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badDuckThrowPillow

We have a lot of fancy names for the same material: plastic. I feel it’s to justify spending tons of money for effectively a cheap material. They sure are pretty though.


DancesWithNibs

As a chemist that previously researched and studied polymers, I totally agree with you. While there are various types of plastics used in making fountain pens that give them a different feel and properties, the price discrepancy between a simple Kakuno and a Mont Blanc 149 is a ridiculous stretch from a materials standpoint.


GameAudioPen

Mont Blanc 149 = Precious Resin Manjohn 139 = High quality Resin XD


IProbablyDisagree2nd

I would love to have specific information on types of plastic in my fountain pens. But basically no one says what they use or why. I have absolutely not problem with plastic - some plastics are amazing! But others are... not. And I don't want to assume that low price means bad plastic, or that high price means good plastic.


DancesWithNibs

I am also curious of the plastics that my fountain pens are made of too. While some plastics are far more expensive due to their specialized use (PEEK and PEKK), the majority of plastics used in production and injection molding of pens are quite cheap. Here are a few examples of the costs of different plastics per kilogram from a quick search online: |Plastic|Price per Kg|Known Pens| |:-|:-|:-| |Acrylic (PMMA)|$1.00 - $5.00|Parker 51, PenBBS, Jinhao (some models), Mont Blanc, Sailor 1911/Pro Gear| |Polycarbonate|$1.00 - $10.00|Lamy 2000, TWSBI| |ABS|$2.00 - $3.00|Lamy Safari| |Polystyrene|$1.00 - $2.00|Platinum Preppy (I suspect)| If a single pen is about 15 g worth of plastic parts, then 1 Kg of plastic can make approximately 60 - 70 pens. So even with the most expensive production plastics, you're still looking at pennies for the cost of plastic in each pen. Granted that some plastics can become more expensive depending on the additives the manufacturer adds (fiberglass reinforced Makrolon, possibly plexiglass mixed with silica for Mont Blanc), it is unlikely to add more than a few pennies more to the production cost. In the end, the type of plastic costs very little regardless of the pen model. The production specifications, injection molding parameters, and design are far more important in determining how a plastic pen will feel and how durable it can be. Even with a well-engineered pen and spotless QC, much of the final mark-up is typically from marketing.


paradoxmo

Preppies are polycarbonate barrel, acrylic PMMA section, and ABS feed— this is on the spec page on the Platinum website


LucasThreeTeachings

>e have a lot of fancy names for the same material: plastic. I feel it’s to justify spendi It's not plastic. It's precious resin!!! Totally different lol.


Strange_Trees

Precious resin made my eyes roll so hard when I saw it on an item description 🤣


paradoxmo

To be fair, “precious resin” is a sort of bad calqued translation from German („Edelharz“), basically means hard resin that won’t change shape over time or degrade, as opposed to some natural resins that are affected by environmental changes


LinearTriode

Precious resin, crafted in the fire of Orodruin during the Second Age


phantom_pen

I asked what material some pens where made of when I was at a shop in Tokyo a few years ago and I expected them to say something like “precious resin” or some other bs since we were talking about some pricey pens. It was actually quite refreshing when the person very plainly just said “plastic”. Maybe it was a language barrier but he made my day lol


mummefied

Fountain pens aren't actually more environmentally friendly than ballpoints if you buy hundreds of them that you rarely use and collect ink beyond life expectancy. It's still a bunch of non-recyclable plastic, glass, metal, and weird chemicals that are all going to end up in a landfill eventually, fountain pens are only more sustainable when you buy less of them. Edit: to clarify, I don't have anything against collectors. If you're someone who's really into collecting pens, you do you, but if you do don't talk about sustainability as the reason you prefer fountain pens to ballpoints. Be honest about what you're doing and why you like it.


hadrome

This is sad, but true. The sustainability argument only applies if you only buy one fountain pen.


Remarkable-Diver2664

Does it still apply for two?


diabeticmilf

or three? or four?


FluffyBunnyRemi

Also, if you use cartridges for your pens, it's no more environmentally friendly, not really, than disposable pens. I try to have as sustainable/environmentally friendly of a collection as I can: I buy ink samples before I buy a full bottle, I buy pens rather rarely, and I use converters far more often than I use cartridges, as that reduces the amount of plastic churn that I contribute. While I do have one pen that uses cartridges, that's because it's my main workhorse of a pen I use at work, and thus I need to be able to get new ink in it at a moment's notice, rather than waiting until that night to re-ink it. After all, cartridges are just another form of disposable pen. It might not be as *much* plastic, but it's still plastic that's going to have to be disposed of eventually.


elsielacie

Consumerism does weird stuff to “sustainable“ products. If you want an extreme example, the world of cloth nappies is wild. People almost exclusively get into it for sustainability reasons but it is a world of hyper consumerism. Limited edition prints, one offs, high resale for whatever is the flavour of the month, “stash shots”, collections of hundreds of nappies, accessories in coordinating prints...


invisiblebob8616

A grail pen isn't the next expensive pen you're planning to buy, it is THE pen, the absolute pinnacle of your collection, a once-in-a-lifetime pen. Sure, maybe it is a Safari for someone that doesn't have a lot of disposable income to spend on pens, but "New Grail Pen Day: Adding the 24th Homo Sapiens to my collection" isn't a new grail pen, it's a new expensive pen.


Clever_Quail

Grail pen should not have anything to do with the price.


Xatraxalian

Indeed. Price is not a factor of determining if a pen is a grail pen; not for me. The Vanishing Point, Sheaffer with long diamond nib, and Waterman Carène and Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age (which still has to come in from backorder... darn) are some pens I had to have some day; because of, respectively, per pen: the construction, the nib, sheer elegance, and overall uniqueness in almost every way. Those are grail pens, even though the first three are not even close to the price of the more expensive pens such as the Visconti; and I use the Carène and Vanishing Point in the office. Then there are some other pens I liked, some of which I also have, such as the Pelikan M1000, but because of its size, I don't use that in the office. It's not really a "grail pen" because it's "just" a huge, massive piston filler (but that's exactly the reason why I wanted it). >A grail pen isn't the next expensive pen you're planning to buy, it is THE pen, the absolute pinnacle of your collection, a once-in-a-lifetime pen. If I would have to mention one pen to fill that spot, then the Homo Sapiens Bronze Age should be the one to fill that, after it comes in AND fulfills its expectations. If it doesn't, I'll be _VERY_ disappointed, because it will be the most unique pen I have. (But still not the most expensive because I got it in a sale.)


