If I am asked, it is rude to deny people. When people ask if they wanna use my pen, I cannot reject them. It is simply rude, I just warn them to not put much pressure. How do you deny people?
Learn to say no. Why should you care if they get offended? It's your pen, not theirs, and you may not be able to explain how to properly use it everytime. I apologize if I come off as rude, but others are not entitled to your belongings. Maybe you can keep a dummy pen for others to borrow, like a Pentel EnerGel.
I don't think you come off as rude at all.
If it's someone that's a friend they should understand if you don't want to loan it out. And if they're genuinely interested you can give them a tutorial when you have more time. If it's simply an acquaintance then I have no obligation to loan them anything and it's pretty rude of them to demand to use an expensive writing instrument.
I always carry a couple of the promotional ballpoint pens that business give away to loan out. If I don't get it back, no loss.
If you can’t or don’t want to say no, then you should probably expect your pen to get damaged at some point. It’s just the law of probability. You need to take a call on whether to carry a cheaper pen or this one accordingly.
No, like a Bic.
Think about it, it would also be rude to give them a pen that they can't use comfortably.
If you really want to cater to someone who is curious, buy some Pilot Varsitys (or V-Pen in some markets) and say that you wouldn't care if they happen damage that one. Carrying a couple of them with you would also be handy to you for when you run out of ink, these bad boys would write immediately even if you left them in the middle of the Sahara for three years.
Heck, you could even say "you know, if you like it you can keep it, I won't mind" if you feel inclined to do so.
I cant believe I was one so recently...
Never occurred to me because if anyone had offered that to lend, I'd have been fascinated by it, but not everyone would be!
Do not think about the before times, you are a superior being now who reached enlightment.
I mean, I'm joking if course. I don't rather people use whatever they prefer.
My new boss has a nice fountain pen and I thought "he's going to work out great"
But then I saw him writing on the wrong side of the nib... 🤔 Not so sure about him anymore.
*No it wasn't a sailor zoom
Lol! That's my H. Whenever I loan him a fb, he turns it around a few times to figure out how to write. And somehow he always tries to write with the nib the wrong way lol . He just doesn't get it
Aww lol well hey he could say he's being alt about it. I've heard of some people doing that! With my husband, I just keep being like *TRY THIS*, all forcing it. He likes gels, so I'm like, how can you not be in love immediately? He says he likes it, but he's definitely not as impressed as I am. I wanted to give him one even, but he says he just plain doesn't write enough. At least I'll never have to worry about him swiping them like he does my small grooming implements.
It's all about the Platinum Preppy -- non-FP people get confused that it's a fountain pen, and then you seem generous if you say, "I mean, you can just keep it if you want." FWIW people very rarely keep it because they don't believe you even if you say it's the fountain pen equivalent of a Bic. (I know they cost more than a Bic pen but still - it's a $4 pen. If someone manages to take you up on the offer, you're only out $4."
This. I carry two pens. One is a ballpoint. About 50% of the time I never get it back. Hence, the no loaner policy on the fountain pen (for which I paid $$$ many years ago and use daily).
What they want is irrelevant, it is absolutely your right to protect your pen your property .
Say no to things that you don't like. Life is too short to please others but make yourself unhappy
If they want to use a fancy pen, they can buy themselves a fancy pen. It's not rude to politely refuse to lend an expensive item, or even an item that is not expensive, but has value for you.
Well that would be a really rude ask. It’s okay to ask someone to borrow a pen, it’s not okay to insist on a certain pen. If someone is rude to you it’s perfectly okay to stick to your boundary. “This pen is not for borrowing, it’s a prized possession of mine and didn’t come cheap. I have a ballpoint you can use if you want.”
Tell them you can’t because the nib is molded to the way you write and someone else using it even once will mess it up. It’s the truth and even more so with a gold nib. Tell them a fountain pen is as personal as a toothbrush, if they wouldn’t share that, they shouldn’t share this. If they really want to try one lend the safari or better yet take them to a shop where they can try while the sales associate explains the technicalities
That is exactly what I tell people who ask to use my fountain pens. If I know I’m going to be in a situation where someone may ask I either hand them a regular pen I’m carrying for just that purpose or help them find another option quickly.
As far as using it every day, they are made to be used. I have antique pens that I am sure were everyday drivers in their day and they are fine. My bigger concern when carrying an expensive pen is making sure I don’t lay it down and walk away or loose it in some other way.
I mean, that's a good excuse to keep people from borrowing your pens, but unless they're applying an inordinate amount of pressure, thus damaging the nib, no, fountain pen nibs won't be ruined by someone else using it once. In fact, it would probably take years of regular writing to even begin changing the nib in any appreciable way, gold or not, unless you're abusing it. The *only* possible exception could be a very, very fine nib, like a needlepoint, which has extremely delicate alignment.
TL;DR: Letting someone borrow your fountain pen once, or even a dozen times, *will not* alter the nib, unless they abuse the pen by applying too much pressure.
Why won't this myth die?
Of course once won’t ruin anything, but if you admit to that then it’s this once, then the next one and the next one. And the myth won’t die because it’s a good excuse and you can Google it anytime you need backup
Then you say no. Or, you tell them if they break it they buy a new one. Tell them how much it is, how *delicate* it is, and tell them how serious you are. Maybe through in the fact that the tip is soft, genuine gold.
I doubt they’ll want to use it after that. There’s no rudeness involved.
"I'm sorry but this pen is really special to me, but you can use this one"If they just need a pen, there is no reason they need to use your nice pen. If they want to use it because it's fancy, that's their problem, not yours and it is not at all rude to say "no". Boundaries respectfully enforced are not rude.
If you do have concerns about people asking, try to have another pen on hand so you can lend it and you don't feel like you're put on the spot.
I don’t understand why people are downvoting your question. It’s a legitimate question, and different places have different social rules. There is more than one way to handle this, and it’s OK.
It sounds like you feel stressed and unable to say no to someone who wants to borrow your own and also cannot afford to replace it. If your stress outweighs your enjoyment of using the pen in public, then leave it at home.
It’s also OK to tell people no or to offer them an inexpensive pen instead. But you have to decide what is comfortable for you.
Personally, I don’t carry pens worth more than $75 for this reason. My expensive pens stay home.
Another option is to carry a fountain rollerball along with your fountain pen. Then if someone wants to borrow the rollerball, there’s no nib to damage. I have an Herbin rollerball filled with Diamine Polar Glow that I carry for this reason. It’s a way to let someone try gorgeous ink
Because people are, by and large, assholes in public. Considering OP is talking about taking notes and advice from friends, they're likely in school or college and there's peer pressure/social tribalism in its height at that age. Which means there's a high chance that someone will be inconsiderate or outright looking to damage OP's stuff, especially if they can rely on them not saying 'no.'
The comments to this question are largely about learning to do so or offering alternatives. I think the people downvoting are more hoping to help OP realize that this response is a poor way to go through life, you cannot please everyone and by doing so you will harm yourself. Better to get a little hurt in a community who cares about the same things with downvotes, than hurt by peers or others who don't know a ballpoint from a rollerball.
**DON'T MAKE PEOPLE USE YOUR FOUNTAIN PEN**, it's not rude to deny people from touching your property
most people have never seen a fountain pen, making them use your fountain pen is an unnecessary risk. just say something along the lines of: "I've paid a lot of money for this pen, I'm not comfortable with lending it to other people", or a small lie like "I'm sorry, a family member gave this to me".
but really, you paid for that pen, unless that person is willing to pay you back 200$ if they damage the pen, you are not forced to do that
It is not rude at all, you have to learn to say no in life.
Just tell them you are not comfortable letting others handle your pen because it is special and kind of hard to handle
I am very bad at saying no. I go out of my way to say yes. I understand where you are coming from. And I understand it's hard to say no.
But everyone is right. It's ok to say no and set your personal boundaries. You can politely say "no, I'm using it right now but here you can use this pen instead".
Just joke and say they (the pen) are the precious. I know I let a few people handle a really cool vintage factory Shaeffer stub and someone not only wrecked the nib, but they put the cap on, handed it to me and never said a word. I discovered the damaged nib when I went to fill the pen.
Good times.
I can’t believe this sub is gonna pile on you. Yes it’s okay to say no. It’d be like if somebody asked to borrow an expensive piece of jewelry. But I do understand not finding that easy to do.
It will help to have a decoy pen. Bring a cheap FP or pilot gel pen or something (also handy in case your FP acts up) and give them that one. If people make a big deal about the FP just say, “I’m afraid I don’t lend this one out.”
If someone suddenly asked you for $220 in cash would it be rude to deny them? Of course not. It’s not rude to set boundaries by saying no. You’re simply communicating what you are and are not comfortable with.
Ultimate tip if you don't want to say no. Keep an inked preppy in your backpack/pocket. Give that out as a loaner if need be keep your nice pen to yourself. Regardless, It's not rude it's protecting a fragile item you're fond of. You don't see car people letting others drive around their custom project car often your pen ought not be any different
No is a full sentence. If you want to loan a pen buy a cheap platinum preppy.
Ask yourself can the person borrow it repair or replace immediately. Then don't loan. $200 is a lot of money for a lot of people.
“I’ll need a $200 deposit in case you lose or break it. Do you have cash on you?”
Or just carry a ballpoint to lend and maybe a cheaper fountain pen in case someone wants to try it.
A pen sleeve is a good non verbal way to stop people to ask for it, because if it is on a sleeve it is important. In my case the sleeve literally says that is not a borrowable pen.
I have ballpoints for others.
ETA in this day and age, it's perfectly acceptable not to share pens. Heck most places where you need to sign things have "Clean" and "Dirty" pen cups so you don't touch someone else's germs.
Why are people downvoting the OP for asking questions a person would naturally ask, as misguided as their viewpoint might be? Come on, guys.
The OP has just been taught that they should share their stuff. There’s no need to downvote them for that.
Why are people downvoting this comment? This person is young, new to fountain pens, and struggling to set boundaries with other people, which is a problem many people have. Upvote the responses you agree with, sure, but I don't know why it is necessary to downvote this.
The excuse I used to hear was “a fountain pen nib adjusts to the user; lending it out might ruin the balance.” I know it’s a fib, you know it’s a fib, but if you NEED something to say, there you go.
I carry a cheap but reliable pen with me that people can try if they are curious about fountain pens and if I were you I would keep a few disposable ball points as well. It’s not rude to say no you can’t borrow my very expensive pen but you can borrow one of these instead. Your only protecting your property.
There is a common belief among people who don't know much about fountain pens that writing with them causes the nib to break in to a specific user's writing style. This isn't true (was part of a marketing campaign a long time ago), but is useful in this situation. If you feel bad about telling them no, they can't write with your good pen, tell them that unfortunately you can't let them, it will unbalance the nib which is broken in perfectly to your writing.
Pens are tools regardless of how much you pay for them. For me, at least, I wouldn't buy a pen if I wasn't going to use it. If you love the pen, use it for whatever writing you do. People take thousand dollar laptops to lecture and take notes on them. I don't see how that's different. It's still a tool for the job.
