Good evening, Gentlemen!
Being new to the Nib, I thought it'd be fun to share my initial experiences and impressions - and as you help me chronicle these baby steps into this new adventure, we might help enable others who are considering it!
Like many others, I began by buying what was immediately available, a three pack of Pilot Varsity's. They were fun, a bit too wide and wet for my liking, but got me rolling anyway. Then I continued to research, reading many articles here and there, pondering over many options, drooling over the beautiful pens and inks on vendor websites. I eventually opted to stick with Goulet Pen Co, as they have many helpful tools on their site, are B&B affiliated, and seem quite active in the pen & ink community.
My first order arrived (VERY well packaged) today. As mentioned in other threads, I bought a 3oz bottle of Noodler's Air Corp Blue-Black ink, 3oz of Noodler's Liberty's Elysium Blue ink, two Platinum Preppy pens (one blue, one black), a few ink samples, and gear to convert the Preppy's to eyedropper fill (o-rings and silicone grease).
But let me share this shot first. I'd read how full Noodler's inks come - well, I didn't know you meant this FULL!!
I did go through the work of using rubbing alcohol to remove the label/paint from the pens, and then used a syringe to fill them (a bit over 2ml) with the new ink.
Here is the whole order together (glass bowl to contain any accidental spills, of which there were none, btw). The Air Corp is truly much more green than simple blue-black, and I believe Goulet's color swabs show this accurately. I haven't quite inked up the Elysium yet, but will shortly!
Other than this, I do have a Sheaffer No Nonsense (italic fine nib) on the way, plus a couple PIF's (not sure what they'll be, I love surprises!) may be arriving in the near future as well (thanks so much, guys!)
Otherwise, I am still quite frustrated with my forays into cursive writing - I'm having flashbacks to 4th grade and hating my handwriting. I'd gotten used to my quirky print, and even sort of like it. But my cursive is just terrible. I will continue to practice, but letters to loved ones will continue to be printed for now...
Being new to the Nib, I thought it'd be fun to share my initial experiences and impressions - and as you help me chronicle these baby steps into this new adventure, we might help enable others who are considering it!
Like many others, I began by buying what was immediately available, a three pack of Pilot Varsity's. They were fun, a bit too wide and wet for my liking, but got me rolling anyway. Then I continued to research, reading many articles here and there, pondering over many options, drooling over the beautiful pens and inks on vendor websites. I eventually opted to stick with Goulet Pen Co, as they have many helpful tools on their site, are B&B affiliated, and seem quite active in the pen & ink community.
My first order arrived (VERY well packaged) today. As mentioned in other threads, I bought a 3oz bottle of Noodler's Air Corp Blue-Black ink, 3oz of Noodler's Liberty's Elysium Blue ink, two Platinum Preppy pens (one blue, one black), a few ink samples, and gear to convert the Preppy's to eyedropper fill (o-rings and silicone grease).
But let me share this shot first. I'd read how full Noodler's inks come - well, I didn't know you meant this FULL!!
I did go through the work of using rubbing alcohol to remove the label/paint from the pens, and then used a syringe to fill them (a bit over 2ml) with the new ink.
Here is the whole order together (glass bowl to contain any accidental spills, of which there were none, btw). The Air Corp is truly much more green than simple blue-black, and I believe Goulet's color swabs show this accurately. I haven't quite inked up the Elysium yet, but will shortly!
Other than this, I do have a Sheaffer No Nonsense (italic fine nib) on the way, plus a couple PIF's (not sure what they'll be, I love surprises!) may be arriving in the near future as well (thanks so much, guys!)
Otherwise, I am still quite frustrated with my forays into cursive writing - I'm having flashbacks to 4th grade and hating my handwriting. I'd gotten used to my quirky print, and even sort of like it. But my cursive is just terrible. I will continue to practice, but letters to loved ones will continue to be printed for now...
