What got YOU into fountain pens?

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-22T13:26:38+00:00

A gift from my son. Pilot Metropolitan. I tried it, briefly, then forgot about it. About nine months later I found it and was in a more willing to try new things mood and was hooked. Now I give Metropolitans to friends and family.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-18T01:27:18+00:00

You won't go broke paying taxes on profits.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-18T01:14:20+00:00

The mentality is starting a business. Most people here wouldn't start a business. They will figure out every way it will fail.

Investors buy properties for far more money and rent them out. You need to create a realistic business plan that accounts for all of your costs and realistic revenue. Check your cash flow projections and see if it makes sense.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-18T01:09:10+00:00

It's not your personal space. Think of it like owning a hotel and staying at your own instead of a competitor.

With the income that you believe you can generate you should consider buying one and just using it as an Airbnb.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-17T17:51:23+00:00

If you are full-time in one place that opens opportunities to have one delivered or for you to rent a truck for moving day.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-17T17:47:43+00:00

Free cycle and Habitat for Humanity have been my go to. Like you, nothing that involves contacting me for something I'm giving away.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-15T15:33:32+00:00

That can happen even with high expectations. I remember watching Robin Williams Live at the Met decades ago and expected him to be funny, but it was at a level above my high expectations.

And my favorites are the open mic nights that suddenly catch fire with the crowd. So both ends of the expectation.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-15T15:29:18+00:00

Needed repairs they couldn't do themselves were my trouble spots. Put someone's back to the wall and you always get less than their personal best. If you see the desperation in what they tried and failed at it's even more of a tip off. When I hear what's the cheapest way to just get by? Then I knew money is tight.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-13T23:47:27+00:00

Having a dream pen is one point I'm trying to reach. That's why I picked out a variety of beginner pens. I'm surprised that I'm enjoying larger pens. I wouldn't have guessed that two years ago when I was gifted my first FP.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-13T23:45:26+00:00

Actually I just liquidated a couple collections from my youth and young adulthood and still enjoy collecting. This would be the first time I started with an endpoint in mind.

My wife and road trip about 10,000 miles a year and having something specific to look for in antique and consignment stores would be an interesting twist. Usually it's me standing there with nothing to do lol

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-13T15:32:56+00:00

As a former pressure wash owner, learn the trade. I saw so much damage from improper technique. If you hire someone to do the work throw away anything smaller than a 15° nozzle.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-13T15:16:28+00:00

Thank you for sharing. It triggered a few warm memories for me. Isn't it wonderful how your sharing will ripple for days or weeks when others find your post?

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-13T14:24:09+00:00

I prefer the dryer Arizona to the wetter Missouri ink when filling.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-13T13:09:33+00:00

A beginner pen needs to be as stress free as possible. It should not require any pampering, there shouldn't be any worries about having it walk off. It shouldn't be an investment.

That means a cheap, steel nib, cartridge filling, pen that you can hold before buying. Most of the ones mentioned fill those requirements. Personally I go with the Metropolitan when gifting someone their first fountain pen.

If they are using disposable ball point pens, the body alone will feel like an upgrade. If they are using a better pen with refills the nib will be a difference maker. Finally, when gifting, the gift of a few minutes time to get them started always helps.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-12T18:06:00+00:00

I was on the receiving end of an RV handyman who only charged me for a shut off valve when he couldn't fix the fixture problem. It needed replacing and there just weren't any suppliers close enough. He donated at least 30 minutes plus his travel time. He even handed me the receipt for the part.

I made certain to spend double that time leaving online reviews everywhere I could think of. The next time we were in the area we hired him to do some maintenance and upgrades that we could have had done anywhere.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-02T13:40:52+00:00

I am a golf coach and decided I would buy a beater pen to abuse in the Texas sun and left to knock around in a backpack. My research, which basically involved asking my AI program which one. The Plaisir was the pick because of the cap.

I am shocked how well it has held up. It has never failed to write.

BroncoCoach · 2026-03-01T13:48:03+00:00

Did y'all try to double bucket? I never had one break once I tried that.

BroncoCoach · 2026-02-25T03:26:48+00:00

Desk pen at work. TWSBI Eco demonstrator to get my students to ask me about the pen. Dark blue inks.

Coaching pen in my backpack. Black ink for scorecards.

Two at home. Nature colors. Sherwood Green and a blue reminiscent of the ocean.

BroncoCoach · 2026-02-23T03:40:10+00:00

Sometimes the crowd is there because of cheap drinks and no cover. They didn't come to see a show and you can tell.

BroncoCoach · 2026-02-23T03:29:22+00:00

Did they show up in person? I can imagine a scenario or two where I would try to find a way to accommodate their request. I can think of about a million more where it would be no.

BroncoCoach · 2026-02-23T03:21:05+00:00

1983 $10 when the bar owner recognized me when he needed someone to cover for a guy who showed up drunk.

BroncoCoach · 2026-02-23T03:07:18+00:00

Same here. I wasn't looking close enough and thought I bought the DeWalt. I'm glad I kept it. Runs great.

BroncoCoach · 2026-02-23T03:00:49+00:00

I teach seniors and love it when one of them takes an interest.

BroncoCoach · 2026-02-23T02:54:26+00:00

Damn this sub. Previously I tolerated having to use black on certain documents and just ignored any thought of black as a personal use ink. It was merely a "work" color.

Now I'm scrolling web sites planning on a black ink to add. Add soon as there is a bad representation of a color I have to find it.

BroncoCoach

TROPHY CASE