My No.1 tip, is do the research. If you do the research on a pen that you're considering buying, you'll be less likely to be disillusioned upon getting it. You'll know the build quality, the pros and cons, and how the pen should write.
I have gone full nerd. I watch fountain pen podcasts and love it. I have no shame. Hahaha. I appreciate the tip to buy less expensive first. I'd really love to go for a Pilot Custom, Pelikan, or Sailor, but I'm gonna try out the $30-$50 range for a few nib sized and pen sizes and go from there. Good stuff, fellow pen nerds.
I'm just getting started. I have a Lamy Safari, Diplomat Magnum, and just ordered a TWSBI Eco and Noodler's Ahab for fun. I like the pens in the price range.
Please comment on mitsubishi buying Lamy. What i am surprised is that Lamy actually sold their pen business. Mitsubishi is also a huge company with stationary component. But wow! I would think Lamy would be the one buying another pen company, not lamy being sold to someone. What are your thoughts of the future of Lamy?
Tip: ask yourself, what is your philosophy of use? I personally have 3 main categories: long writing/journaling (personally I use my Twsbi vac 700r), pocket pen (twsbi Diamond mini), and note taker for work (pilot vanishing point). You could add a grail pen as another category (for me visconti homo sapien). But I know no idea what to do if I ever get it.
11:44 For me Starbucks coffee is way overrated, and here in Mexico it's very expensive too. Try Colombian coffee Juan Valdez and you'll never go to a Starbucks again 😬 What you say in your last advice Drew not only applies to fountain pens, people need to rediscover the pleasures and benefits of handwriting, be it with a pencil, a pen, a marker or whatever and then crown it by writing with a fountain pen 🖊️
I really appreciate that you offer the sample packs of mini-notebooks. I was going to use each for a different purpose, but decided to keep all of them as a reference and am slowly getting ink tests into them as I ink my pens. I enjoy a wide variety of different ink types and I know I won't remember what paper/nib combo works best for each.
I like my collection. It's mainly inexpensive value pens, like the Jinhao Shark and Hongdian Black Forest. They're all great and wonderful to use. My dad has a collection that goes back to his high school days, and some really pleasant to write pens. I do like writing with my pens, and I have terrible writing, and I don't have much cause to write with them. Most of my work is done on the computer, so I don't have reason to hand write now. People have suggested I journal, but I really don't have much to write down. Thus my main enjoyment is now making lines and marks and squiggles in my notebook. Along the lines of this being very personal, don't compare nib sizes. A friend of mine likes the finer nibs, and she prefers the Extra Fines or Fines, however, I've gotten so much enjoyment out of one of my pens with a bent nib, which makes a wider line, but also a variable width line.
Crawl, walk, run is great advice. Three years in, ordering from a “good” retailer changes the experience. I am surprised at how personal my “relationship” with a pen has become. I have too many. But, after “finding/choosing/investigating/stocking” a grail pen, my “moment” happened and it made me value this hobby much more. Getting a small amount of advice from Brian (or his bot 😊) on a question about a Visconti HS nib instantly got me excited to pay 10 times more for a pen. And, trusting that Goulet Pens cares about my experience with it does make a difference. My HS has a story, I guess. Thanks Brian, Drew and the GP crew!
I am starting to use a fountain pen and I have a question. I see where you have recommended certain notebooks and paper, but I do not see any discussion about stationery with matching envelopes for letter writing. I think I would like to have some elegant stationery.
I haven’t bought high end paper online yet. I have a local print shop that sourced envelopes and some custom notepads for my company. When I asked for “better paper” they almost cried. They work with paper everyday and know much more than you would think. It wasn’t cheap but when I handwrite notes, the volumes are not high.
Goulet, like a lot of sellers have some nice stationary. The first thing to do is look for “fountain pen friendly” as part of the description no matter where you look. You can even Google fountain pen friendly stationary for a broader search. Just remember to double check the product description.
