How to Write With a Fountain Pen: Fountain Pen 101 Part Five

[@davegoodridge8352]

This series should come with a warning. Fountain Pens can become addictive! Great series with lots of good information.

[@Dosbomber]

Especially needed a warning @ 2:36. The Horror!! Those .. because I refuse to credit them with the identification of "writing instruments" or even "pens" should be cast into the void!

[@jessicayeo97]

Nooo! I don't want this series to end!

[@fancynancy2888]

Neither do I 😂 I am still a newbie.

[@Gouletpens]

check out the original series, there's still a lot of good info there! kzbin.info/aero/PL1AEFDC6AC935BAFC -Brian Goulet You too @fancynancy2888

[@pmichael73]

European papers are generally much more fountain pen friendly than American paper. The sizing on the paper and how its calendered makes a big difference, too. This can mean that even some lighter papers are fountain pen friendly. Great series! Thank you!

[@sparklefulpaladin]

Yup! A good example of an extremely light paper that is fountain pen friendly is the Tomoe River Paper.

[@manuelsalazar3938]

You should've clarified what sizing means as most people don't have a clue. Sizing is the most important aspect of the paper because it determines if it will be fountain pen friendly or not, forget what most people say about fibers and the like, that's not important at all.

[@peterdandyk2342]

You are without question the most articulate, clear & informative 'KZbin' expert on pens, and although I clearly understand the marketing aspect, your presentations are simply EXCELLENT. And your store and pricing are great as well. I continue to follow your feed regularly.

[@dhoward8816]

You give good, easy-to-follow advice in a way that makes newcomers not feel hopeless. 😊

[@Gouletpens]

Awesome! That's 100% the goal, so this is great to hear :) -Brian Goulet

[@X1GenKaneShiroX]

Speaking of 101, Goulet Pen Company is getting closer to their Pencast 101 episode. Only a few more episodes till that 101st podcast episode happens.

[@Gouletpens]

We're recording ep 100 this weekend at the DC Pen Show and it'll publish next week! We've wanted to do a live streamed one too, which we might do for 101, I'll have to work that out with Drew. Depends how drained we are after the DC show :P -Brian Goulet

[@ladyamalthea85]

I recently moved house and found my dad's old Lamy Al Star. I've been cleaning it and a friend has just dropped off some inks for me to try. He recommended this video series and I found it both fun and informative. Thank you so much.

[@dogrose33]

I love the thought of Brian laying on the couch writing with his feet kicking. Like he's just a giddy boy writing his dreams or to his love.

[@Gouletpens]

only when I'm writing in my diary :) -Brian Goulet

[@lead-dog]

Thanks Brian. Excellent series. The posture instruction was great comic relief.

[@Gouletpens]

haha, I'm glad you liked that! -Brian Goulet

[@Quinkerbell_3604]

“…with your feet flat on the floor” … those of us under 5’4” would love that but then the table is not in the right place for your arm. 😊 This video was so fun!

[@Gouletpens]

haha, good point! Well then maybe with your feet dangling straight down lol ;) -Brian Goulet

[@17244852]

I am British but live in Portugal, this means that my access to pens, inks, and paper all have to be shipped. Not ideal, and I have to revise my expectations more frequently than I would ideally wish. That being said... I love your videos. They are informative, encouraging and well made. Thank you very much.

[@creamsiclecat]

The pen postures cracked me upp! Great video!

[@Gouletpens]

haha I thought those would be fun -Brian Goulet

[@skylachamard7444]

Thanks Brian. A friend, who was moving out of town, gave me a couple of fountain pens. I'm hooked. Your videos have helped use them properly. I hate writing. I've been wanting to start journaling, but just avoid it. ( I can't spell, and at school my papers came back marked with lots of red!) I just can't start it, but now with a fountain pen, I'm looking forward to, and doing it. I'm also not great at sending emails, but I now will write a draft using my fountain pen. Thanks again for helping me learn about my new pens. PS. Your videos and advice make your store the place I want to shop first. I actually have bought a package special. Get ink is next to impossible in my area.

[@StealthyGypsy]

Brian, thanks for this series of videos. You are always informative and entertaining. It never hurts to take a refresher course. (Sitting up straight now.)

[@Gouletpens]

haha nice, I'm glad to hear it! -Brian Goulet

[@peterdandyk2342]

Your presentation on NIBS really makes the point well.

[@OrchidSynergy]

Looooool the Captain Planet scene made my day 😂😂😂

[@AKIDNAPPEDWHITESHEEP]

I just bought a pen for myself. The ones I grew up using were cindys they never wrote right. Hope this one writes better.

