(Part 2) Top products from r/fountainpens

Ok. I'm going to give you a number of options here. Mostly they're white (because white goes with everything dahlink) but one is pink. They're all inexpensive. I'm giving you Amazon links and prices here, but you could use Goulet or maybe even get a better price on ebay. Here you go:

The Cross Beverly, about $36. Some people don't like Cross fountain pens, I love mine. This will be an attractive and reliable pen that she can be proud to use anywhere. It should come with Cross ink cartridges, which are very nice.

The Parker Vector, about $20. It's a bit plain looking, but they're superb pens, very reliable and write very well. It should have Parker ink cartridges.

The Jinhao 159, about $10. Very inexpensive, but Jinhao makes a surprisingly nice pen. It probably has a converter or can use standard cartridges. (It doesn't come with ink.)

The Jinhao 950 in white porcelain with blue chinese decoration, for less than $5.50. This is a very attractive pen (much nicer than the price implies) and the porcelain feels luxurious. (I have one with different decorations.) Also, the nib can be interchanged with the Goulet pen nibs. (Again, doesn't come with ink, probably has a converter in it.)

The Parker Urban, in pink, about $40. (It's not available in white, but that's a rather smashing pink, don't you agree?) This is a very stylish pen. She will be proud to pull it out and use it anywhere. I have one in black. Again, Parker makes fabulous pens. It probably comes with ink.

Or if you want to go very cheap on the pen and maybe get some nice ink with your budget, there's the Jinhao 599 under $5, although I will tell you you should be able to get this for under $2 on ebay.

Ink for her new pen

As I said above, the Parker pens come with ink, and they use a proprietary size cartridge. You can get a Parker converter or you can get craft syringes to refill a cartridge from bottled ink after she uses it up.

If you're getting her a beautiful pen, why not get her some lovely ink to go with it?

Wouldn't some lovely deep purple Iroshizuku ink (about $20) make a lovely impression with the white pens? I just got my first bottle of Iroshizuku this week and let me tell you, the bottle is gorgeous. Or maybe if she wants something less girly, a lovely deep turquoise for under $26?

Or if you want something a little less girly for ink, maybe you might want to look at the infamous (but glorious) Noodler's Baystate Blue for less than $13?

Or something slightly more exotic, with their Apache Sunset ink which shades from yellow to vermillion with writing?

If you want to get her some lovely ink in cartridges, because it's an easy way for her to start, you want to look at Goulet pens' web site for that, they have a lovely selection. I'll leave that shopping to you. Remember standard cartridges won't work in the Parker pens.

[edit:] If it were me, I'd get the Parker Urban, the Parker converter, the Iroshizuku purple, and the Noodler's Apache Sunset. That pen just screams style, even if it's stereotypically pink. (And they do make it in other colors, if you want to search Amazon.) She'll think of you every time she touches it.

Hi there! Welcome to /r/fountainpens! As a FP newbie myself, I hope I might be able to lend a little helpful advice on your search for a first pen. :)

Jinhao pens, I think most people would agree, are fair performers, and their costs at pennies on the dollar are quite attractive. A piece of advice, though: if you don't mind waiting for a Jinhao pen to be shipped from Asia, try eBay. You can almost always find their pens for a third of the cost as a US-based retailer, if not less. Here's the 159 for $4.50, for example.

Interestingly, many other Jinhao pens are also available on eBay for even less than this one. There's the 156 for $3, the 750 stainless for $3, and the X450 for $1.50, among many others.

Of course, any Jinhao pen you buy will not come with ink. You'll need ink to write anything with any pen! If you're after black ink, you could buy the Noodler's Heart of Darkness bundle, which is a bulletproof ink (which means it has properties that make it difficult or impossible to alter after it's dried on paper) that comes with a decent pen.

The Pilot Metropolitan deserves a nod here, too. It's a heavy pen (as it's made of metal), but some people love that premium feel at this price range. $13 shipped. If you don't like the zigzag pattern on the grip, Parker makes other models. Just search Amazon for the Pilot Metropolitan.

You might also consider the Parker Urban kit from Parker. $40 is a bit steep compared to the Jinhao and Noodler's kit, but it comes with everything you need all in one package. Some people don't much care for the Urban because it uses a proprietary converter mechanism (for filling the pen), but bah, humbug. It's a solid performer and is still easy to fill, even if it does fill differently from other pens.

I'll echo some general advice I've seen on these forums: Lamy pens aren't bad, but they tend to be overpriced. You'll run into lots of Lamy models if you do an Amazon search and filter by average review rating. They are highly reviewed pens. It's worth checking them out if you get more interested in fountain pens, but for starting out I'd recommend one of the units above.

Lastly, if you're feeling luxurious, you might be interested in the Massdrop sale on the Conklin Stylograph Mosaic. This little guy is $55--way more than the $12 Jinhao you started with--but it's also in a different kind of class, more a collector's item or a nice pen than simply a serviceable one. That $55 price tag expires today, and the regular price is closer to $100. I'd recommend a different pen for starting simply because this one is more expensive, but I also thought I'd let you know just in case because the deal is gone after today. :) There's no referral on that link. If anyone would like to help me with Massdrop referrals, my referral link is below.

Massdrop link with referral: https://www.massdrop.com/r/Z9E8TR

The world of fountain pens is big, and I'm just getting my feet wet myself. I hope you find the tips here useful. :)

I have several pens with soft or semi-flex nibs. They are nice for everyday writing, but should not be confused with true flex nibs, and should not be used for continuous shaded/flex writing (like with true Spencerian or Copperplate/Engrosser's scripts). These should be used to add a bit of character (shaded capitals, emphasis on downstrokes, etc.).

Pilot and Platinum both have soft nib variations available (Pilot has the Custom 74, Custom 742, Custom 743, Custom Heritage 91, Custom Heritage 912, and Falcon. Platinum has the Century 3776, and President). In my experience these nibs have a short break-in period, after which they are quite smooth and bouncy. The C74, and 3776 with soft fine (SF) nibs are both available from Amazon for around $80:

• https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=platinum+3776+soft
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AX5SRG/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_19?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
  
  Alternatively, you could buy a Bock Titanium nib and put it into any pen that uses a #6 size nib. The titanium gives a similar feel as a gold soft nib, but offers more options pen-wise. If you're looking to keep costs down, try putting one into a Jinhao X450 or X750. I have used one in a Jinhao X750 and enjoyed the results. The Bock nib is available from Goulet Pens (sold as a Karas Kustoms titanium nib unit https://www.gouletpens.com/search?query=karas+kustoms+titanium&facetValueFilter=), and the Jinhao is easily found on Amazon or eBay.
  
  Steel "flex" nibs can give you some extra character, but they require quite a bit of pressure and are not as easy to use to add character to everyday writing. Noodler's Ink, FPR, and Esterbrook are the most well-known brands that offer steel flex nibs.
  
  Personally, after years of writing with dip pens and fountain pens with soft nibs I have to say that I prefer dip pens. That being said, a nice soft nib is a joy to use. I like the Bock titanium nib just slightly more than the gold soft nibs, but both are excellent.
  
  If you want true flex (which is really only useful when writing in ornamental scripts or for calligraphy, and is not terribly useful for everyday writing) then I highly suggest using dip pens. If you go the dip pen route I highly recommend a universal oblique holder (like this guy from Paper & Ink Arts: http://www.paperinkarts.com/hourgl.html
  and vintage French nibs such as Blanzy-Poure No.2552, Baignol & Farjon No.730, or Baignol & Farjon No.803. These are available from an excellent seller on ebay called bart.12 here is a link: http://www.ebay.com/usr/bart.12?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

Before starting, you should settle on a nib width that you are going to use. A lot of time people choose Medium because they think it's middle of the road and they often leave unsatisfied because it isn't. The line width you get from normal writing utensils tends to be more of a Fine on a fountain pen. I find it hard to get good handwriting with a medium nib whereas a fine is a lot easier.

Now at £10 here are some options:

• Pilot Varsity: Ready to use pen made by Pilot. I've never seen anyone complain about the way it writes, and it already comes with in inside it. You also get your choice of nib Cons? It's a disposable pen and isn't that pretty
  
• Platinum Preppy: Very similar but actually takes cartridges. You can choose your nib. I think you'll have to buy the cartridges separately.
  
• Baoer 801: Fine nibbed Chinese knockoff pen. Mine writes very well. Comes with fine nib. You'll probably want bottled ink. Section scratches easily but at the price I don't mind.
  
• Baoer 388: Very popular Chinese Sonnet knockoff. Mine writes very well. You'll probably want to use bottled ink with this one. Medium nib only.
  
  There are plenty of other Chinese pens out there, and you could go search them and find one you like too. I'm partial to Baoer pens: for me they have written better than any other Chinese pen. A lot of people recommend Jinhao pens, but their nibs run wide and they dry out a lot quicker when left sitting.
  
  As for bottled ink, I would suggest it for the Chinese pens because they come with the converter that is used to fill from the bottle. The inks I would recommend for you are:
  
  
• Parker Quink Black - my go-to black when it comes to inking any pen up.
  
• Waterman Serenity Blue - good generic blue. maybe a little light.
  
• Waterman Mysterious Blue - A darker, off blue
  
• Any freaking Waterman ink, I've heard good things from them. Tender purple? go get it. I suggest Waterman inks because they are cheap in the UK and very fountain pen friendly.

I was just as scared as you are. I am currently a student (high school albeit), and I was extremely worried about the clip being in the way. I bit the bullet, and it is easily one of the nicest—if not the nicest nib I own. The clip has not yet been a problem for me, I just shift my grip around it. I highly recommend the Kasuri (carbonesque) finish as well. Not only is it gorgeous, but it also has a good texture to it so that if you get oily hands, you'll still be able to grip the pen without slipping. Also, the new Matte Blue version from Goulet Pens looks fantastic (although I am not sure about the texture and grip). The fine nib is perfect for schoolwork writing (slim enough for math and very smooth). I also like a fine nib, and it's one of my favorites. It is roughly the size of a Lamy EF. However, do not fall into the trick and think that the VP M = Lamy F. It does not—it is nearly a true western nib, so I don't recommend it. I don't have much experience with the loom, except it is a very good pen from what I have heard.

Also, if you're really scared about the clip, I recommend taking a look at a Platinum #3776 Century (Soft fine or fine, possibly a medium -- I'm getting one this evening so I'll keep you posted), or a Pilot Custom 74 or Heritage 91 (soft fine or fine.) I have a black and gold Japanese sf Import that I bought from Japan, but it seems that they have a soft fine on Amazon. Mine just arrived, and the line variation is insane. I can get anywhere from a western EF to a BB without much effort. (link here).

Hope this helps.

Sure.

Rhodia pads: Most people will mention these. Extremely smooth, very fountain pen friendly. So smooth, however, that inks like Noodler's Black that are formulated for crappy paper take forever to dry on it. They also come in books. Most people get used to the dots and never go back.

Clairefontaine: I'm not familiar but people mention them a lot and they seem like a very economical choice. I think they're more popular in Europe as school notebooks.

Midori: The Japanese don't mess around when it comes to writing. While basically naked compared to Leuchtturm or Moleskine, these have buttery smooth paper that while thin, feels fantastic to write on and doesn't bleed. There's a coveted cotton version (important because cotton is archival and good for watercolor) but I've never been able to track one down. It doesn't help that the online american outlets are poorly translated and usually don't know what they're packing since they look the same. See also: Apica

Leuchtturm 1917: A great journal or idea book, basically a Moleskine with better paper and perks. I used this as a daily journal. The pages are thin enough that you get ghosting especially with darker black inks but I write on both sides anyway.

If you're looking for a sketchbook I've spent a little too much time researching them and I think Stillman & Birn are really the one and only choice. Not only are they cheap by a price/sheet ratio but the quality is outstanding - extremely durable binding that tolerates being turned inside-out, thick paper with a variety of finishes so you can make a decision of what suits your medium. Epsilon or Gamma are the way to go for pure line ink work, though I've gotten away with light washes.

Hope this helps, enjoy your pen.

They take platinum proprietary cartridges as far as I know. I currently have converters in two of mine (just search "Platinum Fountain Pen Converter" in amazon), and the other 2 as eyedropper pens.

BTW: if you are in the UK, Cult Pens has them for cheaper.

The nib you asked about is the 03 (you can look at the images to tell, it is printed pretty big on the pen itself). This is more like a western EF and will definitely be finer than your Safari F nib. I love it but I write pretty small. I would recommend you get a 03 and a 05 from CultPens and see which one you like the best before ordering several to hold different colors. The included Blue-Black cartridge is pretty good actually.

If you decide on the medium, I would recommend getting the 7 pack as I have heard that people have still occasionally gotten the old styling on those pens. They function the same but the nibs match the color.

EDIT: BTW if you can't tell I love my preppies. I use them for pretty much the reason you describe. I have to take notes quickly and need to color code them. I can carry 4 preppies for about the price of many other pens and if I loose them it usually isn't a big deal.

Yes and No.

Yes, if you want to try out a lot of colors as well as trying the pens, it can be a good deal. To that point, have a look at https://www.amazon.com/Thorntons-Office-Supplies-Disposable-Fountain/dp/B01E68AKTC which appear to be the same as the Pilot Varsity, but in more colors and different cap design. This is a great introduction to fountain pens and the wonderful variation of ink colors as well as note taking in color.

