I added corrected English subtitles for those of you that use them (NOT the normal auto generated.) I also added computer generated subtitles for 9 other languages. Click the CC to get them (and the "settings" icon to select the language you want it in.)
@T Sherbs The SFM nib also aligns with my writing height. Normally, I like small converters because I use so many different inks--I can't believe I'm discussing ink amounts now!
@FifaBros 855 It does! I dislike it because it's hard to clean, but since I'm only using one ink, that shouldn't matter. I'm living in topsy turvy world, for me, now!
The advantage of the PC 74 is that it can hold the CON-70, Pilot’s best converter. And comes with the converter included. Heck, luckily so can the Pilot Kakuno.
I have been on a buying hiatus before because I felt that I was not using the pens that I had felt I must have. I started buying again, but now I am reaching that place again. Great vid.
Thank you so much! I agree, sometimes waiting for something in the mail for that little pleasurable jolt, is a distraction. It's sometimes hard to tease out my different motivations.
I like the way you're approaching this...cleansing your palate. I would choose the Pilot with the fine nib, but I think the medium seems to be better suited for your use. I'm curious to see what you choose and how it works out. I'm also looking forward to the Bokumondoh video.
I had to. I think it makes it more fun for me looking forward to having more fun after it's over. I've been a busy bee filming all this stuff in preparation for not being able to use the stuff for a month. Now I just have a bunch of editing to do!
Darn, I realize I still don’t have a Prera. I remember wanting one with a solid color, but couldn’t find one I liked. Or the nib of my choice. Instead, I have the similarly sized and splendid Lucina and Legno pens from Pilot.
Thanks for the mention. Pilot Blue Black is an excellent ink. Also shades a bit. My choice would be the Pilot 74 with SFM nib. I love their soft nibs. Refilling a converter not a decider for me. Enjoy the 30 days, not something I would do but an interesting exercise.
I predict that this pen, ink and paper "fast" will be a worthy and healing project.... maybe one day I'll get brave & try it ... kind of like One Book July in a way. I'm definately in need of enjoying what I have & stopping the acquiring until I've inked all my pens and made many choices lol. Have a great experience ... I can't wait to hear how it goes!!!
Thanks Chris! I had not heard about the One Book until the comments section of this video! It sounds like a cool idea! I knew you would get the "fast" part haha! In the end, it's just stuff. Stuff I really enjoy, but still just stuff. I think I'll enjoy myself!
You went to the extreme, but I am now roughly where you wanted to get with this challenge. I own 2 fountain pens: Kaweco Sport that I use to write at work and carry around and Kaweco Liliput in brass that I use for 'serious' stuff, mainly journaling. I also own just 2 inks: Sailor Souboku and last month I acquired Sailor Seiboku, to stir things up. :-) When I need some colour for titles I use one of my 2 Pigma Micron fineliners. The only notebook I use (apart from those at work) is Leuchtturm 1917. I am quite happy with that. The problem is, that I went little too far in the rabbit hole and now I am looking to get where you are now. I am considering buying my first (and second) gold nib pen. At the same time I am really worried where that will lead me. How many pens/inks/notebooks will I end with? Am I just going to make my life more complicated without getting anything meaningful from it? I guess I am really looking for somebody to tell me to stop where I am now, that less is more and that I don't have to experience expensive and more pens, if I am alright with what I have now.
I love your comment because I kind of asked myself many of these same questions. I'll voice an opinion that many people don't like (and will explore in a later video) but gold nibs are in no way shape or form better than steel nibs. When you buy a gold nib, it is like jewelry---you are upgrading the material not the function. A steel necklace is just as good as a gold one, but we like gold ones for esthetic reasons. If you are happy with what you have, stop buying. When you see something new that you think you want, would you be willing to sell one of the pens you already own to purchase the new one? We just had a pen meet a few weeks ago and one of the attendees had a very small but curated collection (maybe 4 pens?) He enjoyed them. You may think about collecting along those lines.
"Pen fasting" ??! Ha! I love it ; it suggests an increased awareness post fast of your entire collection, of feel, form, look, and insight. Quidado, however : when rather younger I did the entire fasting/ yoga/ shankaprakshalana routine....for two weeks---- it led directly to a lifelong obsession with food!! Exceptionally thoughtful review as ever, and ohhhhhhhh, that voice...!🤗😌😂❤️
Thank you so much! That is such a great way to put it for how I will feel after my 30 days (I would imagine--need to complete it first!) I've always had an obsession with food hahaha!💕
"Good Luck"; that's what they said to Lindbergh when he left for France in 1927. Yours is a similar journey, fraught with danger and impossible for most of us. The best I personally can manage is to go with only one pen for a single day.
Thank you! I'm going to align myself more with Amelia Earhart...but she didn't make it back...Yikes! Like you, I haven't been able to go more than a day either. I'll need that luck hahaha!
I use all my pens in a year and keep track of them. I do this because I want to enjoy them--I'm in some pen groups where people go overboard with pen and ink acquisition. It's good to slow down. Enjoy minimalism!
I was thinking the 74 👍🏻 The nib seems to be better for your writing style with the 30 days in mind 🙂 Where was ‘The Executive Notebook’ from? Am guessing a shop and not just online?
