Pens are generally considered safe travel companions by the Transportation Security (TSA) and can be brought on airplanes in both carry-on and checked luggage. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as pens with blades, pens with liquids, and pens with ink cartridges.
Ballpoint pens are generally safe to take on a plane, as they are not affected by altitude changes like rollerballs. Travel-friendly pens, such as ballpoint or gel pens, are designed to withstand pressure variations seen in flights. The cheapest way to have a “airplane-safe” pen is to buy a ballpoint (like a Bic) or a gel pen (like a PIlot G).
The TSA allows most types of pens, including ballpoint, fountain, and marker pens, on airplanes in both carry-on and checked luggage. However, ink cartridges should be less than.5 ounces. Ballpoint pens generally do not leak due to open-ended internal refills, and as long as there is no air bubble in the middle, there is nothing to worry about.
The cheapest way to have a “airplane-safe” pen is to buy a ballpoint (like a Bic) or a gel pen (like a PIlot G). The oil-based ink writes well on many surfaces, is smooth, and dries quickly. It is also water-resistant, making it a good choice for outdoor use.
To play it safe, bring a nice ballpoint pen or bring your rollerball pen or fountain pen. If you have had good luck with normal ballpoint pens, you can carry a dry-writer and sometimes even a grease pencil. However, it is strongly advised against using a fountain pen on a flight, as it can cause issues with ink flow and make you mess on your hands, shirt, trousers, or seat.
Pens should be placed in your carryon, unless theft or loss is not a concern. For more prohibited items, please visit the ‘What Can I Bring?’ page. The final decision rests with the TSA officer.
📹 Fountain Pen Mistakes All Beginners Make & How To Avoid Them – Gentleman’s Gazette
#fountainpen #fountainpenmistakes #notsponsored Is It Worth It? Montblanc Meisterstück 149 146 144 Fountain …
Are Bic lighters safe to carry?
BIC has been dedicated to the production of lighter safety products since 1973, with an output of seven million lighters per day on a global scale. The products meet the highest standards of safety and quality, ensuring optimal performance, convenience, and safety. Each lighter is subjected to in excess of 50 quality and safety assessments throughout the manufacturing process. BIC encourages parents to educate themselves on lighter safety and to ensure that their children are well-informed about their lighters.
Is a ball pen allowed in an international flight?
Air Canada allows passengers to bring pens in their carry-on luggage, including fountain pens and ballpoints, but advises against ink leakage due to cabin pressure changes. Air France allows pens in hand luggage and checked bags, but advises securely cuffing and packing them to prevent leakage, especially fountain pens. American Airlines does not specifically restrict pens in carry-on or checked luggage, but travelers can pack writing instruments comfortably, but it’s important to consider the risk of ink leakage during flights.
Why is ink not allowed on flights?
The occurrence of ink leaks during flight can be attributed to the phenomenon of pressure equalization. As the aircraft ascends into the atmosphere, the cabin pressure drops, causing the pressure within the pen to exceed that of the surrounding environment. This pressure differential leads to a process of equalization, whereby the pressure within the pen is balanced with the external pressure.
Is BIC pen ink flammable?
The item is not classified as flammable in accordance with the criteria set forth by the European Community (EC), yet it may potentially present a fire hazard.
Is a ball pen allowed in carry-on baggage?
Air Canada allows passengers to bring pens in their carry-on luggage, including fountain pens and ballpoints, but advises against ink leakage due to cabin pressure changes. Air France allows pens in hand luggage and checked bags, but advises securely cuffing and packing them to prevent leakage, especially fountain pens. American Airlines does not specifically restrict pens in carry-on or checked luggage, but travelers can pack writing instruments comfortably, but it’s important to consider the risk of ink leakage during flights.
Can you take rollerball pens on a plane?
Traveling with your favorite pen, whether it’s a ballpoint pen, rollerball pen, or fountain pen, isn’t a problem. However, if you’re traveling by air, the TSA may find it difficult to find your most personal possessions. This is because the liquid and gas within a pen increases in volume with reduced air pressure, leading to the compressed ink and air causing dysfunction.
Ballpoint pens, such as inexpensive disposable ones or those from Parus Pen, should not cause issues as they contain a more viscous ink that is less affected by changes in air pressure. However, rollerball pens and fountain pens are more likely to be used by dry cleaners to help their children through college.
To avoid issues, consider bringing a solid like a crayon or pencil, playing it safe with a nice ballpoint pen, or laughing in the face of danger and bringing your favorite pen. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your pen stays safe and functional during your travels.
Which pens are airplane safe?
It is recommended that eyedropper/vacuum-filler pens with shut-off valves, such as the Opus 88, TWSBI Vac700R, or Pilot Custom 823, be utilized, and that pens with alternative filling systems be filled to capacity.
Can ballpoint pens leak?