[@jolienkrispijn]

Good work, Brian! Thanks for doing all these video's!

[@Gouletpens]

you're very welcome! -Brian Goulet

[@PaulParkinson]

I've thoroughly enjoyed this series and if there was a second, a 102 or 201, that would be awesome. I think we all benefit from good educational viewing. Thank you.

[@Gouletpens]

That's sort of what the original 101 series was a decade ago, it ended up being 20+ videos, so check those out if you want more of this type of info but on more obscure aspects of the hobby: kzbin.info/aero/PL1AEFDC6AC935BAFC -Brian Goulet

[@thedirtygot9570]

Great video! I’ve been writing at too steep an angle! Letting the pen rest on my hand is a night and day difference! Thanks!

[@Gouletpens]

That's awesome! I'm so glad that's helped! It's amazing what sometimes fairly subtle-seeming differences can make in your writing. -Brian Goulet

[@williamcatalano1762]

Brian laying on a couch like he's writing a letter to his parents from camp is an image everyone should have in their heads at least once in their life LOL

[@jerrywhitfill2236]

Lefties continued: the hand is actually above the ink line allowing the ink to dry before you drag across the page. This is when you keep your arm, wrist and hand in a straight relaxed line and the top of paper is at 10-11 o’clock angle.

[@michaelmedlinger6399]

Thanks for the final installment of the 101 series, Brian! You guys do such great work. It‘s one of the reasons I‘m willing to buy a lot of my pens from you despite having to pay shipping charges. You mentioned once that anyone who goes to a brick and mortar store for advice and receives good service should buy the pen there and not go home and order it from an online realtor even if it‘s cheaper. That‘s exactly how I feel about Goulet Pens.

[@Gouletpens]

thank you! That's wonderful to hear, it's truly our pleasure! -Brian Goulet

[@EsotericAwakenings]

LOVE these videos. Brian, you are so relatable, entertaining, and made understand this all very easy.

[@AriaLaurel]

Wow, I really appreciated the posture callout! I did find I would get sore after lots of writing and after this video I realized it’s because hunch over the page like a gremlin!

[@ernestop6501]

I have found that the Mead Cambridge spiral notebook is the very best for writing with a fountain pen. it is smooth to write on and no bleed or ghosting. Wrote on both sides with ease. They can be tricky to find but worth it for performance.

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Amazon sells them. They have six for $31+change, if anyone’s interested.

[@aresaurelian]

This is excellent. Thank you for the informative content. It always gets me inspired to write using my fountain pens. Thank you.

[@Gouletpens]

awesome! -Brian Goulet

[@SoulQuJo]

Even if I did not love fountain pens, I would love this channel. Thanks!

[@Gouletpens]

aw, thanks! I'll keep that in mind for when I start my cubing/woodworking/arborist channel lol -Brian Goulet

[@JefferyHall-ct2tr]

Hi Brian!: Thanks for the informative video. Even though I had used fountain pens on and off for a number of years, now that I am using them much more makes one cognizant of the techniques that work best for the individual writer. I loved your example where you are writing on the page, and by the time you got to the end the pen had turned and the nib was almost sideways. A little while ago I discovered that I was doing this BAD! And, of course, the pen started acting up every time I got to the right hand side of the page! I am FOR SURE going to try that trick of slightly turning the pen in the opposite direction so that it is more close to straight at the right margin. One trick that I like to use is to post the pen with the clip in line with the nib, it is easier to tell when I am turning the nib out of line.

[@Gouletpens]

oh good! Yeah that was kind of a tough shot to get, showing the subtleties of the hand and pen position. I'm glad it came across though. Yes, posting the clip in line with the nib will keep the clip from resting on your hand, great point! -Brian Goulet

[@Stitchxavi]

1:25 classic Brian Goulet moment. Love it

[@Gouletpens]

haha I can't take myself too seriously :) -Brian Goulet

[@colinwu4910]

Very excited for this video! I have been in the hobby for about 4 or 5 years, and I've struggled a lot to find the best way for me to write with fountain pens. It's still something I examine a lot, so this video really bears personal significance for me 😂

[@KendallW]

Great series. Best part of this video is @4:26 with the posture poses from Brian. So good :)

[@Gouletpens]

haha glad you liked that :) -Brian Goulet

[@SuperQueenV.]

Thank you for these videos Mr.Goulet and company!

