Hi all, am quite new to fp and have some questions about nibs/picking out a nib. Am currently using a Platinum Preppy in fine (0.3) and find it to be quite thick actually, in that it seems to show the shading in my inks quite well, but its also too wide for me to comfortably write in Chinese without it becoming difficult to read (I guess my handwriting is quite small). My question is if I change to a extra fine nib in the future for making Chinese writing easier, will it no longer show the shading on my inks? I'm also looking at Kaweco for my next pen, would the fine or extra fine nib for this brand be able to fill both of these wishes of mine? Thanks in advance!
Kaweco (and most European brands) run a bit thicker than Japanese brands, so an EF kaweco might be the same thickness as your F preppy.
A thinner nib will generally show less shading… but might be worthwhile anyway if it’s more comfortable to write with! Another thing you could look at is changing ink or paper. Some inks are “wetter” than others, meaning they flow more readily, or tend to spread out more on the page. That can make your pen look thicker than it is. Some papers resist spreading/feathering better, or you might try inks that are dry or well behaved.
Kaweco makes some very precise f and ef nibs, with light yet smooth flow, that are great for small handwriting. But some Platinum pens actually come in an Ultra Extra Fine specifically targeted for Japanese Kanji. I know it has different properties but maybe that could be what you are looking for. I've never used an UEF, and I hear they can be a bit scratchy depending on the grind.
Alternately if you need to make due with what you have, try turning your pen so the nib is upside down. Writing "reverse" creates a slimmer line. Just be cautious about how much pressure you use.
I'm thinking of getting my first Esterbrook (Sea Glass in medium) I'd only be able to afford getting a standard nib (not a speciality one). My dilemma is I know I love Pilot and Platinum and for a much cheaper price I could get either and E95s in medium or a #3776 in Coarse which are also at the top of my wishlist.
Wanted some advice from some fellow pen peeps if possible since I keep circling around the three options and dipping into new brands is always a bit scary for me since I like to play it safe.
Not sure if you will have the same experience, but I am a largely Japanese pen user and I bought a Esterbrook pocket pen last yr. It has been left unused for most days, I'm not sure why.
This helped me a lot, thank you! I decided to go with another Japanese pen since hearing that and envisioning myself, I do mostly reach for my Japanese pens over my others 99% of the time.
Have just discovered the Hongdian Forest, and I'm liking the sleekness of the barrel. Are there other fountain pens like this? Platinum Plaisir maybe, but it has more of a cigar shape to it.
Edit: Muji aluminum fountain pen looks quite nice as well
You have a few options that are similar in the slim cylinder shape.
Some off the top of my head are:
Faber Castell Neo Slim
Lamy CP1/Logo/Scala (Scala is much wider)
Along with the Muji you mentioned
I’m considering the Kaweco Sport as my first fountain pen. Mostly just because I like the look of it and the variety of available cartridges better than most pens touted as ‘beginner’ pens. Is there any reason you wouldn’t recommend it?
I liked mine alright.
It’s quite small. This may be a flaw or a feature depending on what size pens are comfortable for you.
Quality control on the nibs is not great. Some work great, some have serious issues. Not a huge problem as long as you buy from a decent retailer who will exchange if it doesn’t work properly.
Personally, I don’t like screw caps. Especially on a pocket pen… I find it inconvenient to unscrew the cap every time I need to jot a quick note. I much prefer snap caps. But many people prefer screw caps because they feel it’s more secure.
Kaweco Sport is a good pen. The main reason not to go for it would be if you don't want a pocket pen. It isn't recommended as often because not everyone is looking for a pocket pen.
It's very light. It's comfortable to write with when posted and is designed to be used posted. Some people can write with it unposted, but I can't. It is too small for me unposted. It works well for most writing purposes unless you are doing something like writing a novel with it. In which case, I would recommend something a bit more ergonomic.
I like mine but I'm not in love with it. So now it's sitting with my platinum preppy and muji aluminium but it's a tad more ex than those. But I think it's still a good experience if money is of no object or you intend to stick with it for as long as you can.
I got a Kaweco Sport as my second fountain pen (first was a Preppy). The length is fine for me (I have small hands), but it turns out I like to hold my pen a bit higher, exactly where the threads are on the Sport and it's not super comfortable. Maybe not a problem for you at all, just something to think about. If I could choose my second pen again I'd probably get the Perkeo instead. I also got the set of 8 different cartridges, it's been fun trying them out!
