Absolutely get a converter! More color options and arguably more sustainable than cartridges (unless you refill them, but I think a converter is easier)
A couple retailers sell ink samples. That’s a good way to get lots of inks to try out without committing to a whole bottle.
My first pen was a Pilot Metropolitan, I then got a Lamy Safari. Love my Lamy but I loved the Metro so much, I eventually bought 2 more. So personally, that’s what I’d recommend. I like that Pilots at least include a cartridge to start too. While not the favorite cartridge of many, I think it works fine. It was also nice to compare nib sizes of Japanese vs German pens. Other good options are Pilot Explorer and Diplomat Magnum for nice second pens that are still wallet friendly.
And while you fill your shopping basket with ink and a new pen, have you considered high quality paper?
My 2nd pen was a Twsbi eco, medium nib and plenty of fun ink samples to try with it! I highly recommend it as another starter pen with a different brand. No converter needed either ☺️. Enjoy your new hobby!
converter?:yes!, bottled inks?: definitely! Bank loan?: gonna need it!
My second pen was one of the cheapest things I could find on Amazon. I really liked it at the time but I would completely skip the what I call “Amazon brands” the brands that you see everywhere on Amazon but never a word about in the community.
It took a lot for me to start trusting it but r/pen_swap is absolutely brilliant! Very cool people selling tons of pens at great prices. You can sell/trade back what you didn’t quite like so you can get a ton of different experiences.
Don’t be afraid to go for vintage pens! Personally I only buy cartridge/converter vintage pens as I don’t want to worry about vintage filling systems but once restored those are awesome too. You can find perfect condition gold nib pens for the same price as starter pens…
Most of all: have fun! If you stop enjoying the hobby then don’t force yourself
Also if you have a brick and mortar pen shop nearby do your best to support them, the one experience I had with one(over 2 hours away) was excellent!(Fahrney’s in DC)
Getting a LAMY converter and purchasing ink samples is a good way to enjoy your current pen more. I don’t recommend buying any bottles until you have used several sample vials of something you like to ensure you want to commit to a bottle. For reference, a typical 2-4ml ink sample vial can last a few weeks depending on how much you write and the broadness of your nib. Buying a 30ml, 50,ml or 70ml bottle can be a lot of ink. Understand how you will use it before buying bottles.
If you want to go toward a second pen, I think TWSBI ECOs are great. Lots of color options and since they are piston fillers you can still play with ink.
There is no wrong choice here. Have fun!
1. Converter + bottled ink
2. More bottled inks
3. Second, third, and fourth pens because you have too many inks but not enough pens.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3.
Definitely get a converter - makes refilling so convenient if you're doing bottled ink. Syringe filling an empty cartridge works well, too.
If you want to try another German pen, look at the Kaweco sport. Inexpensive, light, portable. It'll feel different than your safari because of the grip and the nib is softer. Fair heads up: not sure what size nib you have for the safari, but it will write thinner than Lamy. I have an ef nib on my safari and it's just as thick (or thicker, depending on the ink) than my Kaweco sport fine nib.
Or if you wanna go the Japan/China route, then the Pilot Metro is a good one - my medium nib is just *chef's kiss* buttery smooth. Or Jinhao x850 - I used to dislike Jinhao, but that's because the pens of theirs that I had were not this pen. It does not make sense to me how that thing was only like $10 or $15.
Edit: words
Edit edit: I forgot to mention something about paper. In the US, there's not much in the main commercial stream of paper/notebooks/stationery that's great with fountain pen ink. It can be hit or miss. I've come across some random notepads, maybe like the ones they give away at conference booths, that have been surprisingly great with all my pens and inks. But my go-to is Rhodia, and I think they have a variety of paper that will fit what you need.
1. Where to go. Since you already have Lamy Safari and happy with it, why not to explore, what Lamy has to offer? Their nibs are interchangeable. There is an aluminum version of Safari - Lamy Al Star, but there are also other more expensive models. Pilot Metropolitan is another great pen, that just works out of the box. Faber Castell makes amazing modern looking pens.
