#Jinhao 993

[randomstuffnobodywillsee]

i decked out my shark pen

its not perfect but i love it!

Does not effect how i need to hold it. The pectoral fin is just a pen rest, i made a few of those for my pens. But i wanted to play with one

[decepti-thots]

have you already did first and or riptide for the fountian pen thing?

I didn't do it for the meme, but I own a pen I called Riptide, and I will the the opportunity to show him off. Behold: the Jinhao 993:

HE'S A SHAAAARK and beloved by young schoolkids everywhere and also I love him.

For those who have already seen him, another pick: this Kakuno! Which is another student-focused budget pen pick, this time from Pilot in Japan. They have :) faces on the nibs.

(Sidenote: the Jinhao 993 is a legit good no-risk starter pen. It's under five bucks including a converter everywhere from eBay to Amazon to AliExpress, and it genuinely writes very well for a budget pen, with a threaded cap and a pretty decent nib. I would legit recommend it for anyone who wants to try fountain pens, along with other Jinhao pens! It's not quite as good as the similarly cheap Platinum Preppy, but it comes with a converter and that one doesn't. So. AND it's a SHARK!!!!)

[petermorwood]

O senior pen user! I have been a dedicate of pencils for years but finally found a pen I like (Staedtler triplus fineliner). How do I tell when to stop using the pen? It seems wasteful if ink still comes out, even if it's a pain/not fun to use anymore. And if I like these sharp points, small bodies - is there a refillable/fountain pen I should investigate?

If the pen's getting scratchy it's time for a new one. Scratchiness means the tip - AFAIK Triplus Fineliners are fibre-tipped - has worn down, or there's not enough ink coming out to properly lubricate the contact between tip and paper. Either way it's refill or (unless recyclable) landfill.

*****

Check Goulet Pens and Jet Pens for refillable fountain pens with fine nibs.

It's possible to experiment without spending very much, for instance the Jinhao 993 Shark from Goulet is $3.95. I might get one of these for @dduane, because of Ed-related Reasons. :->

The Platinum Preppy from Jetpens is $7.00...

...and the Pilot Penmanship, also from Jetpens, is $10.00.

All are refillable using cartridges or (AFAIK) a convertor for bottled ink.

Personal opinion: in my experience Pilot nibs at the cheap end of the range have been consistently superior to how they might reasonably perform for the price. Maybe I've just been lucky, however DD's two Pilot Metropolitans continue the "better than paid for" trend.

I'm pretty sure both Jet and Goulet could refine the search even further if you emailed them with a query like "What (inexpensive) fountain pen writes as fine as a Staedtler Triplus Fineliner?", although my recommendations may already fit the bill. :->

I've bought stuff unavailable in Europe from both companies - those Pilot Metropolitans had stub and fine nibs, for instance; for some reason the Pilot MR equivalent over here is medium-only - and they were very prompt and friendly even though my orders were just small ones from a customer unlikely to be frequent.

Hope This Helps!

[gosupermarinespitfire]

For Inktober/Ponytober Day 31 ("Trick or Treat"/"Fire"). Nightmare Night and Halloween cap off this month of ink drawing. Pipp and Izzy are celebrating with some special costumes of their own. Some special magic allowed Pipp to become a bat pony/dragon hybrid for the night.

Self-reflection:

I inked up one of the flex nib pens I have for this final piece since it makes finer lines than the 149 I had been using for my purple-coloured drawings. Line variation was another feature I tried to use, but it requires a steady hand that I have not really developed.

Tools used:

rOtring 800 (0.5 mm): sketch.

Montblanc 149 (M) with Montblanc Lavender Purple: inking for Izzy Moonbow and Pipp Petals.

Pilot Custom 912 (FA) with Montblanc Lavender Purple: shading and line variation on Izzy and Pipp.

Jinhao 993 Shark (F) with Montblanc Homer Greek Blue: inking for Pipp's firebreath.

[k-madura]

Fun, but not ideal (or just not used to it, lol).

Pen: Jinhao 993 Shark Fountain Pen

Ink: Noodler’s black

[naralanis]

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.

Hope that helps!

[whatsinmypen]

Starter Fountain Pens 

(that aren’t the Pilot Metro or Lamy Safari) 

(So you never have to ask me for recs again)

New to fountain pens? Long-time enthusiast? No matter, you’re probably sick of hearing about the Lamy Safari and the Pilot Metropolitan (or Pilot MR in certain markets) and their respective merits as beginner fountain pens. It feels like every other day someone asks for suggestions for their first fountain pen, and inevitably the recommendations for either of those two come flooding in.  

