Writing with the cap or without?

[Breck]

Always post:

Platinum Preppy ED fillers that come with the big bottles of Noodler's - they're so light, every little bit helps (and I *like* light pens)

 

Never post:

Lamy 2000 - very heavy cap, and the pen is absolutely perfectly balanced in my hand without it

Pilot Vanishing Point

 

Haven't yet formed a habit either way:

Parker Vacumatic Major

Esterbrook J

 

Never felt right posted or unposted, so I traded it:

Parker "51"

[Mr Ink]

I never ever post the cap. The main reason is that I'm always anxious not to tarnish / scratch the upper part of the barrel. Secondly, I always feel the pen becomes too top-heavy for me when the cap is posted. I must add that my hands are not large, so an unposted pen feels comfortable, regardless of its size.

 

To each his / her own, I suppose.

[RevAaron]

I almost never post. I don't care too much about scratching the pen, it often doesn't feel right and it's an added bit I have to worry about falling off. There are some exceptions- Kaweco Sport and other long-short pens or ringtops; and sometimes pens with a lot of overlap of cap over barrel (51, Aurora 88P).

 

I especially don't post with most modern pens, many of which have heavy metal in the cap and many of which don't post securely. I think the Visconti Van Gogh Maxi and Pilot 823 were in danger of doing a back flip posted.

 

The one pen I always is my Aikin Lambert "The Pet," because it's only 2.4" long unposted.

 

Aaron

[Randal6393]

For a quick note, often use unposted and hold cap in my right hand. Some pens balance better unposted. However a shorter pen feels better posted.

 

Always let a newcomer try a fountain pen unposted. That way, I am sure to get my pen back.

 

Happy New Year,

[enricof]

I write with cap posted only when using the smaller pens (like Delta Dolce Vita Mini or a Hero 100 / P51), otherwise always without cap.

 

 

[jbn10161]

Except for my Sailor Sapporo (PG Mini), I never post. I sometimes post the Sapporo, but not always. All of my pens have plastic sections, though; with a metal section like the newer pens, I might want to post for the sake of balance. I find all of my pens, again except for the Sapporo, to be better balanced without the cap posted.

Edited December 31, 2008 by jbn10161

[sph33r]

Unless the pen is super short like the Platinum long cap I bought a while back, I mainly prefer to write unposted.

[cfpen]

Almost always unposted : no scratch on pen and a better balance to my taste.

And some pens are too heavy when posted.

[Newtown]

Always always always posted. I don't want to risk losing a cap.

[wspohn]

Always posted (except for my few pens that will not post).

 

It is normally better balanced, keeps the pen from rolling off the desk (except for my clipless pens) and I never misplace a cap that way.

 

The only time I would go unposted is the (very) rare time I allow someone else to write with one of my pens. The lack of cap is a disincentive to forgetful larceny, and a possibly deserved reminder if they DO attempt to put it in their pocket uncapped).

[RHutch]

Posted.

[Okami]

I ALWAYS write unposted. To me the balance is off if the cap is posted, I'm always hunting across my desk for my caps, too.

 

I was taught in shorthand class (some of you might remember what shorthand is ) not to post my pen.

 

 

[Silvermink]

I usually prefer not to post because it throws the balance of the pen off for me. I think this is because I write at a low-medium angle and thus the weight pulls perpendicularly down from the pen and takes weight off the nib rather than pushing parallelly (is that a word?) down along the pen's body and putting weight onto the nib.

 

However, I do post my Inoxcrom pocket pen because it's too short otherwise (and I imagine I'll do the same with the Pilot and Platinum pocket pens I'm waiting to receive) - the posted cap is sort of part of the "body" with those.

[GardenCity-NY]

 

On my little M150 posting is a must... on the big Laban Mento no posting never ever... on the Watermans Phinias it's a coin toss. Normally posted due to the balance...

[Titivillus]

Cap off mostly for habit but I also have a lacquer pen that's made to not be capped.

[Peter from Sherwood Park]

Usually with the cap -- more for the look than the balance (except if the cap is extremely heavy).

[Sparviero]

Not posted and holding the cap with left hand.

If I stop to reflect or to focus on inspiration I need to close the pen or it may dry. Not all my pens need this though. Just a 30+ years habit.

[twinofmunin]

Everything always posted except the rOtring 600 (feels unbalanced and too heavy posted).

[ianmedium]

I find I cannot write as well with the cap on, even with the lightweight cap that is on my mont Blanc, with the waterman being brass construction it is impossible for me to write with it on!

[OcalaFlGuy]

Posted.

 

Unless it's my Townsend. I can only curl about 60 lbs with my right arm and if I post the

Townsend I need someone to "spot" me.

 

:roflmho:

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL