Reddit mentions of PILOT Metropolitan Collection Fountain Pen, Black Barrel, Classic Design, Medium Nib, Black Ink (91107)

This gif ...... this gif is the gif that made me buy my first fountain pen. The Pilot Metropolitan. /r/fountainpens will tell you this is the first pen to get. I also have a decent amount of nibs ( what you see here ) I even have this exact one.

That was about a month ago. Maybe 2. Best part about fountain pens and ink is that it is VERY CHEAP to get into. And if you use it and buy a fucking book you can improve a great deal. You will be busting out lines of beauty and cumming in your pants when you see how much fucking ink can be dumped out of a dremeled out ebonite feed in the Noodler's Ahab Flex.

I'm off to make capital P's. Gooood^byyy^eeee

That's really cool that you're trying to share the hobby with your co-worker. Unfortunately, I'm not sure about sites for used fountain pens, (maybe check out r/Pen_Swap), but I have a few suggestions for cheaper pens:

• The Pilot Metropolitan is a very nice entry level pen and it's only $11 on Amazon right now. It comes with a black cartridge and a converter if you want to get him a bottle of ink. You could also get him a pack of extra cartridges to go along with it and stay under $20.
  
• The Platinum Preppy, which is about $3-$5 and comes in many different colors. (This is the blue-black version). It comes with one ink cartridge and works with standard converters. (The converter is not included)
  
• Pilot also makes the Varsity, which is a line of disposable fountain pens that come pre-filled with ink. You can get a set of 7 different colors for around $12.
  
  I hope this helps!

You want to get a good brand fineliner, copic, sakura. Or you could get a fountain pen with some platinum carbon ink which is smear and waterproof once dry.

Highly recommend https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW as a starter fountain pen.

Some quick questions, do you write really small now?

Most of the engineers I know do write small, which is why I ask. /u/the_illest does this joke you see here every time this question is asked, but it is a good recommendation to start. I personally recommend the Pilot Metropolitan over the Lamy Safari, I think it is a nicer pen to use, and the I believe the nib is better. If you write fine, you might be better off going to Goulet and getting the new model in fine, than buying the medium nib on Amazon. If you write really small, I really like the Metropolitan with the nib from the Pilot penmanship swapped onto it. The link here is more than I spent on the penmanship, if you search you can find them cheaper (I think on Amazon sometimes, I got two for that price). The Japanese EF nib is closer to a western UEF nib (the medium on the Metro is very close to an EF on the Safari). The line is very thin, and comfortable if you are used to writing small with a mechanical pencil.

With this, pick up a bottle of Noodler's black , and you will be set.

Now, to deviate a little from the standard answers. If you want something a little different, the Nemosine Singularity is an good intro pen that has gotten a lot of good feedback.

For a cheaper alternative, but usually only in a medium nib, the Jinhao x750 or x450 are big pens that make a statement (Amazon has sellers that ship these from China, Goulet pens carries them for $10 in stock).

There are a few others on Amazon that people like in the starting range, Parker, Scheaffer, etc that some like, but generally, the popular ones are the Metropolitan and Safari.

Pilot Metropolitan for ~$12 https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/

My suggestion is to buy a Pilot Metropolitan, which comes with both a cartridge and a converter so you can try both out. I would also suggest getting a bottle of a basic, workhorse ink. Something like Noodler's Black would be a good option, a nice saturated black that is waterproof and behaves pretty well on cheap paper.

Pilot Metro $11.80. Comes with a CON-20 converter. Can add a CON-50 for $6.74 for a total of $18.54.

Or just about any Jinhao pen would work as well.

I think that the Pilot Metro in classic black is pretty professional.

Perhaps a Metro in M nib with a bottle of black ink?

I went ahead and ordered this Pilot Metropolitan moments before posting this thread.
Could you link me to a rollerball?

Absolutely. Warning: if it tursn out that you relaly like fountain pens it is a deep dark hole of spending as there are so many great pens out there.

