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Pens, inks and related.....

Fenster said:
Ok, thanks guys, I will definitely look into your suggestions. My wife is not a "gadget" person, if she has to fuss with it too much, she just won't use it, so I am looking for a super basic 'plug and play' option.
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If she wants one that is just plug and play, start away from converters. One that you can just put a cartridge in will be much simpler. The Pilot and Lamy they mentioned are great options, but their cartridges are proprietary. I really like the Diplomat Magnum. It's inexpensive, a great writer and takes a standard international cartridge.
 
Fenster said:
Ok, thanks guys, I will definitely look into your suggestions. My wife is not a "gadget" person, if she has to fuss with it too much, she just won't use it, so I am looking for a super basic 'plug and play' option.
Click to expand...
Fenster, I agree with the other chaps. For plug and play, a Lamy or Pilot Metropolitan. Nothing fancy but extremely reliable. I have several of each. With bare bones basic maintenance, they will last for many years.
 
Quijote said:
If she wants one that is just plug and play, start away from converters. One that you can just put a cartridge in will be much simpler. The Pilot and Lamy they mentioned are great options, but their cartridges are proprietary. I really like the Diplomat Magnum. It's inexpensive, a great writer and takes a standard international cartridge.
Click to expand...
That's interesting, I did not know there was a Standard cartridge, I guess I assumed that they were all proprietary. Look at me...learning new stuff everyday, thanks guys. I'm not a pen guy so I am starting with no knowledge. My big foray into pens was when I recently bought a pack of Pilot G2 .7 gel roller pens for work because the pens at work are terrible.

When I get time I will check out all your recommendations, but it may come down to the cute green one that I find, that I know my wife will love the look of. Lol.
 
Fenster said:
That's interesting, I did not know there was a Standard cartridge, I guess I assumed that they were all proprietary. Look at me...learning new stuff everyday, thanks guys. I'm not a pen guy so I am starting with no knowledge. My big foray into pens was when I recently bought a pack of Pilot G2 .7 gel roller pens for work because the pens at work are terrible.

When I get time I will check out all your recommendations, but it may come down to the cute green one that I find, that I know my wife will love the look of. Lol.
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Shopping done

 
I was looking at this one but it mentions a converter???

Screenshot_20250128-165059.png

"It comes with a black Pilot ink cartridge and a squeeze converter to use with bottled ink, or you can upgrade to a Con-40 converter if you prefer that style."
 
One other recommendation. If it is her first one, get a fine nib, for normal paper, it just performs better.
Fenster said:
I was looking at this one but it mentions a converter???

View attachment 141474

"It comes with a black Pilot ink cartridge and a squeeze converter to use with bottled ink, or you can upgrade to a Con-40 converter if you prefer that style."
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These have the option to get a converter, but will also take a cartridge. As long as it has the option for a cartridge, that is what you are looking for.
 
Fenster said:
I was looking at this one but it mentions a converter???

View attachment 141474

"It comes with a black Pilot ink cartridge and a squeeze converter to use with bottled ink, or you can upgrade to a Con-40 converter if you prefer that style."
Click to expand...
Basically the cartridge just pops in. It gets pierced as you tighten the pen and you use it until it's gone. Then just pop a new cartridge in.
The converter will go into the pen in place of the cartridge if you choose to use it. That needs to be filled from a bottle. I haven't used a squeeze converter, but I imagine it fills like it's namesake. The con-40 most likely has a screw plunger that makes filling easier.

If you don't think she would like the hassle of the bottle, the cartridge is the way to go. Getting the converter just gives her options down the road as she could play around with more than just black or blue if she so desires.
 
Quijote said:
One other recommendation. If it is her first one, get a fine nib, for normal paper, it just performs better.

These have the option to get a converter, but will also take a cartridge. As long as it has the option for a cartridge, that is what you are looking for.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks for the heads up on the nib.

ShawnF said:
Basically the cartridge just pops in. It gets pierced as you tighten the pen and you use it until it's gone. Then just pop a new cartridge in.
The converter will go into the pen in place of the cartridge if you choose to use it. That needs to be filled from a bottle. I haven't used a squeeze converter, but I imagine it fills like it's namesake. The con-40 most likely has a screw plunger that makes filling easier.

If you don't think she would like the hassle of the bottle, the cartridge is the way to go. Getting the converter just gives her options down the road as she could play around with more than just black or blue if she so desires.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know for sure she just will not want to mess around with filling a converter with a bottle.
 
IMG_20250128_175336.jpgThis is the CON40 (top) and the squeeze converter. If you wanted to use a different ink than what they have in their options you would fill one of these up.
 
So once you put a cartridge in you have to use it all up before changing to a different color? Can't pull one out halfway though and save it for later? Is that correct?
 
The ink will react with the air and could possibly dry out. You could seal the end with a dab of hot glue and that could work for keeping it fresh. I do that when I refill my cartridges.
 
Quijote said:
View attachment 141475This is the CON40 (top) and the squeeze converter. If you wanted to use a different ink than what they have in their options you would fill one of these up.
Click to expand...

I watched 2 videos on YouTube, so now I am CITE qualified (certified internet trained expert). 😉. Well, maybe not, but I at least understand the difference between a cartridge and a converter now.
 
So for my wife I went with a Lamy Safari - Springgreen, fine nib.
Screenshot_20250204-163841.png

I may have gotten a Safari for me too, in Charcoal, medium nib.
Screenshot_20250204-164057.png

I also might have a variety of different color cartridges coming along with a converter and an 8 pack of random ink samples.

That is all...🤣
 
Fountain Pens are like razors, right? You can only use one at a time , so there is no need to buy more than one?


🤣🤣🤣
 
Soon, you will need one pen for each color ink.

The great things about those Lamys is that the nibs are interchangeable. You can use the same pen for all sizes from extra fine to 1.9mm.
 
@Fenster i'd like to welcome you to this rabbit hole over here.... no not that one that one is whiskey.... nope not that one that one is wetshaving (it saves you money!), nope wrong hole that one is muscle cars its real deep!, yes that one right there welcome to fountain pens
 
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