In continuation of that topic I think a good question would be a Brians opinion of "fixed" grips (e.g. Lamy Safari ) and their overall effectiveness (or harmfullness) in teaching people the "right" way of holding a pen .
As a LH side-writer, I find most contoured grips awkward if not painful. The grips for teaching new writers may be helpful but each writer has to find the "right" process for themselves.
@@enkhyy I had this problem with the Jinhao Shark Pens. I used to be a LH Side Writer, and still am with most writing utensils, but when I started College I trained myself to be an underwriter for fear of smudging my notes. My point is, now my shark pens are comfortable, yay!
Coming from a background in architecture with technical pens, I hold my pen almost always at a 90 degree angle, which i know isn't ideal but works wonders for drawing straight lines ^^
I love fountain pens but I have a medical condition where I’m lying down on my back for most of the day. My favorite pen is the Pilot G-2 1.0 mm bold because I can write holding the pen more straight up and down. My question is, is there a fountain pen that will write good at more of a straight up and less of an angle?
I tell my students to practice saying the following: Side, top, side---by this rule I must abide. It reminds them to use the tripod grip that is in shown in many US cursive books.
I see that many people, including yourself write with their hand directly below the line of writing. My hand is directly in front of the words I'm writing (my forearm is parallel to the words not perpendicular). That's why the use of a sheet under the hand to prevent oil build-up on slick paper has never made sense for me and I also wonder how this affects my ability to write in a nice hand.
I hold my pen like this as well, I can write with my paper almost horizontal to what I'm writing and that's most comfortable for me. I'm rather very broad shouldered and have very tiny hands so I've always assumed that was why I wrote so oddly. I've written with the Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens with the nib sideways a little facing me and it actually works better for me than to have it face up because of how I write. It actually skips way more the "correct" way. I'll see what it's like when I get a "real" fountain pen and see if I'll have to change my posture and grip in order to write with one. I'll be upset if I have to because I've tried my entire life to change my writing posture and I've never been able to find a different one that's comfortable for me. We will see lol
I don’t really have a problem with the grip section of the Lamy Safari but the way your supposed to hold it the nib doesn’t align straight. If your a righty, it’s slanted towards the left a bit and that drives me crazy!!!
This makes me want to buy it! I find it awkward and my pens tend to skip when I write with the nib up how it's supposed to be. Perhaps I'll pick up a Safari because of this and see if it works better for me since I have very strange writing posture and hold my pens oddly due to my small hands lol
My.... I think it's the first time in 18 years that someone actually mentioned the source of my problem. I asked pen sellers and I never got an answer before, but what you describe about too much pressure, how the pen seems to wry dryer, then you put more pressure etc.... I think this is exactly what I do ! Is there any way to reverse the process ? I mean, if you nib has started to feel a bit dryer already ? Can I save it ?
It's possible the tines are becoming misaligned by the increase pressure. Restricts the ink flow overtime. Using a loupe (www.gouletpens.com/carton-10x-loupe/p/CT-3010 ) you could see if any of the tines are off, maybe pinching in or overtop the other. - Colin
Thank you! I'm coming from ballpoint pens, didn't even know about fountain pen existence before several days ago, always though the ink pens are the things you need to necessarily dip in the ink like a real feather xD Bought a $1 fountain pen just for a test and already will never be able to use ballpoint again and plan to buy a $11 parker pen
Instead of using the index and the thumb, I do this. I pair my thumb with the middle finger, with the index between them. Like: /|\ . The ring finger's knuckle still supports the underside.
Choosing the right nib & ink combination is the best way to do that. Many inks flow fast and "wet", while others move more conservatively. Try out some ink samples to see what works best for you, or check out product reviews on our website! - Drew
Snap! Fountain pen rebel 4 fingernails, and do 99% of my writing in bed, paper, journal, book held close to straight up. Also, a chronic poster, pens that shouldn't be posted I post. I loved this video (and all of them, thank you!) Why? I write with my FPs every day. U carry a Sharpie and one blue pilot gel. I my purse for just in case I may be destroying my Fps due to my writing style, but like Levi's 591 shrink to fit, or my manual transmission car, they LEARN YOU and adapt.It's REALLY good to learn proper technique 35 years to late to change. ❤❤❤! GOULET!
When I started with fountain pens, my biggest issue was the smudging, I thought it was common with fountain pens but it turned out that I had an utterly atrocious writing technique even considering ball pens, took a long while to correct it.