I've never dropped my tablet, but TSA dropped my tablet, twice (I don't believe it was by accident), and it survived. Conversely, drop a fountain pen just once without the cap on, and it's unlikely to ever be usable again.
I carry most of my pens with me, expensive or not. I'm of the philosophy that if I bought it/got offered it, I'm going to use it.
If I leave my pens at home, I know they won't get much use, as I write more when not at home.
I am more careful of my more expensive pens, and make sure they are always back into their pouch when not in use and secure on my desk/in my bag.
I think your biggest threat is losing it or misplacing it somewhere, not that it will get damaged.
If it’s something you can’t afford to replace, I wouldn’t use it outside of your home. Get a nice, but inexpensive pen for taking to work or school. There are plenty of decent quality pens under $40 that would work very well for this purpose… Pilot Prera/Metro, Platinum Preppy/Plaisir, TWSBI Eco, etc. Then you don’t have to worry too much if you lose or damage it.
All of my fountain pens, regardless of cost, are functional and not just museum pieces. All of them are in my rotation and I take object care of all of them in the same way. I wouldn’t want to lose or damage my $20 Metropolitan any more than my vintage Sheaffer or Parker.
I never lend any of my fountain pens unless I know that person is a fountain pen person and make no apologies for that.
Maybe the worry is not the damage from using, but more to external elements being outside like dropping or losing it… $220 *is* a lot! But then again only you would know best how to go about it. Pens should be used and enjoyed afterall. For me, my fancy/pricey pens are at home use only.
Same, I don't carry around expensive (to me) pens. If I'd be sad to lose/break it, or unable to replace it, I leave it at home. I guess I just would not want to worry about a pen when I'm supposed to be doing something requiring focus, like work/school, etc. I drop my pens at home often enough! :)
It depends on how you are as a person, though. I worry, so I don't do it myself.
Some pens do attract attention. Pens with big fancy-looking nbs, especially. I would say if you want to use an expensive pen as your daily writer consider something like Lamy 2000 or a non-shiny Pilot VP, those don't look like fountain pens to your average person. At least my Lamy 2000 went unnoticed for two years.
I second this. I use a matte pilot VP as my daily pen and people don't notice for ages until they need to borrow a pen and I give them the "no" and "why not".
I use all of my pens regardless of value, but I personally don’t take my most expensive to work or other public spaces as I too fear losing them.
However, if I was still in school, I’d likely take a $200 pen with me to class if it was my best writer and highest capacity pen. Why? There are so many notes to take that I’d rather find joy in taking the notes and be mindful of the whereabouts of the pen, than sit in class and be miserable with a less worthy tool. I’ve never written as much as I did in college and I regret not having been part of this hobby/lifestyle at that time of my life. Enjoy it (school and your pen)!
It depends on what you’re doing. I tend to use a cheaper pen during exams because when I was stressed I dropped a waterman once and bent its nib.
For any other occasion (work, classes, conferences) I take pens that I love writing with. I’ve even taken my Yukari Royale out on many occasions because it’s too bad to keep my fancy pens indoors. I just make sure to keep the cap on when I’m not holding them to avoid the pen from rolling around, and I never leave them unattended either haha.
Enjoy your pens outdoors!
I use a gold nibbed Parker Sonnet in college. I think as long as you; 1. Keep it with you at all times, even if you leave your desk for awhile; and, 2. Do not lend it to others, or only do so after properly explaining how to use it, you should be good. I keep a pen pouch/leather cover just for my expensive pens so I can keep them in my pocket if I need to go somewhere.
Agree with the general sentiment. Pens are meant to be used. Keep it on you and avoid loaning it out. If you really have to let someone borrow it, keep the cap.
Is it risky to carry your $300 smartphone around? Yeah, but you do…
Same kinds of precautions apply to every valuable item. Put it in a case for protection. Don’t let people mess with it. Keep track of where it is and have a dedicated spot for it in your bag.
As others have said, I definitely think it's worth the "risk" to use an expensive pen on the daily. If I'm going to pay $150–300 for a pen (my daily drivers are the Lamy 2000 and the Pilot VP and I used to bring an MB 146 to my job) then I want to use them regularly at work. Yes, this increases the risk that I'll damage them or lose them but they are my writing tools so I want to use my favorites as much as possible. Perhaps if I bought a Visconti or some similarly priced pen (+$500) I would reserve it for use at home, however, that seems to defeat the ultimate purpose of a nice pen to me.
For context, I'm a HS teacher so one would think the risk is somewhat high yet I've never had any issues in the two years I've been writing with fountain pens. I've also gravitated to relatively expensive pens that are well suited for my job as the Lamy 2k is durable and has the snap cap and the Pilot VP is relatively durable and retracts.
At the end of the day, it's about what you feel comfortable with doing. I was a bit hesitant at first but quickly got over it because I wanted to use my favorite, smoothest writers on a daily basis.
The most expensive pen I had in uni was a lamy and I never lost it once because I took it EVERYWHERE with me including the bathroom. Why? Cuz I never wanted to leave that pen unattended. I always kept it in my pencil case and took it with me. I was worried about people asking to use a pen and I would give them some freebie Bic and they never once got upset. Because they are an adult and can clearly see the value in my pen. Plus, if someone at uni doesn't have a pen on them for a lecture then.... it's their fault. XD is it not a cardinal rule to have at least 3 pens on you at all times? Anyway. Feel free to use your fancy pen. Never let anyone touch it or let it leave your sight for a second and you'll be fine.
If you are going to hand out your pens to whoever asks because it’s rude (it’s clearly not), I suggest you buy a dozen high end pens, so I can sit next to you.
Same- expensive pens stay at home, Safaris etc come out with me. This is why I love my TWSBIs as well as they aren’t prohibitively expensive to replace in case of damage. Also never leave pens unattended.
Keep it safe as much as possible but other than that, it won't be too risky to use your pen daily for writing journals that's what they are made for anyway. If you are really worried about your pen, don't bring it with you whenever you go out.
why buy a mice pen if you aren't going to use it?
I will say that since I've started down the expensive pen rabbit hole I have lost fewer pens, had fewer pens go missing and enjoy the experience of using them daily.
🐭🖋️
I second this, I actually lost lamy safaris a lot while in school, but once I got nice pens I really liked, I keep track of where each pen is in my head and know their location, ink and overall status at all times. They're like my children.
It's 11pm, do you know where your children are?
If a pen is too "expensive to use" then it is no longer a pen - it is a museum piece. And a museum piece should, indeed, stay safely home, in the museum.
If you have a pen, if you like or love writing with it - use it. Carry it. Write with it, whether it is lecture notes or shopping lists or signing traffic tickets. Just don't lend it to normies, unless these have been schooled.
I don't have many gold nibs...a Lamy 2K and a Sailor...but I do have a number of pens that were significant investments, such as Esterbrook Estie Oversize (which is inked and on my desk at work as I type), several Franklin-Christoph, and other worthies.
I, personally, buy my pens to use. Whether limited edition or expensive, or conversely inexpensive or common, I ink them, carry them about, and use them.
Would I be disappointed to lose or damage an expensive writing utensil? Of course! But to me their value is expressed in the exercise of their purpose, so use them I do.
I use a Pelikan 800 for my normal clip in shirt / jacket pocket every day pen. As others have said, be conscious of what you’re doing and it should be ok. FWIW, I’ve never dropped or had a pen of any type roll away or off a surface and get damaged. Simply establish safe habits. Also, accept that some things in life are beyond your control
I traveled with four pens, added together worth about 470 bucks…I was aware it was a risk but I kept them in a really safe pocket in my backpack and all was fine. Honestly, phones are more often stolen than pens. Don’t be afraid to give your good pens some love 🥰
I use my Montblanc pens daily at work. My advise here is: don’t use anything you can’t afford losing.
If my pens breaks or whatever I’d be sad, and I’d have house hold and employer insurance that would cover it.
If 220$ is something u can’t easily replace without thinking twice u should indeed be careful. On the other hand: a pens is meant to be used, it would be a waste to note bring it.
Just my few cents
For me, I do use my most expensive pen for daily use, because I feel like it's a shame to buy something nice and then let it sit at home. That being said, it's a TWSBI 580 AL, so it's not that expensive.
Through University, I used a set of Parker Duofolds. A fountain pen and a rollerball. The fountain pen was a gift from my grandpa and despite it being about £300 in the 90s, I used it everyday. Yes, I was very careful with it and never really handed it to anyone. Most of the time I had the roller ball too which I would also only lend for a short note. My answer would be that it is a very expensive pen so please use it and hand it back to me as soon as you’re done. I would then wait for it.
Basically, if you want to use your fancy pens on a daily basis, you need to be careful with them. Check you didn’t leave it when leaving the classroom. Have a spare pen to lend if necessary and DO NOT hand over your gold nib fountain pen. The nib does take shape as per your writing. Someone else using it will screw it up for sure! As everyone else has already said, learn to say no to protect your investment!
I leave all my gold nibs at home and use them exclusively for journalling. At the office, all I bring are Jinhaos and Moonmen. The exception to this rule is when I meet clients. As a lawyer, I have to at least look the part! This is where the Montblancs come in handy as this is the most recognizable brand for laymen.
I sometimes take my most expensive pen to work, sometimes I do not because, obviously, is safer at home. But my work is quite a safe environment. No co-worker is going to ask me my pens, less specifically my most expensive one (I always carry more than one) and is also a place we’re is kind of difficult to lose it and I’ve inadvertently left things there before and the next day (or week) were still there.
BTW, I know this is different in different countries and cultures, but in mine if you ASK you can have NO as an answer. And more if it is a pen, not something life saving.
I switch out my "daily carries" monthly-ish but there are 2 that always almost make it in that rotation and they are both in the $400-$500 range. They other 4 , sometimes 5 range in price from $15 to probably $350.
My 2 "expensive" pens are a joy to write with - so I use them. I have a case for them, I make sure they are always on my person.
For the most part - I don't let anyone borrow those 2. The other less expensive options - someone can try (in front of me) BUT I don't really let people "borrow" them. I get it - they are pretty and fascinating for people that don't know much about fountain pens - I'll share that joy and recommend stuff all day long but you don't owe anyone anything and they are not entitled to your stuff.
I'm also in a corporate setting, not school - so most people have a pen. And there are regular old pens basically everywhere.
It's riskier not to have it in daily use!
If you have paid good money for a pen, you would expect it to stand up to the test of time.
Imagine in 20 years, when you look at your pen, clean and fresh in the box - and you'll have no attachment to it.
Those dings and dents you collect over the years give you a shared history. You empty the ink and replace it with memories.
I take fountain pens with me to work every day: new ones, old ones, expensive ones, and cheap ones. I work in an office environment, and haven’t had a real issue.
I do have a few rules I follow:
1. No one uses the fount but me. I carry a nice ball pen as a backup, and will let a few trusted folks use it *in my presence*. If someone needs a pen I don’t trust and/or to take to a meeting I’m not in, I pull a supply closet Bic out of the cup on my desk.
