Fountain Pen Basics: Updated "Educational" Content and Informational Resources

It’s been a while since I’ve taken a pause to consolidate and update some of the years' worth of articles, lists, and how-to guides from the T.G.S. Archives. Since we surpassed nine years of T.G.S. last month, I’ve spent time revisiting some of this material and updating it, as much of it is out of date. (I ended up deleting the hopelessly out-of-date content, which mostly discussed products that never launched or no-longer exist, as well as retailers/manufacturers long out-of-business or who are no longer relevant to the community.)

This morning, I created a new section under the “Resources” Tab, titled “Fountain Pen Basics,” that contains links to fundamental information and content regarding fountain pens. On this page, I’ve linked to the YouTube Channel, which now contains the first series of “Fountain Pen Basics” videos on filling fountain pens with various filling systems. (More will be on the way.) I’ve surprised myself at how much I’ve enjoyed making the YouTube content, and wish I started years ago. While I’m certainly no master videographer, I’m working on technique, upgrading (within reason) my equipment, and hope to continue with more visual demonstrations that people find helpful. If you’re on YouTube, please consider giving us a follow so that we can expand our reach.

Where T.G.S. Is Going, How We Plan to Grown, and How You Can Support T.G.S. Going Forward (AND A Beginning of Summer sale!)

You may have noticed that our focus this year has evolved. While we still produce informational and educational content, we have also launched a retail shop, which we are continuing to expand by bringing in brands such as Pilot, Kaweco, Lamy, TWSBI, and Nahvalur. As I’ve been hinting in recent months, I also have some big plans in the works which will result in T.G.S. becoming a bigger part of my professional life, and will see a lot more involvement by my family in helping me run the day-to-day so that I can focus on content creation and overall direction of the site.

So to thank everybody for their support, we are starting our annual Memorial Day sale one week early! Use the coupon code “SUMMER23” at checkout to get an extra 10% off your order. Those of you in the Nashville, Tennessee area now have the option of selecting local pickup at checkout, rather than using a separate coupon code. Just message me through the “Contact” link to arrange pickup or delivery. The code will remain good through Monday, May 29 at 11:59pm CT. Some exclusions (i.e. TWSBI) will apply due to manufacturer and distributor restrictions.

Finally, for those of you who would like to take advantage of “extras,” you can support us on Patreon. The main feature of our Patreon program is our monthly Zoom meetup (including one tonight at 8:30pm CT!) along with access to exclusive content, discounts, early access to exclusive TGS collaborations, and periodic sample/gently used sales (though in full disclosure these are going to be more semi-annual rather than monthly or quarterly, due to the simple fact that I’ve reduced my own acquisition and consumption over the past year and have less unused stuff lying around). Patreon is completely optional at either $3 or $5 monthly levels of support, and as I’ve always said, T.G.S. will remain free and not get stuck behind a paywall (but Patreon and the Shop help keep this possible on an advertising and affiliate-free basis). Again, many thanks to all of you! You don’t know how much we appreciate it!

Fountain Pen Basics: 5 Best Practices for Fountain Pen Users

If there's one thing I really enjoy after nearly a decade in the business, it's knowing that appreciation of pens, ink, and paper isn't some hipster fad, that analog tools aren't going anywhere despite the pressure to digitize everything, and there are still many people out there who have only recently discovered our little niche on the internet. Given the volume of new readers and the large number of questions I've received about "Fountain Pen 101"-type topics, it's helpful to revisit the basics, for both new users and even those of us who are more experienced. Below are five pointers I always offer to new users who ask about fountain pens, particularly those who seem hesitant due to the fountain pen’s reputation for being fussy and high-maintenance. At the end of the day, it's fairly easy to care for a fountain pen, keeping a few things in mind.

Clean Your Pens Regularly

Pen cleaning routines range from the ad hoc ("whenever the ink runs out - every week/month/YEAR?") to the highly regimented ("once a week whether the pen is empty or not"). Personally, I'm not very strict about cleaning, but I try to keep it to once every two months at a minimum. I plan to write a longer resource on pen cleaning techniques for different filling systems, but 90% of the time I simply flush the pen with water. The other 10% of the time, a bath in the ultrasonic cleaner normally does the trick, and it’s rare that I ever use anything other than water mixed with a tiny drop of dish soap to flush a stubborn pen. You can read more about my basic process for cleaning most fountain pens here.

