform company, and if they are if they have a specific model number or name or if they're just called "Reform Student" fountain pens. The nibs are stamped: Iridium Point Germany But we all know that that doesn't mean they were made in Germany. One had "Germany" on the end button,FWIW. http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/Ink_Stained_Wretch/reform_student_fountain_pens_closed.jpg Here they are with their caps on. http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/Ink_Stained_Wretch/reform_student_fountain_pens_open.jpg Here they are with their caps off. http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/Ink_Stained_Wretch/reform_student_fountain_pen_end.jpg Here's the end of the one with "Germany" on the end button. Can we call it a tassie on such inexpensive pens? Anyway, if anyone can help to identify these pens I'd appreciate it .

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could give me a suggestion on inks for a beginner/student. The paper i write on varies, so I would prefer one that wouldn't bleed through and feather. I also plan on making the Lamy Safari my first fountain pen, and an ink that pairs with this pen would be nice. So far, I am looking at the Noodler's Black and the Diamine Intense Black. Any suggestions on a better starter pen would be nice too.

This is my first question on this forum, so I don't know if I'm in the right place. Anyway, I'm a college student that writes exclusively with fountain pens. I prefer piston fillers (my current daily driver is a Reform 1745). Being a student, my budget is very modest, meaning that if I need a portable inkwell, I cannot afford the Visconti Portable Inkwell. Does anybody know of any alternatives, either modern or antique, that could allow me to carry some ink in case I run out? Preferably, it would be reasonably-priced, sturdy enough to keep in a bag, and have a pretty small form factor. It doesn't need to hold a whole lot of ink, just enough to keep me going if I still need to write a page or two more after my ink runs out. Also, I would actually prefer if it wasn't something really fancy looking. I don't want to draw attention to myself by pulling it out in the middle of class. Thanks guys!

Hello, I recently got back in to fountain pens and have been conflicted as to my next fountain pen. My first pen was a crappy jinhao, which was quickly followed by some other unknown Chinese knockoff of a lamy, and then shortly by a borrowed blue-gold waterman expert (it's my mom's. I love writing with it but want my own pen because she'll get mad at me if I damage it because it was really expensive at the time and is no longer available). and before anyone says anything, I personally don't like the more inexpensive Lamys, I don't find them to be comfortable. More recently I have also tried out a rOtring 600 (currently discontinued) which I like, however the lack of a knurled grip on the model I have, the cap, and terrible balance when posted are huge put-offs. I have come down to a somewhat wide list and can't decide on what to get: The Noodler's Konrad (probably one of the ebonite or acrylic ones) The Kaweco Sport (basically any of them, but most likely one of the non-metal ones as they cost less) Any of TWSBI's pens (basically all of TWSBI's pens fit my criteria, however I can't pick one over the other) As you can clearly tell these are relatively inexpensive pens. I am a student right now, which is why these pens are all pretty inexpensive. I want to bring the pen around with me to my classes. I walk between all my classes up and down a 3-story building and it's pretty long. I store my pens more diagonally or horizontally when not in use (when they are in my bag, as my backpack rests at a diagonal angle across my back). I like to be able to post my pens, as it means I don't need to keep track of the cap as I don't like holding the cap in my other hand, however most times I post my fountain pens or someone else's I find it to be either unbalanced or just uncomfortable as the edge of the cap irritates the side of my hand (this is especially the case on the Waterman, where when I post it the edge of the cap digs into my hand slightly). in case it matters, I use purple/violet ink, currently I am using the J. Herbin scented Violet ink (I love this stuff), however I am considering switching to something like Waterman's Tender Purple or some other purple/violet ink (suggestions?) I really like the look and design of the Kaweco, but the use of a converter is a bit of a put-off as I would prefer I be able to fill it once and have it last me a while. I like the look and design of the Noodler's a lot too however I worry it may require fidgeting with which is something I really would rather not do (and if I don't like the flex nib I could always replace it with some other nib, but then I need to do that... Again with the fidgeting). And on the topic of the TWSBI pens, they basically all fit my criteria, they appear to be a safe bet but I can't pick one in particular (580 vs classic vs mini vs maybe the vac700 or vac mini) I just can't decide. Help would be very greatly appreciated.

