I know at least a few of you know about this topic

[megwrites]

So, I'm wanting to try fountain pens. I've never used one before, but I have heard that they write a bit easier than some pens and that they're quite fun to use if you get a good one. Plus, I'd like a pen that feels good to write with because it'll help encourage me to journal and journaling encourages my brain to be less failtastic. So, yeah.

What kind of fountain pen do you recommend for a very, very beginner, especially one who doesn't have any special paper lying around and would need one that doesn't bleed through paper like a stuck pig.

Tell me, fair friendslist, what should I get, what do I need to know, and what inside information can you give me?

Comments

[apis_mellifera]

My first fountain pen was a Lamy Al-Star with an extra-fine nib. I use a converter so I can use bottled inks, J. Herbin is my preferred brand of ink. I prefer pens in the sub-$50 price range and my two Lamy pens (an Al-Star and a Vista--same body style as the Safari but one is metal and the other is clear) are great pens and they're the ones I keep coming back to.

[surpassingly]

Lamy, definitely! I find the Safari very friendly to new fountain pen users and I've actually been using mine more often the past few days because it causes my fingers less pain. I recommend getting one with a converter (well, they usually come with it -- at least mine did -- but eheh at least something to confirm before you buy it) so that you can use different kinds of bottled ink.

As for ink, I started out with J Herbin ink; it's very easy to clean out of a pen and I'd recommend it to as well.

[owlectomy]

I also really like Lamys. (Al-Star and Safari). I have never had much of a problem with paper bleed-through; I think you'll be safe as long as your nib is on the finer side. (Japanese brands tend to be finer than European brands; Fine or Extra-Fine is good on a Lamy or other European pen, but you can go wider on a Japanese pen.)

If you search fountainpennetwork.com, they have photo reviews of a ridiculous number of ink colors. You can use bottled ink or cartridges, but bottled ink is a lot more fun because I like to write in pretty colors.

[green_knight]

What *kind* of fountain pen are you looking for?

There are everyday pens - the one you can use to write with in most situations, that are workmanlike and mainly uninspiring. I've always liked Pelican (and since they're reasonably local, they're reasonably cheap here, conditions where you are may differ. they also do a nice calligraphic pen that's very reliable)

Then there are really special pens, and I'd wais before buying one of them - works of arts, a pen to treasure, and you need to know what exactly you love before you invest in one.

There are art pens - pens with calligraphic or specialty nibs, glas pens, pens without ink reservoir, quill pens... more of a hobby than a regular writing implement.

Personally, I've always found calligraphic pens great fun, but you need self-discipline to write with them.

[pulchritude]

Hi! torachan pointed me toward this post. idk if you still want some advice, but in my experience, bleeding through paper well...doesn't depend on the pen but on the paper. So.

Parkers come highly recommended (I don't have one, but people love them), and if you can find a starter Pelikan (I don't know if they sell them where you are, but iirc they sell them in Germany, so they may sell them in other places, too), I'd recommend that for sure. My Pelikan (though I have the M600) is probably the smoothest pen I own.

You might want to start with a pen with a steel nib, too, since the experience there will probably be closer to that of a ballpoint, etc. in terms of pressure and its effect on your writing.

You can also look at the fountain pen network, which I've found to be a great resource. :) Please feel free to ask me about anything, too, though I'll be travelling until the 23rd, so I probably won't be able to reply promptly.

Good luck with your first pen! I hope you enjoy it :)

from e's mention of this post

[sporky_rat]

I adore my Pelikan - it was the first actual fountain pen I bought for myself because of what I was looking for. I ended up with the Pelikano Jr, which is a fantastic learner pen because it's practically indestructible. I got mine from another site, but here is a very good site for getting pens, refills and converters for bottled ink.

I've since bought other fountain pens, but I keep coming back to this one. OTP, idk?