Hello HJ. Just watched this video about posting your pen. My collection is nowhere near the size of yours but I have been leaving my pens unposted. As long as the pen fits my hand well, it remains capless. In this video, you mentioned that you don't need a fountain pen. I know that you were of course kidding but what a sad world it would be to not have them. They have become a part of my life and in a small way, define me as a person.
"Use but don't abuse" is wise. There is definitely something lost when one is too protective. That said, I don't post. I did when I used unrefined tools, but no more. Except, of course, when I do. I post my Opus 88 Fantasia and my TWSBI Vac Mini. Both have threads for posting. There's an engineered interface, not just friction. On the other hand, both those pens are long enough to touch my first knuckle while I'm writing. I don't feel a need to post them for quick notes. Always a nice break in the day when your videos premier. Please keep 'em coming!
I've been ready for a video all week! No posting with the exception of my new Kaweco Sport. I asked you about that pen during the last live and you did recommended it. Well, my friend, you were absolutely correct about the nib! It's mind boggling how incredible that nib is! The medium is the perfect width and it just glides across the paper. Other than that, NO POSTING! 😂
I'm new to the world of fountain pens and currently only have my Parker IM, which I post. Basically, it never occurred to me not to (told you I was new to this...). However, after watching this video I tried writing without posting. I have to say, it just feels wrong. I'm looking to start a small collection of pens and will try them all, posted and unposted as I accrue them. Great video!
Thanks so much, Ian! I am very glad to have you here. I love that my video gave you some new perspective. That is what it is all about as we take this journey together. Stop by again soon.
I would never post unless it was intrinsic to the pens design (Kaweco sport) my MB 149 is perfectly balanced without being posted and I prefer setting the cap beside my writing pad. Love seeing all the opinions on this!
I determine posting on a pen-by-pen basis. Certainly some, like my Kaweco Brass Sport, must be posted. Others, like my Pilot Custom Urushi or Visconti Homo Sapiens, are too big and unbalanced when posted - also, in the case of the Urushi, I wouldn't want to risk damaging the urushi lacquer. I do post my Pilot 823 because it's very light and the cap adds balance; also, I'm not worried about damaging the material of the 823. I have a heavy, all-silver Montblanc 146 that I never post because the cap is far too heavy. So, totally depends on the pen with me.
@@HemingwayJones I'd post a picture for you, if it were an option here! The MB146 is a nice, comfortable size. I do want an MB149 one day, and your Egyptomania video has me drooling for one of those also! I love the vintage vibe of that pen.
@@michaeldavis4969 I cannot wait for my 146 to arrive. It is hung up in Customs. I wish you could post photos here. It would be educational. Spammers ruin it for everyone.
I used to prefer posting and would actually consider whether or not the cap posted when deciding to purchase, but now that i own several pens that don't post (or don't post well), I have come around! Like you, it really depends on the pen itself! You made some very good points in this video!
Amazing and interesting video as always! I would say I'm kind of 50/50 with posting my pens. I always try posting it and not posting it. From there on I just pick the most balanced and best feeling option for that certain pen.
I used to be like you when I posted nearly every pen I owned, which is now over 100 pens. Therefore, I will not bother you with all the details for each of them. However, I've since become more selective and only post those that require it, like extremely lightweight or shorter-barreled pens (Lamy, Kaweco, and others). Many oversize pens are simply too long when posted (e.g., Pilot Custom Urushi) or perhaps too heavy because of the materials used in their construction: e.g., sterling silver, brass, or other metals (Yard-O-Led, some Watermans, and others). Or, perhaps they are rare and expensive, and posting them might cause scratches or crack their caps, in which case I do not post them. With those exceptions I have mentioned, I still prefer posting in most cases and will always do so if it seems practical at the time because I have relatively huge "paws." Thanks for the great video.
Hello Doctor Jones! Im a fairly recent subscriber to your channel and quite enjoy your content. Its a quandry, this posting issue; i have fretted over it on multiple occasions and im relieved that I am not the only one wrestling with th e question. I am firmly entrenched in the posting ritual by default, and also as a reflexive aesthetic preference. Undoubtedly, the particular pen in use in each unique situation is a factor, but i have a generalized fear of dropping, losing or breaking an unattended cap. It drives me to distraction to see it laying there: awkward, helpless, unsupervised and in a persistent state of mortal danger. Its usually more than i can handle, and i wind up recapping it, damned be the outcome! But your arguments to the contrary are sound and I cannot reasonably argue against them. I suppose i have to work on my phobias. Thanks for the entertaining post, and until next time, cheers!
Pocket pens were meant for posting, designed for this. Balance is definitely the factor for posting. I use my leather strap of my watch as a place for the pen cap for portability when I write unposted.
It totally depends on the pen. The Pilot Custom 823 is a good example of this. The cap is 10g on it's own and that kind of back weight can really put some stress on your wrist if you have any form of carpal tunnel.
For years I used very cheap fountain pens whose caps frequently cracked, so I got into the habit of never posting. I always post my Brass Kaweco Sport, of course, and I'm very tempted with the M200, since it posts so well unlike most piston fillers. I sometimes find myself posting my Lamy Safari without realising - I've no idea why!
I agree, I never post the TWSBI Vac 700. It just makes it too back heavy. Other pens are made to post. The Waterman has a snap post and the TWSBI Mini has a screw post. TWSBI added two rubber gaskets to the piston knob on the Classic to allow posting. I used to own a Sailor 1911 that I always posted because it had better balance. The Moonman T1 can be posted but you have to be careful since, like the TWSBI Classic, they post on the piston knob and can be bumped and cause ink burp. Not a pleasant experience and can be embarrassing if I'm in public. I mean, what would other pen aficionados think if they saw that?!
I usually don’t post unless it’s a pocket pen. I don’t have very big hands and the extra weight bothers my wrist. Many times I find myself holding the cap in my left hand while writing with my right hand. Just makes it easier to quickly re-cap or cover the nib to prevent drying between words/sentences.