No, if you don't intend to run a lot of colors, go with a cheaper pen like the Pilot Metropolitan or Jinhao 992 https://www.amazon.com/JINHAO-992-Fountain-Pen-Translucent/dp/B06XYFK681 and a bottle of ink https://www.amazon.com/PARKER-QUINK-Ink-Bottle-Black/dp/B004YK4VHA or https://www.amazon.com/Bulletproof-EEL-Noodlers-Fountain-Ink-Black/dp/B000WIUNOI and go to it. Small investment overall.

A final option for pen and ink would be one of the larger bottles of Noodler's with a pen in the box, something like https://www.amazon.com/Noodlers-Ink-Heart-Darkness-19808/dp/B0015VB4EE would give you a pen and ink, and you would be able to give it a go.

So pick your poison and have fun. I think the Thorton's 10-pack is a great introduction, it is an introduction with a lot of great colors and no mess, but you should choose what you think is your best introduction.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider the Platinum 3776.

It's got an amazing 14k gold nib, lovely size (not too large) and perfect fit and finish. It has a airtight seal so the nib will never dry out. And best of all it's only £55.69 from Amazon right now.

Seriously crazy price for what it is. Watch some youtube reviews, it's amazing value!

Edit: It is a Japanese pen so all sizes will be one size smaller than regular Western style nibs. A Japanese Medium will have a line size similar to a Western Fine.

Edit II: They also do a "soft fine" which has a slight amount of flex to it. It looks truly beautiful!

Edit III: http://www.gourmetpens.com/2016/02/review-platinum-3776-century-bourgogne.html?m=1

Edit IX: Have a look at this which was recently posted by a fellow r/fountainpens subscriber. https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/5k9g2v/a_new_member_of_the_family_3776_sf/. It's a crazy price, and you won't have to pay any taxes or duties on it like you would if you ordered it from Ebay!

Edit X: Are you at Uni? I can send you some ink samples and a blunt syringe.

Also if you're thinking about Eco vs Safari, I would suggest the Eco, especially if at Uni. I have run out of ink mid note-taking and had to refill, quite a pain! The Eco has a huge ink capacity.

Yes, as Auto said, check out the resources on this sub. They are great. Also, this community is great. Very helpful.

I started with a Pilot Metropolitan. I went with medium nib because I had heard Japanese nibs run smaller than western (Japanese medium is more like a European fine). Here's Goulet pens list of Starter Pens. I think any of these would be great...

For paper, I use Rhodia. Moleskine is OUT (I used that previously, with ballpoint).

Here's actually cut and paste from a response I just wrote on another thread...

Fountain pens are pretty easy to clean, and trying out all the different inks is my favorite part.

The Goulet Pen Company has ink samples, which are perfect for acquiring a MASSIVE collection of inks to try. Maybe start with the sample packages they have already grouped together (linked).

If you pick up ink from Goulet (or anywhere), don't forget to also order ink syringes. I'm paying this bit of advice forward... when I (recently) got obsessed with fountain pens/inks, someone on Reddit told me this info and I'm glad they did!!

EDIT: By the way, I store my inks in a shotshell box. I don't own a shotgun, but man these are the perfect size for 25 ink samples! ...again, thanks goes to some other Redditer. ...I even think a reviewer on Amazon mentioned ink samples in their review, so I know I'm not the only one! I also mark the tops of mine with a color and symbol to quickly ID them/narrow down what I'm looking for.

A <F> nib will be less likely to bleed through because it puts down less ink. Although a Pilot <M> isn't really that wide. Also, the smaller your handwriting, the better you'd be with a <F> nib. On the flip side, broader nibs can make a person's sloppy handwriting look a little better, too.

Shin-Ryoku is a great ink but if you are just looking for value some Parker Quink (not the washable version) will probably be 1/2 the cost and work just as well for note-taking and general use. It's not as exciting but it's good solid ink for just about anything:

Black - https://www.amazon.com.mx/Parker-Super-Repuesto-permanente-botella/dp/B004YK4VHA/ref=sr_1_1?

Blue- https://www.amazon.com.mx/Parker-Quink-57ml-Bottle-Permanent/dp/B000J61TIM/ref=sr_1_2?

You might even consider just getting some Namiki ink cartridges to start out. Cheaper and it won't lock you in as long so you can get a little more variety until you really decide what you like

https://www.amazon.com.mx/Pilot-Fountain-Cartridge-Cartridges-69101/dp/B004IKTKQI/ref=sr_1_1?

LOL, I went to Amazon Mexico and about crapped when I saw that the Shin-Ryoku was over $400/bottle.......

Oh, Pesos...... oh, OK.

Just a few comments/suggestions :)

I would recommend the Pilot Metropolitan as a starter, for around the price of the Plasir it is very reliable, smooth writer, and much easier to clean. If you do buy the Plasir, you will also need to buy a convertor to use bottled ink, where the Metropolitan comes with one included.

The Jinhao is a copycat of the Lamy Safari, a good starter, but know that people either absolutely love or hate the style of the grip.

The inks you picked out are good, although to start I really recommend getting a Goulet sample pack so you can try similar colors before committing to an entire bottle, which will last quite a while.

Hope this helps! I love helping new people explore the world of fountain pens :)

I got a ream of 24lb HP Laserjet paper from Amazon a little while back after reading on here that it was good for fountain pens. Today I finally got around to testing it and here are the results.

Feathering:

• The Apache Sunset also showed some feathering, but I was using a Neponset with that ink which lays down a TON of ink so that's not surprising.
  
• I was impressed that it was able to handle the Ahab with a bit of flexing and not feather at all.
  
  Bleed/Ghosting
  
  
• Very slight bleed on the Baystate Blue, but that isn't surprising considering how much that ink tends to soak in and how wet my Jinhao writes
  
• Pretty significant bleed with the Apache Sunset, but again that was using a Neponset which was laying down a small lake with each stroke
  
• Slight bleed with the Ahab in areas where I flexed it
  
  Overall
  
  Definitely a serviceable paper for everyday use with fountain pens. When using normal nibs and ink it doesn't have any trouble with feathering or bleeding. It certainly isn't Tomoe River, but considering it is 7.5 times cheaper I would definitely use it for normal writing and save the good stuff for the flex pens.

I would recommend finding a cheap pen to play around with at first. If you have a Staples nearby, they might have some Cross fountain pens for sale for about $20. I bought one just to see how it writes and compare it to other higher priced ones. You could also get something online. Just perusing Amazon, these caught my eye:

https://www.amazon.com/Piston-Fountain-Plated-Transparent-Colors/dp/B07G281XVQ Four different piston-filler style pens for $20. Gives you the opportunity to abuse the one of your lease favorite color to see what kind of force it takes to spring tines (ruining the pen by bending the nib) and see how generally robust pens are.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Jinhao-Ancient-Playing-Fountain-Jewelry/dp/B00JBYXA94 Something a little more gaudy, if that's what you want.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Handcrafted-Collection-Converter-Journaling-Calligraphy/dp/B07H2BY8YN Something a little more simple and professional looking.