It’s not without reason. I’m guilty too—the Lamy Safari is still one of my favourite pens of all time (and I will still recommend it), and the Metropolitan is just about the safest bet you can make on a fountain pen when you’re just getting started.  

That being said, there are a ton of other pens out there, and I feel like newbies sometimes miss out on pens they might like better. So, to help further our collective horizons, here are 22 OTHER fountain pens for absolute beginners.  With links!

All under $30.  

1. Pilot Varsity ($3.30 or $21.25 for assorted 7-pack)

Afraid of commitment? Looking to dip your toes before diving in? No problem--just try out a disposable fountain pen! For a pen designed to be disposable, the Pilot Varsity writes pretty well and comes in 7 fun colours. Just mind the paper you're using--it can bleed through pretty easily, as it is one-size nib only (and that size is medium).

2. Platinum Preppy ($6.00)

Not quite as "disposable" as the Pilot Varsity, the Preppy has a few advantages: multiple nib sizes (though they're all pretty fine), a wide assortment of colours, and can even take a (proprietary) converter if you so choose. They do crack pretty easily, especially at the cap and grip section, but they're still a solid choice for a fountain pen newbie.

3. Jinhao 993 Shark ($3.95)

Not only are these pens adorable and affordable, their (hooded!) nib is exceptionally good considering the low price, though medium is the only nib size you'll get. Don't feel too bad though, because this pen comes with a converter included! I honestly have zero complaints about this pen, it's an awesome, quirky buy.

4. Jinhao x450 ($9.90) & x750 ($9.99)

Now these look like fountain pens. Pull one of these out at a meeting and you'll definitely get a couple of questions (or perhaps encounter a pen friend out in the wild!). Metal construction, medium (& somewhat gushy nibs), and a converter included? Sign me up! They might be a little heavier than what you're used to, but otherwise make for a great starter pen.

5. Paili 013 Vacuum Filler ($9.95)

Pro: a vacuum filler pen for under $10?? Yep. Forget those cartridges and unleash the power of bottled ink with this surprisingly reliable fountain pen!

Con: If you're a newbie, you're likely unfamiliar with this filling mechanism, so it might be a little daunting. But I promise there's no mystery, and YouTube is your friend!

6. Platinum Prefounte ($11.00)

Another Platinum, this time a little dressed up but still fun! The Prefounte comes in both fine and medium nibs and takes either proprietary Platinum cartridges or converters (sold separately, unfortunately). This pen is also pretty forgiving if you end up forgetting it in your drawer: Platinum's Slip & Seal mechanism can keep the ink from drying for quite a while (allegedly, up to a year). Keep in mind, Platinum pens tend to have a little bit more feedback (read: scratchy feel on paper), so if you don't like the feel of writing with pencil, for instance, maybe opt for a medium nib.

7. Luoshi Labyrinth ($12.95)

If you want something striking and unique, this Luoshi might be right up your alley. The Labyrinth is an all-metal pen with a surprisingly smooth medium-fine nib. It might be a little too weighty for those not accustomed to hefty metal pens, and some people have complained that the cut out labyrinth design adds some discomfort to lengthy writing sessions, so keep that in mind!

8. Pilot Kakuno ($13.50)

If you've heard good things about the nib on the Pilot Metropolitan but wanted something cheaper/quirkier, boy have I got good news for you! Marketed for children in Japan, the Kakuno has the same nib unit as the Metro, making for a superb writing experience at a considerably lower price point. They come in a ton of colors and take proprietary Pilot cartridges or converters. Nibs of different sizes come engraved with different smiley faces for extra fun.

9. HongDian Black Forest Series ($16.95)

This pen is just cool. Matte, all metal finish? Check. Cool colours? Check. Converter included? Check. Matching colour nib? Check (on a couple of them, at least). Though this pen is metal, it is pretty slim and comes with a textured grip, making for a pretty comfortable writing experience (unless, of course, you don't like slim pens!)

10. Kaweco Perkeo ($17.00)

I call this pen Kaweco's Kakuno, because... well, just look at it. Then go back up to #8 and see that I am right. Regardless, this pen is a solid choice for a beginner, with different nib options (all pretty smooth) and a great assortment of colours. It also has a triangular grip, which will help you hold the pen in the correct position--though some people find it uncomfortable, so keep that in mind!