8:04..Awesome ADVICE I wanted a new hobby , Starting in JAN~2024 .... so I got into the fountain pens & ink...and Binge watched everyones Fountain pen / ink channels for under 2 months (Approx : 54 Days)...📺👀✔📃📑🖋 💸💸💸I've got over $5,000 cad, invested , so far, in 57 Fountain pens, and 90 ink Bottles and a 68liter / 18 gallon bin filled with notebooks & paper .... 🖋🖊✒not bad so far , as a new hobby.✒📜📃📒📓📚📖 🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣🟤⚫⚪ Yet , I am only using, One Fountain pen daily.. (the most inexpensive pen 'Pilot Kakuno / Medium nib ') and one brand of Ink (Carbon Black) LMAO ...🤣😂 🫡 Looks like I got my Christmas Present List, all set up ....its gonna be Fountain pens , calligraphy pen sets and inks , this year, for family and friends..LOL 😎👍🍁☃
GOAT tip: use the pens you have. It will distract you from hoarding another fountain pen that is coming out. Just replace a pen you currently own when it can't be written with, despite any repairs made to it.
Actually, the Pilot con-B squeeze converter is pretty useful for cleaning the nib and feed... especially if you don't want to order another bulb syringe and cut it just so to make it fit a Pilot section. If you have a con-B, don't throw it away!
Hey Guys! Thanks for presenting this GREAT information in its own video! People can't go wrong with the advice you presented here. I can tell you from personal experience that bulb syringes enhanced my experience with fountain pens! Ink syringes did the same. Paper, the MAJOR overlooked part of the experience! Find the paper that works best with your pens and ink you will NOT be sorry! Once you really get IN to fountain pens, you will have fun writing with ANY of them! Just today, I pulled out my two OLD Pilot Varsities and just started writing with them. NO, they don't write like the nicer, more expensive pens, but I had FUN by gosh!
Been buying and using for a month now and today I had a existential ink crisis. I had just picked up a notebook after doing the dishes where my finger which was damp ( not dripping wet) and obliterated something I wrote in Diamine days ago! Now I feel the need to make writing samples of all my inks and moist finger test. If this is normal … and permanent inks only come in boring black and blue, I just might go back to rollerballs.
Question I hope someone can answer: when I used this piston fill converter, I can write for a while, but then it 'dries' up, but when I open the pen, it shows a huge bubble like the ink is sticking to the the top of the converter rather than gravity doing its job. What am I doing wrong? I have other piston filling pens and don't have this problem with those. Also, LOVE all your videos and your products!
In Europe, a set of six 30ml ink bottles from Diamine costs less than 30 Euros. That's a great value for money, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to try out new inks.
I picked up the dark set and can’t stand the green black. Which two out of three isn’t bad but now I need to test them all against moisture. It won’t work for me if a tear, or raindrop or moist fingertip can obliterate something written days before!
My No.1 tip, is do the research. If you do the research on a pen that you're considering buying, you'll be less likely to be disillusioned upon getting it. You'll know the build quality, the pros and cons, and how the pen should write.
As someone who’s not in a position to test drive a pen before buying it, I fully support this tip.
I have gone full nerd. I watch fountain pen podcasts and love it. I have no shame. Hahaha.
I appreciate the tip to buy less expensive first. I'd really love to go for a Pilot Custom, Pelikan, or Sailor, but I'm gonna try out the $30-$50 range for a few nib sized and pen sizes and go from there. Good stuff, fellow pen nerds.
Excellent advice. It's hard not to get drawn in by every new shiny thing that comes along.
totally agree !!
I'm just getting started. I have a Lamy Safari, Diplomat Magnum, and just ordered a TWSBI Eco and Noodler's Ahab for fun. I like the pens in the price range.
One of our sons is a master woodworker and has made some beautiful fountain pens for me, both in wood and resin.
Love the twinning santa jaws sweaters ❤
Please comment on mitsubishi buying Lamy. What i am surprised is that Lamy actually sold their pen business. Mitsubishi is also a huge company with stationary component. But wow! I would think Lamy would be the one buying another pen company, not lamy being sold to someone. What are your thoughts of the future of Lamy?