​

You're also going to want some inks. My Staples also sells black Parker "Quink" which is suitable for fountain pens. This comes in a bottle like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Parker-1950375-Quink-Bottle-Black/dp/B004YK4VHA and is only for pens which the body itself acts as an ink reservoir or the pen uses "Cartridge Converters".

​

Other pens are mainly meant for "Cartridges" which are small disposable ink tubes like these: https://www.amazon.com/Refillable-Cartridges-International-Calligraphy-Rollerball/dp/B07D43QR17 Luckily, most of these are interchangeable between pens. However, that's mostly just for the low-end pens. Higher end pens use different interface sizes and require their own brand cartridges. For this reason, I much prefer pens which either fill their own bodies with ink or use converters which are not thrown out. I rather dislike the disposable plastic bits of cartridges.

​

All in all, I'd save up $100 to start the hobby. Spend $50 on a pen or two and some ink to start. Figure out what you like and what you don't like and use the other $50 to find another pen that fits better into what your preferences are. Different pens are going to have different ways of writing. Some will be highly flexible at the nib and their line width will vary a lot, others will be very stiff and not have any change in line width versus writing pressure.

I have the Ahab, a TWSBI classic (if im spelling that correct), and was just gifted a Delta Unica.

I just got into the hobby about 8 months ago and have used way more than those three, but didn't own any till recently. I would say the Delta writes fine, but havent used it that much, the TWSBI is what I usually use to write, since it just feels better in my hand. And the Ahab I use to doodle. Had it for around two months and draw a lot with it. I will say it does bleed at the top of the nib and gets on my fingers occasinally and i cant get it to stop, but as far as actually writes, its not bad.

Edit ;Also I just re read your comment and realized you mentioned the same pens I bashed. The Jinhao you see in that link are the ones I have and they have performed horribly for me. I hope you have better luck and maybe mine are junk, but all four are unusable for me.


Also.... I have these. I don't talk about those. Dry up in a day, less flex (if any), and bleed heavily. I also got those from my well meaning father who knows nothing about you get what you pay for.

Make sure that if you are using HP paper, you don't get the kind that say color inkjet and laser print premium paper. There is a difference. I ended up with the color inkjet and laser paper but then bought just the laser printer paper and that stuff is great for fountain pens. Now if you are mailing stuff the 32 pound paper is heavier, and could cost more to ship. Goulet pens uses 24 pound paper for their invoices if you are familiar with getting those hand written notes on your orders. I now have a package of both, and there is a difference. The 24 works well even for playing with dip pens.

Hp Laser Premium Paper this is what I got from amazon.

A bit late but...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JKMVI50?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01

I'm at work and don't have a picture handy. I think it's the best looking Jinhao out there. Looks super classy at a distance, and maybe a little chintzy close up. Either way, I think it's great for 10$.

Another paper question!

Is there anywhere in the US I can buy loose-leaf reams of 8.5x11 Tomoe River Paper in bulk?

I have a sample on the way to try, but in the very likely case that I decide to invest in TR paper, I'd like to pay around $0.05 to $0.09 per sheet, including shipping if possible. I know Paper for Fountain Pens has 100 sheets available for $11+~$5 shipping, but I'd like to be more cost effective since I can easily burn through a ream of HP LaserJet paper in 2 weeks.

The TWSBI Diamond 580AL is a great pen, piston filler and demonstrator for £58.99. That would also give you about £11 free for some ink and maybe a Rhodia dot pad staplebound or wirebound.

If you wanted to get a couple of inks and writing pad then you could go for the slightly cheaper TWSBI Diamond 580RB £46.99 leaving you £23 to spend on ink and paper.

If you wanted to push the £70 to the limit and just get a classy pen with a solid 18kt gold nib for £72.72. It wouldn't leave you anything over for ink or writing pads but it would be a classy pen.

The other option would be to go the cheap fountain route and buy 2 or 3 Jinhao X450's off Amazon or eBay, they typically sell for around £6-10 each, then you have a lot more to spend on ink and writing pads. If you go the Jinhao route then I would avoid the 250 range, they are fine nibs as opposed to the 450 medium nibs, and my experience are the fine nibs tend to be quite scratchy and I had one where the nib just wouldn't friction fit into the pen. I have 5x Jinhao X450's and not had a single problem with any of them.

I did the same thing, recently, and got mine in black for $3.41 shipped Prime via Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002G4DHGM

I should also mention this set of syringes with blunt tips because I'm particularly happy with them:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0773BT39W

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Pilot Blue Black is commonly enjoyed by people, it's a good basic blue with some water resistance. Pilot Blue has even more resistance but it's lighter...


I personally use Pilot Black in a lot of my pens but it's not a very dark black. These Pilot inks are more about utility than fancy color.

​

Refilling cartridges is a good lifestyle. I wish I did that from the start - it's actually less work than refilling a converter. (No 'wiping off the nib' and the syringe cleans out very easily.)

That's really cool that you're trying to share the hobby with your co-worker. Unfortunately, I'm not sure about sites for used fountain pens, (maybe check out r/Pen_Swap), but I have a few suggestions for cheaper pens:

• The Pilot Metropolitan is a very nice entry level pen and it's only $11 on Amazon right now. It comes with a black cartridge and a converter if you want to get him a bottle of ink. You could also get him a pack of extra cartridges to go along with it and stay under $20.
  
• The Platinum Preppy, which is about $3-$5 and comes in many different colors. (This is the blue-black version). It comes with one ink cartridge and works with standard converters. (The converter is not included)
  
• Pilot also makes the Varsity, which is a line of disposable fountain pens that come pre-filled with ink. You can get a set of 7 different colors for around $12.
  
  I hope this helps!

Anecdotal input here: Within the past few weeks I got my own first fountain pen, so I am far from an expert. This is just me sharing my limited experience with you since I also use my pen for work/notes.


The pen I chose as my first was the Pilot Metropolitan. I use the pen almost exclusively for both work, and my notes in sessions with my clients. The nature of the notes each of us takes are going to be very different, as I work in mental health and write very few formulae.


Often I end up having to use the low quality paper that my office supplies; the sort of paper commonly found in printers and photocopiers. Before I started using my Pilot Met I was using the Pilot G2 gel pen with a 1.0 tip. The Pilot Met that I got came with a medium nib, but you can see in the Noob Guide that this pen comes with a nib that is on the Fine side of Medium.


When writing with the new pen I have noticed a few things:

1. The thickness of the line of the fountain pen is very comparable to the G2 1.0, so you may be dealing with a thicker line than you are used to. A Fine nib might be what you are looking for if that is the case.
   
   
   
2. Using a fountain pen does not significantly alter how your writing looks with a narrow nib. Yes, there are some differences in how the ink sets into the page, but my notes really are not too different than when I used a regular pen.
   