If you want to get your feet wet and not invest too much I suggest the Pilot Metropolitan. This pen's msrp is 15 (but lower on amazon) and can be found at wal-mart and staples. It is made of a brass body (so it has some heft), has a fantastic japanese steel nib (japanese nibs run on the small size for line width), and even includes a converter (easy way to use bottled ink) and a cartidge of ink. It is the quintisentional introduction fountain pen and exceeds the quality of pens 2-3x its price. It comes in black, gold, silver, and purple.

Now I know any people prefer to side on the buy it for life side and jump in with a more expensive item, but it is important to figure out what size nib you like and a japanese mdeium is seen as a nice overall starting point. After that I would suggest you check out /r/fountainpens to see reviews for pens like the lamy 2000, twsbi 580, pilot custom 74 and so on.

While fountain pens are cool, their ink is even cooler. There are hundreds of colors available and can even be bought in samples that are cheap (but enough to last for 2-3 fills of your pen). The most popular retailor for ink is gouletpens.com

Well, you can get a single one in fine for $13.22 from Amazon right now: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X9Z2FW

But if you actually want two, yeah. (I have two, because I wanted to try both nibs.)

Edit: $12.93 for a medium: http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91104/dp/B009M3PIK8

Hard to beat the Lamy Safari or the Pilot Metro as far as pens go in that price range.

Link

I'd recommend the Pilot Metropolitan- that's probably some of the best value you can get for a starter pen, and for $25-30 you can get the pen plus a bottle of ink.

You can also look into TWSBI pens, but theirs are notorious for having cracking issues which I don't know if they have solved yet.

Oooh, depends on what you're looking for, my friend! However, all my starter pens were under $35 with my favorite being the Pilot Metropolitan ($15). It writes very well and it's a great starter pen!My next suggestions would be: LAMY Safari Pen and TWSBI Eco Demonstrator. These are fun, come in fun colors or can be see-through which is neat cause then you can see the ink!

Also take into consideration nib sizes (Fine being thin lines and more tactile, and Medium+ having thicker, "wetter" lines). 🎆🎇

To be honest, I would suggest a cheap fountain pen. They dont drip, they are a joy to write with, and the bottle refills are cheap as fuck.

Pilot Metropolitan is $14

A 3oz bottle of Noodlers is $12, and will last for around 10,000 pages of writing. (I really like 54th Massachusetts, but get bulletproof black if you are looking for that shade)

Looks like a Pilot Metropolitan to me.

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW

Look at the 3rd picture.

Check Amazon. They have it for 11.80.

There is also a fine version! http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1420683543&sr=1-1&keywords=pilot+metropolitan+fountain+pen

http://www.gouletpens.com/pn-metro-black/p/PN-Metro-Black

Pilot Metropolitan makes an excellent starter fountain pen. Everyone writes with pen, so you'll be getting them something they'll use. I like to pair it with an ink sample package from Goulet Pens.

> I really want to start using them, but they're so expensive!

There are several really good starter fountain pens for ~$30

Pilot Metropolitan

MUJI Aluminum Fountain Pen

Would be two that I would recommend. The second I have experience with, it has a lot of feedback but is still pretty decent. I haven't used a Metropolitan but it has a very good reputation.

I use THIS one every day. I also had the fine nib but I don't dig it. I like the medium nib much better.

Buy one for $13 on Amazon, throw in a few other things you need and get free shipping.

Ditto on the handwriting. This helped me greatly: https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW

Just a few comments/suggestions :)

I would recommend the Pilot Metropolitan as a starter, for around the price of the Plasir it is very reliable, smooth writer, and much easier to clean. If you do buy the Plasir, you will also need to buy a convertor to use bottled ink, where the Metropolitan comes with one included.

The Jinhao is a copycat of the Lamy Safari, a good starter, but know that people either absolutely love or hate the style of the grip.

The inks you picked out are good, although to start I really recommend getting a Goulet sample pack so you can try similar colors before committing to an entire bottle, which will last quite a while.