Tip: ask yourself, what is your philosophy of use? I personally have 3 main categories: long writing/journaling (personally I use my Twsbi vac 700r), pocket pen (twsbi Diamond mini), and note taker for work (pilot vanishing point). You could add a grail pen as another category (for me visconti homo sapien). But I know no idea what to do if I ever get it.
Listen to these gentlemen, they speak words of wisdom.
I am new to this, and really appreciate your channel. Thank you!
11:44 For me Starbucks coffee is way overrated, and here in Mexico it's very expensive too. Try Colombian coffee Juan Valdez and you'll never go to a Starbucks again 😬
What you say in your last advice Drew not only applies to fountain pens, people need to rediscover the pleasures and benefits of handwriting, be it with a pencil, a pen, a marker or whatever and then crown it by writing with a fountain pen 🖊️
The coffee of Veracruz is so good too.
I really appreciate that you offer the sample packs of mini-notebooks. I was going to use each for a different purpose, but decided to keep all of them as a reference and am slowly getting ink tests into them as I ink my pens. I enjoy a wide variety of different ink types and I know I won't remember what paper/nib combo works best for each.
I like my collection. It's mainly inexpensive value pens, like the Jinhao Shark and Hongdian Black Forest. They're all great and wonderful to use. My dad has a collection that goes back to his high school days, and some really pleasant to write pens.
I do like writing with my pens, and I have terrible writing, and I don't have much cause to write with them. Most of my work is done on the computer, so I don't have reason to hand write now. People have suggested I journal, but I really don't have much to write down. Thus my main enjoyment is now making lines and marks and squiggles in my notebook.
Along the lines of this being very personal, don't compare nib sizes. A friend of mine likes the finer nibs, and she prefers the Extra Fines or Fines, however, I've gotten so much enjoyment out of one of my pens with a bent nib, which makes a wider line, but also a variable width line.
Cool ! 😎👍
You should do an Ink Miser video then. "Here's how you try out new inks" "Here's how you use an ink sampler".
Do you have a video explaining how to use the ink miser with samples? I would be interested in that, for sure.
It is very self-explanatory, I would recommend looking up a video on the ink miser by itself, and it’s very easy to dump the sample into the ink Miser
Love the sweaters!!
Crawl, walk, run is great advice. Three years in, ordering from a “good” retailer changes the experience. I am surprised at how personal my “relationship” with a pen has become. I have too many. But, after “finding/choosing/investigating/stocking” a grail pen, my “moment” happened and it made me value this hobby much more. Getting a small amount of advice from Brian (or his bot 😊) on a question about a Visconti HS nib instantly got me excited to pay 10 times more for a pen. And, trusting that Goulet Pens cares about my experience with it does make a difference. My HS has a story, I guess. Thanks Brian, Drew and the GP crew!
You should call these clips crom the Pencast "Pencast Pages"
I am starting to use a fountain pen and I have a question. I see where you have recommended certain notebooks and paper, but I do not see any discussion about stationery with matching envelopes for letter writing. I think I would like to have some elegant stationery.
Me too. That's an excellent question.
I haven’t bought high end paper online yet. I have a local print shop that sourced envelopes and some custom notepads for my company. When I asked for “better paper” they almost cried. They work with paper everyday and know much more than you would think. It wasn’t cheap but when I handwrite notes, the volumes are not high.
Goulet, like a lot of sellers have some nice stationary. The first thing to do is look for “fountain pen friendly” as part of the description no matter where you look. You can even Google fountain pen friendly stationary for a broader search. Just remember to double check the product description.
I started my fountain pen journey last year. Have got a metropolitan, Kakuno, Magnum and a Eco. In the exploration phase of figuring out what I like.
Great video guys!
8:04..Awesome ADVICE
I wanted a new hobby , Starting in JAN~2024 ....
so I got into the fountain pens & ink...and Binge watched everyones Fountain pen / ink channels for under 2 months (Approx : 54 Days)...📺👀✔📃📑🖋
💸💸💸I've got over $5,000 cad, invested , so far, in 57 Fountain pens, and 90 ink Bottles and a 68liter / 18 gallon bin filled with notebooks & paper ....
