Cheaper Fountain Pen Kits

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SCR0LL3R

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I am looking for a few cheaper kits to try and provide slightly cheaper fountain pens for customers as well as to keep me in kits without emptying my wallet. A few days ago I did ask about one of these kits here but didn't get much response so I will mention it again. I am interested on feedback on these kits. I don't want to get them if they are junk. For all of these I will only be getting the chrome versions.

#1 SN Gent from Timberbits.com. for a cheaper full sized.

#2 Vail from Beartoothwoods.com for mid sized.

#3 Flat Top from Beatoothwoods, which I believe is Berea kit. This would also give me a more slender fountain pen which I would like to be able to offer.

Have you guys had any problems with these kits? Thanks for any input.
 
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Whichever you decide to try, be sure that the cap threads and corresponding threads on the pen body (and post if applicable) are not metal on metal. They feel cheap and the metal plating will quickly wear off....

SCR0LL3R said:
I am looking for a few cheaper kits to try and provide slightly cheaper fountain pens for customers as well as to keep me in kits without emptying my wallet. A few days ago I did ask about one of these kits here but didn't get much response so I will mention it again. I am interested on feedback on these kits. I don't want to get them if they are junk. For all of these I will only be getting the chrome versions.

#1 SN Gent from Timberbits.com. for a cheaper full sized.

#2 Vail from Beartoothwoods.com for mid sized.

#3 Flat Top from Beatoothwoods, which I believe is Berea kit. This would also give me a more slender fountain pen which I would like to be able to offer.

Have you guys had any problems with these kits? Thanks for any input.
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I like the Orion, that might be better for me than the Vail. I will certainly think about that one some more.

The EL Grande I am not too enthusiastic about. It really only gets cheap enough if you get into the higher quantity discounts and when I look at these all I think is that for $3 more I can get a Churchill which I really love.

There's something about the look of the Atrix that just doesn't do it for me.
 
have you tried the baron kit from lee valley tools. its the only one i use right now and love it. i also write with three of them so i know they work good as well as look good. i also can get you a name of a company that carries the same kit a little cheaper just don't know if the shipping will balance out the price. there should be a lee valley near you and if there isn't they ship from ottawa
 
paintspill said:
have you tried the baron kit from lee valley tools. its the only one i use right now and love it. i also write with three of them so i know they work good as well as look good. i also can get you a name of a company that carries the same kit a little cheaper just don't know if the shipping will balance out the price. there should be a lee valley near you and if there isn't they ship from ottawa
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William Woodwrite www.penblanks.ca located in Guelph ON retails the same Baron kit for exactly the same cost as LV. Personally I like the Sedona, which is the exact same kit as the Baron, much better!

The question is how cheap do you want to get to?
 
I have liked the Gentleman's pen. I think it has clean lines. It's a larger pen, but it has quality parts and feels substantial - not really cheap - in the hand. That one gets my vote.

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SCR0LL3R said:
I am looking for a few cheaper kits to try and provide slightly cheaper fountain pens for customers as well as to keep me in kits without emptying my wallet. A few days ago I did ask about one of these kits here but didn't get much response so I will mention it again. I am interested on feedback on these kits. I don't want to get them if they are junk. For all of these I will only be getting the chrome versions.

#1 SN Gent from Timberbits.com. for a cheaper full sized.

#2 Vail from Beartoothwoods.com for mid sized.

#3 Flat Top from Beatoothwoods, which I believe is Berea kit. This would also give me a more slender fountain pen which I would like to be able to offer.

Have you guys had any problems with these kits? Thanks for any input.
Click to expand...

The Berea kits from their special pages and the flat top from beartooth are metal to metal thread, you might want to avoid these.
While on Timberbits page, check the Jr gent. At $4.00 each and $5.00 flat rate shipping you will not find cheaper price around. The ones that i made are still around and people using them are happy with them. They are good pens for give away and first fountain pen users. I have 15 sets of fountain/roller ball sets made for Christmas gift and i fell pretty confident giving them away. Of course, chrome plating will give you a better wear resistance thatn the gold.

If you want a little better , they others suggestions are all good.
 
Haven't tried any of those. I like the PSI Tycoon, Olympian and Designer models from what I've tried so far.

Although it's fairly popular these days due to the lower price, I'm not a big fan of Chrome from anyone. It just reminds me too much of rusty bumpers on cars from the 70s & 80s and before. :eek:
 
Speaking as a long-time user of fountain pens - I don't especially like any of the kits.

The El Grande has nice ink flow, and it has a screw-on cap (preferred with fountain pens because the tighter seal helps reduce the problem of ink drying in the section causing the pen to clog). But the nib is a bit too fine for my taste, and I don't especially like the post end.

I also have a CSUSA Artisan pen. This has a bolder nib that flows very nicely, but it is a snap cap (#@%^&*), and the post design is ugly. I made a closed-end version that looks better, but there is also the issue that it is only available in gold plating.

Most of the other fountain pen kits are too blingy for my taste.

I would point out, however, that fountain pen users (for the most part) are willing to pay a bit more for a nice pen that are the folks who want ball points or roller balls. In my opinion, price is not the issue with a fountain - instead, the issues are design and utility.
 
monophoto said:
I would point out, however, that fountain pen users (for the most part) are willing to pay a bit more for a nice pen that are the folks who want ball points or roller balls. In my opinion, price is not the issue with a fountain - instead, the issues are design and utility.
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Very true. When they will pay $40 to have a nib professionally smoothed, the $3 cheaper kit is not an issue, but quality is. The best option in my book is not kit. Brian Gray and Justin Short are a couple of good examples. There are more to mention on here but I don't want them to get a big head. For Justin it is already too late. :biggrin::eek::biggrin:
 
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