I’m afraid to post any pen because of the wear potential. I try to buy pens that are comfortable fo me unposted. I like the look of your M600. My first Pelikan was an M800, which I love just got an M1000 and it is a great pen!
Definitely a non-poster personally, except when I have to, such as the Kaweco Sport. Having said that, in my "fountain pen journey" I have gradually been moving towards larger pens, such as the Pilot Custom 823, and consequently my Pelikan M200 and M600 are beginning to feel skinny and short. So at present I occasionally post them, and I suspect it will feel increasingly natural to so, despite my innate aversion to posting, out of habit, because it often whacks them out of balance, and because it marks the pens
Good topic, Hemmingway. The only pen of mine that requires posting is the Kaweco Sport. Otherwise, I do not post. I worry about the scratching. Thanks for another enjoyable conversation.
Newbie here..... a think a good video would be a comparison on entry level (blue collar budget) fountain pens, and what pens would be "good" for everyday work. Things to consider would be; if a pen can be posted (or if it's design to be posted) for better or longer time of use, nib quality (depending on the demands for a particular reason), material qualities (and posible vulnerabilities), writing stile or were the person is going to use the pen (ex. cop writing a ticket, note taking on a construction site, open fields note taking, etc). I would like to mention that a there's a los of interest in this subjects, but people think that fountains pens are exclusive for measure use and for the white collar.... I am trying to open my mind on all of this. Just got my Esterbrook matte Raven. 😁
I am an always poster. I only buy pens that post. A pen does not feel complete to me unless it is posted. Marking the body of the pen does not bother me. Writing with a shorter, lighter pen bothers me more. If a pen does not post securely, it does not stay in my collection.
Hi Larry, I cannot take issue. I was the same way until fairly recently, but then there are some pens that are so awesome that you cannot post. It's a predicament! All the best, My Friend.
Thanks again Hemigway Jones for yet another episode in the fountain pen user evolution. I'll post the cap when the fountain pen lends itself to it, by that I mean and as you also mentioned in your explanation, for example: the Kaweco liliput, AL sport and the Pilot 95 e these have to be used that way otherwise you can't write with them or difficult. I will use these fountain pens posted. My other fountain pens that are long enough are never posted and I like that, especially since they are pleasant to use in this way. And that way they stay in good condition for a little longer (without scratches). Well that's what I think about it. Of course every fountain pen user has his preferences. Posted or not, do what makes you feel good and comfortable. But the fact is with this video we are informed when we post a fountain pen that you might damage the body of the fountain pen after posting frequently.
To each their own !! Even though I can write with Liliput / Kaweco Sport / E95S without posting, I’d like to post the pens when possible.. I feel that I get a complete Fountain pen experience only with posting !! Only pens I don’t post even though posting is possible are heavy pens like Sheaffer 300.. Only pens I can’t use without posting are ultra short ‘Gama Mini’ pens from India..
I've concluded that among my assortment of nine pens, posting only is necessary if and when it enhances the writing experience. For example, my Pilot Custom 823 and Custom 74, and Diplomat Aero do not benefit from posting. My Lamy 2000 does because I was taught a trick of aligning the clip with the sweet spot on the hooded nib to encourage me to hold it at the correct "rotation." The Sailor Pro Gear benefits from posting because it is such a lightweight and feels a tad short absent it. The Opus 88 will not post and the Lamy Dialog CC has no cap. I debate about the FPR Himalaya. Its cap seems "cheap" with a metal band, I fear might mar the ebonite. though I've no proof it scrapes.
I post the cap on most of my pens, unless it feels quite awkward. I won't post my TWSBI Vac 700R for instance. It is already quite long, and also I do not think the cap is very secure back there (I do not think however that there is any air exchange going on at the back of the pen. You unscrew it to "unpush" the stopper valve)
Very interesting video. I've been very much enjoying watching your videos, you have great content and a lovely calming presence and voice. I don't post my pens unless I have to (Kaweco Brass Sport...and my one doesn't have a clip). I love the feel of the smooth body of a fountain pen in my hand, but the possibility of the clip touching my hand when I write, or feeling the edge of the lid gives me the heebie jeebies somehow and it spoils the experience. I know you turn the clip so it faces away but it's THERE. I think it must be a sensory issue.
Thanks very much for the kind comments on my presentation style. I appreciate. I am so glad you are enjoying my channel. Thanks for the great perspective too!
I post all my pens, and hate the feeling and sight of an unposted pen. An upostable pen is a definite deal breaker. I agree with you however about vac fillers being unposted. My Penbbs 456 I do keep unposted, although I rarely use it anymore for various reasons of "meh".
To post or not to post.. that is the question. Aside from the pens that simply do not post, I feel that posting is a subjective topic. I have larger hands but post very few of my pens (I even love the feel of my Kaweco iridescent pearl unposted as it feels so small and magical from hand to paper!) Now that I have wandered down the curious rabbit hole of fountain pens again (following a long break from my calligraphy studies) it seems that it is entirely personal relating how you write and hold your pen… it’s my pen and I’ll post if I want to 😊
I would post certain pens personally, Hemmingway. It depends if it balances. Montblancs post quite deeply and so it causes no practical problems. Another favourite brand of mine, Graf von Faber-Castell (and indeed the Faber-Castells too) will never be posted in my collection. They are shallow posters and become ridiculously long and top-heavy. That's despite the fact those pens ARE meant to be posted
There is one pen I have to post ! The pelikan m200 (Golden Beryl ). It writes superb ( steel B nib ) but it is a little too short for my hand unposted . My hands are relatively large due to working with them for 40+ years . I guess hand size does matter ! Great music ( Wagner ) !
I personally never post, that's also why I don't use pocket pens (I have Kaweco Sport, but I don't know why I bought them anyway, I only use the Elite/Dia2). Thanks for the video, it is a good descourse and makes me think why I don't post.
Buen tema. Buen video. Para mi el balance que resulta de colocar la tapa en la estilográfica al momento de escribir es lo que define el sentimiento de necesidad de hacerlo o no. Tengo algunas plumas que no uso porque requerirían que la tapa se colocara PERO el hacerlo significaría rallar el cuerpo de la pluma y en ese caso son plumas que rara vez uso, porque sin la tapa no son cómodas y colocar la tapa significaría dañarlas. Son temas que ahora se ven como definitivos al momento de comprar una estilográfica, pero hace 40 años que iniciamos esta travesía eran temas que no se publicaban y había que aprenderlos en el camino. Saludos desde Medellín, Colombia.
¡Muchos gracias! Estoy tan contenta de que hayas disfrutado el video. Es mejor que todos compartamos lo que sabemos para que todos aprendamos más juntos. Gracias por visitar mi canal y vuelve pronto.
I hardly ever post. My hands are small enough that I don’t need to post my Kaweco Sport. The Liliput is the one that gets posted most often unless I’m writing just a few words. The one I decided really to never ever post is my Platinum 3776 Karakusa (my most expensive pen) for fear of damaging the hand-incised all-over design. On the other hand, I like that the TWSBI Mini and my Opus88 Fantasias, which I use for urban sketching, have screw-on posting so the caps are safe from loss when outside. I’ve noticed my new Opus 88 Mini is a short pen that doesn’t post so would not be suitable for large hands.
The first (and so far, the only) pen I scratched by posting was a beautiful SAILOR Pro Color 500 Sakura. The scratches are only visible up close, but one can certainly feel them. Lesson learned. :(
Yes, truly, there is that lingering regret. I try to let it go. It’s all part of the process. Enjoy your things while you have them. Wish you all the best.
My attitude is the same as yours although I evolved from the strictly no-posting camp. I couldn't have explained my thought process so eloquently or entertainingly though. By the way, I ordered a Botega journal ( gave you a mention and Niccolo replied that he was happy that I'd seen your video ).
I don’t post any of mine. I don’t even post my Kaweco sport. Perhaps it because most of pens can’t be posted so I don’t post those that should? I also really enjoy seeing the cap while I am writing. When I can’t set the cap down I tend to hold it. Perhaps, I give posting a try.
Nice, thought provoking video, Hemingway. Well, I grew up using really cheap, and really poorly manufactured Indian fountain pens. So, like I saw the adults around me doing, I learned to post my pens. Now, I live in the USA, and have access to some very high quality pens, but, old habits die hard, and I find myself posting each and every one of my pens. Expensive pens, like the MB 149 fp, or the relatively inexpensive Lamy Safari and the Al-Star fps. I am not too concerned about my pens being scratched during use, because, after all, fps are tools that are meant to be used. Also, I dont have any pens that are made of materials that could scratch or the finish could be damaged during use. So, I still continue to post the pens I own. However, if I use fps that belong to friends or co-workers, I make it a poing to set the cap down, and write with the pen unposted. Thanks, HJ, thanks for a eally thought provoking video.
Thank you very much, My Friend. That all makes sense. I rather like the Indian fountain pens on the market now. They have a unique charm. Have a wonderful weekend.
@@HemingwayJones - Thanks, mere dost!!! ( Mere Dost means My friend in the Hindi and Urdu languages). THe Indian pens we used as children were not like the Ranga Pens or ASA Pens that are very popular among pen afficianados in the USA and Canada. What we had were very cheap, very poorly manufactured out of very poor quality materials, which meant they were very, very bad pens. Bad, bad pens, I still wonder how we managed to even write with those crappy pens!!!:):):)
98% of the time I post. There's only 2 pens in my collection that I don't post, a TWSBI Vac700R and a Lamy Al-Star. The TWSBI doesn't allow you to post anyways (at least not securely), and the Lamy just feels better un-posted to the point where I deal with having to keep a hold of the loose cap. But any of my other pens I post. Even my most expensive pens ($150-$200) get posted. It just makes me feel more secure knowing where the cap is at all times and my hand rarely ever feel the difference because I prefer lighter weight pens anyways. I even post a TWSBI Eco which a lot of people don't like posted.
I never post my pens. I did in a distant past, but I gave up the practice as a too cumbersome and erratic (results) habit. I acquired a few dozens of really expensive pens in the last decades before retiring. I also made the decision that I would damn well use these pens before I died. So I used them as my office pens. And only a couple of them will post well. I don't want my spinal column to automatically do things which are not always good to do. I must say I have never missed having my pen posted. Besides not fitting well or securely, some pens are prone to wear and damage to threads or bayonet. I don't suffer, because I don't like the Kaweco Sport enough to use it anyway. 😜 Sorry guys. I once ruined a Parker Urban (affordable) by dropping the cap in the workshop. It played a part, but I think I would have quit posting anyway. The main thing that incident taught me was to bring Jinhaos to take out into the workshop. And yeah, the Pelikans are great. 😁
I can't imagine posting my Vac 700R, it's so long and back-weighted! The only pen that I find myself wanting to post is my platinum #3776 just to give it a little more weight and substance.
Hi Hemingway! Just had to comment on this one, as I started out as one of those folks who MUST post a pen. Now, though I have a few pens that WON'T post and it's hard to convert! But as long as the pen is long enough to write with I can get along. I also have one or two, where the balance and overall weight is too much with the cap posted, which also is a factor. Trying to get over the MUST POST philosophy, at least for some pens. But it's kind of like driving a car with only half a steering wheel! Just doesn't feel right.
Hi Hemingway. I see no reason to post my pens. I don't have the hands of a giant! Most pens are a snug fit and feel comfortable. The only exception, as you said, would be 'pocket' pens. They really must be posted. Of course I do own some vintage pens and can see some minor scuff marks as a result of posting. Again, this doesn't bother me. It's all part of the history and character of vintage pens. Who knows what stories they could tell.
I post all the time, I'm disappointed by ones I've come across that can't. But i dont have any fancy pens, just nice ones. I'm more worried I'll drop the cap and stand on it or lose it!
I never post my pens mainly because it backweights them, makes them look too long to me and can mar the finish somewhat. I would only do it if I had pens that absolutely required it, which at the moment, I don't.
I wouldn't recommend posting a lamy safari because i think it would give scratches to the pen. I also use one safari and its still working very good without posting
I never post my pens...I don't know..it just feels weird to me...I always just hold the cap in my other hand...always have sense I could hold a pen. I try to post sometimes to see how the other side lives...but nope..not for me.
I think that posting is so obviously ridiculous (for anything other than pocket pens) that I won't even address that ... but ... Protip: When you lend a fountain pen to someone, hand them the pen + retain the cap; odds that they'll return the pen improve by several orders of magnitude when they realise that they've an uncapped pen that's become a liability once they're finished writing ...
Also, it stops the person who's borrowing your pen from scratching it by posting the bloody cap ... and eliminates any possible confusion about whether to post / not.
I’ve always instinctively and absolutely detested posting pens. To me, it is one of the cringiest sights on pen channels or in real life to see anybody reflexively post their pens. Reverse writing is another abomination to my eyes. The only few pens that I reluctantly post are my pocket pens because I’m forced to do so. The Kaweco Sport, Schon DSGN and the Pilot E95s as you aptly showed here. The Lilliput, too. I post NONE of my other pens, even the smallish ones. Losing the cap is never a worry. At home, the cap is always on my writing desk within sight. When outside the home, I instinctively grasp the cap in my left hand while using my pen. Simple as that. I quite enjoy when certain pens cannot be posted anyway. And many users carp about that and say that’s a disappointment or a deal-breaker for them. So, luckily, ability to post is never a concern of mine when I’m looking at pens I want to buy. I wish many habitual posters would show some mercy to their vintage pens, and spare their vintage Sheaffer pens, for example, from the compulsive abuse of jamming the cap on the back of the pen. Btw, Hemingway, one of your own habits strike me as particularly odd, i.e. sitting and writing with a fountain pen with the pad or book on your knee. I couldn’t think of writing anything important or for long, or even properly, in that position. But we pen people are a quirky crowd, I know. 😀
Quirky indeed! It’s my habit of writing anywhere. Also, living in cities as I have previously, I wrote on trains, taxis, ferries, pubs, It’s all about doing when and where I can. Great comment, thank you!
@@technoraptor7778 ..It is second nature to me by now to have the cap securely in my other hand when writing with my pens. Or like I said, when at home, to alternately put the cap on the desk and in sight, never fearing it would be lost. Caps have no business being stuck to the end of pens. So ugly and unnecessary, (to me).
I’m a Pen Poster 💪🏽😤! Sorry if a fountain pen doesn’t post I ignore it, forget the scratches! I’m 6’3 ft tall with bear hands and I need my MontBlanc 149 or Montegrappa to giantly post and show its presence, same with my watches 42mm - 45mm in sports pieces 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💥 ( 🤭 also I’ll lose the cap with my distracted self lol)
Hello Frank V! Nice! I was for a long time too. Now for me it’s more about balance. I am 6’2” so I can appreciate your dimensions. Plus, I have an affinity for larger sports watches too! BB41 as big? Really!? Thanks for watching and for the great comment!
@@HemingwayJones BB41 is chunky but not wide, the proportions are kidda off, I would also really prefer any Omega or Breitling or even a cheap Seiko over Tudor if I’m on a budget, I never like the brand for some reason, I rather pay extra and get Rolex.
Hello HJ. Just watched this video about posting your pen. My collection is nowhere near the size of yours but I have been leaving my pens unposted. As long as the pen fits my hand well, it remains capless. In this video, you mentioned that you don't need a fountain pen. I know that you were of course kidding but what a sad world it would be to not have them. They have become a part of my life and in a small way, define me as a person.
I agree completely! I generally don’t post pens now, with many exceptions of course. I need to rewatch this one! Thanks!
What a lovely handwriting font
You make a lovely point about the connection between our thoughts, emotional states, and our handwriting.
Thank you very much!
"Use but don't abuse" is wise. There is definitely something lost when one is too protective. That said, I don't post. I did when I used unrefined tools, but no more. Except, of course, when I do.
I post my Opus 88 Fantasia and my TWSBI Vac Mini. Both have threads for posting. There's an engineered interface, not just friction.
On the other hand, both those pens are long enough to touch my first knuckle while I'm writing. I don't feel a need to post them for quick notes.
Always a nice break in the day when your videos premier. Please keep 'em coming!
Thank you, Johnny! I'm glad you enjoy my videos! Don't worry, I am not going anywhere and already have videos cached until mid September!
Hi. Thank you for this subject, it was very enjoyable and thought provoking.🤗 Cheers.
Thank you!
I've been ready for a video all week! No posting with the exception of my new Kaweco Sport. I asked you about that pen during the last live and you did recommended it. Well, my friend, you were absolutely correct about the nib! It's mind boggling how incredible that nib is! The medium is the perfect width and it just glides across the paper. Other than that, NO POSTING! 😂
I am so glad you like that pen. It is a favorite! All of their nibs are impressive. So glad you’re happy! Thanks!
I'm new to the world of fountain pens and currently only have my Parker IM, which I post. Basically, it never occurred to me not to (told you I was new to this...).
However, after watching this video I tried writing without posting. I have to say, it just feels wrong.
I'm looking to start a small collection of pens and will try them all, posted and unposted as I accrue them.
Great video!
Thanks so much, Ian! I am very glad to have you here. I love that my video gave you some new perspective. That is what it is all about as we take this journey together. Stop by again soon.
I would never post unless it was intrinsic to the pens design (Kaweco sport) my MB 149 is perfectly balanced without being posted and I prefer setting the cap beside my writing pad. Love seeing all the opinions on this!
Thanks Barry! It is fun reading everyone's takes, isn't it? Stop by again soon.
I determine posting on a pen-by-pen basis. Certainly some, like my Kaweco Brass Sport, must be posted. Others, like my Pilot Custom Urushi or Visconti Homo Sapiens, are too big and unbalanced when posted - also, in the case of the Urushi, I wouldn't want to risk damaging the urushi lacquer. I do post my Pilot 823 because it's very light and the cap adds balance; also, I'm not worried about damaging the material of the 823. I have a heavy, all-silver Montblanc 146 that I never post because the cap is far too heavy. So, totally depends on the pen with me.
I'd love to see that 146! I have a 146 arriving tomorrow. It's special, a Grail for me. Plus... There will be a video! Thanks for the great comment.
@@HemingwayJones I'd post a picture for you, if it were an option here! The MB146 is a nice, comfortable size. I do want an MB149 one day, and your Egyptomania video has me drooling for one of those also! I love the vintage vibe of that pen.
@@michaeldavis4969 I cannot wait for my 146 to arrive. It is hung up in Customs. I wish you could post photos here. It would be educational. Spammers ruin it for everyone.
I used to prefer posting and would actually consider whether or not the cap posted when deciding to purchase, but now that i own several pens that don't post (or don't post well), I have come around! Like you, it really depends on the pen itself! You made some very good points in this video!
It’s definitely a process. We are all evolving, My Friend.
Amazing and interesting video as always!
I would say I'm kind of 50/50 with posting my pens. I always try posting it and not posting it. From there on I just pick the most balanced and best feeling option for that certain pen.
That is a fantastic, balanced, and diplomatic position! Thank you for the kind words!
I used to be like you when I posted nearly every pen I owned, which is now over 100 pens. Therefore, I will not bother you with all the details for each of them. However, I've since become more selective and only post those that require it, like extremely lightweight or shorter-barreled pens (Lamy, Kaweco, and others). Many oversize pens are simply too long when posted (e.g., Pilot Custom Urushi) or perhaps too heavy because of the materials used in their construction: e.g., sterling silver, brass, or other metals (Yard-O-Led, some Watermans, and others). Or, perhaps they are rare and expensive, and posting them might cause scratches or crack their caps, in which case I do not post them. With those exceptions I have mentioned, I still prefer posting in most cases and will always do so if it seems practical at the time because I have relatively huge "paws." Thanks for the great video.
Thanks so much for the kind words and great points.
Hello Doctor Jones! Im a fairly recent subscriber to your channel and quite enjoy your content. Its a quandry, this posting issue; i have fretted over it on multiple occasions and im relieved that I am not the only one wrestling with th e question.
I am firmly entrenched in the posting ritual by default, and also as a reflexive aesthetic preference. Undoubtedly, the particular pen in use in each unique situation is a factor, but i have a generalized fear of dropping, losing or breaking an unattended cap. It drives me to distraction to see it laying there: awkward, helpless, unsupervised and in a persistent state of mortal danger. Its usually more than i can handle, and i wind up recapping it, damned be the outcome!
But your arguments to the contrary are sound and I cannot reasonably argue against them. I suppose i have to work on my phobias.
Thanks for the entertaining post, and until next time, cheers!
Hello and welcome to the channel! Thanks for subscribing! I hope you contribute more to my comments.This is great! Thanks!
I have more than 20 FP ́s and only 2 of these I post the cap. Pilot Metropolitan and Kaweco Sport. Great work, thanks for you dedication.
Thank you for watching! I appreciate it very much.
Pocket pens were meant for posting, designed for this. Balance is definitely the factor for posting. I use my leather strap of my watch as a place for the pen cap for portability when I write unposted.
That is a brilliant way of doing it. thanks!
It totally depends on the pen. The Pilot Custom 823 is a good example of this. The cap is 10g on it's own and that kind of back weight can really put some stress on your wrist if you have any form of carpal tunnel.
That is a very good point. I am moving more and more away from posting, in most cases. But not all! All the best.
For years I used very cheap fountain pens whose caps frequently cracked, so I got into the habit of never posting. I always post my Brass Kaweco Sport, of course, and I'm very tempted with the M200, since it posts so well unlike most piston fillers. I sometimes find myself posting my Lamy Safari without realising - I've no idea why!
That M200 is such a sticky cap too!
I agree, I never post the TWSBI Vac 700. It just makes it too back heavy. Other pens are made to post. The Waterman has a snap post and the TWSBI Mini has a screw post. TWSBI added two rubber gaskets to the piston knob on the Classic to allow posting. I used to own a Sailor 1911 that I always posted because it had better balance. The Moonman T1 can be posted but you have to be careful since, like the TWSBI Classic, they post on the piston knob and can be bumped and cause ink burp. Not a pleasant experience and can be embarrassing if I'm in public. I mean, what would other pen aficionados think if they saw that?!
We must always be on guard. Thanks for the insightful comment.
I usually don’t post unless it’s a pocket pen. I don’t have very big hands and the extra weight bothers my wrist. Many times I find myself holding the cap in my left hand while writing with my right hand. Just makes it easier to quickly re-cap or cover the nib to prevent drying between words/sentences.
That all makes sense. Thanks!
I’m afraid to post any pen because of the wear potential. I try to buy pens that are comfortable fo me unposted. I like the look of your M600. My first Pelikan was an M800, which I love just got an M1000 and it is a great pen!
Those are some great pens, My Friend! Pelikan pens are brilliant.
Definitely a non-poster personally, except when I have to, such as the Kaweco Sport. Having said that, in my "fountain pen journey" I have gradually been moving towards larger pens, such as the Pilot Custom 823, and consequently my Pelikan M200 and M600 are beginning to feel skinny and short. So at present I occasionally post them, and I suspect it will feel increasingly natural to so, despite my innate aversion to posting, out of habit, because it often whacks them out of balance, and because it marks the pens
Hi Simon, so it's all about balance with you. I think that is the perfect place to draw the line. Thanks for the great contribution.
Good topic, Hemmingway. The only pen of mine that requires posting is the Kaweco Sport. Otherwise, I do not post. I worry about the scratching. Thanks for another enjoyable conversation.
Thanks Brian! Great point, My Friend.
Newbie here..... a think a good video would be a comparison on entry level (blue collar budget) fountain pens, and what pens would be "good" for everyday work. Things to consider would be; if a pen can be posted (or if it's design to be posted) for better or longer time of use, nib quality (depending on the demands for a particular reason), material qualities (and posible vulnerabilities), writing stile or were the person is going to use the pen (ex. cop writing a ticket, note taking on a construction site, open fields note taking, etc). I would like to mention that a there's a los of interest in this subjects, but people think that fountains pens are exclusive for measure use and for the white collar.... I am trying to open my mind on all of this. Just got my Esterbrook matte Raven. 😁
The Raven is a very nice pen! This is a great idea. Thank you!
I am an always poster.
I only buy pens that post. A pen does not feel complete to me unless it is posted. Marking the body of the pen does not bother me. Writing with a shorter, lighter pen bothers me more.
If a pen does not post securely, it does not stay in my collection.
Hi Larry, I cannot take issue. I was the same way until fairly recently, but then there are some pens that are so awesome that you cannot post. It's a predicament! All the best, My Friend.
Thanks again Hemigway Jones for yet another episode in the fountain pen user evolution.
I'll post the cap when the fountain pen lends itself to it, by that I mean and as you also mentioned in your explanation, for example: the Kaweco liliput, AL sport and the Pilot 95 e these have to be used that way otherwise you can't write with them or difficult.
I will use these fountain pens posted.
My other fountain pens that are long enough are never posted and I like that, especially since they are pleasant to use in this way. And that way they stay in good condition for a little longer (without scratches). Well that's what I think about it. Of course every fountain pen user has his preferences. Posted or not, do what makes you feel good and comfortable.
But the fact is with this video we are informed when we post a fountain pen that you might damage the body of the fountain pen after posting frequently.
Thanks Patrick! It’s always a pleasure hearing from you.
To each their own !!
Even though I can write with Liliput / Kaweco Sport / E95S without posting, I’d like to post the pens when possible.. I feel that I get a complete Fountain pen experience only with posting !!
Only pens I don’t post even though posting is possible are heavy pens like Sheaffer 300..
Only pens I can’t use without posting are ultra short ‘Gama Mini’ pens from India..
That all makes sense, My Friend.
I've concluded that among my assortment of nine pens, posting only is necessary if and when it enhances the writing experience. For example, my Pilot Custom 823 and Custom 74, and Diplomat Aero do not benefit from posting. My Lamy 2000 does because I was taught a trick of aligning the clip with the sweet spot on the hooded nib to encourage me to hold it at the correct "rotation." The Sailor Pro Gear benefits from posting because it is such a lightweight and feels a tad short absent it. The Opus 88 will not post and the Lamy Dialog CC has no cap. I debate about the FPR Himalaya. Its cap seems "cheap" with a metal band, I fear might mar the ebonite. though I've no proof it scrapes.
All excellent points. I especially like your Lamy 2000 trick. We done.
I post the cap on most of my pens, unless it feels quite awkward. I won't post my TWSBI Vac 700R for instance. It is already quite long, and also I do not think the cap is very secure back there (I do not think however that there is any air exchange going on at the back of the pen. You unscrew it to "unpush" the stopper valve)
Truly. Thanks.
Very interesting video. I've been very much enjoying watching your videos, you have great content and a lovely calming presence and voice. I don't post my pens unless I have to (Kaweco Brass Sport...and my one doesn't have a clip). I love the feel of the smooth body of a fountain pen in my hand, but the possibility of the clip touching my hand when I write, or feeling the edge of the lid gives me the heebie jeebies somehow and it spoils the experience. I know you turn the clip so it faces away but it's THERE. I think it must be a sensory issue.
Thanks very much for the kind comments on my presentation style. I appreciate. I am so glad you are enjoying my channel. Thanks for the great perspective too!
I post all my pens, and hate the feeling and sight of an unposted pen. An upostable pen is a definite deal breaker. I agree with you however about vac fillers being unposted. My Penbbs 456 I do keep unposted, although I rarely use it anymore for various reasons of "meh".
Hello, My Friend, Sounds like you have a very common sense approach to this. Stop by again soon.
I never post, but I don’t own any of the posting-essential pens like Pilot E95. I enjoy your channel!
Thank you, Bob! I appreciate it! Thanks for stopping by and keep in touch.
To post or not to post.. that is the question. Aside from the pens that simply do not post, I feel that posting is a subjective topic. I have larger hands but post very few of my pens (I even love the feel of my Kaweco iridescent pearl unposted as it feels so small and magical from hand to paper!) Now that I have wandered down the curious rabbit hole of fountain pens again (following a long break from my calligraphy studies) it seems that it is entirely personal relating how you write and hold your pen… it’s my pen and I’ll post if I want to 😊
Thank you for the wonderful comment. I always appreciate a good Shakespeare allusion. I love that iridescent pearl Kaweco too. Stop by again soon.
I would post certain pens personally, Hemmingway. It depends if it balances. Montblancs post quite deeply and so it causes no practical problems. Another favourite brand of mine, Graf von Faber-Castell (and indeed the Faber-Castells too) will never be posted in my collection. They are shallow posters and become ridiculously long and top-heavy. That's despite the fact those pens ARE meant to be posted
Hello E! Great points and great perspective.
There is one pen I have to post ! The pelikan m200 (Golden Beryl ). It writes superb ( steel B nib ) but it is a little too short for my hand unposted . My hands are relatively large due to working with them for 40+ years . I guess hand size does matter ! Great music ( Wagner ) !
Thank you for staying until the end! I wonder if anyone sees those classical music endings of mine. All the best!
I personally never post, that's also why I don't use pocket pens (I have Kaweco Sport, but I don't know why I bought them anyway, I only use the Elite/Dia2). Thanks for the video, it is a good descourse and makes me think why I don't post.
The Dia2 and Elite are easily still Kaweco’s two best pens. In my opinion anyway.
Sometimes you get curious. Curiosity is the reason I buy most pens.