[@Gouletpens]

you're so welcome! -Brian Goulet

[@dorothykern8537]

I have a terrible combination of loving wet inks and being a lefty, so I've had to retrain myself to write very vertically

[@kellylaliberte548]

The Goulet notebook sample pack is a great way to try lots of different paper without a huge investment.

[@Gouletpens]

yes! Great point, it's a good way to try some different ones you might like: www.gouletpens.com/collections/best-selling-paper/products/notebook-sampler-package-set# -Brian Goulet

[@fancynancy2888]

Thank you 🙏 thank you for this video! I am new to fountain pens (1.5 years) and I use the 3 finger grip but I rest my pen higher up, closer to under the first knuckle of the index finger. I am trying to unlearn this 🤓

[@Gouletpens]

It's good to at least try, you might be surprised how it helps! You can always go back if it doesn't -Brian Goulet

[@robertcochran7103]

Thank you for this very engaging and interesting video.

[@kathyfannon7563]

I love the outro music! So groovy. 😎

[@karenholden4740]

What a great series very informative and very helpful. Thank you Brian!

[@Gouletpens]

woot! you're so welcome -Brian Goulet

[@dancinswords]

I fell in love with fountain pens instantly, using a cheap (but quality) Jinhao X450 on normal printer paper and cardstock, so you definitely don't need to be intimidated by lofty quality standards or price points. In fact, my first experience with good paper (I assume) is only recently, with a Maruman Mnemosyne from Goulet

[@Gouletpens]

Yeah, what I was trying to get across is that you don't HAVE to use expensive/nice paper, and I don't want anyone (especially new to fountain pens) to feel like they have to buy alllll this special stuff to do it. But once you've used pens for a bit, you'll notice the subtleties that quality of paper can make, and appreciate them more. -Brian Goulet

[@loansmortgage9590]

People are forgetting how to write ... how to hold pen properly ... sad ... Nicely explained 👍👍👍

[@AKIDNAPPEDWHITESHEEP]

I just bought a pen for myself. The ones I grew up using were cindys they never wrote right. Hope this one writes better.

[@AKIDNAPPEDWHITESHEEP]

I just bought a pen for myself. The ones I grew up using were cindys they never wrote right. Hope this one writes better.

[@Jason-pq5mq]

Goal complete. Thank you for the continuing ed.

[@Gouletpens]

you're welcome! -Brian Goulet

[@MeganHitachiin]

As someone who had a really hard time learning how to how even hold pens and pencils I still catch myself holding my pen weird so it is a learning process. I definitely catch myself rotating sometimes .

[@jerrywhitfill2236]

As a lefty, I disagree with angling the paper in line with the forearm. Keeping the wrist and arm and hand in a straight line and angle the pad to the 10-11 o clock will avoid crabbing your hand and allow heel of palm to be below the ink line avoiding smearing. It also allows the script line to angle to the right, the same as righties instead of tilting to the left.

[@Gouletpens]

Mirroring the method I showed here can definitely work for lefties, but in my experience talking with a lot of lefty fountain pen users, there's a wider variety of lefty writing techniques people have developed out of necessity, so there are certainly a lot of variations I didn't cover here. I did go a little more into detail in this video, though I freely admit I'm not a lefty and don't make myself to be the authority on lefty writing! kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5bQoKKnm6-WnMk -Brian Goulet

[@archivist17]

An excellent series!

[@Gouletpens]

Thank you! -Brian Goulet

[@maxaboi737]

For me it is instinctual for me to use fountain pens as they were compuslary in my primairy school from year 3 to yr6 (7-8 years old to 10-11 years old)

[@maxaboi737]

Lamy safari’s specifically

[@erin.anderson]

My trouble with the tripod grip for pens is due to the length of my fingers, not their thickness. Maybe using thicker pens is a solution, but I find when attempting this grip, two thing happen: 1. My middle finger invariably ends up hitting the paper as I am writing and interfering, and 2. My forefinger and thumb end up gripping higher than you show, and are almost if not completely touching at the top of the pen shaft - there is no way to actually grip the pen between the two and also have it resting on my middle finger. I greatly appreciate you showing a much better explanation of the grip than pretty much anybody else, and how it is expected to work, but this is how I have apparently degenerated into a psuedo-death grip here, because it's the only place I can comfortably have my thumb while trying to hold the pen. It's very frustrating. :(

[@ktverdun]

I love the leather writing mat you have on your desk for this video. I know the mats that you offer on your site now are a different brand and wondering if you had that one specially made for you?