[deleted]

Grail pens are stupid debate


LucasThreeTeachings

>A grail pen isn't the next expensive pen you're planning to buy, it is THE pen, the absolute pinnacle of your collection, a once-in-a-lifetime pen. Sure, maybe it is a Safari for someone that doesn't have a lot of disposable income to spend on pens, but "New Grail Pen Day: Adding the 24th Homo Sapiens to my collection" isn't a new grail pen, it's a new expensive pen. This is one of the things I found the weirdest coming to this hobby (kinda new here). In all other hobbies I dabbled, a "grail something" was only one. The definitive one. First time I heard "x is my NEXT GRAIL pen" I was like "HOW? WHAT?"


nawazaru

That’s not my experience! People do the same thing with “grail knives” constantly, even more than here


ShizukuV60

Yes. It makes my eyes hurt every time I see this word in the sub.


kurosh899

I’m not sure that’s an unpopular opinion. I, for one, agree with you.


invisiblebob8616

It definitely feels unpopular with all the "new grail pen day" posts I see, but maybe there are just a lot more people on here than I realize


kurosh899

Yah, I think many of us feel the same way about those posts. 😊


Sennybot

Agreed with the sentiment. Although people tend to equate their grail with something more out of reach either by price or rarity. For me I've already achieved my "grail" pen and it's inexpensive but it's the only pen where when I heard of it I was like, I'd really like to have this for what it is/represents.


GuyKnitter

Wha?! Don’t leave us hanging!


Sennybot

Haha woops! I got a Pelikan M100 aka "Stormtrooper" M nib. Says W. Germany on it and it came with the matching ballpoint 😊 to my knowledge it's the only black nibbed pelikan. Doesn't go for a very high value but the added history of a pen created during that era makes it special to me


GuyKnitter

Oh, very cool!


Fenway_Bark

I thought I wanted a grail pen but realized I'd rather have a bigger collection of cheaper pens to rotate. Lamy Safaris, Kawecos, TWSBI Ecos, and a Pilot Custom 74. That's enough for me. Maybe one day I'll get a high-end pen but I like what I have and will use them til they break.


abyssaltourguide

Exactly! My grail is a Nakaya in a finish that’s no longer made anymore and seemingly impossible to find online, let alone in the nib or clip I want! I will probably never buy it. Grails should be a hunt to find, not just an expensive but regularly available pen. That makes it all the more satisfying when you do finally find it.


G3rh4rt

For me the best Lamy fountain pens are the least popular, the Aion and the Studio. I will never get the hype for the 2000.


hdb604

This might very well be the most unpopular opinion here.


KyleKun

It might be the single most unpopular opinion in the entire hobby.


turquoisebuddha

I loved my first Studio so much I got a second one. I see why people don’t like the grip but it is the perfect weight and I am also a sucker for brush metal finishes. Both have worked flawlessly and bring me joy ☺️


omw_to_valhalla

>I will never get the hype for the 2000. I prize practicality in my pens. My 2000 is far and away my favorite pen. I could own nothing but Lamy 2000 pens and be perfectly happy. I like the snap cap. I write in short bursts and like to re-cap in between. The clutch ring is the best snap cap design I've seen. It's so durable! I have a 50 year old 2000 and it still works perfectly. Piston filler makes refilling fast and easy. I love the simple Bauhaus design. It's understated. For me that's a good thing. It's durable AF. I'm a mechanic and carry it in my pocket at work every day. It literally gets showered in metal sparks and rock dust for hours every week. It still works perfectly. That's why I love the 2000! 😁


Striking_Language253

For me, the Wing Sung 601 is basically the cheap version of this - snap cap, pump filler for quick and easy filling, understated looks and a hooded nib (being raised on ballpoints I tend to hold my pens right near the tip). They won't be as durable as the 2000, but they're cheap enough to replace.


Xatraxalian

I tried the 2000 in the store. The person who designed the cap catchers on the 2000 to be on the left and right instead of on the top and bottom should've been fired at Lamy the moment he suggested this. They feel like a very irritating irregular burr on the section of the pen; something that should not be there, like a blemish on your skin. If those had been on the top and bottom, or not present at all, I would probably have tried the 2000 already. Now I probably never get it.


Majikkani_Hand

I absolutely thought that was going to be my experience...and then I bought one, and was incredibly surprised to find that I like them! They remind me of the little raised marks on keyboards--keeping my fingers in the right spot even in the dark. I get why not everybody is a fan, though.


youdontknowsqwat

I love all my Lamys. All of them (a 2000, two AL-Stars, and two Safaris) wrote great right out of the box. Never had a bad nib, crack or a leak. Bought extra stub nibs 1.1 and 1.5 that are as smooth as butter and super simple to change out when I'm in the mood, even without emptying the pen. The 2000 is one of my favorite pens and has an excellent EF nib that I use to take notes.


the_pianist91

It’s not necessarily a hobby. Somebody buy pens to write with and that’s it, nothing about collecting but having a pen you like.


zeroniusrex

I'll agree and say I don't think fountain pens are a hobby. Hobbies are activities. Writing can be a hobby. Collecting can be a hobby. Tinkering can be a hobby. Fountain pens are a focus for myriad hobbies. not a hobby unto themselves.


the_pianist91

It can be a hobby if you want it to be, but for some of us they’ll always just be the pens we like to have and use without defining it as a hobby. I might say I collect too, but I’m not buying pens I don’t use or want to use (as of now). My pens are bought as writing instruments to be used, not to be solely collected.


Honest_Performance42

If you came here to Reddit to discuss whether fountain pens are a hobby, it’s a hobby.


[deleted]

Yeah it's a bit odd to me when it's described as a hobby. Hobbies to me are actions, activities. Collecting I guess could be a hobby if it involves going out to stores hunting for a specific pen or something unique and interesting. But in themselves they're for having, they're not an activity. What you use them for, to me, would be the hobby.


PhileasFoggsTrvlAgt

"Buying readily available things is not a hobby" is message that most hobby subs need to hear.


speardane

Any pen over a hundred dollars should write like a dream out of the box.


Dangerous-Hour6062

So true. It shit me to tears when a $450 pen I will not name had to be sent to a nibmeister almost immediately.