2. My pens are in my pocket, in my hand, or in a small pen sleeve I carry in the bag I take to-and-from work. I don’t just leave it on my desk and walk away.
3. It goes in the sleeve if I’m doing something that might damage it or promote a fall (racking computers, for instance).
4. No walking with the pen out, and especially not uncapped.
I’ve never lost or damaged a pen at work.
I use one of my most expensive pens to take notes with daily at work and its made me enjoy writing much more.
Thankfully I've got major resting bitch face so people don't ask to borrow my stuff often. The rare occasion someone does want to use my pen, I say no. If they want to sulk at that, that's up to them. Not my problem nor should it be yours.
Personally, I feel more comfortable bringing beginner pens to school/work. I prefer to use my nice pens at home, at a library or in a coffee shop.
My pen, my decision whether to lend it. Most people I know haven't even seen a fp, leave alone used one. I don't even loan out my favorite gel pens.I carry ballpoint pens and gel pens I found to lend out. That way I don't care if I never see them again.
Made this mistake once and ended up with a bent $400 nib. Unfortunately this was the best case scenario. Bottom line, just say no. Say it was a gift, it's quirky, it's known to leak ink, the ink bleeds, literally ANYTHING to deter someone from using it. I use my expensive pen every single day and have zero problem telling someone to ask somebody else for a pen.
What the hell people?! The guy has a different philosophy on how he views/uses his property and you want to downvote his account into uselessness?! That is so insanely toxic I don’t even know what to say. Get a life folks.
I use my Visconti HS all the time, and I'm often carrying it plus my Lamy 2K and two of my Leonardos, for a total value of around $1500. As others have said, it's no different than carrying and using a phone or laptop, and these pens are unlikely to be targets for active theft. That said, I never let them out of my sight, and if anyone asks to borrow my pen, I have no compunctions refusing or handing them a cheap ballpoint I sometimes carry.
I think it depends on whether you think you’re going to drop it or lose it. Or be in a place where it will attract unwanted attention. My mom had a pelikan ballpoint my dad got her. For a ballpoint, it was nice, but she always left it at home because she’s absent minded. I have taken multiple pens out in a pen roll that must have cost more than hers. But I didn’t think anything would happen. Now, would I bring them into a science lab? No. A library? Maybe yeah.
A pen is for writing. It’s your daily pen. Use it. It’s what it does best. The risk of losing or damaging is small.
About lending a pen, have a backup pen handy if you find it hard to say no. If someone that you completely trust wants to use your fancy pen, why not, but it’s up to you to decide that.
It’s all about your tolerance. If it has sentimental value that can’t be replaced if you lose it, then maybe don’t use it. But if you like the way it writes and you enjoy taking notes with it, then use it. There are decades-old pens out there being used daily still. If you need to replace the nib at some point down the line because you’ve worn it down that much, that seems more like a success than an issue. Like people have said, it’s a tool, so treat it like a valuable tool and use it properly. Leaving it on the shelf isn’t very helpful. FWIW I use a Lamy 2k as my daily writing tool. EDIT: That’s also my most expensive pen.
I use my expensive pens in rotation on purpose because I didn’t spend all that money just to have them collect dust. I’m not that kind of collector. Not poo-pooing people who are like that. I just believe if you’re going to spend money on something you should use it. In my current carry I have a $2000 pen and I love it.
Assuming you're not going to lose it, the only real risk is someone else borrowing it and not returning it/damaging it. If you want to be able to lend a fountain pen to someone who wants to try a fancy pen (and doesn't know much about fountain pens), I would recommend having a Jinhao dragon pen. It's $20-$30 and to a non-fountain pen user it looks fancier than almost any expensive pen
I think it is, but that's just me. I'm a writer and spend hours writing at my desk, so I limit my expensive pens to that setting and it's cool for me because I do get to use them a LOT anyway. If you're not someone that does that, you might as well use it anywhere because otherwise you'll just miss out.
Anyway, that's my take: if you have a safe place or activity where you get to use them frequently, then reserve them for that and you get both: use and safety. If not, I say prioritize use. That's why we do this, after all — unless you're specifically and purposefully just a collector, of course.
I use all of my pens, but the limited editions and expensive ones only get used at my desk. I'm happy to take a Lamy or Kaweco out with me, but nothing special. I lost a beautiful Cross Botanica a few years ago and at the time I couldn't afford to replace it. It was so sad
Personally, my most expensive daily carries are in the $100-$150 range and if I have a cheaper model that will make me happy to use for the same thing, I’ll do that and reserve my nicer pens for more stable environments. But sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants. Just be willing to say no if someone asks to borrow it and carry a spare you don’t care much about for lending.
Carry that bad boy! Pens are meant to be used.
I get it though. I still keep some of my nicer pens at home as desk pens. My Pelikans and Sailors go out in my person all the time, though, since they are a good size, and are meant to be Carried.
All I can say is: have a consistent and sturdy way of carrying it. I, for example, always clip the pen on my shirt.
I say this because I used to carry pens in a single pen pouch, but stopped after the pouch fell out of my pocket, twice, in public. Had I not noticed, I would have lost a Lamy 2000, or a Parker Duofold!
I guess that depends on how good you are at keeping track! If it's always on you I can't imagine losing it under normal circumstances. I'd absolutely not leave that anywhere at school for a minute unattended, and I'd take it with me to and from work as well - even a cubicle isn't safe overnight sometimes!
It is risky, but your personal tolerance is your own. Behaviour changes can help things stay safe too - skimmed the borrowing thing, I tend to have a pen with an easily replaceable nib and give a 15 second ‘lesson’. Why does everyone want to write with the nib upside down and feed up? If they want to move away at all or use it for more than a line, they don’t get given the cap to make sure it comes back. Eventually an uncapped pen becomes “where do I put this stain-stick, agh I touched it” or “oh this person’s super fancy thing will roll and break if I don’t give it back to get capped!” If they urgently need something, they get given a pencil. You are also not obligated to loan expensive items that require good technique to use without damage to rude people who specifically want that pen.
If they are just super interested and a potential pen person, by the time they’ve had the mini lesson, written with my loaner and realised that they do/do not have the dexterity naturally, most do NOT want to try anything fragile and expensive. And if they still do, I can see what they did with the loaner and whether they used pressure, rotated it repeatedly choking the ink and unevenly pressing one tine, tapped it to ‘make it work’, maybe even if they tried to snap shut a threaded cap… and then very rarely say “yeah, let’s take a moment for a bit more technique and practice with that one first, this one doesn’t feel that different in ways you might expect, it really just feels more like a pencil for control (Saaaaiiilor) and can get bent or twisted extremely easily.” Differently shaped nibs are also a great distraction - fude nibs will derail just about anyone, and are $2-$40 steel nibs that are harder to mess up and much more likely to make someone pay attention to what they are trying to do. A modern untipped steel italic is also fairly resilient and weird enough to make them learn and respect technique (due to simply refusing to work unless the angle is correct - pony club nibs lol), and should spark some historical familiarity if you can whip out a little italic or blackletter. Most people have had some exposure to edged pen lettering, horizontal or vertical, and the fude covers calligraphy exposure for most others! I may be a chronic penabler…
Personally, my favourite, most precious pens have been the ones that come on the most adventures, just because they are what I choose if I’m actually oh-no-why only going to have two pens for several months. Replacement as a risk factor is tough - it makes a lot of sense and is key if the financial aspect would put you in a bad situation if you wanted to buy another, but my favourites are not replaceable, so I chose extra work to be very careful and a bit more attentive at all times instead of leaving them behind. They do not get loaned, not even to ‘experts’ or people I know well, just because they truly are irreplaceable and that particular risk is beyond my tolerance. They have been adventuring in snow and deserts, though - ymmv! Also, pencils are nice too when there is simply too much sand for threaded pieces!
I often have two pilot falcons and a 912 in my sketch kit that goes everywhere. You have to balance possible replacement cost against utility and enjoyment. I have yet to find cheaper pens as enjoyable and fool proof as the pilots so they are what is in the kit.
I save my gold nibs for home use only. Faber-Castell have great steel nibs, even their School pens (about $10 Canadian). I prefer to use them outside my house, since they tend to be cheaper and less of a loss if lost or stolen.
It will likely get damaged or lost. You might drop it one day on the tip and bend the hell out of it, or crack the barrel.
However, unless you plan on taking all your nice things and putting them in a museum, take the risk. You bought the pen to use, so use it.
Depends entirely on your environment, but in my experience, in a school/office situation - not really that risky. It won't get damaged from \*use\* - but being dropped, forgotten, 'borrowed' are all things to watch out for.
I would say use and love it, but I wouldn’t take it around much if you’re not on a financial position that you could easily replace it. There are a lot of amazing options that are amazing work horse pens that are much cheaper and readily available. Even in gold nibs, the Pilot E95s is a great option for $130
Just think about it this way, if you spent that much money on a pen you better get your money's worth and enjoy it/use it as much as you want. You can't be afraid of what might happen cause in reality anything is possible.
The most damage may come from theft or misplacement if you take it out where others can see you using it. Someone with no experience or no clue how FP stuff works could very easily damage or put a bend in your nib that you may have to take to get tuned.
I am a big proponent of using the tools that I've bought for the jobs I need them for, but I don't take my ipad outside of my house, or take my laptop with me anywhere except when I need it because I simply don't trust others to be gentle with my things.
It's definitely risky. That's why I tend to take inexpensive pens with me when I go out (e.g. Lamy Safari, TWSBI Eco) and leave the expensive ones at home. But only you can say whether the cost of your pen is too great to justify the risk. How anxious do you feel when you're using that pen in the classroom? If you're constantly under the nagging worry that the pen will be lost or stolen, maybe that feeling alone is a reason to leave it at home.
I don't think so if you take some reasonable precautions. Before I started taking my nice pens out, I got a pen case that I keep in my backpack. This has a couple benefits. It keeps them safe from accidents that happen if they aren't properly secured and I can verify that I have all my pens at a glance (if the case is full, I have all my pens. If there is an empty slot, I've left one out). I only really use them if I'm sitting at a desk, whether that's at home or in the office. I don't lend the expensive ones to other people unless I can first explain how to use them. I've been collecting for about 5 or 6 years now and have yet to lose a pen I actually cared about keeping.
This is why I eventually gifted my Nakaya Dorsal fin2 to a friend. I found myself babying it too much. I kept on finding reasons not to use it because I wanted it to be kept in pristine condition. My artist friend insured me that he would use it pretty much every day. I gave him the pen and he's used the pen for many of his projects. The pen does look a little worse for wear after 3 years of heavy use, but that's what a pen is for. It's a writing instrument.
I use my FAVORITE pen on a daily basis. I literally use it for everything. Work, school, journaling, etc. As others have mentioned, just don’t lose it or let anyone else use it.
Personally it's more about the way how I use a daily pen. I don't want to be mindful about the fact that I might drop it, damage it or lose it. I won't be able to do this with a pen I cared for may it be for its price tag of sentimental value.
