Time for a Change (of Ink)
Posted on February 27, 2014 in Gear
(last edited on September 20, 2014 at 3:21 pm)
(last edited on September 20, 2014 at 3:21 pm)
It’s been a while since I’ve used non-cartridge ink in my fountain pen.
This is a broad-nib Lamy Safari that I’ve been trying out. I like it a lot! I’m even more impressed that the ink from my doodling didn’t bleed through to the other side of the paper.
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6 Comments
Great paper and great instruments lead to great art!
Hey Dave, I have to ask–what are your favorite pens, and what’s your favorite line width? I found that I write small, and like to alternate colors for ‘follow-on’ notes, so I’ve stuck with a 0.5mm or 0.4mm pen width. I don’t think I handwrite as much as you do, but do you find certain widths more fatiguing to write with than others?
Rob: I really like the Lamy Safari because of its functional modern design. I also like the Lamy Al-Star, but not really as much as the plastic Safari. I haven’t looked into other pens that much, though, so I’m always interested if you have some suggestions.
I tend to like the medium and broad nibs, because what I like about fountain pens is the feeling of ink flowing freely out of it, like it’s gliding! The finer nibs tend to feel less like that, but then again I’ve only really logged time with the Lamy nibs. I don’t like the scratchy feel of the Lamy finer nibs.
Dave: Right now, because I’m out in the field a lot, I tend to use commercial, cheaper pens; currently trying Pilot G-Tec-G4s (0.4mm) in both blue and black, and occasionally go back to my Pilot G-2 (0.5mm). I alternate colors on the same line for relating notes together, so I do prefer the same model of pen in different colors. Those pens are for my notebooks, because I write small, and have a tendency to write fast, so the flow of the pens can keep up with my script-scribbles.
My process is like yours, and I’ll send you a picture of my “Campaign Book” (ubiquitous government green notebooks) if interested. . . I would be very interested to hear feedback on your style of writing. I know there’s two parts to working: A) the content of the information you’re jotting down, and B) the mechanical delivery/writing of the information for later processing. I wonder if I could learn a thing or two form you. . .
Now you do have me thinking about “Signature” pens, where I need to make a bolder line for signing items, etc. I’ve never used fountain pens, because my one or two experiences with them exhibited ‘bleeding’ on the paper–weren’t clean lines. Does the Lamy pen series and their nibs do that? I really would like to invest in a good, classy pen for heavier-line writing.
Cartridges are convenient and most actually hold more ink than their equivalent converters (because they are lacking all the extra machinery). I always keep a box of cartridges as backup, but for my day to day use, I use a normal cartridge that I refill using an ink syringe once a week. It works perfectly, no leaks (yet), holds a bit more ink than the converter.
Love the Lamy Safari, love the Pilot Metropolitan. Both are great pens for daily use, and I won’t feel HORRIBLE if I lose them.
I like noodlers too. I have several different colors. I like the introduction to the safari. I will put it in my amazon purchase. The reviews are good, so I have a less expensive fountain pen for our secretary’s christmas present.