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mahatma
03-10-2009, 11:20 AM
OK, this is probably one of the stranger posts in even this general discussion area but it might be of some value. I've been fielding some calls recently that indicate I'll be doing something new within the next few months. It's good. I think I've largely accomplished what I set out to do with the change I made some months back and as long as I move forward in a way that is consistent with my belief system I think everything will be fine.

So, this evening I started searching around for some of the things I put away. Pens are one of those things. I'm left handed and tend to be ham-fisted with my writing utensils but also take a certain pride in writing with a simple, clear, easily understood style. Compatible writing utensils are a must. I actually tend to look a bit askew at those who force the rest of the world to suffer less than appropriate penmanship. Signatures are one thing but if someone is writing me a note I want to clearly understand it. Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji are already bad enough. I don't want to take on hieroglyphics.

My primary writing utensils are fountain pens with left handed nubs. Most right handers don't understand that lefties suffer terribly under a normal ball point pen. We pressure the pen in the wrong way so getting ink to flow consistently is a challenge and then most common pens use ink that take much to long to dry so lefties smear their work. Appropriate fountain pen ink and nubs solve these problems. You don't have to go high end either. Of course, little is more stylish than a nice fountain pen but fountain pens can cost as much as used cars. One of the better day to day fountain pens is the cheap as heck Pelikano Junior. Awesome, bright colors and most people will return it to you if you leave it somewhere because it works like crap for righties. I personally do not trust fountain pen ink for signatures. You can get permanent fountain ink but it's pricey. For signatures that don't look like they would have been written more appropriately in crayon I use the Fisher Bullet Space Pen. It uses pressurized cartridges that allow the ink to flow consistently from any angle. Great stuff.

Lefties - check them out.

ElkCloner
03-10-2009, 12:21 PM
Will do.

lumberduvey
03-10-2009, 02:17 PM
I remember long ago when I had to write stuff in pencil for school. The bottom of my left hand looked like the tin man.

ElkCloner
03-10-2009, 02:21 PM
I remember long ago when I had to write stuff in pencil for school. The bottom of my left hand looked like the tin man.

The one thing I hated most about school was when the teachers would ask me to work a problem out on the chalk or dry erase board.

Fail.

me3990
03-29-2009, 10:13 PM
well then just learn how to write with your right hand!!! Because right is right!!! Lol, Jk.

DennisEvans
03-30-2009, 09:18 PM
I write with an extreme angle with my right hand, do you guys think this be good for me? I have a huge time writing with regular ball points, just asking.

EmptiMind
03-30-2009, 09:30 PM
Uhh, yeah. SPACE PENS work for everyone!

EVERYWHERE!

Including SPACE!!!!!

And Underwater.

mahatma
03-31-2009, 01:15 AM
EmptiMind,

Indeed. The only problem is they are boring. Exceedingly practical and I consider them a necessity but oh so dull.

EmptiMind
03-31-2009, 01:36 AM
Oh, I love the Fisher pens. Actually, after I read this the first time I almost went out and bought myself a fountain pen. Because, they are styling. Actually, I think I'm still going to now.

mahatma
03-31-2009, 02:33 AM
GOM,

Hard to say. I think the problem with lefties is we push instead of pull the pen. I'm not sure of that it just seems right. If your angle is severe going leftie might work. First though, check out this book - Write Now. ISBN10:0-87678-118-0 or ISBN13: 678-0-87678-118-0. It will have you writing legibly in a jiffy.

EmptiMind,

Start with a medium or course nib. You'll want to get used to things before going with a fine tip. Also, while some consider it to be the height or depth of barbarianism to use the throw away ink cartridges keep a few around especially if you use the pen at work. Going through the process of refilling from an ink well while not particularly taxing is more time consuming than simply slapping in a fresh cartridge. Always keep in mind that unless you purchase ink that specifically states it is permanent, fountain pen ink is inappropriate for signature use.

EmptiMind
03-31-2009, 02:40 AM
There ever a problem with them leaking? I've always got a pen in my suit pocket, mostly Fishers. I just don't want a giant ink blot. Maybe that's the pen I just need to leave at my desk.

Zerofallen
03-31-2009, 03:37 AM
I'm a lefty...

I think being left handed is a fine art, and each of us deal with it differently... When I was younger I had trouble with smudging and such, but when I started writing with a fountain pen you kind of naturally avoid smudging, now I'm at the point where I don't even think about it anymore.
Can pretty much use any pen, without huge angle. I think I raise my hand slightly too so I don't rest on the paper.

mahatma
03-31-2009, 05:23 AM
EmptiMind,

No leak issues whatsoever. I mean if you have one of the refillable cartridges I suppose you could overfill it but you would no that as you were servicing the pen. Other than that no.

Zerofallen,

Yea, it's always good to hear when someone has found a way to deal with the issues. I of course managed to get away from wearing my work but never could get a ball point to write smoothly for any length of time. Hateful things - the typical ball point pen.

BrklynCarver
04-02-2009, 11:54 AM
http://ladyfi.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/leftorium-722131-thumb-400x300.jpg

ElkCloner
04-02-2009, 11:57 AM
There used to be a left-handed store in Baltimore MD

DennisEvans
04-02-2009, 02:24 PM
GOM,

Hard to say. I think the problem with lefties is we push instead of pull the pen.

After you posted this, I started watching and feeling how I write because that pushing the pen thing sounded like what I do.

I actually push the pen when doing some letters and when drawing and pull when doing other letters.