Suggestions for a newbie?

[Starkicker]

Hi Guys,

I know you're probably tired of these threads but I've been watching fountain pen reviews all day and have decided to get one for myself. I'm a serial hobbist and my wife has warned me against starting a new hobby that I won't keep up so and i'm determined to prove her wrong. I've already indulged in wetshaving and I dont see myself giving that up anytime soon after all! This year is my year to be a classier gentleman.

So what would you guys recommend to an absolute newbie who uses nothing but whatever is within reach to get to wet my appetite with? Ideally I'm looking for the absolute cheapest fountain pen, just so that if I feel that this hobby is too messy, too much work or just not for me, my wife can't complain that i'd dumped too much money into it.

What are the best places to order supplies from and what would you recommend for a very basic pen set?

As always, your help is much appreciated!

 

[SmoovD]

Welcome to The Nib. You would do well with a Pilot Metropolitan, a bottle of an ink and a decent notebook. Inks, for the most part, will depend on the color(s) that strike your fancy. You can get wrapped up in the characteristics of each but for now I would go on color. Paper is the neglected piece of the puzzle. Many papers commonly found about are not exactly fountain pen friendly. So a tablet or journal would be nice to have.

Enjoy!

Almost forgot....Goulet Pens, Jet Pens, Isellpens, Anderson Pen....there are a bunch of great vendors who will gladly accept your monies.

 

[shaverjoe]

I would also vote for Goulet as a great vendor! Pen recommendation- from my limited experience- Lamy Safari.

 

[nemo]

The Pilot Metropolitan is well received by many here, as is their 78G

There is a section in the wiki, #9 http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/The_Nib

 

[Doc4]

Pilot 78g ... ebay sellers will get it to your door with a converter and a couple of cartridges for $10.

You can get a bottle of basic ink at a local stationary store ... make sure it's fountain pen ink not calligraphy ink or india ink ... for cheap.

 

[purerockfury]

Welcome, I am a relative noob to the nib as well. I picked up a Lamy Safari a few months ago, I absolutely love it. I only just ran out of the blue ink cartridge it came with. I am looking to pick up most if not all the Safari colours in the far future. May I suggest you get a white, blue or grey on? That way if you get bored with the hobby/lifestyle of fountain pens someone, maybe myself can take it off your hands. All kidding aside I do like my Safari I have a medium nib, just loaded up the convertor with Diamine Oxblood ink and I am liking the pen even more. I think for under $60 I picked up the pen (in red), a small Rhodia pad (red) and a bottle of Diamine ink from Goulet Pens (I normally shop locally but I have no pen stores near where I live).