Ballpoint pens leak due to increased body temperature, which raises the heat of the ink cartridge, causing it to flow. If not capped or positioned vertically, the pen is likely to leak. Fabric and paper materials also help ink flow, causing the pen to leak. To clean ballpoint pens, unclog the ball in the tip, release dried ink with heat or scribble on paper, and soak the pen in water to remove any remnants of ink. If the ink still doesn’t budge, insert a wet cotton swab into the pen to remove manually. Avoid household cleaners and detergents to avoid damaging the metal.
Are Bic pens safe?
Pen ink is a non-toxic substance that can be washed off with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. It consists of a solvent, resin, and a pigment or dye for color. Other ingredients may include alcohols, lubricants, carbon, aniline, dextrin, glycerin, and fluorescents. The ink’s small amount (0. 7-1. 2 mL) should not cause toxicity if eaten, but it may stain the mouth and tongue and cause a mild upset stomach. Fountain pen cartridges can hold up to 2.
5 mL, while calligraphy ink bottles are usually around 30 mL. The risk of toxicity from swallowing these products may be higher due to the larger volume of ink involved, but the risk is relatively low for most ink formulations. Pen ink is considered non-toxic on the skin, but may stain it. Pressing the pen point into the skin could result in an infection, but it does not cause skin cancer.
Is ballpoint pen safe for plane?
Ballpoint ink cartridge leaks are caused by the air inside the cartridge, which expands when cabin air pressure decreases as the plane leaves the ground. This causes ink to come out, causing leaks. Ballpoint pens generally do not leak due to open-ended internal refills and the absence of air bubbles in the middle. Passenger flights typically do not have high altitude cruises, making pen leaks less common.
To prevent leaks, keep pen tips in the correct position, either horizontally in luggage or vertically with the tip facing up. This will prevent unexpected leaks and ensure a safe and comfortable flight experience.
Do pens leak on flights?
As a plane descends, air pressure increases, causing ink to contract, leading to leaks from the nib or barrel. Temperature also plays a role in fountain pen leaks, as the ink expands or contracts, especially if it’s close to the nib or feed. To minimize damage, act quickly and stop the leak as soon as possible. Blot excess ink with a tissue or paper towel, and try to remove the nib and feed from the pen if possible. This will help prevent further damage and ensure a safe and enjoyable flight experience.
📹 TSA Approved Carry On Travel Survival Kit
Some substitutions needed to be made for the items. The major items are still listed below. All the links below are Amazon …
Fun fact: when I was in elementary school (early 1980s Germany), we were actually forbidden from using ball pens in school. We had the choice between pencil and fountain pen (well, fountain pens with cartidges mostly). That may be why I’ve always enjoyed using fountain pens a lot more than ball pens. I learned writing with one, so it’s the most natural way for me to write down stuff by hand. Ball pens were not allowed until secondary school.
A few observations: “The more pressure you add, the wider you stroke gets.” This is ONLY true of flex nibs, increasing pressure on a stiff nib will not result in a wider line, it will likely result in a sprung nib. In the article, he takes a beautiful Montblanc 149 with an 18K gold nib and wipes the surface of the nib against the edge of the ink bottle. This is a surefire way to scratch a nib, as glass is harder than gold. Soaking an entire pen is water is not a good idea for many pens, particularly those with internal metal components that can corrode.
I have been writing with fountain pens since I was a boy. You would be surprised at how people react to receiving a hand written note or letter especially when written with a fountain pen. I like to write thank you notes for a number of different occasions. First is when ever I’ve been invited to dinner at a persons home or any gathering really. When I get home is the best time to write a thank you note while the evening is still fresh in my mind. People appreciate that I didn’t simply say thank you but actually took the time to hand write a note and mail it to them. This way several days pass before they get my note and they are reminded of the evening in question. Second is any time I receive a gift wether it be my birthday or an anniversary or whatever. People enjoy the thoughtfulness that goes into writing a personal thank you acknowledging the time effort and expense that went into the gift they gave me. As a side note each year on my birthday I give a gift to someone else. This is a tradition I learned from my father and grandfather. It reminds me to be humble and not everything is about me lol even on my birthday lol Try it on your next birthday, you don’t have to make a big deal out of it and make it a different person each year. You’ll be surprised at the persons reaction and you just might inspire them to incorporate this tradition into their life as well. Cheers
I bought a fountain pen today. I would have just taken the cartridge that came with it, or a classic color of ink like black or blue. Your advice to get like your “personal color” led me to ask the guy for his catalog of colors. I spent a good 5-10 minutes looking at the colors before settling on a Faber Castell Moss Green ink. I’m so much happier with it because of that!
The problem you mention at around second minute in the article is called feathering. Bleeding is when the ink is visible on the other side of the page. Also, Tomoe River Paper is excellent for foutain pens, while being incredibly thin. Thickness isnt the best indicator of whether or not the paper will be ok with fountain pens. Alot of the thick ones have terrible feathering problem. As for cleaning pen, nothing beats good old syringe. I think ultrasonic cleaner is a bit of an overkill, unless you have alot of pens and you change inks alot.