Hi Alesa, for me I would like to see how the 74 performs over 30 days. will have to look for that Tomoe River notebook in Australia, I like the layout. I can't wait till you post those upcoming videos you mentioned, sounds great. Cheers Peter...
I've thought of doing this. But I need a stub for my journals and a medium or fine for other writing. So I would choose two pens. If I had to choose from the ones you show? I don't think I could do it!
@@InkyRocks it occurs to me that I could uses a Pelikan 200 and switch out the stub for a fine nib. That would work I think. However, I'm not sure I want to clean out the nib twice a day, so I suppose I could do a "two-of-the-same-exact-pen" challenge: one stub and one fine m200. It would be another way to get back to basics.
I think this is a super intriguing concept. I've always wanted to do something like this. Personally, I'd go for the custom 74. Good standard pen with a nice nib - and the fact that you're only using one ink makes the small convertor slightly less painful!!
You should try it Aidan! What I'm finding already is that I carry my one notebook and pen around everywhere! If you do it, let me know and I'll include your feedback in the wrap up video.
Best of luck! Looking forward to hearing how your challenge goes. I feel I’m at a point in my collection where I have all the pens I want and am now trying to reduce my collection to those I truly, truly love. But I don’t know if I could go with only one pen/ink/journal for even a day, so hats off to you!
Thank you! I may eventually go to a "one in and one out" kind of thing. But I think I will have to address that later as there may be a bit of a spending spree after the 30 days! (spending, using pens in both hands, bathing in ink etc)
I would definitely choose flex and versatility over convenience. And refilling a bit more often isn't that much of an inconvenience either when you keep using the same ink. You don't need to clean the pen every time.
Ever since you posted this video, I began to rethink my thoughts on my collection. I found myself overthinking what pen to use next after I finished a fill. Inking up too many pens would also bring me to the same thoughts. It surprisingly stressed me out. So, I decided to sell off a good portion of my collection and keeping 3 pens. I hope it stays this way for awhile especially since there is constantly new stuff coming out!
You are so right! I kind of think of my "pen budget" as a big eco-system where I sell stuff that doesn't meet my needs at the current moment and get a chance to buy new things. I do keep some sentimental and collectable pens though as they make me happy just looking at them! Three pens is pretty committed! But I'm still in the middle of my 30 day challenge and I can tell you, it does make you feel a lot less stressed!
This is a very good video and food for thought. There must be something in the air. Similar questions have arisen in other collecting circles. BTW, min 5:06 3rd from left: May I know what fountain pen that is? 😬
Seriously? I had researched it a lot and couldn't find anyone doing this. They are probably on FB or someplace I don't go on much. It's an Atelier Lusso pen and I'll be putting out a vid on that soon!
@@InkyRocks The aftermath of the pandemic and 2020 might move a lot of people to naval gaze. Not quite what you are doing now specifically, but just reflecting on collecting in general. Ah yes Atelier Lusso. I have yet to manage ordering anything from them. Perhaps I should ask: Who made the blank and what is it called 😬Looking forward to your video on it!
i wish you good luck and happy focusing. I'm looking forward to hearing the results...very intriguing! I would go with the Pilot 92. I LOVE that you bought the new Platinum before starting. That made me smile. I'm so happy I made you chuckle with my Chic Sparrow post to yours over on Instagram. The struggle is real! Take good care and thank you for your videos. Love'em!
hahaha! I KNOW! I felt a little guilty about moving my schedule around so I don't miss out on a pen I want! But maybe by day 20 or so, I'll be glad I did!
I have inadvertently been using my new M800 Black/Brown with Lie de The this whole month! Did not expect to do it, but I just put it out on my desk since I got it, and haven’t been able to put it away.
No hobo weeks? For a month? Omg! That’d be the most difficult part for me. I love the Prera, but choosing one single pen? Mmm 🤔 it would be hard between a F and a M, but I guess if you are only using one with a relatively boring ink I would go for a F. Piston filler. I would go for the Pilot with the piston filler. Pilot generic? I’d say consistent! :) I like the look of that 74, SFM. Wish they would come in different colours, I already have one in SF.
hahaha! Sorry about the Pilot slam! I guess what I really meant was that Pilot doesn't run around chasing special editions like Sailor. I'm not using ANY OTHER paper other than what's in the journal. I still can't believe I committed to that...
The most versatile nibs I know are fude nibs. A Huashi 90 with an ”artist nib” was for a while my sole companion, serving every need from taking notes in the margin while reading , to lettering small signs. Of course ideal for sketching.
I think the comment about resell value is spot-on. Some retailers, like Usagiya and Kobayashi, are trying to deter scalpers by limiting purchases to one pen per customer. I wish they would also sell directly to overseas customers. Great video as always, and what a cool idea! Maybe I'll follow your lead. Pilot 823, Maruzen Marine Blue, and some Tsubame memo pads. Need to turn off those daily Kingdom Note notifications...