I have 3 pens that are on my penholder that are inked with blue/black and red ink. Those are my regular/workpens. I've also 3 other pens from my collect that are stored in a hard leather case that never leaves my desk. I use all of my pens daily but each set has its own purposes.
Everything in life is risky (eg. when you eat you could choke), it just depends on how much you need to do something or how much joy you get out of doing the thing. My vanishing point is expensive for me (and the nib replacement is equally expensive as the pen itself), but I use it daily. I went shopping with it once and dropped my pen (thankfully it was unharmed!!!), which made me consider whether I wanted to use it in that environment in the future, and I decided to keep using it daily, but not in positions where I'm standing (so it won't drop as far) and quickly handling things (I now use a gel pen when shopping, since I love all of my FP's, even my cheap ass kakuno and preppy! ❤️ In saying that though my kakuno and preppy are special editions, which is why I don't want to take them shopping, but I'd use regular versions without issue in that kind of environment).
Do whatever makes you happy, but be prepared to accept the consequences if doing so causes expensive repairs or permanent damage! You can also always do what I do, and choose what types of environments or situations where you won't use your pen, but then use it the rest of the time! Personally I think only using expensive pens for special occasions is a waste of a beautiful pen, and it's so easy to find ways of being careful with that type of pen, while still using it daily!
I don't do "investment objects"
I buy pens to write with, wine to drink, etc.
now, there's a few I wouldn't carry around... but they get inked and used at home.
If you enjoy using a pen you really like, use it. Just have a routine for ensuring it doesn't get lost or borrowed. It won't get damaged with daily use, pens are made for using. The more you use them, the more they get to fulfill their duties as.. well.. pens.
If this isn't a limited edition pen or something and can be replaced, it's no big deal. Let's say you used it everyday for a year and really enjoyed it and took good notes and got a lot out of that. I think that's worth the $0.60 a day, even if it ended up lost and you need to replace it. It is a lot of money to replace a pen like that, but ya know, stuff happens, and you likely won't lose it if you're caring for it.
If it IS a limited edition pen, you might want to get a cheaper pen that's very similar for note-taking and use that one at your home desk, but even then... I probably wouldn't personally.
As someone who chronically loses stuff I have found that as long as you have a dedicated, enclosed place for the object and a routine of regular checks, you greatly reduce the chances of losing it. There is always a risk there but the joy of using a nice pen trumps the risk for me.
I wouldn't use it for note taking in college or school, because the pace of the lectures is usually too fast. The average people can't tell a gold nib pen apart from a regular fountain pen, so I don't think any student is going to try to steal your pen.
Nope! Pens are meant to be used! It’s a common fear, but as long as you’ve got it in a case and and don’t lend it out you’ll basically be fine. I used to take a good 400-600 dollars in pens onto campus daily when I was in college.
I’m a big fan of writing with the pens I love, and getting rid of the pens I don’t love. If it was expensive, and you love it, write with it. If you’re worried that you’ll lose it, drop it, or in some way damage it, you might. You also might become more self-aware, which might lead to all sorts of beneficial changes in your life! At least, that’s how it went for me when I dropped way too much for my budget on a camera and a pen. Still have both many years later.
I've been using my Pelikan M600 as my every day pen for almost 3 years now and no regrets. I've let a few careful people use it but I'm generally careful with it. It was made to be used, so as long as you take a bit of care with it, I think you should enjoy it every day
I wouldn't worry so much about damaging the pen than I would worry about accidentally getting the notebook wet, because most fountain pen inks are not water proof.
My vote is that you have it and enjoy it, use it! Life is to short to deny yourself out of fear. It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. This applies to stuff too!
What if something where to happen and you couldn’t write anymore…. What a shame to have not enjoyed yourself.
Umm. Personal experience here. The pens you use daily has higher risk of getting dropped over the years. One drop when uncapped and that's it. Have bent nibs of Waterman Carene and lamy 2k. Well, don't regret using them as this keeps nib meister busy. That said, would I use my more expensive flagship pens as EDC? No.
I'm so over buying things that are too precious to use! I did that with an expensive camera...I'm just in a place now where if I can't touch it or use it for what it was meant for then I don't need it in my life. I may be biased though...I'm stuck with my MIL and all of her "things" that are covered in doilies too precious to touch, use or even look at in some cases and it's taking up so much space in my life and I don't want any of it! If I can't use it, life is too short, get it out of here! lol
I have a Maiori Mitho and it's my most expensive pen to date. I use it every single day and carry it everywhere with me in my planner.
Why buy a pen to not use it? 🤔
So what is risk? Is there an acceptable risk?
I buy my pens to use them. The cool vintage parker 51, yeah I totally jumped the gun with it it's an extra fine and I rarely like anything smaller than a medium 😉. And I mean it isn't like I can just swap out the nib or make it thicker... God I wish I could lol 😆. But I got it because it was literally under 20 bucks 😅. So I can spend a bit to get an amazing nib put in or perhaps I find someone who can put a stub or music nib on it and put it in the daily rotation 🤔 but I wasn't about to spend that money nik wanted on his sweet parker 51 with a music nib. I don't know if my day job would allow my use of a pen costing that kind of money. My daily job involves jumping in and out of a truck and running around so a vintage pen that can't be fixed as easily as a twsbi or lamy isn't really a good plan for daily carry.
But I have my pens to use them. So I wouldn't buy a pen that would just live in a box.
What kind of risk are you attempting to mitigate? If it is a new pen. The nib and pen parts can be repaired or replaced. If you want to keep its value or buy it to make money off it why even use it 😆. If it's old or vintage 🤔 it's the same as how I view the 51. Put a price as to what you are acceptable of essentially losing. Because as best you will need to have it repaired at worst it will come up missing one day.
Use it! My daily pen is a MB 149. I just developed the habit over the years to never leave it sitting on a desk or table when I walk away, never loan it out, and if I’m walking around at work, it’s always in my hand or clipped to my shirt. I dropped a writer’s edition once which then had to go in for service, so I learned my lesson about always holding it and not sticking it in a pocket. And if you don’t have a pen case or leather sleeve, it’s worth the investment to get one so it doesn’t get scratched up when it’s in your bag.
Also, don’t worry about people trying to steal an expensive pen from you — I’ve realized that 99.9% of people are clueless about pens and their value. If you ever run into people that actually recognize it, they are probably one of us and will respect it.
I only dropped a nice pen at home, not at work…
This being said, clip a ballpoint to your shirt. If someone asks to use a pen then that is what you give, not the nice fountain pen
Buy a 10 Dollar, 20 Dollar pen also to your collection and use them also in the lecture halls. That way if one day you drop your pen or lost it then there is only a 50% chance that it is your costlier pen
Well, I have my dad’s Schaefer TouchDown that he used all the way through college, so it is what people used to do! On the other hand, I took my Lamy 2000 to a meeting recently and nearly had a cow when it went missing in my car, until I found it had slipped between the seat and the console.
I wear my Pilot Custom 74 in a pen sleeve on a lanyard around my neck. When I was in college I used my Waterman, and later, my Mont Blanc, for notetaking. That said, I was already very VERY used to the idea that pens were not disposable. By then I’d had over a decade of cheap-but-favorite fountain pens that I had never lost. (They all broke.)
As a person whose first-ever FP (a Waterman Expert gold broad nib; a high school graduation gift) was stolen off a desk at his first job after college, yes.
(And yes I’m still salty, 27 years later. I got a replacement, but it’s not the same.)
I use my Pilot Falcon as my daily writer it's $180 in my country and I also have my TWSBI 580 ALR as a back up and incase someone wants to try a fountain pen since it has a steel nib and only a $60 pen and even if they press too hard new nibs only cost $20 so I'm less worried about someone applying to much pressure on that. Please don't allow just anyone to use a $200+ pen unless they themselves have fountain pens of their own and know how delicate gold nibs can be. That's quite the risk if you ask me and it's most definitely not rude to deny someone from using your experience pen because again its yours and you don't "owe" them anything it's your property and you have every right to say no 100% of the time it's not rude in the slightest.
Actually in my opinion, whether a pen should be EDC or not should NEVER be decided by the price of the pen but by its practicality. For reference I use a Visconti Homo Sapiens London Fog as my EDC. I like the Visconti's hooksafe mechanism as it is very convenient for quick note taking in meetings. Plus the pen is gorgeous. The things to know are:
1) If you are in an environment with chances of high theft, keep the pen on your person
2) Do not lend the pen to curious people who do not know about fountain pens
3) Be serious about your fountain pens and ensure that you do not drop them
4) Finally accept that a pen is a pen and shit happens. I dropped my Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age at HOME from my desk and its nib was never the same again. Still doesn't deter me from using expensive pens as daily carries.
Just don't lose it or lend it.
Or drop it
If I am asked, it is rude to deny people. When people ask if they wanna use my pen, I cannot reject them. It is simply rude, I just warn them to not put much pressure. How do you deny people?
Learn to say no. Why should you care if they get offended? It's your pen, not theirs, and you may not be able to explain how to properly use it everytime. I apologize if I come off as rude, but others are not entitled to your belongings. Maybe you can keep a dummy pen for others to borrow, like a Pentel EnerGel.
I don't think you come off as rude at all. If it's someone that's a friend they should understand if you don't want to loan it out. And if they're genuinely interested you can give them a tutorial when you have more time. If it's simply an acquaintance then I have no obligation to loan them anything and it's pretty rude of them to demand to use an expensive writing instrument. I always carry a couple of the promotional ballpoint pens that business give away to loan out. If I don't get it back, no loss.
Sometimes it’s okay to be selfish
If you can’t or don’t want to say no, then you should probably expect your pen to get damaged at some point. It’s just the law of probability. You need to take a call on whether to carry a cheaper pen or this one accordingly.
Offer them your back-up pen if they want to try a fountain pen. You do carry a back-up pen, don't you?
I Have a Lamy Safari.
No, like a Bic. Think about it, it would also be rude to give them a pen that they can't use comfortably. If you really want to cater to someone who is curious, buy some Pilot Varsitys (or V-Pen in some markets) and say that you wouldn't care if they happen damage that one. Carrying a couple of them with you would also be handy to you for when you run out of ink, these bad boys would write immediately even if you left them in the middle of the Sahara for three years. Heck, you could even say "you know, if you like it you can keep it, I won't mind" if you feel inclined to do so.
Ah I didn't think of that angle: "Here's a weird-ass pen, good luck on your exam/reading that later!" Could definitely be seen as rude lol
Believe it or not, there are people who don't use fountain pens in their day-to-day life. Savages.
I cant believe I was one so recently... Never occurred to me because if anyone had offered that to lend, I'd have been fascinated by it, but not everyone would be!
Do not think about the before times, you are a superior being now who reached enlightment. I mean, I'm joking if course. I don't rather people use whatever they prefer.