   
   
3. The paper will have an interaction with the ink. What sort of interaction is dependent on the qualities of both, but this too need not have a significant impact on your note taking. On cheap paper the ink bleeds a tiny amount, but not so much as to really be noticeable unless you are looking for it. The ink also does not take much special care to dry. As long as you are not rubbing on it right after writing it should dry at about the same rate as regular pen ink. (For the record, I am still using the original ink cartridge that came with my pen, and have purchased These Refills. Other inks may have other properties, and I am new enough to not know how they all may interact.)

Awesome review! I'm glad Mead isn't total crap... my experience with their paper was awful.

I was in a pinch and low on paper for notes during class, and bought this paper. Absolutely terrible, never buy again. It feathered worse than I've ever seen before and bled through to the piece of paper behind it. For reference, this is with a Pilot Metropolitan (M nib). I don't like throwing away things.. I mean everything must have some use? No, not this paper. A regular uniball Vision elite ballpoint pen even had massive showthrough. So people, pleasssse make sure you don't get the paper which I linked. OPs I'm sure is very nice :)

After some Reddit research, I ended up buying this laserjet paper, printing some faint lines, and 3-hole punching it. Even though I don't have a laserjet printer, the ink didn't smuge (possibly because the lines were faint). I was also very happy with the price for 500 sheets of the stuff, even if you include the price of printer ink. It feels and displays almost exactly like my Rhodia pad.

To add to this, the con-50 converter is a great addition to the metro. I really prefer this converter to the one included with the pen. It's an easy swap to make and the clear container makes it much easier to see the level of ink.

Three pens I'd suggest:

TWSBI Eco ($29) - The subreddit loves this pen for a reason. Incredibly good value with a demonstrator piston filler (which you may not like if you want to stick with cartridges) as well as multiple, swappable nib options.

Faber-Castell Loom ($40) - Incredibly smooth nib, can't really say much more than that.

Pilot Capless ($75-80) - The cheaper, stainless steel/"special alloy" nibbed version of the Pilot Vanishing Point with a gold nib, but still a great retractable pen. The nib units are also swappable, including with the VP's gold nibs if you wanted to upgrade but not buy a separate pen.

My suggestion is to get:

Pilot Metropolitan, you can also get a fine tip if you want that.

A Pilot Con-50

And finally, some Parker Quink.

I'd probably use the converters because they are less prone to leaking, and you can always get new ink in case you want another color.

A 2oz bottle of ink will likely last you around 9 months if you are writing a fair bit daily and don't spill any, though I've managed to go through one in 3 months, due to writing a novel.

If you want blue ink too, you can get some Blue Quink

Lamy also makes some great ink for cheap in Blue, Black and Turquoise

"Eyedropper" type pens, where you fill the entire barrel of the pen with ink, instead of a cartridge, are called an eyedropper pen, because the diameter of the barrel, being larger than a tiny cartridge, is easier to fill up with an eyedropper. I do have Noodler's Heart of Darkness ink in the larger bottle with the eyedropper, which came with an included free eyedropper pen. Like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Noodlers-Ink-Heart-Darkness-19808/dp/B0015VB4EE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1495247390&sr=8-3&keywords=noodler%27s+bulletproof+black

Waterman Intense Black seems to be the best fit for your requirements. It's a nice black ink, and dries quickly.

Parker Quink is an option like you mentioned But I've used Quink in a fine nib and it wasn't grey but it was a light black. In a medium or bigger nib it should be a medium black.

I hope this helps.

sorry forgot to mention the ink I got, I've updated my post Pilot Namiki Ic100 Fountain Pen Ink Cartridge

​

okay thanks for the advice! The squeeze converter is the grey looking sac I've got with the pen right? Is that one good or should I get another one? I've seen some fountain pens with a piston converter that seems better

Not OP but it looks really similar to the case I use (Amazon Smile link) and I love it.

I would second the recommendation on the Pilot MR.

But you should also know, the same company as the pen you posted offers a set of four for dirt cheap. You might want to consider this option if you get more than one kind of ink. These are good for starting out.

4 pcs Jinhao 250 Fountain Pen in 4 colors https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D6CJFBE/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_7OsPwbK84AD14

Good luck and have fun.

I think pretty much the entire J Herbin line is available with Prime shipping for ~13$, including Ambre de Birmanie and several blues: Eclat de Saphir, Diablo Menthe, and Bleu Nuit. They also have a couple other blues that you might like.
As for black, Quink is pretty good(and very inexpensive) but I find that it does better in F+ nibs. They also have a Blue-Black but it, unlike its black counterpart, isn't available with Prime shipping as far as I can see.

Platinum preppy is another great, inexpensive pen that performs like a champ. (imo)

Amazon

If you are just starting out then I would recommend the Kuretake No 13. It is a decent brush that can use Platinum converters.

Now not only is it a good starter brush pen that is refillable. This pen can also fit the natural sable hair brush refills if you care to upgrade without having to pay out for the Kuretake No 40/50 pen.

Here is a gallery from a past post where I used the natural brush heads in kuretake pens to give you an example. https://imgur.com/a/pBpHt#4

And lastly you really don't need a converter unless you really want to use them. Just syringe refill the cartridges when they are empty.

This is a bit of a dictionary answer, but you can value your pen based on price new and condition.

If you have this pen in new condition, then you can reasonably ask for a trade of a pen in similar condition that has the same new price.

Like this pen.

There is, of course, some margin because someone may want to trade their $150 pen that they don't like for your $100 pen that they do like (instead of spending actual dollars and still having a pen they don't like just gathering dust).

I say post it up for trade. Ask for what you want. Then see if anyone offers.

Glad you are coming to the hobby too!


Feathering can be caused by a multitude of issues:

Pen laying down too much ink - if the pen is a very wet writer, it will sometimes leave too much ink on the page, and it will be absorbed by the paper.

Bad paper - a lot of paper is not ideal for fountain pens. There are definitely some expensive papers that will work absolute wonders for making the ink look great, but some hp 32lb paper is really the way to go, especially for a beginner. After that, Rhodia is a very good choice.

Bad ink - different inks from different fountain pens react differently on paper. Noodler's specifically has an ink that is designed to not feather at all. (Noodler's X-Feather). Also, the Pilot Iroshizuku line is very well behaved from this aspect. I made a post about this just the other day. Give that a read, and see if it helps!

I'm not sure where you're getting the EIII- is it a mark on the cap of the pen? If so, that's so you can tell what quarter of what year it was made in.

If it's a fountain pen, it will accept a Parker converter, which will allow you to use any bottled fountain pen ink. If you want something that can't be erased, look into the Noodler's "bulletproof" inks, such as American Eel Black.

See the sidebar for useful information if you're brand new to the hobby or would like to learn more!

Even cheaper:

• Pilot Seremo for ~$45... but not this one :P
  
• or the oh-so-rememberably named Platinum PTL-5000A for ~$40
  
  I don't have personal experience with them, though have heard good reviews. I can attest that the 3776 is a really nice pen.
  