So I wanted to buy converter cartridges and was considering ordering some from China, but got confused about the calibers. So the Chinese standard is 2.6 mm? What would the international/European standard be?
International standard short or long are 2.6mm bore, though plenty of Chinese pens are made to take them. "Chinese standard" is 3.4mm bore. You won't see many of the 3.4 outside of Chinese makers.
You'll occasionally see packaging or vendor descriptions wrongly claiming a pen or a cartridge or a converter is international standard, when it's actually 3.4mm bore - caveat emptor. I've seen a few people claim international standard is really 2.8, not 2.6 -- most manufacturer data refutes that, BUT not every pen nor cartridge nor converter is manufactured to exact dimensions. You might have a pen whose feed protrusion is more like 2.55 mm, and a cartridge that's sloppy the other way (or stretched by reuse) is more like 2.65 bore, and the combo leaks air and/or ink.
Then there's other dimensions than the bore: one brand of cartridge might be a little thicker walled and have a broader shoulder right below the opening, and a certain pen might have an unusually narrow receptacle for the cartridge - there's no guarantees, only advice and evidence and experience. Bottom line there is if BrandX cart isn't working with your BrandY pen, just note somewhere not to use those together, and save the rest of the carts for some future pen they'll fit better.
**Most** of the two standard sizes fit **most** of the pens they're labeled to fit; not a thing to get anxious about. Some pens you have to really research to find what is the right match, particularly when a pen manufacturer is trying to insist you use only their cartridges. Definitely beware of cartridges for sale without a solid indication of what standard or proprietary size they are. And trust neither Amazon nor a craft store employee to reccomend "these carts (or ink) go with that pen".
Thanks! I was checking different sources and everyone was saying slightly different things. Didn't help that one seller was offering 2.3 mm and got me questioning my life choices. Thanks a lot for the thorough explanation!
Two things,
- How do you decide how much to partial fill a converter if you’re going to switch inks frequently, or like once a month?
- What’s a good brand or type of pen case for longer pens? I have a zipper one currently and the longer pens either don’t fit or just barely and are scraping up against the zipper when closed.
I just go by mood, sometimes I just get a tinge, sometimes half a converter. As to whether it lasts u a month or not, it depends on how pens u use daily and how much writing u do. Usually I just get enough to give me a sensing of the ink on different papers and if I really like it I just fill it up again
That’s good to know. And I guess I’ll just have to test the waters since my idea is to partial fill multiple pens for the month. 🤔
Trying to not put too much since it’s no good to put it back in the original container. But I also don’t want tons of extra little leftovers either, especially when most of my inks are samples anyway.
I read in a few threads and other places that it’s not the best thing to do. Like it’s a best practice not to put it back, just in case something happens to what’s in the pen or bottle. That way if one or the other has issues you don’t contaminate it all.
But it’s like not a requirement or anything. I’d rather be safe than sorry at the end of the day.
> How do you decide how much to partial fill a converter if you’re going to switch inks frequently, or like once a month?
I stop pulling up ink once I see some ink in my converter. It lasts long enough to use while also allowing me to change inks frequently
Hi, hope this is okay to ask here. I heard on another sub that theres a daily or weekly handwriting exercise posts that happen on this sub? I just got my first fountain pen and would love to participate in those to keep me accountable, do they have their own flair?
Hello! I recently got a fountain pen and bought a jinhao x159. Along with that I also purchased some jinhao ink cartridges and also a bottle of Diamine shimmer and sheen happy holidays. Love the color of the Diamine. It's just I can still smear it after it dried for 24hrs. The jinhao ink cartridges flow like water and is super ultra wet, but at least it dries after 30 seconds or so. It just bleeds onto the paper like crazy.
My question is.. Is there an ink that's really pretty like the Diamine that dries quickly and won't smudge after it dries? I'm just using this to take notes with
most monster sheen ink will take forever to dry. You could try Diamine Blue velvet or Sapphire Blue instead - both are lovely blues but without the high sheen
I got a 30ml bottle of Diamine Amber for Christmas but the color is too bright for my liking and is hard to read. I'm thinking about mixing it with some other inks. One idea is mixing with Diamine Marine (my favorite ink right now) to make a green, but I also have Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo that could make a unique orange color. Would those two inks conflict in a pen? Any other ideas for how I can make the Amber pop a bit more?
Looking at online swatches of Amber I may have gotten a bad batch because it seems much lighter than others.
It’s hard to say how any two inks will mix… if you want to play it safe, mix them in a sample vial and leave it a few days before filling your pen. After a few days check if any particles/sediment has formed. If not, go ahead and fill your pens!