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Use Water-Based Inks Intended for Fountain Pens

If you spend any amount of time on the pen internet, you'll read countless "blacklists" of inks that aren't "safe", that stain, or that will "dissolve plastic." Many of these horror stories are apocryphal tales that started with a grain of truth but are mostly exaggerated. At the end of the day, if an ink is marketed as being "for fountain pens", it is mostly likely ok to use in your pen. If you have an especially rare or precious pen that you don't want to stain or damage, I strongly recommend using only blue or black ink made by a pen manufacturer. Otherwise, there can be no guarantee that dyes uses in red, orange, purple, or other color inks won't stain your pen, and you proceed at your own risk with inks marketed as “permanent”, “super sheening,” “shimmering” or featuring other “special properties.”

For the most part, staining is the real risk. Even if a fountain pen ink dries out in a pen and the ink no longer flows, you typically can fix the problem by flushing the pen with water. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU USE INDIA INK, CALLIGRAPHY INK, OR ANY INK MARKED AS BEING FOR ART OR DIP PENS ONLY, AS THESE CAN PERMANENTLY DAMAGE PENS IF THEY DRY INSIDE THE FEED OR THE FILLING SYSTEM. SOME ARE ESSENTIALLY PAINT. All of the inks we carry in our shop are intended for fountain pens. You can read more about inks that I consider “safe” here, and why sometimes “boring is better.”

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Invest in a Well-Made Pen Case

Protect your pens when you're not using them, or when you're carrying them to and from work. I strongly encourage people to actually use their pens as intended - some dings and scratches are inevitable - but you don't want to risk a pen getting dropped, stepped on, or cracked because it rolls off a desk when not in use. You don't need to spend a lot of money here. Not only do we live in a modern "golden age" of pens, ink, and paper, but the number of pen cases and case designs readily available has absolutely exploded in recent years and you can find anything from single-pen sleeves to 36-pen albums, to handcrafted wooden pen boxes that look great on a desk or bookshelf. Read more on different types of cases here.

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If someone asks to try my fountain pen, I always start with two questions: (1) Have you ever used one before? and (2) Show me how you hold your pen. If the answer to question two is anything like this picture, continue reading below.

Don’t Lend Your Nice Pens to People Who Don’t Know What They’re Doing

This is a controversial "rule", but it's one that I follow. I keep a few inexpensive steel nib fountain pens on me to lend out to those who want to try writing with a fountain pen or express curiosity, but I'll politely decline to lend my nicer pens, especially those with gold nibs. It's something of a myth that you shouldn't allow others to write with your pens because the nib "adjusts to your hand" and letting someone else use the pen ruins it - the real risk is damage. People who are used to writing with modern ballpoint or gel pens that require a lot of pressure can bend the tines, requiring a costly repair.

That said, DO share your pens at pen club or a pen show. There's little to no risk in allowing a knowledgeable person to test out a fountain pen.

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USE Your Pens Regularly

In my experience, any nib writes better after a short "break-in" period, and to a certain extent, a pen will adjust to your hand over time (but the effect is just not as dramatic as some would have you believe). Making sure your pens get used therefore not only ensures that you'll get the best value from your purchase, but I've found that it does help keep things writing smoothly. Note: If you use your pens regularly, and/or have some sort of system for rotating through your collection, you'll also remember to clean them.

I'm listening!

If you're a new user, or someone still relatively new to fountain pens, what would you like to know? For experienced users, what do you wish someone had told you about pens early on - perhaps something that would have saved you a lot of trouble, heartbreak, or money? Drop a suggestion in the comments or via the “Contact” link up top!

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

Desert Island Pens: Four Favorite Fountain Pens for the Road

As we sit here in early May, I've now spent most of the past year streamlining and reducing my pen accumulation, either by selling off unused pens or consolidating via trade (i.e., trading multiple pens for a single pen that I would use more). Despite writing about pens and pen-related topics for many years, I've never had as large a collection as people expect. I hate the idea of unused possessions, whether pens or anything else, and if something sits dormant for too long, I will absolutely sell it off.

The Concept of "Desert Island" Pens

In an ideal world, I would reduce my pen accumulation to around a dozen pens that I cycle through regularly. Because pens is partly a business for me, that's not realistic. At any given time, I have around at least a half-dozen pens that I'm either in the process of reviewing or testing out as potential shop stock. In addition to those pens currently "in for review," I make a point of keeping one of each model I carry in the store for customer service purposes, and I like to generally have at least one example of each pen from most modern brands on-hand for reference so that I can easily use them for comparison in reviews and editorials.