Hope this helps! I love helping new people explore the world of fountain pens :)

All Hail the Lobster!!"

^^I'm ^^sensing ^^a ^^contest ^^train ^^XD

^^EDIT: THANK YOU FOR THE CONTESTS xd

Lol. It kind of depends. There are a lot of variables. I'll list out a few options for you.

• Pilot Metro - This is one of the gold standards in fountain pens right now. Pilot doesn't fuck around when it comes to making nibs. Out of the box this thing should write like a dream. If you're getting the one linked, you'll also want to do yourself a favor and get yourself a piston converter for the pen. Unless you don't plan to ever use bottled ink. In that case you can buy cartridges to your heart's content and be just fine. so in total, your cost of entry is like $20-ish.
  
  
• TWSBI ECO - This is, in my opinion, the highest bang for your buck option in entry level pens. I love demonstrators. Having the clear barrel so you can see your ink sloshing around is sweet. The nibs are pretty decent, and the piston filling mechanism is awesome. If you're writing all the time, the huge ink capacity means you'll be able to write a lot with it before you need to re-fill. Cost of entry here is roughly $30.
  
  
• Jinhao X450 - Every time I've used one of these super cheap Chinese fountain pens I've been incredibly pleasantly surprised. The nibs are actually pretty decent. There's some issues with quality control on some of them. Weird things like loos caps or loose grip sections or loose converters inside could potentially make for a less than great experience, but you can find lots of these on ebay, like 10 for 5 bucks. You'll have to wait a few weeks to get them from China, but they're great for being able to take with you and have 0 worries of breaking or losing them. Cost of entry is roughly $5
  
  Those are the 3 pen models I personally recommend, although if you ask around you'll also find people recommending the Lamy Safari/Vista/Al-star (same model, different materials). It's not a bad pen, I've owned a couple and like them, but they're in the price range between the Metro and the ECO, and the ECO and Metro are so much better that I don't feel comfortable recommending the Safari over either of them, unless you have a boner for German engineering, haha.
  
  In terms of ink, there's so much stuff out there that there's really no place to start in terms of explaining it. I'd be happy to send some samples your way, though, if you were interested in getting started.
  
  The biggest favor you can do for yourself when you get into fountain pens is to buy yourself some quality paper to write on. It's a night and day difference between shitty standard copy paper and a nice fountain pen friendly notebook.
  
  One of my favorites is the Black n' Red. Writing on it is smooth, and there's no bleeding or ghosting of ink, and if you get some ink that does some cool stuff, this paper will let it do the cool stuff.
  
  Please feel free to PM me or even reach out to people on r/fountainpens if you have any questions. We'd be more than happy to help you get started!

You can do it! Seriously you can get a Pilot Metro for $10. It comes with a bulb converter too so you can fill it with that blue waterman if you like.

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW

I prefer pen and paper. Writing by hand has always helped me retain more knowledge and memory than typing, and there's actually some science to back this up.

>According to a new study, Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer of Princeton University and UCLA Los Angeles respectively, students who write out their notes by hand actually learn more than those to type their notes on laptops. Over the course of several experiments, Mueller and Oppenheimer tested students’ memories for factual detail, conceptual comprehension, and synthesizing capabilities after half of them took notes by hands and the other half took notes by way of computer. Students who used laptops cranked out more words than hand-writers did, but the hand-writers ended up with a stronger conceptual understanding across the board.

This, plus I find the tactile feel of the pen moving and creating across the paper to be a deeply satisfying and somewhat spiritual experience.

I use a simple Black n' Red spiral notebook (LOL that Amazon price) because I find it easier to let loose and write down anything that comes to mind. The fancy journals I've purchased in the past always ended up unused because I was too anxious and self-conscious about marking up the pretty pages with thoughts that didn't seem "worth it." If you're going to start journaling on pen and paper, I strongly recommend starting with the simple route. Spend the money on something fancy when you're more comfortable with journaling.

