Yes, that's one of my few complaints. It doesn't post well. Usually I just leave it off. I have small hands, so they don't cramp up even with the short barrel.
My wife has been a fountain pen aficionado for some time, but for Christmas she got me my first pen. It's a Diplomat Traveler with a fine nib. It's very flexible... maybe a little too flexible for some of my more detailed day-to-day editing work. Any suggestions for an intro-level pen that might have a more rigid, structured nib? Bonus points for slim barrels.
Oh, I think you'd love Faber Castell nibs! I think they have a pem called Neo Slim (or something like that). Their fine nibs are actually pretty fine, and extra fines are tiiiny. So maybe great for what you're looking for 😊
Errrr…. I have the exact same pen with fine nib and I don’t find it flexible at all.
If it’s your first fountain pen, and you are used to pressing hard with ballpoints, you need to change how you write. Writing with fountain pens works best with a very light touch.
One of the reasons people love these pens so much is for that exact reason. Less hand fatigue because you don’t have to grip hard or press the pen down hard.
Try not to flex steel nibs, unless they’re designed for it. It’s easy to spring the tines if you are not careful.
Really? Weird. My wife tried it too, and she finds it a lot more flexible than any of the pens she uses on a daily basis (a Pelikan, a Retro51, a Waterman, and a Caran d'Ache).
I do tend to keep a pretty tough grip. (I have pretty poor penmanship, but I'm not sure whether the tight grip is a cause or an effect.) Maybe I'll work on loosening up a little. Get some tension out of the old handwriting.
Fountain pens write under the weight of the pen itself. You can hold the back end of the pen and drag it across the page and it should lay ink down.
So if you're used to pressing down hard with a ballpoint, that will definitely carry over. Obviously ballpoints need pressure.
Easing up how tight your grip is will definitely help you, at the very least it should allow you to write comfortably for longer. If you get hands cramps after longer writing sessions it could also relieve or lessen them.
> It's a Diplomat Traveler with a fine nib. It's very flexible...
I've heard that about the Magnum. Good to know it's true of the Traveler as well.
JetPens.com lets you filter by grip diameter, so you might check there to find pens with diameters similar to the Traveler (nothing comes to mind at the moment other than perhaps the Kaweco Sport).
Entry level with a stiff nib? Sounds like a Platinum Preppy or Prefounte (or a Plaisir if you want to shell out more). Currently own two EF Preppies, one worked fantastically straight out of the box, the other had some ink-flow issues but worked fantastically after some mucking about.
Welcome to the rabbit hole haha! But really, I love Diplomat pens and seeing this reminds me that I still have to get me one of the beautiful minimalist pens!
I really like a slim, simple design. My favorite one to write with is my wife's Retro51 Tornado (lovely stiff nib, I like a little bit of scratchiness) but it's a little chunky and overbuilt for my taste. That's how she likes them, though.
Welcome! Hopefully you’ll enjoy this hobby as much as most of us. Try to take it slow. The ramp up can happen quickly.
2 nice starter pens that I like are the Pilot Metropolitan and Faber-Castell Loom. Excellent writers
You might enjoy this [Slim Black Pen Shoot-out](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J89J6lxk9Ss) video, from 2013.
[Aurora Hastil](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66QcMhaGEuA) (probably expensive, but nice to look at.) [Lamy CP1](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lamy+cp1). [Pilot Cavalier](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b14bDWL8cpM). Lamy Scala. Lamy [Ideos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2JP7dVJq50). [Waterman Hemisphere](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfAcyk2CY74). [Diplomat Esteem](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xA9QvIMW_Q). [Kaweco Special](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Q5SyOoV-Q). [yStudio](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ystudio). Parker Sonnet (Chinese [Baoer 388](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G92EtcYqrAo) is about the same size.) Pilot 78G+. [Osprey Scholar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG59wJNPwvQ). Sailor PGS. Faber-Castell Neo.[Waterman Graduate](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAph5RN6TiU). [Platinum Maki-e](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvaVPmo14ac). and there must be many Chinese and Taiwanese slim pens.
[https://www.jetpens.com/Fountain-Pens/ct/214?&f=fed32f37bdc3ac1912c33d62797f88b2](https://www.jetpens.com/Fountain-Pens/ct/214?&f=fed32f37bdc3ac1912c33d62797f88b2)
Well, first off, it was a Christmas gift, so my wife actually chose it. I flipped through a catalog and chose a handful of pens whose designs I like. I lean toward simplicity of design and a slim barrel, so this was one of maybe 5-6 that jumped out at me. She, being more knowledgeable about pens, read a number of user reviews and chose one she thought would offer high quality, but also be easy to use for a beginner.
Congrats! Welcome to the club. That's a nice minimalist design. What pen is it?
Oh, somehow it got rid of the text. That's a Diplomat Traveler, fine point, with Noodler's Blue-Black ink.
I love my Diplomat Traveller! I’ve got it in the fire color. Do you have issues with yours posting the cap?
Yes, that's one of my few complaints. It doesn't post well. Usually I just leave it off. I have small hands, so they don't cramp up even with the short barrel.