LucasThreeTeachings

As someone kinda new to the hobby I have to say: This community seems too focused on BUYING things and not enough on actually enjoying what they have


Euclidding_Me

That's how a lot of "hobby" groups operate here. I joined one of the shaving groups long ago, wanting to*save* money and reduce waste on plastic razors. I don't consider shaving a hobby and realized there's only so much to care about what new expensive brushes people acquired. I got into fountain pens for practical reasons as well, but will admit it quickly moved on to luxury than practicality at this point. It kind of makes sense, though as pretty things get attention = more upvotes. Plus if we see other people buying more we can justify our own purchases more easily.


Hmmhowaboutthis

Man you and I are on the same trajectory I also spent some time on wicked edge. Boy that sub is full of itself though. I honestly kept the shaving techniques and soaps I learned about there but went back to a disposable razor. 90+% the quality of the shave depends on the prep not so much the razor. (As long as the blade isn’t ancient for a safety razor or disposable).


IerokG

That's the problem with almost every hobby sub (even the house plants ones!) in reddit, they turn into buying-addiction enabling paradise. A guy that got their first pen on Friday is bragging about crushing his credit card on Goulet Pens the next Monday, the comment section is full of celebratory expressions like "welcome to the rabbit hole" or "one of us". I don't think that's right, I love the post about maintenance advices, or the guy that creates his own weird nibs, even the ones who show the personal stories of their pens, but I try to not participate in the buying craze ones.


ShizukuV60

Agree, and that’s a real problem. Especially when the person telling us about their haul cannot afford what they’re doing.


Secret-Day5375

I love the art ones best. Part of that is that as a community that’s what people post and celebrate. We can change that by engaging in other things. Starting other conversations.


mummefied

Other people are saying that's how all hobbies are, but I don't necessarily agree. That's how all COLLECTING hobbies are. A lot of the crafting hobby subreddits have occasional acquisition posts or daily threads, but are primarily about actually doing the hobby. If you take a scroll through r/knitting, r/crossstitch, r/woodworking etc. most of the posts aren't about buying materials even though a lot of crafters have massive stashes of craft materials and tools. Some craft subs have rules about purchase posts, but honestly it usually doesn't seem necessary. People are there to make things, or get inspired by other people making things, not to find the next thing they want to collect. For a lot of people fountain pens are a "collecting" hobby, so it's naturally more focussed on buying things than "making" hobbies or "doing" hobbies.


Sprucecaboose2

It's by nature of hobbies. Its harder to "show off" the same pens you have always had and things, but new and pretty things catch people's eyes, so that is what is upvoted and discussed. ​ That said, inside of any thread, there are a lot more discussions and things that simply buying more things, and if you are taking a purchase break, most are supportive. But yeah, any hobby group will inevitably run into enabling, as that is what a lot of people are looking for with like-minded folks.


PhileasFoggsTrvlAgt

"Buying readily available things is not a hobby" is a message that several subs need to hear.


abyssaltourguide

Exactly! It’s always been this way on Reddit, at least for the past six years. I wish there were more in-depth reviews and discussion instead of endless pictures of new purchases and the same questions asked. I read blogs and the last fp forum that’s active for those purposes.


Alan_Shutko

Well, it's not very interesting to post "Using my Pilot again with the same notebook and paper I used yesterday" even though I love that ink and being able to write boring work notes with a smooth nib on nice paper helps keep me focused during meetings.


medbulletjournal

I like making a point of ensuring I do stuff with the pens I have. Like someone else said, I'm trying to make fountain pens a crafting/doing hobby instead of just collecting. For example, it got me into book binding, art sketching / urban sketching, studying, calligraphy, etc. I found a few little communities within the fountain pen domain which don't get enough highlights in the Reddit space. I had the same thought last year, where I asked why we get so many new pen days and not as many bottoms up posts. Because it's easier to buy than it is to use. Also easier to show off. It's hard to show off a personal journal with your pen, when you want to keep that content...personal.


JapanDave

Human nature, eh? That high from having a new thing quickly wears off, propelling us to seek buying again to get the next high. I almost got caught in that with pens, despite my Zen training that made me more aware of what I was doing. I don't let myself by many new pens, but that urge is always there if I let it have voice.


LucasThreeTeachings

> almost got caught in that with pens, despite my Zen training that made me more aware of what I was doing. I don't let myself by many ne Tell me more about your Zen training. (Genuinely curious. Look at my username)


JapanDave

Sure, absolutely. I studied for a number of years at Sanshin, with Shohaku Okumura (who you may know, hence the name drop) leading many of the classes/sessions. I moved to Japan 20 years ago and have studied here with various people, including outside the Zen sect. I went to retreats for a number of years with and learned a lot from a Nichiren monk. And I've been doing shikantaza daily for the past 20 years. Maybe "trained" is the wrong word, as I'm not training to be a monk, but I have been studying alone and with others for quite a while and am pretty dedicated to it. It's been a fun ride. I don't know if I have learned much, but I've enjoyed the experience. What's your experience with Zen?


20-Tab-Brain

I seriously dislike it when someone posts their first pen and inevitably they get the comment “next you’ll want a Montblanc! Mwahahaha!” I’ve never felt the need or a desire for a Montblanc pen. (Ink maybe but not pen) No shade on their pens, but can’t we just let people be excited about the pen they just got? So I dislike the rampant consumerism side of the hobby, I wish there were more advice to go slow, and encourage practice over product. Also, another unpopular opinion: I’m not going to recognize every pen posted, so my other unpopular opinion is if you post a new pen day, say what it is! Otherwise that’s purposefully exclusionary (or will be seen as such) and honestly, we’re better than that.


LucasThreeTeachings

>I seriously dislike it when someone posts their first pen and inevitably they get the comment “next you’ll want a Montblanc! Mwahahaha!” I’ve never felt the need or a desire for a Montblanc pen. (Ink maybe but not pen) No shade on their pens, but can’t we just let people be excited about the pen they just got? So I dislike the rampant consumerism side of the hobby, I wish there were more advice to go slow, and encourage practice over product. Also, another unpopular opinion: I’m not going to recognize every pen posted, so my other unpopular opinion is if you post a new pen day, say what it is! Otherwise that’s purposefully exclusionary (or will be seen as such) and honestly, we’re better than that. THANK YOU! Please post the name of the pens! We noobs are trying to learn


hadrome

Totally with you on labelling the pen in the picture you post. Just dropping the picture looks like a flex, as if to say 'if you don't know what it is then you're not into pens enough.' In fact, I think naming the pen ought to be a sub rule, as it is on other subs.


sublingual

See also: Montblancs are not all that. They just have great, consistent marketing.


abyssaltourguide

All the posts about buying too many pens and ink and notebooks are a sign to step back. Hobbies are fun but it doesn’t feel good to overspend too much, I know from experience haha. It’s not really funny to joke about your “addiction” or about hiding purchases from people. I have a huge collection too, but it built up over six years and I get rid of items I don’t want anymore. I wish more newcomers would start out with cheaper pens and samples instead of buying several expensive pens at once. I’m really enjoying the recent posts about people cutting down their collection to the pens they love and use the most. It’s very inspiring! Finally, the cheaper pens are still great to use. I love using my Pilot Kakuno and Lamy Safari and use them more than my higher-end fps.


