A question for real fountain pen lovers. Have you ever used an old fashioned "dip pen?"?

Question

If so, was it hard to use? Was it easy or hard to keep the right amount of ink on the tip, or on the nib?

Answer 1

You get used to it. Some nibs are just metal with no reservoir and you had to dip after only 2 or 3 letters, but you soon figure out how often to go back into the ink. Some nibs look pretty much the same as a modern fountain pen, if we are allowed to use that contradictory term in public. They have a sort of reservoir under the metal and this holds quite a bit more ink. You have to get used to not dipping too far into the ink and then you won't make such a mess. Some ink bottles have a little retaining rim that helps. You tighten the lid and tip the bottle upside-down. When you put it right again and take off the lid, the little reservoir near the top of the bottle is full of ink. This keeps you from having to dip way down inside looking for the ink level and makes it much easier to dip exactly the same every time.

Answer 2

I used them in school from the 3rd through the 8th grade. We were not allowed to use ballpoint pens. In fact, ballpoints could not be used for legal signatures because they smeared so bad.

No problem learning to use them nor keeping the right amount of ink on the nib. The staff had a removable nib and the nibs wore out fairly frequently. Had to be cleaned often because they pick up lint from the paper. Had to use pen wiper to keep pen from becoming clogged and have to dry the pen after use or the ink will dry and become clogged. Also, if nib is not really good quality will rust. We had a big bottle of Sheaffer ink and filled an inkwell on our desk about once a week.

Have fun learning to use a staff pen.

Answer 3

when you say old fashioned there are three of those one is a feather or quill cut on the end that must be dipped to obtain ink and has no reservoir then there are the small nibbed one made for regular writing with a small reservoir and last but not least are the flat steel pens that are used in artist letters known as calligraphy and they hold a bunch can after practice can be contained but there will be a big pile of papers with blobs on them before you reach that stage good luck and when you spill ink on the carpet immediately get the salt container out and bury the blob in about and inch or two of salt and it will suck most of the ink back up keep practicing.

Answer 4

Yes, I have used the "dip pen" when I was a teen. Thought it was cool, but when holding the pen, the ink came off onto my middle and index fingers. Yes, I had to continually dip into a bottle of black or navy blue ink, it was messy, HOWEVER, the writing I was able to do was beautiful with the tip. There were choices as to the type of tip I could purchase, thick, thin, medium. I knew the ink would be on my fingers for a period of time until it wore off, but the writing I was able to do was wonderful looking, very artistic. You had to have a love for using the dip pen, otherwise, it was just plain messy.

Answer 5

I love using dip pens. You just have to be careful about the amount of ink on the pen and the occasional splatter. Other then that I love the look it gives drawings.

Answer 6

i did not like using a dip fountain pen. the cartridge pens are much less sloppy and alot easier to take with you.stick to cartridge pens.

Answer 7

I have a couple somewhere in my desk, but I don't think I'm a real fountain pen 'lover' of the type you seem to be implying... you perv.