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to say that for those of you looking for quality copy/looseleaf paper the Double A paper sold in Amazon is incredibly smooth and reasonably priced (35$ per case). As a student I needed a cheap solution for looseleaf so I printed the college ruled template (found on Incompetech website) on it and you can even print and write on both sides (very little shadow)

Hi there, folks. My name's Sam. I had my partner and a friend ruin me on non-FPs last fall by pointing out the pressure issue I've always had with ballpoints and letting me try out one of their pens. I'm old enough to get irritated when carded, and I work in a post-secondary academic setting as well as being a part-time college student. Got a Lamy Safari in November. First one was a fake from Amazon. Learned better. Got a second from an authorized retailer. Still didn't care for it. Since then, I've tried most of the "starter" pens. You know, your Metros, your Preppies, Jinhaos, etc. Dipped into "modern" flex a little bit. It's a neat idea, but I'm curious about older flex pens (though I'm not curious enough to pay what they generally seem to go for just to satisfy a curiosity), since it seems like they would be a lot better in execution. They've each got their purposes. My workhorse of late has been a Faber-Castell Loom, EF. So...I guess that's me, as far as fountain pens go.

Hey Guys, I am currently a Junior at high school and a big fan of fountain pens, as a student I only use fountain pens with the exception of a Rotring 500 for math. My experience with some fountain pens has been great, others not so much. I started out with a Lamy Safari in Medium, accidentally dropped it after a couple of months and broke the nib. I then got a Lamy AL Star (M), which had an incredibly smooth nib, at the same time I got a new Safari (M) to put another ink in, and it had a very bad nib, straight out of the box the tines were very uneven, and the bead at the end was beyond fixing, and there was absolutely nothing that can be done to fix that nib. I received a Parker IM for Christmas, which was a complete disappointment, very scratchy, and generally low quality nib same with another Parker Jotter I got. I take very good care of my pens and frequently wash them and clean them and my ink of choice is the Pelikan 4001. I want to invest in a new pen, one that I can keep for years as a daily pen, price is not the biggest issue, since I intend to save for it. I want something that has consistent quality, ruggedness, and smoothness, basically an everyday pen. I want it to be a step up from my Lamys and Parkers. Tl:Dr A Student looking for a reliable, high quality, rugged, smooth, and utility pen. Price is no issue. Through trials on lower end pens: Lamy Steel nibs, Can be very smooth, but can also be terrible. Generally non consistent quality. Parker IM and Jotter: Complete and utter disaster, even when changing inks, papers, and frequent washes. I want a pen to invest in, what are my options? Thanks in advance.

I'm helping plan a high school prom and it has been discussed to use a wax seal on our ticket envelopes. Is there any recommended kits and brands? It's probably only going to be used once, but we something simple and reliable. Any suggestions?‹

Hi there! This is not my first post, but I guess I should introduce myself anyway now! I'm a student from Germany and in recent months/the recent year became more and more interested in fountain pens! My collection is fairly small and I am not trying to get a big collection, rather get a few pens which I really really like. At the moment I am trying to save up for my first "big purchase", probably a 300+ euro pen, but it will be a few months till I get there. When I get there, I will show it though. Thanks for reading! PS: How do I change my profile picture?

It is Back-to-School Season! And I have an Esterbrook J-series pen available for a student. You are eligible if: -You are a student (at any level! of any topic!), and -You have not won a PIF from the Fountain Pen Network in the past 3 months, and -You have a US mailing address. You'll receive: -The pen, with a 1551 nib. -Three ink samples of your choice. Options are: Noodler's: Air Corp Blue-Black, Red Rattler, Blue, Diamine: Pumpkin, Onyx Waterman: Purple Pilot: Iroshizuku Yama-Budo This is a pen that I previously won as a PIF. I'm not using it as much as I'd like, primarily because I use a different Esterbrook SJ more frequently, so I'd like this to go to another good home. I'm going to the post office tomorrow. If you're eligible and interested, please PM me and include your name, mailing address, what 3 inks you'd like, and what you're studying.

