Geekhack Handwriting Thread and Fountain Pen Thread

[CPTBadAss]

Is there a separate thread for notebooks and the like? I've been using a Rhodia webnotebook for a bit now but I'm thinking about picking up a midori style travellers notebook. Anyone have on of these? If so any recommendations for inserts and paper types?

There's no thread on paper or notebooks.

A Midori style travelers notebook is essentially just a notebook cover and you can put multiple notebooks inside. I actually have been working with Noko to have a "Faux-dori" made. So keep an eye out for that. Anyways, I think they're a good idea and will help me keep my few notebooks organized. A bit pricey though. You can always look up fauxdori to see how people made them for less.

Papers I love: Rhodia. I use it almost exclusively. HP printer paper is good as long as you get the really high GSM stuff. Tomoe River is nice but it's a bit pricey and too thin for my tastes.

Notebooks I love: Rhodia and Field Notes. I always have a Field Notes on me at work. I have a Rhodia at home (for long form stuff) and a Field Notes (random notes).

[Binge]

I still have to send out some packages to CPT.

[Skuloth]

I still have to send out some packages to CPT.

What kind of stuff are you sending CPT?

[Binge]

I still have to send out some packages to CPT.

What kind of stuff are you sending CPT?

Paper samples, stickers, and love letters.

[Skuloth]

I still have to send out some packages to CPT.

What kind of stuff are you sending CPT?

Paper samples, stickers, and love letters.

Sounds pretty fun. Are these custom Binge stickers?

[Binge]

I still have to send out some packages to CPT.

What kind of stuff are you sending CPT?

Paper samples, stickers, and love letters.

Sounds pretty fun. Are these custom Binge stickers?

yeeuupp!

[Skuloth]

Those are sweet! Now I feel like I need to make stickers of the claptrap I use for my icon everywhere lol

[FreeCopy]

Been practicing a lot. Not bad but not great either. Still far better than my writing was when I first got this pen. Plenty of room for improvement though.
Other than random notes or things for a list, I haven't written in many years. Started with atrocious non legible writing as well as fatigue. For a bit I felt I wasted my money. Writing seems like such a mundane task but when not done regularly, especially for many years, it's actually something of a bit of effort to write well. At least it is for me.

[SeeThruHead]

Is there a separate thread for notebooks and the like? I've been using a Rhodia webnotebook for a bit now but I'm thinking about picking up a midori style travellers notebook. Anyone have on of these? If so any recommendations for inserts and paper types?

There's no thread on paper or notebooks.

A Midori style travelers notebook is essentially just a notebook cover and you can put multiple notebooks inside. I actually have been working with Noko to have a "Faux-dori" made. So keep an eye out for that. Anyways, I think they're a good idea and will help me keep my few notebooks organized. A bit pricey though. You can always look up fauxdori to see how people made them for less.

Papers I love: Rhodia. I use it almost exclusively. HP printer paper is good as long as you get the really high GSM stuff. Tomoe River is nice but it's a bit pricey and too thin for my tastes.

Notebooks I love: Rhodia and Field Notes. I always have a Field Notes on me at work. I have a Rhodia at home (for long form stuff) and a Field Notes (random notes).

Yeah I was looking at the A5 faux dori from www.chicsparrow.com Seems like there are some really nice leather options available. I realized after posting before that i could get the blank large rhodia R pads and fold them in half. Also going to give Tomoe River a try. Thanks.

[Binge]

[Skuloth]

are all of those packages stickers?

[Binge]

are all of those packages stickers?

Those are all packages for the upcoming sale.

[Skuloth]

are all of those packages stickers?

Those are all packages for the upcoming sale.

Apparently I need to pay more attention to your subforum. Didnt even know there was a sale coming up

[CPTBadAss]

Show Image

That looks pretty bad. Pass it over my way and I'll dispose of the Onoto for you.

[sgwizdak]

Edison F with Noodler's Bad Blue Heron.

[CPTBadAss]

But where is the pen? Nice handwriting XD

[sgwizdak]

Here's the Edison:

[Binge]

Probably the lowest this Visconti will get to be outside of the used market,

Homo Sapiens - Florentine Hills - $599 @ massdrop

[exitfire401]

Probably the lowest this Visconti will get to be outside of the used market,

Homo Sapiens - Florentine Hills - $599 @ massdrop

It makes me ridiculously sad because a) it's a piston fill (which I love more than anything) and b) I can't come anywhere near that price haha.

