To Eyedropper or Not to Eyedropper, That Is the Question

As part of this general trend of downsizing everything to a more manageable size, I’ve been trying to write dry all of the various fountain pens that I have inked up, and wow, is that hard to do when so many of them are cartridge-converter pens set up as eyedroppers. I go back and forth on whether, overall, I enjoy eyedroppering. While it’s nice to have the ginormous ink capacity, I’m not sure that convenience outweighs the various downsides given where I live and my current work/life situation.

A Bit of Background

For those new to pens, an “eyedropper” or “eyedroppering” is when you manually fill the barrel of a fountain pen with, well, an eyedropper directly from a bottle of ink. In today’s fountain pen market, there are two types of eyedroppers: Japanese-style eyedropper pens, which comes equipped with a valve system you can use to prevent leaks when you’re not writing, and the “converted” eyedropper, which is essentially a cartridge-converter pen sealed in a manner that allows you to use the full barrel as an ink reservoir. Eyedropper fountain pens can be great for those of us who do a lot of writing, as they can easily hold 3-5ml of ink in the barrel, depending on the size of the pen.

View fullsize

The Schon DSGN Ultem Fountain Pen in Amber (right) is eyedroppered.

To Eyedropper, or Not to Eyedropper

At this point in my fountain pen “career,” I’m not as much of a serial ink changer and mostly enjoy using the same handful of colors, so I can appreciate not having to refill fountain pens very often. That said, the recent hot weather here in balmy Tennessee reminds me of the many downsides to eyedropper fountain pens, namely drastic temperature swings moving outdoors to the car to the office, which causes the pen to burp - no, belch, ink into the cap unless there’s a valve mechanism like that available in the Opus 88 series. For this reason, I’m personally moving away from eyedroppers in favor of other filling options, unless the pen in question has a shut-off valve.

View fullsize

The sections of the Schon DSGN Engineered Plastics Fountain Pens come with o-rings installed. No silicone grease is necessary, though some people choose to use it for double protection against leaks.

For those who live in more moderate climates, or who view maximizing ink capacity and eyedroppering as a challenge they absolutely cannot pass up, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your eyedropper fountain pens behave and don’t cover you in ink.

• Add O-Rings or Silicon Grease. If you don’t seal the threads around the section and the screw in nib unit, ink will eventually migrate up the threads and leak. Silicon grease is inexpensive and can be purchased from many pen shops. You only need to use a small amount (just enough to coat and fill the area between the threads), and for the section, a thin rubber o-ring will work as well. (Schon DSGN plastic pens, discussed below, already come equipped with o-rings and “eyedropper ready”.)

• Fill ‘er Up! If you’re going to be flying with the pen, or otherwise moving between locations with large temperature or air pressure swings, make sure the pen is full before travel. It’s counterintuitive, but a full pen without any air in the barrel is much less likely to leak. The number one cause of fountain pen “inkcidents” is air expansion due to shifts in temperature and pressure, which causes air in the barrel to expand, pushing ink out the nib. For more on traveling/flying with fountain pens, check out this post here.

• Keep the Pens Nibs Up. The main reason I prefer the Opus 88-style eyedropper pens is because you don’t have to worry about this factor. I’m back to commuting 3-4 days a week, so my pens are going with me in the car each day. In addition to the wild temperature swings we’ve been experiencing, I’ve had issues with ink leaking out if my briefcase falls over or my pen case shifts sideways, not to mention if I’m flying and have to slide my carry-on bag under the seat or into the overhead compartment.

View fullsize

Franklin-Christoph Model 20 (left) and Model 03 (right, orange pen) generally make good eyedroppers if you remove the converter and apply grease.

What Are the Best Fountain Pens for Eyedroppering?

Generally speaking, any plastic or acrylic pens without holes in the barrel or internal metal parts can be eyedroppered. (Metal doesn’t play well with liquid, though some people have had success with non-reactive titanium. Personally, I don’t tempt fate.) That said, there are a few brands that market their pens as “eyedropper friendly,” with caveats. Note that these will all require some work on your part to convert from cartridge-converter to eyedropper, as I’ve noted above, with the exception of the Opus 88 eyedroppers.

• Most Franklin-Christoph Fountain Pens. I’m partial to the Model 20, which has a slip cap and a No. 6 JoWo Nib. Their smaller pens that feature the No. 5 JoWo nib also have better inkflow when eyedroppered, in my opinion. (This is due to the nib and feed, not the pen design.)

• Schon DSGN Engineered Plastics Collection. You can read my full write-up here, but as I mentioned above, these pens come equipped with multiple o-rings to make them as eyedropper-friendly as possible.

• Most Acrylic or Ebonite Bespoke or Custom Pens. Buy a pen from Shawn Newton or Edison Pens, and you can probably eyedropper it, provided you add silicone grease or an o-ring. If you’re ordering a custom pen specifically to be used as an eyedropper, let them know and they may be able to design the pen to maximize the ink capacity.