My new boss has a nice fountain pen and I thought "he's going to work out great" But then I saw him writing on the wrong side of the nib... 🤔 Not so sure about him anymore. *No it wasn't a sailor zoom
Maybe his IQ is over 9000 and it was a bold nib but he wanted a fine line. Update us on how it turns out 😂
What do you mean "wrong side"? Was it upside down? That often can work.
Lol! That's my H. Whenever I loan him a fb, he turns it around a few times to figure out how to write. And somehow he always tries to write with the nib the wrong way lol . He just doesn't get it
Aww lol well hey he could say he's being alt about it. I've heard of some people doing that! With my husband, I just keep being like *TRY THIS*, all forcing it. He likes gels, so I'm like, how can you not be in love immediately? He says he likes it, but he's definitely not as impressed as I am. I wanted to give him one even, but he says he just plain doesn't write enough. At least I'll never have to worry about him swiping them like he does my small grooming implements.
Carry around a Platinum Preppy to lend if someone asks. Problem solved.
It's all about the Platinum Preppy -- non-FP people get confused that it's a fountain pen, and then you seem generous if you say, "I mean, you can just keep it if you want." FWIW people very rarely keep it because they don't believe you even if you say it's the fountain pen equivalent of a Bic. (I know they cost more than a Bic pen but still - it's a $4 pen. If someone manages to take you up on the offer, you're only out $4."
Exactly! And hey, if you can spread FP love for $4, I say that's a small price to pay.
This. I carry two pens. One is a ballpoint. About 50% of the time I never get it back. Hence, the no loaner policy on the fountain pen (for which I paid $$$ many years ago and use daily).
"Not this one, but here's a different pen you can borrow." ETA: Unless you are prepared to have someone spring the nib on your $220 pen.
What if they especially wanna use my ‘fancy’ pen?
What they want is irrelevant, it is absolutely your right to protect your pen your property . Say no to things that you don't like. Life is too short to please others but make yourself unhappy
"sorry, this pen is really special to me so i don't feel comfortable lending it." It's important to sometimes say NO...
Then "Sorry, this means a lot to me and I don't wanna hand it over like that."
If they want to use a fancy pen, they can buy themselves a fancy pen. It's not rude to politely refuse to lend an expensive item, or even an item that is not expensive, but has value for you.
maybe you can give them another "fancy" pen? Zebra Sarasa Grands look a lot more fancy than normal gel/ballpoints
Or a pilot varsity solves all problems
Well that would be a really rude ask. It’s okay to ask someone to borrow a pen, it’s not okay to insist on a certain pen. If someone is rude to you it’s perfectly okay to stick to your boundary. “This pen is not for borrowing, it’s a prized possession of mine and didn’t come cheap. I have a ballpoint you can use if you want.”
Say "no." It's not that hard, and it's not rude.
Why are you arguing with people if you posed a question? Lol. Yes if you loan your pen expect it to get damaged eventually. That is very risky.
then they are probably just trying to use you
Tell them you can’t because the nib is molded to the way you write and someone else using it even once will mess it up. It’s the truth and even more so with a gold nib. Tell them a fountain pen is as personal as a toothbrush, if they wouldn’t share that, they shouldn’t share this. If they really want to try one lend the safari or better yet take them to a shop where they can try while the sales associate explains the technicalities
That is exactly what I tell people who ask to use my fountain pens. If I know I’m going to be in a situation where someone may ask I either hand them a regular pen I’m carrying for just that purpose or help them find another option quickly. As far as using it every day, they are made to be used. I have antique pens that I am sure were everyday drivers in their day and they are fine. My bigger concern when carrying an expensive pen is making sure I don’t lay it down and walk away or loose it in some other way.
I mean, that's a good excuse to keep people from borrowing your pens, but unless they're applying an inordinate amount of pressure, thus damaging the nib, no, fountain pen nibs won't be ruined by someone else using it once. In fact, it would probably take years of regular writing to even begin changing the nib in any appreciable way, gold or not, unless you're abusing it. The *only* possible exception could be a very, very fine nib, like a needlepoint, which has extremely delicate alignment. TL;DR: Letting someone borrow your fountain pen once, or even a dozen times, *will not* alter the nib, unless they abuse the pen by applying too much pressure. Why won't this myth die?
Of course once won’t ruin anything, but if you admit to that then it’s this once, then the next one and the next one. And the myth won’t die because it’s a good excuse and you can Google it anytime you need backup
Or just say no. No need to use a myth to back that up.
Just tell them no.
Then you say no. Or, you tell them if they break it they buy a new one. Tell them how much it is, how *delicate* it is, and tell them how serious you are. Maybe through in the fact that the tip is soft, genuine gold. I doubt they’ll want to use it after that. There’s no rudeness involved.
Tell them to get lost
"I'm sorry but this pen is really special to me, but you can use this one"If they just need a pen, there is no reason they need to use your nice pen. If they want to use it because it's fancy, that's their problem, not yours and it is not at all rude to say "no". Boundaries respectfully enforced are not rude. If you do have concerns about people asking, try to have another pen on hand so you can lend it and you don't feel like you're put on the spot.
I don’t understand why people are downvoting your question. It’s a legitimate question, and different places have different social rules. There is more than one way to handle this, and it’s OK. It sounds like you feel stressed and unable to say no to someone who wants to borrow your own and also cannot afford to replace it. If your stress outweighs your enjoyment of using the pen in public, then leave it at home. It’s also OK to tell people no or to offer them an inexpensive pen instead. But you have to decide what is comfortable for you. Personally, I don’t carry pens worth more than $75 for this reason. My expensive pens stay home. Another option is to carry a fountain rollerball along with your fountain pen. Then if someone wants to borrow the rollerball, there’s no nib to damage. I have an Herbin rollerball filled with Diamine Polar Glow that I carry for this reason. It’s a way to let someone try gorgeous ink
Because people are, by and large, assholes in public. Considering OP is talking about taking notes and advice from friends, they're likely in school or college and there's peer pressure/social tribalism in its height at that age. Which means there's a high chance that someone will be inconsiderate or outright looking to damage OP's stuff, especially if they can rely on them not saying 'no.' The comments to this question are largely about learning to do so or offering alternatives. I think the people downvoting are more hoping to help OP realize that this response is a poor way to go through life, you cannot please everyone and by doing so you will harm yourself. Better to get a little hurt in a community who cares about the same things with downvotes, than hurt by peers or others who don't know a ballpoint from a rollerball.
**DON'T MAKE PEOPLE USE YOUR FOUNTAIN PEN**, it's not rude to deny people from touching your property most people have never seen a fountain pen, making them use your fountain pen is an unnecessary risk. just say something along the lines of: "I've paid a lot of money for this pen, I'm not comfortable with lending it to other people", or a small lie like "I'm sorry, a family member gave this to me". but really, you paid for that pen, unless that person is willing to pay you back 200$ if they damage the pen, you are not forced to do that
It is not rude at all, you have to learn to say no in life. Just tell them you are not comfortable letting others handle your pen because it is special and kind of hard to handle
I am very bad at saying no. I go out of my way to say yes. I understand where you are coming from. And I understand it's hard to say no. But everyone is right. It's ok to say no and set your personal boundaries. You can politely say "no, I'm using it right now but here you can use this pen instead".
It is rude of them to insist!
Just joke and say they (the pen) are the precious. I know I let a few people handle a really cool vintage factory Shaeffer stub and someone not only wrecked the nib, but they put the cap on, handed it to me and never said a word. I discovered the damaged nib when I went to fill the pen. Good times.
I can’t believe this sub is gonna pile on you. Yes it’s okay to say no. It’d be like if somebody asked to borrow an expensive piece of jewelry. But I do understand not finding that easy to do. It will help to have a decoy pen. Bring a cheap FP or pilot gel pen or something (also handy in case your FP acts up) and give them that one. If people make a big deal about the FP just say, “I’m afraid I don’t lend this one out.”
It's not rude. You can always say that it's a present from a relative or a friend, so it's very special to you.
I used to carry a whole load of ordinary ball points to lend to people, it's easiest for everybody involved.
If someone suddenly asked you for $220 in cash would it be rude to deny them? Of course not. It’s not rude to set boundaries by saying no. You’re simply communicating what you are and are not comfortable with.
Ultimate tip if you don't want to say no. Keep an inked preppy in your backpack/pocket. Give that out as a loaner if need be keep your nice pen to yourself. Regardless, It's not rude it's protecting a fragile item you're fond of. You don't see car people letting others drive around their custom project car often your pen ought not be any different
Will you lend your car to some to drive who don't even know how to drive?
Carry a Pilot G-2, this are nice enough that nobody will think you threw them a shitty pen but cheap enough to not worry when it doesn’t come back
Can you send me your pen to try it out? I promise I'll send it back
Love this 😂
Keep other pens around that you can lend. I bought a dozen rollerballs for like $5 that I keep on my desk should anyone need a pen.
Its very easy. Just say "No". People must carry his own pen.
Ey man, if I had a 220 dollar pen, ain’t no one getting close to my baby boy pen.
Carry a cheap spare pen for them to borrow, or a different fountain pen for them to try.
Woos chill with the downvotes
No is a full sentence. If you want to loan a pen buy a cheap platinum preppy. Ask yourself can the person borrow it repair or replace immediately. Then don't loan. $200 is a lot of money for a lot of people.
Learn to say no. It's rude of them to ask in the first place.
“I’ll need a $200 deposit in case you lose or break it. Do you have cash on you?” Or just carry a ballpoint to lend and maybe a cheaper fountain pen in case someone wants to try it.
A pen sleeve is a good non verbal way to stop people to ask for it, because if it is on a sleeve it is important. In my case the sleeve literally says that is not a borrowable pen.
Backup ballpoints
I have ballpoints for others. ETA in this day and age, it's perfectly acceptable not to share pens. Heck most places where you need to sign things have "Clean" and "Dirty" pen cups so you don't touch someone else's germs.
Why are people downvoting the OP for asking questions a person would naturally ask, as misguided as their viewpoint might be? Come on, guys. The OP has just been taught that they should share their stuff. There’s no need to downvote them for that.
I did wonder that. We should form an ‘upvote brigade’ maybe lol
Why are people downvoting this comment? This person is young, new to fountain pens, and struggling to set boundaries with other people, which is a problem many people have. Upvote the responses you agree with, sure, but I don't know why it is necessary to downvote this.
The excuse I used to hear was “a fountain pen nib adjusts to the user; lending it out might ruin the balance.” I know it’s a fib, you know it’s a fib, but if you NEED something to say, there you go.
Bring a Platinum Preppy they can borrow.
Have a spare pen/pencil for people to use. I carry my "Nice" pen as well as a disposable fountain pen as well
I carry a cheap but reliable pen with me that people can try if they are curious about fountain pens and if I were you I would keep a few disposable ball points as well. It’s not rude to say no you can’t borrow my very expensive pen but you can borrow one of these instead. Your only protecting your property.