I also strongly recommend ditching ballpoint pens if you're serious about paper journaling. Gel and fountain pens let you get your thoughts out much faster and with less pain. I use a Uni-ball Signo UM-151 and Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen. Again, I don't like to get too fancy with my journaling. It's more important to get the words out than fret over the tools.

As for what to write...write whatever resonates with you no matter how scattered or silly or unformed it may seem. Don't get self-conscious about it. Just get the words out.

Pilot Metropolitan Collection Fountain Pen, Black Barrel, Classic Design, Medium Nib, Black Ink (91107) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ypmXBbN77WP4P

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1550084108&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=pilot+metropolitan+fountain+pen&dpPl=1&dpID=312UIt5PpkL&ref=plSrch

Yeah, my demonstrator's held up nicely (despite being banged around more than a little), but the reports I've heard of the opaque Singularities breaking led me to making it a stay-at-home pen, just to be safe.

If you want a really fine line, check out the Sailor HighAce: thinnest line I've ever seen.

There's also the Pilot Metropolitan, of course. Medium nibs are on sale on Amazon right now, and a Pilot M is going to be both smooth and roughly equivalent to an F/EF western nib.

Book - Rekonect (https://www.rekonect.com/)

Pen - Pilot Metropolitan (https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=sr_1_3?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1493695243&sr=1-3&keywords=pilot+metropolitan+fountain+pen)

I'm still a newbie too so don't take my word as anything other than a fellow person learning too, but I've recently gotten the Pilot Metropolitan (a fountain pen)

Amazon has one for around $10 https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW (that's medium nib, I prefer a fine nib for writing small such as a dot journal, and medium for larger writing such as lined paper or unlined).

My local pen guy calls it "absolutely the best pen under $100, bar none" and "don't bother buying another pen until you save up $120-150 and can afford a gold nib", so for $10-15 that makes it a super easy way to get into writing with one.

Why use a fountain pen? With a cartridge they're hassle free but regardless of ink supply they're very nice to write with. Almost no pressure required at all, a very simple and smooth glide over the paper. Easy to hold and you can hold it reverse to get an even finer line (at the cost of losing some of the smoothness of the glide).

Plus if you get into it, you can replace the disposable cartridges with a converter that lets you actually suck up from a bottle of ink and do it the old school way, and there's something "zen" or meditative about using great paper, a great pen, and treating writing practice as a form of mindfulness practice. But maybe that's just me :P

EDIT: On the total other side of the spectrum, if fountain isn't for you, I used to make cheaply rigged Mont Blanc rollerballs. The rollerballs are better than ballpoint (but not as smooth as fountain). I would buy Mont Blanc rollerball refills for like $7, and G2 Gel pens, and then one could cut a little bit off of the end of the Mont Blanc rollerball refill and place it into the Gel pen case after removing the gel ink. http://www.instructables.com/id/Save-$200-in-2-minutes-and-have-the-worlds-best-wr/ http://www.instructables.com/id/Mont-Black-Mont-Blanc-Hack-fitting-the-new-Mon/ That would get you a very high quality writing experience for cheap I bet

Would you like some recommendations?

Check out the Pilot Metropolitan. It's clean and polished looks are so smooth and inoffensive, and the silver or gold will go really well with a tie clip. There are no obvious logos on the pen, and it's rounded smooth edges are easy on the eyes.

http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW

Get the fine point. It writes beautifully, too :)

Another favorite of mine to use with a silver tie clip is the Cross Bailey. It has a black lacquer body and a silver trim.

http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Bailey-Lacquer-Fountain-AT0456-7MS/dp/B0089TV8UA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_op_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0ACQRBCFWBTMS04MFDG2

That's just to get you started. Generally, try matching your pen with your tie clip and cufflinks. Also, if you keep it in your pocket tip-up then you won't have any problems with ink leaking out of the pen. It also becomes a conversation piece, if you have to pull it out of your pocket to use it for writing.

