Pens: "The fountain pen is an elegant, traditional writing instrument that uses fluid, bottled ink. Why would you want to use one? Fountain pens are easier to write with. You do not have to press into the paper as you do with a ballpoint or gel pen. The weight of the pen against the paper is all that is needed to make the ink flow. Fountain pens can be a great relief to people with repetitive strain injuries. View slideshow: Fountain pens It’s an attention getter. Many people have not seen a fountain pen in person and will havee questions and want to try your hand. If you want an icebreaker to start a conversation, whip that fountain pen out. People are impressed by fountain pens. But they know little about them. For less than $20, you can buy a pen that will turn heads. A fountain pen is also less likely to be borrowed or stolen since people are rather intimidated. Introducing the fountain pen Introducing the fountain pen Photo credit: Chris Hugh Fountain pens are economical and environmentally responsible. A good-looking pen that will last you years can cost as little as $4. You also don’t need to waste money on pen refills. All you need is your fountain pen and bottled ink. Of course, you can also buy disposable cartridges. There are many other advantages to using a fountain pen. Many people find that they improve their penmanship. The pens are enjoyable to collect. Using a fountain pen creates a sense of ritual and a connection to the past. And most importantly, fountain pens are just cool gadgets. Fountain pen characteristics If you’re ready to start thinking about getting a fountain pen, here are characteristics to consider. Cost. Very good, Chinese-made fountain pens that will last for years start at around four dollars. Prices go up from there, but writing quality does not improve proportionately. If all you care about is the writing experience, there is no reason to spend more than $150. Materials. Fountain pens are made from among on the following: bare metal, enameled metal, anodized aluminum, plastic or resin. The material will affect the weight of the pen, its temperature in the hand and whether it is slippery or not. Weight. Fountain pens can vary in weight from just a few grams to more than an ounce. The right weight for you depends on your personal writing style. Filling system: There are many different filling systems that let you get the ink from the bottle into your pen. They all work fine. Just make sure you don’t buy a super-cheap fountain pen that doesn’t let you refill it with bottled ink. Nibs The nib is the part of the pen that touches the paper and creates the line. Here are some things to think about when choosing your nib style. Italic vs round. The italic nib is shaped like a chisel and creates the varied line that people usually think of when they think of fountain pens. A round nib creates a line of uniform width. An italic nib requires just a little bit more care to make sure that you are holding the pen with the nib at the proper angle. Fine, medium, wide. These all refer to the size of a round nib, and determine how thick a line it will draw. Flexible or rigid. A flexible nib, even though it is not italic, will allow some variation in line width. If you press down on the paper, the line will become slightly broader. Most fountain pens have rigid nibs. Are you ready to consider a fountain pen? If so, look at the slideshow. The fountain pens there range from $4 to $100 and illustrate all the characteristics of fountain pens we’ve discussed here."
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 02:35:44 +0000
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