Fountain Pens More Convenient, but Not Superior to Dip Pens

[Chuck Naill]

I have dip pens that will write for a half of a letter size page per dip. Fountain pens are for writing in portable situations.

When an old style un-tipped dip nib "wears out" it wears the point sharp in front and on the edges. Two light swipes on a sharpening stone puts the nib back in business. It takes less than a second. The same remedy can be used for a brand new nib that is sharp and scratchy. A worthy school master knew how to do this.

Interesting. I have tools to hone a straight razor.

[Paddler]

I have dip pens that will write for a half of a letter size page per dip. Fountain pens are for writing in portable situations.

When an old style un-tipped dip nib "wears out" it wears the point sharp in front and on the edges. Two light swipes on a sharpening stone puts the nib back in business. It takes less than a second. The same remedy can be used for a brand new nib that is sharp and scratchy. A worthy school master knew how to do this.

Interesting. I have tools to hone a straight razor.

A hone is probably too fine. I have some Mylar sheets with various grits sold for grinding nibs and all that techy stuff is just overkill. Unglazed porcelain or stoneware works well, as does the side of a suzuri. A milky quartz pebble from a gravel bank works as well as anything.