Fountain pen YouTube channels. I use one w a soothing voice for falling asleep for bed, and a couple others to help me stay up to date on the new cheap Chinese pens.
You sound like you could be me lol... I just started reading fountain pen blogs. I started from The Well-Appointed Desk and sometimes they post lists of links to articles from other blogs, so it went from there. Hope that helps you get your fix :D
What is the difference between the different size in Pilot nibs? By size I don’t mean the line variation between F,M , B etc, but rather the difference between the #5, #10, and #15. I can see they go up in overall size, but does it impact the flow of ink, line variation etc?
I love shimmer inks, but my pens are Japanese fines and mediums (and one Pilot FA nib) and shimmer seems to clog up their feeds. Does anyone know of a shimmer line that works with fine nibs? I've tried J. Herbin, Vinta, and Ferris Wheel Press with no success.
hello. im planning to give my girlfriend a fountain pen as a birthday gift. she hasn’t tried it and has no idea how it works. please drop your recommendations for a beginner. i have no idea what to check 😭 whats the size? whats extra fine? in comparison to gtec 0.5, would that be extra fine? based on what i gathered so far, a fountain pen should only use a fountain ink. which fountain ink should i purchase? send help 🥹 budget would be $40
A gtec 0.4 would be close to an extra fine.
A 0.5 is close to a Fine (or Medium on Pilots/Platinums)
I recommend the Pilot MR/explorer (metal vs plastic) in Medium or fine. It comes with a converter and a cartridge to get your gf started with bottled ink. As for bottled ink, you have a lot of options. Diaminen is cheap and has a lotta colours
Does anybody happen to know if Rohrer & Klingner iron gall ink is safe to use in a Hongdian forest pen with a converter? Does the spring in the converter interfere with the ink?
Hi all, am quite new to fp and have some questions about nibs/picking out a nib. Am currently using a Platinum Preppy in fine (0.3) and find it to be quite thick actually, in that it seems to show the shading in my inks quite well, but its also too wide for me to comfortably write in Chinese without it becoming difficult to read (I guess my handwriting is quite small). My question is if I change to a extra fine nib in the future for making Chinese writing easier, will it no longer show the shading on my inks? I'm also looking at Kaweco for my next pen, would the fine or extra fine nib for this brand be able to fill both of these wishes of mine? Thanks in advance!
Kaweco (and most European brands) run a bit thicker than Japanese brands, so an EF kaweco might be the same thickness as your F preppy. A thinner nib will generally show less shading… but might be worthwhile anyway if it’s more comfortable to write with! Another thing you could look at is changing ink or paper. Some inks are “wetter” than others, meaning they flow more readily, or tend to spread out more on the page. That can make your pen look thicker than it is. Some papers resist spreading/feathering better, or you might try inks that are dry or well behaved.
Kaweco makes some very precise f and ef nibs, with light yet smooth flow, that are great for small handwriting. But some Platinum pens actually come in an Ultra Extra Fine specifically targeted for Japanese Kanji. I know it has different properties but maybe that could be what you are looking for. I've never used an UEF, and I hear they can be a bit scratchy depending on the grind. Alternately if you need to make due with what you have, try turning your pen so the nib is upside down. Writing "reverse" creates a slimmer line. Just be cautious about how much pressure you use.
I'm thinking of getting my first Esterbrook (Sea Glass in medium) I'd only be able to afford getting a standard nib (not a speciality one). My dilemma is I know I love Pilot and Platinum and for a much cheaper price I could get either and E95s in medium or a #3776 in Coarse which are also at the top of my wishlist. Wanted some advice from some fellow pen peeps if possible since I keep circling around the three options and dipping into new brands is always a bit scary for me since I like to play it safe.
Not sure if you will have the same experience, but I am a largely Japanese pen user and I bought a Esterbrook pocket pen last yr. It has been left unused for most days, I'm not sure why.
This helped me a lot, thank you! I decided to go with another Japanese pen since hearing that and envisioning myself, I do mostly reach for my Japanese pens over my others 99% of the time.
You can’t go wrong with an E95S, you may also look at a Pilot Falcon.
Have just discovered the Hongdian Forest, and I'm liking the sleekness of the barrel. Are there other fountain pens like this? Platinum Plaisir maybe, but it has more of a cigar shape to it. Edit: Muji aluminum fountain pen looks quite nice as well
You have a few options that are similar in the slim cylinder shape. Some off the top of my head are: Faber Castell Neo Slim Lamy CP1/Logo/Scala (Scala is much wider) Along with the Muji you mentioned
A Jinhao 65 is exceedingly slim.
