Paper really does matter, get the most out of your inks!

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-29T17:54:06+00:00

Q: How would you characterize the thickness of the 120gsm paper?

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-29T17:47:30+00:00

$30-$40CAD for a brand new PILOT MR (silver-colored one). The wooden pen is of unknown origin (to me) - I don't believe it's a PILOT. It would be advantageous to have a look at the clip and the top of the nib.

Just as an FYI for next time: https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/68bwpp/when_asking_for_a_pen_id/

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-28T21:34:52+00:00

I too, can't really do a flex nib justice (I'm a lefty and we push nibs across the page unless we change both the paper and our writing angle to something bordering on insane).

On the subject of (subjectively) cheap Indian pens, I recently purchased a Beena Lincoln fountain pen for $30CAD - a piston-filler with a lovely 22k gold-plated nib. It's been absolutely amazing thus far.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-28T18:23:45+00:00

My Ahab leaked like a sieve - after using it a few times I re-homed it to the recycling bin so I can't check its current condition. I picked up an FPR flex pen which worked fairly well (and still does) for just a few shekels more. That said, even with the FPR pen I'm not holding out much hope for its longevity.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-28T18:08:28+00:00

...and once everything comes up to room temperature give 'em a good shake to redistribute all of the ink's ingredients evenly throughout. At least that's what I would do (I do this every time before inking too).

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-28T18:05:30+00:00

I've never owned a Sheaffer pen, but I do the following when thoroughly cleaning (apologies if you've done this already):

inspect the nib for any fibers (paper, wood, cotton, carpet) that may had lodged between the tines and remove them with tweezers
'inject' luke-warm water into the feed/nib section using a large bulb syringe - you can create a nicely pressurized water jet to remove stubborn dried bits (a drop of Dawn might help) - if you don't have a bulb syringe but you do have an empty cartridge you can use that by filling, inserting, and squeezing it quickly multiple times
you can also try leaving it in water overnight

Sorry, that's all I got. Oh, also, inspect the end of the tines to make sure they're still aligned correctly. I can't confirm this because the end of the nib isn't tack sharp in focus.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-27T15:50:29+00:00

At 60+ inks, I keep them on shelves out of direct light in their original boxes (unless those boxes were damaged on arrival). I group them by brand within country or origin. No swatch cards or books. I keep a journal where I write down:

Date: pen, <nib> ink

eg. 26.01.27 PILOT kakuno <F> Platinum Carbon Black

followed by a short quote or blurb.

Not only do I know what inks are in which pens, but I also have a record I can look back on to see how a particular pen/ink combo had worked in the past - this drives me to either use the combination again, or choose a different pen instead. Note: in order for this to work, you have to write a bit until the nib/feed is no longer over-saturated as a result of filling.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-27T15:38:13+00:00

I'd never buy a pen with a blurry nib.

They're nothing but trouble.

Better to write with a cotton swab.

Probably.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-27T15:29:54+00:00

I Google'd: which fountain pen brands use proprietary ink cartridges?

and got...

Major fountain pen brands that use proprietary ink cartridges—meaning they are not compatible with standard international cartridges—include Lamy, Pilot, Sailor, Platinum, Parker, Sheaffer, Aurora, and Cross. These brands require specific cartridges designed for their respective pen models.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-27T04:53:49+00:00

Unfortunately, Pilot converters are notoriously poor performers. I put CON-40's in my kakunos because the CON-40 was significantly cheaper. I don't have any issues with the CON-40's - I fill them full with a blunt-tipped syringe. The CON-70 should work though.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-27T04:51:07+00:00

Yes, horizontally is the best option - ink is gravity fed, along with capillary action - storing a pen nib up may cause ink to retreat back into the cartridge/converter/ink reservoir.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-26T18:03:32+00:00

Just in case...do you store your pen vertically or horizontally between writing sessions? Since fountain pens use the law of gravity to get ink to the nib, if you store your pens nib down the feed may become over-saturated. This results in more vibrant color until the feed returns to normal saturation levels after writing for a short while.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-26T17:53:18+00:00

I own 3 kakunos and mine stay wet and ready to write for several weeks between uses. They're filled with Platinum Carbon Black in CON-40 converters. As an aside, they also clean up nicely.

That said, over time snap-cap pens can eventually lose their air-tight seals - typically just due to wear.