[Binge]

Probably the lowest this Visconti will get to be outside of the used market,

Homo Sapiens - Florentine Hills - $599 @ massdrop

It makes me ridiculously sad because a) it's a piston fill (which I love more than anything) and b) I can't come anywhere near that price haha.

That's not a piston, that's a plunger fill.

[IonutZ]

That Visconti kinda makes me wanna pick up resin casting lol.

[HalfSharkAlligator]

Probably the lowest this Visconti will get to be outside of the used market,

Homo Sapiens - Florentine Hills - $599 @ massdrop

It makes me ridiculously sad because a) it's a piston fill (which I love more than anything) and b) I can't come anywhere near that price haha.

I handled one of these in person at a pen show recently and it was phenomenal.  If I were able to allocate that type of coin to a pen purchase right now though, it would be a Nakaya.  I think I would buy in this order:  1) Nakaya  2) Pelikan  3) Visconti  (for pens > $400)

[exitfire401]

Probably the lowest this Visconti will get to be outside of the used market,

Homo Sapiens - Florentine Hills - $599 @ massdrop

It makes me ridiculously sad because a) it's a piston fill (which I love more than anything) and b) I can't come anywhere near that price haha.

That's not a piston, that's a plunger fill.

So it is. I stand corrected.

[Binge]

That Visconti kinda makes me wanna pick up resin casting lol.

That isn't a resin cast effect.  That is optically clear/trans green PMMA encapsulating cellulite in a swirl pattern.  Cast plastics would rarely get as durable and UV resistant.

[retainerbox]

Hello! Just recently joined GeekHack, and I have found the Fountain Pen thread!! Wooo.

My collection from bottom left to the top right: TWSBI Diamond 580 (Fine), Parker 25, Shaeffer Imperial II, Pilot Metropolitan, Lamy Safari, and Noodler Ahab. In terms of inks, I own Diamine Aqua, Noodler's Apache Sunset, Noodler's Borealis Black, and Private Reserve Plum.

My daily writer right now is my TWSBI 580 with Diamine Aqua.



Started collecting pens about a year before I got interested in keyboards, what about you guys?

[CPTBadAss]

Nice little collection retainerbox! I started getting into fountain pens about a year ago. I've been on Geekhack for about 2 years now so I was into keyboards for a year before fountain pens. My collection really ballooned last year thanks to some incredible generous gifts from terrpn and skcheng as well as a general "OMG I WANT EVERY PEN" syndrome. Now that I've kind of figured out what I like, I've really slowed down. The last pen I bought was a Franklin Christoph 40P with a steel broad stub. I'll have to take some pictures of my collection soon. For now, here's a picture of my little Pelikan flock.

[Larken]

hey retainerbox,

I've a fairly similar collection of pens as you; a twsbi 580, a noodlers konrad, pilot metro, lamy safari. the twsbi is by far my favorite and my daily writer as well (that blue is very nice! I ought to check out the diamine stuff sometime. I'm still going through waterman and pelikan inks)

those are some sweet pens CPTBadass!

do share how your pelikan flock were 'improved' at the pen show. I've been messing around with grinding nibs (and destroyed quite a few), and I've similarly come to learn more or less what I'm looking for in a pen (current lusting after Japanese pens for the really fine lines they lay down )

[retainerbox]

Nice little collection retainerbox! I started getting into fountain pens about a year ago. I've been on Geekhack for about 2 years now so I was into keyboards for a year before fountain pens. My collection really ballooned last year thanks to some incredible generous gifts from terrpn and skcheng as well as a general "OMG I WANT EVERY PEN" syndrome. Now that I've kind of figured out what I like, I've really slowed down. The last pen I bought was a Franklin Christoph 40P with a steel broad stub. I'll have to take some pictures of my collection soon. For now, here's a picture of my little Pelikan flock.

So, you  mean like the OMG I WANT EVERY KEYCAP syndrome? The Pelikans are BEAUTIFUL! I especially like the blue one, second from the back. I would love to pick up a Pelikan of my own. If only there were pen shows further north, let's say, oh maybe Canada?

hey retainerbox,

I've a fairly similar collection of pens as you; a twsbi 580, a noodlers konrad, pilot metro, lamy safari. the twsbi is by far my favorite and my daily writer as well (that blue is very nice! I ought to check out the diamine stuff sometime. I'm still going through waterman and pelikan inks)

Oh, very similar! Haha, Looks like we bought almost the exact same pens. The two vintage pens were gifts from my parents.

