Opinions on my first fountain pen order

[Myosin]

Hello everyone. I don't get to post here much anymore, but I still lurk whenever I get a chance. I hope you've all been doing well.

I've been studying non stop because I'm applying to medical school next year. In the course of my note taking, I realized I really need to invest in a better writing instrument than a 100 pack of bic pens, which don't last long and are very uncomfortable to hold after more than a few minutes.

I'm completely new and so far have only read over the basics. My budget for this, which I hope to get two pens with, is roughly $100.

I would appreciate any opinions regarding the two pens I have chosen to order.

Lammy Safari fine in shiny black for general writing and the Monteverde Artista Crystal for notes and note cards.

I ordered the black sampler pack of ink and a few random reds and blues I liked to play with.

My last question is whether I should get an extra converter for either or both of them. I chose to get one with the Safari and the Artista already comes with one. Is a spare necessary? I make it a point to take care of my belonging, but does it add convenience or is it impractical to carry ink converters around?

Sorry to write so much and I would appreciate any opinions.

 

[airmech]

The Lamy Safari is a good pen that you can use for years, I haven't used the Monteverde so I can't comment. I would pick up a spare converter for both, being mechanical objects they are subject to failure. I don't mean to say that they are going to fail because you don't hear many reports of it, it is just that it is possible. As for paper I like the NORCOM composition book from WalMart, just be sure and get the ones made in Brazil as they are fountain pen friendly. Several other have suggested the ECO friendly ones from Staples, I can't remember the name right now, just search the forum. Hope that this helps! And just to help your new found AD, look at Esterbrook pens, the nibs are interchangable and you can find restored ones for under $30.

Tom

 

[drocu]

I have the Lamy Safari and use a converter with it. I would definitely consider getting one converter but having an "extra" converter seems unnecessary. You're never going to carry an extra converter around with you filled with or ready to be filled with ink. You would just fill your pen with the existing converter. If you want more convenience, skip the converters and stick with cartridges; Lamy ink is quite nice, actually. If you want a variety of colors as well as different properties (waterproof, lubricated, fade resistant, etc.), go with a converter to use bottled ink.

Depending on the nib size, you may find that the amount of ink that is held by a converter can last a while.

Hope that helps a bit. I'm still new as well but I've been using FP's daily now for the last few months.

 

[americanarmsdealer]

+1 on the Esterbrook pens. When you're looking to expand your fountain pen stable (and you will!), the Esties are a great way to go!

 

[Vlad]

I think ink capacity is going to be a factor for you. If you take a lot of notes, you may need to fill up daily. I would aver a 215 Pelikan. Lots of ink, solid workhorse pen, quarter turn cap off, ink window to make sure you are never surprized. If not, I suggest you always have a backup pen.

 

[dgerson]

+1 on the issue of ink capacity. You may benefit from an eyedroppered pen for its extra-capacity. There are many options here, but you can easily get away with a handful of ED Platinum Preppy's. They're cheap pens, but I happen to think they're vastly underrated. They write nice and clean and get the job done. I've been recently impressed with the markers and highlighters they have in the same body - same ability to be ED'd.

 

[N2theBreech]

I use a Lamy Safari and like it a lot. It's durable, it's smooth (although their nib quality isn't as consistent as it could be) and it's discreet (I have the shiny black, as well). I use a converter for the ink choices that usin bottled ink gives me. I am a grad student in a mid-career program that merge for three days a month. One filling usually lasts me three days. If not, they are quick to refill, < 5 min,

 

[N2theBreech]

Other options on paper--Rhodia and Clairefontaine make good quality paper for FPs. They're smooth with minimal or no bleed through. I've used the Rhodia and it's good, albeit a little too flimsy to write standing up.

I recently bought a disc-based system from Staples called ARC. It's a lot cheaper than Levenger, RollaBind, etc, and is compatible with them so you can mix and match accessories. I think it has the respective advantages of both spiral notebooks and ring-binders. It's rigid, so it easy to use where you don't have a desk and it will fold back on itself like a spiral-bound notebook when space is tight. Like a ring binder, its easy to move pages around, add pages, dividers, pockets, or whatever.

And the best news--it's good quality paper, good for any inks.

I used spirals and ring binders for the last two years. If I were to do it over, I think I would get the large leather ARC notebook ($19.00 complete w/ paper), and use that for my active class. Then, move the pages to one of their cheaper plastic notebooks for future reference at the end of that class and reload the leather NB w/ paper for the next class. And, since the cheaper, plastic-covered notebook, comes with paper, it's a matter of swapping contents.

BTW, you can buy a punch ($40.00) to make any paper work with the system, things like handouts, a syllabus, whatever.

It something to think about. YMMV, of course.

 

[oc_in_fw]

I know you said two pens for $100, but if I had to do it all over on that budget I would buy one- Pelikan M200. Todd has them at $108 now. I have the black one, but am really liking the looks of the green one:
http://isellpens.com/pelikan.htm
Piston filled and holds a lot of ink. I like my Lamy Al-Star and Studio, but I almost never carry them since getting the M200.

on edit: changed the link- I don't think you wanted a bread recipe

 

[americanarmsdealer]

What's wrong with bread recipes? Are you a breadicist??!

 

[Doc4]

What's wrong with bread recipes? Are you a breadicist??!

He's not a breadicist, but people do tend to call him gluten intolerant.

 

[oc_in_fw]

What's wrong with bread recipes? Are you a breadicist??!

Obviously not. My first attempt at bread, which is the first link I posted, didn't turn out so well. Oh well, learn from mistake and try again. I posted in the mess hall, but here is the link I accidentally posted

http://artisanbreadbaking.com/bread/khoriatiko/

 

[bassopotamus]

I have a Monteverde that I bought on a whim (it was in a discount store) and it is pretty nice, though on the heavy side.

The safari gets a lot of love, but I have a couple and am not at all a fan. Neither of mine (F and EF) are very smooth, and I don't like the triangle shape to the section. You can do better for less money, or alot better for a little more.

For beginners, I really reccomend the Pilot 78g. You may have to monkey with the nib a tad (they write pretty dry), but I've bought maybe a half dozen, and they are comfy, smooth writers, and can be had for around 13 bucks.

For a bit more, consider New Old Stock Sheaffer from peytonstreetpens.com . I've got a 444 that lately has been my goto pen for most purposes, out of a stable of probably 45 pens.

In either case, you only need one converter per pen, as you can't fill them up and carry them around.