question about FP's.before my first purchase.

[Shantytownbrown]

I write a lot, daily...I am a Physician Assistant, on the inpatient service at our community hospital, and write daily progress notes and inpatient admission notes, which in some cases can be as long as several pages...

Although I am also a Clinical Informaticist who is helping move all of our documentation off paper to the computer, this is a bit away and I still need a pen on a very regular basis for now...

The paper I write on is fairly "fibourous" (is that the correct term...its thicker stock than say printer/copier paper)...

I currently use a Pilot G-2, it dries quick and does not smudge in the chart if you accidentally run your hand across the page if say you get distracted while writing...(not that I ever get interrupted by a page or call about another case)...so smudging wont work for me, and skipping will also slow me way down

anyway, thought i would like to try an FP..and the 9.99 offerings at Bentonclay caught my eye...stylish! I almost want one of each the shakespeare, big red, and grid

what do i need to know about using an FP under these circumstances, or should I stick with my G-2

thanks

 

[N2theBreech]

Wow, A computer guy who's trying to automate things, but wants to write with early 1900s technology! There are a few of us that fit that category.

I definitely think it's possible to use an FP under those conditions. It's just a matter of finding the right combination of pens and inks that will work with your paper. Hopefully before you buy them!

Several factors can contribute to smudging:

1) The drying time of that particular ink, of course. Today there are between 700-800 different inks, so I'm sure that some, or even a lot of them will work for you.

2) The relative speed with which the ink flows from the nib. People refer to some pens as generally being a wet or dry writer. And this in turn can be a modified somewhat by the thickness of the nib points on the pen. A finer nib will tend to write drier than a wetter nib. So even a dry pen will write a bit wetter with a broad nib than with an extra-fine nib. And also, you may want a finer point, anyway, not so much because of how wet or dry it writes, but to be able to write in the little boxes on the forms.

3) The paper can affect smudging as well. A high-quailty paper with a smooth hard finish, for instance, will dry slower than newsprint, which absorbs like a sponge. The trade-off is that when written on absorbent paper, the ink may have a tendency to spread, or "feather," and it can have a tendency to "bleed-through," if the paper is thin. Bleed-through is the tendency for the ink to soak right through the paper and show up on the other side.

Most inks dry faster now than they did in the "old days" and there are inks out there that are made to be especially fast drying so that left-handers who overwrite can use them. Luckily, you don't have to buy a bunch of bottles of ink to test them. Some of the on-line vendors sell small vials of ink for $1-$2 so can you try them. Or, you could take one of your forms and your chosen pen to a local pen shop, if you can find one, and test the inks right there.

It may sound complex, but it's not that bad. It's not like there is only one pen/ink/paper combo that works, because there are a lot of inks that dry fast, and a lot of pens. I'm just trying to help you understand some the factors.

Unfortunately, I haven't used any of the pens you mentioned, so can't help you there.

I hope this helps some, and hope I didn't bore you with stuff you knew already.

 

[cvandyke27]

Since your in the medical field i assume you have to use black ink so i would have to recommend Noodlers Heart of Darkness. I use it daily in patient charts on some cheap paper and it works well for me. I still havent found the perfect fountain pen for work yet but i havent quit looking either.

 

[Shantytownbrown]

@N2... Thanks this is all great information, and I know none of it! Gives me a good launching pad...

yes, I need a finer line to write with, but on the medium side of fine if you know what I mean....

The paper we use is fairly absorbent, but at least with rollerball ink doesn't allow for bleed thru or much feathering as far as I can tell...

@cvandyke...yep black it is...I will look into the one you recommend once I settle on a pepen thanks guys!