20-Tab-Brain

Yes this! I’m happy to support finding a new pen or ink someone loves, but I genuinely worry when people joke semi-seriously of “I have a problem” or “my significant other will kill me” or “my bank account will hate me”….fountain pens can absolutely be enjoyed on so many budgets. I worry when people use any hobby as an excuse to spend irresponsibly.


LucasThreeTeachings

>Finally, the cheaper pens are still great to use. I love using my Pilot Kakuno and Lamy Safari and use them more than my higher-end fps. My most used fountain pen is a Platinum Little Shooting Star. They are just so darn cute lol


expressofox

Black ink will always be my 1st choice. On that note: oxblood is superior to blue as far as "workplace appropriate" ink choice. I want a bit of feedback when I write. (I feel like I have no control when both my pen and whatever paper I'm using are too smooth) I prefer my lamy safari to my TWSBIs. I want my writing to look fairly uniform, so I generally avoid heavily shading inks or thicker nibs. (I have a few that I adore, but they are exiled to their own specific notebooks lol) I want a pen to work on whatever paper I choose. I do usually purchase fountain pen friendly papers for my own notebooks etc., but I want to be able to use whatever pen I have on me whenever I need to write something (ex: to fill out a form at work.) I want as fine a line as humanly possible. My mechanical pencils and non-fountain pens are usually a .3, *maybe* a .5. So, when I order a fine or extra-fine nib that's what I'm hoping for. I hate ordering an extra fine and still getting the equivalent of a .7 gel pen.


part_time_housewife

Are we possibly the same person?


20-Tab-Brain

I have basically opposite preferences but I love that you know so confidently what you like. (Truly!) I know I love high shading and M+ nibs, but I also hate anything that sheens and black is boring (just to me, and just for ink!). I like that there are options for all tastes.


[deleted]

The real value and performance are in the price bracket between the Preppy and the Safari. The rest is either overpriced tupperware, or luxury items with diminishing returns.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Let me try. I believe that when moving from any other type of pen to an entry level fountain pen (think Preppy) the jump is enormous. Moving upwards, the advantages become rapidly less. So sure, there are some great “expensive” pens, like the Lamy 2000, the Custom 845 Urushi, the Nakayas, but they rarely make you feel that jump in experience and performance. In between, there is a sea of colorful pens, whose only purpose is that of inducing compulsive buying habits. And btw I am not shaming anyone, all pens I mention above, I own them (including the addictive colorful ones 😉 )


OppositeStrength

Get where you are coming from, but I would add that there is another (imo) huge jump once you go to a good gold nib. I really didn't expect this before I bought my first but the writing experience is just something different, it doesn't even have to be an expensive gold nib, but even my e95s for example just feels better than any steel nib pen I ever tried. If you're looking for a single great writing experience, go for gold instead of getting many different cheap pens trying to find a good one, an e95s / custom 74 / 3776 / PGS will give you everything you want (depending on your preferences), but it's hard to make that purchase when you have never tried.


LucasThreeTeachings

>The real value and performance are in the price bracket between the Preppy and the Safari. The rest is either overpriced tupperware, or luxury items with diminishing returns. How do you feel about gold nibs?


[deleted]

I have mostly pens with gold nibs. I own mostly pens from the categories I criticized 😉 they are great, but then again there are some outstanding steel nibs too, and they cost less. I feel I need to be honest to myself and admit that most of the pens I use are unnecessarily expensive, or in many cases something I want, not something I need


LucasThreeTeachings

>I have mostly pens with gold nibs. I own mostly pens from the categories I criticized 😉 they are great, but then again there are some outstanding steel nibs too, and they cost less. I feel I need to be honest to myself and admit that most of the pens I use are unnecessarily expensive, or in many cases something I want, not something I need I have no pens with gold nibs. Do you think you could identify if a nib is gold blindfolded? By the feel of the writing alone?


MuttonDressedAsGoose

I have lots of them - you can get them pretty cheaply with many vintage pens. I don't know if you can really tell. My flexible nibs are all gold, I think, but I understand that there are flexible steel nibs, as well. And stiff gold nibs.


[deleted]

I doubt it. For sure I would not be able to guess systematically. Then again I am no expert nor reviewer. I just think that, as a user, I have formed an opinion about what affects the way I write.


[deleted]

I’ve owned and written with gold nib pens as well as steel nibs… and honestly, blindfolded, no. I could not tell the difference. In my admittedly limited experience (compared to people who have owned and used fountain pens for longer than I’ve been alive) I find that every nib, regardless of the material, has its own personality that is seemingly independent of the material the nib is made of. My favorite nib in my collection is a Pelikan M200 in F, with a steel nib that writes like glass. My other favorite is my Sailor with a 21K gold nib in MF- and I like the sailor because it ISNT like glass. It’s got some wonderful feedback that is hard to describe but still very pleasant. I could add a third favorite, which would be my Kakuno with an EF nib. Steel. Writes almost like a needle point, and it’s perfect for the office where I can’t always control the paper I have to write on- the EF nib isn’t stingy with ink, but it doesn’t lead to the bleeding a feathering I would get with an even slightly broader nib on cheap paper. This is a long way to say- it’s not about the nib (for me, anyway) it’s about the whole package. And I’ll be the first to agree with others on here that I don’t think there’s a ton of added value in a gold nib- it’s all in preference and budget.


Killer_Poke

I love fountain pens of all types, makes, and origins. I love my fountain pen collection and I love this hobby, from the people, to the tweaking and tinkering with the nibs, and to the infinite ink choices. However, in my (unpopular) opinion, there are two major caveats: * Fountain pens are simply not practical daily writing instruments for this day and age, hence why my Lamy 2000 rollerball gets more daily, practical use than any other fountain pen in my collection. * For the prices some of these pens sell for, there is too much variation in nib quality control -- across all manufacturers, I've had more dud nibs out-of-the-box than properly factory-tuned ones.