   
  
  Tho TBH, I don't feal much difference in gold/steel except where softness/flex is concerned.

Yep: there might be cheaper sources, but this is what I've bought on Amazon. On sale now for <$4.

(And me, a non-gun person...)

Here's mine. See, it's perfect (I padded inside the top with foam because I was mailing these 25 samples.)

Looks like it doubled in price, but still a great buy imo. Here's the link https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004Y7CKT4?ref_=yo_ii_img&psc=1&pldnSite=1&th=1

I find that the 32# paper from HP is a little bit too thick. I personally prefer HP 24# Laser Paper, it is thinner but still holds up quite nicely. OP can print some lines on the paper or place a sheet of lined paper underneath to create guidelines.
http://www.amazon.com/HP-LaserJet-Brightness-Inches-11240-0/dp/B00006IDS1/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

You actually probably do!

Platinum Preppy $5.67
Pilot Varsity $8.49 per 3 pack
Pilot V-Pen $6.99
Bic Disposable $5.06 per 2 pack
Jinhao X450 $4.54
Zebra V-301 $7.87
Jinhao X450 $4.54
Baoer Silver Cross Line $4.50
Pelikan 4001 Ink 30ml Royal Blue $8.65
Jinhao $5.21 for 15

So you see, you can buy one. Maybe not a Montblanc just yet, but don't worry, these are all still fun.

try platinum pla5000a they looks pretty neat.
or pilot C74

I'm think about buying the platinum ptl-5000a. If I got it I would probobly buy it from Amazon at about 50 dollars. Do you guys think it's a good pen or there is a better pen for a similar price. Any feedback is apricated.
https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Fountain-PTL-5000A-point-Black/dp/B004BA69XW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538848612&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=platinum+ptl-5000a&dpPl=1&dpID=41w5dqd2a-L&ref=plSrch

A cheap TWSBI is really good. Or search PenBBS on ebay..
Here is a $80 Platinum with M nib. A gold nib is not for bragging rights, it really gives a better writing experience.
https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-3776-CENTURY-Chartres-Blue/dp/B00B1N90W4/

Jinhao 8812 super cheap, but I think it looks classy.

If you're OK with a lightweight pen then I would recommend the Platinum PLT-5000a. It's been my daily carry for a while and it looks as good as when I first got it, plus its got a very nice 14k nib. You do need a proprietary converter, but even with that you should still be within budget.

If you want a metal body you could try the Jinhao X750. You could also look at a Conklin Herringbone, or the Platinum Procyon, but I don't have any personal experience with them.

>bleach, vinegar and other household cleaning solutions,

Those are not good things to put into pens.

A 10% ammonia solution is what you need. Otherwise, Koh-i-Noor Rapidoeze is excellent and will do the trick.

not really I bought these pens and I think I am going to mix the inks to end up being complimentary colors according to the color of the pen nib. I think the contrast will end up looking really cool. Right now i just have a green vial and a blue vial (other than my mixing kit) but if you are getting rid of ink I am excited for any color really!

i got these two with a metro

hope i got the right stuff lol

4 Jinhao 250's and ink cartridges, thanks to my wife :-)

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00D6CJFBE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Now I just need to convince her to let me visit the ink shop again ... she keeps trying to Jedi Mind Trick me - "you do not need to buy more ink..."

I grabbed the set from Amazon. They had the best deal for all 7 colors, only $18
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IU3US7O/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edit: updated link

I keep my good pens away from where people sit in my office. I litter G2s, a few TULs and a couple Jinhao 250s so people won't be tempted by my good ones.

Here's a direct link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0015VB4EE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511465821&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=noodler%27s+heart+of+darkness

Hope that helps!

I ended up ordering one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Jinhao-Fountain-Barrel-Vintage-Style/dp/B00JKMVI50/ref=sr_1_5?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1464023783&sr=1-5&keywords=jinhao

It's been fantastic so far--no complaints. It does appear that the nib is an F instead of a M, but that doesn't bother me a bit, and it's a surprisingly good-looking pen.

This super cheap one from Amazon.

I am pretty sure it is this

Love this pen!
http://www.amazon.com/Platinum-3776-CENTURY-Chartres-Blue/dp/B00B1N90W4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453814469&sr=8-2&keywords=platinum+3776

From amazon, here's the link

Transparent Eye Dropper Filling Fountain Pen by Moonman M2 Large-Capacity Ink Storing, Fine Nib Writing Calligraphy Pen Gift Set for Office/Business/Student/Signature https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BQSH5K4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SN8KDbZ3RPQR8

I'll second the recommendation for getting better paper. I didn't think it'd make that much of a difference either, and than I picked some up and it really made the nib feel smoother and the ink behave better. A Rhodia dot pad can be had for less than 8 bucks. Yes, it might seem like you're "throwing money away", but if that's really how you feel, then why use a fountain pen anyway?

How about a couple Pilot Varsitys and a Rhodia pad of some sort? You won't be able to choose your ink, but it's a nice way to dip your toe into it.

[Pilot Varsity] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00G0QZUXK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1451368011&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=pilot+varsity&dpPl=1&dpID=41-fIs4PfyL&ref=plSrch)

[Rhodia Dotpad] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003UCL77U/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1451368069&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=rhodia+dot+pad&dpPl=1&dpID=41AFRoTGpcL&ref=plSrch)

They'll come with cartridges, which are usually disposable. You can still get that pack, but if you want to easily take ink from your sample vials, you can either buy a platinum converter, or you can buy a blunt tip syringe(look em up on Amazon) and use that to decant inks into used cartridges.

The converter has a mini piston that draws up ink. Since the preppies seem to come with a cartridge each, I'd just go with refilling the cartridges with a blunt tip syringe as it's cheaper.

Don't forget to wash out the pen and cartridge or converter every time you switch inks!

http://www.amazon.com/pcs-Jinhao-250-Fountain-colors/dp/B00D6CJFBE/ref=sr_1_3?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1459015719&sr=1-3&refinements=p_4%3AJINHAO they are all 250s, I currently have the Black and Red Magic one, I love it.

Yea it's about the right price. I would just get it from amazon tho.http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001AX5SRG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1451845136&sr=8-3&refinements=p_85:2470955011&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=pilot+custom+74&dpPl=1&dpID=31zLS96VnxL&ref=plSrch&th=0

Most of the nib options and colours are fulfilled by amazon or at least shop from the USA. There's a few listings. You may want to check out the custom 92. It's about 30-40 more but the piston fill and capacity is worth it imo

Platinum 3776, Black, Medium Nib

This plus the Converter is under $70 for a great pen with a gold nib, and cap that will keep the pen from drying out for over a year.

Idk of its just me, but I wouldn't put any pen in there. It'd be way too easy to get them all scratched up, especially my resin ones.