11. Platinum Plaisir ($17.60)

Pros: Aluminum body, several colours to choose from, different nib options (fine & medium), and Platinum's magical sealing cap to prevent your ink from drying.

Cons: Converter (proprietary) sold separately. Boo.

12. TWSBI GO ($18.99)

This little pen (the most affordable TWSBI iirc) has quite a few things going for it. It comes in several colours and has a bunch of different nib sizes (from extra fine all the way to a 1.1mm stub). The filing mechanism (a simple spring loaded piston) is very practical and easy to use, though it may be a little unfamiliar to most beginners and will require bottled ink (so go ahead and add to cart while you're at it!).

13. ONLINE Slope ($19.00) & Switch Plus ($20.50)

Smooth writers with ergonomic grips (i.e., triangular) to keep you in position when writing. Both the Slope and Switch Plus are made of plastic with stainless steel nibs that come in both medium and fine and write pretty smoothly. They're a great choice for a beginner, but maybe skip these two if you're not a fan of the triangular grip or if you like heavier pens.

14. Delike Mojiang Pocket Pen ($19.95)

If you'd like to give pocket pens a try, maybe start with the Mojiang. This little pen is all-metal, which gives it a nice heft despite its small size. It only comes in fine, but writes more like a medium. Though it takes standard international converters and cartridges, watch the size--some converters might be too long to fit! Furthermore, smaller pens usually mean smaller ink capacity, so if you're writing in long sessions you may have to refill more frequently.

15. Moonman M2 Eyedropper ($21.95)

If you want a large ink capacity and want to see it slosh around your pen as you write... well, look no further! Though this pen can take cartridges and converters, it was designed as an eye dropper pen, meaning you fill the body of the pen itself with the ink of your choice with... you guessed it, an eyedropper (included!).

16. Wancai Mini ($21.25)

Same as the above, just. Teeny tiny!

17. Diplomat Magnum ($23.20)

Despite its lofty name, the Diplomat Magnum is pretty slim, not to mention super light. It has a nifty little ink window so you can keep an eye on your ink level and comes Diplomat's soft touch stainless steel nib (in sizes extra-fine to medium) for a super smooth writing experience. This is another pen with a (less pronounced) triangle grip, and comes with a converter included.

18. Pilot Explorer ($23.60)

Pilot at it again with the superb nibs. Like the Kakuno and the Metropolitan, the Explorer also features a frankly incredible stainless steel nib (in both fine and medium). It comes in several colours and Pilot even deigned to include a converter with this one (though it's a squeeze converter that 1. might be a little unfamiliar to some and 2. kind of sucks in general, so maybe stick to the Pilot cartridges with this one).

19. Faber-Castell Grip ($24.00)

This pen is literally designed to be a beginner fountain pen, but it still looks pretty sleek, imo. It does feel a little plasticky/cheap, but that Faber-Castell nib writes super smoothly. It only comes in fine, though it writes more like a medium. No converter included with this one (boo-hoo).

20. Kaweco Sport ($25.00)

Another German pen, and another pocket pen! I love Kaweco nibs (from EF to medium, though you can buy other Kaweco nibs separately), and the Kaweco Sport is a great introduction to pocket pens. They come in a ton of colours and are pretty reliable, though they only take short international cartridges (and a short converter, which, you guessed it, is sold separately). There are several colour and material variations, but the classic has a plastic body and stainless steel nib. Maybe skip if slim writing utensils are not comfortable!

21. Pelikan Twist ($26.00)

OK, this pen may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I had to add it. It's super funky and the nib (medium) is pretty good. All in all, it's a pretty nifty way to try out a Pelikan, and if you're into the design (and the triangular grip) it can be a fun and reliable daily writer. Converter sold separately (askjdbaklsdjb)

22. TWSBI Swipe ($26.99)

This pen may not look like it goes over the top, but let me tell you, it does. The TWSBI Swipe boasts no less than four different ways of filling it. You can use your regular cartridge. You can use the (included!!) traditional converter. You can then swap that converter out for a piston converter (also included! what?!), and if you're not happy, you can just eyedropper the whole dang pen. It might be a little too much, too soon for complete newbies, but the learning curve is not very steep, and it's a great way to try out all of these methods on a single pen. Like the TWSBI GO, nibs (stainless steel) go from an extra-fine all the way up to a 1.1mm stub.