Brian..i have to say one thing.. You seem to have this misconception about ball point pens.. Yea they are better for pressure writers.. But most ball point pens actually malfunction if you write with excess pressure.. Sure you 5 cent pen might work that way but past about 20 cents they are quite good.. And oh yeah.. Got my custom 74 yesterday.. Couldn't get hold of a blue one.. Went clear instead .. Rocking the fine nib with yama budo.. Have to write on newspaper quality paper hence the fine nib
vivek subhash even expensive ballpoint more than 5 dollar just for a refill needed high pressure just to make it work. But there is different story with gel pen, todays 2-5 dollar gel pen (example: uni signo 307, pentel energel, zebra sarasa) is really smooth and wet and need only little pressure
My grip could be described as being more Spencer than Palmer: hand turned almost all the way over, with the outer fingertips touching the surface. Also, my tripod has the thumb ever so slightly lower on the grip than the forefinger. I must have weird hands.....
To get a 45% angle you really seem to need to rest the pen just in front of the knuckle rather than sliding down toward the webbing between finger and thumb.
Once you get the right cartridges or converter, you can puncture the wrong cartridges and draw the ink up using an ink syringe (www.gouletpens.com/goulet-5ml-ink-syringe-set/p/GP-10002 ). You can put it in empty compatible cartridges then! - Colin
Isn't this the first thing you learn when you start 1st grade? Yet I see so many adults holding their pens in all kinds of weird grips. The way you describe is how I was taught at school when I was six. I cringe when I see people over 7 holding their pens in all sorts of unnatural ways and whining about how hard it is to write. Duh! And I believe you got it right about the 30 degree angle, I was taught exactly that.
Not the same grip is natural for everyone. Just do what works best for you. I don't hold my pens the "standard" way, I have been doing it differently for 42 years and actually the standard way feels unnatural to me. Yet, I'm highly educated, write a lot and have a great handwriting. Who cares how you hold it? It's the output that matters. Oh, and one more thing: They made us use fountain pens in primary school, claiming that it forces you to hold it "correctly". I held mine my "wrong" way and guess what? It worked perfectly.
Schools don't always teach how to hold a pen, especially in the US. I like pens with molded grips to help keep the hand position (like Pelikan Pelikano Junior and Pilot Kaküno)
How I was taught to hold a pen, the "correct" way, is incredibly unnatural and uncomfortable for me on account of me having very small hands. I also struggle to do that correct arm angle too, it's also very uncomfortable for me, so I write strangely. However, writing doesn't and never has hurt me unless I'm writing for long periods or with too much pressure and hand tension (usually with a ballpoint). So the other commenter who said similar is right, everyone is different so the "correct" way might not be good for everyone.
I just got a fountain pen and I've been struggling to use it it requires a perfectly upright position for to be able to write And I know there's nothing wrong with the tip why do I keep ending up with fountain pens like this?
@@Carston1475 yeah, that’s a yikes right there, my guy. Try to not buy pens from brands you don’t recognize or from sketchy vendors. My best advice would be to remove the ink from the pen (or pull out the cartridge) and give it a good flushing with water. Maybe leave the pen soaking in water and dish soap overnight and rinse it with water in the morning.
@@nerdcm355 yeah I already tried cleaning it I think it's just the way it's built not complaining too much though I only paid $4 for it Which is the reason why I got it, because the material it's made out of is worth way more than $4
So gross. I could not pay attention to what he was saying. I was completely distracted by him playing with his nose. How disgusting! I suggest you remake this video without playing with your nose.
In continuation of that topic I think a good question would be a Brians opinion of "fixed" grips (e.g. Lamy Safari ) and their overall effectiveness (or harmfullness) in teaching people the "right" way of holding a pen .
As a LH side-writer, I find most contoured grips awkward if not painful. The grips for teaching new writers may be helpful but each writer has to find the "right" process for themselves.
@@enkhyy I had this problem with the Jinhao Shark Pens. I used to be a LH Side Writer, and still am with most writing utensils, but when I started College I trained myself to be an underwriter for fear of smudging my notes.
My point is, now my shark pens are comfortable, yay!
Coming from a background in architecture with technical pens, I hold my pen almost always at a 90 degree angle, which i know isn't ideal but works wonders for drawing straight lines ^^
Same. I often wondered if it would make it impossible to write with a fountain pen
I’m a new fountain pen enthusiast. New fan and customer of yours. Thanks!
I love fountain pens but I have a medical condition where I’m lying down on my back for most of the day. My favorite pen is the Pilot G-2 1.0 mm bold because I can write holding the pen more straight up and down. My question is, is there a fountain pen that will write good at more of a straight up and less of an angle?
