$260 on etsy is too much for my first fountain pen, but got a crush on these two (from woodnotchpens):
Window Shopping Etsy
- Thread starter Jack's Weather
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They look like kit pens. Beautiful detailing, but still just kit pens.
I understand if you like the looks of the pens, but for your first (or even first few) you should think about getting something far less expensive. Especially, until you figure out what qualities you like and don't like about fountain pens.
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- #4
I did/do not know what a kit pen was/is. When you put parts of different pens together? It does say tru-stone in the name. Maybe that is the name of the kit or part of the pen?
I see, so maybe woodnotch pens bought a tru-stone kit, used the marble body, crafted the brass cap and end, and who knows about the nib and ink? Which brings to question, is it normal to customize your own fountain pens? Like, just change out a quality nib and ink you like for an aestetic body you like? Or is it uncommon to be able to interchange nibs and ink cartridges unless they're kit pen nibs and catridges?
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Mass produced parts that allow sellers to customize the barrel, finials and cap. They also generally come with pretty ordinary nibs.
You are better off buying from a reputable manufacturer: Pilot, Lamy, et al.
You are better off buying from a reputable manufacturer: Pilot, Lamy, et al.
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- #6
I've been introduced to pilot, lamy, kaweco, but the majority of their pens are not aestically pleasing to me. From my impression, you're buying those for a consistent nib, ink flow, contact with paper that are generally regarded as pleasing?
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There are so many options out there, from long established companies or from actual artisans.
Check out Franklin Christof for a nice balance between aesthetics and price. Their nibs, especially the SIG ground by Audrey, are great.
Check out Franklin Christof for a nice balance between aesthetics and price. Their nibs, especially the SIG ground by Audrey, are great.
Looks hard to hold. For any extensive writing that step in the grip section to barrel would be a real pain for me.
Probably heavy, too. Hard pass.
Probably heavy, too. Hard pass.
That’s an “art piece” pen to me. Fancy pens are nice to look at, and artistry is admirable and respectable.
I use my pens. They’re tools for me. Weight, size, barrel and grip diameter, ink capacity, nib and feed quality are my priorities over aesthetics.
They can absolutely coexist, but that drives price points easily into mid three to four figure ranges for real quality work. Nothing wrong with that either. Getting acceptable aesthetics and performance at an acceptable price/value point is subjective but achievable.
I’m sure you could find all those component parts and build your own by simply screwing them together for a lot less. If you had a lathe, an even cheaper blank for the body to form.
And for whatever reason… everything on Etsy seems more expensive than the same item in the same condition on eBay, or other vender sources
I use my pens. They’re tools for me. Weight, size, barrel and grip diameter, ink capacity, nib and feed quality are my priorities over aesthetics.
They can absolutely coexist, but that drives price points easily into mid three to four figure ranges for real quality work. Nothing wrong with that either. Getting acceptable aesthetics and performance at an acceptable price/value point is subjective but achievable.
I’m sure you could find all those component parts and build your own by simply screwing them together for a lot less. If you had a lathe, an even cheaper blank for the body to form.
And for whatever reason… everything on Etsy seems more expensive than the same item in the same condition on eBay, or other vender sources
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- #10
Yep etsy probably isn't the cheapest place to go. I visited the website of whoever made that pen and it seems like they make a good deal of the parts themselves. Having looked at alot more pens over the 3 weeks since that post, it does seem like it could be heavy. I was never planning on buying it, but still love the aestetic. I ordered a .6mm nemosine stub nibs and jinhao x750. Got the nib today, hoping the pen comes tomorrow with some sample diamine inks. Looking forward to utilizing some notebooks with it and a dark purple ink. Was very tempted to buy a set of 4 jinhao x450s off amazon and buy a variety of $20 nibs. I don't think the .6mm is going to be too fine, but if it is I'll try the .8mm nemosine stub, I want a nice flex nib and just a regular fine nib too. Can't decide how many fountain pens I want and how many inks. Kinda wanna limit myself to one, kinda want to have a bunch of different pens with a bunch of nice different colored inks. 
I feel like the grip does play a part in how much I like non fountain pens. I like how the Tul retractable gel pens and pilot precise pens feel.
Ink feed/flow seems very important, but not like I can get a feel for that without simply buying pens and listening to reviews.
No idea if ink capacity will ever be something I care about. Feel like if it becomes one, that'll be a good time to buy my second pen.
I've tried finding a nice foutain pen brick and mortar store near me on gmaps, but haven't been able to find any.
I feel like the grip does play a part in how much I like non fountain pens. I like how the Tul retractable gel pens and pilot precise pens feel.
Ink feed/flow seems very important, but not like I can get a feel for that without simply buying pens and listening to reviews.
No idea if ink capacity will ever be something I care about. Feel like if it becomes one, that'll be a good time to buy my second pen.
I've tried finding a nice foutain pen brick and mortar store near me on gmaps, but haven't been able to find any.
Fountain Pen kit:
TruStone Pen blanks:
You can have fun making your own; of course, you'd still need a lathe, several tools, a modicum of skill, and some practice.