I hope you found this post helpful! Going forward, I’d like to write more of this type of “Fountain Pens 101” content. If there are topics that you’d like to hear or learn more about, leave a comment or drop me a line via the “Contact Me!” page. I’d love to hear from you!

NOTE: We are clearing out a lot of our store in anticipation of a site redesign/redirection. Take 10% off all orders using the coupon code SUMMER at checkout, in addition to already low clearance pricing on certain items. Excludes certain brands, including TWSBI and Lochby.

This post does not contain affiliate links or paid advertising. Any third-party links are uncompensated referrals.

Mid-Year Review: Top Five 2022 Acquisitions

I’ve been more selective with my acquisitions this year, having previously pared back my personal collection and consciously taken on fewer items for review, preferring instead to focus on more in-depth consideration of those pens I do choose to write up. Mostly, this has involved further refining exactly what I enjoy in a pen and/or a nib that makes me want to use it every day. Somewhat surprisingly, I’ve gravitated more towards smaller, more streamlined designs, and my nib choice has moved towards those grinds with an architect/Naginata profile as opposed to the cursive italics and stock mediums that previously made up the bulk of my rotation. For this year’s Mid-Year Review: Top Five Acquisitions, I’ve chosen three pens and two nib grinds, all of which have been in continuous rotation for multiple months. To the extent you’ve not seen a stand-alone review of specific pens (such as the Stacey Robinson Navigator), look for one later in the year.

1. Schon DSGN Full Size Fountain Pen. By far my favorite pen release from the past two years is the Schon DSGN Full Size Fountain Pen, and I’ll include in this entry not just the anodized pens, but the “engineered plastics” collection as well, including both the ultem and PEEK models. Ian nailed the size, shape, and balance on this pen - it’s the ultimate all-day, everyday writer.

2. Custom Nib Studio “Perspective” Nib. Gena Salorino’s “Perspective” grind is one of the most versatile I’ve ever used, easily allowing me to move between an extra-fine and bold line within the same sentence, as necessary, depending on how I angle the pen. Be sure to read my review for some additional discussion on how the right nib grind can transform a pen from “meh” to one that you want to pick up and use every day.

3. Stacey Robinson “Navigator” Fountain Pens. A perfect example of why you should attend pen shows to find those makers who might otherwise fall through the cracks, Stacey Robinson’s “Navigator” fountain pen easily qualifies as my personal “pen show find” of the year. Featuring a size and shape similar to the Schon DSGN Full Size fountain pens, I picked up THREE of these pens in Atlanta - two in relatively rare Conway Stewart acrylics I’ve been coveting, and a third in a gorgeous beige striated ebonite.

4. Schon DSGN Pocket Six in Aged Copper. While the standard Schon DSGN Pocket Six has been around for a couple of years now, Ian has been known to bring one-off “show special” finishes to pen shows, like this copper faceted pen with an applied “antiqued” patina. (My challenge for the rest of the year is to NOT spend all of my money at the Schon DSGN table in the first fifteen minutes.)

5. Mark Bacas “Predator” Nib. Another custom nib makes this mid-year list - the “Predator Hybrid” by Mark Bacas, which combines a XXF tip with a reverse architect. I’m beginning to value versatility in nib grinds, including not only the writing properties of the nib itself but also the ability to swap the nib between different pens. (For this grind, I sent Mark a TWSBI Diamond 580 nib unit so that I can use it in any of my TWSBI 580 fountain pens.)

View fullsize

My Schon DSGN Pocket Six in Faceted Antiqued Copper (right), next to a Pocket Six in Faceted Brass.

Further Reading

This post is the last entry in a three-part “Mid-Year Review,” which I typically do when I take my summer vacation every June. Don’t miss Part I: Favorite Review Posts from the First Half of 2022, and Part II: Favorite Shop Additions. For more general “Top 5” lists, check out the annually updated 2022 “Best Pen” Recommendations.

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

2022 Mid-Year Review: Favorite Review Posts from the First Half of 2022

Well, maybe the “almost” first half of 2022. In normal times - and I guess we’re mostly back in normal times now - I take vacation in mid-June, and during that week I publish recap posts sharing favorite posts from the first half of the year. For this year’s format, I thought I’d do something a little different and pick my favorite product review post from each month. Enjoy!

1. January: Otto Hutt Design03 Fountain Pen. Otto Hutt has always been, to me, one of the more underappreciated German pen brands, offering exceptional quality and unique design at a fair price point. The Design03 is a slimmer pen, yet it’s well-balanced enough to offer a comfortable writing experience. It also comes in a variety of attractive finishes.

2. February: My Experience with the Drillog Metal Dip Pen: Hype vs. Reality. The Drillog dip pen finally arrived in December, and I spent the first few months putting it through paces. Unfortunately, my .5mm version did not write particularly well, but I’m happy to report that Drillog replaced it for me with a .8mm that performs much, much better. I’m working on a follow-up piece to address the differences in the two tip sizes, but suffice to say, if you’re looking to mainly do writing, as opposed to technical drawing or art, I’d recommend choosing the wider nib.