Practicality aside, I still enjoy a good thought experiment. If all of this (T.G.S., the Shop, any sort of pen-related business) went away tomorrow, and I wound up on a "desert island" where I could only keep 12 pens, what would they be? I can usually get to seven or eight pens pretty easily - it's those last few that are hard. Since I had to take an extended family trip this week, where I'd be required to do a fairly significant amount of work, this presented an opportunity to select what I'd call the "First Four": my workhorses for writing.

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The Lamy 2000 is the epitome of the “Workhorse Pen”.

Pen No. 1: Lamy 2000 in Bauhaus Blue, EF Nib

I can safely say that the Lamy 2000 fountain pen is my favorite fountain pen of all time, both aesthetically and as a functional writer, and if I had to pick a single example to keep in my collection it would be the 100th Anniversary "Bauhaus Blue" release. I rarely buy limited edition pens, and when I do it's an intentional purchase. This one was a no-brainer, and I was lucky enough to find one available internationally after the U.S. alotments sold out. Lamy 2000 EF and F nibs often have a subtle architect-like shape out of the box, and this particular nib gives my writing just enough line variation to keep it interesting. Of all the Lamy 2000 pens in my collection, it's the keeper.

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Did I mention that the pens from the “Maestro” series are piston fillers, which is uncommon in the standard Leonardo Momento Zero size?

Pen No. 2: Leonardo Momento Zero "Maestro" in Omas Burkina Celluloid, Custom Nib Studio Perspective Nib

While I have long-adored Omas Burkina celluloid and jumped at the chance to own this now-rare material in the standard Leonardo Momento Zero shape, I was lukewarm on the nib. The pen shipped with a medium 14kt gold nib paired with an ebonite feed, and like many pens with ebonite feeds, it wrote too wet for my taste. I recently asked Gena Salorino at Custom Nib Studio to shape the nib into their "Perspective" grind, and now the pen is perfect. I purchased this pen as part of the three-pen “Maestro” set; it was easily the largest pen "investment" I've ever made, and it was worth every dollar for this pen alone.

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The Pilot Custom 823: Another standard model that epitomizes a workhorse fountain pen.

Pen No. 3: Pilot Custom 823 Amber, Medium Mark Bacas "Blade" Nib

I surprised myself a bit with this one, but back when I purchased this particular pen at the Atlanta Pen Show I was still relatively "young" in this hobby and inexperienced with the more uncommon filling systems and nib grinds. As far as pens with massive ink capacities go, the Pilot Custom 823 is one of the more approachable workhorse options that doesn't require eyedroppering. I had Mark Bacas grind the nib on this pen to a modified Architect (what you would probably today call a soft blade or a semi-Naginata/Kodachi), with slightly less line variation than a standard architect but with smoother edges. It's the first time a nib technician really sat down with me and discussed what I actually wanted and what would work for me - as opposed to merely offering the "standard" grinds from a list - at which point I understood the endless possibilities and how deep this hobby could run.

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Pen No. 4: Montblanc 146 UNICEF, Custom Nib Studio Perspective Nib

The Perspective Nib makes another appearance, this time on the Montblanc 146. I've purchased two pens from their "UNICEF" series, both because I appreciate the idea behind the collaboration and because I love the Rosetta-stone inspired motif. The theme on this pen is subtle - other than the engraving and sapphire near the clip and cap finial, this pen is a standard Montblanc 146. Because there's no ebonite feed, the pen writes a slightly drier line than the Leonardo, which is great for those days when you aren't working on fountain pen friendly paper.

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What are your "Desert Island Pens"? If you could only pick one pen from your collection to keep, what would it be, and why? What lands a pen on your "never sell" list - the nib or the pen body itself?

Feel free to share your own stories in the comments!

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

The Best Pens List, Updated for Nine Years of T.G.S.!

I can’t believe that next year (2024), The Gentleman Stationer will be ten years old! Each year, to celebrate our “blogiversary,” I update the “Best Pens” list. While this list hasn’t changed much over the past couple of years, I always find one or two things to add, and this year mainly features some surprise additions to both the “Disposable Pen” section and the “Refillable Ballpoints” section. Be sure to check them out, and as always, past lists remain available so that you can see how my preferences and recommendations have changed over time.