[mrsluthordanvers]

You're in luck - they're on sale over at Goulet Pens for $1.97. [https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/jinhao-993-shark-fountain-pens]

That's where I took the picture from! 👀

[madamehearthwitch]

Fountain Pens Anyone?

Goulet Pens has a BOGO offer for the Jinhao Shark pens

https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/jinhao-993-shark-fountain-pens

They come in a bunch of colors, with a Japanese extra fine nib (suuuuper thin lines, I’m in love).

It includes a converter which is honestly great, because then you can refill with bottles.

Can’t shell out for a whole bottle? (their cheapest - but still good - run around... $8 and lasts ages. But sometimes that’s a bit much if you aren’t sure you’ll like fountain pens.) Have no fear! They sell samples, which will do you for 2-3 refills in my experience. And they’re like $1.25

https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/ink-samples

So for $6 + shipping you can get two pens and see if fountain pens are right for you!

----

You know what... fuck it. I need to spread some positivity after the week I’ve had.

If you’re in the US (sorry, shipping international is murder) to submit a post to me with a picture of something that makes you smile (your photograph, not something pulled off the internets) are gonna get two of the Jinhao pens (your choice of color), two sample bottles (again, your choice) and some pretty stationary (my choice, my stash is bananas), cuz why the fuck not.

If I publish your submission saying you win, you gotta send me an ask in the next 12 hrs letting me know what color pens, and what ink samples you’d like <3

[decepti-thots]

I would like to hear about which characters would use which kind of fountain pen 👀

okay, so with the caveat that all of this is coming from me researching pens in my quest to become slightly a 'pen person' and not like. being one. (but also from the perspective of watching my friend talk extremely in-depth about this for many years, and cribbing from her, in my defense.)

here are some random character-pen matchups and headcanons bc why not!!

first off. minimus, obviously.

there's a few things i think about this: he's fundamentally conservative in his tastes i think (no wild experimental designs), someone who would not want to spend an Excessive amount of money but also someone who would definitely have a higher-end one quality wise, and he'd have really nitpicky taste about shit like quality control. with this in mind, the guides i read that were offering opinions on higher-end 'beginner pens' consistently brought up the Pilot Custom 74, which is like, the platonic ideal of just a functional good quality Fountain Pen TM:

look at it. that sure is a ~£190 fountain pen! it's classic, functional, a solid 'name', expensive enough i feel like a person who grew up well off would be like 'oh this is my everyday pen' and i would be sort of like 'the fuck that costs half my rent'. lmao. but not like, someone splashing out a thousand quid or more expensive, yknow. he's probably had this same pen for like. the equivalent of twenty years or more. i'm sure he has more than one but this is his 'workhorse'.

here's another one i immediately am like 'oh i know what to pick' about. this one less in terms of specifically 'this character would use it' and more like 'this character reminds me of this pen'. it's rewind! and the pen is a Tombow Zoom 828fp because. well. look at this.

MINI PEN. CHIBI LITTLE FOUNTAIN PEN. there's apparently a chinese pen that is a lot cheaper you can get of this little chonker's basic design, and i'm very, very seriously tempted to get one and call it 'rewind'. lmao. short and charmingly proportioned! i don't think rewind probably actually uses a pen but maybe this was one of those spousal in-joke gifts pre-war or something like 'haha this reminded me of you'/'are you calling me short' or whatever idfk. the point is. TINY PEN.

nautica got riptide a Jinhao 993 to cheer him up when they started doing lessons in that one issue towards the end of MTMTE/pre-DotL and he's finding it difficult maybe. "why would a fountain pen cheer him up-" THIS IS WHY LOOK AT THESE

my pen friend got the pink one of these for a fiver or something, bc i pointed out it was a pink shark and therefore a Nimona pen. haha. anyway. that's why riptide has a fountain pen.

rodimus is having a mid life crisis, and also magnus will probably think he is Mature and Good At Work if he shows up with a fountain pen, he figures one time, so he wheedles money off drift and buys this monstrosity, which to be clear costs EIGHT THOUSAND EUROS and is supposed to look like a cool racecar themed... thing. montegrappa is so fucking overpriced and tacky and they're invariably hilarious to me whenever they release some godawful tie-in thing.