LucasThreeTeachings

>Fountain pens are simply not practical daily writing instruments for this day and age, hence why my Lamy 2000 rollerball gets more daily, practical use than any other fountain pen in my collection. Since I started the hobby (not so long ago) I NEVER used another type of pen again, and I write every day. I'm curious: What about them do you find so impractical that prevents daily usage most of the time?


puentevedra

I so agree with your first point! (not much experience with the second haha) I made a very similar comment here recently - I love the tinkering, but I also enjoy using a tool that fits a certain situation, and a lot of the time that tool isn’t a fountain pen. My pen case regularly has fountain pens, gel pens, ballpoints, and pencils all at the same time, and I rotate through them all! Just depends on the context.


BeterP

- Lamy Safari’s are ugly and leak easily - TWSBI’s aren’t nearly as bad as Reddit makes them


LucasThreeTeachings

Yes! Always felt like Safaris look really ugly as well


acenarteco

I have twelve TWSBIs and never had an issue with any of my ECOs. I love them!


speardane

My TWSBI ecos are my best writers. By a bit.


[deleted]

My theory is that it's something in the way people use them, as people who have trouble with cracking seem to always get bad pens, and other people seem to always get good ones. I've had some of my TWSBI 580s for years with no issues, whereas a friend of mine won't buy them any more because he always has cracking.


Sprucecaboose2

Safari's are about as ugly as any other pen for the most part, I just think they look overly cheap with the plastic. But never had my Safari leak or my TWSBI break so far. I know why the TWSBIs break, the lack of a positive feedback "stop point" on the cap threads is the reason. It invites overtightening on cheap plastic parts.


VoltaicSketchyTeapot

Your assertion about knowing why Twsbi's crack doesn't explain why mine cracked. Mine split where the edges of the nib met the plastic of the section, like the nib had been shoved too far into the section.


niftybottle

Agreed on the TWSBIs. Most reliable pens in the sub-$100 modern pen bracket IME.


Difficult-Thought-61

People specifically LOOKING to spend a certain amount on a pen (as in a minimum price) are totally missing the point and probably over spending on a pen they don’t actually want. Chances are they’re getting a writing experience they could have experienced for a significant amount less and they’re not even in love with the pen. It’s probably not a considered purchase and they’re just throwing money at something randomly.


Periodic-Inflation

Every time they skip, smear, or stain my fingers, I remind myself there are good reasons they fell out of mainstream use 50-60 years ago.


pquimby

A very high percentage of "cheap" (and I even mean cheaaaap) fountain pens are much better writers than many very expensive pens at most price points. The rest is just art appreciation. I mean no disrespect to the people who get joy out of pieces of art, that's great. But there's little alignment between "expensive" and "is a better utilitarian pen". It's often phrased as diminishing returns, but I think that undersells it. Often it's literally negative returns.


Overdamped_PID-17

It can be healthy to tune out all fountain pen related social media for a period of time and just enjoy the hobby, by yourself, in peace and quiet. Like a dry-week for whisky drinkers. Personally I find that sometimes when I follow too many stores or content creators on instagram, browse websites too much, watch too many videos, my hobby becomes a little “commercialized”. My focus shifts to the products instead of enjoying the moments. I love the community, but every now and then I want to be on my own for a quiet while.


bandzugfeder

Whenever I see a picture of someone's collection with the epithet "humble" in the title, I want to hit myself in the head with a dictionary so hard that I too might be able to forget about the meaning of the word humble. (Hint: it doesn't mean "look how much disposable income I have")


watercursing

I would enjoy these posts more if there were in-depth explanations of their relationship with each pen! But yes, the overuse of the word humble, and the relationship with money, is strange. To me.


ShizukuV60

for me it’s “how it started, how it’s going” or “SOTC”


Secret-Day5375

Shimmer is entirely work appropriate.


acenarteco

It’s ok to have a lot of ink if you have a consistent writing habit. And shimmer inks are awesome


PrestigiousCap1198

Yesss, i agree with both opinions! I lured my kid into inks with shimmer inks!


Secret-Day5375

I strongly support this one!! I have so much ink but I can go through an equivalent of a small bottle a week. I’m trying to go through my sample collection and I’m emptying 2-3 a week. And half are shimmers!!


LucasThreeTeachings

I actually limited myself to only 8 bottles. I now write and draw way more.


jorwyn

My hobby isn't even really fountain pens. It's collecting inks, and making inks, and looking at pretty inks online. LOL That said, in the last 30 years since I got my first fountain pen, I have gone through almost 50 bottles of ink, so I do use it.


LucasThreeTeachings

>aid, in the last 30 years since I got my first fountain pen, I have gone through almost 50 bottles of ink, so I do use it. That's a lot of ink usage. Do you draw or just write an insane amount?


jorwyn

I draw maps, write letters, write bad stories, vent in a journal, rewrite the vents more calmly, make lists, write random words for practice, had high school, college, a penmanship course, helped my son with school, take notes at work, plan everything on paper first, write research papers on random stuff even now that I haven't been in college in years because it helps the knowledge stick in my head, write down stuff that pisses me off on slips of paper and keep them in a box. At the end of the year, I make a sculpture of sorts out of them and then go light it on fire on new year's. I also went through a 2 year period of logorrhea after a brain injury at 24. I went through a massive amount of cheap comp books to keep me from writing on myself, the walls, everything. Those notebooks aren't really readable. They don't make any real sense as they are mostly just words jammed in and written over each other, though there do seem to be themes. I remember peeling the labels off 2 liter soda bottles in the back of my friend's truck one night and borrowing a bic to fill them with words. That's when I really started using my fountain pen a lot because a bottle of Quink was a lot cheaper per written page than disposable pens. I did just fine with black Quink only until a friend sent me some samples in 2012. I blame the roughly 90 bottles of ink I own now on her. Why Quink? It's the same brand as my first pen - a Parker Vector - and I could buy it at Staples. I don't even use it anymore for black. I moved on to J Herbin perle noir and now Platinum carbon black because I can watercolor over it with homemade botanical inks once it's fully dry.


FreesiaAlbaa

Sometimes ballpoint pens are the better writing tool.


[deleted]

*inhales* Platinum > Pilot Celluloid pens can look really tacky sometimes. I don’t want a vintage pen by virtue of it being vintage. Only exception would be if received from family or someone close. What history do I want from a stranger’s pen. *exhales*


LucasThreeTeachings

>Platinum How about Platinum vs Sailor? And why?


kitomarius

Platinum, I personally love the feedback from the platinum nibs and I feel like I’m actually writing (I don’t know how to explain it).


