Fountain Pen Starter Guide | For Absolute Beginners!

Fun fact: I filmed this video twice because I didn't like the first version... why do I do this to myself? I don't know... I hope this was helpful though!

My top favourite fountain pens:
♥ TWSBI Eco $32-$40
♥ Lamy Safari or Al-Star $35-$40
♥ Pilot Vanishing Point $160
♥ Lamy2000 $220
♥ Sailor Pro Gear $350
♥ Pelikan M800 $650

Intro 00:00
Cartridge vs. Bottle Ink 01:55
Filling Mechanisms 06:36
Steel vs. Gold Nibs 10:49
Japanes vs. European 15:31
Nib Sizes 16:42
Paper 18:29
Ink Properties 21:03
Pros & Cons 23:23
My Recommendation 26:18

♥ Shop My Products ♥
YOUTUBE10 for 10% off 10USD+ (can be used on the website or Etsy)

♥ Connect With Me ♥

♥ Planners I Use ♥
Hobonichi cousin
Hobonichi weeks
Leuchtturm pocket soft cover bullet journal

♥ Pens I Use ♥
Energel Clena 0.5mm (for bullet journals and most planners)
Energel Clena 0.4mm (for Hobonichi planners)
Muji Gel Pen 0.5mm
Mildliners
Tombow dual brush pens
Tombow fudenosuke brush pens (usually the soft brush tip)

♥ Frequently Asked Questions ♥

Q: Do you plan before, during, or after the week?
A: It varies from video to video, but typically I plan 2-3 times during the week and stitch the clips together. I rarely plan the entire week in advance or the entire week retroactively.

Q: Do you use all of these planners?
A: Yes and no. Every week, there is something in my life that takes priority over the others whether it be school, work, or something personal. Depending on the week, I select a few planners that will help me achieve my tasks! So not every planner is used every week.

Q: How do you get so much done in a day?
A: If you watch any of my journaling vlogs, you’ll realize that I have very poor sleeping habits and so naturally I’m able to fit more things into the day. It’s something I’m trying to fix but admittedly this is the only reason.

[emme-Dan]

It is wonderful to see the young using fountain pens! I have been using and collecting fountain pens for over 50 years. I have tried to teach my children the use of fountain pens and cursive writing who are much older than you to no avail..." Que sera, sera". Good luck in your journey and kudos from NYC🗽.

[danmenzel]

Helen, I've watched several hundred pen videos, and this covers most of what you need to know. Especially for a beginner. Your presentation is very concise and fun to watch. Thanks....

[katface]

I love you 🤣🤣 "it depends on how you use it" ... if you buy a bunch of bottles and don't use them it doesn't save you money... me: so if you want to save money, never watch a video featuring Ferris Wheel Press Ink 🤣🤣🤣

[NehaBeauty]

This video is so great, I can't thank you enough for this. As a child I lived in Europe for 2 years and in school we were required to use fountain pens for homework and in writing class. (Pencils only for math). And so I have always loved fountain pens from an early age, but didn't keep up with them past the age of 10 or 11 when I returned to the US. Back then I only knew about the small plastic cartridges. When I got older, and doing my MBA, my group won a competition for a marketing class, and as a prize, each of us was gifted a really beautiful Cartier fountain pen, with our names engraved! This one has the piston type, which I never understood how to fill, and even so, this pen was too special for me to even dare to try and use. I have been saving it, since my MBA graduate school days, back in 2008. Yep, 15 years. Since finding your videos a week or two ago, I bought my first Hobonichi cousin, and you reminded me how much I loved fountain pens as a kid, and also water coloring since my college days. Well, just now, I was courageous enough to take out my pen, and now I finally understand the piston thing (thank you!) and when I look at the nib... sure enough, it says "18K" in very tiny letter! (I had to take a photo of with my phone and zoom in to see it better b/c I could hardly believe my eyes...) so.... I THINK this might be a gold nib pen, (although the exterior color of the metal is silver..) I always felt it was a magical treasure in my desk draw all these years, but now, I think it's even more special. Thank you for this helpful video! I'm going to get ink and just start using it. Treasures should be enjoyed! ^__^

[dcn.paulschwerdt]

First of all, I'm a veteran fountain pen user. I got my first fountain pens in the early 60s when I was in fifth grade.

But the main reason I wrote was because I was super impressed beginning at about 0:25 of this video when you showed pages from one of your journals, even if only for a second or two. Your handwriting is superb! Now that I'm retired I have plenty of time to practice my penmanship. I do cursive, while your journal is all printing. I guess it's a style you chose to use all caps.

I started in the 1960s with inexpensive Sheaffer cartridge fountain pens, which at the time were under $1.00. I have an Eversharp fountain pen, which takes the same cartridges as Waterman pens, of which I have two. I also have a Parker Sonnet. But starting this year I discovered Platinum pens. I have several Preppy pens which cost under $7.00. Then, to get "elegant, " I bought a Platinum Plaisir, whose innards can be interchanged with my Preppy pens.

