hi I was wondering what fountain pen you might reccoemend for someone who rights in block print
I have good news for you! If you write in block print, your options are limited to...
Whatever fountain pen you want!
You don't have to write cursive to use fountain pens. You don't even have to write with fountain pens; some people love them for sketching and doing all sorts of amazing art!
Maybe stay away from the super flexible nibs, but you don't necessarily have to -- you can totally go for the flex if you want your block print to have more expressive lines! Generally, however, I think you'd do best with a stiffer steel nib, if you're not looking for line variation.
See my top 3 recs below the cut!
Option 1: Lamy Safari
It's a basic fountain pens for beginners, with a steel nib. It's not expensive (you can find it for under $20), and the best part is that their nibs (steel) are very easily interchangeable. If you want a thicker line, you don't have to buy a whole-ass other pen, just buy another nib! It does have a triangular grip, and some people don't love that, but personally I find that it helps beginners keep the pen in the correct position. Unlike rollerballs/ballpoints, you can't really write at any angle with fountain pens.
Option 2: Pilot Metropolitan/ Pilot Kakuno
The Pilot Metropolitan (or MR, depending on where you are) is the more classic-looking of the two. It's made of metal, so it's got some weight to it, but it's still very comfortable to write with.
The Kakuno comes in a ton of colours, and happy little nibs (they have smiley faces on them!). AFAIK they're marketed as children's pens in Japan, but they're excellent for fountain pen beginners and experts alike. Both the Kakuno and the Metropolitan have the same nibs, and these babies are smooth. Even the extra fine has very little feedback to it, but the nibs are still rigid!
Option 3: Diplomat Magnum
tThis pen has it all: pretty colours, a good price, a converter, international standard cartridges (the easiest to find and most versatile; Pilot and Lamy have proprietary cartridges)... and a wonderful little nib!
Despite also being steel, this pen has the 'softest' nib of the bunch. I know I said you might prefer to stay away from flexy pens, but here's why this one is a great option:
It isn't flexible per se, it's just slightly softer. This means that, if you're used to using some pressure to write because you're accustomed to ballpoints, this nib will be able to handle the transition--it can take a little (a little!) more pressure than the other two.
Honorable Mention: Platinum Preppy & Pilot Varsity:
These two are "disposable" fountain pens, and perfect for dipping your toes, so to speak! The Preppy is excellent, super smooth, and it never dries out, I swear. Plus, if you like it, you can buy more cartridges for it (Platinum proprietary) or even a converter so you can use bottled ink! They're pretty cheap, and I always carry a bunch with me -- they're great for school as well, and come in very fine lines, so they're pretty versatile in terms of paper (aka, they won't bleed all over cheap paper)
For the Varsity, you can eyedropper it (basically refill the entire pen, but that requires a little extra research, and you can do it to the Preppy as well), but it doesn't take cartridges or converters. You can find a pack of them for less than $10 online! They only come in medium though, and can be a little gushy, so beware those cheap notebooks.
Just got my humble budget pen and ink haul (humble and budget together for emphasis 😁)
–
It’s my first time to order from EverythingCalligraphy and I love their service! Apart from the speedy transaction, they are also sweet. The package came with a handwritten thank you letter and free Choc-Nuts! I am so in love with them now! ❤
–
Purchases:
Jinhao 8802 Cherry Blossom
Diamine Vermillion ink 30ml
Pilot Namiki Black Noir cartridges