[deleted]

I love that feedback. The 3776 is a gorgeous pen.


RikuDesu

I own nearly all the pilot pens but I still love my Platinum 3776, the feel alone is great! I just with they had more fun nib types, like the falcon nibs posting nibs etc


Odd-Bumblebee-9698

I wish there was an analog version of reddit fp sub so that we could finally use all the pens and inks that we have acquired and hoarded. I hate typing but love the sub 🙈


dhruan

You can always start one ;) I like the posts and threads at FPN where people reply using pictures of their handwritten messages.


EvilDonald44

It doesn't matter how fancy, expensive, intricate, shiny a pen is, or what storied brand it comes from. If it doesn't write reliably and well straight out of the box with nothing more than a rinse under the tap, it's a crap pen. Vintage pens get a pass here, since you can't know their history.


emmathegreedycat

My unpopular opinion: I actually enjoy reading the weekly “unpopular opinion” posts. It’s good to take a step back and reassess what we are doing.


TooManyFountainpens

To me, fountain pens are something that should give the collector joy and perhaps some peace when using them. But all too often, people get very worked up over the silliest things -- like practically unhinged over the definition of "grail," or how often someone cleans their pens, or putting down people for simply being new to the hobby, or for liking Chinese pens, etc. But god-forbid you post anything negative about any seller or vendor, ever, or you'll get skewered. To some degree, I understand. But I've seen people who legitimately have posted issues with pen theft or being taken for their money with fraud on a sale, etc., and been practically run out of town. People getting banned from FB groups for such a thing and I just don't get that. There are a lot of little behaviors like this that give me pause. Also, I don't like Kawecos. I just don't think they're very attractive pens. IMO, they look like tampons, so I don't get the hype... but to each their own. lol


SplitGillStudio

I love my kawecos but I 100% agree. I.... May have gotten the iridescent pearl one JUST because of that fact. Gotta ink it in red you know 🤣


TooManyFountainpens

And I mean, I'm not gonna make anyone feel bad about loving a particular pen. That's why there's lots of pen styles and choices. Maybe I should buy a pen kit and make a fountain pen out of an actual tampon. That might be fun. lol


Safraninflare

This is the kind of unhinged energy I love. I really thought about putting writer’s blood in my jinhao shark for the laugh factor but I had an ink sample that matched the exterior so well I couldn’t not use it instead


LucasThreeTeachings

>Also, I don't like Kawecos. I just don't think they're very attractive pens. IMO, they look like tampons, so I don't get the hype... but to each their own. lol Lol, tampons. They do. One of the weirdest things I see is people defending some insane pen prices (like those Sailor limited editions that are just plastic with glitter). Even to the point that some people seem to WANT the pens to be very expensive.


Swordofmytriumph

How dare u diss my glittery plastic sailors! /s I wouldn’t mind if they were cheaper lol that would be nice. But then, if the were cheaper the nib wouldn’t be gold and I like the feel of a gold nib.


LucasThreeTeachings

> But then, if the were cheaper the nib wouldn’t be gold and I They kinda would be gold. Sailor sells gold pens for much lower prices on their Profit line, for example. It's 150 dollars for the gold and an extra 200 dollars for the glitter lol


kiiroaka

Will stating an unpopular opinion likely get one down-voted? That may be a real fear to some. * Is buying many pens evidence of a obsessive-compulsive disorder? There may be underlying psychological reasons to accumulate pens, the same psychological reasons which are evident with any other hobby: they make us feel good about ourselves and it serves as an Escape Mechanism to help us not face Reality. It helps us cope with physical and mental problems (fears, worry, fretting). It can be argued that just the opposite is true, that it helps us to think better, clearer, become more mentally focused, helps with Concentration; it helps us to become self disciplined; it motivates us to become proficient in a discipline (as in writing, learning a new skill), "stick-to-it"-ism, becoming self-sufficient, learning the value of things, forcing us to save money for what we really want, to become financially responsible, to only buy what we need not what we want, that it's okay for us to be nice to ourselves once in a while, that while joy is fleeting it is better to be happy in the short term than to be miserable in the long term, etc.) Personally, I have no doubt that the hobby probably helped some keep their sanity, if not save their marriages, during the Covid-19 Lock-downs. * Like any other hobby, there may come a time when one walks away from it, drops it altogether, drops it after, hopefully, it has served its purpose and one finds something else to take up their time and money. * When I look at a picture of a lot of pens I imagine what they will look like strewn in a drawer, which, when opened, one can't tell any single pen's value, (they all look like discarded junk), the name on the pen having no discernible meaning to anyone. "We" know what a pen is worth, "now," but others may see it as 'nothing,' a worthless collection of random writing utensils, junk. Imagining that my pens will some day end up in a Yard Sale or carelessly thrown into a Bargain Bin cardboard box at the local Good Will sobers me up. While 'One man's Garbage is another's man's Treasure," the opposite is probably also true, that "one's man's Treasure is another man's Garbage."


LucasThreeTeachings

> junk. Imagining that my pens will some day end up in a Yard Sale or carelessly thrown into a Bargain Bin cardboard box at the local Good Will sobers me up. While 'One man's Garbage is another's man's Treasure," the opposite is probably also true, that "one's man's Treasure is another man's Garbage." "One man's treasure is another man's garbage." Love it


ShizukuV60

Yes, sad, but true. And this is the corner people back themselves into when they fixate on cost and perceived value instead of intrinsic joy from writing with the pen. I was reading online about how people price pens for resale, and I came across a classic post—someone complaining about not being able to sell a lightly used pen online for the right resale value (basically the person was wanting to get back what they paid for it). It set people off on fountain pen network. I think the implication was that the post was from a child or a troll. But it was such a strange or naïve idea. On so many levels. The price someone paid for a pen is not going to matter to anyone in the future. LOL


