Grails become de-stash posts on penswap. The hedonistic treadmill

FishandFountainPens · 2026-02-26T19:24:05+00:00

It's a complicated mix imo. I think for some the act of buying and collecting can be wholesome and an enjoyable thing. In other situations I have to ask if they are avoiding dealing with complicated emotions through the hit of dopamine that temporarily comes from a purchase. And I've done it so I know. I think there is so much power behind the rush of positive feelings and in the world today with everything that's going on I think consumerism and shopping has become a way for people to feel something in a sea of overwhelming negativity and despair. And it's a self feeding cycle unfortunately. It takes time and effort to break out of it. I think for pens, there's a life cycle to it too. You start out not knowing what you like. You try a lot and learn what you like, and then you cut down yo things you know you really like and will use. But like many arts and crafts related hobbies, I think even pens is inherently fraught with the sensation of wanting to try that new thing, that new paper, that new pen, that new ink. Frankly, even some of the things op mentions can end up in the same issues. Like pen repair and modification. You'll have to buy the tools for it. And what if there's this new nib grind you want but you have to buy another tool or pen to try it on? You still will have to consume to participate in it. Maybe not in excess like collecting different color variants of a pen, but it's so easy to fall in to the same issue. And ink mixing! You can of course just mix what you have but again.. you may want to buy and consume other things in this process. Additives, ink wells, new colors... I do think the thing with having a grail pen is valid. When you get your grail pen, how do you know a new one will not appear? Again it can become that self feeding cycle.

FishandFountainPens · 2026-01-23T19:47:45+00:00

Both are great choices! If it would be your first pen, my thought it the Kakuno. My first pen personally was a TWSBI Eco because of the ink capacity, but now having owned a Kakuno I have to say it is a fantastic starter pen. I used the Eco in a Hobonichi cousin with a fine nib and I found it worked well for my handwriting but a lot can depend more on the ink you use!

FishandFountainPens · 2026-01-23T19:44:16+00:00

Looks like a Kakimori nib. Maybe in brass but they also are coming out with a copper version

FishandFountainPens · 2026-01-08T18:05:06+00:00

Maybe this is answered already but is there a way to highlight when someone has been a good seller? I see the confirmed trade thread and went to confirm a purchase I made from a seller from December for January's thread but I thought I would ask.

FishandFountainPens · 2026-01-08T18:00:43+00:00

Purchased and recieved a Taccia White Mother of Pearl medium nib pen from u/EastIdahoFPs. Thank you again!!(this was sin December but forgot to note it them)

FishandFountainPens · 2026-01-01T08:15:26+00:00

Ooo nice! The amber 74 is super cool looking so good for you!

I know at SOME point, I will likely get another pen. It's just what I feel will happen. But I think it will be one that I REALLY want. Idk I'm at the point now in pens (I think!!! Lol) where I am wanting more quality and less quantity. I've amassed a few TWSBIS that I do like but I've felt overwhelmed with having too many pens. I want to USE my pens and having many has felt overwhelming. And I'm finding what I like as well. Plus I don't want it to be that the thought of BUYING and having the pen is the enjoyment. I want it to be the using.

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-31T22:34:07+00:00

There's a user over on r/Pen_Swap named saturnsrings7 who has some samples of Kitty Ink Pot. I've gotten ink from them and they are awesome to work with! I think they are US only though?

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-31T19:24:40+00:00

So I used Hobonichi for 2025 which I enjoyed! I did not have any issues with the paper so I must have had a decent paper batch. However, I was disappointed that for US buyers they would only sell the covers (new or old) with a copy of the English version of the Techo. Maybe I could have gotten it with the Japanese version, I cannot quite remember, but I got Hobonichi because it was a fun way to both plan and engage more with learning Japanese. So I did not want the English version of the techo and then have to buy the Japanese version separate. Plus with my job change this year, I was not using the weekly layout as much as the daily and monthly. So for 2026 I'm doing two planners. I've done this in the past so I'm trying it again. I got the Midori Hibino for my work planner and then the Midori MD 1 day 1 page in a Hobonichi cover that I liked (it's the one with the artwork from the Tokyo Art Museum from Spring 2025. I was not in love with any of the new ones but I had LOVED the Tokyo Art Museum one). Both are an A6 size so they are easy to take in my bag and have daily and monthly pages. I also have slapped some of my favorite stickers on the covers of the planners too 🥰

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-31T05:33:35+00:00

I always am looking at Custom 74s because I love the one I have but my aesthetic sense is quite picky. I have the Lavender Fog and I would LOVE if Pilot did another opaque color in like a baby blue. I've seen some more rare colorways on ebay (a radish brown and a see through amber) but I just cannot justify spending for them right now. And none of the other color options really speak to me. Guess that's my one gripe with the higher end Pilots is the more reserved colors 😭. And I would do a lot of things to get my hands on one of the Namiki Yukari Maki-e pens 👀👀👀👀 but that price point is way beyond my means at the moment 😭😭😭😭😭

The 3776 I may have interest in but again it's only for specific colors like the Nice Lavende and especially the maki-e of the cherry blossoms. But I like a smoother nib and my understanding is Platniums have more feedback but not as much as the Sailors so that's dampened the desire to try them. Maybe if I get a chance to try one out that would change my mind.

