Calling All Architects & Draftspersons -- Fountain Pen Preferences?

[weltyj]

My daughter was in her final year of architecture school last year, and I asked her at that time if she had any interest in a fountain pen. I got a solid "no". I suppose because so much of the work is on the computer these days.

 

She's started a job ( yay! ), and I got her a nice rollerball to use as something more special, and when she opened the package she was actually excited at first thinking it was a fountain pen. I guess she's thinking about writing/sketching more now that she has a job. Or maybe she just came to her senses about the appropriate tool to put ink on paper

 

So I'm looking at getting her a starter pen. It is not worth a huge investment at this point in time, so I'm thinking about a pilot metropolitan or one of the numerous hero hooded nib pens I have (and can confirm are good writers).

 

For the little bit of sketching I have done I actually lean towards an open nib -- it gives me a little better sense of where the nib is going to hit the paper, I think. But that's just my experience.

 

My question for you all -- apart from the appearance difference between an open nib and a closed nib, do you have a preference for hooded vs open nib when doing drafting or sketching.

 

Any other pen suggestions are welcome too -- I think less than $30 is what I'm looking for, and a simple/foolproof filling mechanism like a converter or sac-filler that could take a little bit of "user mismanagement", if you know what I mean.

 

Thanks in advance, and I look forward to your comments!

 

[Icywolfe]

I have a feeling a metal edge of a ruler will cut a nib.

 

As my T ruler is pretty sharp enough to cut friction but not a razorblade.

Edited September 12, 2014 by Icywolfe

[I like mango cheesecake]

no body uses a T square anymore, so don't worry about metal edges of rulers. Lean towards a finer nib, as lots of sketching is done on tracing paper and ink flows extremely wet on that and takes longer to dry.

[rickdm]

In the last year or so I have gotten at least six architects in my firm to start using fountain pens. Probably the best pen for an architect would be a Lamy 2000 because it is such a great modern design, of course that will not fit your budget. The other less expensive pens that seem to have had great success are the TWSBI, one of the Gamma pens from India, the Lamy Safari (probably the most popular one) and the Noodler's Ahab. If you can get them started most architects just get sucked into the whole fountain pen culture. There are not many professions where you can justify your pen purchases as 'tools of the trade'.

 

Rick

[a m a r g o]

The obvious choice is the Lamy Safari series... You could get her a pair of tools:



... being the obvious choice it's sure that a lot of coworkers will have one, so if that's an issue the Pilot metropolitan is also an option; I haven't tried one but everyone speaks only good things about it (... avoid the ones that have funky prints!).

The Safari it's great for sketching and you can use both sides of the tip, so I would recommend a medium nib for using it as a writer and a drawing pen... Being "inexpensive", she won't mind using it along with pencils and other stuff in the same paper and she has the possibility to change the nib for a fine, broad or italic.

 

Good luck!

Edited September 12, 2014 by coppilcus

[Algester]

Pilot Capless? (yes I'm using it's native name) either as the decimo or the ordinary one... looks like that can also be a option else Lamy Logo like the 2000 it won't feel out of place or the CP1 as well the Scala BP and pencil doesn't look that bad as well

Cocoon... man easily a bang for buck I guess...

though I won't be saying uni-ball Kuru-toga :X

Edited September 12, 2014 by Algester

[ac12]

I agree, go with an open nib.

I have a P51, and many times I am off the sweet spot of the nib, because I don't have a good visual reference of the nib to get the rotation just right.

 

If you have the budget, a Safari FP/RB/MP set would be nice, with maybe a 2nd FP for an alternate color ink, for marking up drawings.

I personally prefer the Pilot 78G over the Metro. To me, the Metro is a bit heavy and fat. But that is personal preference. But you may have to tweak the nib of the 78G for the ink she will use. My M nib was rather on the dry side.

[AG_ORD]

As an architect located in Honolulu, HI, I can definitively say, the pen of choice for a budding architect is the Lamy Safari. Not only is it robust and inexpensive, comes in a ton of different colors, but you can purchase different nibs on the cheap for easy swapping, depending on the task at hand; one nib for writing, another for sketching etc. Besides, it is light weight and relatively inexpensive, (in case of someone "borrowing" her pen inadverdantly), and the snap on cap is easy to deploy when sketching.

 

Another cool choice, though a little more pricey, is the TWSBI Mini. It is a bit funky and offbeat design and is the right size for stashing with a sketchbook.

 

And of course, the ultimate pen for a budding architect, is the Lamy 2000. It is an iconic design, won design awards, timeless in a contemporary way, and pretty much indestructable....that, and it is a cool matte black...don't know why, but for some reason, architects LOVE black...must have to do with all those sleepless, studio cram sessions that pushes one closer to the dark side...and too much Starbuck's! Maybe after she get's her Architect's License, you should consider getting for her. By then, she will have trained her friends to quit "borrowing" her pen!

