Fps for architects?

[lingling]

Hi, I'm not very sure whether this is the correct place to ask this question, so feel free to move if I'm wrong!

 

My sister is vying to be an architect (and have applied to all the local Uni architecture courses)and I promised her a pen if/when she gets in. But being rather new to fps, I'm not really sure what to get her...

 

So suggestions, especially those from the fp using architects out there would be much appreciated! I really want to give her something that she can use in her, hopefully, future course and career and price is not the issue! Of course, ink suggestions are welcomed too:) Thanks!

[camoandconcrete]

I'm an architecture student, does that count? The pens I use are on the high end spectrum and mostly are Montegrappas, S.T. Dupont and Pelikan. However, there are several Deltas like the Vintage model that are affordable and are great pens. There's also the Visconti Rembrandt or Van Gogh.

 

I do also use a Lamy 2000. Always a great choice.

[Namo]

Fine nibs might be requiered - so you could go Japanese. A vintage Pilot Murex, or the Pilot m-90 (both witzh intergrated steel nib, one of the finest on the market) would be a great choice.

[zerobuttons]

.....

My sister is vying to be an architect (and have applied to all the local Uni architecture courses)and I promised her a pen if/when she gets in. But being rather new to fps, I'm not really sure what to get her...

.....

Has she been using fountain pens before? If so, which nib width did she prefer? Would she like the nib flexing or hard?

 

Try to get that out of her, and it will be much easier for us to make suggestions.

[jar]

Generally a pen today is only useful in sketching and sign-off when it comes to architecture. She will do almost all work related stuff in cad on a computer so the pen will be for notes, sketching and general use.

[lingling]

I'm an architecture student, does that count? The pens I use are on the high end spectrum and mostly are Montegrappas, S.T. Dupont and Pelikan. However, there are several Deltas like the Vintage model that are affordable and are great pens. There's also the Visconti Rembrandt or Van Gogh.

 

I do also use a Lamy 2000. Always a great choice.

 

Hmm... I'll keep those brands in mind. I'm curious though, why do you use those pens? Flex, very fine line, suitable for writing for a long time, good for drawing?

 

Has she been using fountain pens before? If so, which nib width did she prefer? Would she like the nib flexing or hard?

 

Try to get that out of her, and it will be much easier for us to make suggestions.

 

My sister is also new (though she's not a member here) to fps and actually, both of us have never tried flex nibs before... the pens in our possession are: a lamy safari, a lamy vista and a rotring core. She like F nibs (all of our pens are F because our handwritings are quite small).

 

There is not much additional info because of our lack of 'experience' with fps but I hope it helped!

 

 

Generally a pen today is only useful in sketching and sign-off when it comes to architecture. She will do almost all work related stuff in cad on a computer so the pen will be for notes, sketching and general use.

 

For sketching... if that's the case, what fps are suitable for sketching etc. Actually, I have no idea what architecture is like and how the architects do their jobs :embarrassed_smile:

[jar]

Generally a pen today is only useful in sketching and sign-off when it comes to architecture. She will do almost all work related stuff in cad on a computer so the pen will be for notes, sketching and general use.

 

For sketching... if that's the case, what fps are suitable for sketching etc. Actually, I have no idea what architecture is like and how the architects do their jobs :embarrassed_smile:

 

She will more likely use a variety of pencils even there and when it gets to doing ink sketches it would be more likely that a selection of either calligraphy type pens of even more likely a set of drafting pens. Maybe you want to look at a really nice set of drafting pens from a company like Rotring, Koh-i-Noor or Staedtler.

[lingling]

Generally a pen today is only useful in sketching and sign-off when it comes to architecture. She will do almost all work related stuff in cad on a computer so the pen will be for notes, sketching and general use.

 

For sketching... if that's the case, what fps are suitable for sketching etc. Actually, I have no idea what architecture is like and how the architects do their jobs :embarrassed_smile:

 

She will more likely use a variety of pencils even there and when it gets to doing ink sketches it would be more likely that a selection of either calligraphy type pens of even more likely a set of drafting pens. Maybe you want to look at a really nice set of drafting pens from a company like Rotring, Koh-i-Noor or Staedtler.

 

Ohhhh... I see...

So in terms of getting pens that she would most likely need, it's best to get drafting pens. Haha, if that's the case, I guess getting both the set plus a nice fountain pen for notes taking, writing in general etc., would have to do :hmm1:

[camoandconcrete]

I use the ones I do because the Montegrappas and Pelikans have very flexible nibs which is useful for shading or covering large areas with tone. And the Dupont is just so comfortable thats why I use it. The L2K just because its built like a tank.

[unfilterd]

I'd like to suggest the Lamy 2000, if your budget permits, or the TWSBI/Pilot 78G otherwise.

 

IMO, the Lamy 2k provides the highest cost:value ratio among the pens that I have. Slightly over USD100 (if you get them quick over eBay over the weekend; Lamy's just raised their prices by quite a bit) for a gold nib and a snap on/snap off cap for quick note taking. The downside is that the understated black/silver colour scheme may not appeal as much to a girl, depending on her personality.

 

The TWSBI nib feels a little 'dead' in my experience, but the ink capacity is humongous. Probably enough to sit through a couple of tests in a single day without running dry. Downside would be the screw-on cap, which my friend has described as being very stiff for his pen.

 

For the Pilot 78G, the only downside would be its small ink capacity and cheap-looking painted trim. But otherwise, at less than USD10, it's a really great pen to play with, especially if you'd like to try out a cheap (in terms of cost, not quality) italic nib.

