Worst Fountain Pen Mistake?

[Janos]

Learning how to write with the wrong hand.

_{(...and spending way too much time on these forums)}

[khagler]

Carrying a fountain pen on an airplane in the 80s. What a mess! This was before the web made it practical to look up obscure things, so I had no idea why it had made such a mess or that I could have avoided it by either filling it completely or emptying it beforehand. That put me off fountain pens for around 15 years.

[Black Rose]

I switched to fountain pens from my prior hobby, thinking fountain pens would be a cheaper hobby

[niksch]

My early repair days and trying to do repairs without the proper tools. Broken feeds, broken barrels, melted barrels, etc. But reparing vintage pens, especially those with celluloid barrels, is not without some risk. I'm much better now...I promise.

 

 

[BobR]

I have two:

 

--Purchasing a few Sheaffer Snorkels and having them restored--and restored again--and again. Clearly, as soon as a Snorkel gets in my hands, it's cursed. Wanna buy some Snorkels needing repair?

 

--Purchasing a used pen from the Marketplace here and not immediately returning it to the seller when 1) it was described as a large model of a line but was in fact the small model, but more importantly 2) it had leaking issues and loose parts that were not described. As a result, I've been frustrated, lost the use of the pen for a significant time, and put more money into it than it's worth. It, too, is on a second round of repairs, clearly another pen with my curse. Some things are just hopeless, unfortunately it's difficult to know what in advance.

[IWantThat]

My worst mistake is buying cheap pens that I don't really want in an effort to keep me from wanting the nice pens I do want...I must stop doing that and, instead, save for the pens I truly will use and appreciate

[Lucky Sheaffer]

To clip my Pelican as a small school boy onto my pocket to boast with it during the break, because having a pen from Western Germany was a special thing in school, only topped by having a real Jeans. Wasn't a good idea to let it be clipped on the outside of my pocket, because I lost it on the playground infront of our school. But there was an honest finder who brought it to our secreteriat a day later. Gosh, was I embarassed when our director's secretary came into our class then and asked who lost the nice pen and then lectured me infront of the class about carelessness.

[21November]

A while back I'd stupidly put up with a dry writing nib in a Parker Classic much longer than was sensible or sane to do so.

 

I thought the problem would surely sort itself out - eventually, with time & more use...determined I could put up with the frustration of using it that way.

 

Then...late one night, after a long day, very tired, I spat the dummy, deciding I could & should fix it myself then and there...out came the pliers...and you can guess the outcome

 

Luckily that was a wake up call and a lesson learned that didn't cost me too much apart from plenty of annoyance at myself.

Edited February 21, 2011 by 21November

[impossiblebird]

Leaving a Parker Victory in my bag, then entrusting the bag to the system at the cashdesk of the University bookshop (compulsory system: leave bag, bag goes in cubbyhole, you get token) while I browsed the shelves; the woman at the desk left her post without arranging a replacement, and my bag was stolen, along with its contents. My folder only had that morning's notes, the bag was a bit of junk, but the pen was writing just how I wanted it to... over 30 years ago; I should get over it, really!

[JefferyS]

I have had three. All three were LENDING THE PEN FOR JUST A SECOND TO SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE ONE. Three bent nibs, one coming out looking like a forked tongue. Now, I have to anger people by saying "Sorry, but no you can't borrow my pen for just a second".

 

By the way, all three instinctively tried to use the nib upside down.

[Phormula]

Assuming that because Ferrari makes such good sports car, they can make a reasonably good FP as well.

When I opened the package I got something not so well made in China that it was a pain to use.

Tried to flush it and checked the nib. Nope.

The trash bin was happy to take it after a few weeks.

[amyx231]

im looking at the report on the fake sonnets...apparently they are very good. for $10 including shipping, i gotta say that it makes me wanna buy one. after all, who cares if it's real gold, or plating? i just care if it writes

[amyx231]

I switched to fountain pens from my prior hobby, thinking fountain pens would be a cheaper hobby

ive kept all my hobbies, from childhood.

and all the stuff that goes with them.

Edited February 22, 2011 by amyx231

[BrandonA]

When I was 12 or 13 I started collecting Parker pens. I had a about 5 of them. I accidently left my pencil case in the Music classroom after a lesson. Needless to say someone stole them. My parents were less than impressed.

 

I'm currently touching lots of wooden objects when I say that this is the only time I have lost any pens.

[Rafal]

Setting my nice Sheaffer celluloid pen on fire. I can laugh about it now though.

Edited February 22, 2011 by Rafal

[Splicer]

Ascribing more to any fountain pen, by any maker, as being more than just a pen.Thanks

 

Wait... you mean that my Edson Diamond Black doesn't actually make me smarter, more sophisticated, more handsome, more funny and more attractive?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I already figured out it doesn't make me richer)

[Rafal]

That was early on when I tried to remove a section from the pen to replace the sac. I was heating it up over a candle flame and came a little too close to the fire. Next thing I know there was a ball of fire in my hand. Pretty amazing how flammable celluloid is. I guess I knew about it but somehow forgot.

[Black Rose]

Setting my nice Sheaffer celluloid pen on fire. I can laugh about it now though.

Edited February 22, 2011 by Black Rose

[alvarez57]

Having spent money on the MB Bohème retractable after praising it in a review. The non-retractable was much, much cheaper and has not given me any problem with the mechanism because it has none! I also belong to the disenchanted club with the "precious" resin going to smithereens after accidentally landing on the floor.

[amyx231]

isnt resin plastic?