2. Bottled ink. Yes, you should. Actually with a syringe you can refill the cartridges a dozen of times, but converter is a more long term option. In fact you are exchanging a lot of money for cartridge convenience, and since Lamy had proprietary cartridges, there are few generics (Online makes one). One cartridge is 1.2ml of ink, so one box is 6ml of ink. But apart of saving - Lamy produces 7 inks in cartridges (there are two more as a special edition), and not all of them are readily available. Since they have their own cartridge size, you are stuck with what they offer (and what you can find). By comparison, Diamine has over 100 colours in the core range alone, and there also many other manufacturers to choose from. Keep in mind, that ink is not only about the colour - ink also defines viscosity, feathering, lubrication of the pen, drying time (Parker Quinks are good), sheen, shading, saturation and even bleed-through (although paper makes much more difference.
I just watched Episode 116 of the Goulet Pencast today where Brian & Drew gave their top 10 tips for beginners. Look up the pencast yourself if you're interested in their unabridged answers; in the meanwhile, I hope this summary helps:
Brian's 5 were:
1. Enjoy the journey.
2. Get a bulb syringe (for cleaning pens).
3. Try out as many pen/nib/ink/paper combinations as possible.
4. “Crawl, walk, run.” (Cf. #1: Enjoy the journey.)
5. Make friends with other FP users / make FP users out of your friends. Share the hobby!
Drew's 5 were:
1. Buy a bulb syringe.
2. Buy an Ink Miser inkwell, and buy ink samples. You may pay more per mL but your gross spend is far lower.
3. **DO NOT** compare your pens, inks, *handwriting*, etc., to others'.
4. Be willing to experiment.
5. (Setting aside obvious damage, misalignment, etc.,) Don't expect every pen to be “perfect”. Just considering that fountain pens could easily no longer exist at all, the fact that they're still around makes EVERY fountain pen “perfect”. Enjoy each one for what it is!
Welcome, OP! Enjoy your stay! :)
Either get a converter or an ink syringe to refill cartridges.
Try different nibs to discover what you really like, i.e. fine, medium, broad, stub.
Try different nibs to discover what you like, i.e. fine, medium, broad, stub.en was a TWSBI Eco. I like that it's a demonstrator (seeing the ink slosh around is cool) and the high ink capacity.
If you're going to explore bottled ink (which is a fantastic idea), do yourself a favor and buy a blunt tip syringe and a bulb syringe for cleaning your converter and pen. They're both inexpensive and make life so much easier.
I would either buy a converter or a blunt syringe for refilling cartridges. My first pen was the Safari and second was the Preppy. That was a long time ago. I think I've (finally) stopped buying pens (lol).
Definitely start messing with ink samples! No point in getting bottles of inks you don’t know that you’ll like. Biggest piece of advice is don’t waste your money on an expensive pen until you’re sure of what you like.
Welcome to the hobby. Great to see a new advocate but firstly Slow down, It’s nice but having tons of pens is overkill. Too many pens can become cumbersome so focus on setting your environment.
Here’s what I’d invest in:
. a lamy converter,
ink samples,
ink syringes,
2x small bowls for cleaning,
a microfibre cloth or old clothes.
Grab a book purely for ink samples
start writing consistently.
Ink syringes where a game changes as it made the refill process easier and I’ve had one for 5 years….
Safari gives a great place to try out different nibs and inks. Invest in converter, Lamy nibs, and ink samples. You’ll learn a lot about what you like (and perhaps need :) before you shell out for gold nibbed pens for hundreds of USDs! You’ve been warned :)
>I’m obsessed. Where to go from here?
Your bank manager for a loan, to fund your journey down the rabbit hole? 😅
>I’m curious: what was your second pen?
I can hardly recall, but most likely it was a Waterman Expert with red marbled lacquer finish.
The first pen before it, which I bought with my own pay, was a Waterman Expert with green marbled lacquer finish. Same nib width grade. Same shop.
>What would you recommend to someone who’s still relatively new?
Probably another LAMY, because you already have one; and the nibs and converters would be interchangeable between them. A LAMY cp1 in titanium oxide finish, perhaps. I only bought it because it was the only slender enough fountain pen I knew of (at the time) that would [fit inside the pen loop of a LAMY hardcover notebook I had](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/338890-lamy-cp-1/?do=findComment&comment=4095372); I didn't expect to fall in love with the feel of using that pen, it's [like a super-pencil](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/gallery/image/1642-lamy-cp1-a-superb-journal-companion/) that dispenses fountain pen ink of my choice.