[Binge]

dis gun be my first and last pelikan,

http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US_INTL.FWI.displayShop.204461./souver%C3%A4n-m805-demonstrator

[CPTBadAss]

those are some sweet pens CPTBadass!

do share how your pelikan flock were 'improved' at the pen show. I've been messing around with grinding nibs (and destroyed quite a few), and I've similarly come to learn more or less what I'm looking for in a pen (current lusting after Japanese pens for the really fine lines they lay down )

Thanks. I really like thick lines so I picked up a stock Pelikan 1.5mm nib to put on the cognac M200 and I got a custom grind on the black M200. Tim Girdler did a pillow italic grind with a bit of an oblique. It's essentially a smoother CI with a bit of an angle on it to compensate for my tendency to roll nibs while I write. It's really cool.

I also love Japanese pens; mainly Pilots. But things like Nakaya have me interested.

So, you  mean like the OMG I WANT EVERY KEYCAP syndrome? The Pelikans are BEAUTIFUL! I especially like the blue one, second from the back. I would love to pick up a Pelikan of my own. If only there were pen shows further north, let's say, oh maybe Canada?

Exactly like that haha. I thought TO might have a pen show?

[genkidama]

Hey guys, I happen to be able to get a Kaweco Sport with a fine nib. But the seller told me that the Kaweco Sport isn't compatible with a converter. As I had a converter back in school I would like to have one again, for nostalgic reasons. Is that true? Is there still a way to get a converter fit into that or am I stuck with cartridges?
I hope the seller just doesn't know better and a converter still can fit into that Kaweco.

It's really bonkers here in Germany as you rarely can find any Kaweco in a store in the city (at least around where I'm living). I only found one store that had two different Kaweco (Sport, Liliput), many Pelikans (M150 and some not really specified, but you can see the name on the nib), some I don't know about (couldn't see any name whatsoever) and Sheaffer. A really nice store, big on "old" stuff as they liked being advertised.

If the Kaweco Sport doesn't do the trick with the converter, is a Kaweco Liliput better in material, writing and converter-compatible?

[retainerbox]

Hey guys, I happen to be able to get a Kaweco Sport with a fine nib. But the seller told me that the Kaweco Sport isn't compatible with a converter. As I had a converter back in school I would like to have one again, for nostalgic reasons. Is that true? Is there still a way to get a converter fit into that or am I stuck with cartridges?
I hope the seller just doesn't know better and a converter still can fit into that Kaweco.

It's really bonkers here in Germany as you rarely can find any Kaweco in a store in the city (at least around where I'm living). I only found one store that had two different Kaweco (Sport, Liliput), many Pelikans (M150 and some not really specified, but you can see the name on the nib), some I don't know about (couldn't see any name whatsoever) and Sheaffer. A really nice store, big on "old" stuff as they liked being advertised.

If the Kaweco Sport doesn't do the trick with the converter, is a Kaweco Liliput better in material, writing and converter-compatible?

Looks like it takes convertors to me https://wonderpens.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/how-to-use-your-kaweco-squeeze-converter/! Try looking it online?

[genkidama]

Thanks for the link, never heard of the squeeze converter. But I'll definitely ask if they can get one.

I only could find a converter from Montverde but it seems like this converter is to loose and could come off easily while transporting. I wouldn't want any mess in my bag ^^
Another thing I could try is to mod the Kaweco Sport into an eyedropper. But this also seems prone to some leakage, but can hold much more ink than any cartridges or converter (as said in some vids like from GouletPens). Does somebody have experience in having an eyedropper pen? Doesn't need to be a Kaweco pen for that matter.

I'll guess I'll invest into a Kaweco Sport then. I tried a Faber-Castell Basic with F but the Sport wrote much better and being cheaper is plus for me.
Just in case you are wondering, the Sport I can get at ~19€ and the Faber-Castell Basic at 30€.

I would like to thank CPTBadAss for the offer to proxy me a fountain pen! This makes me feel pretty darn good being here at geekhack because of such good people!

[Larken]

Thanks. I really like thick lines so I picked up a stock Pelikan 1.5mm nib to put on the cognac M200 and I got a custom grind on the black M200. Tim Girdler did a pillow italic grind with a bit of an oblique. It's essentially a smoother CI with a bit of an angle on it to compensate for my tendency to roll nibs while I write. It's really cool.

I also love Japanese pens; mainly Pilots. But things like Nakaya have me interested.