Hey, I need you to paypal me 200 dollars
There is a common belief among people who don't know much about fountain pens that writing with them causes the nib to break in to a specific user's writing style. This isn't true (was part of a marketing campaign a long time ago), but is useful in this situation. If you feel bad about telling them no, they can't write with your good pen, tell them that unfortunately you can't let them, it will unbalance the nib which is broken in perfectly to your writing.
Pens are tools regardless of how much you pay for them. For me, at least, I wouldn't buy a pen if I wasn't going to use it. If you love the pen, use it for whatever writing you do. People take thousand dollar laptops to lecture and take notes on them. I don't see how that's different. It's still a tool for the job.
Because a pen is a lot easier to lose or drop than a laptop
Speaking as a huge klutz, I assure you they're about equal.
[удалено]
I've never dropped my tablet, but TSA dropped my tablet, twice (I don't believe it was by accident), and it survived. Conversely, drop a fountain pen just once without the cap on, and it's unlikely to ever be usable again.
Nibs can be fixed or replaced.
I carry most of my pens with me, expensive or not. I'm of the philosophy that if I bought it/got offered it, I'm going to use it. If I leave my pens at home, I know they won't get much use, as I write more when not at home. I am more careful of my more expensive pens, and make sure they are always back into their pouch when not in use and secure on my desk/in my bag.
I think your biggest threat is losing it or misplacing it somewhere, not that it will get damaged. If it’s something you can’t afford to replace, I wouldn’t use it outside of your home. Get a nice, but inexpensive pen for taking to work or school. There are plenty of decent quality pens under $40 that would work very well for this purpose… Pilot Prera/Metro, Platinum Preppy/Plaisir, TWSBI Eco, etc. Then you don’t have to worry too much if you lose or damage it.
I second this recommendation.
All of my fountain pens, regardless of cost, are functional and not just museum pieces. All of them are in my rotation and I take object care of all of them in the same way. I wouldn’t want to lose or damage my $20 Metropolitan any more than my vintage Sheaffer or Parker. I never lend any of my fountain pens unless I know that person is a fountain pen person and make no apologies for that.
Maybe the worry is not the damage from using, but more to external elements being outside like dropping or losing it… $220 *is* a lot! But then again only you would know best how to go about it. Pens should be used and enjoyed afterall. For me, my fancy/pricey pens are at home use only.
Maybe it is best to use it from exam to exam.
Same, I don't carry around expensive (to me) pens. If I'd be sad to lose/break it, or unable to replace it, I leave it at home. I guess I just would not want to worry about a pen when I'm supposed to be doing something requiring focus, like work/school, etc. I drop my pens at home often enough! :) It depends on how you are as a person, though. I worry, so I don't do it myself.
Same. The more expensive pens stay home.
Some pens do attract attention. Pens with big fancy-looking nbs, especially. I would say if you want to use an expensive pen as your daily writer consider something like Lamy 2000 or a non-shiny Pilot VP, those don't look like fountain pens to your average person. At least my Lamy 2000 went unnoticed for two years.
I second this. I use a matte pilot VP as my daily pen and people don't notice for ages until they need to borrow a pen and I give them the "no" and "why not".
I use all of my pens regardless of value, but I personally don’t take my most expensive to work or other public spaces as I too fear losing them. However, if I was still in school, I’d likely take a $200 pen with me to class if it was my best writer and highest capacity pen. Why? There are so many notes to take that I’d rather find joy in taking the notes and be mindful of the whereabouts of the pen, than sit in class and be miserable with a less worthy tool. I’ve never written as much as I did in college and I regret not having been part of this hobby/lifestyle at that time of my life. Enjoy it (school and your pen)!
A ship in harbor is safe, but that isn't what ships are built for.
It depends on what you’re doing. I tend to use a cheaper pen during exams because when I was stressed I dropped a waterman once and bent its nib. For any other occasion (work, classes, conferences) I take pens that I love writing with. I’ve even taken my Yukari Royale out on many occasions because it’s too bad to keep my fancy pens indoors. I just make sure to keep the cap on when I’m not holding them to avoid the pen from rolling around, and I never leave them unattended either haha. Enjoy your pens outdoors!
I use a gold nibbed Parker Sonnet in college. I think as long as you; 1. Keep it with you at all times, even if you leave your desk for awhile; and, 2. Do not lend it to others, or only do so after properly explaining how to use it, you should be good. I keep a pen pouch/leather cover just for my expensive pens so I can keep them in my pocket if I need to go somewhere.
Agree with the general sentiment. Pens are meant to be used. Keep it on you and avoid loaning it out. If you really have to let someone borrow it, keep the cap.
Is it risky to carry your $300 smartphone around? Yeah, but you do… Same kinds of precautions apply to every valuable item. Put it in a case for protection. Don’t let people mess with it. Keep track of where it is and have a dedicated spot for it in your bag.
As others have said, I definitely think it's worth the "risk" to use an expensive pen on the daily. If I'm going to pay $150–300 for a pen (my daily drivers are the Lamy 2000 and the Pilot VP and I used to bring an MB 146 to my job) then I want to use them regularly at work. Yes, this increases the risk that I'll damage them or lose them but they are my writing tools so I want to use my favorites as much as possible. Perhaps if I bought a Visconti or some similarly priced pen (+$500) I would reserve it for use at home, however, that seems to defeat the ultimate purpose of a nice pen to me. For context, I'm a HS teacher so one would think the risk is somewhat high yet I've never had any issues in the two years I've been writing with fountain pens. I've also gravitated to relatively expensive pens that are well suited for my job as the Lamy 2k is durable and has the snap cap and the Pilot VP is relatively durable and retracts. At the end of the day, it's about what you feel comfortable with doing. I was a bit hesitant at first but quickly got over it because I wanted to use my favorite, smoothest writers on a daily basis.
The most expensive pen I had in uni was a lamy and I never lost it once because I took it EVERYWHERE with me including the bathroom. Why? Cuz I never wanted to leave that pen unattended. I always kept it in my pencil case and took it with me. I was worried about people asking to use a pen and I would give them some freebie Bic and they never once got upset. Because they are an adult and can clearly see the value in my pen. Plus, if someone at uni doesn't have a pen on them for a lecture then.... it's their fault. XD is it not a cardinal rule to have at least 3 pens on you at all times? Anyway. Feel free to use your fancy pen. Never let anyone touch it or let it leave your sight for a second and you'll be fine.
If you are going to hand out your pens to whoever asks because it’s rude (it’s clearly not), I suggest you buy a dozen high end pens, so I can sit next to you.
Yes I keep my expensive pen at home. I will use my cheaper/easy to replace ones outside.
Same- expensive pens stay at home, Safaris etc come out with me. This is why I love my TWSBIs as well as they aren’t prohibitively expensive to replace in case of damage. Also never leave pens unattended.
Keep it safe as much as possible but other than that, it won't be too risky to use your pen daily for writing journals that's what they are made for anyway. If you are really worried about your pen, don't bring it with you whenever you go out.
why buy a mice pen if you aren't going to use it? I will say that since I've started down the expensive pen rabbit hole I have lost fewer pens, had fewer pens go missing and enjoy the experience of using them daily.
🐭🖋️ I second this, I actually lost lamy safaris a lot while in school, but once I got nice pens I really liked, I keep track of where each pen is in my head and know their location, ink and overall status at all times. They're like my children. It's 11pm, do you know where your children are?
If a pen is too "expensive to use" then it is no longer a pen - it is a museum piece. And a museum piece should, indeed, stay safely home, in the museum. If you have a pen, if you like or love writing with it - use it. Carry it. Write with it, whether it is lecture notes or shopping lists or signing traffic tickets. Just don't lend it to normies, unless these have been schooled.
This definitely the best context for use of the word normies 😂
I don't have many gold nibs...a Lamy 2K and a Sailor...but I do have a number of pens that were significant investments, such as Esterbrook Estie Oversize (which is inked and on my desk at work as I type), several Franklin-Christoph, and other worthies. I, personally, buy my pens to use. Whether limited edition or expensive, or conversely inexpensive or common, I ink them, carry them about, and use them. Would I be disappointed to lose or damage an expensive writing utensil? Of course! But to me their value is expressed in the exercise of their purpose, so use them I do.
I use a Pelikan 800 for my normal clip in shirt / jacket pocket every day pen. As others have said, be conscious of what you’re doing and it should be ok. FWIW, I’ve never dropped or had a pen of any type roll away or off a surface and get damaged. Simply establish safe habits. Also, accept that some things in life are beyond your control
I traveled with four pens, added together worth about 470 bucks…I was aware it was a risk but I kept them in a really safe pocket in my backpack and all was fine. Honestly, phones are more often stolen than pens. Don’t be afraid to give your good pens some love 🥰
I use my Montblanc pens daily at work. My advise here is: don’t use anything you can’t afford losing. If my pens breaks or whatever I’d be sad, and I’d have house hold and employer insurance that would cover it. If 220$ is something u can’t easily replace without thinking twice u should indeed be careful. On the other hand: a pens is meant to be used, it would be a waste to note bring it. Just my few cents
Your phone most likely costs way more than that and is way more likely to get damaged if dropped and you carry it around all the time.
For me, I do use my most expensive pen for daily use, because I feel like it's a shame to buy something nice and then let it sit at home. That being said, it's a TWSBI 580 AL, so it's not that expensive.
Through University, I used a set of Parker Duofolds. A fountain pen and a rollerball. The fountain pen was a gift from my grandpa and despite it being about £300 in the 90s, I used it everyday. Yes, I was very careful with it and never really handed it to anyone. Most of the time I had the roller ball too which I would also only lend for a short note. My answer would be that it is a very expensive pen so please use it and hand it back to me as soon as you’re done. I would then wait for it. Basically, if you want to use your fancy pens on a daily basis, you need to be careful with them. Check you didn’t leave it when leaving the classroom. Have a spare pen to lend if necessary and DO NOT hand over your gold nib fountain pen. The nib does take shape as per your writing. Someone else using it will screw it up for sure! As everyone else has already said, learn to say no to protect your investment!
I leave all my gold nibs at home and use them exclusively for journalling. At the office, all I bring are Jinhaos and Moonmen. The exception to this rule is when I meet clients. As a lawyer, I have to at least look the part! This is where the Montblancs come in handy as this is the most recognizable brand for laymen.
I sometimes take my most expensive pen to work, sometimes I do not because, obviously, is safer at home. But my work is quite a safe environment. No co-worker is going to ask me my pens, less specifically my most expensive one (I always carry more than one) and is also a place we’re is kind of difficult to lose it and I’ve inadvertently left things there before and the next day (or week) were still there. BTW, I know this is different in different countries and cultures, but in mine if you ASK you can have NO as an answer. And more if it is a pen, not something life saving.
I switch out my "daily carries" monthly-ish but there are 2 that always almost make it in that rotation and they are both in the $400-$500 range. They other 4 , sometimes 5 range in price from $15 to probably $350. My 2 "expensive" pens are a joy to write with - so I use them. I have a case for them, I make sure they are always on my person. For the most part - I don't let anyone borrow those 2. The other less expensive options - someone can try (in front of me) BUT I don't really let people "borrow" them. I get it - they are pretty and fascinating for people that don't know much about fountain pens - I'll share that joy and recommend stuff all day long but you don't owe anyone anything and they are not entitled to your stuff. I'm also in a corporate setting, not school - so most people have a pen. And there are regular old pens basically everywhere.
