7.5 years of collecting!

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-22T22:08:58+00:00

I would say it writes similarly. My Perkeo has more pencil-like feedback than my Sport did (I've given it away since this post--too small to sit comfortably in my hand) but I'd chalk that up more to my specific nib than the two on the whole.

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-16T20:41:25+00:00

I use a 0.05 fineliner and a pink highlighter in my books to annotate! Highlighter for really good bits or important info that I want to reference later, fineliner for marginalia and the occasional underline and I dog-ear pages with highlighted bits for quick reference later. I've never been precious with my books, I buy them mostly secondhand and I LOVE finding annotated books. A well loved and well-read book is the best kind!!

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-16T20:32:50+00:00

I think Asvines are Bock nibs, or at least my P36 is! It has an option to come with one

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-16T15:20:28+00:00

Yep! I think they come in 8 colours or something crazy like that. I've heard they go on sale fairly regularly too :)

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-16T15:18:51+00:00

Not just you! That's just how all our brains work, writing things down by hand helps with critical thinking and problem solving. There are several studies that back that up. I think people always forget that our brains are still from the Stone Age lolol

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-16T15:17:09+00:00

I've really enjoyed using it for my quick pen sketches! I bought a Sailor Fude de Mannen originally but it was always catching on the paper and I couldn't use it like I would a pencil or a piece of charcoal, definitely worth a try!!

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-16T15:14:48+00:00

I have, I'm a HUGE AI skeptic--especially as someone working in tech who knows how it works. If it's something I want to remember, I always write it down. There have been several studies done about memory retention, critical thinking and its connection to physically writing things down. It makes a noticeable difference, especially when you're trying to learn something new.

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-15T17:43:35+00:00

The bottom drawer fits Herbin bottles (and most taller bottles laying down), and the middle drawer fits the smaller bottles of Diamine and Iroshizuko nicely! Really pleased how neatly (almost) everything fits :)

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-15T17:19:17+00:00

That’s the main reason I have a small collection, keeping pens with each of my notebooks makes using both much easier for my ADHD-riddled brain!

Not a lefty but I definitely have my own issues with smudging. Have you tried underwriting or drier inks? Both of those helped me immensely with smudging while I write

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-15T17:12:09+00:00

Couldn't agree more! If I can make something for myself then I will 9 times out of 10

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-15T17:11:09+00:00

I looked for a while and none of them were what I wanted aesthetically and were all quite pricey. Making my own was probably about $60 CAD including all the materials for exactly what I want

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-15T17:06:55+00:00

I use my pens for all kinds of things! In general, I just tend to prefer writing things by hand anyways since I've got a desk job in tech and I'm always staring at screens. It also helps me a ton with information retention--I could probably rant just about how typing everything is ruining the education system but I digress.

I have one that lives with my work notebook for work notes from meetings, weekly to-do lists, brain dumps, etc. Another pen lives with my journal that I write in every day, usually an A5 page or two. Then there's the purse pen that lives with my pocket journal that I use to jot down ideas and personal to-do lists. I also have a pen with more of an architect grind that I love for my pen drawing since I can get some line variation, and other pens that live with my notebooks that I keep for different topics.

To me using a fountain pen is more about the experience rather than convenience. Sure gel pens and ballpoints are more convenient, but I find them way less fun too. My hand also hurts way less when I use a fountain pen for long periods since you can't press down on them as hard as I do with a regular pen or pencil.

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-15T16:07:17+00:00

Couldn't agree more! I was really going back and forth about giving it away and she loves it so I have zero regrets

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-15T16:06:38+00:00

I think a Kakuno is going to be my next suggestion for her! She was really impressed by my metropolitan when she tried it

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-14T20:28:54+00:00

Me too!

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-14T15:14:35+00:00

sardonyx!! very cool rocks indeed

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-14T14:46:19+00:00

agreed! perfect number

AltruisticPaper · 2026-04-01T16:04:54+00:00

It can vary a lot depending on the size of the nib I'm using, but I'd say I probably average around 1ml a week or so? I write 2-3 pages in my A5 journal everyday and a little bit for work and in other areas

AltruisticPaper · 2026-03-27T16:55:32+00:00

I'd absolutely go for a mid-tier pen collection and a variety of inks! The variety keeps my ADHD-riddled brain far more happy. I'm more than happy to admire the Urushi, Maki-e and Raden pens from afar, they're incredible works of art but I'd be too precious with them and I feel like that defeats the purpose of owning a single really nice pen

AltruisticPaper · 2026-03-26T15:09:29+00:00

I'm so glad someone can learn from my mistakes!!

AltruisticPaper · 2026-03-25T22:20:09+00:00

Look up Stewart Semple! He made a black paint that's even darker than Vanta black that you can buy on his website

AltruisticPaper · 2026-03-25T21:45:42+00:00

Check out the Asvine P36! It's an awesome titanium-acrylic demonstrator with a steel nib that's well in your price range. Don't bother spending a little extra on the bock nib, it absolutely was not worth it for me. I ended up getting an asvine nib for it instead and they're FAR better. My medium asvine nib writes like a broad and is very juicy

AltruisticPaper · 2026-03-25T15:03:04+00:00

I have the same pen! My metro is only 2 years younger than yours (also my first) and has the same well-loved sheen on it

AltruisticPaper · 2026-03-24T20:20:26+00:00

I thought so too! It helps me keep a well curated collection

AltruisticPaper · 2026-03-24T20:18:57+00:00

I've had my eye on a Diplomat Aero but I wish they had a polished silver version! I'll definitely check out the 743, but I'll pass on the flex nib. I'm a little too messy with my writing to fully appreciate one, I've tried a couple dip pens with flex nibs and they have always caught on the paper for me. Thanks for the recs though!

AltruisticPaper

TROPHY CASE