Victorian Fountain Antique Brass Gold Pen Kit
Treat your gift recipient with an extravagant and elaborately designed Victorian Fountain pen kit. These kits feature quality workmanship with the fit, feel and class your recipient will covet. A great canvas to showcase the wood or plastic blank of your choice. We've based the mechanicals and o
www.pennstateind.com
TruStone Pen blanks:
Trustone White with Gold Matrix 3/4 in. x 3/4 in. x 5 in.-1/2 Pen Blank
Tru-Stone™ consists of more than 85% actual stone so your project will shine and finish with an appearance that resembles genuine stone - but drills and turns similarly to acrylics. Tru-Stone™ blanks are made by a unique process by pulverizing semi-precious stones into a powder, then com
www.pennstateind.com
TruStone Black and Gold Matrix 3/4 in. x 3/4 in. x 5 in. 1/2 Pen Blank
These premium manufactured semi-precious stone blanks will really make your high-end pens pop. The rich metallic gold vein adds panache, style and elegance to any pen project. The 5-1/2 length blank yields two blanks for most single tube pens like the Majestic Squire and Gatsby styles. Easy to turn
www.pennstateind.com
You can have fun making your own; of course, you'd still need a lathe, several tools, a modicum of skill, and some practice.
Well, for better or for worse, this thread got me thinking - which isn't always a bad thing. I realized I haven't been doing much turning lately, and I haven't turned any pens in a long time. So, I decided to break out my tools, buy a pen kit along with the correct bushings and drill bits, and play with some acrylic turning blanks.
This is what I ended up with:
I might need to get a few more kits and figure out what nibs it can use, in order to have some variety.
This is what I ended up with:
I might need to get a few more kits and figure out what nibs it can use, in order to have some variety.
It looks great. That section looks far more comfortable than most of the kit pen sections out there.
For reference, I bought the Metro pen kit from the local Woodcraft shop
www.woodcraft.com
However, I've since read that it's actually a rebranded Berea Virage, and it does look the same
For the price difference, I'll probably order some from Berea if I decide to make more.
WoodRiver Metro Pen Kit
WoodRiver® Metro Pen Kits produce pens with elegant contours and sophisticated lines, which set this kit apart from any other. The design of the nib gives this pen a soft feel for precise control and hours of writing enjoyment. Metro kits feature a unique roller clip that allows for easy...
However, I've since read that it's actually a rebranded Berea Virage, and it does look the same
Virage Fountain Pen Chrome
Check out the deal on Virage Fountain Pen Chrome at Pen Kit Making Supplies Berea HardWoods
www.bereahardwoods.com
For the price difference, I'll probably order some from Berea if I decide to make more.
My first fountain pen was a kit pen I turned. I made a few of them, and enjoy the work (I've done woodwork for years). Alas, the nibs on kit pens break in OK but are nothing to write home about (pun intended). Most of the better kits use Jowa or Bock nibs. Not bad but not great. My first "Real" pen was a waterman, a few weeks into using that pen and the writing difference was night and day.
One of the smoother writing fountain pens still made, IMO, is a very reasonably priced pilot Metropolitan. Of course Lamys are great too.
OP, if you're buying a first fountain pen to use I personally would suggest a solid production model option like Pilot, Lamy, Parker, or others. Just to play around with finding what you like.
One of the smoother writing fountain pens still made, IMO, is a very reasonably priced pilot Metropolitan. Of course Lamys are great too.
OP, if you're buying a first fountain pen to use I personally would suggest a solid production model option like Pilot, Lamy, Parker, or others. Just to play around with finding what you like.
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- #16
I ended up buying a Jinhao x750 and putting a Nemosine .6mm stub nib on it.
I'm really having fun researching and using foutain pens. I have far from good handwriting, but I am a little dissappointed with both the broadness of the nemosine .6mm and the lack of line width change. Also I have learned that most foutain pen ink feathers on non fountain pen paper, which is kinda dissappointing too. It is entirely possible the lack of line width variation is more a technique fault on my part, I don't know.
So my next imaginary fountain pen purchase will ideally write finer, have more line width variation, or both ideally. So maybe look into italic or calligraphy style nib/pen, maybe a flex. And I'm going to try to focus on my next ink writing well on cheap paper.
I'm really having fun researching and using foutain pens. I have far from good handwriting, but I am a little dissappointed with both the broadness of the nemosine .6mm and the lack of line width change. Also I have learned that most foutain pen ink feathers on non fountain pen paper, which is kinda dissappointing too. It is entirely possible the lack of line width variation is more a technique fault on my part, I don't know.
So my next imaginary fountain pen purchase will ideally write finer, have more line width variation, or both ideally. So maybe look into italic or calligraphy style nib/pen, maybe a flex. And I'm going to try to focus on my next ink writing well on cheap paper.
put the nib on the paper at an angle, up to about 45 degrees and that should help. .6 is small, so variation will be small too. and if you want to get more flowery and a calligraphy style, they lock their fingers and wrists and basically move their locked in hand and forearm while writing.
paper is a thing. inks can make a difference on cheaper paper too.
here's a 1.1mm