[@dennisconkin6628]

Bran, what an amazing and incredible serine’s. Just wonderful l. Informative and educational I learned a lot. I like Jin Hao for the most part, but reallly like Twsbi with broad nin/rhodhia paper. You are really great on you tube ald also you and Drew. iam getting ready to buy and frankly I wouldn’t go anywhwhere eyeless now. best wishes. And yes. Write on. That always cracks me up.."?Dennis Conkin

[@TymberJ]

"You can't always trust the marketing hype around paper quality" is a really professional way to address the common newbie problem that rhymes with "Boleskine".

[@Gouletpens]

I didn't name any names ;) In all honesty though, I wasn't jabbing at any one brand, it's a pretty universal thing that paper quality can be hit or miss in the US, so it does take some time to find the right paper for you. -Brian Goulet

[@TymberJ]

@@Gouletpens Absolutely, the issue isn't brand specific, and this video wouldn't be the right place to call one out even it were. While you can't share them, I do suspect there may be trends in customer support calls where the problem ends up being poor paper, though... Your store and videos do really well at calling out the importance of the paper, and making it easy to find and try good ones, very appreciated.

[@sparklefulpaladin]

I just wanted to say, thank you for these videos! Even though I've used fountain pens for awhile, they're fun to watch and informative! Also, I love the Rubiks cube! Is that one of yours or does it belong to someone else? One of the most interesting thing about the trifecta is that it can really, really vary from person to person! I have a good friend who also really likes fountain pens and inks and we've swapped pens and inks before and have wildly different opinions on how they write. Oftentimes, what works well for me doesn't work for her and vice versa.

[@Gouletpens]

You're welcome! Yeah that's my cube, there are many like it but this one is mine :) It's a 7x7 which I enjoy a lot. I'm a bit of a cube-head, I have a whole collection of all types of puzzles like that, it was a Covid-coping hobby of mine! I know I've shown a bunch of them in a previous pencast, unfortunately I can't remember which one, lol... -Brian Goulet

[@zzycatch]

I love this channel.

[@Gouletpens]

yay! thank you :) -Brian Goulet

[@manujagupta5466]

I have subscribed to your channel. I was going to skip this notification. However, I decided to give it a once-through and am I glad. I dabble in dip pen Copperplate calligraphy and this video addresses all the problems that I have faced. Your solutions are very lucid. Thanks a lot. I have some A5 Tomoe River paper. Could you suggest a "Trifecta" (may I say?) and a writing sample?

[@Gouletpens]

Thank you! Now I will say I'm no calligrapher, and while I feel pretty confident in everything I've shared here, I glossed over some of the more nuanced aspects of posture and pen/paper position for more formal writing. I strongly recommend checking out Michael Sull's book The Art of Cursive Penmanship I mentioned in the video: www.gouletpens.com/products/the-art-of-cursive-penmanship-book I also recommend checking out Jake Weidmann's site, he's a Master Penman with some truly awe-inspiring artwork: www.jakeweidmann.com/ -Brian Goulet

[@Raj-viz]

I was thinking if there is any video on the same exact topic by goulet company, yesterday. And today it exists!

[@Gouletpens]

Great minds think alike! -Brian Goulet

[@ChimeraLV]

as someone who's in the print industry. I can safelly say the paper issue is largely in the pricing. You can get rather thin papers, that are quite well suited for Fountain pens, Stuff like Munken Print come to mind, but from what I gathered from buying a few notebooks is that. The manufacturers usually chose the cheapest somewhat suitable option. Which ends up being a mixed bag, it'll either bleedthrough, feather, ghost, or be good enough to write on with a fountain pen. It's a tad sad to see, that we have papers that are perfectly adequat for Fountain pen writing but are rarely used by the manufacturers.

[@timmainson]

Very good series...I want my certificate of completion now...😉

[@Gouletpens]

You can write your own lol :) -Brian Goulet

[@bak-unin]

I'm going to need a gym membership. "Hi, is there any specific aspects you'd like to focus on?" "Yeah, my penmanship"

[@Gouletpens]

haha yes! -Brian Goulet

[@stevekail4543]

For anyone who is more comfortable with traditional U.S paper measurements there are plenty of web sites that will make the conversion for you. For instance 90 GSM is equal to 24lb. bond. Some tablets will list both measurements on the back cover.