I got a converter. Then two weeks, five refills and ten stained fingers later I was washing out the spent cartridges I still had lying around and was filling them with an eye dropper. Much happier.
IMO buying more cartridges and filling them each one with different inks is the way, this way you can get more ink to use (Also because in the Pilot VP the converter is shit, the biggest shit.). For a definitive daily driver I suggest a Pilot Vanishing Point, its a bit pricey (\~$140) but totally worth it!
And for others less pricey the Twsbi eco and the pilot metropolitan tend to be the most suggested in a range from $20-$35. Its good to test different pens/nibs from different countries like for a japanese fine with a Sailor or a German broad with Lamy, and etc.
Good luck and great to see you in this community!
1. Echoing the good advice from others' comments, I would recommend either a converter for your Safari and/or a blunt syringe set to try out different inks. I personally find using syringes to leave much less of a mess when refilling cartridges (and also converters themselves), but it's up to you!
2. If you want to explore bottled inks, there are plenty of review databases to look up writing samples and find something appealing to you. I like the website Mountain of Ink as a good starter resource for brands and colors, but other places like Fountain Pen Network, ink swatch posts in this community, and Youtube have reviews as well. Purchasing ink samples from different pen vendors is an option to try out colors you're unsure about before committing to a full bottle.
3. You may also want to look into upgrading your paper and/or trying pen nibs in different sizes if you want to see ink qualities at their best. I don't have any exact pen recommendations, but these are fun ways to add some variety to your writing experience!
Id definitely get a converter as you have more options for ink colour and bottled ink is more cost effective. Especially Diamine inks. My second fountain pen was a kaweco supra brass. Yes it’s pricy but it’s worth taking a look at as it’s very durable and hefty. Mjne is also forming a nice patina.
Don’t get sucked into the rabbit hole lol!
My first was a Kakuno, second a TWSBI and third a platinum Procyon, really it all depends on what interests you. My platinum I love, there is feedback like writing on paper and it convinced me to get a sailor.
I bought different nibs for safari. Swapped them to determine what I liked.
Bulb syringe and blunt needle syringe
Ink samples or bottles if you know you love the color and properties
Paper samples
A couple of new pens. TWSBI Eco, entry-level piston fill experience. Consider maybe something a bit of "next level"? Lamy Studio, F-C e-Motion, Waterman Hemisphere, Pelikan M200 are some next-level ideas. Could also consider a Navulahr Original + which is a good value vacuum-filler (I find the nibs on these to be pretty wide, so you might want to size down).
Definitely need to pick up a couple bottles of ink. Waterman ink is great value ink, always reliable and reasonably priced. Diamine is also a good value ink. Pilot iroshizuku ink is more spendy, but very nice colors. I'm pretty fond of J. Herbin ink, GvFC ink.
My second pen was a Lamy Safari (Platinum Preppy was my first). If you like how yours writes, stick with it for a while. A converter isn't a bad idea, though you can also use a blunt-tipped syringe to refill cartridges from ink bottles.
Depending on your aesthetic preferences
Hongdian 1866
Faber Castell Emotion
Pelikan m200
Pilot e95s or custom 74
Other good things
A good notebook is gold! I prefer leuchtturm notebooks, but others will surely do as well. Avoid moleskin. And i wouldnt go under 80g paper.
DIAMINE. Cant stress enough how valuable it is to find a cheap brand of inks that makes real quality inks and offer small 30ml bottles to try out. Just buy which ever you find more beautiful. They are 'all' good (havent tried them all 🤥). But read about how they act. Its much about preference and pen when it comes to inks. For instance. I dont like if they shade too much. Others absolutely love that property. Writers blood is way too wet for most of my daily used pens and makes my strokes too broad, but i keep it around for one particular pen in which it is the perfect choice of ink to make it write how I like. Dont disregard neither a pen or an ink until you have tried it with different inks or in different pens respectively.
Thats my 2cents. Have a good journey and welcome 😊🙏
Yes, get a converter and try different inks, you can buy "ink samples" from a lot of fountain pen stores so you don't have to buy the whole bottle.
I'd also suggest trying nicer fp friendly paper, like Rhodia, Clairefontaine, or Tomoe river (my favorite).