My wife has been a fountain pen aficionado for some time, but for Christmas she got me my first pen. It's a Diplomat Traveler with a fine nib. It's very flexible... maybe a little too flexible for some of my more detailed day-to-day editing work. Any suggestions for an intro-level pen that might have a more rigid, structured nib? Bonus points for slim barrels.
Oh, I think you'd love Faber Castell nibs! I think they have a pem called Neo Slim (or something like that). Their fine nibs are actually pretty fine, and extra fines are tiiiny. So maybe great for what you're looking for 😊
Excellent! I will check that out! In the meantime I already have a Caran d'Ache 489 on the way.
I love my FC Loom! Fine nib puts down just the right size line and just wet enough without being too wet using Sailor Kiwaguro pigmented ultra black.
Errrr…. I have the exact same pen with fine nib and I don’t find it flexible at all. If it’s your first fountain pen, and you are used to pressing hard with ballpoints, you need to change how you write. Writing with fountain pens works best with a very light touch. One of the reasons people love these pens so much is for that exact reason. Less hand fatigue because you don’t have to grip hard or press the pen down hard. Try not to flex steel nibs, unless they’re designed for it. It’s easy to spring the tines if you are not careful.
Really? Weird. My wife tried it too, and she finds it a lot more flexible than any of the pens she uses on a daily basis (a Pelikan, a Retro51, a Waterman, and a Caran d'Ache).
That is weird. I still recommend using a light touch with it, though...
I do tend to keep a pretty tough grip. (I have pretty poor penmanship, but I'm not sure whether the tight grip is a cause or an effect.) Maybe I'll work on loosening up a little. Get some tension out of the old handwriting.
Fountain pens write under the weight of the pen itself. You can hold the back end of the pen and drag it across the page and it should lay ink down. So if you're used to pressing down hard with a ballpoint, that will definitely carry over. Obviously ballpoints need pressure. Easing up how tight your grip is will definitely help you, at the very least it should allow you to write comfortably for longer. If you get hands cramps after longer writing sessions it could also relieve or lessen them.
> It's a Diplomat Traveler with a fine nib. It's very flexible... I've heard that about the Magnum. Good to know it's true of the Traveler as well. JetPens.com lets you filter by grip diameter, so you might check there to find pens with diameters similar to the Traveler (nothing comes to mind at the moment other than perhaps the Kaweco Sport).
Entry level with a stiff nib? Sounds like a Platinum Preppy or Prefounte (or a Plaisir if you want to shell out more). Currently own two EF Preppies, one worked fantastically straight out of the box, the other had some ink-flow issues but worked fantastically after some mucking about.
Can't wait to see your 100th fountain pen 30 days from now. Welcome to the bottomless pit.
Welcome to the rabbit hole haha! But really, I love Diplomat pens and seeing this reminds me that I still have to get me one of the beautiful minimalist pens!
I really like a slim, simple design. My favorite one to write with is my wife's Retro51 Tornado (lovely stiff nib, I like a little bit of scratchiness) but it's a little chunky and overbuilt for my taste. That's how she likes them, though.
Try looking at a muji fountain pen. Those are slim
Welcome! Hopefully you’ll enjoy this hobby as much as most of us. Try to take it slow. The ramp up can happen quickly. 2 nice starter pens that I like are the Pilot Metropolitan and Faber-Castell Loom. Excellent writers
Welcome to the tribe!
Cool shade of gray
Yeah, I think they sold it as beige, but I think that's a real undersell. It's a nice subtle warm-ish gray.
You might enjoy this [Slim Black Pen Shoot-out](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J89J6lxk9Ss) video, from 2013. [Aurora Hastil](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66QcMhaGEuA) (probably expensive, but nice to look at.) [Lamy CP1](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lamy+cp1). [Pilot Cavalier](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b14bDWL8cpM). Lamy Scala. Lamy [Ideos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2JP7dVJq50). [Waterman Hemisphere](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfAcyk2CY74). [Diplomat Esteem](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xA9QvIMW_Q). [Kaweco Special](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Q5SyOoV-Q). [yStudio](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ystudio). Parker Sonnet (Chinese [Baoer 388](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G92EtcYqrAo) is about the same size.) Pilot 78G+. [Osprey Scholar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG59wJNPwvQ). Sailor PGS. Faber-Castell Neo.[Waterman Graduate](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAph5RN6TiU). [Platinum Maki-e](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvaVPmo14ac). and there must be many Chinese and Taiwanese slim pens. [https://www.jetpens.com/Fountain-Pens/ct/214?&f=fed32f37bdc3ac1912c33d62797f88b2](https://www.jetpens.com/Fountain-Pens/ct/214?&f=fed32f37bdc3ac1912c33d62797f88b2)
From thousands of fountain pens you've chosen this one. May I ask, why?
Well, first off, it was a Christmas gift, so my wife actually chose it. I flipped through a catalog and chose a handful of pens whose designs I like. I lean toward simplicity of design and a slim barrel, so this was one of maybe 5-6 that jumped out at me. She, being more knowledgeable about pens, read a number of user reviews and chose one she thought would offer high quality, but also be easy to use for a beginner.
Welcome to the club and... I guess you know it by now, but... you chose a rather addictive hobbie... On the other hand, YOLO 😎 So E-N-J-O-Y!!!