I've been using technical pens for a long time which are all right but they need to be replaced every so often which can get pretty costly. When I was looking into refillable pens I tried a Pelikan fountain pen. They're definitely interesting, because of the nib you get a variable line weight, mine's a bit wider than something like a Hunt 512 nib. Looking at the cartridges that the pen uses it looks like I could refill them with an eyedropper or something, I'm told that you shouldn't fill a fountain pen with India ink because the shellac will dry in the pen and clog it. Personally I think I might need a little practice with it but it might be just what I'm looking for. Has anyone else tried inking with a fountain pen before? What'd you think?

I think there were a couple questioned nestled in there!

Looking at the cartridges that the pen uses it looks like I could refill them with an eyedropper or something...

They make refillable cartridges with a plunger that basically sucks the ink up into it. Might be a tad less messy.

I'm told that you shouldn't fill a fountain pen with India ink because the shellac will dry in the pen and clog it.

Yep.

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I've been using one (not the brand you mentioned) as a portable solution to pen & ink. They've been working out pretty well. I have a couple different tips for mine, and they seem to become more flexible with each use, though I don't get nearly the variation than dip nibs (at least without causing some damage). I happen to have a Pentel Pocket Brush that i'm VERY fond of for variable lines on the go, though.

I'm not a big fan of the ink that came with my pen (which I bought the pen, and then well of ink to refill with-- of the same brand). I'm hoping there's an alternative brand out there somewhere because the ink (which, oddly enough, is supposed to be designed for drawing) SUCKS! It smears to touch even after it appears to be try for a good 15 minutes. Its supposedly waterproof, but must take a day to cure (I don't have the patience to actually test it). Since I use it for "on the go" I typically want to finish whatever I'm sketching right there, but the ink will not stand up to watercolor or copics, even hours later.

I'm sure there's better ink out there though-- I love the ink in my Pocket Brush (dry and WP almost instantly), and that never dries up in the bristles, even if I don't use it for weeks. I sure wish my PPB carts fit into my fountain pen. Sheesh. If anyone has some recommendations, I'd love to hear em, cause I know india ink is out of the question.

I have Pelikan "briliant black" for mine, it was what they had at the stationary shop the I bought the pen from, for me it dries reasonably fast but it will smear if you move your hand over it before it dries, which does seem a little longer than India ink. I'm pretty sure it was meant for calligraphy but it seems to work all right for drawing, as long as you're careful. From what I can tell the Pelikan's no replacement for the 512 or crowquill, because like ya said, you do actually have more control over line weight with a dip pen or a brush. Fountain pens seem like a step up from technical pens.

mattchee
I'm sure there's better ink out there though-- I love the ink in my Pocket Brush (dry and WP almost instantly), and that never dries up in the bristles, even if I don't use it for weeks. I sure wish my PPB carts fit into my fountain pen. Sheesh. If anyone has some recommendations, I'd love to hear em, cause I know india ink is out of the question.

The best thing that I can think of is fill the fountain pen cartriges manually. It might be a little messy, sure but it might be worth a try. I guess the ink from the Pocket Brush doesn't come in bottles does it?

That ink only comes in cartridges as far as I am aware...