[ravantra]

Hi I have been an Architect for the past 25 years. Most work is now done on computers. Drafting pens and pencils are almost obsolete. I do a lot of sketching and doodling to work things out. I use a FP for this a lot, also to take notes in meetings. Currently I have a few old Watermans M, a new Visconti Rembrandt B, a Lamy Studio M and a 2 TWSBI's M.

 

I find I use the TWSBI's and Visconti the most. The B nib is great for sketching.

[attika89]

Hi, I'm not very sure whether this is the correct place to ask this question, so feel free to move if I'm wrong!

 

My sister is vying to be an architect (and have applied to all the local Uni architecture courses)and I promised her a pen if/when she gets in. But being rather new to fps, I'm not really sure what to get her...

 

So suggestions, especially those from the fp using architects out there would be much appreciated! I really want to give her something that she can use in her, hopefully, future course and career and price is not the issue! Of course, ink suggestions are welcomed too:) Thanks!

 

I don't know how does it work around there, but at my school the first thing the teachers mentioned was to get mechanical pencils/drafting pencils and drafting pens in 3 sizes.

0,3/ 0,5/ 0,7 in mech pencils and 0,2/ 0,5/ 0,7 or something like this in drafting pens (Rotring Isograph/ Faber Castell TG1-S <--- I prefer this)...

I use fountain pens too, but only for note taking and drawing...

I'm just saying the above things because I think you'd help her more with those, than a fp...

But thats only my opinion!

Edited March 18, 2011 by attika89

[smovlov]

I only use my FP for sketching and note taking. For hard line stuff by hand I use Staedtler leadholders and Koh-I-Noor rapidiographs. I use a Lamy Safari Vista as my day to day pen. Its on the cheap side and the nibs are inexpensive (relatively) and easy to swap. I use black ink, just because color sometimes takes away from what you're trying to present. At my school, CAD is done later in the program. I think most schools start off with hand drafting. I would go for a cheaper pen as things sometimes get swiped from desks...

[Thornton]

My uncle, the one who got me into this whole fountain pen business, is an architect. He enjoys using a Pelikan M805 and a Montblanc 144 Classique for most of his writing. He also has a Lamy 2000 pen and pencil set from 1970 that he's quite fond of using. I don't think he actually drafts with his pens though. For that, he'll use a Pentel mechanical pencil or Pilot VRazor or Razor Point II.

[alexander_k]

As already mentioned, nowadays most of drawing and drafting is done on the computer, so drafting pens are becoming a thing of the past. Sketches are still appreciated but for that I would use mostly a thick pencil and in some cases a fountain pen with a lot of flex (probably Japanese) and really black ink.

[bird101]

Lamy2000 EF & noodlers black

[Nico1618]

I am architect, and I use:

 

- Lamy dialog 3 (maybe too big for a girl)

- Pilot M90 and a Myu 701

- Sometime a Hero 329

- Platinum pocket pen vintage

- TWSBI

 

To me there are different important thing to know

 

As it has been said, most of the drawings are made on computer, but some quick sketch have to be done with pen (whatever this pen is).

As she is not architect yet, her taste is not clearly defined and will probably change in the future, but as a future trend prescriber she has to have a nice or particular pen (reason of my own choice)

 

Anyway it's a great job to do, and great study to follow. I hope she'll like that.

[lingling]

Oh, so basically, whatever pen I'll be getting her wouldn't be of much (important) use for her in the future... Ah well, never mind, I'll still get one for her anyway, though my focus would now be on nice, durable pens probably with flex nibs. Might get her a set of drafting pens too, but that'll be depending on whether she really needs it or not.

 

Thanks so much for all the suggestions!

Edited March 19, 2011 by lingling

[ExcaliburZ]

Go with a Lamy Safari, their nibs are really easy to change, so she can figure out what she wants to use.

[pelikan500]

Oh, so basically, whatever pen I'll be getting her wouldn't be of much (important) use for her in the future... Ah well, never mind, I'll still get one for her anyway, though my focus would now be on nice, durable pens probably with flex nibs. Might get her a set of drafting pens too, but that'll be depending on whether she really needs it or not.

 

Thanks so much for all the suggestions!

 

With due respect to previous suggestions, I would reconsider getting drafting pens &/or pencils etc...she wouldn't use it school & definitely not when she starts work...

 

why not get 2 things (2 relatively inexpensive but nice gifts)...

 

a Pencil would be more practical/useful ..though FP's are my love ... i would suggest the Lamy Scribble 3.15mm ... great for sketching & shading

and bcos heavy in hand it has a nice "substantial" feel to it ...also great design that will last forever ...

 

Since your already familiar with safari's..can consider al-star or studio (violet?)since its a gift ... great thing is since she's new to fps', can experiment with different nibs

 

though i don't have the pilot vp, i was very pleasantly surprised at the soft springy nib, and would consider getting one ..except that my priority is vintage flex (but thats another story for another day)...

what i like about it is the practical idea ...imagine the scenario, writing/sketching with a fp, then putting it down to grab the mouse/phone/book etc only to find you didn't cap the pen and the ink may have dried after a few minutes ...easy to restart any fp with a small shake/tap downwards ...but i thought with the vp, its easy just to click the nib away ...its rare to have big chunks of uninterrupted time when using fps at work.

 

maybe other vp owners would like to comment on whether my perception is correct?

 

also the finish i think is quite hardy, so its easy to put into a pencil case (safari i s great too for this) without having to worry about the wear & tear as a student...

 

so please consider the vp ...ask someone to bring one along at your next pen meet to try it out ...cheers