best pen for terrible paper

[Kaputnik]

Seems to me it might be a better idea in the long run to use a rollerball or ballpoint ! I hate the things, but there’s a time and a place for them.

That's a good point, although not within the terms of the original question. Sometimes we may see the use of fountain pens as a matter of principle, when it's really just a matter of preference. But if one was determined to use a fountain pen, I think there are some good suggestions above as to what might work on this paper.

I don't hate either ballpoints or rollerballs, some are quite decent for what they are. But actually, it seems to me that I've seen even rollerballs feathering on really cheap paper. So that would leave just ballpoints.

Or how about a pencil? A good mechanical pencil with a nice dark lead, say 0.7 mm or broader with a 2B lead? And yes, I am serious.

[carlos.q]

We all love happy endings!

[Lloyd]

My experience with KWZ iron gall inks was that they were only slightly iron gall (not very water resistant, didn't turn black), and on the wet side. I wouldn't recommend them for your issue.

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[Chrissy]

I wouldn't use any IG inks in any of my fountain pens full stop. Once upon a time they were all that was available and pens that were made then aren't the same as pens that are made now.

Nor would I ever make a suggestion to anyone I didn't know that an IG ink might be any sort of a fix to a "terrible paper" problem. It's merely one ink preference. Even if it was my own ink preference I would be concerned about suggesting it as a "terrible paper" fix to someone I didn't know just in case they weren't aware of the special needs of any pen that it was used in. For example, if you are the kind of person who leaves ink in pens and maybe lets it dry out in pens then IG ink isn't a suitable option for you. If your pens have steel nibs then you need to be aware that IG ink can corrode them if left in contact with the nib over a period of time.

I would suggest that for a "terrible paper" problem the best fix would be to use a pen that writes dry filled with an ink that also writes dry. This would be trial and error for everyone with that specific need. The pen doesn't have to have an EF nib, but, on the other hand, a broad nib is unlikely to be a first choice as they usually tend to be wetter than finer nibs. I would recommend trying out as many pens as you can if possible, but a fine nib is probably a good start. Try looking for pen reviews for specific pens you might like. Some inks are known to be dry like Pelikan 4001 type inks. Pilot Iroshizuku inks aren't known for being dry so it's better to keep those for FP friendly paper.

Once you have selected your pen then select what ink colour you might want to use and look at as many ink reviews for that colour ink as you can find. Reviewers will mention if an ink writes dry or not. It might not even write dry for everyone because all ink reviewers are different, but it could be a starting point. The country where you live and how much you want to pay for your ink will be a factor, so maybe search for reviews for the brands you can easily get or try. Some ink manufacturers are known to make some inks that are wet and some that are dry so choice of colour might be important. Choice of colour may also be a factor in whether an ink might be dryer or wetter.

Some people suggest Lamy Safari pens can be dry writers. They have good converters and can be cleaned out easily. With an EF or an F nib they are more likely to write dryer than wetter. I have at least a dozen Lamy Safaris, Al-Stars or Nexx pens and they all tend to write dryer when I switch in an EF or F nib. They are easily obtainable anywhere in the world. Another option might be to look at cheaper TWSBI pens if you prefer a larger ink fill and prefer to use a piston filled pen. In my own experience they have a tendency to write dryer with F or M nibs than with the stub nibs I prefer. These are only my own experiences though. I don't have any cheap Pilot pens, nor do I have any Pelikan 200 range pens with steel nibs.

it won't be simple or straightforward, because everyone will suggest their favourite pen or ink. If I had to use "terrible paper" I would probably pick a rollerball or a fineliner for simplicity and guaranteed readability.

[Miss Fountain Pen]

I'm actually really enjoying my KWZ IG Violet. In combination with the Elite EF, it basically solved my problem (yes, still a little bit of feathering, but not a big deal, and one could hardly expect perfection on such bad paper). As a bonus point, I find it really fun to write with because of the way that color changes as the ink dries. I didn't expect that, but apparently, it's a property of iron gall inks. But yes, I'll make sure I clean any pens inked with it regularly. Though hopefully it's not as tough on pens as other IG inks (Lloyd says it's only "slightly iron gall").

[Yazeh]

Glad you found a solution. Happy for you. Now enjoy
Yes the oxidization is the fun part of IG inks, especially on absorbent papers

[Skip]

My inexpensive Kaweco Sport with a BB nib flows ink onto paper so smoothly I don't hafta use any pressure at all and it doesn't bleed thru on the scrap paper freebie pads I have. Ink used is the Royal Blue Kaweco cartridge that came with it. ~Good pen, good ink, IMO, for cheap paper...