 

Good luck and congratulations to your daughter. Architecture is a labor of love; you may not get rich, but you will have a lot of fun!

[j.a.j.]

Safari is a obvious choice. It's section shape though isn't for everyone.

 

Pilot Prera is a good pen for drafting. Nib is smooth and golden spot is very large which supports IMO better expressive sketching techniques.

[I like mango cheesecake]

I use a Rotring 600 for most of my work. But that's a bit overpriced for a budget pen. I would go for the Lamy Al-star over the Safari.

Edited September 12, 2014 by I like mango cheesecake

[ShockDub]

I agree with either a Lamy Safari and if you have the extra cash, a Lamy 2000 is just beautiful. Lamy 2000 has a golden hooded nib. Maybe get the lamy Safari, and if she likes it, go for the Lamy 2000. There is Also the Lamy Al Star.

[alexander_k]

Another possibility could be a Sailor pen with a steel zoom nib for line variation in sketching.

[Aurko]

The zoom nib sadly seems to be a tad impractical for actual sketching. And honestly, in the price range you're looking for, Lamy Safari, Pilot Metropolitan/78G are the way to go. Just another suggestion that isn't as common is the Sailor Clear Candy or the Sailor HighAce Neo. The bodies of said pens feel a little cheap, but they're better writers than my cheaper pilots by a good deal. For whatever reason, most of my architecture/engineering buddies prefer Japanese fine nibs, so that's what I would recommend.

 

Another fountain pen I would recommend is the Muji Aluminum Round Fountain pen. It's a very smartly designed pen, and if the relatively small size isn't an issue, then I suspect she may like it. The nib writes somewhere close to a Japanese Medium-Fine, which is still within acceptable bounds to me.

[bullet08]

my 10 yr old loves his mechanical pencils. when i asked him if he wanted a fountain pen, he said "no". i got him a Safari anyway.he loves it. tho.. now i'm thinking i should have got him a Kaweco Classic Sport. both are open nib, but the nib on CS looks more like what you think of when you think about a fountain pen. EF nib of this are very nice and thin.

 

[william2001]

I think Lamy Safari will do it.

Check this out: http://www.bestfountainpen.com/

-William S. Park

[weltyj]

Many, many thanks for all the great input. Open nib it is.

 

I can see why the Lamy 2000 is an attractive option, and if I knew my daughter already liked fountain pens would probably just get that.

 

Giving the consistently great reviews of the pilot metropolitan, I am going to get a couple of those -- a fine nib and a medium nib one. The metropolitan has a more "architecty" look than the 78g as well. (is "architecty" a word? )

 

A bottle of Noodler's black ink, and she'll be in business, ready to lay some ink down and not too afraid of getting some water on it (it is the pacific northwest, the rainy season approaches!)

 

I am very grateful for all who responded, it is alway valuable to get a range of opinions to help settle on a decision.

 

Everyone, have a great weekend!

Edited September 13, 2014 by weltyj

[Wolverine1]

About 3 years back, I was waiting at the lounge of Detroit Metro Airport, waiting for a flight. When I noticed the gentleman sitting on a couch a few feet next to me. He was a distinguished looking gentleman, and he was sketching in a notebook with a Lamy Safari or a Al-Star fountain pen. He saw mw staring, and so he struck up a conversation, and I said I was surprised to see him use a fountain pen to sketch. He then introduced me as Daniel Liebeskind, and I was about floored. The great architect!!!! I had watched a documentary about him and his work!!!! Anyways, he was a real nice guy and he said that he ownde a bunch of FPs, and he used his Lamys a great deal when he skeched ideas in his notebook. Guess, if they are good enough for Daniel Liebeskind, they are good enough!!!!

[drumley]

If you have any interest in a vintage pen my vote would be for a Esterbrook J. I have a background in mechanical drafting and design and really like the Esterbrooks. A fine nib is can be good for general sketching but a nice feature of the Esterbrooks is that there is a wide variety of interchangeable nibs available allowing for experimentation with different widths of nibs. They are inexpensive for a vintage pen, you should be able to find one in your budget.

[Cryptos]

Pilot Scholar, Speerbob has them on Ebay (or at least did the last time I looked). Apparently they are nice for drawing.

[MiniMaupassant]

In the last year or so I have gotten at least six architects in my firm to start using fountain pens. Probably the best pen for an architect would be a Lamy 2000 because it is such a great modern design, of course that will not fit your budget. The other less expensive pens that seem to have had great success are the TWSBI, one of the Gamma pens from India, the Lamy Safari (probably the most popular one) and the Noodler's Ahab. If you can get them started most architects just get sucked into the whole fountain pen culture. There are not many professions where you can justify your pen purchases as 'tools of the trade'.

 

Rick

I agree with this... Although not an architect myself, I have worked within the construction industry for many years. I know many architects with Lamy pens, ranging from Safaris to 2Ks. A Safari is the perfect starter pen IMHO!