to wonder if anyone uses fountain pens anymore?

[wildswans]

I do use them sometimes, but they always seem to leak, dry up etc. I have a Mont Blanc which my husband bought me for my birthday a couple of years ago, which has never worked - or perhaps it is something to do with the way I use it....

I always think that letters written in ink look so elegant, so perhaps I should persevere: or am I just old fashioned?

I have several. I'm using a couple of different colour inks from Diamine some Pelikan Edelstein and some black Cross cartridges and some cheapo black cartridges from Paperchase. I like variety.

I use one everyday - I have two Waterman pens that I love.

At the moment one has pink ink in it and the other has green

"I use mine. I like green ink." saggarmakersbottomknocker

"fountain pens are much better for the environment" HolofernesesHead

I do! Another one with a Parker pen.

Can anyone recommend a fountain pen with a thin barrel? My neatest writing with a ballpoint is with fine point, thin-barrelled ones. I can't hold big thick pens comfortably.

As someone who's worked in a specialist pen shop, Mont Blanc are terrible for leaking, they write very 'wet'. Suits some people ... what ever you do, don't put Parker Quink in it. If you want one that suits you and your writing, go to a proper pen shop who will watch the way you hold a pen and what your writing is like and will suggest suitable pens. There's a pen out there for everyone!

I have a cross pen that stopped working, I contacted them to see if they offer a repair service, and found that that even better, they come with a lifetime guarantee!

For £6 postage, they replaced the nib and now it works perfectly. Agree that they work better with regular use.

Contact Mont Blanc, they should offer a repair service.

My SIL list her MB pen !

I might start again! My writing also looks much better in ink. My English teacher at 6th form would only allow us to write with fountain pens, biros were banned from his class. He said your pen and your mind had to flow. He was a crazily unconventional and brilliant teacher, full of ideas and inspiration

I have a stunningly beautiful Mont Blanc that DH bought me, currently using 'oyster grey' ink, but my favourite was purple.

It's extremely elegant pen that all my work colleagues try to pinch, at which point I get extremely possessive and slightly psychotic! MY PEN! DO NOT TOUCH!!!

Just the one, Mayas? I'm not sure I could stop at one ...

Republica, Cross do a range with thin barrels, The Century, I think. They have quite a hard nib which might suit you if you are used to a ballpoint. Cross are about the only company that offers a proper lifetime guarantee too.

Do take the Mont Blanc to be repaired, tho their warranty is only a year. If you have been using Quick, don't tell them! It'll void the warranty!!

I had a Mont Blanc, loved it then lost it. Weep. But pretty happy with the much cheaper Parker that I now use. Never leaks, and my writing looks so much better.

Agree, what's with colleagues wanting to use 'your posh pen'?!

My answer has alway been no, since a total bitch I was at uni with grabbed my pen without asking, proceeded to rake it across a page and bent the nib and broke my pen

My brother had bought it for me so it had a high sentimental value.

By the way, she was mean in general, and not just because she broke my pen

Republica I'm sure I can think of some more that might suit you! A Parker 45 might work, if they still make them ...

I use mine all the time. It's a white Lamy pen and I have turquoise ink and a sort of gold/brown I use sometimes. I got my boys a couple of cheap disposable pens and they love them. Makes their writing much neater.

I may have to get a calligraphy nib and some more ink.

I do, I love using a fountain pen x

angeltatoo, IKWYM! Fortunately most people know not to cast coveting looks at my Mont Blanc any more, they can feel my eyes flaming them !

I do. But sometimes can't be bothered to find it
DH's firm do a lovely line in disposable fountain pens

Be even more green and use a vintage pen!

I do at work. I have a few. I most use an antique Schaeffer. My writing is much, much nicer with it. It annoys me that it is impossible to write in most greetings cards in a fountain pen so I end up having to use a crappy biro.

i love pens. MB gel rollerball with a variety of inks (green,black,brown). Cross,Parker with gel rollerballs. Ftn pens, I have a glorious Dunhill carbon-fibre, an Elysee laquered model and a Parker Sonnet in Piano Black. Have to say tho' for every-day and getting lost a Muji gel pen or a Uni-ball gel pen work fine and are cheap. Losing an expensive pen/set is horrible. I found a set (Cross) recently incl.matching leather case and managed to return it to the owner

Oh this is right up my street. I have several Parker pens and use italic nibs. I love italic fountain pens as we used them at primary school and they just make anything you write look beautiful and important.