[@Gouletpens]

yes, definitely. I had to restrain myself from falling deep down a rabbit hole with paper! Helpful info about paper grammage: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammage If you want a ton of information about paper sizes, check this out: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_size This is all a DEEP dive into paper, more than anyone needs to worry about who's new to the hobby. But for my pen veterans who love my deep dives in the Pencast, check those links out ;) -Brian Goulet

[@stevekail4543]

​@@Gouletpens Another benefit of using traditional U.S. paper measurements is that there are simple formulas that allow you to calculate the weight of any sheet in ounces. Since the post office charges by the ounce you can easily figure your postage cost without using a physical scale. 📬

[@mrmrshoffecker2887]

Great vid

[@sherrach898]

What on earth is the pen you’re using at 8:13? I stumbled upon the world of fountain pens the other day (don’t even have one myself), and am utterly intrigued!

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

That’s a glass dip pen, all one piece. Neat looking, but if you like that sort of thing you can find lots of styles online. They do look pretty, and I’ve often been tempted to purchase one over the year just to have one in my collection but I’ve not broken down to buy one. I doubt I’d use it because they seem to not have the finesse of a well crafted nib. Also I prefer a fine nib and the glass dip pens look all the same to me. They’re probably not, but I’ve never seriously shopped for one. Still, pretty - and indeed they are intriguing. I believe their popularity was in the Victorian era.

[@Thorned_Rose]

What is the electric blue coloured ink shown throughout this video please? (e.g. at 9:19 ) Thanks!

[@stickinthemud23]

Best hand for beginners: Pilot Varsity disposable.

[@Govindan999]

Is that blue demonstrator pen, Click Falcon . It looks like Click Falcon model an Fountain pen from India .

[@arlenet.1520]

Hi Brian! And Hi Drew! I’m bummed now because I can’t make it to DC Pen Show…so wanted to meet you two in person since I am a newbie to pens. But most definitely next I am planning to go to thank you two on how you changed this newbie’s mindset on fountain pens and not collect every single pretty pen I see!😮 But on the topics of inks that is a different story even though I make an inky mess at times and can’t get the dyes off my hands. Thank you to you both and Goulet Pens for all the pen education! I am now ready to watch each Pencast from the beginning and not bounce around so much topic to topic. Have an awesome and safe time at the pen show!

[@Gouletpens]

I'm sorry we'll miss you! This won't be our last pen show though, maybe next time? I'm glad you're enjoying our videos, and I feel you on the ink thing, inky fingers are a point of pride around the Goulet office :) Whenever one of us has inky fingers, rather than being like "ew gross" we're like "oooh...what color is that? I wanna try it!" -Brian Goulet

[@annes7926]

I write up and down, not side to side. What would be the proper nib angle to avoid any hint of “rolling”? Perhaps my writing style is why I’ve had trouble with some fountain pens.

[@Gouletpens]

I think no matter which direction you're writing, the way you hold the pen in your hand and the nib face showing upwards towards the sky (without rotating too much left or right) will be the same. The only difference may be the wrist/elbow coordination. I'm not that well versed in writing up/down a lot, so I'm not sure what tips to give, but one thing you could try is keeping your arm more in the same place but sliding the paper up as you write every couple of words so you're not having to more your arm as much. -Brian Goulet

[@Tattlebot]

Ink resistance would be surface energy I think

[@aliahmadasif3261]

Hello there brian. I used to have a keen interest in fountain pens before the pandemic and recently have begun to rekindle my love for fountain pens. Therefore I have been thinking about getting a new fountain pen which would be easy on my wallet and also be easy to use. Since i had known about and used a few fountain pens I know about what i like and what i dont. So you might be wondering why i might be telling you all this. The reason is simple, I want you or frankly anyone to give me a recommendation and also advice me on my selection of fountain pens I have been wanting to buy. So all opinions are appreciated The pens between which i am choosing between is the pilot metropolitan or the sailor 1911 compass. If I want a pen which has feedback and is smooth to write with, would the sailor be suitable? I found that I want my writing to be small and controlled and the pen to be non slippery. Thank you very much for anyone who answers my question and sorry if any of my writing offends anyone since this is my 2nd language and i don't know the nuances of english.

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Please don’t apologize for your English, it’s very good. I speak only English, and people who are bilingual or multilingual is so wonderful. It makes me feel lesser. I love the Lamy Safari pens and the Vista too, which is the same as the Safari but a demonstrator edition. I have it, and a few Safaris since I got my first one recently and fell head over heels for them. They are simple, nothing fussy, and reliable from first touch of nib to paper. Flawless! I thought it a common looking , rather odd little plastic fountain pen at first, but after writing with one I see everything beautiful in that instrument. And the colors, oh my, that is the best! I’m also interested in a Sailor but I’m so caught up in the Lamy Safari colors now. I gave my fledgling Safari collection a nice teal colored leather pen case. I absolutely love this reliable and simple little design. Perfection and bliss. You can’t go wrong and the price doesn’t hit your wallet hard. Let everyone know which kind you got and how you like it.