Hi guys, I'm hoping this is in the right place. I start school in August for BioChem, and I'm looking for a reliable pen to get me through college. I'm willing to spend up to 80$, although that's a bit flexible. Over the past year I've used the Pilot Varsity, and I finally want to take the plunge on my first real pen. I'd rather avoid the Lamy Safari, just because of how ugly they look. Also, what's the best websites to be buying these pens that you are suggesting? Thanks!

**This is my first pen review! Feedback definitely encouraged, but please be gentle with me, I'm new ** I started using fountain pens a couple of years ago, and since that first Lamy Safari, I've learned a lot about what I like, dislike, want, don't want, prefer to have, and can live without. At first, my pen purchases were somewhat haphazard - "hey, I've heard of Lamy - let's get one of those! Oooh, I'd fancy having a RED pen, better grab that as well" - a problem which I suspect is relatively common to newbies (and even a few oldbies). Lately, however, I've started thinking out my purchases a bit better, and after seeing Stephen Brown's review on YouTube, I became curious about the Kaweco Student. The first thing I noticed is that it seems to be somewhat difficult to find experience with this pen. There's Stephen's review, two that I could dig up here on FPN, and a handful of other mentions out on the web: but broadly speaking, search for it and you come up with a big fat "Did you mean KAWECO SPORT?" No, internet, I did not mean Kaweco Sport. And I'm puzzled by this seeming lack of Students in the wild, because after taking the plunge at my local B&M about a month ago and using the Student heavily since then, I'm here to tell you that I think this pen is absolutely tremendous. I bought it out of curiosity, and it is now my all-around favorite pen that I own. This is not going to be a review packed with fastidious measurements and loupe details. I'm going for a more narrative review based on what I now consider to be adequate real-world experience, trying to give you something beyond a "first impression." So let's dig in! THE BASICS The Student is a mostly acrylic plastic C&C and eyedropper-ready (!) pen which costs between $50 and $60. It is available in four colors: opaque black, white, and red, and translucent blue. I have the blue one, and it can look a bit violet in some light (***ONE NOTE: in the photos here, the pen will mostly look much darker than it actually is, because I have it filled as an eyedropper right now***). The pen is packaged in that nifty, retro Kaweco tin, which is both sturdy and quite handy. A nice touch for the price point. It is supplied with a short cartridge and, depending on where you buy it, usually a converter as well: most online vendors I've looked at include a converter, but the local B&M where I bought mine sold it separately. THE BUILD The pen, as mentioned, is mostly plastic. The screw-on cap and solid barrel are all plastic. The simple but very strong clip is metal, and the hourglass grip section is metal as well ("chromed brass," according to Kaweco). The finial bears a small, metallic three-sectioned Kaweco logo. Just below the finial and on the reverse side from where the clip attaches, the words "Kaweco Student Germany" are etched into the cap. There is a single metal ring around the cap where it screws on to the pen, which bears the words "KAWECO" and "GERMANY" along with a series of dots. That's the extent of the decoration on the pen itself. It has a very streamlined, unobtrusive, classic - almost retro - look that I really enjoy. The stainless steel nib, which I believe is made by Bock, bears some scrollwork along the tines over the words "Germany" on the left tine and "since 1883" on the right, the Kaweco logo below the breather hole, and the nib size below the logo. The logo is also found on the feed, which, as Stephen Brown mentions, is somewhat unusual and a nice touch. The Student takes the standard Kaweco "nib replacement 060." These are the screw-in nib replacement units that include the combined nib and feed assembly housed in a plastic sleeve. In other words, for not too much money, you can have an easily-swapped-out range of nib sizes from EF to double-broad: just unscrew the whole unit and screw the new one in. This is not a very large pen, but it isn't tiny either. The mostly-plastic build means it is pretty lightweight. The cap posts well, not deeply but very securely (though I wouldn't jam it on there too hard since this is a plastic body). I find the pen to be better balanced when it is posted. That metal section is quite heavy and tends to tug the pen forward and down a bit, if that makes sense, so posting provides a bit of counterweight and better overall balance. As for length, the pen fits beautifully into my small-to-medium size hands when posted, but just on the right side of "too short" without posting. I cannot stand using small pens (which is why this model is my first Kaweco rather than one of their more popular smaller builds), and I prefer to post for the most part. The Student hits a definite sweet spot for me as far as size and weight. The overall impression is of solid engineering and very good build quality. The threads for the screw-on grip section and the cap are smooth and secure, the clip is very tight (but well designed to make it easy to slip in and out of a pocket), and all in all the pen feels like a workhorse. In day-to-day use over the past month, I haven't exactly babied it, and it is holding up well. One quibble is that the acrylic picks up scratches rather easily, though that's to be expected in this material. On my blue...I guess I'd call this a semi-demonstrator?...model, the barrel is starting to cloud very slightly in some specific places, particularly a ring around where the cap sits when posted. Then again, since this is a