🖋🖊✒not bad so far , as a new hobby.✒📜📃📒📓📚📖 🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣🟤⚫⚪
Yet , I am only using, One Fountain pen daily.. (the most inexpensive pen 'Pilot Kakuno / Medium nib ') and one brand of Ink (Carbon Black) LMAO ...🤣😂
🫡 Looks like I got my Christmas Present List, all set up ....its gonna be Fountain pens , calligraphy pen sets and inks , this year, for family and friends..LOL 😎👍🍁☃
Superb video; I wholeheartedly agree. ✒️✒️
It is the variation of imperfections that makes the experience.
GOAT tip: use the pens you have. It will distract you from hoarding another fountain pen that is coming out. Just replace a pen you currently own when it can't be written with, despite any repairs made to it.
What does the Acronym *'GOAT'* stand for ??
Greatest of all time.@@kan-zee
I have a Montblanc Meisterstuck and man I really wish I could use a bulb syringe on it.
Love those jumpers!
Actually, the Pilot con-B squeeze converter is pretty useful for cleaning the nib and feed... especially if you don't want to order another bulb syringe and cut it just so to make it fit a Pilot section. If you have a con-B, don't throw it away!
Hey Guys! Thanks for presenting this GREAT information in its own video! People can't go wrong with the advice you presented here. I can tell you from personal experience that bulb syringes enhanced my experience with fountain pens! Ink syringes did the same. Paper, the MAJOR overlooked part of the experience! Find the paper that works best with your pens and ink you will NOT be sorry! Once you really get IN to fountain pens, you will have fun writing with ANY of them! Just today, I pulled out my two OLD Pilot Varsities and just started writing with them. NO, they don't write like the nicer, more expensive pens, but I had FUN by gosh!
thank you guys. this was a oh shit !! moment for me. indeed enjoy and dont compare. most helpful.
If fountain pens were an MLM I would have a huge down line😂. Nothing better than helping someone discover the joy of fountain pens
Brian. Thinking about buying a WEN 9" bandsaw? Not too expensive. What do you think?
Very nice 😃👏
Been buying and using for a month now and today I had a existential ink crisis. I had just picked up a notebook after doing the dishes where my finger which was damp ( not dripping wet) and obliterated something I wrote in Diamine days ago! Now I feel the need to make writing samples of all my inks and moist finger test. If this is normal … and permanent inks only come in boring black and blue, I just might go back to rollerballs.
Question I hope someone can answer: when I used this piston fill converter, I can write for a while, but then it 'dries' up, but when I open the pen, it shows a huge bubble like the ink is sticking to the the top of the converter rather than gravity doing its job. What am I doing wrong? I have other piston filling pens and don't have this problem with those. Also, LOVE all your videos and your products!
I started my FP journey about 2 years ago. Now I have a nicname thanks to Drew, “penabler”! Lol
In Europe, a set of six 30ml ink bottles from Diamine costs less than 30 Euros. That's a great value for money, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to try out new inks.
I picked up the dark set and can’t stand the green black. Which two out of three isn’t bad but now I need to test them all against moisture. It won’t work for me if a tear, or raindrop or moist fingertip can obliterate something written days before!
Nice to see Santa Jaws jumpers after all these years
I wanted to ask if you ship to India and what would be the price to ship
Brian talking to other employees when a new pen arrives: ruclips.net/video/y5QbrRRMg20/видео.html
Bwhahahahahah.....The Colors !! 😂👍 😅 😂 🤣
Love videos tips and info. Hate your videos because I could easily got into debt. Becoming obsessed with pens. Want them all
@Drew Slightly less heavy 😆
I have dogs, bulb syringes don't come with the Territory 🤣
🔥🔥 Lamy was bought by Mitsubishi Pencil Company today . Any thoughts? Any insights? It makes me anxious! 😨😬 @gouletpens
Me too. I don’t know whether to snap up a few Lamys in case the new co ruins them, or to skip them altogether!