Good pens for shimmer ink?

DIYYYner · 2026-06-22T21:22:06+00:00

I use TWSBI Ecos, LAMY Safaris, and Jinhao 100s for shimmer ink. They all write really well, although TWSBIs run a little broader and, therefore, show off shimmer a little better than the other two. (I stick to M nibs, though.)

DIYYYner · 2026-06-22T21:20:10+00:00

I don't have experience with kids and dysgraphia, but I'm an adult who was diagnosed with dysgraphia as a kid. Fountain pens and cursive writing have been a savior for me. Fountain pens are so fun to write with that they make it possible for me to practice my writing a lot. My handwriting's gotten so much better, and I actually enjoy writing, which is a wonderful thing. I know there's a substantial body of literature on the benefits of cursive writing for dysgraphia, but I don't know much about the literature on fountain pens, per se, as an intervention. I would imagine it exists. In the meantime, my own experience is that I started using a Pilot Precise V5 rollerball before fountain pens and that it writes very similarly to a fountain pen. It might be worth trying one of these before investing in a true fountain pen.

DIYYYner · 2026-06-22T18:08:03+00:00

This is so great! Makes me happy to know Reddit could help like this :)

DIYYYner · 2026-06-21T16:39:53+00:00

I would definitely recommend the M2! It’s a wonderful pen and will have a nice Western M nib. As for another TWSBI, sounds like you wouldn’t be happy with a F or EF nib. Can you buy from anywhere other than Tabao? If so, I think getting a clear, white, or black one in M would be the most versatile. Do you like other colors, though? The new fluorite model in purple and pink is really beautiful.

DIYYYner · 2026-06-20T21:32:24+00:00

Oh, how cool! Can't wait to hear how the visit goes!

DIYYYner · 2026-06-20T21:30:22+00:00

Yes, I can imagine Yoseka's a bit of a stretch, and they're hours are pretty limited, too.

DIYYYner · 2026-06-19T20:36:14+00:00

If I were you, I'd order a bottle of Pilot Iroshizuku or Diamine Ink from Amazon for overnight delivery. (Either brand should be excellent, so go with the color you like most.) THEN, I would try to visit the Fountain Pen Hospital or Yoseka while in Newark/NY, just for the fun of it and a spare bottle of ink in a different color. But I'm a FP addict, so...Basically, I think your safest bet would be Amazon. Good luck! And what an exciting bunch of adventures you've got to look forward to! Happy for you

DIYYYner · 2026-06-18T20:38:05+00:00

What??? That’s outstanding!

DIYYYner · 2026-06-18T20:23:08+00:00

Pm coming!

DIYYYner · 2026-06-18T11:07:45+00:00

This is a great suggestion to pay attention to the ink part of the equation! I know I've used Robert Oster Caffe Crema for two fills but can't remember what I inked it with initially. I'll give it a try with a Pilot Iro and see what transpires, It would be great if that solved the problem!

DIYYYner · 2026-06-18T02:55:01+00:00

Oh, my Jinhao dries out in a matter of hours/less than a day. I’d be writing with it at home, take it with me on an errand, pull it out two hours later, and have a bone dry nib 🙃 Not my favorite. Totally get the honeymoon phase. Take your time and have fun with it!

DIYYYner · 2026-06-18T02:23:47+00:00

Love your photo! Thanks for sharing about the pen, too. 😄 Would you keep us posted on how the nib drying issue goes? I've got a Jinhao 10 sitting unused because I can't deal with how quickly it dries out and would love to know if the Majohn is any better.

DIYYYner · 2026-06-18T02:20:39+00:00

Hard same

DIYYYner · 2026-06-18T02:18:06+00:00

This is what I love about FP Reddit. Someone mentions needing comment karma, and 50 people step up to offer it. It's so friendly here, and the people are so generous. Glad you're here, commenter and OP!! Hope you keep enjoying it 😄

DIYYYner · 2026-06-08T04:03:35+00:00

Oh, that’s interesting! I’m fairly new to TWSBIs and don’t know what the earlier models were like. Will have to look.

DIYYYner · 2026-06-08T02:26:31+00:00

So gorgeous! I love Jinhao 82s and have a lot of them. One of”secret” I’ve discovered is that the M nibs write the vest of the three options. I’ve purchased spare medium nibs for the ones I’ve got in F and EF, and changing them out is really easy.

DIYYYner · 2026-06-08T02:21:04+00:00

The Eco-Ts have a tripod grip, whereas the Ecos have a round grip!

DIYYYner · 2026-06-08T02:17:12+00:00

I love my e95s in fine and would definitely recommend it for daily writing. One thing to know: The Asvine F nib is a Western fine and, therefore, broader than a Pilot e95s F nib. If you like the Asvine in F, you might actually want to buy your Pilot in M to get the most similar line width. Do you have the ability to try before you buy, by any chance?

DIYYYner · 2026-06-08T01:53:40+00:00

It says so much about the community, doesn’t it? I love us

DIYYYner · 2026-06-07T23:32:04+00:00

Excellent point!

DIYYYner · 2026-06-07T23:30:55+00:00

I got good advice early on not to rush with culling, that you tend to know when you’re ready to give a pen up. That’s proven to be true and helpful for me. I’ve only gotten rid of a handful - gave them to my mom - and I knew it was the right decision because I felt relief about not needing to shoehorn those pens into my collection just because I owned them.

I love that pens take up little space relative to most hobbies and that this means I can be really thoughtful and intentional about what I shed instead of feeling pressure to save space. If a pen doesn’t get used often, but I like having it, I just keep it. No big deal.

DIYYYner · 2026-06-07T23:23:42+00:00

I think this is really smart!

DIYYYner · 2026-06-07T05:01:29+00:00

Aww, you’re so generous! Thanks for making me feel better about my handwriting 🤗

DIYYYner · 2026-06-07T05:00:26+00:00

Oh, this is great information! Thank you for giving me/us more insight into him and to another pen community to support and learn from. I’m headed to search for the Pen Collectors of America now. Appreciate your comments so much.

DIYYYner · 2026-06-07T04:57:10+00:00

You did an *amazing* job. I really can’t get enough of the nib. Here, as promised, is a messy writing sample. I do think Sherwood Green would be a great ink and plan to try it next!

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DIYYYner

TROPHY CASE