That CI does sound good. I've tried some stubs and I've more or less realised that italic/stub nibs aren't my cup of tea (mostly due to being left-handed; other than the smudging, I found that I have issues keeping to a overhand hook, or writing with the the paper rotated)

I'm mostly looking at Pilots as well. The specialty nibs on their custom heritage series currently have my attention, namely the FA nib for flex writing and the PO nib for another needle-point-ish pen, but Sailor definitely has some interesting nibs as well.

Does somebody have experience in having an eyedropper pen? Doesn't need to be a Kaweco pen for that matter.

https://wonderpens.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/kaweco-sport-eyedropper-conversion-a-how-to/

seems to be fair straightfoward. But keep in mind that in certain climates where temperature changes often, some eyedropper conversions might occasionally have the pen spew out globs of ink, due to the expanding and contracting air pocket in the pen (most of the time its not an issue, but it can happen). I've heard nightmare stories (not sure if true) of people with warm hands and a half filled pen spew out the ink while writing (I'm guessing there is a lower chance of this happening when the pen is full though).

[CPTBadAss]

Thanks. I really like thick lines so I picked up a stock Pelikan 1.5mm nib to put on the cognac M200 and I got a custom grind on the black M200. Tim Girdler did a pillow italic grind with a bit of an oblique. It's essentially a smoother CI with a bit of an angle on it to compensate for my tendency to roll nibs while I write. It's really cool.

I also love Japanese pens; mainly Pilots. But things like Nakaya have me interested.

That CI does sound good. I've tried some stubs and I've more or less realised that italic/stub nibs aren't my cup of tea (mostly due to being left-handed; other than the smudging, I found that I have issues keeping to a overhand hook, or writing with the the paper rotated)

I'm mostly looking at Pilots as well. The specialty nibs on their custom heritage series currently have my attention, namely the FA nib for flex writing and the PO nib for another needle-point-ish pen, but Sailor definitely has some interesting nibs as well.

Ah yeah, I've read a lot that being left-handed totally changes how you approach fountain pens and your tastes. It sounds rough haha.

And I've got this odd soft-medium nib on my Custom 74? It feels *SO* good. It's got ever so slight flexing at the tip of the nib but the rest of the nib is rigid. Very weird but it feels incredible.

[Larken]

totally. as far as I know (I may be wrong), its not possible to write underhand (and get the proper line variation) with a stub with having the paper rotated. That's probably why I started looking at flex pens (haha) for the times I want to do some Copperplate-esque doodling.

And I've got this odd soft-medium nib on my Custom 74? It feels *SO* good. It's got ever so slight flexing at the tip of the nib but the rest of the nib is rigid. Very weird but it feels incredible.

I've had the chance to try the soft-fine vs the fine as well. The soft-fine had a very nice springy feel to it, but is more prone to having a wetter line which could be bad on cheap paper. In comparison, the normal fine nib is more of a nail. The soft-fine is definitely much more enjoyable to write with, and pressing down ever so slightly creates a decent line variation in the writing, though flexing it on purpose probably isn't a good idea

[genkidama]

I finally got around and bought a the Kaweco Classic Sport. What you guys think of how I'm writing.
I'm using a Kaweco cartridge, but am lookin into a squeeze converter and getting some Pelikan Edelstein tanzanite ink that you guys recommended.



I hope I can add some mid-range priced fountain pens to my collection.

[CPTBadAss]

I finally got around and bought a the Kaweco Classic Sport. What you guys think of how I'm writing.
I'm using a Kaweco cartridge, but am lookin into a squeeze converter and getting some Pelikan Edelstein tanzanite ink that you guys recommended.

Show Image

I hope I can add some mid-range priced fountain pens to my collection.

Not going to lie, the combination of block and script letters is kinda throwing me. But it's definitely legible. Congrats on your new pen though :)

[genkidama]

Thanks!

Is my combination bad? ^^
I just picked some block letters up during school and have kept it till now. But I was thinking of going back to writing fully in script. I think I would be much quicker writing down stuff. Maybe after I've finished my bachelor thesis I can try to write in script.

Just to get it right, for practice you just write one word a couple of times and a couple more and than try writing sentences or are there any different kind of methods to change your writing?

[CPTBadAss]

I write in two styles mainly: All capital block letters and Palmer cursive. I don't mix and match because for me, that would look awful.

This is how I practice.

[genkidama]

Thanks, I'll look into OtasDIY. Unfortunately I can't visit the page from work :/

I guess I'll create a writing pattern that suits me as sometimes I find writing in script is somehow longer than just using block letters. That was my intention why I have a mix of both. I think I wouldn't change the small s because for my understanding it's much more difficult to distinguish the letter if the 's' is somehwere in between the word. I don't really get it, but many of my Profs and their workers said they couldn't really distinguish my handwriting  I guess I need to agree with them because during an exam you just write as quick as possible then my handwriting suffers a lot.

How is your block handwriting (pics please)? Maybe I'll pick something up

[retainerbox]

In case there are non-fountain-pen-users lurkers around, Massdrop is having a Pilot Fountain Pen Starter Set that's on for $46 +  shipping. It comes with 1 pad of paper, 7 disposable (1-time-use) fountain pens, and 4 refillable fountain pens.

Considering that the Pilot Metropolitan alone is $15, and the Rhodia (my favourite brand of fountain pen paper!) is $10, you're getting a pretty good deal.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/pilot-fountain-pen-starter-set

[Binge]

In case there are non-fountain-pen-users lurkers around, Massdrop is having a Pilot Fountain Pen Starter Set that's on for $46 +  shipping. It comes with 1 pad of paper, 7 disposable (1-time-use) fountain pens, and 4 refillable fountain pens.

Considering that the Pilot Metropolitan alone is $15, and the Rhodia (my favourite brand of fountain pen paper!) is $30, you're getting a VERY good deal.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/pilot-fountain-pen-starter-set

It is a good deal for those items, but for less I could get some SN^2 pads, a reusable pen, and ink.  I mean feel free to experiment... but ehhhhh

[CPTBadAss]

In case there are non-fountain-pen-users lurkers around, Massdrop is having a Pilot Fountain Pen Starter Set that's on for $46 +  shipping. It comes with 1 pad of paper, 7 disposable (1-time-use) fountain pens, and 4 refillable fountain pens.

Considering that the Pilot Metropolitan alone is $15, and the Rhodia (my favourite brand of fountain pen paper!) is $30, you're getting a VERY good deal.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/pilot-fountain-pen-starter-set

That's actually not a deal. That's normal price. Plumixes go for $6. A Varsity is ~$3/1 ~8/3. Rhodia pad is ~$10.

8+8+3+10+18 = $47.

Still a nice kit, just not a screaming deal per se. I'd rather see a starter kit with like two Varsitys ($6), a Metropolitan ($15), and a Rhodia pad ($10). Especially since you're not getting a variety of nibs, just ink colors.

Edit: Sorry, didn't see that there was a Metropolitan in there.

[retainerbox]

In case there are non-fountain-pen-users lurkers around, Massdrop is having a Pilot Fountain Pen Starter Set that's on for $46 +  shipping. It comes with 1 pad of paper, 7 disposable (1-time-use) fountain pens, and 4 refillable fountain pens.

Considering that the Pilot Metropolitan alone is $15, and the Rhodia (my favourite brand of fountain pen paper!) is $30, you're getting a VERY good deal.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/pilot-fountain-pen-starter-set

That's actually not a deal. That's normal price. Plumixes go for $6. A Varsity is ~$3/1 ~8/3. Rhodia pad is ~$10.

8+8+3+10+18 = $47.

Still a nice kit, just not a screaming deal per se. I'd rather see a starter kit with like two Varsitys ($6), a Metropolitan ($15), and a Rhodia pad ($10). Especially since you're not getting a variety of nibs, just ink colors.

Edit: Sorry, didn't see that there was a Metropolitan in there.

You're right though, I didn't realize the Rhodia was that price. For whatever reason, my first google showed that pad at $30.  Deal is still okay though, just not as good as I though.

[CPTBadAss]

If you're paying $30 for Rhodia pads like the one that's shown retainerbox, let me know and I can proxy you them at cost.

[Binge]

Modded this TWSBI VAC700 for a fellow hacker SeeThruHead,

[do_Og@n]

Well I finally bought myself another Fountain Pen and I'm just waiting for it to show up.

Do you guys prefer Rhodia over Clairefontaine? From my research I see that they are the same paper....is that correct?

[retainerbox]

Well I finally bought myself another Fountain Pen and I'm just waiting for it to show up.

Do you guys prefer Rhodia over Clairefontaine? From my research I see that they are the same paper....is that correct?

My Clairefontaine feels smoother than my Rhodia. I find that ink takes longer to dry on the Clairfontaine so personally I prefer the Rhodia. I can do a paper sample for you later today if you'd like.

[CPTBadAss]

Clairfontaine has more of a coating than rhodia. That's what causes the difference in feel and drying time.