The Best Combination Of Pen, Nib, Ink & Paper?

[Jared]

After starting my addiction hobby with fountain pens I soon realized that there is far more to this than just the pen itself.

 

1. Pen - Needs to be comfortable to hold and write with, and perform well. It's very personal choice.

 

2. Nib - Without a good nib, the pen is useless. It should be one that you enjoy not only writing with, but are pleased with what it produces on paper.

 

3. Ink - I like a smooth ink, moderately saturated, with great shading. Others seem to like something akin to paint, but that's not my preference. Some nibs and inks are meant for each other. Others clearly are not.

 

4. Paper - You may have the nicest pair of roller skates/blades, but if you're trying them out at the sand dunes, you'll be sorely disappointed. Similarly, the paper should be fountain pen friendly & one that you enjoy writing on.

 

What is your favorite combination of the three? I have a lot of favorite combinations, but my current favorite:

 

1. Mabie Todd Swan - 1920s BCHR self-filler

2. Super-flex fine 14k nib - very expressive

3. Waterman Blue-Black (1980s)

4. Zander's Gohrsmühle (great German paper with a really cool watermark)

Edited March 17, 2014 by Jared

[Bo Bo Olson]

I have some Zander's Gohrsmuele from the '70's-80's that is a bit better than modern. It's not up in the best....because it's only 80g...they have it in 90 and 110.

Send for a Zanders sample package.

 

Or buy some sheets from Gmund....$1 a sheet after the three free samples. Do remember to ask what they suggest for fountain pens.

I tested these papers with between 15 and 30 inks, with an assortment of pens of this and that flex...over a period of time. Sometimes the same pens were used with different inks.

 

I have tiny one sheet sample of Blanc Beige...(beige, cream or white) 170 g creme, 120 Beige, I'd been so enthused at the 170g paper, then with certain inks the 120 g did better. Something like 50 sheets for €35.

There are a couple of them I'll have to look at perhaps the 110 and the 100.....I'm only going to be able to get one a year.

I was surprised below that some of the lighter paper seemed to do better than the heavier paper.

I like them better than the below.

 

Just because I like something means nothing, you have to like it....and it is worth the money to give real good paper a shot.

 

Gmund Original

Which cost more....? 50 sheets for €50 could be wrong...but is more expensive.

Yes you should order a sheet of each too.

I don't know what nibs nor inks you use.

 

Orignalnal Gmund Digital matt Tactile creme 150 g

Original Gmund tactile creme 120 g

Original Gmund filigran Buetten 110g

Original Gmund Tactile Creme with water mark 100g

Orignial Bmund tactile Beige 100g

Gmund cotton, linen Cream 110 g

Gmund Color system 100g

 

Schollenhammer has a sample package too, but make sure you ask for the fountain pen package...I ended up with the Artists sample.

 

I'm really at the very edge of searching for 'good' paper and at that cost...it's going to be a long time before I plunk down more than a buck a sheet in a pack.

I have to be very, very sure.

[lahlahlaw]

I have some Zander's Gohrsmuele from the '70's-80's that is a bit better than modern. It's not up in the best....because it's only 80g...they have it in 90 and 110.

Send for a Zanders sample package.

 

Or buy some sheets from Gmund....$1 a sheet after the three free samples. Do remember to ask what they suggest for fountain pens.

I tested these papers with between 15 and 30 inks, with an assortment of pens of this and that flex...over a period of time. Sometimes the same pens were used with different inks.

 

I have tiny one sheet sample of Blanc Beige...(beige, cream or white) 170 g creme, 120 Beige, I'd been so enthused at the 170g paper, then with certain inks the 120 g did better. Something like 50 sheets for €35.

There are a couple of them I'll have to look at perhaps the 110 and the 100.....I'm only going to be able to get one a year.

I was surprised below that some of the lighter paper seemed to do better than the heavier paper.

I like them better than the below.

 

Just because I like something means nothing, you have to like it....and it is worth the money to give real good paper a shot.

 

Gmund Original

Which cost more....? 50 sheets for €50 could be wrong...but is more expensive.

Yes you should order a sheet of each too.

I don't know what nibs nor inks you use.

 

Orignalnal Gmund Digital matt Tactile creme 150 g

Original Gmund tactile creme 120 g

Original Gmund filigran Buetten 110g

Original Gmund Tactile Creme with water mark 100g

Orignial Bmund tactile Beige 100g

Gmund cotton, linen Cream 110 g

Gmund Color system 100g

 

Schollenhammer has a sample package too, but make sure you ask for the fountain pen package...I ended up with the Artists sample.

 

I'm really at the very edge of searching for 'good' paper and at that cost...it's going to be a long time before I plunk down more than a buck a sheet in a pack.

I have to be very, very sure.

That is some EXPENSIVE paper!

[Bo Bo Olson]

That's why my wallet ran away from home.

I've 4-5 other companies to check out, before I decide....then it's one thin box a year.

 

Zerkals ripped 100g is so sinfully good to write on, they'd make illegal to use in Kansas....the reason we now have the Ice Cream Sunday....Ice cream sodas were made illegal to have on Sunday.

It feathers, and bleeds.

I have to order some one sheet of 120 g to see that is.

 

Yep, they made Keggling-9 pin illegal too....two week later 10 pen bowling was invented, bigger ball, different scoring...same guys drinking and gambling.

Edited March 17, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson