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Article: What is fountain pen posting?

What is fountain pen posting?
fountain pen

What is fountain pen posting?

Fountain pen posting? To post or not?

​Even if you've been using a fountain pen for a while, the jargon may still be a little foreign to you. You might have come across the term "posting" or “fountain pen posting” while researching reviews.

Check the same topic below:

fountain pen posting
Fountain Pen with a cap

To Post or Not? When I write with a pen, posting is when you put the cap on the back of the pen.

You have taken the cap off the pen, but what do you do with it? Do you place it on the desk? Are you going to keep it in your hand? The writing methods that would be used are non-posting or unposted.

Some people like to "post" the cap on the back of the fountain pen in order to create a different balance, because fountain pens come with a cap. I don't like posting a cap on top because it creates a weird balance for me and I have larger hands.

For the perfect balance, some fountain pens have a cap in the back. Again, you have to try it out, and see what you like about it. I have seen a cap crack on vintage fountain pens, probably because they posted too often and the user probably posted too aggressively. That's one of the reasons why I don't do it. I mostly use fountain pen for signatures is in a stand on my desk and the cap is mounted to the stand so I can't post a cap on it.

You should put the cap at the back of the pen to create a balance and that’s the art of fountain pen posting.


The paper needs to be high-quality

As soon as you write on a regular printer paper, the ink will bleed and look bad. In order for that not to happen, You should buy that specific paper that is made for fountain pens and write on it. The same goes for stationaries if you want to write cards like greeting cards and make sure it works with a fountain pen. The paper a fountain pen is written on does make a difference. It matters to fountain pen enthusiasts because different types of paper have different textures, and these can affect how each pen feels. Rather than choosing paper by the weight of the paper or its thickness, you should select it based on the texture and some people advertise fountain pen paper.

The more ink you put on the paper, the longer it takes to dry. If you smudge a fountain pen with your hand, it will look terrible. Let it dry or use an ink blotting device to prevent that. Remember that you can smudge the ink if you want to get ahead quickly.

There is something special about writing with a fountain pen

With technology and innovation, we don't need to write by hand anymore, but we can just use our cell phones or laptops. But, when you receive a handwritten note, you know that person took the time to take the time. They cared enough to take the time. That is why I like to send handwritten letters whenever possible.

For me, personal notes can be more meaningful if they are written with a fountain pen. Why would you invest in a fountain pen if it's more expensive than a roller ball? Right? It's just a very different writing experience when you have a personality added to your penmanship

.If you like the look of the pen, the way it feels and writes, and the potential attributes that you won't find in other writing instruments, you'll like it. If you are ready to write with a fountain pen, read on to find out how to choose a fountain pen that's best for you, how to use it, and how to write with it.

fountain pen posting
Fountain pen unposted

Comfortable Weight

The weight is another thing to watch. We tend to associate weight with things that are luxurious. If you want fountain pens to write into letters that are pages long, you want something that is not too heavy, otherwise, your hand will tire out quicker.

I want you to try different fountain pens at a store or something that is sent to you but always get a selection, so you can make sure you find something that works for you. Don't be satisfied with the first fountain pen you see. At the same time, just because it's expensive and a recognizable brand name doesn't mean it's the best thing for you. Fountain pen posting also affects the weight of the said pen.

You have the option of choosing the weight according to your preferences

Filling fountain pens

You need ink to write with the fountain pen, and it's usually found in a little cartridge inside the fountain pen. Many of them are disposable plastic tubes that hold the ink. Finding different colors isn't easy. The longer you have the fountain pen, the more expensive it is, and some brands design their cartridges so you can only purchase proprietary ones, which limits you in the choices of ink

.Because of not being convertible, many people prefer to switch to a converter which is basically a plastic tube with a little thingy so you can put ink to it so that, you open up a lot of different inks on the market. It's cheaper, less harsh on the environment, and more sensible.

fountain pen posting
Headless Fountain Pens

There is an old-school way to re-ink a fountain pen with ink. Most of the time, you just turn the fountain pen's spindle and it will push a pen back and forth. The ink inside the fountain pen sucks in the low-pressure environment. If the ink flow isn't as smooth as you want it to be, you must make sure there's a little bit of air left in the piston

.A converter is my fountain pen mechanism of choice, and in my opinion, it's more elegant than using a conversion or a cartridge. None of the models that were available in the early days of fountain pens have stood the test of time and the options you have today are the piston, the converter, and the cartridge.

Material

It is important that the material is good and that the workmanship is good. The softer the nibs, the better. Higher-end fountain pens typically come with gold or palladium nibs, which are more smooth and economical than steel nibs. Regardless of the case, they'll almost always have an Iridium-tipped point which makes the paper stronger. The costs of gold and palladium tips are more than those of steel or other metal.

