To cap or not to cap while writing?

[MsLoathsome]

Do people have opinions about whether you are supposed to put the cap on the end while you are writing, or you should leave off? I like the weight and feel better with the cap on, but with my old Sonnet, the cap definitely made a ring mark around the barrel when I did this. Any tips for how to avoid?

[Philip1209]

This is a personal preference. "Posting" your cap can leave a ring on the body. In fact, I was yelled at (figuratively) when I was visiting a Mont Blanc boutique and posted the cap on a tester pen for this reason. I find that I prefer to keep the cap off of my pen when I write because I like the balance when I write, but this is just a matter of personal opinion.

[lapis]

This is, yes, a very personal thing and something I thing nobody should leave over to any lurkers. I never use caps posted, because that annoys me. The pen (barrel) alone has to do the trick as re length, weight and balance (IMO).

This has been discussed dozens of time lately (no offence meant here) so check out the archives too.

 

Mike

[AndyH]

Just my opinion, but as a user-collector of cameras, vintage flyfishing gear, books, and lots of other stuff, I hold these truths to be self evident.

 

Baseball cards are meant to be passed about, played with, traded, and for those players you particularly dislike - taped to a bicycle fender to make noise.

 

Dishes are meant to eaten off of, glasses to be drunk out of, cameras to take pictures with and fly rods to catch fish with.

 

Pens are meant to be written with, carried about in pockets, and occasionally scuffed by putting the cap atop the barrel when writing.

 

Investments are meant to be preserved in locked vaults or under glass, for appreciation, and occasional admiration from afar with cloth curator's gloves used for anything closer.

 

Personally, I own pens, but if you own investments I don't see why you're inking the pen in the first place.

 

Of course I would no more take a delicate and unusual pen onto a construction site than I would use a century-old bamboo rod to fight landlocked salmon at the outlet of Ripogenus Dam, but those who simply collect and admire, worrying constantly about damaging value, miss more than half of the fun of the things we collect and use.

 

Just my opinion, but one that might account for why I don't have more investment money I guess!

[pcolbeck]

For me it depends on the balance of the pen. Most of my pens I write with the cap off but with a Pilot Birdie I tend to write with the cap on.

[David III]

An easy one for me personally. If I post the cap, I then manage to knock it off. Always.

 

Immediately, the cap comes to life and goes scurrying across the desk for parts unknown (to me - the cap knows perfectly well where it's going) and as I make a grab toward it, the cap darts behind my cup of coffee. Since my Ninja skills are so ingrained, my lightning-like hand moves toward the target (the cap) without any conscious thought. Sometime during that part of a second, I find that the cap is a foot away from the coffee but my hand is now oddly hot and covered in liquid, as is my phone and the side of the desk.

 

The cap is laughing.

 

[Gran]

I like the cap on when I write, unless I'm just jotting a quick note to myself.

 

For a letter, the cap is definitely on.

 

With the cap on the pen, I always know where the cap is.

[Nabster]

For me it depends on the pen, if it's balanced well I can write without the cap posted. Some pens though are just too small for me to write with without the cap posted. I have a Pelikan that has marks from putting the cap on the pen over the nib, so I figure I may as well post it and balance out the marks.

[Silvermink]

I usually prefer not to post my pens as I find I prefer the balance with most of them unposted.

 

The only pens I have that I regularly post are my pocket pens, since those are meant to be posted and are too short for me to comfortably write with otherwise.

[RayMan]

I prefer posted, if the cap posts securely.

[geran30]

i personly like to keep the cap off as i dont want to risk cracking the cap if it gets pushed on to far, pluse it's easier to write without it one, otherwise it's to top heavy.

[ethernautrix]

An easy one for me personally. If I post the cap, I then manage to knock it off. Always.

 

Immediately, the cap comes to life and goes scurrying across the desk for parts unknown (to me - the cap knows perfectly well where it's going) and as I make a grab toward it, the cap darts behind my cup of coffee. Since my Ninja skills are so ingrained, my lightning-like hand moves toward the target (the cap) without any conscious thought. Sometime during that part of a second, I find that the cap is a foot away from the coffee but my hand is now oddly hot and covered in liquid, as is my phone and the side of the desk.

 

The cap is laughing.

Awww... that sounds like my experience with pens in pen cases, only with me... one moment I'm holding the pen case, the next moment (mysteriously, spontaneously, inexplicably) the pen case is on the floor... over there.

 

I believe there were witnesses at Pen Posse Minneapolis with single un-cased pens.

 

 

As for posting the cap, it depends on the pen. I used to never post. Then I relaxed. But I still can't post the Hemingway. I just can't.

[Jopen]

... one moment I'm holding the pen case, the next moment (mysteriously, spontaneously, inexplicably) the pen case is on the floor... over there.

 

 

I use to keep the cap on the pen pillow while writing. If it's just a short note, i keep it in my other hand...

 

 

[Pjake]

Parker 51...........Yes, absolutely

 

Stipulas..............Nope, absolutely

 

Lamy Safari/Vista......sometimes but rarely

 

Others, generally no, but depends on the pen's size and balance.

 

Peter

[Edgar Allan Bo]

I still can write comfortably but the pens just look weird when posted...

 

 

[Ink Stained Wretch]

My personal preference is to not post the cap. I usually don't like the balance of a fountain pen when its cap is posted. It just usually feels too heavy towards the end with the cap on it. also, I always end up with the cap lip or the clip poking me in the webbing between my thumb and index finger. I haven't liked that since grammar school. The one exception so far has been my Stypen Ergo-Plume. Sometiems I've fouind it convenient to post that one for a little while. The cap is short and light and so it doesn't overbalance the fountain pen and doesn't poke me.

 

When I'm out of the house I usually keep the cap in my left, non-writing, hand when I have it off the pen. At home I just put the cap down nearby.

[ballboy]

I insist on being able to cap securely and comfortably; which is why the Apogee will damn well have its cap hammered in whether it likes it or not! best pen for secure posting is my Lamy Studio; simple inline click on cap . Love how gently I can post the cap on my Carene though

[Bill Wolfe]

I almost always post with two exceptions. If a pen just doesn't want to retain a posted cap, I won't argue the point. Also, if I feel backed into a social corner and just have to let someone use my pen, if I think about it I'll remove the cap myself and hold onto it. I've come way too close to having the caps threads stripped off a couple pens.

[cfclark]

For me it depends on the pen, if it's balanced well I can write without the cap posted. Some pens though are just too small for me to write with without the cap posted. I have a Pelikan that has marks from putting the cap on the pen over the nib, so I figure I may as well post it and balance out the marks.

 

I have a 51 Flighter that came to me with slight rings on both ends from posting and capping, and I've continued posting just for balance reasons. My pens are "working" pens, not museum pieces (thus I don't have a real desire to track down the perfect mint-in-box Grail pen and have it continue to sit in the box on a shelf--someone else can do that).

 

[Anne-Sophie]

I don't post any of my pens because of balance.

 

 

I hold the cap in my non writing hand or I put it in my shirt pocket if there is no desk.

 

If there is a desk it stays next to my pen case and my purse, nobody has dared to put their hands on my caps!

 

At home, I have a little space for the cap while I am using the pen.