I use this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01BXQZMK2/ref=sxts1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491346693&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65

And this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LW7NPCK/ref=sxts2?ie=UTF8&qid=1491346693&sr=2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65

Came here to suggest this case but I kind of like /u/wesleytylerky suggestion better if you have a couple more bucks.

I'm guessing that there is still residue in the feed that is preventing ink flow. I've seen this before with a used VP I bought. I tried everything and only Rapido-Eze did the trick. I soaked the entire nib unit in it for a day, flushed it with water, then let it soak a little longer in the Rapido-Eze. It worked like a charm.

Perhaps you could look into any resellers that fulfil through Amazon for a more certain return policy, and hope that the price ends up similar. Prices there often depend on nib choice.

FK-700R-B: bold, fine.
CH74: many, music.

I have no experience ordering this way though.

A cartridge is disposable and comes prefilled with ink. This is a cartridge for a Pilot MR Metropolitan

A converter takes the place of a cartridge and you fill it with bottled ink. They (typically) have a piston that you twist that sucks the ink up into it. This is a converter for a pilot MR Metropolitan

You CAN technically refill cartridges with a blunt tip syringe (because I know someone will try to correct me on this). I hope that helps!

Another good way to store your vials would be using some shotshell cases like this. Personally I just go the cheap route and use a strip of cardboard with holes cut out to keep the vials together.

If colors are youre game...then the Platinum or Pilot sets are a good choice:

https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Preppy-Rainbow-Fountain-Point/dp/B00IU3US7O/ref=pd_sim_229_11?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=701CKH2FQ99KM1PDT5JD

or

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Petit-1-Fountain-Komainu-Dou-Original/dp/B00N3ITMF0/ref=pd_sim_229_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Z76N8ZSAQ88CTPYC6PDS

The Pilot Celemo (sometimes spelled Seremo on Amazon) and the Platinum PTL5000 are a bit over your price range at a bit under USD 50, but both are black with gold trim and have 14K gold nibs. I think you might like them.

https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Fountain-PTL-5000A-point-Black/dp/B004BA69XW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

(Edited to add link to picture)

Noodlers Ink 4.5Oz Heart Of Darkness W/Pen https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015VB4EE

Amazon my friend

I'd say get yourself some Koh-I-Noor Rapido-Eze Pen Cleaner and soak the pen in it overnight, the stuff is designed to dissolve india ink and will come in handy for giving other pens a through cleaning.

http://www.amazon.com/Koh-I-Noor-Rapido-Eze-Pen-Cleaner-bottle/dp/B000KNNI24

I actually don't know much about this pen so I can't answer many questions very well. I am using calligraphy ink in it because that's all I have.

Edit: Just looked it up, it is a 250. My brother got a four pack on amazon and gave me two. Link

Does anyone know if this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00135JVKQ/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

​

Will fit into the parker jotter fountain pen?

https://www.amazon.com/Koh-I-Noor-Rapido-Eze-Cleaning-Solution-30684/dp/B000KNNI24/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=koh-i-noor+fountain+pen+cleaner&qid=1566520461&s=gateway&sr=8-3

This stuff works wonders. I had an orange stain on a white shirt and it took it right out. It is also a good investment to change out your pens.

If slightly heavy pens are OK, I too strongly recommend looking up the Jinhao x750, x450 and x159 on eBay. There are several sellers selling them for as little as $4 each shipped from China; at that price, you can overbuy and if you get a dud pen, just switch it out. They take Goulet nibs if you want to fiddle with them later. They're metal and come in a wide variety of color schemes. I have 4 and so far, each has been a dependable if slightly wet/wide writer. No leaks or failures in the 4. Here's a 4-pack of various Jinhao 250s on Amazon for $7.98 with $1 shipping.

Pilot Metro $11.80. Comes with a CON-20 converter. Can add a CON-50 for $6.74 for a total of $18.54.

Or just about any Jinhao pen would work as well.

I just take a plastic pipette, and refill my preppy cartridges. $5 for 100 pipettes that can be used for multiple pens, or $7 for the converter that is easier to use, but only for one pen. I guess it's a matter of preference really.

The MTM Case-Gard shotshell case...bought mine via Amazon, but sometimes available at local bigbox stores and sports/outdoors stores. Here is the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/MTM-Multi-Gauge-Shotshell-Forest/dp/B004Y7CKT4/

Shotgun shell boxes like this one work really well.

Ahh allright, dude, that's even worse what I did there :D

I think I'd go with the Pilot Metropolitan which I mentioned in this comment already :)

Or the fine Preppy black


Or of course, any other suggestions? ;)

I have this one and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it works. It's a heavier pen, twist converter, looks alright, cheap but doesn't really feel it.

It may be a little too broad for you, but I wouldn't call it overly wet. Also you can't post the cap which is kinda annoying but not a huge deal. It's worth the $9 in my opinion.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKMVI50/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2MZ.zbADEA299

My girlfriend is going through medical school right now, and uses this set for most of her notes. We've been refilling cartridges with whatever similar colors we have around when she empties a cartridge:

https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Preppy-Rainbow-Fountain-Point/dp/B00IU3US7O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487992946&sr=8-2&keywords=preppy+set

Not the most exciting, but it's cheap and gets the job done. Work well on cheap paper, too.

The Pilot Metropolitan only takes Pilot converters, which are the con-20, con-50, and con-70. The con-70 isn't very common, and I don't know a lot about it. The con-20 seems to hold more ink than the con-50, but by using the con-50 you can see how much ink you have left in the pen, compared to the con-20 which isn't transparent.

EDIT: wrong pen, whoops.

Yes, but Parker cartridges are proprietary, thus the converter are too. Get that one (you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere though).

:) Anything that doesn't have a brand name in the title is automatically suspicious to me.

If you want a wood pen on the cheap, I'd ago with the Jinhao 8812. Those reviews are genuine.

Amazon seems to have some: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IU3US7O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_84TyDbZHQPPAE

Link for the lazy (Note: NOT an affiliated link).

EDIT: no money cannot buy. =l

EDIT 2: price only for F nibs. FYI.

I'll put in another recommendation for Black N Red. You can get a full size notebook <$6 on Amazon.

Or if you want to go even cheaper, you can get a ream of 24lb HP Laserjet Paper for $10

You want this converter: https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Fountain-Pen-Converter-CON-50/dp/B0016YWJZ8

Pilot uses a proprietary converter/cartridge so you have to use Pilot converters and cartridges. You can use any FP ink you want.

I just got a bottle of this today after reading and reading on FPN. A 1:4 dilution should do the trick. If it works on India ink, it should be able to conquer just about anything.
Koh-I-Noor Rapido-Eze Pen Cleaner 8 oz. bottle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KNNI24/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_EtzQwbSQJ3D0P

It's on Amazon for $70, with prime shipping. I've never heard of the seller before, but they get reputable reviews.