Different kinds of sizes and tips

The bigger the nib, the nicer it is to write with; Furthermore, The nibs of the most expensive fountain pens are larger than those of the cheapest fountain pens. It gets even more expensive if you need two times as much gold for a big one.

The tip of the pen's pen is more important than the size of the pen. You can usually find different kinds and these are: extra-fine, fine, medium, broad, and very broad nibs these days; they're often abbreviated as F, M, B, and BB.50 different types of fountain pen nibs were available a century ago. In order to get a different look, they had oblique and stub nibs that were cut a bit. If you're just starting out, or if you're a lefty, I suggest using a medium or fine nib; this will give you more flexibility and make it easier to write with it. To better understand how they look and feel, you should always use various widths.

fountain pen posting
Different parts of a fountain Pen

If you have a big hand and big handwriting, it may be a good idea to use a slightly broader nibs. On the other hand, if you like an nice look and you have tiny handwriting, an extra-fine tip may be the right one for you. It's very popular to use the stub or italic nibs in calligraphy. I like wide nibs for signatures because they give it a unique look and are very difficult to fake. So, for signatures, you typically want to use something like a 3B, because it makes it unique and very challenging to duplicate. You wouldn't want to use it to write letters, because it's tough and uncomfortable to write with.

The act of placing a cap on the end of a fountain pen is described in a fountain pen posting.

Cap posting is fairly common with ballpoint pens. In fact, we've often posted caps in grade school when learning to first write, so as to keep track of the pen cap. In pen collecting, there are various terms used to describe cap posts, such as "fountain pen", "decorative", "engraved", "titled", "trimmings", and "dismounted".

How do fountain pens affect your writing ability? The balance of the fountain pen in the hand is one of the many factors that influence your decision to post your pen. It's either a bit heavy or a bit light.

What is posting a fountain pen and what is the purpose of this?

Placing the cap on the back of the pen is called posting. "capping the pen" is what people may refer to this action. The fountain pen is called unposted or uncapped when the cap is not on.

The style of the pen can have an effect on whether it should be posted or not. The writing process will be improved if the cap is put on the back of the fountain pen. Some models are made for the fountain pen cap to be left unposted.

​Fountain Pen Capping Options

There's more to fountain pens than we realize. They can be topped with a variety of different ways to cap the pen. The same way as the cap top for a ballpoint pen, the traditional cap is placed over the end of the barrel. The name "clip" cap comes from the fact that it is placed over the section of the barrel. You can use either one of the two options.

fountain pen posting
Fountain pen with caps.

The cap should be put on the end of the fountain pen barrel. This makes the writing process easier. A loose cap can make a pen more difficult to write on. Fountain pen writing can become less relaxing and soothing because of this distraction and might affect your writing quality. That’s where fountain pen posting comes to play.

Fountain Pen Screw caps

Some people like to post their screw cap fountain pens because it adds more security to writing and travel. A more balanced feel in the writer's hand can be achieved by posting a cap on the pen. While writing, the cap is less likely to loosen. The ridges that attach the cap to the pen are secured. Even with a lot of movement, screw caps will not detach from the pen.

Other users do not post their pens. The time taken to turn the cap through the threading is more time consuming than other caps. Regular cleaning and maintenance is required to keep them performing. If the user tightens the cap too much, it will make it harder to unpost the pen. Damage to the nib can be caused by the inability to replace the cap with a new one.

Finding a pen that will work in the posted and unposted position can be difficult. There are many screw cap fountain pens that slip on when posted. The custom fountain pen artisans have screw caps for both capping positions.

Pros and Cons of Fountain Pen Screw caps

Pros:

  • Security increased and is unlikely to loosen while writing.
  • It's less likely that a screw cap will break.
  • The pen's body has less scratches.

Cons:

  • Regular maintenance is needed for threading.
  • The time it takes to screw the cap on and off is more.
  • It's possible that the cap is too tight, which will make the pen difficult to open.

Slip-on Caps

There are Caps that slide onto the pen barrel. Some will click into place, while others don't. To prevent the lip of the cap from splitting if it is pushed too far onto the pen barrel, the cap band is placed near the bottom of the lid. When posted, fountain pens that snap to the barrel of the pen are important to note.

A slip-on cap is the exact opposite of a screw-on cap. Instead of screwing on the cap, the two parts fit together and a band keeps the cap secure. Its removeable nature makes it much easier to insert or remove a pen during use, and many people find the cap more comfortable to use than a screw-on cap.

Pros and Cons of Slip-on Caps

Pros:

  • There are cap bands on the lid, which prevents from slipping
  • Should slide off quickly when you're ready to write

Cons:

  • While they are being stored more easily, they can slip off.
  • There is a chance that the lid could be pushed too far onto the barrel and break the cap.

