The Best Fountain Pens to Use With High-Maintenance Inks

Do you avoid shimmer, sheen, or pigment? If so, you're missing out! Drew's going to tell you about some fountain pens in this video that are very much up to the challenge.

LINKS TO PRODUCTS FEATURED:

Other small businesses that make fountain pens with easily replaceable parts:

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 What makes an ink "High Maintenance"
0:31 Pigmented Ink
1:29 Shimmer Ink
2:05 Sheening Ink
2:39 Choosing the right pen
3:04 The "Dedicated" Pen
4:50 The "Maintainable" Pen
6:24 Pens with replaceable parts
8:02 Other factors

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[CatherineC.]

I would add Jinhao pens to the list. They are well made and affordable.

[AntonioBarba_TheKaneB]

my preferred pen for shimmering inks is a TWSBI Diamond 580 with a stub nib. That thing is just beautiful with the shimmer, the nib is very juicy and it never clogs even after weeks and it very easy to clean. I think this and the Eco are some of the best pens for the task :)

[liveforlife]

I own Pilot Metropolitans, Lamy Safaris/Al-Stars, a Pilot VP, and a TWSBI Eco, and the Pilot Metro seems the best type for handling shimmer inks. One thing I only just started doing is shaking up my shimmering ink, then waiting for a few moments so it just starts to settle, and then dip the pen just slightly into the ink and fill it so your pen takes in a little less shimmer. The difference in glitter on the paper isn't too noticeable, and it seems to help pens go longer without clogging. Happy writing, everyone!

[Quinkerbell_]

Many of us have the “pen case of no return” where we leave pens that have lost their place in a rotation. There is a special joy of uncapping a shelved pen and finding ink that is still flowing in it. My OS Nitrogen is in a Jinhao but I might look to my benched Preppies when I want to play with other temperamental inks!

[ildonoa]

My Pilot Kakuno Clear with a medium nib does just fine with both shading and shimmer inks. The whole thing comes apart easily for cleaning and is less than $15. I like the Platinum Preppy, but I don't have the attention span for eyedropper conversion anyway. I fill everything with a blunt syringe anyway, so cleaning and reusing an ink cartridge gives me an even easier solution for tricky inks. I could not even being to list all the shimmer and shading inks, including several from Organic Studios, that I've cleaned out of that pen.

[MaryKellyMulligan]

You have a great sense of humor and fantastic comedic timing. Well done.

[ichirofakename]

I dedicated a white Kaweco Sport to Baystate Blue. I poured ink in the barrel and cap and section and let it soak for a week. It isn't white anymore, so I don't worry about keeping it white anymore.

[donna]

For "difficult" inks, the best instrument (for me) is a dip pen. Most dip pens can use the Goulet #6 nibs as well as steel nibs of all kinds of styles.

For cleaning any pen or pen parts, an ultrasonic cleaner is invaluable.

[noobody]

When I hear the word: Disassemble, I'm always reminded of Johnny-5 from "Short Circuit".

[ChrisSaenz]

I have a dedicated converter for my Lamy Al-Star that I like for Noodler's King Philip!!! It's permanently pinkish but I love that ink with a Lamy 1.1 stub!!!
Great video/tips, Drew! A lot of these ideas have crossed my mind but you organized this like a cool fountain pen class!! I love it!!!

[seemownay]

Drew, every time I watch you on video I think of all the times you say that your wife is so good on stage but you are not because of stage fright. But why are you so darn good with your expressions on video: be it verbally, gestures or your face. It's perfect!

[Mythosidhe]

I have tried shimmer inks in just about every pen I own--not without some regret, admittedly--and my unexpected fave turned out to be the Opus 88 Omar. Dedicated eyedropper pen that can be fully disassembled for cleaning, ink chamber with huge capacity that can be sealed off to prevent drying out, and their broad and 1.4 stub nibs are fabulous for showing off shimmer (that stub in particular OMG--perfection!). And of course I have to put in a vote to include Benu on the small businesses list. I mean if ever there was a pen MADE for shimmer XD They have easily replaceable nib units and converters, and several of their models are excellent candidates for eyedropper conversion.

[davidcool]

I only use shimmer inks in Noodler's pens. The feeds are deep and wide and never clog. Plus, the flex is a nice little cherry on top of the shimmering, sometimes sheening, goodness.

I also have a turquoise Pilot Metropolitan dedicated to R+K Klara SketchInk. They go so well together!

As far as cleaning goes: I'm not so good at it. If only my favorite online pen shop had some sort of small, dedicated cleaning brush for fountain pens. Something in a toothbrush like form factor. I think that would really help me out a lot.

[runabout]

I like the Pilot Metropolitan for shimmer inks, as they are easily disassembled and cleaned.

[afriscoe]

I missed you at the Baltimore show; didn’t want to run over to you just to say ‘hi’. So, ‘hi’! I’m glad to have found your content, it has proven to be informative and entertaining. I’m catching up on the pencasts.

[CrackerFlower]

The Orbitz reference made my day. I miss that stuff.

[PeterTheVoyager]

I do prefer TWSBI Diamond 580 for my sheen and shimmer inks since they just seals so nicely I don't need to worry if I can't use up the fill within certain period of time, which for a piston filling pen, use it up means over a dozen of pages and it's literally impossible for me (EF nib). Plus, the disassemble friendly design is a bliss when using high maintenance inks. Take it apart carefully, toss the parts in an ultrasonic tank, 5 min later everything is good as new. Although I do not recommend take out the nib and feed too frequently since this will wear them out eventually, but it is just somehow satisfying to do so

[tootsfour]

Drew, thank you for these instruction videos. They are so helpful!

[rogerehinger]

What a feel good video, you've named many of my everyday pens. I agree with the commenter recommending Jinhao, I have a couple of X450s that write well for the price and are just broad enough for some shimmer.

[peachymanaangel]

I love the orbits reference! 😂 I love my TWSBIs for testy inks and it’s so fun to watch the shimmer swish. I also have a dedicated eco for my pink inks and inks that stain pink.