[@rolfalvarado]

siendo zurdo el papel es un problema, mi mano siempre queda fuera del papel al empezar a escribir, por lo que suelo usar casi solo la parte derecha del papel, despues lo doy vuelva y uso la otra parte.

[@carlaeskelsen]

New to this channel - I've poked about, but not been able to find a video/series for left handed fountain pen users. Do you have anything helpful for us poor sad southpaws?

[@Gouletpens]

They're older videos, but we did a three-part series that might be helpful to you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6rTq5qNnrNkfbs

[@tntori5079]

Rephrase: 3 days ago I was about ready to abandon my pilot metro. I was very frustrated. In a random moment, I had to write something down and it was nearby, and for once I didn't pay attention to my grip/posture. Suddenly it was waaaaaay better/easier. Yay! To achieve this I had to ignore most common advice about holding pens. I had to hold it upright, grip it in a strange way, and get as close to the nib tip as I could. Unlike videos I've see where the hand is further back. Is that really super strange? Or do other people find their pens actually work better this way? ? ?

[@sparklefulpaladin]

I've personally found that my Pilot Metropolitan (1.1 italic nib) works best when the angle is about 70-80 degrees to the paper (so nearly vertical). Most other fountain pens I've used prefer a 40-50 degree angle.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Can you get to a magnifier??? It should be fairly strong, like MORE than 10X... a jeweler's loupe might help... BUT the more powerful the better so long as you can get a good look at the tip of your nib. There's a condition to the grind at the tip, some call "baby's butt" where instead of a clean round lobe of metal neatly perched at the end, there's a notch between the two round sides, and the ink runs inside that notch area, until there's a flatter spot to force it out to touch the paper. I'm still not 100% clear about what causes it, but a channel "Doodlebud" has mentioned it and how to do your own grind at home... A LITTLE AT A TIME... to fix that issue. He includes a few videos about general tuning on nibs, and it's mostly stuff you can do at home, so long as you work a little and then wipe off the tip and test and go back to work a little more. I've "cured baby's butt" on a couple pens, with a few minutes of "Figure-8's" on a diamond plate (800 grit or higher) and followed it up as soon as it would write consistently with a polish using my dremel and a polishing felt tip with ordinary green "rouge" (polish paste included in dremel kits in little drums)... For a secondhand pen that I only have a couple bucks in, it's butter-smooth and lays ink EVERY time it touches paper, regardless of the angle now... There IS also a chance that it's some other "tuning issue" too... Most pens write well and smooth, and Pilot's got a solid reputation for nearly bulletproof reliability... BUT once in a while, anybody's liable to have one or two slip through with issues... lot in the nib out of line with the notch of the feed, bent splines, whatever... AND you can look up one of Doodlebud's episodes about tuning and find out more or less what to look for. I understand if this is more involved than you're comfortable with... BUT if your pen gives you trouble, it may be worth the effort or even seeing about getting it fixed or tuned up, if you're just not comfortable doing so yourself. A suddenly even more expensive pen that you love the rest of your life is better than throwing whatever money you've already invested right out the window with the pen... Anyways... just my 2-cents... ;o)

[@tntori5079]

@@sparklefulpaladin oh awesome! I might not be totally crazy. I only had the two pilot metros one med and one fine - and I ended up writing with both of them very very upright. That actually makes me feel a lot better as I thought if I kept writing that way it might feel better for me but might wear on the pen. Maybe it's just that type of pen. .

[@tntori5079]

@@gnarthdarkanen7464 I appreciate the informative response! While I'm not in a position to go that far into it, I really appreciate the time you took to type that all up and I can reference it later if need be. After seeing the advice about the 40-45 degree angle so much on various Goulet videos, I was starting to wonder if I would wreck my pen or something. . . I guess was part of the real question. Would writing like that or does having the "babys butt" continue to damage the pen more of you don't address it?