Clutch Caps

The fountain pen is secured to the lid with a clutch ring, which is a springy piece of metal. The convenience of a slip-on cap gives these caps their stability.

Many fountain pen users do not know how to post their pens. Have you ever wondered why? The clutch cap gets its name from ‘clutching’ and gripping both sides of the fountain pen, making posting and capping more secure than a traditional slip-on cap. A clutch ring holds the cap in place, reducing its ability to slip off while in use or in transport. As the clutch ring is the mechanism that connects the cap to the barrel, consistent use can loosen the ring.

Pros and Cons of Clutch Caps

Pros:

  • ​It's more secure than a traditional slip on cap.
  • It is less likely that the cap will detach.

Cons:

  • There can be scratches on the pen body if the clutch ring is loose.
  • The pen may not be able to hold it tightly over time.

Clips

There is something else to consider when choosing a fountain pen lid. The side of the cap is where the clip sticks out to stop it from rolling away. It's a good investment if you want to set the lid on the desk rather than hold it in your non-dominant hand.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Posting your Fountain Pen:

It's a decision based on what you like. If posting works for your writing style, there are many advantages and disadvantages to consider.

Advantages of posting your fountain pen:

There is more balance.

The heavier the barrel, the longer the fountain pen will be. Excess weight can affect the balance of the pen. The lighter weight doesn't allow the nib to dig into the paper. It benefits fountain pen novices to have an equally-balanced pen. It's important for new users to get used to the difference in weight between fountain pen and other writing instruments.

Increased Pen Weight

The added weight improves writing performance for people with shaky hands. If you have large hands, you might prefer posting with bigger fountain pens. The pen will fit better in the writer's hand because it is heavier.

Fountain Pen Posting

You will never lose your cap or pen.

People who tend to have a lot of work space opt to post the fountain pen. Not posting almost guarantees that your fountain pen will be returned, if you are willing to share it with others. Once the ink begins to leak in their shirt pocket, people will be reminded to return your pen.

Added protection and security.

Have you ever dropped your fountain pen and watched as it lands? Fountain pen postingpre-emptively helps accidental pen droppage have less damage. If a posted fountain pen is dropped, it will land on the heavier side, the one with the cap, rather than damaging the pen nib.

Of course we have heard many advantages, and there are disadvantage too.

Disadvantages of posting your fountain pen:

​Prone to damage to the Exterior of the Pen Body

The appearance of the barrel may not be preserved if people do not post their fountain pens. A loose-fitting cap with sharp edges can leave scratches. A posting ring is a common problem that can arise.

What is a Posting ring? (fountain pen)

A ring around the fountain pen is a posting ring.

They could be caused by the pressure on the barrel of the pen by the lip of the cap or they could be caused by the ink inside the pen lid.

The pen's appearance does not affect it's performance. It's important for people who collect fountain pens to know this.

Grip Problems

The posted fountain pen can cause problems for people with large hands who hold the pen farther away from the nib. They may have a hand grip that overlaps with the posted cap.

The posted fountain pen can cause problems for people with large hands who hold the pen farther away from the nib. They may have a hand grip that overlaps with the posted cap. You can solve this problem by using a pen rest between the nib and the cap. At Cheap Fountain Pens, we sell a variety of pen rests that work with any pen you like.

What happens if you don't post your pen?

You'll have to use the cap to write if you don't think you're a fountain pen poster. Some people are holding the cap in their non-dominant hand while writing. It's a great security measure if you let someone borrow your fountain pen because they can't carry it off without damaging it or losing ink.

It's up to you whether you want to post or leave your fountain pen capless. Consider how the placement of the cap affects the writing process, as well as the aesthetic of the pen.

If you do post, it's a good idea to buy a fountain pen with a clutch cap or screw cap. This makes sure the pen is designed to provide balance and stability as you write.

Unposted pen

While writing I leave my fountain pen posted. I don't like holding it unposted because it feels light and flaccid. The amount of control that I have while I'm writing is different.

clutch caps are my fountain pen cap of choice. I think they offer more security than a slip-on cap, but do not take as long to put in place.

Regardless of cap position, enjoy your fountain pen experience.

Fountain pens are not just writing instruments; they are objects of beauty and art, created to last forever. These objects are made with high-quality materials, and most of them have been hand-crafted by skilled artisans. Unlike rollerball and ballpoint pens, fountain pens are direct writing instruments, created to write using a specialized fountain pen, rather than simply drawing lines.

Check the other blog below related to fountain pen posting:

how to replace the cartridge in your Fountain Pen

How To Hold a Fountain Pen | Holding a Fountain Pen the right way

What is a fountain pen? In depth fountain pen guide

How to refill the ink in your fountain pen

How to maintain your Fountain Pen

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