Have gold and silver cufflinks, and a gold tie clip? Wear a red or gold tie, and this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D04KDE?psc=1

It's no Krispy Kreme donut, but...

I hate to cook. Absolutely haaaate it. I recently discovered I can make my own chicken noodle soup by heating up cream of chicken with a can of chicken, and then mixing that with some boiled egg noodles. It's super fast and easy, and tastes better than the cans of chicken noodle soup. I'll be making it for lunch today so I'll try to get some photos posted! The wishlists are down so I'll come back and edit this.

Update: I did make chicken noodle for lunch and it was delicious! Here's a photo of the result, and here's my wishlist item.

Yeah the metropolitan is one of their fountain pen models. Here's a link to their medium nib version, which is the same size as a fine nib by International standards.


https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=pilot%2Bmetropolitan&qid=1567018495&s=gateway&sr=8-2&th=1&psc=1


Also thank God you don't use ball points they're garbage.

I have a few Pilot Metropolitans. A black one with a medium nib was my first one, and I still use it as my daily driver. It's about $12 currently on Amazon, so if I were you, I'd start with that.

^^Ninja ^^edit also be aware that fountain pens are different from dip pens (I assume that's what you meant by drip pen? :) ). Fountain pens can be used for art projects, but they're mainly for writing. And also DON'T PUSH ON THE NIB unless you're sure it's a flex nib! Pens like the Noodler's Konrad or Noodler's Ahab are flex nibs, so you can push on them to get a thicker line. (Sorry if that was a little confusing!)
^^
Good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009X9Z2FW

Is this the same thing? I don't really buy from Ebay and especially not from china.

Sorry guys, did not get a chance to look into this till now (which is 2 days late).

Anyway, amazon link for the metropolitan. I am just using the converter.

Looks like the biggest mistake I have been doing is not squeezing enough. I think the last two times I only did 1-2. Today, I did about 4-5. Lets see how this round goes.

Wow, $27?! Doesn't Amazon have free shipping for prime and orders over $25? It's currently $14.

I wish there is a one-size-fits-all grip, but I'll try your method next time.

While not as common, Metros do come in Medium nibs! They're around $15. Just so you know, in not aware of anywhere that sells new brand name nibs for pens like the Metro (aka Cacoon), 78G+, Kakuno, or Plumix (aka Penmanship). Of you want a new nib, you're most likely going to new to few a new pen. Here's a Metro M in black from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=55217642319&hvadid=274694704554&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1018702&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8008502245000109308&hvtargid=aud-676677759524%3Akwd-308086084291&keywords=pilot+metropolitan+medium+nib&qid=1554222090&s=gateway&sr=8-1

I'll just leave all these here

My suggestion is to get:

Pilot Metropolitan, you can also get a fine tip if you want that.

A Pilot Con-50

And finally, some Parker Quink.

I'd probably use the converters because they are less prone to leaking, and you can always get new ink in case you want another color.

A 2oz bottle of ink will likely last you around 9 months if you are writing a fair bit daily and don't spill any, though I've managed to go through one in 3 months, due to writing a novel.

If you want blue ink too, you can get some Blue Quink

Lamy also makes some great ink for cheap in Blue, Black and Turquoise

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=sr_1_5?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1519938429&sr=1-5&keywords=pilot+metropolitan

Is this a good one to start with?

Pilot Metropolitan
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gkuUCbQ2G0HPF

I EDC'd a fountain pen for a while (Pilot Metropolitan) but eventually switched to a regular Pilot G-2 and I don't regret it one bit. I found that my fountain pen was particular about what paper I would write on, the ink took longer to dry, and sometimes it would be messy and I could get ink on my hands. Plus, I occasionally let people use my pen as part of my job, and writing with a fountain pen takes a little getting used to.

