refraction 
okay so what are good fountain pens to get? would ideally want something that gives some line variation, but anything nice and affordable will be considered.
also would like ink recommendations both for fountain and dip pens.
@TQ you know things about this
F3715H
jonitoni@elexia Ich bin fan von der Rohrer&Klingner Eisen-Gallus-Tinte. (Auch, weil sie in Leipzig beheimatet sind)
Der Reform 1745 Kolbenfüller war mein erster Kolbenfüller und bringt ein bisschen Linienvarianz mit, aber ich weiß nicht, ob die aktuellen Angebote noch iriginale sind (der wird nicht mehr Produziert) und ich glaub die wurden die letzten Jahre teurer. Es ist auch eim simpler Stift mit Ebonit-Tintenleiter, der Mal seine Macken hat, aber ich mochte den. Meiner ist aber mitlerweile kaputt.
@jonitoni ja, Rohrer&Klingner fanden wir gut, werden wir wahrscheinlich noch einmal kaufen.
Anya 
@elexia Lamy Safari is my standard for good price/quality ratio if you just want to write, we have a bunch of them at home and most work well except one that has recurring issues feeding ink (after being stored unused for months). They feel a bit scratchy though, which is an issue for left handed writing. Their stroke width tends to be a little varied, depending more on the speed of the stroke than on the force with which i press (again this is also related to being left-handed!)
(i was given an older version of a Waterman Allure years ago, which i use for daily writing. It has been extremely reliable and feels much smoother than the Lamy pens, although the stroke width is pretty much fixed. Also very expensive, so i wouldn't count is as an answer to your question.)
As for ink, i got a big pot of Waterman "serenity blue" ink that i use most of the time, combined with whatever cartridges the nearest stores have in stock for the pen models. Never noticed much reason to use different ink.
(i was given an older version of a Waterman Allure years ago, which i use for daily writing. It has been extremely reliable and feels much smoother than the Lamy pens, although the stroke width is pretty much fixed. Also very expensive, so i wouldn't count is as an answer to your question.)
As for ink, i got a big pot of Waterman "serenity blue" ink that i use most of the time, combined with whatever cartridges the nearest stores have in stock for the pen models. Never noticed much reason to use different ink.
@anya got a Safari still from school times (we had to use fountain pens in school for a long time).
Sky, Cozy Goth Prince of Cats
Ranja ١٣١٢@elexia
If I were to get a new one atm I'd look for a Kaweco Sport. Or, if I were wealthy, a Pelican 200. both with a fine nib.
Ink wise, I had the most crisp lines with Lamy Crystal ink.
@elexia
But that's just my taste. My dad gifted me a Pelikan 200 10 years ago and it is still my favourite. I use it for both, sketching and writing
And for calligraphy, when I write in Blackletter, I use a simple Lamy Safari with a 1.9mm calligraphy nib.
@ranja oh, they have calligraphy nibs for those? will have to look for those
@elexia
Jap. Those nibs are for their calligraphy pens but they fit the Safari one as well.
Idk, not a big fan of Lamy but it was the cheapest option for a broad nib suitable for writing Textura or Fraktura.
Jap. Those nibs are for their calligraphy pens but they fit the Safari one as well.
Idk, not a big fan of Lamy but it was the cheapest option for a broad nib suitable for writing Textura or Fraktura.
@elexia
As for the Kaweco, I had the pleasure of using them a couple of times and I just love how they feel in the hand. If I had to replace my Pelikan, that's what I'd save up to.
As for the Kaweco, I had the pleasure of using them a couple of times and I just love how they feel in the hand. If I had to replace my Pelikan, that's what I'd save up to.
Steveg58@elexia
There are a lot of good fountain pens ... proportionally not so many of them do line width variation ... I am assuming pressure controlled variation (flex nib) rather than stroke direction controlled variation (like a stub or italic nib).
Goulet Pens (even if you don't want to buy from them) have an excellent feature selection function that will allow you to browse pen models with flex nibs.
As for inks ... the sky is the limit. There are literally thousands of colours even without going into shading, sheening, and sparkle inks.
Oh, and welcome!
There are a lot of good fountain pens ... proportionally not so many of them do line width variation ... I am assuming pressure controlled variation (flex nib) rather than stroke direction controlled variation (like a stub or italic nib).
