this post was submitted on 04 Mar 2024
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Fountain Pens

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I've never owned or used a fountain pen before, but I saw that these are less than $6 a piece and refill cartridges look pretty cheap too.

Are these worth buying for a first timer or are they an invitation to a souring experience for a noob?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

Oh there are so many! Just pick a color or shade and there will be dozens that people swear by. Just be careful with shimmer inks since they can clog up the feed. They're fun and pretty but need a little attention.

I recommend checking out a few ink review blogs to find a handful to try. "Mountain in Ink" and "Fountain Pen Pharmacist" are two I follow. Places like Goulet Pens and Pen Chalet sell 4 mL samples for a few dollars which can last you a while on their own. Which is a great alternative to spending anywhere between $8-$60 for a bottle of ink.

As far as specifics: you can't go wrong with the Pilot Iroshizuku line, Diamine inks is another good one, and I think Sailor makes a lot of really nice ones.