The pilot g-2 is inexpensive, has GREAT ink, I can write on any paper surface and I don't have to worry about losing caps. It's easy to take it out, click the back of the pen, and get to writing. No having to worry about angles, ink messiness, or anything like that. Plus, if I lose it, then I'm not out an 'expensive' fountain pen. I can get a 12 pack of g-2's for the price of a single pilot metropolitan

Here is a link to both pens:
http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW

http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Retractable-Premium-Roller-Point/dp/B001GAOTSW

Now, does that mean I've gotten rid of my fountain pens? Nope, I actually bought another Pilot metro in fine point. I use them for journaling and they are strictly desk pens. They are still fun to write with!

Also look at Noodler's Bernanke Blue penaddict || officesupplygeek and Bernanke Black ikonhand. Both are extremely quick drying and the nice, solid inks.

Edit: For an inexpensive pen, I would look at the Nemosine Singularity, Pilot Metropolitan, or if you want something really inexpensive and that still writes well, maybe something like a Jinhao x250, x450, or x750. (The Pilot and the Nemosine are much lighter in weight, so I think they make for more comfortable writing pens for longer sessions, personally. But the Jinhao pens actually write quite well.)

In my experience as long as you use it at least semi-frequently maintenance is minimal. Plus when you do clean it it’s a breeze. I’m new to fountain pens and cleaned my pen for the first time two days ago. All you do is take apart four pieces and let them soak in water for a while. Put it back together which is extremely simple and boom your done. I heard great things about pens like the pilot metropolitan or Lamy Safari , which only run you about $15! They even make Disposable fountain pens that come in packs of 5! So if I were you I’d give one of those cost effective options a shot and if you like it go from there.

You should look into getting a fountain pen since you write so much. Not sure if you still will out of college though.

I'd suggest either a Lamy safari or a Pilot metropolitan. Metropolitan comes with a converter to use your own ink but the safari needs a separate one. I personally use a Pilot Vanishing Point.

/r/fountainpens

For hand pain and fatigue, fountain pens are good too. For most of them their own weight is enough to make them write so you barely have to grip them or press down. And there are a zillion ink colors that are fun to choose from. An inexpensive but good one is the Platinum Preppy...it’s like $4, comes with a large ink cartridge and the cap seals really well so it never dries out (just checked and the Preppy seems to be stupidly overpriced on Amazon right now, it should be cheaper at Jet Pens, Goulet Pens, Vanness, or any other site that has fountain pens). Pilot Metropolitan and Lamy Safari (Safari is pretty much the most counterfeited pen ever and there are a lot of fakes on Amazon so I’d order elsewhere) are pretty good “beginner” fountain pens too, if you want something that looks a little nicer but still isn’t too insanely priced. TWSBI Eco has a good reputation too and holds a TON of ink but it’s easy to put back together incorrectly if you’re the tinkerer type who has to take everything apart. Finer nibs will put down less ink and are less likely to bleed or feather on cheap notebook paper. Nib size isn’t really standardized, though, so there’s a lot of variation between brands.

I try to keep a fountain pen, a rollerball (NOT a ballpoint) and an extra-fine Sharpie in my bag at all times so I can write on just about any surface without killing my hand. Personally, I think ballpoints are the devil and I avoid them whenever possible.

If you need a pencil, fat ones like Pilot Dr Grip are more comfortable for me than skinny ones. I’m accident-prone and always breaking thin lead so I’ve started using sketch pencils with huge 5.6mm lead. I have one of these that I found on a good sale but there are lots of cheaper options. There are some good 2mm or 3mm lead pencils out there too. I got a pack of really generic cheap Chinese 2mm pencils a while back that are surprisingly comfortable to hold for as skinny as they are. They have a lead sharpener built into the back clicky cap thing so you can keep it sharp without having to hunt down any specialty sharpeners.

If I have to use skinny pen/pencil or a ballpoint, I modify my grip to make it less awful. This is how I hold pens that kill my hand if I try to hold them normally. It’s not a perfect solution but it keeps my hand from cramping up and my fingers from bending back as much for a quick note or signature.

This got really long, sorry. I get a little too excited about stationery things...