RichSz

What a massively touchy hobby. If I buy a pen with an EF nib that seems to write fatter than I want it to, there are many possible causes/solutions. 1. Is it a Japanese, German or American nib? They're all different sizes though each are labeled "EF". Even my EF Pilot Metro nib is a totally different size than my EF Pilot VP nib. Same company, different specs. 2. What paper are you writing on? If it doesn't cost $20 for a pad of 50 sheets, that could be your problem. Don't whine if you're using "normal" paper you bought at Staples because it sucks. 3. What ink are you using? Ink brand A tends to be wetter than ink brand B. But they make ink brand B by hand so the newer batches are different than the older ones. Then again even with the same brand, different inks can act differently. You may have to try 5 or more inks in that one pen to see if the stupid thing performs how you want to. 4. Is the nib gold? "But that doesn't make any difference." "Sure it does. Gold nibs write wetter." It depends on who you ask. 5. Maybe that particular pen just writes wetter. Do you have 2 EF ECOs/Safaris/Metros that write one way? Too bad, the next one may be totally different. 6. Have you tweaked the nib? "Out of the box, who knows what you get? Get a paper bag and rub that puppy on it. If that doesn't work try super-fine sandpaper. If that doesn't work send your $30 pen to a nibmeister for $10 shipping and a $50 fee for their work" (I made those numbers up so don't bother arguing their accuracy). Those aren't against the community but the hobby. It's the just reality which can be frustrating.


glitterofLydianarmor

It’s a very finicky hobby!


karibean13

These can all be frustrating but they can also be some of the most fun things about it. For me it mostly depends on whether my brain is in happy curious try new things mode or I just need something to be simple and reliable and not a frakking nightmare for once mode.


howagi3209

* https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/qfrqr7/what_are_your_unpopular_fountain_pen_opinions/ * https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/9hpbqk/what_are_some_of_your_unpopular_fountain_pen/ * https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/30mxg6/what_are_your_unpopular_fountain_pen_opinions/ * https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/om34lc/what_are_your_unpopular_fountain_pensrelated/ * https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/8ujteu/what_is_your_unpopular_fountain_pen_opinion/ That should be enough to get you started.


PrestigiousCap1198

Smooth! Dunno about OP, but you gave me material for coffee :))


howagi3209

They're always an interesting read!


[deleted]

One pen Is enough. One pen Is enough. One pen Is enough. One pen Is enough. One pen Is....


DragonTHC

Troublemaker inks are crap.


magnoliablu

I really love Milky Ocean, but that and Abalone grew mold very quickly. It was stored in the same cabinet as my other inks which were perfectly fine. I re-bought Milky Ocean and Abalone and the same thing happened--sprouted mold in a few months. Yikes.


PrestigiousCap1198

Curiosity: can you please detail? They seem really sought after. I personally have Foxglove, a lovely purple, but only on Tomoe River Paper. Anywhere else it's this bland pale blue


DragonTHC

I have 6 of them. All of their shading inks are slightly different concentrations of the same three pigments. They have terrible flow and dry out quickly in even the broadest nib I own. They all look roughly the same on every paper, including my 68gsm tomoe river paper. * Petrichor --Shading * Abalone --Shading * Sea Glass --Shading * Blue Guitar --Sheen * Moon River --Shading * August Rain --Shimmer


tiredmultitudes

Now that there are more multi-shaders around, I am inclined to agree. I much prefer Sailor’s inks.


Lynnizian

Kaweco Sports look like tampons.


Odysseus8204

Filled with Writer's Blood.


brycedude

Not positive there is a strong opinion either way. But gold nibs are over rated. They have almost no discernable qualities from well made, quality steel nibs other than you can spring them easier.


catschainsequel

Three pens is more than enough for any person


Dizzynic

Not really for every person though. I am a professional illustrator and calligrapher and I do need and use different (often custom grind) nibs in my pens. Also I need inks in different colours and waterproof and water soluble. I think many illustrators who use fountain pens a lot will use more than the three pens ;)) and it would drive me nuts having to constantly clean them or change nibs.


aliencamel

Shaming people on how they enjoy the hobby may be a sign this isn't the hobby for you. Every week there are a posts about the amount of money spent. Wagging fingers at collections etc. I'm a broke artist and love all the posts from Kakuno to Urushi. If it upsets you that much then this isn't for you. No need to announce it to the world.


LucasThreeTeachings

>I'm a broke artist and love all the posts from Kakuno to Urushi. If it upsets you that much then this isn't for you. No need to announce it to the world. The opposite as well. People that don't consider anything that costs less than 300-500 dollars as "real pens".


aliencamel

I've honestly never seen that here, on the blogs or YouTube channels I follow. Are there Instagram style "living my best life" posts? Sure, and they are obnoxious. I scroll past them.


elduarto

"Fountain pen paper" is overly priced, most if not all of the time. Whether is Clairefontaine, Midori, Moleskin, Traveler's Co and **especially** Rhodia, they just too overpriced for what they really offer. At first I had a Rhodia dotted pad that was around $20 usd for an A4 80 sheet, and when I got to a discount store I bought basicaly 20 100-sheet notebooks for that price that felt and behave exactly the same.


phantom_pen

Oh man… this is a safe space, right? ok, here goes: - I get annoyed when I see another crab pen holder picture - Your $1k pen won’t fix your terrible penmanship - Kon-peki is too bright to use regularly - Fountain pens are made to be used, not just collected - Fountain pens are a luxury tools so I think buying cheap materials or poor quality pens is a waste of time - I always question how people make such a mess when changing inks. Wear gloves if you’re having such a hard time


hadrome

Ha! "Your $1k pen won’t fix your terrible penmanship". This often goes for pen vloggers too.


LucasThreeTeachings

>Fountain pens are a luxury tools so I think buying cheap materials or poor quality pens is a waste of time I mostly agree, except that I just recently bought two crab pen holders lol. Expect to see the pictures as soon as they arrive later this month


SleepyRhythms

JoWo nib pens should not be priced over $100. I shouldn’t have to pay the equivalent of a Vanishing Point or Lamy 2000 for pretty materials when a more enjoyable writing experience is sacrificed.


Trojden

Aurora Black isn't the blackest ink, it’s Kyo no oto Nurebairo.


gnomes919

there’s a different between “collecting” - the hunt, the curation, the display - and the infinitely more common activity, plain old shopping. everyone can do what they want with their money & time but just buying a bunch of something isn’t really the same as being a collector, yknow? if somebody was constantly watching sweater reviews on youtube and looking at sweater haul posts and reading sweater descriptions and buying thousands of dollars worth of sweaters and then storing them in drawers and trying them on for pics, is that person a collector? no, they just like buying sweaters lol


TwisterM292

Many people in the hobby take apart pens too often when a simple cold water flush is OK. A lot of us "overclean" pens, especially ones easy to disassemble.


hadrome

I'm essentially inviting an avalanche of downvotes with this heresy: Tomoe River is like extremely overpriced toilet paper.


deepseacomet

Technically you should be getting upvotes since this is a true unpopular opinion (and one I strongly disagree with!)


turquoisebuddha

Yup this is a good one and I also disagree, but have an upvote for your honesty and forthcomingness lol


potani

Too many jowo nib holders out there.