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@tntori5079 Nope. You won't wreck anything writing out of position or at weird angles. The only damage you'll do to your pen in writing is MAYBE you can bend the splines of the nib if you mash down with enough pressure trying to get more line variation or "flex"... You actually have to get pretty rough for that, though, and it's just not comfortable writing form. It's part of why so many hunt after Vintage pens for their flex... The older nibs were more artisanal, more craft and temper to the steel, and so give a little more than the modern flex nibs. There's a loss in the trade-off to cheaper mass production. The only thing that goes on with writing i weird hand positions is you'll build the habit of writing that way... It also just won't address the issue in the pen, itself... In any case, I just hope to help out. I hope you find the time and get invested... I hope it works out for you, and you'll find a whole new level of appreciation with your pen when you do. BUT in the meantime, your pen will be fine. I'd worry more about your wrist and hand... lolz ;o)

[@LivinItUp98]

Brian talking about paper weight Me remembering the time he deep dived for the pen cast 😂 🏖🦃🏝

[@Gouletpens]

haha yes! I see you ;) -Brian Goulet

[@oldschoolonline8871]

Same video - but left-handed! Haha!

[@Gouletpens]

Like this? :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5bQoKKnm6-WnMk -Brian Goulet

[@Art_culture_livin]

Oh thank you so much , I had no idea how to write with my fountain pen, I was using my eye lashes to write until I see this video , I am not sure what is fountain pen yet ( bcz it came to market yesterday ) still learning

[@Gouletpens]

it's probably much easier for you to watch this video without trying to write with your eyelashes, I'm glad it helped ;) -Brian Goulet

[@prussia1557]

I'm slightly insane and am using a fountain pen as my writing utensil in University. ...Yes, I'm a history major, I have to go with the theme.

[@Heidejournal]

Best scene: Brian flopping on the couch belly down and acting like a 3 year old… 😂😂😂 And remember: always have a Rubik‘s Cube in your overhead shots. 😆

[@Gouletpens]

haha I'm glad you liked the cube! -Brian Goulet

[@PMUresQgrl]

I am experimenting with using a fountain pen on paper that is more like recycled construction paper (it was made to look like an older book with burnt edges). I am new at using fountain pens, but like the idea of using an older form of writing tool on a paper that gives an older feel. I am wondering whether or not I should continue or not. After watching these videos, I am wondering if I should go back to a modern pen. Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks in advance. :)

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Maybe a medium nib, or a dip pen, perhaps?

[@paulmchugh1430]

I am still looking for the perfect paper for me. Left handed looking for a paper that allows the ink to dry quickly with little or no feathering. Any suggestions?

[@sparklefulpaladin]

You could try Clairefontaine, Rhodia or Kokuyo paper. Also, if you're open to it, generally a finer nib or drier ink can also help. I've heard that Noodlers Inks tend to be on the faster drying side and I've personally had good results from LAMY ink.

[@paulmchugh1430]

@@sparklefulpaladin Thank you for the suggestions.

[@Gouletpens]

Maruman Mnemosyne could also be a good option. Here are some other tips that might help as a lefty: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5bQoKKnm6-WnMk

[@paulherman5822]

There was a time when inks advertised their fast drying. And not just the super fast yet pen destroying inks Parker churned out, several times. It was kinda necessary, as, contrary to some claims, American paper has historically been fairly awful, compared to some other countries. Conservators have said Victorian era paper in general was not that great. (But the inks used then, though not necessarily fountain pen friendly, tended to also dry faster than some do today. And some are still in use. Iron gall ink. 😁) It's the shift into fountain pens being more an indulgence for many, a hobby rather than just what you have to write with, that has shifted inks, IMO, making certain types of paper more important. Inks still made like they were decades ago still tend to be decent for frankly some not so great paper. Waterman, Sheaffer and Parker I've used with limited trouble on copy paper and the like, but some that are purportedly designed for American papers still aren't that good for them, like a vintage type ink. But you'll tend to lose those properties we tend to expect from our fountain pen ink, like sheen, shimmer, even a certain level of water resistance. Want to use cheap school paper? You can't use a sheen monster. Shimmer will just get sucked into the paper and basically disappear. Stick to a "boring" vintage type ink. Those who advertised fast dry time in the past tend to still make the same types of ink (frankly, though there's really only 2 colors available from the brand today, in the US, Parker Quink tends to be even better behaved than the well publicized Waterman, in my experience.) But, you want those things highly prized today? Gotta compromise, and get a higher grade of paper than even "higher quality" ones from the US tends to make. Well said, Brian! As a "primer" for starting down the rabbit hole of fountain pens, excellent content.