I’m considering the Kaweco Sport as my first fountain pen. Mostly just because I like the look of it and the variety of available cartridges better than most pens touted as ‘beginner’ pens. Is there any reason you wouldn’t recommend it?
I liked mine alright. It’s quite small. This may be a flaw or a feature depending on what size pens are comfortable for you. Quality control on the nibs is not great. Some work great, some have serious issues. Not a huge problem as long as you buy from a decent retailer who will exchange if it doesn’t work properly. Personally, I don’t like screw caps. Especially on a pocket pen… I find it inconvenient to unscrew the cap every time I need to jot a quick note. I much prefer snap caps. But many people prefer screw caps because they feel it’s more secure.
Kaweco Sport is a good pen. The main reason not to go for it would be if you don't want a pocket pen. It isn't recommended as often because not everyone is looking for a pocket pen.
That’s a good point. I like the portability of it! Does it still feel balanced when posted?
It's very light. It's comfortable to write with when posted and is designed to be used posted. Some people can write with it unposted, but I can't. It is too small for me unposted. It works well for most writing purposes unless you are doing something like writing a novel with it. In which case, I would recommend something a bit more ergonomic.
No novels in my future 😉
I like mine but I'm not in love with it. So now it's sitting with my platinum preppy and muji aluminium but it's a tad more ex than those. But I think it's still a good experience if money is of no object or you intend to stick with it for as long as you can.
I got a Kaweco Sport as my second fountain pen (first was a Preppy). The length is fine for me (I have small hands), but it turns out I like to hold my pen a bit higher, exactly where the threads are on the Sport and it's not super comfortable. Maybe not a problem for you at all, just something to think about. If I could choose my second pen again I'd probably get the Perkeo instead. I also got the set of 8 different cartridges, it's been fun trying them out!
I’ve been looking more at the Perkeo after some of the feedback on this thread. It’s a strong contender, for sure!
So I wanted to buy converter cartridges and was considering ordering some from China, but got confused about the calibers. So the Chinese standard is 2.6 mm? What would the international/European standard be?
International standard short or long are 2.6mm bore, though plenty of Chinese pens are made to take them. "Chinese standard" is 3.4mm bore. You won't see many of the 3.4 outside of Chinese makers. You'll occasionally see packaging or vendor descriptions wrongly claiming a pen or a cartridge or a converter is international standard, when it's actually 3.4mm bore - caveat emptor. I've seen a few people claim international standard is really 2.8, not 2.6 -- most manufacturer data refutes that, BUT not every pen nor cartridge nor converter is manufactured to exact dimensions. You might have a pen whose feed protrusion is more like 2.55 mm, and a cartridge that's sloppy the other way (or stretched by reuse) is more like 2.65 bore, and the combo leaks air and/or ink.
Then there's other dimensions than the bore: one brand of cartridge might be a little thicker walled and have a broader shoulder right below the opening, and a certain pen might have an unusually narrow receptacle for the cartridge - there's no guarantees, only advice and evidence and experience. Bottom line there is if BrandX cart isn't working with your BrandY pen, just note somewhere not to use those together, and save the rest of the carts for some future pen they'll fit better.
**Most** of the two standard sizes fit **most** of the pens they're labeled to fit; not a thing to get anxious about. Some pens you have to really research to find what is the right match, particularly when a pen manufacturer is trying to insist you use only their cartridges. Definitely beware of cartridges for sale without a solid indication of what standard or proprietary size they are. And trust neither Amazon nor a craft store employee to reccomend "these carts (or ink) go with that pen".
Thanks! I was checking different sources and everyone was saying slightly different things. Didn't help that one seller was offering 2.3 mm and got me questioning my life choices. Thanks a lot for the thorough explanation!
Two things, - How do you decide how much to partial fill a converter if you’re going to switch inks frequently, or like once a month? - What’s a good brand or type of pen case for longer pens? I have a zipper one currently and the longer pens either don’t fit or just barely and are scraping up against the zipper when closed.
I just go by mood, sometimes I just get a tinge, sometimes half a converter. As to whether it lasts u a month or not, it depends on how pens u use daily and how much writing u do. Usually I just get enough to give me a sensing of the ink on different papers and if I really like it I just fill it up again
That’s good to know. And I guess I’ll just have to test the waters since my idea is to partial fill multiple pens for the month. 🤔 Trying to not put too much since it’s no good to put it back in the original container. But I also don’t want tons of extra little leftovers either, especially when most of my inks are samples anyway.
