Fountain Pens, A Practical Solution?

[wolf4]

I have noticed that sometimes it is frowned upon when a member admits to having used a rollerball but quite honestly they are more practical in everyday situations. I do enjoy the writing experience of fountain pens so much that I have tried to carry it around with me and use it in some practical situations, but to be honest it doesn't feel very safe or practical. The only exception I know would probably be the Lamy Safari fountain pens but unfortunately I find their nibs write with far too broad a line even when it is an EF nib.

 

Does anyone know what I mean by this? Do they themselves use the fountain pen practically in all everyday situations as their practical workhorse pen? I would love to hear how they have managed to use it in everyday situations and what fountain pen they use for that.

 

For instance, I found myself opening the boot of the car in order to get my bag and take out the envelope in order to write an address on it in a hurry and I had my fountain pen with me but I took out the cheap gel pen because it felt more practical, robust and safe to use in that sudden moment of time.

 

Generally, it seems to me that the fountain pen is fine if you want to write at great length and if you are seated at a desk, but for moments like emergencies when you have to jot something down fast, it doesn't feel safe.

 

I am trying to use the fountain pen for all sorts of everyday activities whether it is hurriedly writing down the shopping list or an address on mail that needs to be sent etc. but really I can't help feeling that the rollerball pen or any of the mass produced gel pens are really more practical.

 

I want to use the fountain pen as a practical everyday pen but it just feels...hmm... a little too delicate in some situations. Really it is more convenient to 'whip out' the rollerball or gell ball point pen to do the job - and yet some members frown upon it just because it is not a fountain pen. At least when one is hurriedly waving the rollerball pen around quickly or throwing it on the desk one does not feel it will damage the pen or its nib. But to 'whip out' a fountain pen feels more risky - the delicate nib has to be protected from brushing or knocking it accidently against something.

 

Any thoughts on this?

Edited November 19, 2010 by wolf4

[redisburning]

I just use my 51.

 

I dont agree that rollerballs are more practical. I would trust any decent pen.

[alvarez57]

I basically concur with you. I use the fountain pen for my job and at home, but bp's when in the streets, a store, etc. Not all papers are suitable for FP's ( i.e. receipt papers)

[butterfly]

I always keep a ballpoint pen handy. Some situations just don't seem to be right for a fountain pen. I have a very trusted Parker Urban ballpoint that has been through good and bad times with me. If I think I still want to write with a fountain in a more casual situation, I would be using my Lamy Safaris or perhaps my Pilot Petit1.

Edited November 19, 2010 by butterfly

[Trebster]

Just used a nice ballpoint today to fill out a customs form. Very practical.

[Gobblecup]

My Namiki Vanishing Point feels more modern and practical than any ball point or roller ball pen ever has (Including mass produced gel pens, which skip constantly!). The VP feels sturdy and its made of pretty study components. It's a retractable at that! Double that with a Noodler's Polar ink and you have a very effective workhorse pen that is extremely practical in my opinion. Now the issue of safety as you say seems more like an issue of high end vs. low end vs. dirt cheap. The only advantage of the pens you listed as being more practical than fountain pens (which range from dirt cheap to high end, even to artifact status), is that they are completley replaceable and shouldn't have any sentimental value to a person. But because there are so many types of fountain pens at so many price and quality points, I don't see how a good daily beater wouldn't suit the average user's needs. Maybe a Namiki VP is more than what some would call a daily beater, and I surely wouldn't "beat it up" in any way, but for many that don't work in particularly hazardous situations it would be a good example of a safe practical pen to carry around.

 

Then you even have pens like the Pilot Varsity, which may not be any example of a real fountain pen, are leagues ahead of most gel pens and ball points in performance in my experience. And I've bought them for roughly $2-$3. DEFINITELY a beatable pen!