I have found that the best way to clean my pens is to soak them in water over night. Then I use a bulb syringe (baby size) and push warm water through the nib from the inside of the pen until the water runs clear, then I dab the nib on paper towel to absorb the water and clean up any leftover ink. It’s cheaper than an electric device and does a pretty good job of removing built up ink. I load the converter with a bit of water, shake, and empty once or twice. I have been using a dark purple ink in my pens for 20 years. I try using other colors, but I always go back to the dark purple as my signature color. It’s dark enough for a fine nib and unusual enough for others to recognize my writing. I practice my writing from time to time. I practice capital letters, the letters that have unusual joins (b, o, v, w), and I practice my signature. I try new ways of writing letters to see if they please me and I adopt if they do. Fountain pens are great for note taking because the pens are bigger than ball point so your hand doesn’t cramp as much and because they glide over the paper so you don’t have to push on the page as you would with a ball point pen. I have given fountain pens as gifts and introduced friends and family to the experience.
When I was at school in the early 70’s (United Kingdom) we were not allowed to use anything but fountain pens with the exception of engineering drawing and art classes. To this day I use nothing else. One little tip that’s helped me over the years is when you’re not using your pen, store it ‘nib-down’ so it doesn’t dry out. I have seven pens here on my desk in a small drinking glass stored this way and they all work first time every time however long they’ve been there. Excellent article by the way.
Pens with bodies made from ebonite, celluloid or casein should not be cleaned by soaking these parts in water as it will cause them to deform or crack. Simply dip the pen up to the section in water and operate the ink filling lever, button or piston knob as many times as needed to flush the pen clean then dry the pen off thoroughly.
Great article. Owned a number of FP’s but currently only two (Lamy Safari & Lamy Vista). Even though they’re quite low range in the price scale, they’re a pleasure to write with, you can’t tell if the line was done with a $500 Mont Blanc or a $25 Safari but certainly not with a ballpoint (or even a gel ink for the connoisseur), and most times people are in wonder of the whole contraption, they’re really curious about them. These Lamy’s I keep because they have one of THE best grips I’ve tried, light body and soft iridium nibs; which means you’ll never get tired of writing and the pen “breaks into” your handwriting, also, let me admit they got the looks. Actually, you’ll want to write more often. Only clean them 1-2 times a year and yes, no soap, only water. The best method I’ve tried was a piezoelectric K+E stylograph cleaner. 1 minute bath in there and what a beauty! It’s like when you go and have your car serviced, that you can feel it running smoother, have you ever felt that? Paper is key too; Moleskine’s they’re nice but I’ve moved on to notebooks that serve my needs better. If you haven’t, give FP’s a try. >One Love< -A
While I’m by no means a collector, I do have several fountain pens in a range of prices. What I’ve found is that I always keep coming back to my Pilot Metropolitans. At around $20 US, there’s really no excuse NOT to use a fountain pen! My Iroshizuku inks cost more than the pens do but the proprietary cartridges work just fine.
Yes. Fountain Pens can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. However, you can get good fountain pens for under $5 to $30. Jinhao makes a very reliable pen that writes well for under $5, to $50 depending on the model – with an ink converter. A set of six 992 or 599 (acrylic pens) is under $15. A set of four X450 (lacquered brass with gold plated trim and clip) is $19.95. All the Jinhao use long or short International cartridges. The 992 can be converted to eye dropper fill using bottled ink. A Lamy Safari (acrylic) is around $20 without a converter. The same style Lamy Allstar (aluminum) is around $30, again without a converter. I believe the Lamy do come with two of the proprietary Lamy cartridges. A Lamy converter for bottled ink is $7 and change. There is a dealer who sells these two Lamy with 5 ink cartridges and a converter for $29 and $39 respectivly. Line width can vary. However, only if you have a flex nib that actually flexes, a stub nib (several widths and grinds are available), or a Fude (foo-day) bent nib. A standard “Extra Fine”/”Fine”/”Medium”/”Broad”/”Double Broad” nib has a consistent line width. The main advantage of fountain pens over ballpoints, gel pens, and rollerball pens is a choice of over 100 different colors, including shimmering and sparkling, and even some that are scented, as well.
This guy complicates things. It does not change your writing you must do it yourself. I practice calligraphy for lettets and have used FP from middle school. Unless a special nib (maniflex, semi-flex, fex, or super-flex, or soft or gold or sping steel) do not press at all. Get a manifold (nail hard stainless steel) round piont nib in med as first. The med will seem too thick at first but best to start. The weight of even a plastic pen is enough, use zero pressure. Use Rhodia or Clairfontain to start. Other FP paper has special properties. Use Pilot, Scheaffer, Quink, J Herbin, or Diamine ink to start, just there standard non fancy to start. Is more forgiving on copy paper. Good starter pen is Pilot or Lammy. Get used to those before moving on. Also you won’t be afraid to carry and use the pen alot or even attempt DIY nib fix if it needs it. A fun hobby a recomend that can get expensive.