relatively affordable pen and an EDC for me, I think it is holding up fine. It feels like a pen that will be with me for a good long while. Those who like the model but want more durability can step up to the metal Allrounder, with the understanding that you'll lose the possibility for eyedropper filling. THE NIB Kaweco nibs seem to be a little bit hit or miss. Stephen Brown's review mentions that his Student (mirroring his general Kaweco experiences) wrote bone-dry out of the box. Some other Kaweco reviewers have mentioned quite a variety of first impressions with their Kaweco nibs. All I can tell you is this: maybe I was very lucky, but the medium nib on my Student is flawlessly, utterly, abso-freakin-lutely fantastic. It's the best stainless steel nib I have. As far as smoothness, it runs neck and neck with my Faber-Castell e-motion - possibly even edges it out - and, though definitely not a gusher, I'd say it writes about as wet as the e-motion. I would say the line is on the finer side of medium. It has never had a hard start, never skipped, never faltered. It just writes, and writes well. I know that sounds crazy. Really, I do! I promise, though, that I'm not exaggerating. I know that Kaweco is well-liked but not exactly legendary as far as nibs go. I hear ya. I had only reasonable expectations for this pen when I bought it, but wow. It has totally won me over. THE WRITING EXPERIENCE - AND EYEDROPPER CONVERSION! In the beginning, I thought maybe it was the ink. I first inked up with a sample of Noodlers Cactus Fruit Eel, and we know that's an especially smooth, wet, juicy ink. I jotted down a note to a friend on some Clairefontaine Triomphe stationery, and it was like writing on glass with melted butter. Gosh, this thing glides! Obviously that combo of ink and paper was always going to be somewhat glassy, but this nib felt great right away. Once I used up the Cactus Fruit, I decided to try something I've never tried with any of my pens, and use the Student as an eyedropper fill. This was a major reason that I purchased the pen, after Stephen mentioned the potential in his review. One FPN user mentioned that s/he had done it with good results, and I know other Kaweco models have been used as eyedroppers. I was, and remain, slightly concerned about the metal grip section. There is exposed metal where it screws in to the body. Others, though, have said that this isn't a massive problem, and that concerns about corrosion can be mitigated by using a well-behaved ink. Well behaved ink? What else, then, but ol' faithful: Waterman [serenity/Florida/whatever it's called today] blue. Which, incidentally, matches the blue color of the pen itself rather well. I filled it up - OMG so much ink! - and I've hardly been able to set the pen down since. It wasn't just the Cactus Fruit. It wasn't just the Triomphe. This is simply a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant little writer. No matter what I throw at it, the Student cheerfully (this is a cheerful pen) does its thing without question. It behaves well in my sometimes-finicky Leuchtturm pocket journal and skates across Rhodia/Clairefontaine. Best of all, a few days ago I used it to write a six-page letter on some Crane monarch sheets. Holy moley. I just couldn't stop. The way this thing felt on that paper...wow. Fountain pen nirvana. LIVING WITH IT AND FINAL THOUGHTS It didn't take very long for me to fall in love with this pen, and now I always have it on me. I've had zero issues so far with using it as an eyedropper. That speaks well to total fit/finish, but of course I'll be keeping an eye on it longer term to see if the metal of the section starts developing problems later as a result of the eyedropper usage. One gripe I have is with the section. It is very smooth, and while the hourglass shape helps a bit as far as maintaining grip, it can get a bit slippery. And the section might be just a touch too narrow for me for comfort over very long periods of uninterrupted usage. By the end of that monster 6-page letter, my fingers were screaming, but that was also a lot of writing for me in one sitting. When I first got the pen, the section was screwed on very tightly. I mean the thing felt glued. It took a painful amount of force to unscrew the thing, which was not helped by the smoothness of the finish. Now that I'm using it as an eyedropper, this level of fit is something I obviously appreciate, but if you pick one up and find the section is screwed on almost impossibly tight, you aren't the first. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, just something to be aware of. Here's the thing. I would, in a heartbeat, recommend MY Kaweco Student to absolutely anybody. I mean MY champion-class writer, with a nib that just sang right out of the box. There is, however, that nagging sense that I may be really, really lucky. I mentioned, earlier in the review, that some others have had issues with their Kaweco nibs, issues that may go beyond the typical "different strokes for different folks" subjectivity of fountain pen users' opinions and point to some QC problems. Given that, can I recommend the pen on the whole? Absolutely! Though with the obvious and standard caveat that your mileage may vary. That uncertainty alone may be enough to turn some people off, and understandably so. Most of us don't bring unlimited budgets to this hobby, and a $50-60 pen isn't throwaway money like a Preppy. I'd hate to see somebody come in expecting a dream writer like mine and get a bone-dry, scratchy, skippy mess. However, if you want to take the chance, and pull the trigger on a $50 eyedropper-ready workhorse with a nice retro look and largely excellent build quality, you may just end up surprised with what you get. I know I am. **EDITED IMMEDIATELY AFTER POSTING FOR A FEW TYPOS AND GRAMMATICAL ISSUES I NOTICED AS SOON AS IT POSTED. ...NATURALLY**