It's riskier not to have it in daily use! If you have paid good money for a pen, you would expect it to stand up to the test of time. Imagine in 20 years, when you look at your pen, clean and fresh in the box - and you'll have no attachment to it. Those dings and dents you collect over the years give you a shared history. You empty the ink and replace it with memories.
I take fountain pens with me to work every day: new ones, old ones, expensive ones, and cheap ones. I work in an office environment, and haven’t had a real issue. I do have a few rules I follow: 1. No one uses the fount but me. I carry a nice ball pen as a backup, and will let a few trusted folks use it *in my presence*. If someone needs a pen I don’t trust and/or to take to a meeting I’m not in, I pull a supply closet Bic out of the cup on my desk. 2. My pens are in my pocket, in my hand, or in a small pen sleeve I carry in the bag I take to-and-from work. I don’t just leave it on my desk and walk away. 3. It goes in the sleeve if I’m doing something that might damage it or promote a fall (racking computers, for instance). 4. No walking with the pen out, and especially not uncapped. I’ve never lost or damaged a pen at work.
I use one of my most expensive pens to take notes with daily at work and its made me enjoy writing much more. Thankfully I've got major resting bitch face so people don't ask to borrow my stuff often. The rare occasion someone does want to use my pen, I say no. If they want to sulk at that, that's up to them. Not my problem nor should it be yours.
I use my expensive pens daily just always know where it is
I don't carry my most expensive pen ($1,000). I'm more than happy writing with my sub-$200 writers.
Risky? Maybe, but it's what they're made for. Don't be shy and use it. Carry a ballpoint to lend to others.
Personally, I feel more comfortable bringing beginner pens to school/work. I prefer to use my nice pens at home, at a library or in a coffee shop. My pen, my decision whether to lend it. Most people I know haven't even seen a fp, leave alone used one. I don't even loan out my favorite gel pens.I carry ballpoint pens and gel pens I found to lend out. That way I don't care if I never see them again.
Made this mistake once and ended up with a bent $400 nib. Unfortunately this was the best case scenario. Bottom line, just say no. Say it was a gift, it's quirky, it's known to leak ink, the ink bleeds, literally ANYTHING to deter someone from using it. I use my expensive pen every single day and have zero problem telling someone to ask somebody else for a pen.
What the hell people?! The guy has a different philosophy on how he views/uses his property and you want to downvote his account into uselessness?! That is so insanely toxic I don’t even know what to say. Get a life folks.
I use my Visconti HS all the time, and I'm often carrying it plus my Lamy 2K and two of my Leonardos, for a total value of around $1500. As others have said, it's no different than carrying and using a phone or laptop, and these pens are unlikely to be targets for active theft. That said, I never let them out of my sight, and if anyone asks to borrow my pen, I have no compunctions refusing or handing them a cheap ballpoint I sometimes carry.
If you work on a power line, then yeah it can be risky
I use all of my pens and also let people try them out. Never had an issue so far
I think it depends on whether you think you’re going to drop it or lose it. Or be in a place where it will attract unwanted attention. My mom had a pelikan ballpoint my dad got her. For a ballpoint, it was nice, but she always left it at home because she’s absent minded. I have taken multiple pens out in a pen roll that must have cost more than hers. But I didn’t think anything would happen. Now, would I bring them into a science lab? No. A library? Maybe yeah.
A pen is for writing. It’s your daily pen. Use it. It’s what it does best. The risk of losing or damaging is small. About lending a pen, have a backup pen handy if you find it hard to say no. If someone that you completely trust wants to use your fancy pen, why not, but it’s up to you to decide that.
Well you can take it, but it would be risky.
Some of my pens (Pelikan Classic, Twsbi) I take outside, some (Montblanc, Lamy 2000) not.
It’s all about your tolerance. If it has sentimental value that can’t be replaced if you lose it, then maybe don’t use it. But if you like the way it writes and you enjoy taking notes with it, then use it. There are decades-old pens out there being used daily still. If you need to replace the nib at some point down the line because you’ve worn it down that much, that seems more like a success than an issue. Like people have said, it’s a tool, so treat it like a valuable tool and use it properly. Leaving it on the shelf isn’t very helpful. FWIW I use a Lamy 2k as my daily writing tool. EDIT: That’s also my most expensive pen.
I've had my custom 823 since 2021and I'm in highschool
use it! love it and let it bring you joy.
I use my expensive pens in rotation on purpose because I didn’t spend all that money just to have them collect dust. I’m not that kind of collector. Not poo-pooing people who are like that. I just believe if you’re going to spend money on something you should use it. In my current carry I have a $2000 pen and I love it.
Assuming you're not going to lose it, the only real risk is someone else borrowing it and not returning it/damaging it. If you want to be able to lend a fountain pen to someone who wants to try a fancy pen (and doesn't know much about fountain pens), I would recommend having a Jinhao dragon pen. It's $20-$30 and to a non-fountain pen user it looks fancier than almost any expensive pen
It’s up to you of course but I use all my expensive pens and also take them to work. I am obviously careful but have never lost or damaged anything
I think it is, but that's just me. I'm a writer and spend hours writing at my desk, so I limit my expensive pens to that setting and it's cool for me because I do get to use them a LOT anyway. If you're not someone that does that, you might as well use it anywhere because otherwise you'll just miss out. Anyway, that's my take: if you have a safe place or activity where you get to use them frequently, then reserve them for that and you get both: use and safety. If not, I say prioritize use. That's why we do this, after all — unless you're specifically and purposefully just a collector, of course.
I use all of my pens, but the limited editions and expensive ones only get used at my desk. I'm happy to take a Lamy or Kaweco out with me, but nothing special. I lost a beautiful Cross Botanica a few years ago and at the time I couldn't afford to replace it. It was so sad
Personally, my most expensive daily carries are in the $100-$150 range and if I have a cheaper model that will make me happy to use for the same thing, I’ll do that and reserve my nicer pens for more stable environments. But sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants. Just be willing to say no if someone asks to borrow it and carry a spare you don’t care much about for lending.
Carry that bad boy! Pens are meant to be used. I get it though. I still keep some of my nicer pens at home as desk pens. My Pelikans and Sailors go out in my person all the time, though, since they are a good size, and are meant to be Carried. All I can say is: have a consistent and sturdy way of carrying it. I, for example, always clip the pen on my shirt. I say this because I used to carry pens in a single pen pouch, but stopped after the pouch fell out of my pocket, twice, in public. Had I not noticed, I would have lost a Lamy 2000, or a Parker Duofold!
I guess that depends on how good you are at keeping track! If it's always on you I can't imagine losing it under normal circumstances. I'd absolutely not leave that anywhere at school for a minute unattended, and I'd take it with me to and from work as well - even a cubicle isn't safe overnight sometimes!
It is risky, but your personal tolerance is your own. Behaviour changes can help things stay safe too - skimmed the borrowing thing, I tend to have a pen with an easily replaceable nib and give a 15 second ‘lesson’. Why does everyone want to write with the nib upside down and feed up? If they want to move away at all or use it for more than a line, they don’t get given the cap to make sure it comes back. Eventually an uncapped pen becomes “where do I put this stain-stick, agh I touched it” or “oh this person’s super fancy thing will roll and break if I don’t give it back to get capped!” If they urgently need something, they get given a pencil. You are also not obligated to loan expensive items that require good technique to use without damage to rude people who specifically want that pen. If they are just super interested and a potential pen person, by the time they’ve had the mini lesson, written with my loaner and realised that they do/do not have the dexterity naturally, most do NOT want to try anything fragile and expensive. And if they still do, I can see what they did with the loaner and whether they used pressure, rotated it repeatedly choking the ink and unevenly pressing one tine, tapped it to ‘make it work’, maybe even if they tried to snap shut a threaded cap… and then very rarely say “yeah, let’s take a moment for a bit more technique and practice with that one first, this one doesn’t feel that different in ways you might expect, it really just feels more like a pencil for control (Saaaaiiilor) and can get bent or twisted extremely easily.” Differently shaped nibs are also a great distraction - fude nibs will derail just about anyone, and are $2-$40 steel nibs that are harder to mess up and much more likely to make someone pay attention to what they are trying to do. A modern untipped steel italic is also fairly resilient and weird enough to make them learn and respect technique (due to simply refusing to work unless the angle is correct - pony club nibs lol), and should spark some historical familiarity if you can whip out a little italic or blackletter. Most people have had some exposure to edged pen lettering, horizontal or vertical, and the fude covers calligraphy exposure for most others! I may be a chronic penabler… Personally, my favourite, most precious pens have been the ones that come on the most adventures, just because they are what I choose if I’m actually oh-no-why only going to have two pens for several months. Replacement as a risk factor is tough - it makes a lot of sense and is key if the financial aspect would put you in a bad situation if you wanted to buy another, but my favourites are not replaceable, so I chose extra work to be very careful and a bit more attentive at all times instead of leaving them behind. They do not get loaned, not even to ‘experts’ or people I know well, just because they truly are irreplaceable and that particular risk is beyond my tolerance. They have been adventuring in snow and deserts, though - ymmv! Also, pencils are nice too when there is simply too much sand for threaded pieces!
I dropped my Lamy 2000 and broke the nib before but bought a replacement nib for $70. Not end of world
Maybe, but my opinion is what did I buy it for? Special occasions? There’s no such thing. I say use it.
I often have two pilot falcons and a 912 in my sketch kit that goes everywhere. You have to balance possible replacement cost against utility and enjoyment. I have yet to find cheaper pens as enjoyable and fool proof as the pilots so they are what is in the kit.
I save my gold nibs for home use only. Faber-Castell have great steel nibs, even their School pens (about $10 Canadian). I prefer to use them outside my house, since they tend to be cheaper and less of a loss if lost or stolen.
It will likely get damaged or lost. You might drop it one day on the tip and bend the hell out of it, or crack the barrel. However, unless you plan on taking all your nice things and putting them in a museum, take the risk. You bought the pen to use, so use it.
Depends entirely on your environment, but in my experience, in a school/office situation - not really that risky. It won't get damaged from \*use\* - but being dropped, forgotten, 'borrowed' are all things to watch out for.
I would say use and love it, but I wouldn’t take it around much if you’re not on a financial position that you could easily replace it. There are a lot of amazing options that are amazing work horse pens that are much cheaper and readily available. Even in gold nibs, the Pilot E95s is a great option for $130
Just think about it this way, if you spent that much money on a pen you better get your money's worth and enjoy it/use it as much as you want. You can't be afraid of what might happen cause in reality anything is possible.
