Do I need a converter, or can I just use cartridges?

Cartridges are fine to start and are the most convenient option for travel. But a converter lets you use any bottled ink, which is cheaper per milliliter and gives you thousands of color choices. Most beginner pens ship with a cartridge; a converter usually costs $5-8 extra. Check that the converter matches your pen's filling standard (proprietary, standard international, etc.).

Why does my fountain pen ink bleed through cheap paper?

Fountain pen ink is water-based and sits wetter than a gel or ballpoint. Standard 75-80gsm office copy paper and most US-brand notebooks let it feather and bleed. Switch to fountain-pen-friendly paper (Rhodia, Tomoe River, Leuchtturm1917) and the problem usually disappears. A finer nib and drier ink also reduce bleed-through.

Can I fly with a fountain pen?

Yes. Pressure changes can push ink out of a partially filled pen, so either fill it completely full or empty it before flying. Carry the pen nib-up in your pocket or bag, and prime it by writing a line before takeoff. Fully inked or fully empty are the two safe states.

By the Fountain Pen Ink Finder Editorial Team · 4 min read

Fountain pens and inks: the complete beginner's guide

Fountain pens look intimidating from the outside, but the hobby is far more approachable than the marble-and-gold marketing suggests. You can be writing smoothly with a reliable pen and bottled ink for under $30. This guide skips the mystique and gives you exact recommendations, the how-to on refilling, and the pitfalls that trip up most newcomers.

The best fountain pen for beginners

You want a pen that writes reliably out of the box, survives being dropped, and doesn't punish you for buying it. Three pens dominate first-purchase recommendations for good reason.

Under $20

Pilot Metropolitan (~$18): Metal body, tight tolerances, comes with both a cartridge and a squeeze converter. A medium nib that writes finer than European mediums.
Platinum Preppy (~$5): Plastic, disposable-feeling, but the nib is genuinely excellent. The cheapest way to find out if you like the hobby at all.

$20 to $40

Lamy Safari (~$30): The default beginner recommendation. Durable ABS plastic, a triangular grip that trains your fingers, and swappable nibs. Ships without a converter, so budget for the Lamy Z28 converter.
TWSBI ECO (~$35): A piston-filler that holds a huge ink reservoir and lets you watch the ink level through a clear barrel. No converter needed.

Start with a fine or medium nib. Extra-fine nibs feel scratchy to new users, and broad nibs need more paper cooperation.

Choosing the best fountain pen ink for note taking

Note-taking ink has different priorities than showpiece ink. You want fast drying (so you don't smear), good behavior on mediocre paper, and enough contrast to photograph or scan cleanly.

Pilot Iroshizuku Take-sumi: A dense, near-black that dries quickly and looks sharp in scans.
Diamine Blue-Black: Cheap, well-behaved, and less harsh than pure black for long sessions.
Sailor Kiwaguro (pigmented black): Fast-drying and permanent; excellent if you're left-handed or write in a hurry.

Avoid highly saturated, slow-drying inks like Noodler's Baystate Blue for daily notes; they smear and stain. If you scan documents, high-contrast black or blue-black beats decorative shading inks every time.

Fountain pen converter guide

A converter is a refillable reservoir that replaces a disposable cartridge. There are three types you'll meet:

The three converter styles

Piston/screw converter: Twist the knob to draw ink up. Most common and the easiest to control (Lamy Z28, Pilot CON-70).
Squeeze converter: A rubber sac you press. Cheaper, lower capacity, common in budget pens.
Piston-filler pen: No converter at all; the whole pen barrel is the reservoir (TWSBI, Pelikan).

How to fill a converter

Dip the nib fully into the ink so the breather hole is submerged.
Twist the converter knob to expel air, then twist back to draw ink up.
Twist out a drop or two back into the bottle to clear air bubbles.
Wipe the nib and section with a paper towel or a damp cloth.

Compatibility matters: a converter must match your pen's filling standard. Pilot, Lamy, and Sailor all use proprietary fittings, so buy the converter made for your brand.

The best notebook for fountain pens

Paper is where most beginners get burned. Standard copy paper feathers and bleeds. Fountain-pen-friendly paper is coated or tightly milled so ink sits on top and dries clean.

Rhodia (80gsm): Smooth, bright white, near-bulletproof against bleed-through. The safe default.
Leuchtturm1917: Popular for bullet journaling; handles most inks well, though wetter pens can ghost slightly.
Tomoe River (52gsm): Ultra-thin, shows off shading and sheen beautifully, but slow-drying. A hobbyist favorite.
Midori MD: Cream paper, excellent feathering resistance, no branding on the page.

Avoid Moleskine notebooks for fountain pens; despite their reputation, their paper feathers and bleeds badly with wet inks.

Waterproof fountain pen ink and permanence

Standard fountain pen ink is water-soluble and will smear if your page gets wet. For addressing envelopes, journaling that must last, or professional documents, you want permanent or waterproof ink.

Your permanent options

Pigmented inks (Sailor Kiwaguro, Platinum Carbon Black): Waterproof and archival, but require prompt cleaning so pigment doesn't clog the feed.
Iron-gall inks (Rohrer & Klingner Salix): Water-resistant once dried, with a distinctive darkening effect.
Noodler's "bulletproof" inks: Bond to cellulose and resist water, bleach, and UV.

The trade-off: permanent inks demand more maintenance. Flush the pen every couple of weeks and never let pigmented ink dry out inside the feed.

Quick-start checklist

Buy a Lamy Safari or Pilot Metropolitan with a fine/medium nib.
Add a matching converter if the pen doesn't include one.
Get one bottle of a well-behaved black or blue-black ink.
Use a Rhodia or Leuchtturm1917 notebook.
Flush the pen with cool water when you switch inks.
Store the pen nib-up when not in use.

Takeaway: Spend your money on a reliable pen, good paper, and one sensible ink before chasing colors and vintage barrels. A $30 Safari on Rhodia paper writes better than a $300 pen on copy paper, every time. Nail the fundamentals and the rabbit hole will still be there when you're ready.