Anyone familiar with DIP PENS?

[Homercidal]

I just boiled down some walnut ink and I don't have a pen to try it with. I have ZERO knowledge about dip pens, other than a few minutes of reading online, which basically tells me what the different parts are called.

I could probably cut a pen from a quill, if I had a quill, but I don't.

Are there any good recommendations for which brand model to buy for a beginner? I understand they can have different handling characteristics.

I'm looking for a writing pen, or maybe calligraphy.

 

[Zuljin]

Wait a minute. You made ink... for which you have no pen?

 

[Homercidal]

Don't judge me!

 

[bob1852]

Wait a minute. You made ink... for which you have no pen?

That man belongs in the TR!

 

[Homercidal]

Walnut can be used for staining wood too.

Anyway, I bought a Speedball brand set of calligraphy nibs. Cheap enough and it comes with 6 different nibs to try.

Already make homemade paper, so all I have to do now is learn to tan my own leather for a cover, and I can make my own journal from scratch!

HUZZAH!

 

[Zuljin]

Walnut can be used for staining wood too.

Anyway, I bought a Speedball brand set of calligraphy nibs. Cheap enough and it comes with 6 different nibs to try.

Already make homemade paper, so all I have to do now is learn to tan my own leather for a cover, and I can make my own journal from scratch!

HUZZAH!

That man belongs in the TR!

Totally!

 

[BlindPidgeon]

From my experience I can tell you only one thing: practice on cheap copy paper first.

 

[Zepth]

I almost impulse bought a quill and inkwell set online at a store I go to semi-frequently. Thought it would be something cool and unique to use on things like the rare occasions I do write checks. Then I didn't. Might end up being one of those things I always look back on and say to myself "I always wanted to try that." Keep us posted with your progress, it may influence my decision down the road.

 

[boscobeans]

From my experience, back when we got a little cardboard box with a couple of nibs, a wooden pen that held them, a pencil and a ruler, as our grade school supplies, I'm glad they invented the ball point pen.. LOL

Make sure you have a stack of blotters handy or expect to have messy cuffs on your shirts.

My wife has a set of Speedball brand calligraphy nibs and does some very nice work.

bosco

 

[Homercidal]

I did try the ink and a couple of the Speeball pens and it worked ok. I haven't had time to try cooking the ink down any more, and I haven't yet added the gum arabic, which is supposed to help it flow more evenly. The normal writing nib did just fine, and the Walnut ink was a medium brown color, but I hear it will oxidize and turn darker over time.

So now that I have some ink that apparently works ok, I can turn to finding a nice quill and making a quill pen. Looks pretty easy if you have a sharp knife.

 

[aiptasia]

Quill pens will work but you'll have to dip them a lot more than a pen nib with a well tip. I had to write out a scroll for a college art history project and after a little practice, it turned out ok. Any Michaels, Ben Franklins or Joanne Fabric store will have calligraphy pens and supplies. It takes a lot of practice to get your pen strokes down and "unlearn" ballpoint pen maneuvers that you'll be used to. Using quills on an upstroke is verbotten and will send ink smattering across the paper. Brown paper bags work well for practice and are usually cheap and plentiful.

 

[wecone]

If you want to try quills, I'd be happy to send you a selection of turkey or chicken quills from which to try your new art. PM me FMI.


Brew Happy & Hoppy Home Brew!!