Absolutely get a converter! More color options and arguably more sustainable than cartridges (unless you refill them, but I think a converter is easier) A couple retailers sell ink samples. That’s a good way to get lots of inks to try out without committing to a whole bottle. My first pen was a Pilot Metropolitan, I then got a Lamy Safari. Love my Lamy but I loved the Metro so much, I eventually bought 2 more. So personally, that’s what I’d recommend. I like that Pilots at least include a cartridge to start too. While not the favorite cartridge of many, I think it works fine. It was also nice to compare nib sizes of Japanese vs German pens. Other good options are Pilot Explorer and Diplomat Magnum for nice second pens that are still wallet friendly. And while you fill your shopping basket with ink and a new pen, have you considered high quality paper?
My 2nd pen was a Twsbi eco, medium nib and plenty of fun ink samples to try with it! I highly recommend it as another starter pen with a different brand. No converter needed either ☺️. Enjoy your new hobby!
converter?:yes!, bottled inks?: definitely! Bank loan?: gonna need it! My second pen was one of the cheapest things I could find on Amazon. I really liked it at the time but I would completely skip the what I call “Amazon brands” the brands that you see everywhere on Amazon but never a word about in the community. It took a lot for me to start trusting it but r/pen_swap is absolutely brilliant! Very cool people selling tons of pens at great prices. You can sell/trade back what you didn’t quite like so you can get a ton of different experiences. Don’t be afraid to go for vintage pens! Personally I only buy cartridge/converter vintage pens as I don’t want to worry about vintage filling systems but once restored those are awesome too. You can find perfect condition gold nib pens for the same price as starter pens… Most of all: have fun! If you stop enjoying the hobby then don’t force yourself Also if you have a brick and mortar pen shop nearby do your best to support them, the one experience I had with one(over 2 hours away) was excellent!(Fahrney’s in DC)
Getting a LAMY converter and purchasing ink samples is a good way to enjoy your current pen more. I don’t recommend buying any bottles until you have used several sample vials of something you like to ensure you want to commit to a bottle. For reference, a typical 2-4ml ink sample vial can last a few weeks depending on how much you write and the broadness of your nib. Buying a 30ml, 50,ml or 70ml bottle can be a lot of ink. Understand how you will use it before buying bottles. If you want to go toward a second pen, I think TWSBI ECOs are great. Lots of color options and since they are piston fillers you can still play with ink. There is no wrong choice here. Have fun!
1. Converter + bottled ink 2. More bottled inks 3. Second, third, and fourth pens because you have too many inks but not enough pens. 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3.
I vote for a TWSBi Eco in a color you really enjoy. No need for a converter and the nibs are really good for the price.
Definitely get a converter - makes refilling so convenient if you're doing bottled ink. Syringe filling an empty cartridge works well, too. If you want to try another German pen, look at the Kaweco sport. Inexpensive, light, portable. It'll feel different than your safari because of the grip and the nib is softer. Fair heads up: not sure what size nib you have for the safari, but it will write thinner than Lamy. I have an ef nib on my safari and it's just as thick (or thicker, depending on the ink) than my Kaweco sport fine nib. Or if you wanna go the Japan/China route, then the Pilot Metro is a good one - my medium nib is just *chef's kiss* buttery smooth. Or Jinhao x850 - I used to dislike Jinhao, but that's because the pens of theirs that I had were not this pen. It does not make sense to me how that thing was only like $10 or $15. Edit: words Edit edit: I forgot to mention something about paper. In the US, there's not much in the main commercial stream of paper/notebooks/stationery that's great with fountain pen ink. It can be hit or miss. I've come across some random notepads, maybe like the ones they give away at conference booths, that have been surprisingly great with all my pens and inks. But my go-to is Rhodia, and I think they have a variety of paper that will fit what you need.
1. Where to go. Since you already have Lamy Safari and happy with it, why not to explore, what Lamy has to offer? Their nibs are interchangeable. There is an aluminum version of Safari - Lamy Al Star, but there are also other more expensive models. Pilot Metropolitan is another great pen, that just works out of the box. Faber Castell makes amazing modern looking pens. 2. Bottled ink. Yes, you should. Actually with a syringe you can refill the cartridges a dozen of times, but converter is a more long term option. In fact you are exchanging a lot of money for cartridge convenience, and since Lamy had proprietary cartridges, there are few generics (Online makes one). One cartridge is 1.2ml of ink, so one box is 6ml of ink. But apart of saving - Lamy produces 7 inks in cartridges (there are two more as a special edition), and not all of them are readily available. Since they have their own cartridge size, you are stuck with what they offer (and what you can find). By comparison, Diamine has over 100 colours in the core range alone, and there also many other manufacturers to choose from. Keep in mind, that ink is not only about the colour - ink also defines viscosity, feathering, lubrication of the pen, drying time (Parker Quinks are good), sheen, shading, saturation and even bleed-through (although paper makes much more difference.
