Now regardless if you are in school, university or maybe you are working, sooner or later you will need to write something down or sign a paper. Most people use simple ball-point pens. Some of them are fancy and some of them come in packs of 10. They do their job, but let us see if we can take a look at an alternative that will make sure you stand out while writing.
I am of course talking about the fountain pen. Most people remember them as the pens you were forced to write with at school. There is a reason, however, why these pens are used in school. After you learn to write, move on to the ball-points, try returning to the origins and see if you’ll find it enjoyable. Let us explore these beautiful works of art together.
First of all, you do not have to invest a large sum of money to get a quality fountain pen. IF you want to spend a lot you can certainly buy a Montblanc Meisterstück 149, but if you are just starting out you may want to look into Lamy Safari or Jinhao. But before you run off to buy a tool to write with there are a few things you should know.
Different fountain pens have different lengths and weights. Now length should not really bother you unless you have very large hands. As long as the body of the pen fits in your hand. Wight on the other hand is much more subjective. Some people might say that if you write a lot, you should go for a very light pen. The same people will recommend a hefty pen for rare writing or signatures. Sure, for a lot of people that is definitely true. I write a lot, but my personal preference is a pen with some weight to it.
Another thing you should consider is the grip section. Most pens will have a plastic or a rubber grip. However, be careful, if you are starting out, I would not recommend a smooth grip. The same goes for a rubber grip. It could get sticky or your hands might slide around. Your best bet is a simple hard material grip with slots or notches for better grip.
Of course you do not just want to have a nice pen. You want to write with the damn thing. The part responsible for that is called the nib. It has the power to make you love or loathe your pen. The nibs are mostly made of steel and gold. Most low to medium priced pens are likely to be steel. There is nothing wrong with it, but the harder metal is usually less delicate. Steel nibs are more rigid and can create a scratchy feeling. Gold, on the other hand is softer and adapts to a new hand relatively quickly. It also creates a smoother feeling of writing, almost gliding on the paper, plus is more resistant to corrosion.
Be advised, any nib could leave scratches or even tears on the page. In this case, your best bet is taking your pen to your local nibmeister and have it readjusted. Now let us be honest, you might have troubles finding a nibmeister just around the corner. So garb some high grit sandpaper and a paper clip, this way you can very carefully fix minor deformations, by going back and forth to straighten the nib and align the tines (the two little wings that end with the tip). Nibs also have different designs, but do not worry about them, they make a difference when you are an advanced fountaineer.
Obviously, to write with a fountain pen, you will need some ink. This is where you can find ways to express yourself in ways nobody will be able to replicate. The amount of inks and colours is truly incredible, you could write with a new one every day for the rest of your life. Furthermore, when you become more advanced, some users like mixing inks they already have to create new ones.
When you go out shopping for inks, be mindful of how often you plan to write. If you will use the pen to sign a paper now and then, go for a liquid ink, if you will write daily and the ink will not have time to dry out, feel free to go with a thicker one. Another thing to consider is the location. Writing in school? Your best bet are going to be ink cartridges that are quick to change. No matter that, treat yourself and your pen and also get a converter with one or two bottles of ink. Sure it will take more time to change the ink, but you will really do your pen a service.
Happy writing!