Buen tema. Buen video. Para mi el balance que resulta de colocar la tapa en la estilográfica al momento de escribir es lo que define el sentimiento de necesidad de hacerlo o no. Tengo algunas plumas que no uso porque requerirían que la tapa se colocara PERO el hacerlo significaría rallar el cuerpo de la pluma y en ese caso son plumas que rara vez uso, porque sin la tapa no son cómodas y colocar la tapa significaría dañarlas. Son temas que ahora se ven como definitivos al momento de comprar una estilográfica, pero hace 40 años que iniciamos esta travesía eran temas que no se publicaban y había que aprenderlos en el camino. Saludos desde Medellín, Colombia.
¡Muchos gracias!
Estoy tan contenta de que hayas disfrutado el video. Es mejor que todos compartamos lo que sabemos para que todos aprendamos más juntos. Gracias por visitar mi canal y vuelve pronto.
I hardly ever post. My hands are small enough that I don’t need to post my Kaweco Sport. The Liliput is the one that gets
posted most often unless I’m writing just a few words. The one I decided really to never ever post is my Platinum 3776 Karakusa (my most expensive pen) for fear of damaging the hand-incised all-over design. On the other hand, I like that the TWSBI Mini and my Opus88 Fantasias, which I use for urban sketching, have screw-on posting so the caps are safe from loss when outside. I’ve noticed my new Opus 88 Mini is a short pen that doesn’t post so would not be suitable for large hands.
I know the feeling on posting the Platinum. Thanks for the great comment .
The first (and so far, the only) pen I scratched by posting was a beautiful SAILOR Pro Color 500 Sakura. The scratches are only visible up close, but one can certainly feel them. Lesson learned. :(
Yes, truly, there is that lingering regret. I try to let it go. It’s all part of the process. Enjoy your things while you have them. Wish you all the best.
My attitude is the same as yours although I evolved from the strictly no-posting camp. I couldn't have explained my thought process so eloquently or entertainingly though. By the way, I ordered a Botega journal ( gave you a mention and Niccolo replied that he was happy that I'd seen your video ).
Wonderful purchase! Let me know what you think of it. They are so magical. Wish you all the best with it. Check back when it arrives.
I don’t post any of mine. I don’t even post my Kaweco sport. Perhaps it because most of pens can’t be posted so I don’t post those that should? I also really enjoy seeing the cap while I am writing. When I can’t set the cap down I tend to hold it. Perhaps, I give posting a try.
Thanks for watching!
Nice, thought provoking video, Hemingway. Well, I grew up using really cheap, and really poorly manufactured Indian fountain pens. So, like I saw the adults around me doing, I learned to post my pens. Now, I live in the USA, and have access to some very high quality pens, but, old habits die hard, and I find myself posting each and every one of my pens. Expensive pens, like the MB 149 fp, or the relatively inexpensive Lamy Safari and the Al-Star fps. I am not too concerned about my pens being scratched during use, because, after all, fps are tools that are meant to be used. Also, I dont have any pens that are made of materials that could scratch or the finish could be damaged during use. So, I still continue to post the pens I own.
However, if I use fps that belong to friends or co-workers, I make it a poing to set the cap down, and write with the pen unposted.
Thanks, HJ, thanks for a eally thought provoking video.
Thank you very much, My Friend. That all makes sense. I rather like the Indian fountain pens on the market now. They have a unique charm. Have a wonderful weekend.
@@HemingwayJones - Thanks, mere dost!!! ( Mere Dost means My friend in the Hindi and Urdu languages). THe Indian pens we used as children were not like the Ranga Pens or ASA Pens that are very popular among pen afficianados in the USA and Canada. What we had were very cheap, very poorly manufactured out of very poor quality materials, which meant they were very, very bad pens. Bad, bad pens, I still wonder how we managed to even write with those crappy pens!!!:):):)
@@Wolverine3660 I understand, Mere Dost! I think you will like my upcoming FPR unboxing and review! September 15th for that one.
98% of the time I post. There's only 2 pens in my collection that I don't post, a TWSBI Vac700R and a Lamy Al-Star. The TWSBI doesn't allow you to post anyways (at least not securely), and the Lamy just feels better un-posted to the point where I deal with having to keep a hold of the loose cap. But any of my other pens I post. Even my most expensive pens ($150-$200) get posted. It just makes me feel more secure knowing where the cap is at all times and my hand rarely ever feel the difference because I prefer lighter weight pens anyways. I even post a TWSBI Eco which a lot of people don't like posted.
Thanks for the great comment. Stop by again soon.
I never post my pens. I did in a distant past, but I gave up the practice as a too cumbersome and erratic (results) habit. I acquired a few dozens of really expensive pens in the last decades before retiring. I also made the decision that I would damn well use these pens before I died. So I used them as my office pens. And only a couple of them will post well. I don't want my spinal column to automatically do things which are not always good to do. I must say I have never missed having my pen posted. Besides not fitting well or securely, some pens are prone to wear and damage to threads or bayonet. I don't suffer, because I don't like the Kaweco Sport enough to use it anyway. 😜 Sorry guys.
I once ruined a Parker Urban (affordable) by dropping the cap in the workshop. It played a part, but I think I would have quit posting anyway. The main thing that incident taught me was to bring Jinhaos to take out into the workshop.
And yeah, the Pelikans are great. 😁
Great comment and full of a lot of wisdom! Keep an eye on your caps, ladies and gentlemen!
I can't imagine posting my Vac 700R, it's so long and back-weighted! The only pen that I find myself wanting to post is my platinum #3776 just to give it a little more weight and substance.
That Vac has presence!
@@HemingwayJones That's one word for it!
Hi Hemingway! Just had to comment on this one, as I started out as one of those folks who MUST post a pen. Now, though I have a few pens that WON'T post and it's hard to convert! But as long as the pen is long enough to write with I can get along. I also have one or two, where the balance and overall weight is too much with the cap posted, which also is a factor. Trying to get over the MUST POST philosophy, at least for some pens. But it's kind of like driving a car with only half a steering wheel! Just doesn't feel right.
There definitely is an evolution there. Thanks for watching.
