Guides
The Best Inks for Calligraphy and Brush Lettering
Inks for italic nibs, stub nibs, and brush lettering — what works, what to avoid, and the best starting inks for calligraphic fountain pen writing.
The Platinum Preppy and Plaisir — A Complete Guide
The Platinum Preppy and Plaisir explained — the Slip and Seal cap, the nib sizes, eyedropper conversion, and why they're the best value in fountain pens.
The Sailor Pro Gear — A Complete Guide
The Sailor Pro Gear and Pro Gear Slim explained — nib options, sizing, the Shikiori range, and how they compare to Pilot and Platinum equivalents.
How to Start a Journal and Actually Keep It
Practical advice on starting a journaling habit — the right notebook, what to write, how to maintain it, and why most people quit and how not to.
The Best Fountain Pens for Drawing and Illustration
The best fountain pens for drawing — fine lines, reliable flow, and inks that work with or without watercolour. A guide for sketchers and illustrators.
The Hobonichi Techo UK Buyer's Guide — Which Format Is Right for You?
A5 Cousin, A6 Original, Weeks, HON — the complete guide to choosing your Hobonichi Techo format as a UK buyer, with honest comparisons from TJS.
The Best Fountain Pens for Students
The best fountain pens for students — durable, affordable, easy to maintain, and genuinely better for note-taking than ballpoints. A UK guide.
The Best Fountain Pens Under £100
The best fountain pens in the £50–100 range — where you start to encounter gold nibs, piston fillers, and the first genuinely luxurious everyday writers.
The Best Fountain Pens Under £50
Outstanding fountain pens for under £50 — from the Pilot Metropolitan to the TWSBI ECO. The best value in the hobby, clearly ranked.
The Best Iron Gall Fountain Pen Inks
Iron gall inks are the oldest fountain pen inks — and the most waterproof. The best modern iron gall inks for fountain pen use, safely and effectively.
Fountain Pen Filling Systems Explained
Cartridge, converter, piston, vacuum, eyedropper — every fountain pen filling system explained clearly, with the pros and cons of each.
The Best Gel Pens for Planners
Fine tips, vivid colours, quick drying: the best gel pens for Hobonichi, Leuchtturm1917 and any other planner, from Zebra Sarasa to uni-ball One and Signo.