I tell my students to practice saying the following: Side, top, side---by this rule I must abide. It reminds them to use the tripod grip that is in shown in many US cursive books.
I see that many people, including yourself write with their hand directly below the line of writing. My hand is directly in front of the words I'm writing (my forearm is parallel to the words not perpendicular). That's why the use of a sheet under the hand to prevent oil build-up on slick paper has never made sense for me and I also wonder how this affects my ability to write in a nice hand.
This is how I hold my pen too, and it’s always been fine.
I hold my pen like this as well, I can write with my paper almost horizontal to what I'm writing and that's most comfortable for me. I'm rather very broad shouldered and have very tiny hands so I've always assumed that was why I wrote so oddly. I've written with the Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens with the nib sideways a little facing me and it actually works better for me than to have it face up because of how I write. It actually skips way more the "correct" way. I'll see what it's like when I get a "real" fountain pen and see if I'll have to change my posture and grip in order to write with one. I'll be upset if I have to because I've tried my entire life to change my writing posture and I've never been able to find a different one that's comfortable for me. We will see lol
I don’t really have a problem with the grip section of the Lamy Safari but the way your supposed to hold it the nib doesn’t align straight. If your a righty, it’s slanted towards the left a bit and that drives me crazy!!!
I’m so happy someone else finds this annoying I literally can look at it while I’m writing with it because it makes me so frustrated
This makes me want to buy it! I find it awkward and my pens tend to skip when I write with the nib up how it's supposed to be. Perhaps I'll pick up a Safari because of this and see if it works better for me since I have very strange writing posture and hold my pens oddly due to my small hands lol
Love your Videos Mr Goulet
The type of guidance that's always needed! Thanks!
My.... I think it's the first time in 18 years that someone actually mentioned the source of my problem. I asked pen sellers and I never got an answer before, but what you describe about too much pressure, how the pen seems to wry dryer, then you put more pressure etc.... I think this is exactly what I do ! Is there any way to reverse the process ? I mean, if you nib has started to feel a bit dryer already ? Can I save it ?
It's possible the tines are becoming misaligned by the increase pressure. Restricts the ink flow overtime. Using a loupe (www.gouletpens.com/carton-10x-loupe/p/CT-3010 ) you could see if any of the tines are off, maybe pinching in or overtop the other. - Colin
Was that pelican m805 that Brian was holding?
Good eye! Yeah that was the M805 Ocean Swirl. - Colin
Having lusted after that pen since Christmas, I'm pretty sure it is.
one day I am gonna buy it!! one day huh!
Brian diggin the Ocean Swirl Pelikan. thanks for another excellent video.
To be honest, I never could really get the tripod grip down, but I'm still able to write with a lateral tripod, so how do you do that change over?
It's basically just practice, you have to start holding it differently and you'll get used to it over time. -Brian G
Thank you! I'm coming from ballpoint pens, didn't even know about fountain pen existence before several days ago, always though the ink pens are the things you need to necessarily dip in the ink like a real feather xD
Bought a $1 fountain pen just for a test and already will never be able to use ballpoint again and plan to buy a $11 parker pen
Enjoy! - Drew
Instead of using the index and the thumb, I do this.
I pair my thumb with the middle finger, with the index between them. Like: /|\ .
The ring finger's knuckle still supports the underside.
Ok ,so you are unable to hold a pen correctly.
@@738polarbear
It's what my hand is comfortable with but like yeah, everyone holds it differently
Hi bro! How can we control / balance the ink flow of a fountain pen generally?
Choosing the right nib & ink combination is the best way to do that. Many inks flow fast and "wet", while others move more conservatively. Try out some ink samples to see what works best for you, or check out product reviews on our website! - Drew
Write with the nib facing the paper and feed facing up to save ink. The nib facing up and the feed facing the paper for bolder writing.
How to underwrite instead of side writing for right-handers
Thank you! ❤
Thank you, this helps!
Glad to hear it! - Margaret
Snap! Fountain pen rebel 4 fingernails, and do 99% of my writing in bed, paper, journal, book held close to straight up. Also, a chronic poster, pens that shouldn't be posted I post. I loved this video (and all of them, thank you!) Why? I write with my FPs every day. U carry a Sharpie and one blue pilot gel. I my purse for just in case
I may be destroying my Fps due to my writing style, but like Levi's 591 shrink to fit, or my manual transmission car, they LEARN YOU and adapt.It's REALLY good to learn proper technique 35 years to late to change. ❤❤❤! GOULET!