Best cheap pen imo is the pilot metro: https://smile.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1550905029&sr=1-2&keywords=pilot+metropolitan+fountain+pen

I'm a big fan of this blue / black ink: https://smile.amazon.com/Noodlers-Ink-Fountain-Bulletproof-Massachusetts/dp/B00DJAKBAW/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1550905089&sr=1-1&keywords=54+massachusetts

Not OP but another avid fountain pen enthusiast, and having owned a few $100+ fountain pen, my most used pen hands down is the Pilot Metropolitan, a great pen for pretty much anyone, at the humble price of $12. And not to mention its made of brass, so it is BIFL quality.

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=pilot+metropolitan+fountain+pen&qid=1562300808&s=gateway&sprefix=pilot+met&sr=8-4

Calm your tits

In my house we make jam during the summer when fruit is ripest.

We also make our own pizza and bread dough from scratch (because I can't find good sourdough in Louisiana).

I shave with an old-fashioned safety razor and a brush with shaving soap because it's the closest shave and best for my skin.

And I recently started using a fountain pen for my sketch book and like the ability to vary line quality with a single tip so much more than a ballpoint. I had no idea I could get a decent pen for $15

I also got married before we got pregnant and I have an old-fashioned job: tugboat captain.

it's only 15 bucks anyway...http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Writing-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW

[Lamy 2000] (http://www.amazon.com/Lamy-2000-Fountain-Black-L01F/dp/B001D3PYT0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397277169&sr=8-1&keywords=lamy+2000) as a modern pen, [Sheaffer Snorkel] (http://www.peytonstreetpens.com/sheaffer/1950s-sheaffers/sheaffer-valiant-snorkel-1950s-black-medium-superior-restored.html) as a vintage { [here] (http://www.peytonstreetpens.com/sheaffer/1950s-sheaffers/sheaffer-triumph-tm-touchdown-fountain-pen-gold-filled-fine-very-nice-restored.html) is another snorkel that matches your EDC}. however if you want something to try it out first go with a [pilot metropolitan] (http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Writing-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397277744&sr=8-1&keywords=pilot+metropolitan+fountain+pen). Finally [here] (http://www.amazon.com/Noodlers-Black-Waterproof-Fountain-Pen/dp/B000MVZ2E6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397277859&sr=8-1&keywords=noodlers+black) is a good black ink to start with. If you want me to recommend another color ink or want a specific trait in the pen just ask!

Look at the bottom of the screenshot.
Here are the links to both models:
91107 - http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Writing-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1396280608&sr=8-3&keywords=91107
91117 - http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91117/dp/B00FACM3IA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396280616&sr=8-2&keywords=91117

All of my pens are on the cheaper side (except for one) -- I have a [Pilot Metropolitan] (https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW), a [Pilot Kakuno] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FZLLHOM/ref=twister_B00RJPHMZ0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1), a [Pilot Plumix] (https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Plumix-Fountain-Medium-Translucent/dp/B00ZF5HCOW/ref=sr_1_3?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1484067434&sr=1-3&keywords=pilot+plumix), a [TWSBI Eco] (https://www.gouletpens.com/twsbi-eco-fountain-pen-white-fine/p/TW-M7444340) (this one is probably my favorite), and a [Retro 51 Tornado] (https://www.amazon.com/Tornado-Fountain-Prism-Medium-Point/dp/B00KB2VQGO/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1484067543&sr=8-10&keywords=retro+51+fountain+pen).

I'd really like to have one of the green Lamy Safaris -- it's next on my list.

My favorite ink is [Diamine's Meadow ink] (https://www.gouletpens.com/is-d7083/p/IS-D7083) (green is my favorite color). Have you bought any ink samples from Goulet Pens yet? I have a few bottles of ink, but for the most part I've just been trying out their ink samples.

You could actually get a good pen and a bottle of purple ink that would last much longer than a family pack of those pens, for just $6 more.

There's always amazon? Unless you're about the whole support the family businesses which I'm absolutely all for.