I've become interested in Fountain Pens and spent a few weeks researching online to develop a plan of how I want to approach this new found hobby.
My plan is to invest in about a half-dozen pens over a period of sixteen (16) months and hopefully during that time acquire a decent level of knowledge and experience in using and maintaining a Fountain Pen. I'd also like to develop some degree of penmanship.
Pilot Varsity - October 2016
To close out my entry into Fountain Pens, I'll add one more pen in early 2018 and it'll likely be a second Platinum #3776.
Why? Based on what I've researched online this appears to be the pen right at the sweet spot on the cost-benefit curve and while there are certainly many fantastic pens to choose from they cost several hundred dollars and don't give much more than the #3776. I'd like to own the Red and Blue standard #3776.
Avoiding this for now, but I'll likely pick up more pens as I discover new things about this hobby. I'm to try and limit my purchases to exceptional pens and focus on 'Quality' over 'Quantity'. It would be far more interesting to share something very rare and exceptional vs a bunch of decent, but plain pens.
Update 11/18/16
After learning the Platinum Pens could take months to order from Amazon, I placed an order now and to my pleasant surprise it arrived within a few weeks (although it said to expect it Jan 2017; but no complaints here).
I also invested in a bottle of Iroshizuku Kon-Peki Ink so I'm reviewing my original plan and will likely deviate by purchasing additional Pilot Metropolitans and several bottles of Iroshizuku Ink to try out different colors. For now I'm probably going to buy the 3-sampler (15 mL) bottle sets and pick up a different Blue, Green and Red Inks.
Leaning towards the Shin-Ryoku (Green) and Asa-Gao (Blue) to add to my collection with another Pilot Metropolitan (Green) to join the family.
My plan is to invest in about a half-dozen pens over a period of sixteen (16) months and hopefully during that time acquire a decent level of knowledge and experience in using and maintaining a Fountain Pen. I'd also like to develop some degree of penmanship.
1. Practice Phase (Pilot Varsity , Pilot Metropolitan) - 2016 (1 Month)
Having absolutely zero experience using a Fountain Pen, I am going to start small with some Pilot Varsity and Metropolitan pens.Pilot Varsity - October 2016
Online there have been many rave reviews about the basic $3 Pilot Varsity or Platinum Preppy and I was okay getting either one. My local office store had the Varsity in stock and I picked up a pair to begin writing.
Selection was limited and they had only Medium Point and in Purple Ink (other choices were Red or Pink).
Pilot Metropolitan - October 2016
Selection was limited and they had only Medium Point and in Purple Ink (other choices were Red or Pink).
I went ahead and ordered from Amazon for $13 a Pilot Metropolitan and a dozen Blue Ink Cartridges. This will be my first, true Fountain Pen and I plan to carry this around for the next few months as my everyday work pen.
2. Training Phase (Platinum #3776) - 2016 ~ 2017 (12 Months)
At this point I'll be ready for some serious pens and will invest in the Platinum #3776.
Platinum #3776 -November 2016
I've heard a lot of good things about this pen and it'll become 'My Signature Pen' that will replace the Metropolitan. I like this pen even more based on what people are saying online that it has an innovative cap and seal system that allows the ink to stay wet for much longer, otherwise I would have considered going straight for a Platinum President. Another reason I'm opting for this one are they cost about $75 for a Fine Point whereas the President is $225.
3. Graduation Phase (Platinum #3776; Again) - 2018
Why? Based on what I've researched online this appears to be the pen right at the sweet spot on the cost-benefit curve and while there are certainly many fantastic pens to choose from they cost several hundred dollars and don't give much more than the #3776. I'd like to own the Red and Blue standard #3776.
4. Future?
Update 11/18/16
After learning the Platinum Pens could take months to order from Amazon, I placed an order now and to my pleasant surprise it arrived within a few weeks (although it said to expect it Jan 2017; but no complaints here).
I also invested in a bottle of Iroshizuku Kon-Peki Ink so I'm reviewing my original plan and will likely deviate by purchasing additional Pilot Metropolitans and several bottles of Iroshizuku Ink to try out different colors. For now I'm probably going to buy the 3-sampler (15 mL) bottle sets and pick up a different Blue, Green and Red Inks.
Leaning towards the Shin-Ryoku (Green) and Asa-Gao (Blue) to add to my collection with another Pilot Metropolitan (Green) to join the family.
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