[@Gouletpens]

Very well said. There's a lot of nuance to the Trifecta thing, and you're absolutely right, you can use some "tried and true" inks that will perform well on pretty much any paper...but you're right, the more vibrant, fun, sheening/shading/shimmering inks that have been more popular recently will showcase their qualities best on smoother, more ink-resistant paper that will be a more specialty find. -Brian Goulet

[@paulherman5822]

@@Gouletpens I have to admit that the majority of my use of the 3 brands I listed are also the vintage versions. I've used modern Quink, but to use anything but black or blue, you have to get vintage in Quink. It's frankly how I discovered that I have love for 1940s (the decade all the older Quink colors are easily available, usually on eBay) Quink browns. But those three brands, though especially the greens have changed over the years, they still work on many types of paper. (Change not from aging, but dyes. Reds seem to be the worst for changing colors over the years. And I think I did discover the color inspiration for Noodler's Bad Blue Heron. Sheaffer's Skrip permanent Royal Blue. Identical shade of blue.) It's those who are interested in fountain pens that are really the only ones that care about things like sheen and shimmer (shading has been a thing for certain colors since early on), so I have started including the more "boring" yet better behaved inks for writing this people. My sister still has yet to realize that every holiday card I've sent her in the past several years has been a shimmer ink, for example. I still use it for 2 reasons. One, I bought the bottle, and I'm going to use it. 😉 Two, I notice it, and it pleases me. I've even given a friend that uses a fountain pen a bottle of vintage Sheaffer's Skrip washable purple. Because it's a good purple, they like purple, and, it has some nice shading. And because everyone needs an older Sheaffer's inkwell bottle. 😁

[@Volkmannx]

Helpful, thank you! It always horrifies me when I see someone holding their pen with a lateral grip 😅

[@Gouletpens]

haha, I mean, I've seen some crazy ways people hold their pens and sometimes people can make it work in very unexpected ways. But there are some pretty fundamental things that have been figured out over time that'll be a good approach for most, that's what I was aiming to cover here. -Brian Goulet

[@Volkmannx]

@@Gouletpens Sure, whatever works. I'm glad I'm a natural Dynamic-Tripodler (this a word? 😁), though.

[@JMBalaguer]

Great video, thanks. BTW, what’s the fountain pen at 03:45?

[@Gouletpens]

Thats the Visconti Il Magnifico in Red Marble, which isn't be produced anymore though they've come out with successive colors of it (here's the current one, Egyptian Marble): www.gouletpens.com/products/visconti-medici-il-magnifico-fountain-pen-egyptian-marble-limited-edition -Brian Goulet

[@JMBalaguer]

@@Gouletpens 👍

[@raulmuzikman]

Does anybody know what pen is that on 8:16?

[@EnitityDragon]

A glass dip pen I think.

[@BillyJBailey]

Can I write in print with a fountain pen? I only ever see cursive videos.

[@ThereIsNoSpoon678]

I felt like a 3rd grader, writing my letters over and over again. A A A A A B B B B B … a a a a a b b b b b … 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 … Very fun. Very tiring. Very important.

[@Gouletpens]

Practice makes progress! -Brian Goulet

[@Semitic_from_Mesopotamia]

4:29 😂😂😂😂😂

[@caskraker]

Does it do e-ink?

[@joeynuggetz]

Need bigger samples to keep my from shopping at VanNess

[@Gouletpens]

I can appreciate where you're coming from there. It's something we've been talking about. -Brian Goulet

[@joeynuggetz]

@@Gouletpens Nice one, Brian. Hell, just update the picture and make it 4ml, twice the cost and ship out 2 bottles for phase one. Phase 2 can be Drew pouring all your existing samples into larger vials :-)

[@Dosbomber]

Wooo... what's the name of that lovely beauty at 3:43?

[@michaelmedlinger6399]

I think it‘s one of the Visconti Medici Il Magnifico pens. They are usually (always?) made of marble or some other exotic material and are absolutely beautiful and absolutely expensive! No, I don‘t have one! 😢

[@Gouletpens]

@michaelmedlinger6399 was spot on, that's the Visconti Il Magnifico. I'm a tease though, as that particular color isn't available anymore, it was the first one they released several years ago. It's body is made of marble and the cap/grip/filler knob is sterling silver, it's a seriously dense pen! The whole pen weighs about 77g, whereas most fountain pens are in the 20-30g range. It's a monster! -Brian Goulet

[@jimaspinwall7814]

But, lefties…

[@Gouletpens]

Things are a little different for lefties, but we have some videos about that too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5bQoKKnm6-WnMk -Brian Goulet

[@Moostery]

Incorrect. The best way to hold a pen is whatever way feels best to you while writing.

[@rdmercer]

The dudes grip is really terrible. If you want to practice proper penmanship grip, Barbara Nicols.