If one cleans their nib(s) & cartridge(s) by soaking & flushing (with a bulb syringe) every two weeks, as generally recommended, then one will never have to purchase an expensive ultra-sound machine. Also, I would suggest that the body and cap of a fountain pen never be soaked. A flush of the cap with warm water and a “scrub” with a Q-tip or soft pipe brush should be sufficient to clean any ink that has accumulated in the cap or the body, if the cartridge has been damaged.
Good article . Maybe an additional tip on making sure your signature is less fakeable . If you use a fountainpen with a hard small nib to sign with, you produce the result, that when you sign you not only sign your signature onto the paper with the ink, but you also scratch with your nib your signature into the paper with an indentation . The “mark” of that indentation is also a signature that has to correspond with your “ink-written” signature, and makes your signature less changeable and thus fakeable, either to remove it or to produce it . Erwin, Belgium .
Nice article but nobody takes the converter out of a pen to fill it. That’s way too messy. Simply unscrew the barrel, dip the pen into the ink and fill the converter. Then put back the barrel and wipe the nib. Filling the converter separately is only advised if the ink level in the glass is too low to dip the pen. Take a look at Brian Goulet’s articles. They contain a lot of information about using fountain pens. There are also good fountain pen reviews by Matt Armstrong (penhabit), Stephen Brown (sbrebrown) and Dave Parker (figboot on pens).
Thank you so much – I have been trying to clean my expensive fountain pen for over 10 days now – it seems pink ink was caked dry. I soaked it and cleaned it every day, but the pink kept coming and it just wouldn‘t write without scratching even at the end of 10 days. I put it for 3 x 2 minutes in my ultrasound cleanser and… voila… it writes perfectly again.
I’ve much preferred fountain pens for several years now. The myriad ink choices available are fantastic, especially if you need a very ‘secure’ ink such as Noodler’s Bad Black Moccasin which I use for signing my professional stamp per state requirements. They’re also good for arthritic hands as you need to apply very little pressure compared to a ballpoint pen. They help reduce landfill, too, which is my contribution to ecological soundness.
I’ve found that using a fountain pen with a converter is the best way to prevent huge blobs of ink or spills. I’m using a Hongdian Forest Series with an Extra Fine Nib and PILOT Namiki Standard Fountain Pen Ink. You can buy both on Amazon, but I got mine at a local art store. I can write on regular notebook paper with these and don’t get any tears in the paper, bleeding, or ink droplets. Filling the converter lasts quite a long time, and using bottled ink is less expensive and better for the environment. This particular pen is quite heavy as it’s solid metal, so I can’t recommend it for someone with arthritis or weak hands, but it’s absolutely beautiful (mine is in matte black) and my handwriting looks lovely. The ink I use dries almost immediately, even on that gross shiney smooth paper that my textbooks are in, so writing in Hebrew (right to left, right handed) isn’t a problem. I can’t believe I waited so long to start using fountain pens. It does feather a little bit on very porous paper though, so there’s another thing to consider about this pen and ink combo. I have very small handwriting so an extra fine nib works fine (haha) for me, but if you have large writing, I have to recommend a fine or medium nib. And if you’re a lefty (or writing in a language that moves from right to left) get a bent nib. You’re welcome.
This sounds like it would be a wonderful way to teach discipline to a school student. With as much care that needs to be taken using these pens the amount of discipline needed can also provide good habits for other areas of life. Teaching people to be more responsible, careful, and even more methodical.
i had a teacher on year that made us use fountain pens. it was to make us learn how to write good. (we had some kids that had unreadable handwriting) the school provided a cheap fountain pen, but if you wanted a better one you had to buy one yourself. and i love it. in a rebel action i bought purple fillings, i love it 🥰 i’m happy that i found this article now, to better learn more about the use of it
Still use my Parker I bought 40 years ago. Started with them when I was in Junior High even longer ago (Sheaffer pens). Helped me improve my handwriting and they’re just plain fascinating! I now have my grandfather’s 1940’s or 50’s fountain pen (Parker) Going to restore it to service. Have used Osmiroids also. My main go-to’s right now are the Franklin-Coveys given to me as a present. Nice feel and they work great for cheap! Have both cartridge and refill.
You were right about falling in love with it, I purchased one of the pens from the article about “5 Great Fountain Pens that Won’t Break the Bank” (I got the Pilot Metropolitan), and I was quite impressed with its construction, but most of all, I think it writes so much better than a regular ballpoint pen.
Thanks for all the information. I especially liked the information about the type of paper that should be used and about how the finer the nib, the less the ink bleeds into the paper. My major problem has been ink bleeding through to the other side of the paper making it difficult to read both sides.