Edited November 19, 2010 by Gobblecup

[CharityV]

My Namiki Vanishing Point feels more modern and practical than any ball point or roller ball pen ever has (Including mass produced gel pens, which skip constantly!). The VP feels sturdy and its made of pretty study components. It's a retractable at that! Double that with a Noodler's Polar ink and you have a very effective workhorse pen that is extremely practical in my opinion. Now the issue of safety as you say seems more like an issue of high end vs. low end vs. dirt cheap. The only advantage of the pens you listed as being more practical than fountain pens (which range from dirt cheap to high end, even to artifact status), is that they are completley replaceable and shouldn't have any sentimental value to a person. But because there are so many types of fountain pens at so many price and quality points, I don't see how a good daily beater wouldn't suit the average user's needs. Maybe a Namiki VP is more than what some would call a daily beater, and I surely wouldn't "beat it up" in any way, but for many that don't work in particularly hazardous situations it would be a good example of a safe practical pen to carry around.

 

Then you even have pens like the Pilot Varsity, which may not be any example of a real fountain pen, are leagues ahead of most gel pens and ball points in performance in my experience. And I've bought them for roughly $2-$3. DEFINITELY a beatable pen!

 

+1

 

I LOVE my Namiki VP, and got it specifically to be my "carry pen". Pretty much the only time I use a BP or RB is for carbon copies.

[wolf4]

Thanks to all those who have replied - that was quick! I am reading your replies with great interest.

 

Thanks 'Near Mint' and 'Gobblecup' for your comments. You're right I actually forgot all about the Namiki VP. Hmm... that was unfair of me! The Namiki VP I have to concede is definitely one type of fountain pen that is at least quite practical. Unfortunately I am not that keen on it yet. Maybe my taste will change in the future. But definitely it has the advantage in that it behaves a bit like a ball point pen in its clicking ability.

Edited November 19, 2010 by wolf4

[wolf4]

I always keep a ballpoint pen handy. Some situations just don't seem to be right for a fountain pen. I have a very trusted Parker Urban ballpoint that has through good and bad times with me. If I think I still want to write with a fountain in a more casual situation, I would be using my Lamy Safaris or perhaps my Pilot Petit1.

Actually I have about a week ago bought the Parker Urban Rollerball pen just so that I can use it for those quick grab-the-nearest-pen moments. So it is great for that. And I actually do like the smoothness of the Rollerball. But there is one thing that really bothers me is knowing that the Rollerball ink is not waterproof nor fadeproof. There are now so many cheap pens on the market like those gel pens that are water resistant and so on. So that is my only big 'gripe' with Parker, Waterman and many others that do not have Rollerballs using ink refills that are at least water resistant.

[ThirdeYe]

I can concur with some of the points the OP made.

 

When I'm on the phone and I only have one hand to write something down, a simple pencil or ballpoint/gel/rollerball retractable pen is what I grab. When I go grocery shopping, I also bring a simple compact ballpoint pen (Zebra F-301 Compact). The main issue I have is that the caps have to be unscrewed and in a hurry, it can be a nuisance. It can also be a nuisance when you're writing only 1-2 words at a time, it just doesn't seem to make much sense to me. When writing for more than a few sentences, at home, I will use a fountain pen.

[shaylenwilliams]

I used a "gel pen" to address an envelope today, it has been rainy here lately, and I don't have any waterproof fp inks. I carry a Parker BP in my purse. If if am scribbling down info from a phone call, I use a non-fp because I can write more quickly with it. I also use a regular pen for anything I have to make carbon copies of, check writing and the like.

[corniche]

Greetings Wolf4,

 

I also agree. I use fountain pens in my personal life but never in my office- there I use Uni-Ball roller ball pens and General's #1 degree "Badger" pencils. Fountain pens have been out of general use for so long now that you have several generations that have never even seen one, let alone used one. Invariably, a client will need a pen to fill out or sign a form... and many times they'll just reach for whatever pen is handy- without asking- so I only keep indestructible, disposable pens/pencils in my office. As we all know, fp's need only a light touch to make them write- most unaccustomed people apply the same pressure they would to a stubborn ball-point.

 

All the best,

 

Sean

 

* Edit, fixed typo.

