More Pencils & Pens

As a woodturner, I know some pen makers. They refer to putting the cap on the back as “posting.” Some of them even screw on, the same as normal closure.

Larry Taylor

Loved it, I never realised that this topic would be so interesting. As a kid I tried to use a fountain pen I found. It was grabby on the paper and hard to use. I am now inspired to retry some. The idea of them appeals to me. Thanks Fran.

I can't believe that I actually found a pens and pencils video interesting. :-)

Howard Simons

I got my first fountain pen when I was 7... I had very poor handwriting and my teacher suggested that it may get better if I used a fountain pen, so my parents bought me one of these... <a href="https://parkerpens.net/parker25.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://parkerpens.net/parker25.html</a> (which I still have) complete with my name engraved on it and my handwriting got better overnight.

We know pens in Canada!

Steven Knudsen

<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thisisthat/reverse-voting-crack-fisherman-pen-fest-elopement-planner-1.2864828/winnipeg-to-host-world-s-largest-celebration-of-pens-1.2864833" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thisisthat/reverse-voting-crack-fisherman-pen-fest-elopement-planner-1.2864828/winnipeg-to-host-world-s-largest-celebration-of-pens-1.2864833</a>

Steven Knudsen

Re. the ball in the ink reservoir -- might it be acting as a check valve? Does the nib side of the pen have a projection that pushes that ball out of the way when you mate the two halves? The seal of the piston should be providing the force to keep the ink dropping out when you pull the reservoir out of the well, so a check nominally shouldn't be necessary, but that's what immediately leapt to mind when I saw that ball rolling around.

Travis Snoozy

I have got a few fountain pens, a 1967 14k gold Parker pen with a rubber pipex as the cartridge that you'd squeeze to suck the ink through the nib. My favourite one is the Parker Arrow and that glides smoothly as well.

MrMobodies

Well, you'd have to get a dealer importing direct down under for sure.

Fran Blanche

I use Noodlers iron gaul type brown for dipping ink but it is too heavy (pigment) for most fountain pens. Waterman and Mont Blanc inks are very reliable for fountains specifically.

Fran Blanche

Hi Fran! Loved this latest review. So.... I went to Ebay and found the 'Ooly' which cost you US$5 or so. I have just picked myself up off the floor because here in 'Oz' it would set me back AU$9.59 + 10% GST + AU$66.42 postage, (Total US$56.48 with current exchange rate) Needless to say my desire to aquire has been lost in the mire!

Piero Davies

Fran, great video....how about a video review of bottled fountain pen inks. Do you use only Mount Blanc or do you have other favs? Have you tried Noodler's? Any links you do not recommend? Keep up the great work.

AB1DQ

For high school gradation (in '75) I received a gold-plated Cross set that had a terrible fountain pen nib that turned me off from fountain pens until the prior FranLab pen review encouraged me to get a Preppy Platinum. It's been so great to write with "feel": To be able to tell the texture of the paper, to have a slightly calligraphic variation to the stroke width, to have the rotation of the pen in the hand matter, like holding a real tool (like the chisel tip on my soldering iron). Thanks, Fran!

BobC

The Dryden pen from Amazon is about $24.00. That's quite a good buy. Some pens aren't designed for the cap to be placed on the back of the body. Let me suggest taking a look at Goulet Pens for reviews and explanations of fountain pens and the technology. For example, they sell very fine polishing material for smoothing the tip of a nib, like 12,000 grit paper or cloth or even mylar material. You might try it on your TWSBI, or Twisbi, if you prefer.

Yes, that’s how several of my pens work too. Looking at the video and length of the cartridges I wondered if it’d take two inside the barrel back to back and that’d provide enough length to push the front one on when you screw the barrel on. (Fran mentioned there wasn’t a ridge inside the barrel to make that work with just one cartridge.) Ewen

Ewen McNeill

Fran, PLEASE include links to all products you review! Personally, I'd appreciate affiliate links to a retailer you prefer, though a manufacturer link would also suffice. Some may think there are ethical issues involved with affiliate links, but if there's any concern, use an Amazon Smile link that directs the affiliate payment to a charity.

BobC

With the cartridge in Dryden Designs pen, if you just slide it into the barrel and screw it into place, the force should burst the end of the cartridge... At least that's the way all my other cartridge pens work.

In contrast to the high quality expensive pens and pencils, I would like to give a shout out to my favorite cheap disposable pen, namely, the BIC Gelocity 0.7 black pens. I actually found one that someone had dropped and liked it so much I rarely use anything else for daily use. The ink is very dark and flows beautifully without dragging and with no skipping or globbing. The oversized barrel with rubber grip is easy on my old arthritic hands. It is without a doubt the best cheap retractible pen I have ever used. And they only cost about $.50 each buying in boxes of 24 on Amazon.

I enjoyed very much. 💖

Ahhh...very relaxing hearing about your pen/pencil adventures. My mother was a watercolour artist, and I never saw her write with anything but a Parker 51 - never thought about it until you raved about them in a previous vid. :o)

Great video, the first one got me to buy a Lamy Safari in a matte black finish, I am very happy with it, it's a great fountain pen.

TomArnd