Hi! I'm looking for an ink for my next pen, a Sailor HighAce Neo. As it's a Japanese pen, and a Sailor, it writes very thin. I think I'll buy the blue one. Now about me: I'm a student, I write very very much, I've only used Platinum cartridges yet (liked the Pigment Blue, didn't really like the Blue-Black), I don't write cursive (I can, but it's ugly as hell). Here are the inks I can choose from: http://bolthely.hu/kepek/muveszkatalogus/04224.jpg http://bolthely.hu/kepek/muveszkatalogus/04225.jpg These are 80 ml inks, and are quite cheap ($5.3), as there's a sale right now. There are also some J Herbin and Sailor inks, but they're kind of expensive. So please choose an ink for the following questions: What is the blue or black ink, that is "conservative", so not too flashy, so I could use it for tests and such, and has the best properties for me?What is the ink that is the best for me, that can be flashy?Thanks very much! http://bolthely.hu/kepek/muveszkatalogus/04224.jpghttp://bolthely.hu/kepek/muveszkatalogus/04225.jpg

Hi! I've narrowed down my next pen choice to these two pens: the Plaisir and the HighAce Neo. Both are avaible locally in a mom-and-pop store. The Plaisir is $11 (right now there's a sale, and it's only $8.5), the HighAce is $13. I've only tried the HighAce, and I quite like it. I only have a Preppy. I'm a student, I write a lot, have very small hands, and I would like to use cartridges. I find the HighAce Neo's slimness good (before the Preppy I used a Parker Jotter as my pen), but the Preppy's is also good. Which one would you recommend?