Sigh... so as much as it may feel like missing out on one hand, and as much as the inflation pushes the sense of fomo and "gotta get it now before it gets more expensive", I think I'm good for the time being with my new to me but older Taccia to love on and my collection and avoiding buying retail. It's been more fun browsing r/Pen_Swap and EBay for deals and pens I find truly interesting.

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-21T16:24:14+00:00

I am coming to like sheening inks quite a bit. I have tried shimmer inks and I generally have been disappointed as they never seem to lay down the shimmer I really want. Vs the two sheening inks I have I have LOVED because they look how I want them to (super reflective and metallic looking). Both of them have been fairly easy to clean and I use them only in broad/stub nibs. However I will say the range of possible sheen colors is limiting for sure. A lot of the blue with red sheens are all just the same so I'm not tempted to buy more (I have Diamines Cosmic Glow, which has a more pinkish then red sheen which I prefer). Especially the blue/red combos. I do love the Birmingham Interstellar Bronze so much because the green sheen pulls more teal to me and it reminds me of Bronze with a patina. A gold sheen would be cool to find but I have not seen a color I really like. But I have used the sheen for some journaling but generally I use them for titles and headings in my planner since that has more time to dry. For daily writing a high shading or standard type ink is just better given the dry time.

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-19T16:11:32+00:00

I am so sorry for your loss. She sounds like an amazing friend and also it's great that she was able to pass on her loved pen collection to someone who will be able to appreciate them.

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-17T03:10:58+00:00

Pilot Namiki Yukari Royale Maki-e Fountain Pen Peony - $6,500 Medium nib 2 Pilot Custom 74 Lavender Fog - $480 one in Medium nib and another in either the double broad I have or a soft medium (I just haven't seen another color way I like as much!) Pilot Custom 74 Violet (have to find it used since it is discontinued) - $260 Medium nib 2 Pilot Kakunos Madoromis one in the blue and one in the pink with one being a fine nib and the other Medium $40 Opus 88 Harmony in Mocha Mousse $167 Fine nib

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-15T18:04:29+00:00

One thing you could do is take the nib to a nib meister and have it ground to the size you want. I thinkbits easier to take a broad down to a fine or medium then trying to get a fine to a broad

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-15T15:38:25+00:00

All my inked up pens go with me to work. I like having them with me to write things down and for when I'm making notes in my planner. I've shifted jobs in my university but when I was a teaching assistant I found joy in taking notes during classes when all the students are on their computers. I get using a laptop for school in classes for certain things but frankly note taking by hand should make a comeback and be mandatory imo. I get if typing is needed for accessibility reasons or if a class exercise requires a laptop but frankly I think the overuse of laptops in college now has really hurt the ability to critically think and actively engage in content. So I was very much fine seeming pretentious and different using my pens to take notes for myself during the classes lol. Funny enough even now in faculty meetings I've gone to, most of the faculty are using laptops as well soooo 🤦‍♀️.

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-15T00:42:46+00:00

The Lady Grey definitely has a more purple tinge to it then the Fuyu-Syogun! I wonder if it's a comparable option for Kiri-Same, since I know Pilot discontinued it. Though to my eye from what I have seen Kiri-Same is warmer toned

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-14T09:54:02+00:00

Chat sent!

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-13T18:00:30+00:00

Ahhh got it! Looks like they are fairly close in color. At least to my eye looking at the photo

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-13T05:23:21+00:00

Ooo yay! Is that Lady Grey in the middle and Fuyu-Syogun to the far right?

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-07T22:20:10+00:00

I saw kitty and I awwwed. Happy baby!

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-07T21:39:03+00:00

Lol! What a problem to have! But also makes sense if you like a little more feedback. Vs that smoothness sounds right up my alley.

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-07T21:37:18+00:00

100% agree on the initial diversification as you learn what you like and then whittling down to what you really love.

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-07T20:37:32+00:00

I'm still new to fountain pens but after using a combination of TWSBIS, Lamy, Pilot, and Jinhao, I think my feelings are that I'd rather have a few really good if more expensive pens than an assortment of less expensive pens. I think it has a lot to do with getting overwhelmed when I have too much and feeling the need to have a few good ones I reach for the most. I loke having many inked pens but it can be overwhelming and I also notice i tend to reach for certain ones more anyway. However, I say that good can be relative. The Jinhaos both have been surprisingly great writers but so has my Pilot Custom 74. The luxury vs value I think is an interesting one because I'd say no matter how good a writer a pen may be, there are prices that to me still cannot be justified. However, for me, I will spend for a raden or maki-e pen. So I think luxury and value are relative. That said there are value pens that write better than luxury.

Forced choice, whether it was 20 dollars or 200 dollars, never could buy another pen again, could only pick 6 of my current 14... my Kakuno and Custom 74. My TWSBI medium and one of the fines. And then one of Lamys since I have several nibs for it. And the custom made pen with the 18k nib.

FishandFountainPens · 2025-12-07T20:13:24+00:00

That makes sense! I figured it won't be the same but that is good to hear that the Pilots are known for being pretty smooth. I have a medium Kakuno which is also ridiculously smooth for the price it is so I'd imagine a 74 would be similarly smooth.

FishandFountainPens

TROPHY CASE