now prowl. prowl doesn't have a fountain pen because prowl is the sort of person who insists on constantly having fucking. Gadgets TM. you know. the man thinks a smart fridge is a necessity, for some fucking reason. if it's electronic it's Better. however, LAMY, i found out, in addition to its wide range of pens, also makes like... high-end digital pens? you know, in the style of their most well known fountain pen design (LAMY safari) but like. a stylus. buying a brand-name pen manufacturer's stylus bc you want to have a fountain pen but also refuse to do anything not on a tablet or something is. 100% prowl to me.

and i think that drift would have a LAMY 2000. look at this thing. it's somehow so slick and modern looking in a way most fountain pens aren't without feeling weird or like it isn't one. it's also a really well regarded pen across the board and so many people swear by this thing. (my friend does indeed have this one!) he's got it because he (canonically) journals, obviously, he is whipping this bad boy out after meditation to Chronicle His Emotional State (usually um. bad. moving along.) it's one of the nice things he bought himself after he somehow acquired all that money (stole it on his way out from the decepticons).

sidenote: megatron doesn't use a fountain pen, despite being a canonical writer. his handwriting is fucking atrocious and he would break one pressing too hard if he tried. he privately thinks they're sort of pointless, but lets minimus endlessly explain nib types for the sake of indulging someone he likes and who clearly is used to being told to shut up.

[gotinterest]

Pen Shark: https://www.truphaeinc.com/products/jinhao-993-shark-pen-light-pink-fountain-pen

It looks like these pens might no longer be manufactured anymore so there are less options available :(

HOLY SHIT THERE IS A FOUNTAIN PEN WHERE THE CAP LOOKS LIKE A SHARKKKK

[charlesonmambo]

So yesterday one of the cats knocked my cheap Jinhao 993 Shark fountain pen off the table. Not only that but they somehow managed to unscrew the top off, possibly while they where batting it all over the house and knocking it against every wall and chair and table leg. The pen, of course, no longer works. It just so happens that there was a BOGO sale online going on for the same cheap $4 fountain pen. I only spent $20, so I feel like I got off easy.

[gosupermarinespitfire]

For Inktober/Ponytober Day 20 ("Frost"/"Hero"). One of the perks of having a unicorn friend is having on-demand cooling during the hot months.

Self-reflection:

The shading on Izzy implies a contradictory light source from what Pipp has on her. This error was noticed when I was halfway through shading Izzy, which is why it looks mixed on her.

Tools used:

rOtring 800 (0.5 mm): sketch.

Montblanc 149 (M) with Montblanc Lavender Purple: inking for Pipp Petals.

Jinhao 993 Shark (F) with Montblanc Homer Greek Blue: inking for Izzy Moonbow and the snow cloud.

[morethanonepage]

if you have any interest at all in fountain pens but don’t want to invest a lot of money in them, i recommend taking advantage of the 25% off of these lil buddies, which are honestly quality (I have the purple one obvs). 

[goldenkiva]

list of my fountain pens bc i want to (in order of purchase)

1. pilot kakuno (ef, nibcurrently not used bc i ran out of cartridges and too lazy to buy the converter) ~$13, bought 2016

2. twsbi eco (f nib,Currently unusable bc i broke the Piston nob) ~$30, bought 2017

3. conklin duragraph (m nib, had problems with flow out the box and that ticked me off bc i had to spend an additional $15 on a new nib) ~$52, bought 2018

4. jinhao 993 shark (ef, one of my favorites and works well) ~$4, bought 2018

5. jinhao 8802 Shell (f, weight but not too heavy, very cute and pretty, small side but fits my small hands well) ~$10 but i bought via ebay shipping from china and US retailers generally have for $20, bought 2018

6. i dont have yet bur coming soon (oooooo) lamy safari all black limited edition (m, i have yet to get my hands on it....but soon), bought 2018

edit: oops forgot lamy price. i bought it on sale for $20 but its normally ~30, the convertor is an additional $5

[gosupermarinespitfire]

For Inktober/Ponytober Day 21 ("Chains"/"Villain"). This is one of the more angsty scenes I have drawn so far. In a way Misty is moving on from her past as Opaline's servant here.

Self-reflection:

I am not convinced Opaline looks enraged enough or that Misty is conveying the sort of steely face that comes from barely keeping a deep-set rage from taking over her. It is also a bit hard to tell where Misty's mane ends and where her tail begins.

Tools used:

rOtring 800 (0.5 mm): sketch.

Montblanc 149 (M) with Montblanc Lavender Purple: inking for Opaline Arcana.

Jinhao 993 Shark (F) with Montblanc Homer Greek Blue: inking for Misty Brightdawn.