Thanks for the article. I have just gotten back into using a fountain pen to write with. I used one most of the way through school, including college and grad school. I did get out of using a fountain pen for a very long time, and now I’m back to using one. I’m really glad to see the new interest in fountain pens. When I started using one recently, I forgot how much I enjoy writing with one.
I’ve always used cheap paper I’ve never had feathering or bleeding problems I found when I first got in to fountain pens my writing was terrible I realized it was just that I needed to get used to fountain pens and learn to control em after writing with em for years now my handwriting has improved greatly and my joining letters is getting better and better occasionally when I pick up a ballpoint it feels so weird and now my writings worse with a ball pen and when I try joining letters with ballpoint I can’t get it to work hardly
I’ve been using a fountain pen for nearly 40 years, I bought my first one at a drugstore as a kid and used it through middle and high school. I’ve always loved to draw and doodle and fountain pens are the best for that. They got hard to find in the 90s, you’d have to pay $30 bucks or more for one at an office supply store but it’s easier now with the internet.
While perusal your article I was looking for some paper to try out my fountain pens, just for fun. I always write with fountain pens, have since I was a child, as many decades ago someone told me that ballpoint pens spoil your handwriting. I remember that my grandmother wrote notes and shopping lists using a ballpoint pen, but wrote her letters on a (non-electric) typewriter. My grandfather, however, always wrote his letters with a fountain pen. That was in the 60s and 70s. In Germany every child who goes to school starts writing with a fountain pen – after a few months of writing with pencil. There are special ones adapted to smaller hands, and they use those ink cartridges. – I just found a notebook/exercise book for school children which I sometimes use for short letters (I tear out the pages), and each and everyone of those notebooks has a sheet of blotting paper inserted, in light yellow or pink, so that you can dry the text you have written before you turn the page. Unfortunately my children, born 1977/1982/1995 all write with ballpoint pens. And the grandchildren hardly write by hand at all.
The signature @1:14 is beautiful! The capital R on the middle name made me go back through the article to locate it just so I could compliment it. I just keep thinking that it would be amazing if I could just invert it and use it as a more elegant looking K. Your signature looks absolutely elegant and refined sir. Best of luck.
I have just purchased a Mont blanc Meisterstuck 149 that was stored full of Red ink! It looked like tar or burnt sugar, nasty! It took 3 days of soaking in warm water combined with periodically using the ultrasonic cleaner to get it to the stage where I could dismantle it for a thorough clean and service. I found out from the seller that it was his late uncle’s pen that had been left in his study for over a year after his demise. I think that making sure that the pen is emptied, flushed and dried before storing (For more than a week), should be one of your Top Tips for new users. Nice concise information & advise in your article as usual, thank you.
Thanks for making this article, it has caught my Interest. In the late 1970’s, in High School I had a Fountain Pen that took Ink Cartridges. Using it with Notebook Paper was not the best thing, especially trying to write notes quickly in a Classroom, the Nib would catch on and sometimes tear the thin Notebook Page. Took a Caligraphy course a few years ago, the Instructor gave us Felt Tip Marker to learn.
Greetings from Panama. My name is Nelson Hernandez. I am 46 years old and, being left-handed, I started late in the world of fountain pens. I always loved them. Today I have a small collection, from Lamy (Al Star and 2 Safary) HongDian, Jinhao, MonteVerde, Parker Acromatic and Ferris Wheel, carrusel series my inks are MontBlanc and Wearingeul… little by little I am collecting and getting to know them
This was so interesting, thank you. I was born in 1947 and grew-up in the English school system. The only pens we ever used was either ink dipping pens or fountain pens. I always loved to write with my fountain pen. Even to this day it pleases me to write with either type of pen, I have both. After perusal your article, my husband and I are trying to figure out where you might be from (which country). 🤔🥰
I would like to point out one very important thing that was not mentioned alongside something else that was. While fountain pens CAN cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, there are plenty of options for us broke bois. On the dirt cheap end, there’s just about anything made by Jinhao in the $6-12 range, or the Twsbi Eco and Diplomat Magnum; both great choices at sub $30. Paired with Noodlers inks, these products make getting into fountain pens easy for everyone. Or doing what I did at first: My first pen was a Noodlers Charlie pen. It is included free with the 4.5 oz bottle of Nood;ers Heart of Darkness ink. A great beginner set at $19 and, in my opinion, a great choice for any students wanting to start using fountain pens.
In Germany all school children are required to use fountain pens for pretty much all writing purposes from 2nd or 3rd grade onwards. I used one until 10th or 11th grade when most had switched to ballpoint for… whatever reason. At 30 I picked up a super cheap kids’ fountain pen for like 2 bucks on a whim, completely unaware that they were fashionable again. It quickly became the only pen I used to write anything down at work just because of how much more pleasant the whole experience was and how much nicer it looked. 2 years later I finally decided to get one without the bright colors and images of pencils and soccer balls all over it. To everyone here who wants to try one out for themselves: Go ask a friend or family member over 70, chances are they have a high-quality fountain pen stashed away somewhere. My aunt had 3 super nice ones sitting in her attic that hadn’t been used in decades. Now I feel like a statesman whenever putting something to paper.
hilarious with the fashion item on the end, I laughed my head off. I love my new fountain pens, so much easier to write with, and now using for urban sketching. Thanks for the tip to keep the pen up so it does not leak. My favourite colours are the germans inks, Thea ( grey) and Marlene, just so beautiful. they look great in greeting cards, diary writing. I use my Thea for art work.