3. March: Schon DSGN Peek-A-Boo: So What Exactly is PEEK, Anyway? Schon DSGN’s engineered plastics fountain pens include both the ultem and PEEK versions, all three of which sport the same design that I find incredibly comfortable for longer working sessions. It helps that they accept JoWo nibs, allowing you to swap in your favorite customized nib unit, and are set up for easy eyedroppering to maximize ink capacity.

4. April: Lochby Quattro Four Pen Case. If there’s one item I’ve acquired this year that’s become a staple in my everyday carry, it’s the Lochby Quattro Four Pen Case, a zippered waxed canvas case that snugly holds four fountain pens in conveniently offset pen slots, to minimize contact and potential damage to the finish of your pens.

5. May: Exploring Custom Nibs: Predator Hybrid by Mark Bacas. Another excellent “investment” in my everyday carry, I had Mark grind one of his specialty nibs onto a TWSBI Diamond 580 Nib Unit. The Predator Hybrid features an ultra-extra fine tip on the “normal” side, and an architect/brush on the reverse.

All opinions expressed in reviews are my own. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Enjoying A (Sometimes) Expensive Hobby Amidst Economic Uncertainty

I haven’t bought a lot of pens lately. Part of that is of course due to the fact that I’m finishing up multiple home repair/construction project that’s occupied a lot of resources and torn up most of my leisure space, but the other part is that, well, things aren’t looking so bright for the ol’ economy and I tend to react by downscaling hobbies and generally tightening my belt. So how do you stay engaged in a hobby you love while still trying to act responsibly? As someone who’s been a pen enthusiast through at least two different recessions - including the “Great” one - here are a few observations I’ve made over the years about staying connected to the community and enjoying my stationery even when I need to scale things back.

View fullsize

A handful of lower-cost pens I’ve been enjoying recently, including the Platinum Carbon Desk Pen, a Platinum Plaisir, my TWSBI 580 with a Mark Bacas “Predator” Nib, and a good old Bic Clic.

1. Focus on Using Your Stash. And most of us have one. When I was packing up my office prior to construction starting, I was astonished/embarrassed at the amount of ink, paper, and pencils I had accumulated, and immediately started sorting through it, giving paper and pencils away to family and friends and setting aside others for incorporation into the rotation or review/giveaway on this site. It’s amazing how much headway you can make even in just a couple of months - I do use a lot of paper between my day job and the website, so I’ve made progress to the point where I’ve had to replace stuff I need for work.

2. Scratch the “New Stationery Itch” with Less Expensive Items. My own recent stationery purchases have focused mainly on paper, as work is still busy and I find myself actively using notebooks and writing pads at a faster clip than I was previously. I’ve also rediscovered the joy of less expensive pens and appreciating good value where it can be found, whether it’s the insanely good extra-fine nib on something like the $13 Platinum Carbon Desk Pen or the fun colors available in the TWSBI Swipe and ECO lines. This has definitely informed how I stock my own shop, making sure that most of what I carry remains accessible to as many people as possible across a wide range of price points..

3. Have Nibs Customized! Honestly, discovering the joys of nib customization completely changed my outlook on this hobby. I very rarely find myself selling or parting with pens I otherwise enjoy simply because the nib doesn’t work for me. Even the most complicated of nib grinds usually cost $50-60 - less than the cost of a new pen in many cases, and it comes back tuned and adjusted to your personal preferences! I’m in the middle of a larger review project in which I’ve sent out a dozen or so pens to be ground by several different nib grinders, and plan to review the various offerings as they come in. I’ve also created a resource page where you can access all T.G.S. content relating to custom and specialty nibs.

4. Sell or Trade Pens and Inks. Slack, Discord, Reddit, and Instagram are full of communities eager to help you offload gently used stationery, and often you can maximize the value of your unused stuff by trading with somebody else. Pen clubs, meetups, and pen shows are also great venues for meeting other people and seeing what they have to offer in person before you agree to a deal.

5. When You Do Shop, Shop Intentionally. These are fraught times not just for consumers, but for business owners struggling to stay on top of rising costs and inflation. It’s more expensive than ever to run any sort of business, much less one based on the sale of relatively low-cost items. In short, if you want your local pen shops or favorite online haunts to stick around, be sure to patronize them rather than automatically looking for the lowest-cost option. Often the difference between supporting a smaller, family-owned retailer and a high-volume discounter or big-box store is only a couple of dollars, and small purchasing decisions can have big implications for what the community looks like going forward.

How do you stay engaged in the community during those down periods when you have to take a break what can be a consumption-focused hobby? Feel free to drop me a line via e-mail or our various social media channels!

This post does not contain affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Updated "Resources": Custom and Specialty Nibs

I’m traveling this weekend, but during a bit of downtime this morning I finalized my latest update to the site resources: a page aggregating all of the previous reviews and posts on specialty and custom nibs. I plan to supplement this as I work my way though a longer ongoing project in which I’m taking the time to compare and review different specialty grinds from many different pen companies and nib grinders. Honestly, this project will probably never be complete, but since nib grinds and nib customization have become such a huge part of the “experience,” I figured a resource like this would be helpful. Enjoy!