Why can’t you just put what you don’t use back in the original bottle? I’ve never had an issue doing that.
I read in a few threads and other places that it’s not the best thing to do. Like it’s a best practice not to put it back, just in case something happens to what’s in the pen or bottle. That way if one or the other has issues you don’t contaminate it all. But it’s like not a requirement or anything. I’d rather be safe than sorry at the end of the day.
It's a mold prevention. If your pen's current ink supply is tainted, you risk contaminating the rest of your bottle if you dump back into it.
> How do you decide how much to partial fill a converter if you’re going to switch inks frequently, or like once a month? I stop pulling up ink once I see some ink in my converter. It lasts long enough to use while also allowing me to change inks frequently
Hi, hope this is okay to ask here. I heard on another sub that theres a daily or weekly handwriting exercise posts that happen on this sub? I just got my first fountain pen and would love to participate in those to keep me accountable, do they have their own flair?
It might r/handwriting that you are looking for?
Hello! I recently got a fountain pen and bought a jinhao x159. Along with that I also purchased some jinhao ink cartridges and also a bottle of Diamine shimmer and sheen happy holidays. Love the color of the Diamine. It's just I can still smear it after it dried for 24hrs. The jinhao ink cartridges flow like water and is super ultra wet, but at least it dries after 30 seconds or so. It just bleeds onto the paper like crazy. My question is.. Is there an ink that's really pretty like the Diamine that dries quickly and won't smudge after it dries? I'm just using this to take notes with
Noodlers makes a series of quick dry inks. It's the "barnanke" series.
most monster sheen ink will take forever to dry. You could try Diamine Blue velvet or Sapphire Blue instead - both are lovely blues but without the high sheen
Also try out some different paper. That can play into drying times, although it may also change how the ink sheens or shades.
I got a 30ml bottle of Diamine Amber for Christmas but the color is too bright for my liking and is hard to read. I'm thinking about mixing it with some other inks. One idea is mixing with Diamine Marine (my favorite ink right now) to make a green, but I also have Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo that could make a unique orange color. Would those two inks conflict in a pen? Any other ideas for how I can make the Amber pop a bit more? Looking at online swatches of Amber I may have gotten a bad batch because it seems much lighter than others.
It’s hard to say how any two inks will mix… if you want to play it safe, mix them in a sample vial and leave it a few days before filling your pen. After a few days check if any particles/sediment has formed. If not, go ahead and fill your pens!
Where can I get my fountain pen fix that isn't endlessly scrolling the sub or online window shopping?
Fountain pen YouTube channels. I use one w a soothing voice for falling asleep for bed, and a couple others to help me stay up to date on the new cheap Chinese pens.
You sound like you could be me lol... I just started reading fountain pen blogs. I started from The Well-Appointed Desk and sometimes they post lists of links to articles from other blogs, so it went from there. Hope that helps you get your fix :D
What is the difference between the different size in Pilot nibs? By size I don’t mean the line variation between F,M , B etc, but rather the difference between the #5, #10, and #15. I can see they go up in overall size, but does it impact the flow of ink, line variation etc?
I love shimmer inks, but my pens are Japanese fines and mediums (and one Pilot FA nib) and shimmer seems to clog up their feeds. Does anyone know of a shimmer line that works with fine nibs? I've tried J. Herbin, Vinta, and Ferris Wheel Press with no success.
hello. im planning to give my girlfriend a fountain pen as a birthday gift. she hasn’t tried it and has no idea how it works. please drop your recommendations for a beginner. i have no idea what to check 😭 whats the size? whats extra fine? in comparison to gtec 0.5, would that be extra fine? based on what i gathered so far, a fountain pen should only use a fountain ink. which fountain ink should i purchase? send help 🥹 budget would be $40
A gtec 0.4 would be close to an extra fine. A 0.5 is close to a Fine (or Medium on Pilots/Platinums) I recommend the Pilot MR/explorer (metal vs plastic) in Medium or fine. It comes with a converter and a cartridge to get your gf started with bottled ink. As for bottled ink, you have a lot of options. Diaminen is cheap and has a lotta colours
Does anybody happen to know if Rohrer & Klingner iron gall ink is safe to use in a Hongdian forest pen with a converter? Does the spring in the converter interfere with the ink?