The number 1 reason given. It is said that someone educated has no advantage over an illiterate if he doesnt read. So is writing and having a good pen. Write, write, write some more. Empty a cartridge, the whole bottle. Pretty satisfying, the earned kind, when one finishes a notebook or a whole bottle of ink.
When I was a government officer, having to sign documents in transactions sometimes amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, I always used a fountain pen. The ink had an ultraviolet marker in it, so bond counsel could always assure it was my “live” signature. Further, I used an ink in a color that could not be accurately reproduced on most office copiers. The delicate transition in opacity in the pen strokes also were, at best, very hard for a copier to reproduce accurately. These features were simply not available for ball point pens, however expensive.
I love writing with a fountain pen. And these tips to avoid mistakes are all true. Except the one that sais: don’t drop it on the nib. Do ‘All Beginners Make That Mistake’? It’s not a mistake, it’s an accident. Mistakes are done on purpose, but wrong. I don’t think there is any fountain pen lover that on purpose drops their Mont Blanc on the nib. You could have included another ‘Mistake All Beginners Make’ by adding ‘Don’t run over it with a car’. Yes, it’s something you better not do, but it’s not a ‘Mistake All Beginners Make’.
I’m from germany, in elementary school we learned how to write with these ink pens only and only in cursive handwriting. Our teachers would scold us if we didn’t bring or write with them. (That was 2004, I don’t know how it’s currently) I would buy these jars with hundreds of tiny ink capsules to put into my pen, and our good pens would cost 10-30€. I’m still using my inexpensive pen and it’s still doing its good job 16 years later. 🙂 All papers I have bought in germany 99% for the time didn’t show any problem with the ink, but maybe in the US different paper is the norm. 🙂
My dad used to own a fountain pen. It was a gift from someone important, so he wouldn’t let me touch it. Since then I’ve always wanted to try using a fountain pen, and now I finally had a chance to when I got ‘cheap’ one. Now I understand why people like using fountain pens — they use almost no effort to write. Next, I realize that I could actually draw using fountain pens. They’re really good for drawing curves without stuttering.
A properly tuned fountain pen will write under it’s own weight, no need to press at all. Not all nibs are made to flex to get line variation… I have used fountain pens since the 90s, and exclusively for the last 10 years. Great starter brands are Lamy and TWSBI. My every day pen is a Visconti Homosapiens
When I was 7-8 we were taught to use a fountain pen at school, before then we had only used pencils. I am left-handed but loved learning to use a fountain pen. When I left that school the changes to teaching with handwriting pens. I am glad I wasn’t there then, as I have never got on with handwriting pens. I think all kids should be taught to use a fountain pen. I have an everyday Parker fountain pen that I use from time to time, but I really fancy getting myself a special one and start to use it more in my life!
I used to be in love with my uncle’s gold fountain pens as a child, I used to “borrow” them for my Caligraphy class! I was my calligraphy teacher’s nightmare… because I am a lefty but then I had to move to the States and lost the habit of writing with fountain pens. I’d love to go back to using them.
I bought a new Montblanc Starwalker ballpoint pen a half year ago because it was supposed to be the easiest to live with and not demand that much service. Then I found a vintage Montblanc Monte Rosa 42 fountain pen from 1952 on a auction site and got it for 50euro, I restored it and started to like it a lot. Also found a rollerball Meisterstück from the early 90’s and it is way much nicer than a ballpoint to write with but the fountain pen still has the most feeling in it. I also managed a month ago to find a brand new never used Montblanc Monte Rosa 41 with original box and everything for about 50euros. Now I am really into Montblanc fountain pens and love writing and painting with them, the way they lay down ink is just so unique! I am now looking to buy a Meisterstück le grand or a 149, I just waiting for my local Montblanc dealer to get the 149 so that I can compare it to the le grand and see witch one feels better in my hand.
I can not print. I have ever only written in cursive and the way the fountain pens pick up those curves in my writing… It’s just the perfect aesthetic to your writing. I only wish I could afford some of the nicer fountain pens that are out there. But I am currently awaiting the arrival of my dip pens. I can not wait to see how those work out for me.
I don’t get the hate and shame from the comment section below. Have some manners and be kind and gratefull. Is this too much to ask for? This is a great article, very beautifull and I had to learn those mistakes by experiencing them myself, so thank you for warning beginners and for showing your beautifull pen collection and handwriting!