Hi! I've been looking for a good pen for myself. I write a lot, and usually destroy my pens, and I have small hands so I like slim pens. The Highace Neo is available locally for $13. I really like it's fine nib. But the metal and plastic parts just "clash" for me. So would it be suitable for me? Is it comfortable when writing for a lot of time? Should I use converters or cartridges (I use up a Platinum cartriidge, 1.1 ml, in two days)? If converters, what kind of ink? Has someone got a long-term review of it? Any tips, tricks? Which colour is your favourite? Thanks!

TWSBI Mini in Rose Gold Review First Impression (10/10) So, there are two reasons why I got this pen. First is that I really wanted a piston filler, the second being that I wanted a shiny white pen. The pen is nicely packaged as any other TWSBI pen, with the cardboard box and plastic shell, completed with wrench and silicon grease. This pen looked beautiful out of the box, it is a little smaller than I expected, but I do like smaller pens so it’s a plus for me. Appearance and Design (8/10) Again, the Mini is a really beautiful pen when empty. However, it does look somewhat worse when it is filled with dark black ink, but it still looks good nevertheless. I would warn you that it does give off a feminine feel, which may turn off those who prefer manly-man, black on black stealth pens. The design is excellent; I especially enjoy the ability to take it apart for cleaning and maintenance. Weight and Dimensions (10/10) The pen is small, and since I have smaller hands it is perfect for me. The pen does post pretty well with the screw on cap, so it’ll fit those with larger hands as well. Nib and performance (6/10) As a student, I always go with the fine nib for best performance on cheap paper. The nib is beautifully coated with rose gold. The nib did not start off being the smoothest, but got much better after a little bit of adjustments with my writing angle (small sweet spot). I do have a big complaint with how dry this pen is. This pen is beyond just causing a little bit of hard start: it completely stops working when kept in an upright position, causing a lot of frustration for me needing to prime it each time. Now I keep the pen flat on my desk and keep it half full to make sure it works every time when I pick it up. This is not best choice for use as a student pen. Filling system & Maintenance (10/10) The filling system is easy to use, and holds a lot of ink. Maintenance is superior because I can take apart the pen easily to clean out the pen really quickly. Cost & Value (6/10) Ok, this pen looks nice, but you can get an identical pen with just a different color (the regular TWSBI Mini) for $15 less. So if you’re not looking for a white and gold pen, getting this pen is low in value. Reliability wise it is disappointing for the dryness mentioned above, thus obviously lower in value than other pens like Lamy Safari as a work pen. Conclusion (8/10) This pen looks really nice and writes smoothly now, which is why I’m sure to be keeping it. I do have complaints of its dryness, but it is nothing that I can’t overlook easily, just problematic for taking notes. Overall I like this pen and accept its flaws.

So recently I've been looking for a new pen and are drawing into the Lamy Logo. I am a student. What does everyone think about the Logo. p.s does anyone have a pic of the logo with a black nib?

Here is a quick writing test on notebook paper from a Mead five start notebook. The feathering that I mentioned Is extremely hard to see and is in no way a hindrance to its use. The ink has a very nice color with some shading, the scan does not show the full range of color. The ink lubricates the nib well, it can be a little scratchy on 20 lb copy paper but it is smooth on about everything else I have tried. It has a nice even flow and rarely has any starting problems. Diamine Blue Black is a Wonderful ink and a perfect choice for students, and everyone else! Ps. I know I misspelled Written.