So why do I think the lists have remained the same? Probably because as far as mainstream pens are concerned, there really hasn’t been much in the way of true innovation, but rather a focus on fine-tuning existing designs. In my opinion, much of the creativity these days comes from independent makers, who I’ll never include on a “ranked” list like this simply due to the highly individualized, bespoke nature of their work. I plan to write more on this in the future. Happy reading!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. To the extent third parties are linked to in the Best Pens list or elsewhere, it is being done on a non-affiliate basis.

Five Things You Can Do To Introduce New Users to Nice Pens

This is a bit of a different post this year, following up on trips to three different pen shows (Baltimore, Arkansas, and - this past weekend - Atlanta), all of which had a large contingent of new users. If you saw me at the show this past weekend, you probably noticed that I had my own “new user” in tow, as my nine-year old daughter accompanied me to her first pen show (well, really the first pen show that she can remember). It was a big hit, especially judging from our haul below! I thought it might be fun to do a post in which I discuss my own thoughts on introducing new users to this passion of ours. And if you’re a new user yourself, hopefully you can find something here that might interest you!

1. Start with Paper. There are many more people interested in notebooks and planners than there are people really into pens. I’ve found that one of the best ways to show someone why I’m so passionate about stationery is to ask them to write with a good notebook or writing pad, and compare it to the paper they’ve been using that they either stole from their office’s supply cabinet or picked up for a couple of dollars at a big-box outlet. My favorite brands for this sort of experiment are Maruman Mnemosyne and Clairefontaine, since these brands are less intimidating both price and design-wise, making newbies less nervous about using them (and buying more).

2. Start with a Non-Fountain Pen. Retro 51 is a great “gateway brand” for nice pens, featuring both fun designs and a quality refill. (My daughter’s first pen was one of Brad’s Shiba Retro 51 rollerballs.) Ballpoints are also great. At this year’s San Francisco Pen Show, I ordered personalized Traveler’s Company Ballpoint Pens in limited edition colors for all of my family members, and they were a huge hit. Again, the goal here is to start someone with a pen that’s not intimidating and where there’s little-to-no learning curve from something that they’re already familiar with.

3. Give Someone a Pen from Your Collection. If they’re insistent on trying a fountain pen, give them a pen from your collection that you’re not using anymore. One of my colleagues at work bugged me for weeks to let her try a fountain pen, and I finally decided to just give her a Lamy Safari that I had at home and hadn’t inked up in a while. She loves it. For someone who hasn’t used a fountain pen at all, and is on the fence about them, gifting that person a pen may work out better in the long run because you remove the frustration that might result from someone feeling like they “wasted money” while they figure things out.

4. Take Someone to a Smaller Pen Show or a Beginner-Friendly Store. This is especially important if you’re trying to introduce a child to fountain pens. Smaller shows tend to be easier to navigate, and aren’t so large that they’re overwhelming to new users like D.C. or San Francisco. Vendors and attendees both seem less stressed, and can take the time to explain things to children (and new users in general). If you have a local “beginner-friendly” store - meaning that the store has both a friendly, helpful proprietor as well as products available for people to hold and try - that’s a great place to start. For this reason, the Arkansas Pen Show is an excellent show for first-timers, as you have both the show itself and Vanness Pens available to visit locally.

5. Don’t Treat Your Pens as “Ultra-Precious” Around Others. I always keep a Platinum Preppy, Platinum Plaisir, or TWSBI Swipe fountain pen inked up and available for people to try if they ask. I also make sure that people see me using my stationery, whether it’s my beat-up Traveler’s Notebook, or my ink-stained Nanami-paper Café Note and Lochby Quattro. Anybody who visits me at my house is free to sort through the piles of stuff I have in my office, with anything truly fragile or valuable put safely away to just avoid the issue entirely. If people see pens, paper, and related accessories as tools to be used in the real world, as opposed to fussy fetish objects to be collected and babied, they’re more likely to develop an interest themselves.

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That said, you may want to just disregard everything I said above. My daughter visited the Atlanta Pen Show and after spending an entire day there wanted nothing other than vintage dip pens, and eyedropper fountain pen, and inks with extreme shimmer and sheen.

To read more on my pen recommendations for beginners, check out the T.G.S. “Best Pens” list, which is in the process of being updated for 2023 and should be slightly refreshed sometime this month. Also, if you’re interested in learning more about paper (and specifically, fountain pen-friendly paper), check out this post, which has a vibrant comments section with tons of recommendations in addition to the brand that I discuss. Now excuse me while I’m off to ink up someone’s new eyedropper….

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