I prefer a fountain pen to anything else. I can only afford what most young people can but somebody I know gave me their small Montblanc meisterstuck pen saying it’s broken it needs to be repaired. Later I found that the problem was in the converter being broken. I didn’t know anything about this brand but soon I thought this is a blessing I can’t afford to repair by buying a new converter.
Using pigment-based ink (like the popular Platinum Carbon Black ink) will force you to clean consistently (with dish soap) and almost daily especially if you’re too cheap to buy fountain pen paper. They dry on the surface of the paper rather than rely on paper absorbency. I like them, but beginners need to know and be aware that while it’s fairly relaible/convenient it requires even MORE upkeep to use pigement based inks because if they dry then they dry lol (good luck cleaning your pen).
Im 16 ears old and i posses a pelikan fountain pen since two years.. i use everyday at school and it has never left me … and i like its fluidity and it’s smothness on paper… ok 4001 pelikan ink bottlet aren’t cheap but they least me a year of constant use … and since i use my fountain pen ive noticed a light upgrade in my calligraphy
if your workplace is like mine then in modern times a good reason for a fountain pen is that its simply the best pen anti theft device. i lost count how many pens got “borrowed” then never returned, last time at work someone “borrowed” my clipboard from the desk while i hopped to the toilet but left my pen that was beyond them
For maybe 30 years if have used fountain pens daily in my professional and personal life. I typically have six or seven fountain pens in a tray to the right of my desk at home and at work. Several in red ink, and shades of blue. Different thicknesses of nib depending upon the need. I have at least eight different shades of red. I also get 24 pound paper and make up my own writing sheets and pads. Avoids any bleed through.
So in my line of work, i havs to write by hand every day. When it comes to office documents, i prefer i fine nib Hong Dian since everything i write on is printed on the cheapest white printer paper possible. I do not however like these pens for long letters. I will write my grandfather every couple of weeks with a yellow legal pad and a Wordsworth and Black Medium Nib. It is a fairly heavy pen that feels great in my hand and doesn’t cause cramps during long writing sessions like the Hong Dian. It did take a while to master writing with it though as it did have the tendency to bleed through the paper as mentioned in this article. Still, Im happy to say the only mistake i made on this article was storing my pens Nib down to keep the ink from drying. Walked into my office one morning to find my pen cups bottom filled with ink and stained my hands because i didn’t look before picking a pen up
I remember My Grandfather In Germany sending me a Pelikan Fountain Pen when I was 13 years old because he thought we would be using them in the U.S.A. just like Germany. Not so. I lived in Iowa at the time where fountain pen culture was widespread because of Shaeffer Pens located in Keokuk, Ia. where they made fountain pens all of the kids at school had them. I moved back to L.A. and fountain pens were very rarely seen. I still write with them to this day.
Paper. I am beginning my journey on fountain pen, but I already walk the walk on paper. High quality paper from France or Japan, you need a high quality paper, that works well with ballpoint, rollerball and eventually (for me) fountain pen. Then great inks, you might need a converter as I did for my Lamy Safari (an then others), selecting some incredible black, blue and red inks from Pilot (or others). There’s nothing more exciting than a black, blue or red ink, that is offset. It become your colour with your own writing on your own paper. Your signature. All of that is very personal. Intimate. PS: I have to clean up my red Safari, receiving tomorrow the Red Ink that will make it shine. Exactly as in this article. Yes Lamy Safari (some). I also own Pilot Custom 823. And Meisterstück 149. Looking for a Visconti lava…
Greets! Maybe someone can help me with my calligraphy pen Lamy Joy 1,9 mm. I cleaned as the article says sinking it in water and removing all possible ink, I even used a hair dryer to leave no water in afterwards and inserted a new cartridge and since then I never get a full coloured strokes as it once was, as if there would be still water stoping making my ink thinner. I have been leaving my pen sepparated in its different pieces hoping that it dries. When I put all parts back together it starts writing nicely and in a few movements I get again discoloured strokes. What can I do, so that my pen writes nicely as it once was?
I have a few fountain pens that I got from my late friend and my favourite is a Mount Blanc because the pen is wide in the hand and the writing is bold. I also have two Watermans and a Pelikan which is practical when I want to write finer in a more narrow space. I also carry a cheap ballpoint when someone asks to borrow one or when I want to write where a fountain pen is not practical.
All pens use ink and the vast majority of writing utensils have nibs, not everything requires that much care, the difference is that fountain pen nibs are metal and not felt/whatever other material and the ink is probably water based. Alchohol inks and Inks based off other chemicals are different and that’s why fountain pens require more or different care, paint markers also require care just in different ways
One thing most people don’t know is that expensive fountain pens usually are expensive because of design and materials used for their body, not the nib. Many expensive pens have nibs that write worse than cheap fountain pens. You don’t really have to spend much money to try, use and like fountain pens. Also inexpensive fountain pens for everyday use don’t really need any cleaning. Pupils in Germany use them for many years and just put in one cartridge after another
I like a medium to broad nib myself. However, the differences in what every manufacturer considers a medium or broad can be maddening. For instance, the medium on my lamy2000 which was tuned and smoothed by a nibmeister is drastically heavier than my Japanese pilot pen medium. I also avoid any ink that is a shimmer ink. They clog the nibs and the feeds and are virtually impossible to get all those particles out.