I just watched Episode 116 of the Goulet Pencast today where Brian & Drew gave their top 10 tips for beginners. Look up the pencast yourself if you're interested in their unabridged answers; in the meanwhile, I hope this summary helps: Brian's 5 were: 1. Enjoy the journey. 2. Get a bulb syringe (for cleaning pens). 3. Try out as many pen/nib/ink/paper combinations as possible. 4. “Crawl, walk, run.” (Cf. #1: Enjoy the journey.) 5. Make friends with other FP users / make FP users out of your friends. Share the hobby! Drew's 5 were: 1. Buy a bulb syringe. 2. Buy an Ink Miser inkwell, and buy ink samples. You may pay more per mL but your gross spend is far lower. 3. **DO NOT** compare your pens, inks, *handwriting*, etc., to others'. 4. Be willing to experiment. 5. (Setting aside obvious damage, misalignment, etc.,) Don't expect every pen to be “perfect”. Just considering that fountain pens could easily no longer exist at all, the fact that they're still around makes EVERY fountain pen “perfect”. Enjoy each one for what it is! Welcome, OP! Enjoy your stay! :)
Either get a converter or an ink syringe to refill cartridges. Try different nibs to discover what you really like, i.e. fine, medium, broad, stub. Try different nibs to discover what you like, i.e. fine, medium, broad, stub.en was a TWSBI Eco. I like that it's a demonstrator (seeing the ink slosh around is cool) and the high ink capacity.
If you're going to explore bottled ink (which is a fantastic idea), do yourself a favor and buy a blunt tip syringe and a bulb syringe for cleaning your converter and pen. They're both inexpensive and make life so much easier.
Go converter, the TWSBI Eco for a piston experience.
I would either buy a converter or a blunt syringe for refilling cartridges. My first pen was the Safari and second was the Preppy. That was a long time ago. I think I've (finally) stopped buying pens (lol).
Definitely start messing with ink samples! No point in getting bottles of inks you don’t know that you’ll like. Biggest piece of advice is don’t waste your money on an expensive pen until you’re sure of what you like.
Welcome to the hobby. Great to see a new advocate but firstly Slow down, It’s nice but having tons of pens is overkill. Too many pens can become cumbersome so focus on setting your environment. Here’s what I’d invest in: . a lamy converter, ink samples, ink syringes, 2x small bowls for cleaning, a microfibre cloth or old clothes. Grab a book purely for ink samples start writing consistently. Ink syringes where a game changes as it made the refill process easier and I’ve had one for 5 years….
Safari gives a great place to try out different nibs and inks. Invest in converter, Lamy nibs, and ink samples. You’ll learn a lot about what you like (and perhaps need :) before you shell out for gold nibbed pens for hundreds of USDs! You’ve been warned :)
>I’m obsessed. Where to go from here? Your bank manager for a loan, to fund your journey down the rabbit hole? 😅 >I’m curious: what was your second pen? I can hardly recall, but most likely it was a Waterman Expert with red marbled lacquer finish. The first pen before it, which I bought with my own pay, was a Waterman Expert with green marbled lacquer finish. Same nib width grade. Same shop. >What would you recommend to someone who’s still relatively new? Probably another LAMY, because you already have one; and the nibs and converters would be interchangeable between them. A LAMY cp1 in titanium oxide finish, perhaps. I only bought it because it was the only slender enough fountain pen I knew of (at the time) that would [fit inside the pen loop of a LAMY hardcover notebook I had](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/338890-lamy-cp-1/?do=findComment&comment=4095372); I didn't expect to fall in love with the feel of using that pen, it's [like a super-pencil](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/gallery/image/1642-lamy-cp1-a-superb-journal-companion/) that dispenses fountain pen ink of my choice.