[Kaputnik]

Bump.

All right, enough bumping for one day. I know, the only real solution is for the site owner to start moderating somehow. It's just a shame that any potential new members who come along will see all the spam, and not bother to stick around.

[catbert]

Bump.

All right, enough bumping for one day. I know, the only real solution is for the site owner to start moderating somehow. It's just a shame that any potential new members who come along will see all the spam, and not bother to stick around.

Has anyone had a chance to ask him at a pen show?

He was in Philadelphia according to Penaddict.com: https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2025/...pen-show-recap

[calamus]

snip ...The only problem with IG inks is that they have a shelf life of 1.5- 2 years... snip

I've read that if IG ink is kept in a tightly capped glass bottle in the dark, it can last much longer than that. Sometimes. I've read claims on FPN by members saying they've had bottles of it for 5 to 7 years that were still good. One brand seemed to get sludgy through, Chesterfield, but most had the iron eventually precipitate out as air got in.

[Yazeh]

snip ...The only problem with IG inks is that they have a shelf life of 1.5- 2 years... snip

I've read that if IG ink is kept in a tightly capped glass bottle in the dark, it can last much longer than that. Sometimes. I've read claims on FPN by members saying they've had bottles of it for 5 to 7 years that were still good. One brand seemed to get sludgy through, Chesterfield, but most had the iron eventually precipitate out as air got in.

Yes, I read that on a research website on Iron Gall ink. It was stated that blowing in the bottle before closing it will slow down the inevitable death of the ink. However, when I mentioned this with the link, it was derided. Ironically, I had my Essri in three bottles. Two were full. The third was 1/4 full. Guess what, the 1/4 went bad.

[Chrissy]

In these days where manufacturers can make well behaved inks that are waterproof, fade-proof and otherwise completely permanent I can't understand why fountain pen users would ever want to use IG inks that don't last, go off, change colour after writing with them, die in the bottle, block up pens, eat steel nibs and whatever other problems come with them.

Is it that they believe their particular writing has to be done only with IG ink and they love the challenge of trying to cope with all of these problems associated with it? Or just they don't want the ease of buying their inks from a manufacturer who has spent lots of time and money making inks that have similar properties without needing to use pieces of burr wood to make them?

[Lithium466]

The pain, the inconvenience, the uncertainty, the variable darkening you get on various papers, the thrill wondering if your writing will resist longer than your nib, or if your ink will go bad before you use it all, if chunks of solids will clog your pen and you will need ascorbic acid to clean it all, choosing whether you want a dry or an extra dry ink with negative lubrication, etc...

That's poetry in IG And a lot of me joking, in case that wasn't clear. Many modern IG or assimilated don't suffer such problems, or not all at the same time.

Logically, the user seeking permanence will just use a Nanopigment ink. There are some bad ones on the market, but there are some good ones too...is logic the only factor driving fountain pen users? To each their own!

[INeedAFinancialAdvisor]

In these days where manufacturers can make well behaved inks that are waterproof, fade-proof and otherwise completely permanent I can't understand why fountain pen users would ever want to use IG inks that don't last, go off, change colour after writing with them, die in the bottle, block up pens, eat steel nibs and whatever other problems come with them.

Is it that they believe their particular writing has to be done only with IG ink and they love the challenge of trying to cope with all of these problems associated with it? Or just they don't want the ease of buying their inks from a manufacturer who has spent lots of time and money making inks that have similar properties without needing to use pieces of burr wood to make them?

it's because (for me at least) its fun. I like the colour change and shading as it dries. I use mostly Parker "51"s and Sheaffer snorkels, both are pens that can handle it. And any ink can go bad in the bottle. i've had one bottle of ink go bad on me, it was sheaffer and it went mouldy and it wasn't an IG ink. will my IG inks go bad before I use them all? almost certainly. Am I sad? a little. am I worried? no. I have something like two dozen bottles of ink in my drawer, and I own 3 1l (32oz) bottles of ink from the 50's and 60's (they're all fine, I bought one that had turned and spoiled, now I have a clean empty bottle...)

As stated by Lithium466, is logic the only factor driving FP users? ... obviously not... cause paying several hundred dollars for a PEN isn't logical, it's the same as people choosing to use shimmer inks: they can be a disaster (from what I've read) but people do it anyways... probably cause its fun