Link: Platinum "#3776 CENTURY / Chartres Blue"(nib : Medium) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1N90W4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_cLyPzbVJ07H52

Amazon Prime has them. $22, but you’ll have it in two days.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BQSH5K4/ref=pe_825000_114212990_TE_n_id

Pay for a chunk of your new Pilot Vanishing Point. OR, buy yourself a Midori Traveler's Notebook in brown leather if you already have a decent fountain pen or two. My two cents, or what I would do with $50 on Amazon.

If you normally just write on printer paper, replace that with some HP 24 lb laser printer paper. You can get 500 pages for $10 with Prime, or if there's a Staples near you, you can also opt for Wheat Straw recycled paper.

https://www.amazon.com/HP-LaserJet-letter-Bright-Sheets/dp/B00006IDS1
http://www.staples.com/Step-Forward-80-Wheat-Straw-FSC-Certified-Copy-Paper-21-lb-8/product_180614

I would expect that one is included with the pen, but if it isn't:

http://www.amazon.com/Parker-Fountain-Deluxe-Converter-5638200/dp/B00135JVKQ

Mine came with the set (I am in India). But I think you might find a suitable one for you on Amazon

This is the convertor that I have for my one.

it might be, but i'm back to the Pilot converter that comes with it. I also have the con50. I havent tried the con50 with it, just the stock converter.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pilot-fountain-custom-black-print-FKK1000RB-SF/dp/B001AX5SRG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1463009185&sr=8-5&keywords=pilot+custom+74

Done.

What do you mean by 0.3? Is this the right one?

https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Fountain-Preppy-Black-PPQ-200/dp/B001H0CEM4

Yea I use THESE but it also comes with a plate converter for the old school approach to loading and using ink.

I'm in the same situation. The Rhodia Dot and Muji notebooks.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XDE024/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1452357357&sr=1&keywords=platinum+converter

There is only the Platinum proprietary converter. Nothing else fits. I think there is a choice between a gold and silver version.

Luxury Brands Platinum Fountain Pen Converter (PLAT500) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XDE024/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ojMRyb9KXK671

In case you are open to another storage idea: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004Y7CKT4/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Holds 25 sample vials, keeps them in the dark, closes tightly, is cheap, seems stackable (I only have one so cannot test).

I'm using this with both pens: http://www.amazon.com/Parker-Permanent-Refill-2-ounce-S0037460/dp/B004YK4VHA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453337590&sr=8-1&keywords=Parker+quink+ink

I think imma get this as my first ink. Cheap and practical I think.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004YK4VHA/ref=pd_aw_vtph_229_bs_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0WGX61C7CR1A5RQQRJ97

Right outside your price range!!!!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WPTTG4/ref=twister_B00Z7EAY28?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

All should have the 18k gold nib since that's what's written in the page:

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Vanishing-Collection-Retractable-60580/dp/B005WPTTG4?crid=20L0CIP94T1UT&keywords=pilot%2Bvanishing%2Bpoint&qid=1537163948&sprefix=Pilot%2Bvanis&sr=8-1&ref=mp_s_a_1_1&th=1&psc=1

Pilot Vanishing Point Collection Retractable Fountain Pen, Matte Black Barrel. I got mine for $125, the price fluctuates a lot.

Platinum "#3776 CENTURY / Chartres Blue"(nib : Medium) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1N90W4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_StnGzbT6XMEE2

Non-mobile: these

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

This 7-pack of Preppies comes in at under $5 a pen.

Yup!

Off Amazon. It took 20 days to arrive at my house so don't be in a rush to get it. The price I paid was $3.81 and the seller was lookatool.

If I wear a shirt with a pocket, I usually have two pens in it. I also usually have an aluminum Kaweco Al-Sport in my pants pocket.

In addition, if I'm at work or otherwise not going to be somehow athletic, I carry a cheap 12-pen case like this one.

I found this:
https://www.amazon.com/Transparent-Fountain-Arrival%E3%80%91Large-Capacity-Calligraphy-Signature/dp/B07BQSH5K4?th=1&psc=1

Try It For Yourself

Also, what's with the proce difference between Amazon.ca Amazon.com and ebay???

https://m.ebay.ca/itm/Luxury-Moonman-M2-Lecai-Transparent-High-Capacity-Fountain-Pen-Fine-Nib-0-5mm/202237673084?hash=item2f164dfe7c:g:1c4AAOSwyTFaj2Yj

https://www.amazon.com/Transparent-Fountain-Arrival】Large-Capacity-Calligraphy-Signature/dp/B07BQSH5K4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524716754&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=moonman%2Bm2&dpPl=1&dpID=51I6LInq4RL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/Transparent-Fountain-Arrival】Large-Capacity-Calligraphy-Signature/dp/B07BQSH5K4/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1524716578&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=moonman+m2&dpPl=1&dpID=51KoNQtptiL&ref=plSrch

Edit: how do I compress links?

This is where I got it from https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BQSH5K4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_eK1bBb54Y968C

https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Fountain-Preppy-Black-PPQ-200/dp/B001H0CEM4

That one? I can't see where I would get a converter for it. I don't want to be buying refills.

Sorry - It's a CON-50.

http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Fountain-Pen-Converter-CON-50/dp/B0016YWJZ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456842895&sr=8-1&keywords=con-50

I am going to assume that you are in South Africa and looking for the pen there. I have just moved to the US and bought my M2 on Amazon; one of the many things one sadly cannot do back in SA.

This is the Amazon link I used to buy it from

that's odd I can see one thats a medium nib that has amazon prime. right here https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Fontain-Custom-SF-Nib-FKK-1000R-B-SF/dp/B001AX5SRG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469760924&sr=8-2&keywords=pilot+custom+74

To keep costs down for the future:
$11.50 24lb HP laserjet paper - no bleed through and frequently recommended for FP use
Also, you can sell the pens/inks you don't need anymore.

I'm at 2 pens, 3 inks since starting in late March. It can be done!

I'm a little unclear on the capacity that you need, and are you intending on carrying this around all the time?

Here's a 48 pen case so you can hold all the writing materials in one. The same company makes a 12 pen case if you only need to carry around a few at a time.

I bought this and it says it comes with a pen... some stuff states it comes with a "charlie" and others states it comes with a "preppy". well the preppy comes with a rollerball nib that gets stuck in it during shipping... I got both. No complaints, but I also cant find the rollerball nib. I shined a flashlight up in there and nothing, so I am guessing I am good to fill with ink?

first pens i have ever had that didn't need cartridges. so just slightly nervous about screwing them up.

Actually, no. Even though most retailers based in the US give you options with a price range of upper $150, you can still buy gold nib pens with relatively low price if you are willing to do some research.

For example: https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Fountain-PTL-5000A-point-Black/dp/B004BA69XW

Amazon is a strange and versatile place. Many relatively cheap gold nib fountain pens could be found there. Try to search for Pilot Custom 74, Wing Sung 698 14K, Platinum 3776 Century. These should all be in your price range. Choose your seller carefully, though.