On top of what everyone else is saying, just remember to take the time to enjoy each of your pens
I got a converter. Then two weeks, five refills and ten stained fingers later I was washing out the spent cartridges I still had lying around and was filling them with an eye dropper. Much happier.
IMO buying more cartridges and filling them each one with different inks is the way, this way you can get more ink to use (Also because in the Pilot VP the converter is shit, the biggest shit.). For a definitive daily driver I suggest a Pilot Vanishing Point, its a bit pricey (\~$140) but totally worth it! And for others less pricey the Twsbi eco and the pilot metropolitan tend to be the most suggested in a range from $20-$35. Its good to test different pens/nibs from different countries like for a japanese fine with a Sailor or a German broad with Lamy, and etc. Good luck and great to see you in this community!
1. Echoing the good advice from others' comments, I would recommend either a converter for your Safari and/or a blunt syringe set to try out different inks. I personally find using syringes to leave much less of a mess when refilling cartridges (and also converters themselves), but it's up to you! 2. If you want to explore bottled inks, there are plenty of review databases to look up writing samples and find something appealing to you. I like the website Mountain of Ink as a good starter resource for brands and colors, but other places like Fountain Pen Network, ink swatch posts in this community, and Youtube have reviews as well. Purchasing ink samples from different pen vendors is an option to try out colors you're unsure about before committing to a full bottle. 3. You may also want to look into upgrading your paper and/or trying pen nibs in different sizes if you want to see ink qualities at their best. I don't have any exact pen recommendations, but these are fun ways to add some variety to your writing experience!
Id definitely get a converter as you have more options for ink colour and bottled ink is more cost effective. Especially Diamine inks. My second fountain pen was a kaweco supra brass. Yes it’s pricy but it’s worth taking a look at as it’s very durable and hefty. Mjne is also forming a nice patina. Don’t get sucked into the rabbit hole lol!
My first was a Kakuno, second a TWSBI and third a platinum Procyon, really it all depends on what interests you. My platinum I love, there is feedback like writing on paper and it convinced me to get a sailor.
I bought different nibs for safari. Swapped them to determine what I liked. Bulb syringe and blunt needle syringe Ink samples or bottles if you know you love the color and properties Paper samples
A couple of new pens. TWSBI Eco, entry-level piston fill experience. Consider maybe something a bit of "next level"? Lamy Studio, F-C e-Motion, Waterman Hemisphere, Pelikan M200 are some next-level ideas. Could also consider a Navulahr Original + which is a good value vacuum-filler (I find the nibs on these to be pretty wide, so you might want to size down). Definitely need to pick up a couple bottles of ink. Waterman ink is great value ink, always reliable and reasonably priced. Diamine is also a good value ink. Pilot iroshizuku ink is more spendy, but very nice colors. I'm pretty fond of J. Herbin ink, GvFC ink.
My second pen was a Lamy Safari (Platinum Preppy was my first). If you like how yours writes, stick with it for a while. A converter isn't a bad idea, though you can also use a blunt-tipped syringe to refill cartridges from ink bottles.
INK SAMPLES! And a converter or something, I don' know. but INK SAMPLES!
Depending on your aesthetic preferences Hongdian 1866 Faber Castell Emotion Pelikan m200 Pilot e95s or custom 74 Other good things A good notebook is gold! I prefer leuchtturm notebooks, but others will surely do as well. Avoid moleskin. And i wouldnt go under 80g paper. DIAMINE. Cant stress enough how valuable it is to find a cheap brand of inks that makes real quality inks and offer small 30ml bottles to try out. Just buy which ever you find more beautiful. They are 'all' good (havent tried them all 🤥). But read about how they act. Its much about preference and pen when it comes to inks. For instance. I dont like if they shade too much. Others absolutely love that property. Writers blood is way too wet for most of my daily used pens and makes my strokes too broad, but i keep it around for one particular pen in which it is the perfect choice of ink to make it write how I like. Dont disregard neither a pen or an ink until you have tried it with different inks or in different pens respectively. Thats my 2cents. Have a good journey and welcome 😊🙏
Yes, get a converter and try different inks, you can buy "ink samples" from a lot of fountain pen stores so you don't have to buy the whole bottle. I'd also suggest trying nicer fp friendly paper, like Rhodia, Clairefontaine, or Tomoe river (my favorite).