Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Showing 1 of 567 conversations about:
neil.r
120
May 23, 2015
bookmark_border
cdecurtis
1
May 24, 2015
bookmark_border
neil.rNo problems with Noodlers in these pens after hundreds of pages.
neil.r
120
May 24, 2015
bookmark_border
cdecurtisWhich Noodler's are you using? I tried Operation Overlord Orange in my fine Metropolitan (with a CON-50) and it stopped writing after less than a page of marking up a research paper (which is far less writing than if I were composing original content). It's entirely possible that I received two bad copies (my medium didn't work with the Lamy ink either) - it just seems unlikely.
Mixels
22
May 26, 2015
bookmark_border
neil.rCheaper pens like the Metropolitan often ship with a film of residual oil left on the internal parts. The oils are applied during the manufacturing process and are never fully cleaned off. Whenever you get a new fountain pen, you should always clean it and the converters using hot water and a drop of dish washing fluid. Those residual oils can keep the pen from writing well.
Lamy and Noodler both make excellent inks. I've used a dozen or more Noodler's inks in various Metropolitans without issue. Of course, Pilot's Iroshizuku ink is also excellent, but it costs almost twice as much as Noodler's inks in particular.
Also, about nib sizes, if anyone starts with a Metropolitan with a Fine nib as his/her first pen, please understand that the nib really is *very* fine. It writes well, but it's a bit scratchy as a result. In a lot of ways, the Metro with a F nib writes like a stick pen, only you don't have to push down on the page to write. If anyone has tried a F in the past and wasn't all that impressed with it, I consider trying a Metropolitan with a M nib or a Lamy Safari in M (which will be a bit broader than the Metro). Like @neil.r prefers the finer size, some people might also prefer the broader sizes! You need very small handwriting for it to make a significant difference, so don't discount the M nibs right away just because you feel you have small handwriting.
Lamy and Noodler both make excellent inks. I've used a dozen or more Noodler's inks in various Metropolitans without issue. Of course, Pilot's Iroshizuku ink is also excellent, but it costs almost twice as much as Noodler's inks in particular.
Also, about nib sizes, if anyone starts with a Metropolitan with a Fine nib as his/her first pen, please understand that the nib really is *very* fine. It writes well, but it's a bit scratchy as a result. In a lot of ways, the Metro with a F nib writes like a stick pen, only you don't have to push down on the page to write. If anyone has tried a F in the past and wasn't all that impressed with it, I consider trying a Metropolitan with a M nib or a Lamy Safari in M (which will be a bit broader than the Metro). Like @neil.r prefers the finer size, some people might also prefer the broader sizes! You need very small handwriting for it to make a significant difference, so don't discount the M nibs right away just because you feel you have small handwriting.
neil.r
120
May 26, 2015
bookmark_border
MixelsThis bit about residual oils is news to me. Thanks for that. I suppose I've cleared it out now that I'm on my third try at ink in this fine Metropolitan. Perhaps that's why the black cartridge flows so smoothly. :-)
I started with a Lamy extra fine because a friend had a Lamy fine and it wasn't fine enough for my handwriting. The Pilot medium is definitely not fine enough for my daily use, but it sounds like I should be able to get my hands on another fine nib pretty easily.
Thanks to @Mixels and @GonzoTGreat for the good info.
I started with a Lamy extra fine because a friend had a Lamy fine and it wasn't fine enough for my handwriting. The Pilot medium is definitely not fine enough for my daily use, but it sounds like I should be able to get my hands on another fine nib pretty easily.
Thanks to @Mixels and @GonzoTGreat for the good info.
Drop Refurbished
Like-new products you can trustDrop Rewards
Get $5 for every 500 points you earn! Learn more
Drop Keyboard Club
Become a member and expand your keycap collectionCollaborate With Us
For Brands & DesignersFollow Drop
I ignored the included cartridge because I don't write in black. When I was on the verge of binning the set, I tried the black cartridge and found that's it's an entirely different experience. I've got some blue cartridges on order and expect to finally get my fairytale ending.
One downside to the Pilot ink: the paper in my notebook at work bleeds and feathers horribly. Now I have to find a better notebook.
If your handwriting is very small (like mine), you might find the fine nib more to your liking. The medium is smooth, but I can't write with it without uncomfortably enlarging my handwriting. I've read that the Japanese brands grind their nibs finer than the same designation from a European brand. That fits my observations. Pilot fine is very close Lamy extra fine. It's not a problem, just something to be aware of.