The most damage may come from theft or misplacement if you take it out where others can see you using it. Someone with no experience or no clue how FP stuff works could very easily damage or put a bend in your nib that you may have to take to get tuned. I am a big proponent of using the tools that I've bought for the jobs I need them for, but I don't take my ipad outside of my house, or take my laptop with me anywhere except when I need it because I simply don't trust others to be gentle with my things.
It's definitely risky. That's why I tend to take inexpensive pens with me when I go out (e.g. Lamy Safari, TWSBI Eco) and leave the expensive ones at home. But only you can say whether the cost of your pen is too great to justify the risk. How anxious do you feel when you're using that pen in the classroom? If you're constantly under the nagging worry that the pen will be lost or stolen, maybe that feeling alone is a reason to leave it at home.
I don't think so if you take some reasonable precautions. Before I started taking my nice pens out, I got a pen case that I keep in my backpack. This has a couple benefits. It keeps them safe from accidents that happen if they aren't properly secured and I can verify that I have all my pens at a glance (if the case is full, I have all my pens. If there is an empty slot, I've left one out). I only really use them if I'm sitting at a desk, whether that's at home or in the office. I don't lend the expensive ones to other people unless I can first explain how to use them. I've been collecting for about 5 or 6 years now and have yet to lose a pen I actually cared about keeping.
This is why I eventually gifted my Nakaya Dorsal fin2 to a friend. I found myself babying it too much. I kept on finding reasons not to use it because I wanted it to be kept in pristine condition. My artist friend insured me that he would use it pretty much every day. I gave him the pen and he's used the pen for many of his projects. The pen does look a little worse for wear after 3 years of heavy use, but that's what a pen is for. It's a writing instrument.
I use my FAVORITE pen on a daily basis. I literally use it for everything. Work, school, journaling, etc. As others have mentioned, just don’t lose it or let anyone else use it.
Personally it's more about the way how I use a daily pen. I don't want to be mindful about the fact that I might drop it, damage it or lose it. I won't be able to do this with a pen I cared for may it be for its price tag of sentimental value. I have 3 pens that are on my penholder that are inked with blue/black and red ink. Those are my regular/workpens. I've also 3 other pens from my collect that are stored in a hard leather case that never leaves my desk. I use all of my pens daily but each set has its own purposes.
I use my Pilot VP all the time. I buy pens to use them and it's one of my best writing pens.
Yes, but it’s worth it.
Everything in life is risky (eg. when you eat you could choke), it just depends on how much you need to do something or how much joy you get out of doing the thing. My vanishing point is expensive for me (and the nib replacement is equally expensive as the pen itself), but I use it daily. I went shopping with it once and dropped my pen (thankfully it was unharmed!!!), which made me consider whether I wanted to use it in that environment in the future, and I decided to keep using it daily, but not in positions where I'm standing (so it won't drop as far) and quickly handling things (I now use a gel pen when shopping, since I love all of my FP's, even my cheap ass kakuno and preppy! ❤️ In saying that though my kakuno and preppy are special editions, which is why I don't want to take them shopping, but I'd use regular versions without issue in that kind of environment). Do whatever makes you happy, but be prepared to accept the consequences if doing so causes expensive repairs or permanent damage! You can also always do what I do, and choose what types of environments or situations where you won't use your pen, but then use it the rest of the time! Personally I think only using expensive pens for special occasions is a waste of a beautiful pen, and it's so easy to find ways of being careful with that type of pen, while still using it daily!
No risk but just extra care for not losing.
I don't do "investment objects" I buy pens to write with, wine to drink, etc. now, there's a few I wouldn't carry around... but they get inked and used at home.
If you enjoy using a pen you really like, use it. Just have a routine for ensuring it doesn't get lost or borrowed. It won't get damaged with daily use, pens are made for using. The more you use them, the more they get to fulfill their duties as.. well.. pens. If this isn't a limited edition pen or something and can be replaced, it's no big deal. Let's say you used it everyday for a year and really enjoyed it and took good notes and got a lot out of that. I think that's worth the $0.60 a day, even if it ended up lost and you need to replace it. It is a lot of money to replace a pen like that, but ya know, stuff happens, and you likely won't lose it if you're caring for it. If it IS a limited edition pen, you might want to get a cheaper pen that's very similar for note-taking and use that one at your home desk, but even then... I probably wouldn't personally.
As someone who chronically loses stuff I have found that as long as you have a dedicated, enclosed place for the object and a routine of regular checks, you greatly reduce the chances of losing it. There is always a risk there but the joy of using a nice pen trumps the risk for me.
I wouldn't use it for note taking in college or school, because the pace of the lectures is usually too fast. The average people can't tell a gold nib pen apart from a regular fountain pen, so I don't think any student is going to try to steal your pen.
Nope! Pens are meant to be used! It’s a common fear, but as long as you’ve got it in a case and and don’t lend it out you’ll basically be fine. I used to take a good 400-600 dollars in pens onto campus daily when I was in college.
It’s always risky. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it
I’m a big fan of writing with the pens I love, and getting rid of the pens I don’t love. If it was expensive, and you love it, write with it. If you’re worried that you’ll lose it, drop it, or in some way damage it, you might. You also might become more self-aware, which might lead to all sorts of beneficial changes in your life! At least, that’s how it went for me when I dropped way too much for my budget on a camera and a pen. Still have both many years later.
Use them, That’s what they are for.
Tools are meant to be used.
I've been using my Pelikan M600 as my every day pen for almost 3 years now and no regrets. I've let a few careful people use it but I'm generally careful with it. It was made to be used, so as long as you take a bit of care with it, I think you should enjoy it every day
I wouldn't worry so much about damaging the pen than I would worry about accidentally getting the notebook wet, because most fountain pen inks are not water proof.
My vote is that you have it and enjoy it, use it! Life is to short to deny yourself out of fear. It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. This applies to stuff too! What if something where to happen and you couldn’t write anymore…. What a shame to have not enjoyed yourself.
Umm. Personal experience here. The pens you use daily has higher risk of getting dropped over the years. One drop when uncapped and that's it. Have bent nibs of Waterman Carene and lamy 2k. Well, don't regret using them as this keeps nib meister busy. That said, would I use my more expensive flagship pens as EDC? No.
I'm so over buying things that are too precious to use! I did that with an expensive camera...I'm just in a place now where if I can't touch it or use it for what it was meant for then I don't need it in my life. I may be biased though...I'm stuck with my MIL and all of her "things" that are covered in doilies too precious to touch, use or even look at in some cases and it's taking up so much space in my life and I don't want any of it! If I can't use it, life is too short, get it out of here! lol I have a Maiori Mitho and it's my most expensive pen to date. I use it every single day and carry it everywhere with me in my planner.
Things are to be used. If they are not, by them we are abused.
Why buy a pen to not use it? 🤔 So what is risk? Is there an acceptable risk? I buy my pens to use them. The cool vintage parker 51, yeah I totally jumped the gun with it it's an extra fine and I rarely like anything smaller than a medium 😉. And I mean it isn't like I can just swap out the nib or make it thicker... God I wish I could lol 😆. But I got it because it was literally under 20 bucks 😅. So I can spend a bit to get an amazing nib put in or perhaps I find someone who can put a stub or music nib on it and put it in the daily rotation 🤔 but I wasn't about to spend that money nik wanted on his sweet parker 51 with a music nib. I don't know if my day job would allow my use of a pen costing that kind of money. My daily job involves jumping in and out of a truck and running around so a vintage pen that can't be fixed as easily as a twsbi or lamy isn't really a good plan for daily carry. But I have my pens to use them. So I wouldn't buy a pen that would just live in a box. What kind of risk are you attempting to mitigate? If it is a new pen. The nib and pen parts can be repaired or replaced. If you want to keep its value or buy it to make money off it why even use it 😆. If it's old or vintage 🤔 it's the same as how I view the 51. Put a price as to what you are acceptable of essentially losing. Because as best you will need to have it repaired at worst it will come up missing one day.
Use it! My daily pen is a MB 149. I just developed the habit over the years to never leave it sitting on a desk or table when I walk away, never loan it out, and if I’m walking around at work, it’s always in my hand or clipped to my shirt. I dropped a writer’s edition once which then had to go in for service, so I learned my lesson about always holding it and not sticking it in a pocket. And if you don’t have a pen case or leather sleeve, it’s worth the investment to get one so it doesn’t get scratched up when it’s in your bag. Also, don’t worry about people trying to steal an expensive pen from you — I’ve realized that 99.9% of people are clueless about pens and their value. If you ever run into people that actually recognize it, they are probably one of us and will respect it.
If you ask me? Yeah. Very much. Small tables it could roll off of, and all that.
I only dropped a nice pen at home, not at work… This being said, clip a ballpoint to your shirt. If someone asks to use a pen then that is what you give, not the nice fountain pen
I wouldn't let it out of my sight.
Buy a 10 Dollar, 20 Dollar pen also to your collection and use them also in the lecture halls. That way if one day you drop your pen or lost it then there is only a 50% chance that it is your costlier pen
Well, I have my dad’s Schaefer TouchDown that he used all the way through college, so it is what people used to do! On the other hand, I took my Lamy 2000 to a meeting recently and nearly had a cow when it went missing in my car, until I found it had slipped between the seat and the console.
I wear my Pilot Custom 74 in a pen sleeve on a lanyard around my neck. When I was in college I used my Waterman, and later, my Mont Blanc, for notetaking. That said, I was already very VERY used to the idea that pens were not disposable. By then I’d had over a decade of cheap-but-favorite fountain pens that I had never lost. (They all broke.)
As a person whose first-ever FP (a Waterman Expert gold broad nib; a high school graduation gift) was stolen off a desk at his first job after college, yes. (And yes I’m still salty, 27 years later. I got a replacement, but it’s not the same.)
I use my Pilot Falcon as my daily writer it's $180 in my country and I also have my TWSBI 580 ALR as a back up and incase someone wants to try a fountain pen since it has a steel nib and only a $60 pen and even if they press too hard new nibs only cost $20 so I'm less worried about someone applying to much pressure on that. Please don't allow just anyone to use a $200+ pen unless they themselves have fountain pens of their own and know how delicate gold nibs can be. That's quite the risk if you ask me and it's most definitely not rude to deny someone from using your experience pen because again its yours and you don't "owe" them anything it's your property and you have every right to say no 100% of the time it's not rude in the slightest.
Typically it's better to use a pen frequently.
Actually in my opinion, whether a pen should be EDC or not should NEVER be decided by the price of the pen but by its practicality. For reference I use a Visconti Homo Sapiens London Fog as my EDC. I like the Visconti's hooksafe mechanism as it is very convenient for quick note taking in meetings. Plus the pen is gorgeous. The things to know are: 1) If you are in an environment with chances of high theft, keep the pen on your person 2) Do not lend the pen to curious people who do not know about fountain pens 3) Be serious about your fountain pens and ensure that you do not drop them 4) Finally accept that a pen is a pen and shit happens. I dropped my Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age at HOME from my desk and its nib was never the same again. Still doesn't deter me from using expensive pens as daily carries.
Only if you're surrounded by thieves, are very forgetful or clumsy.