Congratulations on your FP purchase. The Phileas is a great fountain pen. It writes well and is fairly robust. It will give you a good idea of whether or not you like FPs. If you do, the sky's the limit, as far as it goes.
As far as maintenance goes, the main thing is to rinse out the nib and section (the part that the cartridge or converter plugs into) every few times you fill your pen. If you use cartridges, remove the cartridge and run water through the nib and section until clear. If you use the converter, you can draw water into and out of the nib and into the converter until clear. If you don't plan on using it for a few weeks, it should be cleaned and stored empty.
Stationery is a matter of personal preference. The smoothness of the paper will have an effect on how fine or thick your line is, whether it bleeds and how long the ink takes to dry. All these things are a matter of personal preference. My suggestion is to experiment and see what you like. Using a converter with your pen is fun too, because it allows you to try different inks. Inks can really vary in their saturation, bleeding times and drying characteristics.
The Fountain Pen Network is an excellent resource. Good luck and enjoy. If you have any specific questions, feel free to e-mail or PM me offline.
Joel
As far as maintenance goes, the main thing is to rinse out the nib and section (the part that the cartridge or converter plugs into) every few times you fill your pen. If you use cartridges, remove the cartridge and run water through the nib and section until clear. If you use the converter, you can draw water into and out of the nib and into the converter until clear. If you don't plan on using it for a few weeks, it should be cleaned and stored empty.
Stationery is a matter of personal preference. The smoothness of the paper will have an effect on how fine or thick your line is, whether it bleeds and how long the ink takes to dry. All these things are a matter of personal preference. My suggestion is to experiment and see what you like. Using a converter with your pen is fun too, because it allows you to try different inks. Inks can really vary in their saturation, bleeding times and drying characteristics.
The Fountain Pen Network is an excellent resource. Good luck and enjoy. If you have any specific questions, feel free to e-mail or PM me offline.
Joel
