When I discovered fountain pens, I wish someone told me…?

If only someone had mentioned that I would be starting a collection to work out what I like and don’t like!

And a couple of other things I’ve learned:

  • Buy samples of inks before you buy a bottle! Not all inks feel good in all pens, and the colour you see online may not look like what you get in real life…

  • Try and hold a pen before you buy, especially it is expensive or if there are mixed reviews about it (e.g. I didn’t really like the matte black Vanishing Point, until I held it and discovered that, for me at least, it was way more comfortable to hold than the non-matte models… also the clip placement on the VP is a thing for a lot of people, I don’t mind it for short notes, but not sure about longer writing sessions with it, even though it is definitely my fave nib)

  • Fountain pen friendly paper is a thing, and it makes a HUGE difference

  • Paying more doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll like the pen more…

I’m sure there a few (or a 100) more things others can add :-)

killick,
killick avatar

You can be a fountain pen user without being a fountain pen collector (not that there's anything wrong with collecting). Nibs are cheaper than pens (generally). Kitchen scrubbie pads, when used shortly after the ink gets on your skin, do a serviceable cleanup job.

shikitohno,

If you find what you like and what works for you, you don't need to try every other big brand out, just in case there might be something else better for you. Especially as a form of self-gate keeping on buying a more expensive pen that checks the boxes for you. I knew pretty early on that I wanted a Nakaya, for example. My first fountain pen was a Pilot Metropolitan, my first big purchase pens a Vanishing Point and a Sailor 1911, but I still felt like I might waste my money and time on a Nakaya if I didn't check out Pelikans and Viscontis and Sheaffers, etc. first before committing to it. Turns out, I much prefer Japanese pens to Western pens, and I bought a whole bunch of pens that were immediately sidelined once my Nakaya showed up.

So, maybe don't go straight for the big spends, but it's okay to trust your tastes when you realize what they are. Also, if a cheap pen does everything you want from a fountain pen, there's no harm in just saying "I'm good with what I've got."

BaldProphet,
BaldProphet avatar

Another one: Cheap pens can still be well-made and write just as smoothly as much more expensive ones.

killick,
killick avatar

I'm too cheap to test this statement, but I am happy to hear this.

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