Edited November 19, 2010 by S. P. Colfer

[saskia_madding]

I really just cannot relate to the OP's opinion. I'm not offended or upset, but I just find it confusing. I know that after nearly dropping my brand new Agatha Christie while using it on the subway, I vowed to only write with cheap(er) fountain pens while in *actual motion* on the subway. But that is the only limit I have for fountain pen use. I use them all the time - for everything. Note taking for school, jotting stuff down for work, scribbling snippets of things in my agenda, signing documents, everything. I carry a ball point pen too, "just in case", but it pretty much never comes to pass that I need to actually use it.

 

The OP talks a lot about how s/he *feels* about fountain pens. If you cannot let go of the idea that they are fragile, then yes, fountain pens will never be a practical option for you.

 

But why not buy a cheap-ish pen, something that if you break you won't be totally upset about but that is a good everyday writer? Use it all the time, and hopefully over time you'll come to see that it isn't as fragile as you feel it is.

[Parse Error]

I use a roller for anything other than extended writing. Of course, extended writing is more than a couple of words.

 

It take time to spin the pen to the right position in your hand.

[alexander_k]

We have to be practical, especially if we really like our fountain pens. There are situations where other writing implements are called for. For example, when do you use a good old pencil?

[Garoh]

It all depends on the surface I'm writing on. My first option is always to reach for my fountain pen unless I'm writing on a napkin or any other unfriendly surface.

[Phormula]

I have no problem switching between a FP and a BP. I actually have both in my bag. For me pens are tools to write, and I find that there are some things that are better done with a FP and others with a BP. I have never been a fan of RB, instead, I find them as a "neither fish nor meat" solution, either I choose the smoothness and pleasure of writing of a FP or the practicality of a BP. But that's just me.

[John the Monkey]

I keep a Parker Reflex FP (M, but seems to write pretty wet) on my desk for use at work - I have a pen caddy with gel pens and ball pens for visitors. Sadly the Reflex has a cracked cap now, so I'm looking to replace that with another "stay at work" pen - whether I can pick one up for the couple of quid I paid for the Reflex remains to be seen!

 

In my Filofax loop, I keep a Parker Jotter (M, but writes smaller and drier than the reflex & is good for the small spaces in the organiser), and in my work bag, a collapsible Rotring Esprit (F).

 

I keep a couple of Worther Shorty clutch pencils with me too, although I have to admit that I don't use those much - they are lovely for rough notes & sketches.

 

I've not thought of carrying a ball point (or roller ball, or gel pen) at all for many years - I've not had to sign on carbon paper since I don't know when. My concession to practicality is carrying cartridge fillers, and making sure I have a cartridge or two in my pockets.

 

I'm probably tempting fate by saying so, but I've yet to have any of my pens leak, whereas Mrs. Monkey spent most of last weekend trying to remove ballpoint ink from her work uniform after stowing a bic in one of her pockets!

Edited November 19, 2010 by John the Monkey

[arunmadhav]

I use fountain pens at home and the university for my actual work. I carry a pair of Cross Tech3s while I'm on the bus or train. But this is more to prevent any accidents with my FPs, in uncontrolled environments, than anything else I think.

 

Edit : I should have added..accidents happening to my FPs rather than due to them. I have clumsy fingers sometime in moving vehicles :bonk:

Edited November 19, 2010 by arunmadhav

[beluga]

There are only few occasions where fountain pens are truly unsuitable.

Filling in forms that need to print through multiple sheets is one of them.

 

Conversely to what many believe; fountain pens handle travel - including travel by air - quite well, which makes travel IMO not a valid reason to leave a fountain pen behind.

 

For those situations, where I cannot use a fountain pen I use either ballpoint or pencil.

Ballpoint pens for forms, pencils for temporary data or drawings that may need to be changed.

 

The rollerball is my least favoured writing tool.

Rollerballs dry out too quickly, smear too much, can produce nasty leaks when travelling by air and - most importantly - feel to "sharp" when writing.

I mostly write with medium or broad point fountain pens and don't like the writing sensation and the sharp line that I get from writing with rollerballs.

At best, it could be said that a rollerball produces a line that looks like a line written with a fine point fountain pen, but the writing sensation is IMO quite different and clearly inferior to a good ballpoint - let alone fountain pen.

 

 

 

 

 

B.

Edited November 19, 2010 by beluga