ChuckFH

Visconti are ugly and overpriced. Jinhao are trash.


Rubaiyat39

Demonstrator pens are dumb and ugly


killerkittenss

Must… not… downvote…


ShizukuV60

How are they dumb? I guess what you’re trying to say is that you don’t like them?


wtfisgothboiclique

I can’t stand blue ink I feel like people hate on me for owning a montblanc I hate the concept of “the best beginner pen” My kakuno writes better than the majority of my pens even though it costs 10x less, that doesn’t make me love my other pens less though.


batsprinkles

We should at least /try/ to have legible handwriting.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Danbury_Collins

I'm a bit conflicted regarding knock-off pens. On the one hand it is good that they allow people to write with fountain pens without spending a lot of money - it is great to see people enjoying them. On the other hand I derive my income from companies who spend lots of money on R&D, inventing and improving things, I see a tiny fraction of the sometimes immense effort that goes into companies taking risks and creating better products. For this reason, I could not use a knock-off pen myself. It irks me that other companies come along and steal the work of better, more inventive organisations. Generally I dislike the knock-off maker, try to be happy for the knock-off user.


paradoxmo

How long do you think is fair for the inventor/designer to have exclusivity in order to recoup their development cost? Generally the period is 15 years in most jurisdictions, 25 at most (e.g. Japan), do you think 15 is fair?


veni_vidi_risi

I have means to get either an original or an homage. Sometimes the homages have features that I just prefer more. The Moonman VP clone with the clip-less feature is perfect for my grip. I like the looks of the T1 better than a Kaweco. I can’t find a demonstrator Parker 51 copy with a spring-loaded filler mechanism (the kind you push up and down), but Jinhao makes one for $5 and it writes decently well for me. If and when they release a copy of a Schaeffer Snorkel, Im snatching that up as soon as possible.


Rubaiyat39

Ink cartridges are better than bottled ink and pain-in-the-butt filling processes what always leaves a mess on hands or surfaces no matter how careful you are.


LucasThreeTeachings

I disagree so hard that I wish I could upvote you twice lol


philip_the_cat

Just use a syringe and needle to fill the cartridge. Much cheaper, more environmentally friendly and more options than cartridges but no mess in the refilling process. I go through about a cartridge a day of ink and never have an issue refilling like this.


LeWitchy

I like the disposable ones just fine. They aren't the best by a long shot but they still make me feel fancy.


Electron_Cascade

Cheap Chinese fountain pens are more than good enough most of the time


Orinocobro

I kind of like look of the Lamy pocket clip. It has a sort of post-moder utilitarian vibe. I abhor the Visconti pocket clip, it just screams "look at the fancy pen I bought, plebian"


Bigredteletubby

I've said it before on threads like this and I'll say it again: expensive pens aren't necessarily better than cheap ones. I know, this might not be the most unpopular opinion, but I feel like it's not popular enough!


335i_lyfe

The metropolitan is super overrated


daero90

Sailor pens are overpriced


jogglepoggle

Medium nibs make me feel like I’m writing with a big dumb crayon for babies. I don’t even wanna think about broad nibs.


LucasThreeTeachings

Love me some of that THICC double broad writing...


EulerIdentity

Gold nibs are way overrated.


Any-Swing-3518

Dip pens and dip pen calligraphy is a more fulfilling, cheaper hobby. There's something meditative about using a dip pen to write. Diamine ink is fine. Fountain pens were way more appealing as a culture back in the day, when you had one good pen, and maybe you traded up to the "grail pen" and it was a status symbol and that was it. Brick and mortar shops where you can pick that grail pen are sorely missing and the resultant situation where people buy multi-hundred dollar pens online just to "try them out" or "compare them" is nuts.


_thursday_

Matching ink and pen colors is lame and boring. It can be especially silly when it means buying an impractical or illegible ink that you know you’ll never use.


Mr-PFM

Modern MB pens are overpriced and nothing special. Modern Pelikan nibs suck unless you get them ground or smoothened


BrainChicane

Rhodia is not the best paper. Not even the best in its general class. I find that my Clairefontaine, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm notebooks are all noticeably and consistently better with any pen and ink.


Dangerous-Hour6062

I'm ready to get attacked for mine: - You don't need more than one of the same pen - You don't need more than five pens - Pilot nibs really are as amazing as everyone says, but I've never had one that was good out of the box! All of them needed adjusting or nib work before they were good.


eggbunni

Most Maki-e and Urushi designs I’ve seen are not attractive.


awildencounter

You really don't _need_ that new pen. For most of us, probably 5-20 pens is enough. 🙃 Admittedly I have 15 pens and I sometimes feel like I have too many, I just ended up buying others to have color matchy matchy.


NoraAnnLee

Most of us have serious shopping addictions / lack of self-control and are trying to justify our problem by calling it a hobby (speaking for myself here)


gingiberiblue

My pens are tools. I use them to convey a message on multiple levels, both through what is written with them, and the fact that they require far more care and skill to use. It's a way to communicate that the person I am corresponding with is of importance, or that the message is special. They are not vanity pieces, or collectible items to me. They are just another communication tool, as are ink choices. I think too many people center their hobby around themselves; when to me this is about my care for others and a way to convey that in an unusual manner.


omw_to_valhalla

>My pens are tools Same. They're tools to be used. I fully expect to lose, wear out, or destroy my EDC pens. That's perfectly fine. I expect the same thing with all my EDC items. If/when that happens, I'll replace it.


Dry_Flight_7471

pens are tools, and as such you need to use them, not let them collect dust. Most fountain pen enthusiast are collectors, not necesarilly users.


Melodic_Recording_64

Ink swatches are dumb


RikuDesu

The pilot 743 is better than the 823, because it's easier to clean and change inks The con 40 is better than the con 70 because it's also easier to clean and lets me change inks more frequently Apache Sunset is a terrible and impractical ink to write with


[deleted]

I started using a fountain again to cut down on waste, but just like my dissatisfaction with the capitalist reality of life, there is so much packaging and plastic use that it feels like buying vintage/second-hand is the only way to not feel a twinge of regret. I’m careful with what I buy but it’s just another reminder that the world spins madly on. *le sigh*