When I started with fountain pens, my biggest issue was the smudging, I thought it was common with fountain pens but it turned out that I had an utterly atrocious writing technique even considering ball pens, took a long while to correct it.
Brian..i have to say one thing.. You seem to have this misconception about ball point pens.. Yea they are better for pressure writers.. But most ball point pens actually malfunction if you write with excess pressure.. Sure you 5 cent pen might work that way but past about 20 cents they are quite good..
And oh yeah.. Got my custom 74 yesterday.. Couldn't get hold of a blue one.. Went clear instead .. Rocking the fine nib with yama budo.. Have to write on newspaper quality paper hence the fine nib
vivek subhash even expensive ballpoint more than 5 dollar just for a refill needed high pressure just to make it work. But there is different story with gel pen, todays 2-5 dollar gel pen (example: uni signo 307, pentel energel, zebra sarasa) is really smooth and wet and need only little pressure
How I hold writing instruments in general (I first heard this LONG before I got into fountain pens) has been compared to how you hold chopsticks xD
Hey brian, could you do a video on how to polish metal pens?
Soaring Eagle: and resin / acrylic pens please ? Thank you
Brian touches a little bit on this in a previous Q&A slice: ruclips.net/video/sHxaogZe5Ek/видео.html - Colin
The Goulet Pen Company thank you :)
My grip could be described as being more Spencer than Palmer: hand turned almost all the way over, with the outer fingertips touching the surface. Also, my tripod has the thumb ever so slightly lower on the grip than the forefinger.
I must have weird hands.....
To get a 45% angle you really seem to need to rest the pen just in front of the knuckle rather than sliding down toward the webbing between finger and thumb.
Hi guys, what can I do if I bought the wrong cartridges and I can't return them?
Once you get the right cartridges or converter, you can puncture the wrong cartridges and draw the ink up using an ink syringe (www.gouletpens.com/goulet-5ml-ink-syringe-set/p/GP-10002 ). You can put it in empty compatible cartridges then! - Colin
Isn't this the first thing you learn when you start 1st grade? Yet I see so many adults holding their pens in all kinds of weird grips. The way you describe is how I was taught at school when I was six. I cringe when I see people over 7 holding their pens in all sorts of unnatural ways and whining about how hard it is to write. Duh! And I believe you got it right about the 30 degree angle, I was taught exactly that.
Not the same grip is natural for everyone. Just do what works best for you. I don't hold my pens the "standard" way, I have been doing it differently for 42 years and actually the standard way feels unnatural to me. Yet, I'm highly educated, write a lot and have a great handwriting. Who cares how you hold it? It's the output that matters.
Oh, and one more thing: They made us use fountain pens in primary school, claiming that it forces you to hold it "correctly". I held mine my "wrong" way and guess what? It worked perfectly.
Schools don't always teach how to hold a pen, especially in the US. I like pens with molded grips to help keep the hand position (like Pelikan Pelikano Junior and Pilot Kaküno)
How I was taught to hold a pen, the "correct" way, is incredibly unnatural and uncomfortable for me on account of me having very small hands. I also struggle to do that correct arm angle too, it's also very uncomfortable for me, so I write strangely. However, writing doesn't and never has hurt me unless I'm writing for long periods or with too much pressure and hand tension (usually with a ballpoint). So the other commenter who said similar is right, everyone is different so the "correct" way might not be good for everyone.
I just got a fountain pen and I've been struggling to use it it requires a perfectly upright position for to be able to write
And I know there's nothing wrong with the tip why do I keep ending up with fountain pens like this?
What pen is it?
@@nerdcm355 I don't know I found it on wish sold by somone in a country so small it's not even on the map
@@Carston1475 yeah, that’s a yikes right there, my guy. Try to not buy pens from brands you don’t recognize or from sketchy vendors. My best advice would be to remove the ink from the pen (or pull out the cartridge) and give it a good flushing with water. Maybe leave the pen soaking in water and dish soap overnight and rinse it with water in the morning.
@@nerdcm355 yeah I already tried cleaning it I think it's just the way it's built not complaining too much though I only paid $4 for it
Which is the reason why I got it, because the material it's made out of is worth way more than $4
Thanking sir and master
Crack coke habit on show there at the start 😂
For Italic: OK.
For Spencerian: No.
So gross. I could not pay attention to what he was saying. I was completely distracted by him playing with his nose. How disgusting! I suggest you remake this video without playing with your nose.