Hi Hemingway. I see no reason to post my pens. I don't have the hands of a giant! Most pens are a snug fit and feel comfortable. The only exception, as you said, would be 'pocket' pens. They really must be posted. Of course I do own some vintage pens and can see some minor scuff marks as a result of posting. Again, this doesn't bother me. It's all part of the history and character of vintage pens. Who knows what stories they could tell.
Exactly! It is the wear that an item becomes ours and our history is impressed upon it. I think you have a very sensible approach to this.
I post all the time, I'm disappointed by ones I've come across that can't. But i dont have any fancy pens, just nice ones. I'm more worried I'll drop the cap and stand on it or lose it!
Very good point. I would only buy post-able pens myself for a long time.
Only if it's a pocket pen. Can't understand how someone can lose their pen cap, considering that the ink will dry in short order.
They do ave a habit of bounding away.
😊 Hello, there, my friend! Taking a short break to watch...
Thank you!
I never post my pens mainly because it backweights them, makes them look too long to me and can mar the finish somewhat. I would only do it if I had pens that absolutely required it, which at the moment, I don't.
I can’t argue with you, My Friend. Very good point.
I wouldn't recommend posting a lamy safari because i think it would give scratches to the pen. I also use one safari and its still working very good without posting
What type of nib where you using on your yellow Lamy fountain pen? 😊
That is their calligraphy nib; a 1.1mm stub pulled off of a Lamy Joy. Thanks!
I never post my pens...I don't know..it just feels weird to me...I always just hold the cap in my other hand...always have sense I could hold a pen. I try to post sometimes to see how the other side lives...but nope..not for me.
I am moving over to your side.
Mooaahahaaahaa
I also have small hands..so I don't even post my kaweco sports..but I do find that they are balanced if I needed to.
I think that posting is so obviously ridiculous (for anything other than pocket pens) that I won't even address that ... but ... Protip: When you lend a fountain pen to someone, hand them the pen + retain the cap; odds that they'll return the pen improve by several orders of magnitude when they realise that they've an uncapped pen that's become a liability once they're finished writing ...
Also, it stops the person who's borrowing your pen from scratching it by posting the bloody cap ... and eliminates any possible confusion about whether to post / not.
This is funny and a great strategy. Well done! Of course, I don’t lend my pens at all, even to other enthusiasts, but still, excellent comment.
I post the pens that post easily and securely, but several of my pens don't post and that's ok too.
That’s sensible. Thanks for watching.
I can never decide whether to post my pen or not lol.
The struggle is real!
I’ve always instinctively and absolutely detested posting pens. To me, it is one of the cringiest sights on pen channels or in real life to see anybody reflexively post their pens. Reverse writing is another abomination to my eyes.
The only few pens that I reluctantly post are my pocket pens because I’m forced to do so. The Kaweco Sport, Schon DSGN and the Pilot E95s as you aptly showed here. The Lilliput, too. I post NONE of my other pens, even the smallish ones. Losing the cap is never a worry. At home, the cap is always on my writing desk within sight. When outside the home, I instinctively grasp the cap in my left hand while using my pen. Simple as that.
I quite enjoy when certain pens cannot be posted anyway. And many users carp about that and say that’s a disappointment or a deal-breaker for them. So, luckily, ability to post is never a concern of mine when I’m looking at pens I want to buy.
I wish many habitual posters would show some mercy to their vintage pens, and spare their vintage Sheaffer pens, for example, from the compulsive abuse of jamming the cap on the back of the pen.
Btw, Hemingway, one of your own habits strike me as particularly odd, i.e. sitting and writing with a fountain pen with the pad or book on your knee. I couldn’t think of writing anything important or for long, or even properly, in that position. But we pen people are a quirky crowd, I know. 😀
Quirky indeed! It’s my habit of writing anywhere. Also, living in cities as I have previously, I wrote on trains, taxis, ferries, pubs, It’s all about doing when and where I can. Great comment, thank you!
Yes! Isn't it nice to just hold the cap in the other hand? It's like a mini comfort. I like being a pen person.
@@technoraptor7778 ..It is second nature to me by now to have the cap securely in my other hand when writing with my pens. Or like I said, when at home, to alternately put the cap on the desk and in sight, never fearing it would be lost. Caps have no business being stuck to the end of pens. So ugly and unnecessary, (to me).
@@sajjadhusain4146 here here 🍺
@@technoraptor7778 ..Ha, it’s the truth, bud! Cheers to that! 🍷
I’m in your camp: I used to post always, now I post only when appropriate or required.
I think it’s a sensible approach.
I only post pocket pens (I have 2: Sailor and Platinum). Other than that, I never post my pens.
Good plan!
I don't post bc I don't want to scratch them up. I have some that don't anyway.
Good Point
What’s your opinion on posting sailor pro gear
I don't have one. Generally, if it is an inexpensive pen, if it won't hurt it in any way, if it doesn't throw off the balance, then it's fine.
My ocd won’t allow me to post and risk possibly scratching a perfect pen.
I can respect that completely.
@@HemingwayJones The one exception being my Monteverde Regatta Sport because it has the magnetic cap
I’m a Pen Poster 💪🏽😤! Sorry if a fountain pen doesn’t post I ignore it, forget the scratches! I’m 6’3 ft tall with bear hands and I need my MontBlanc 149 or Montegrappa to giantly post and show its presence, same with my watches 42mm - 45mm in sports pieces 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💥 ( 🤭 also I’ll lose the cap with my distracted self lol)
Hello Frank V! Nice! I was for a long time too. Now for me it’s more about balance. I am 6’2” so I can appreciate your dimensions. Plus, I have an affinity for larger sports watches too! BB41 as big? Really!? Thanks for watching and for the great comment!
@@HemingwayJones BB41 is chunky but not wide, the proportions are kidda off, I would also really prefer any Omega or Breitling or even a cheap Seiko over Tudor if I’m on a budget, I never like the brand for some reason, I rather pay extra and get Rolex.
I unpost my pens until this video
It’s all about what works for you. Enjoy and thanks for watching.
I like to post
The answer is no.
I need to watch this again. I don’t even remember what I thought at the time.
I post my pens
I did for years too. Except for the ones you can’t.
😱