Pens, inks and related.....

[beginish]

Working from home, I have been using just a couple of pens on a regular basis, a Kaweco Ice Sport with a medium steel nib and Pilot Prera with a medium nib. Rather than futz around with an ink bottle and converter, I have been slowly working through my stock of Kaweco and Pilot ink cartridges. Oddly, I am taking more notes on paper now than I was when I was physically at work.

 

[woodpusher]

Working from home, I have been using just a couple of pens on a regular basis.... Oddly, I am taking more notes on paper now than I was when I was physically at work.

I was the opposite and rarely used my fountain pens since starting WFH last May. When I stopped work in Sep, I found I used them even less. Have not used one for a few months now after my Kaweco Sport ran dry.

Might not even return to them... scary thought,, I know.

 

[Quijote]

I look for reasons to use mine. I still have a few in my desk drawer at work though. I will have to get them out when I go back in.

 

[NurseDave]

Ya, come on man! We have fountain pen friendly note pads around the house so they can be used for just lists and such.

 

[Somnos]

I have only one and I have pads to practice my cursive on and two journals. I use my Metro every chance I get and really am enjoying it. The fine Pilot nib puts down the equivalent of an extra fine line and as I use a Zebra 0.5mm Zeb-Roller Roller Ball for work (and have for the past 15+ years) it fits in perfectly. However, I have been eyeballin this guy...Conklin All American Yellowstone - Med......anyone have experience with this series of Conkilns?

 

[woodpusher]

I've only ever used a Conklin Mark Twain, the one with the crescent filler. It was a much bigger pen than I thought. Indeed, a little too bit for my hands. Check out the size specs on any pen before you buy to compare to what you currently have, not just length, but also girth.

It was a great writer though!

 

[Somnos]

I've only ever used a Conklin Mark Twain, the one with the crescent filler. It was a much bigger pen than I thought. Indeed, a little too bit for my hands. Check out the size specs on any pen before you buy to compare to what you currently have, not just length, but also girth.

It was a great writer though!

Yes indeed that one caught my eye also but it is more coin and of course being new to this all, a crescent filler seems a bit daunting. I have looked at the All American specs and it seems like a good fit.

 

[Quijote]

The only Conklin I have any experience with is the Empire. Which is a completely different pen than what you are looking at. It has a Bock nib, they have since switched to Jowo nibs. It has a metal grip section, your's is resin. It has a magnetic closure, your's is screw. That being said, the only thing I didn't like about mine was the metal section. I have heard good things about them lately. It sounds like a good choice.

 

[beginish]

I have a small collection of vintage and new models, and the pens I am most happy using are the Kaweco and Pilot models. Other than the Pilot Vanishing Point I have, the Kawecos and Pilots are simple, basic pens but the nibs are fantastic. Steel but reliable and butter smooth.

 

[HMan]

I use mine all the time, I call them my 'thinking' pens. Anytime I'm trying to work up a new project, it always starts with the fountain pen, even though most of the work will finish on the computer.

 

[HMan]

I have a small collection of vintage and new models, and the pens I am most happy using are the Kaweco and Pilot models. Other than the Pilot Vanishing Point I have, the Kawecos and Pilots are simple, basic pens but the nibs are fantastic. Steel but reliable and butter smooth.

I really had to work on my Kaweco Sport to get the nib to flow. Now that it does, it's a terrific pen, though it's been supplanted by my Sailors.

I've got a bunch of steel nib ones that I even take to the gym to log my training. I don't think you can beat a good steel nib for any kind of rough duty. Or just for an easy reliable writer.

 

[Quijote]

I love my Kaweco Sport. It goes everywhere with me. I have thought about buying one of their replacement gold nibs for it, but have a problem buying that expensive of a nib for a pen that is that inexpensive.

 

[beginish]

I love my Kaweco Sport. It goes everywhere with me. I have thought about buying one of their replacement gold nibs for it, but have a problem buying that expensive of a nib for a pen that is that inexpensive.

Exactly and it won’t be such an improvement that it’s worth it.

 

[HMan]

I love my Kaweco Sport. It goes everywhere with me. I have thought about buying one of their replacement gold nibs for it, but have a problem buying that expensive of a nib for a pen that is that inexpensive.

Many have said a good steel nib is every bit as good as a gold nib. I think there's a lot of truth to that.
I'm a big fan of Sailor Pro Gear style pens, and have a 7 with gold nibs and another 5 with steel nibs, plus Lamy, Pelikan, and Kawecos with steel nibs.

The biggest difference tbh is in aesthetics, though the gold nibs a have a certain 'softness' they are also more finicky. With a steel nib, once it's tuned right, they just get the job done without worry.

Rather than getting a new nib, you might consider putting that towards a new pen with a gold nib. IME, I use the two types of pens differently, because of the worry free nature of steel nibs. The Sport is a pocket pen, steel serves it well.

If there are other performance reasons you're interested in a gold nib, then you might look at tuning the steel nib. Kawecos can have hard start issues, but a little work will turn it into an ink flow monster.

 

[Quijote]

Many have said a good steel nib is every bit as good as a gold nib. I think there's a lot of truth to that.
I'm a big fan of Sailor Pro Gear style pens, and have a 7 with gold nibs and another 5 with steel nibs, plus Lamy, Pelikan, and Kawecos with steel nibs.

The biggest difference tbh is in aesthetics, though the gold nibs a have a certain 'softness' they are also more finicky. With a steel nib, once it's tuned right, they just get the job done without worry.

Rather than getting a new nib, you might consider putting that towards a new pen with a gold nib. IME, I use the two types of pens differently, because of the worry free nature of steel nibs. The Sport is a pocket pen, steel serves it well.

If there are other performance reasons you're interested in a gold nib, then you might look at tuning the steel nib. Kawecos can have hard start issues, but a little work will turn it into an ink flow monster.

Mine has no issues at all. The only time it has had sent problems was when my wife accidentally washed it. But a good cleaning and it was ready to go.

I do have one gold nib, a classic Hoover with a gold flex nib. I need to tune that one a bit, but have to get it from my office drawer first.

 

[Quijote]

Got the rest of my stuff from my desk at work earlier this week. Found out the hard way what happens when you leave Noodler's 54th Massachusetts in a pen without using it for around a year. It becomes gel like and if you try using it, it will leave little strings between the letters. Got the pen soaking now to clean it out. It got so sticky that it caused the converter to seize up and I had to toss it. Was just a very cheap standard international converter though, so no big loss there.

The pen that had some Robert Oster River of Fire just dried and came clean no problem. Luckily the rest of the pens were cleaned and just being stored in the desk.

 

[NurseDave]

Currently in my travel case for work


Always on my desk inked up with Montblanc Single Malt

 

[Quijote]

I don't really need a travel case, my work is just a couple rooms away from my bedroom. But here are my currently inked work pens.
Pilot Metropolitan w/ DeAtramentis Charles Dickens
TWSBI Eco w/ Colorverse Arabella
Hoover de Luxe w/ Robert Oster River of Fire

 

[Somnos]

Inbound, Conklin All American Yellowstone in Fine!

 

[Somnos]

Actually....I stopped the presses on the Yellowstone. Back for some research...