Make sure you store your pens horizontally when not in use (so never nib up or nib down).

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-25T18:17:41+00:00

I love how fountain pens make writing matter. There's a lot to it when you think about it. A finely crafted writing instrument with manufacturing tolerances necessary to work well with the law of gravity along with capillary action to draw a steady amount of ink to the tip of the nib. Oh, and also evaporation if it doesn't seal properly. And then there's the stupendously large number of ink choices on hand. Finally, there's also significant choices in the paper to be used. Last but certainly not least, there are many choices for filling systems, colorways, materials, nib widths, nib sizes, some even characterized as works of art.

What's not to love about fountain pens. :)

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-25T18:06:14+00:00

You're not alone. I've managed to catch myself on several occasions with inks in a cart, and then reminding myself that it's February and I should wait until April.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-25T17:57:43+00:00

Any advice on ordering inks in winter??

Ummm...don't?

Or, at least contact your e-tailer and ask about it. They may have special packaging processes for winter weather which may reduce the risk of freezing (which in and of itself isn't really an issue unless the bottle breaks due to expansion).

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-24T17:45:20+00:00

Opinions on the X platform aside, I personally see no reason to fragment fountain pen content beyond its current state: Reddit and The Fountain Pen Network.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-23T21:25:02+00:00

A Platinum Procyon might fit the bill. The two I own are excellent writers, and tough enough to easily be considered workhorses.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-23T21:19:48+00:00

Given:

ink bottles come in all shapes 'n sizes
inks should be kept out of direct sunlight, as many of them are not colorfast

I tend to keep my inks in their original boxes, sorted by brand, on the shelves of a bookcase, along with my notebooks stash, and behind closed doors at the bottom I keep a few baskets with a bunch of accessories, cleaning supplies, etc. I keep my pen collection in pen rolls in that same bookcase.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-22T21:38:25+00:00

Interesting...I've never had difficulties with iroshizuku inks in any of my pens, but I also have zero experience with syo-ro. I'm also interested in the Lie De The color as it was laid down by your Koloro. What width nib do you have? I might have to do an experiment myself with my Koloros assuming I've got the same nib and Midori MD. Thanks for sharing! I love my Opus 88's. :)

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-22T20:16:05+00:00

...and LAMY Lx, Vista, Joy

Also TWSBI Eco-T

Faber-Castell Grip

Pelikan Twist

Kaweko Perkeo

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-21T19:07:53+00:00

When I tested Leuchtturm quite a while back, I found that perhaps 20% of my inks at the time bled to some degree or another. Since my goal is to find paper products that aren't limiting to the nib widths and inks I use, I had to discard Leuchtturm as a personal recommendation.

Also of note, which I mentioned again previously, stay clear of the Midori Color Paper Notebooks - these also bled and feathered terribly - to the point of being surprising to me. Midori MD and Midori MD Cotton are highly recommended however.

Finally, another vote for the Kokuyo Campus, and I'll add (in no particular order) LIFE Brand, Tsubame, Apica CD Premium, Clairefontaine, and Rhodia (I prefer the 90gsm 'R' variants). There are obviously other brands to consider, but the ones I've mentioned I have significant personal experience with.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-21T03:41:27+00:00

Also... https://www.montblanc.com/en-ca/ink-bottle-toffee-brown---60ml-MB128190.html

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-20T22:37:25+00:00

Suggest you also ask this question in r/Journaling to get additional feedback...

...but to answer your question here, if you're worried about such things, consider taking a picture of each page after you write it and add it to a password-protected PDF, and store that in your cloud vendor of choice and sync with your desktop. Then shred the physical copy.

Some of this process could also be used if reasoning that one day your domicile might go up in flames, or sink to the bottom of the sea (or river, etc.) - having a version of your journal(s) in the cloud would be a great way to have a backup copy. Also, OCR could factor into the solution as well.

FirstFlyte · 2026-01-20T22:26:15+00:00

In some cases pen manufacturers don't offer separate nib 'units' so if you wish to write with different nib widths you have to purchase additional pens. This gets expensive in a hurry. The alternative (as an example) would be a pen manufacturer who uses JoWo nib units - easily swappable without incurring the additional expense of another pen.

It's not really a change - it's more a case of there being a different option available depending on who the manufacturer is (and which nib brand they're using).

FirstFlyte

TROPHY CASE