In England, at my primary school at least, all students wrote in pencil, students with good handwriting were given a “pen license” and a cheap berol pen, I think it was a ballpoint of some kind but definitely nothing more expensive, later on those with pen licenses who continued to excel were given a “fountain pen license” and a once again cheap berol fountain pen, but I discovered how much I liked them and my mother made a deal with me that if I were to achieve the highest score in my class in my final SATs exams (age 11 taken before entering secondary school) she’d get me a good quality fountain pen, 5 months later I first put the nib of my cross century classic to paper
I’m seeing foreigners (non Americans) talking about learning to write in elementary school with fountain pens, meanwhile we got the United States Department of Education special: a pencil with lead the consistency of a Nintendo DS stylus and lined paper that felt like toilet seat covers. Pressing with your whole arm created an indistinct smudge that was somehow more permanent than pen ink.
This was a useful article. It’s nice to see that there are people out there that embrace being a man. And, if you’re a true gentleman, you know that you are in charge of the household. You are the one that protects your wife and, she takes care of the home. If you’re single, you know that you should pay, open doors, be polite, and hate everything leftists stand for.
You can get a decent fountain these days for around $100. A bottle of ink will cost around $24. I have a fine nib Waterman and a medium nib Platinum pen, and they write very similarly. The medium nib Waterman that I have writes more like a wide nib, and so I have to use an extremely light touch with it. The piston adapters are sold separately but only cost about $12.
I’m an admitted pen freak. I have everything from bics to montblancs. I recently made my foray into fountain pens. The first thing I noticed is, at least with the pen I bought, is that it leaks like crazy. Admittedly it’s a cheap model (Monteverde impressa). I’m looking into a more expensive model that perhaps won’t have this problem. If it does then I will admit that I, myself, am the problem.
I love number1! 😁 I was curious, I generally avoid putting a fountain pen in my purse or pocket but I will keep in mind the idea of keeping the tip up. However, at home I tend to leave my (admittedly inexpensive) pens in a cup with the nibs down – I’m not using them every day, so I thought doing that might help to keep the nib “wet” and the ink more likely to flow the next time I use it. Is that a bad idea?
What can I do if the ink dries? In a meeting, I wanted to use my pen but I couldn’t write because the ink was dried. I pumped a little to help the ink flows. People looked at me when I was doing this and I was ashamed that my pen not functioned properly. How can I assure that my ink pen is going to function at all times when I need to use it in front of others?
Haha, you got me with the first mistake! I’ve got a lovely custom made fountain pen that I had made a couple of years ago from 1000+yr old bog oak. Still never used it, mainly due to the fact that it’s very rare that I ever have to write anything. Rare that I have to sign anything either in my current job.
Writing notes and letters is perhaps the best use of the fountain pen. However, the ballpoint or roller gel pens are more practical when used in rugged situations. Fountain pens were mandatory in grades 6,7,8. I wasn’t a huge fan then because they were messy and my friends and I would occasionally walk around with ink stained shirt pockets. I couldn’t wait to start writing with a ballpoint. Now, I love writing with the fountain pen because I feel nostalgic. Does that make any sense?
Nice article. I would love to start using fountain pens, I came across this just after ordering a special edition parker pen and some gel refills. I may still purchase a fountain pen at some point, thing is my handwriting is garbage. I am right handed but in kindergarten our teachers wanted us to write with our left hands and as result ive never had good handwriting. Thank you for the in-depth article!
I am getting quite interested in purchasing a fountain pen, as there are too many poor quality ballpoints that are awful. Usually the ballpoints that are made in Japan are quite nice, I would prefer something a little nicer to write with. Regarding heavier pens, I have scoured the internet looking for pens in which the body is made of tungsten, but I have had no luck. Just brass and stainless steel have been the only ones that I have found so far.
I would never keep my pens fountain or ballpoint with the nib pointing up because the ink will run away from the nib so when you want to use it you have to wait for the ink to run back to the nib and with a ball point this can take a long time also I do not travel with my more expensive fountain pens I have to use a good ball point.
Lesson I recently learned after destroying two im parker fountain pens. Don’t stick them I’n your work shirt pockets for the pen holes as over time the stress destroys the inner lid plastic so pen lid does not stay on tight anymore and lose 😪 So now I have two silver with gold highlight fountain pens I can’t use.
I like fountain pen but I realised for signing documents it’s better not to use as normal ink get smudged easily. Also when going for notary attestation the require ball pens/gel pens. I realise that there are expensive waterproof fountain pen inks available but still I think this is a disadvantage to be considered while using it.