What I like about the Platinum pens is a feature called slip 'n seal, which Platinum claims will let ink stay wet for up to a year of non use. I never go more than two days so I don't know how true that is. My Parker Sonnet and Waterman Phileas pens will start to go dry after two days, so Platinum is my go-to pen.

In this video I only have one disagreement with you, and that's in regard to gel pens. If I'm careful about only pressing the point to the paper gently, I get the same feel as with a fountain pen. I use Pilot G-2 pens and refills, extra fine (0.05) and ultra fine (0.038). What you were saying about gel pens was how I would describe ball point pens. I only get writer's cramp from ball points.

Well, this 73-year-old curmudgeon will stop now. I enjoyed your video immensely. Thank you for helping beginners enter the fountain pen world.

[texasmom]

What a FABULOUS breakdown of the topic. Very well-organized and such a soothing voice. Very impressed! Thank you for sharing.

[janettegaudiesus]

I have never used a fountain pen but due to many planner/journal videos, I’ve become interested in trying one out but had no idea where to start. This video was amazing and so informative and easy to understand!

[daisytulips]

Please do more fountain pen how to videos (cleaning/filling etc.). I love the post-it breakdown. It's a very cool style.

[Thorned_Rose]

I tend to obsessively research things before taking the plunge and fountain pens have been no exception. Through all the videos and articles I've read, this is the single best beginner guide I have seen! So many videos are loud and in your face OTT enthusiastic *cringe*. While that energy is fine sometimes, it's a bit grating when they're all like that! This video is such a calm and soothing introduction to fountain pens 😌 Thank you! 💙✒

[mngu]

omg i just wanna say i genuinely love ur videos so much. they're so comforting and easy to watch but i wish u weren't so hard on urself helen :( u dont even have to post videos at all but u put so much into ur videos when ur so busy otherwise so thank u for providing us with content !! i wish u could see urself the way we do <3

[ThePdorf]

I've been immersed in the world of fountain pens for the past 4-5 months, and everything I've learned during this time is perfectly summarized in this video. If this had been my first introduction to fountain pens a few months ago, many questions (and a significant amount of money) would not have been spent since then.

Currently, my daily workhorses are the TWSBI Diamond 580 with a medium nib and another one with a fine nib. At home, I prefer using a Lamy Safari with a Z53 Medium Nip to avoid carrying my TWSBIs everywhere each day.

I hope that fellow ink and fountain pen enthusiasts come across this video sooner in their journey down the rabbit hole of ink. It could save them from the same questions and expenses I encountered when I first delved into this fascinating hobby.

The Post Its were beautifully illustrated and designed - great work!
I will share it with the little group of Ink-Friends (there are not many of them, the most of my friends dont understand whats up about Ink)

[Dreaminangel]

I want to say that I got back into my fountain pens and now exclusively use a fountain pen to write every day because of you Helen. The twsbi fountain pen is the most beautiful and comfortable fountain pen I have ever used. I didn’t start out with this pen and so I quickly fell off using fountain pens but since I bought these new pens (oh yeah I purchased another one right after my first one cause I loved it so much lol) I have not been able to put them down. Best recommendation ever! Thank you so much Helen.

[BRnotBRipper]

Great video and lots of good information for someone who’d like to venture into using Fountain pens. And like I said before, that white sticky needs to be made into a sticky note pad with the Emoti and fountain pen doodle! Love it!!!❤

[thankfulyou]

Super helpful! One of THE BEST intro videos out there! ❤

[SarcoidosisWarrior]

I was taught to write with fountain pens as I went to a church school.
I have therefore been using fountain pens for 51 years now and I would never change. I love the variety of inks available from bottles.

[planwithabi]

Such a great, easy-to-understand, creative and informative video! For someone that knows absolutely nothing about fountain pens, this was the BEST starter guide. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge! ❤ You're the best Helen!

[amyalphabet]

I can't wait to see what you do with the post-it notes, they are so dang cute! As a follow up, I think folks would love a deep dive into inks. I LOVE shading inks but only use them in my journals. I am on my second bottle of Sailor 123 and 224 and have used almost a whole bottle of Yurameku Yoi. I amaze myself because I don't share samples, lol!!

[charnaywiener]

Thank you for making this video! I went down the fountain pen rabbit hole a few years ago and was overwhelmed by the amount of resources and terminology😅 I like that your tips and explanations were very concise and very understandable, especially when comparing the different forms of fountain pens (which I couldn't grasp in the past)! I really like your more informative videos and I hope you do more in the future😊

[MusicPlayer-tj]

This is by far the best video I ever saw about the basics of fountain pens. You explain it very clear and in a quiet way. Thank you!

[jackjackisaregoboom]

TWISBI fans unite! I got the black rose gold as my 1st TWISBI and it's a staple in my little collection. Highly recommend as well!