Hi all, I have recently acquired what I believe to be a Conway Stewart Student plunger fill fountain pen with chrome plated nib bearing the marking 'Smoothline medium USA'. The body, screw on cap, and section are made of plastic, and the clip bears the marking 'Conway Stewart UK'. There is a small clear piece of viewing window visible when capped, and this becomes about twice the size when un-capped making the ink level easy to determine. Although the pen writes well, it is however showing its age... (approx. 43 years )... ...the nib has a couple of minor spots of corrosion, the barrel and cap have some nasty scratches, and the clip is slightly corroded under the endcap. Unfortunately, the section is cracked pretty much along the seam lines on both sides running for about 1cm from the nib end towards the viewing window. The cracks in the section mean inky fingers every time it is used - which is clearly far from ideal !! Can anything be done to effect a decent repair? [i'll post some pictures when I get a moment - hopefully the cracks will be visible so you can see what I mean]. Cheers, E.

Dear Fountain Pen Network, [i've highlighted the very relevant passages for those who can't afford the time to read through all!] firstly, let me introduce myself and what I am exactly hoping to find here. I am a student from Germany, currently waiting for my study pass to study electrical engineering. Therefore I am searching for general advice on extra-fine nib fountain pens, companies who sell those and of course, availability. During my Abitur (probably high-school in US), I was using a simple Lamy Safari with a fine nib, which did not exactly fit my handwriting very well. It is still too big for my taste and I've sometimes heard complaints not about the style, but the tininess of my writing. As I was attempting to fix this issue, I stopped writing script-style and started with the usual "block"-style. Furthermore, I tried to use a different angle on the tip of the pen so that the width further decreased. Western nib sizes could not offer me the width japanese companies have in their products, if you happen to know specialty nibs for a reasonable price which fit on fountain pens from western countries, please contact me! ; ) Ok so I've decided to do some research on fountain pens and came to the conclusion that the european market simply is not suited for those products (at least in Germany), neither Sailor nor Premium sell their products and even Pilot only has a very few products available. I've found those products on the internet, those best describe what I am exactly searching for. Beside the Pilot VP, they offer the normal kind of fountain pen (classy design). Pilot Custom Heritage 912, estimated price incl. shipping cost and tax: 180€ ($245) Sailor Professional Gear Silver, estimated price incl. shipping cost and tax: 175€ ($238) Pilot Vanishing Point Fermo, estimated price incl. shipping cost and tax: 170€ ($231) Pilot Vanishing Point Decimo, estimated price incl. shipping cost and tax: 132€ ($180) Platinum 3776 #1 Black, estimated price incl. shipping cost and tax: 170€ ($231) all of those feature an extra-fine nib, which I am searching for. If you're curious about the prices: It's the cheapest I found them online. Bear in mind that those prices are calculated differently because tax is added up on top: (Price of product itself + shipping cost) * 1,19 * 1,135 1,19 = 19% VAT; 1,135 = 13,5% customs duty The customs duty is only added if the package (product + shipping cost) cost above 150€ ($202), otherwise "only" 19% is added. All of the fountain pens recommended must therefore be at a maximum price of 150€ ($202), including shipping cost to Europe. As one can see, it is very pricy for me to buy those fountain pens, so I am eager to find one that best suits my purpose which is everyday writing. Feel free to suggest pens which don't appear on this list, in terms of style I would rather like a decent pen in black, silver or dark blue with silver accents. I don't really like gold much, but if the price is right, I may take a look at those, too. Another thing I would like to adress is that I don't know if the Vanishing Point suit me since I am not using the common tripod-grip, my thumb is a lot higher, touching the point-finger between the first and second joint. I am not sure whether I can change that without putting hours in it, I've tried it and unless I am writing very slow, the handwriting does not look good (still readable though). In the next week I can probably test if the clip is a problem for me or not and I am a bit worried about the placement of the nib, too. Regarding the Pilot Custom Heritage 912: I would like to know if someone has experience with the PO-nib, especially in comparison to the EF nib. Sorry for the wall of text guys, but at this price, I have to be very precise at what I am searching for. This is my first post here and I hope that I'm in the right forum section for this kind of threads. If you've came down here, thank you for your time to read through the whole thing! Yours sincerely, R201