Fountain Pens.

[Mack The Knife]

An update on the Pilot Metropolitan.

I am begining to enjoy writing with this fountain pen more and more.

Mine has a medium nib but it puts down a very 'fine' line. It is also available with a 'fine' nib but that may be far too fine for me.

xl_target, I suggest you give this pen a try. It costs $15.00 in the U.S..

[brihacharan]

Hi Guys,
There was something mystic in the air last Sunday morning as I was contemplating of buying a Calligraphy Pen….
And I was blown out of the blue when Kshitij gifted me ‘Calligraphic Pen’ …a neat blister pack that contained, a regular pen with a fine nib + a holder + 6 different nibs!!!
The pack mentioned the brand “ARUL” – made in Thane, Mumbai!!!


Like a kid with his newly acquired toy I tried the holder attached with a medium nib, but unluckily for me the flow was very inadequate as I had to dip the pen several times in the inkpot – soon got tired of it!
Next I took the Pen & removed the fine nib and attached the medium nib & filled it with Camlin Black Ink which was ready at hand….
Now never having used a Calligraphic Pen before or attempted Calligraphy,I found the hold to be a bit of hassle…nevertheless here’s what I penned – all in one GO!
My very first ‘scribe’ in Calligraphy!!!!!

Briha

Added in 1 hour 2 minutes 6 seconds:
Here's another try with my new calligraphy Pen....
I must confess that unless one gets the proper hold to adjust to the slant of the nib, Calligraphy can be a frustrating affair.
Nevertheless its become a challenge to master it (at-least come to "Grips with it)

Briha

[kshitij]

I wont called it a 'gift' brihaji
Picked it out of curiosity. I guess the performance was expected, havent been able to use it yet though...

[xl_target]

An update on the Pilot Metropolitan.

I am beginning to enjoy writing with this fountain pen more and more.

Mine has a medium nib but it puts down a very 'fine' line. It is also available with a 'fine' nib but that may be far too fine for me.

xl_target, I suggest you give this pen a try. It costs $15.00 in the U.S..

I've been looking for this pen. Not available at all the usual places in town here. Will have to mail order.

The Sheaffer Viewpoint Calligraphy pen is growing on me.
Their fine nib puts out a not-so-fine line but it is smooth. I suppose it is a 'fine' Calligraphy nib. The flow is excellent and it doesn't dry up even when not used for a couple of days. At first, I thought that the thickness of the barrel and the cutouts in the sides would be a hindrance to writing but you don't notice those features at all.


The upper, blue writing is the Sheaffer Viewpoint and the lower red writing is an attempt to form some calligraphy letters with the Manuscript pen and the 2.2 mm nib. I don't think it is meant to be able to write that small. The ink flow stalls at times and then I have to shake it to get the ink flowing as well as stroking it on a piece of scratch paper.
Also, I need a lot more practice.

Mack,
Could you please explain "flossing" the nib in detail?

[Mack The Knife]

Nib flossing.

[essdee1972]

Brihaji, I found that when starting on a calligraphy nib, it is better to work slowly and form block letters till you and the pen get used to each other. I just can't do normal speed writing with a calligraphy nib! The ink flow keeps getting interrupted and the nib starts spluttering whenever I try. Maybe it's me, or maybe it's the pen?

[kshitij]

@SD,
Since you already use the safari as the daily writer, try a 1.1 or 1.5 nib. You can pretty much write with it like you write with a regular nib and also get the calligraphy effect.

[brihacharan]

Brihaji, I found that when starting on a calligraphy nib, it is better to work slowly and form block letters till you and the pen get used to each other. I just can't do normal speed writing with a calligraphy nib! The ink flow keeps getting interrupted and the nib starts spluttering whenever I try. Maybe it's me, or maybe it's the pen?

You are right, Calligraphy must be done / attempted slowly for reasons you've mentioned...
I think I was a little too hasty in attempting it.....wrote as if I was using a regular pen!!!!
Briha

Added in 1 minute 50 seconds:

Nib flossing.

Hi Mack,
Thanks for sharing the link on flossing!!!
It really works

Briha

Added in 11 minutes 13 seconds:
Hi Mack,
Please let me know....
Does the 'specific gravity' of Calligraphy Ink differ from that of regular fountain pen inks?
Briha

[Mack The Knife]

Brihaji, flushing the pen will help further still. Three things to do on a new fountain pen - flush, floss and check nib alignment. I hope you did not use a steel shaving blade to floss the nib.

Unless otherwise mentioned by the manufacturer, avoid inks labelled calligraphy ink, India ink and drawing ink (eg. Rotring drafting ink) in fountain pens. Also avoid using old inks as far as possible. Store your ink in their boxes or other dark places, such as a desk drawer and away from heat.

Added in 5 minutes 3 seconds:
Lamy's 1.1 mm, 1.5 mm and 1.9 mm nibs have a slight curve to the shoulders and are a cursive italic nib, rather than a sharp shouldered calligraphy nib.

Lamy's cursive italic nibs are also tipped to provide additional smoothness.

http://www.nibs.com/Fountain-Pen-Nib-Customizations.htm

[brihacharan]

Hi Mack,

Thanks a ton for the link on 'customization' of nibs.....that indeed was 'education'!
Fortunately I did not use a steel shaving blade to floss the nib, instead I used 0.25mm aluminium foil...
BTW the ink I used was 'old' as it was handy....will junk it and get a new pack.....
Thanks again for your patience in guiding us in the art of calligraphy - pens, inks...et.al.
Briha

[Mack The Knife]

Only too happy to share what little I know.

For a propah education, read one of the fountain pen related forums. Some very good stuff on Youtube as well.

[kanwar76]

Thanks for the offer Mack, Already ordered, will be here by end of November.


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[essdee1972]

Mack, checked the link on nib flossing. Thanks a lot! We used to do this with shaving blades in school!! Now I know what harm it can do to the "system".

What is the thickness of the brass to be used? The guy doesn't mention in the video.

Brihaji, was the aluminium foil the same stuff used to wrap sandwiches and stuff? I think that kind of foil isn't stiff enough to floss the nib with.

[brihacharan]

Mack, checked the link on nib flossing. Thanks a lot! We used to do this with shaving blades in school!! Now I know what harm it can do to the "system".
What is the thickness of the brass to be used? The guy doesn't mention in the video.
Brihaji, was the aluminium foil the same stuff used to wrap sandwiches and stuff? I think that kind of foil isn't stiff enough to floss the nib with.

SD,
The aluminium foil is the type they use in pharma industries for blister packing tablets....works well
Briha

[Mack The Knife]

What is the thickness of the brass to be used? The guy doesn't mention in the video.

0.002 inches.