Goulet Pens (even if you don't want to buy from them) have an excellent feature selection function that will allow you to browse pen models with flex nibs.
As for inks ... the sky is the limit. There are literally thousands of colours even without going into shading, sheening, and sparkle inks.
Oh, and welcome!
@Steveg58 heh we're not entirely new, in German schools at least in some states one had to use a fountain pen for much of the school career and we still have the last one we bought (broke one or two). and we got into dip pens and writing Kurrent (the style of cursive taught in Germany until the 30s) a few years ago. interested in getting more into fountain pens though and getting a second one as well as trying new inks. for budget reasons only got a few so far.
@Steveg58 yeah we definitely wouldn't buy from Goulet even if wouldn't be completely nonsensical to order pens from the US given that the company is owned and managed by evangelical freaks that want us dead.
A cool crab wearing shades@elexia my personal go to is the TWSBI Eco with a stub nib. Nib is nice and smooth and they hold a lot of ink and have a good seal so it takes a very long time for ink to dry out if it goes unused.
⚧ Mycelialisms 𐂂@elexia
I've really been loving my Kaweco Brass Sport with a fine nib that I was gifted a few years ago. The models that aren't made of full metal are also very affordable. It's my everyday pen and I love it dearly.
I've really been loving my Kaweco Brass Sport with a fine nib that I was gifted a few years ago. The models that aren't made of full metal are also very affordable. It's my everyday pen and I love it dearly.
Kenny Style@elexia I like the Pilot Metropolitan medium italic for affordability and line variation. Mine is currently inked with the Dominant Industry ink “Fisherman at Sea,” which has been one of my two primary inks for close to two years.
Jim P.@elexia Stubs are less expensive than flex nibs, but there are affordable and decent options for both.
For stubs I'd go with a TWSBI (Diamond 580 line are nicer, but ECOs are good, too).
Pilot has "CM" (calligraphy medium) nib options in the Metropolitan and Prera which are wonderful nibs but the pens do not seal very well over time.
For an affordable flex nib, check out the Jaipur v2 from FPR or Hero 1086 if you can find one.
Back To AnalogFor the line variation, you will want an Italic nib (Stub, Music... Those are all italic nibs), Flex nib, Architect type nibs (like Naginata nib which offers a line variation depending on the angle of the nib to the paper). For affordable options, any pen that uses Jowo, Bock or Schmidt nibs should have a 1.1mm Stub option and flex option. Other types of nibs are specialty nibs. As far as inks, Diamine is an excellent ink brand.
Kevin BIt depends on what kind of line variation you're looking for. If all you want is a calligraphy nib, for example, the Pilot Metropolitan can come with a CM (calligraphic medium? aka medium italic aka 1.0 stub) nib. I love my Prera with that nib.
If you're looking for a flexible nib for doing illustration or Copperplate, that's harder. Many Indian-made pens have flex nibs - Noodlers, Fountain Pen Revolution, etc. - have flex nibs, however they take lots of pressure and practice to use.
You could try most any pen that takes a #6 nib and try one of the Goulet/Jowo nibs. They make both flex and stub nibs.
There are vintage pens with soft flexible nibs. I wouldn't know what to recommend there.
Finally, there are dip pens, often at hobby stores, that have very good flexible nibs, again for illustration. Speedball is a brand that I've heard of.
@keraba fountain pens for writing. if I wanted to get into calligraphy I think I'd rather use the dip pen for that. got a nice black ink for that too that isn't fountain pen friendly.
@elexia Kaweco Sport was my starter and still one of my faves, and Kaweco and Diamine inks are pretty and cheap. (If you get the Sport, get a cartridge refill kit to save on ink--bottles of ink are cheaper than cartridge replacements.) My gf sent me a Lamy Safari that I like a lot, too.
ThiefOfTime@elexia
Really affordable and liked by me are the Jinhao 82,
and I love my Twsby Eco too.
With line variation I have no experience.
Of fountain pen inks I like Diamine, Pilot or Rohrer and Klingner best -
but atm I am the happiest with glitter inks from Diamine or Ferris Wheel Press, but those only work well with nibs size M (or broader).
Lux