I’ll go with Custom 74 due to its soft medium nib suitable for long writing sessions.. Frequent re-inking due to cartridge converter isn’t a deal breaker !
custom 74. Very impressed with this challenge you are starting. Looking forward to learn and also want to see how I can do something similar day after I purchased like 4 different new notebooks to test "new" paper. Thank you again for creating this video!
Thanks for the subtitles. I use them all the time so I can understand it. I would recommend a Jindao x750, but that is what I like to use. I am going to vote for the 74. Refilling the converter is not that big a deal, is it?
You are right, it isn't a big deal refilling a pen hahaha! Thank you for the feedback on the subtitles. It's a little extra work but I'm willing to do it if it makes watching my video easier to people.
I have done a 30 day one pen, one ink and one journal. I used my Montblanc 146 with OB nib, Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuyu-kusa and a Nanami Seven Seas Standard journal with 52 gsm Tomoe River paper. I chose the Seven Seas journal because it had so many pages in it and I was fairly certain that I would only need one. When I was preparing for my 30 day experience, I had narrowed my pen selection down to 3 - a Leonardo Momento Zero with 1.1 stub nib, a Lamy 2000 with a medium nib, or the Montblanc 146. I chose the Montblanc 146 because it was a piston filler and the nib was versatile enough to meet all of my needs. Also, the Pilot Iro Tsuyu-kusa and the Montblanc 146 paired very well together. My biggest frustration during the 30 days was color withdrawal. I wanted more color. But, it was a great experience. I am glad I did it, and I am glad when it ended.
Thank you for the feedback on your experience! Color withdrawal is something I thought about but I feel like my biggest barrier will be the lack of different nibs.
You are the first to notice that! I was so excited about it when I saw it at a stationery store. I don't know if you can get the same exact one but just Google "perforating tool" or something to that effect, and a bunch of different kinds show up.
I don't know. I would imagine any pen with a little silicone grease you could. It does have metal fittings but I don't worry about that. I think I'm more worried about accidentally opening it to check the level of the converter as I completely forget that I eye-droppered it hahaha! (Yes, I've done that before--even on camera..it makes a mess!)
Pilot 74 seems more versatile for all month writing needs. If it was me I would probably go for the 92 as I like Japanese fine nibs the most. Also I really love your rocks/crystals ... They are so beautiful.
I was a big Japanese fine nib person till I moved to Japan and though I still love them, I've now become a fat nib lover too! (they are also more readily available in special editions since the Japanese don't buy them as much--win for me!) Thank you for noticing my rocks--I love pairing them up with things in my vids!
One book July here in the US is the same. One book, 1 pen for the entire month.... not easy but it bring me back to basics every time and gives me an opportunity to try out different lay outs. I liked the Mont Blanc
Thanks so much for this--I've not heard of that before. Do they even cut out paper from their journal (for like letters etc?) It might be something fun to do every year. But I first need to see if I can make it thru this 30 days. A lot of new stuff is coming out now here in Japan. That is the hardest part for me!
@@InkyRocks One Book July is a thing here in the States. You can add or delete things as you wish, but one book and one pen is the basic. Check out on You Tube MyLifeMits, Carie Harling, or just One book July. My sympathy goes to you seeing as Japanese stationery is highly addicting- speaking from experience LOL! so being right there when new things come out must be hard. Hope this helps your journey of 30 days.
The Pilot Custom 74 was my first pen when I started out, so I am pre-disposed to that. Mine has the SF nib, but I think I now wish I had the SFM, based on your writing samples. Also, it can use the Con-70 converter which holds more ink (unless you are among those who hate that converter). I slowed way down in my pen acquisitions last fall, when I took a look in my records at how many pens I had bought so far that year. But every so often I get the bug again, and I get 3 or 4 pens in a short time. Then I slow way down again. I have a bunch of pens I want to sell, but it seems like a lot of work, and a big responsibility to take someone's money for something that may not work out for them. Good luck on your 30 days, and I hope you come out of it with the results you want.
Thank you! I'm not sure what will happen but we will see hahaha! I don't hate the Con-70, it's just a pain. I almost always use a syringe to fill it and clean it. I know what you are saying about all the work to sell. That's why I sell in fits and spurts. I usually under price my pens when I sell so that I feel like I don't need to worry too much about the buyer. People say I'm leaving money on the table, but I get peace of mind and the buyer gets a possible good deal!
Why dow we like so many of anything? Abundance? Since watching your wonderful videos full of aesthetic pleasures and soothing tones I had a think and found out that for me it all starts with paper. How it feels, sounds when crinkled, what it does with inks and the nibs of my tiny, tiny fountain pen collection. So while I have my Pens contained in one make-up bag and my inks in half a desk drawer, paper threatens to take over. Paper to wrap parcels, paper to wrap presents, paper to fold, paper to glue, paper to collage with, paper to stamp on, and of course paper to write on. I wish you joy with your pen and ink fast. It seems the custom 74 is most suited to your writing.
Thank you! Knowing what you like helps with decisions and enjoying your hobby. You will be happy to know I ordered one of those journals with onion skin paper a few weeks ago (but it will arrive when I'm on this challenge and I won't be able to play with it hahaha!) But when you said "crinkle" I thought of it.
I'm actually a pen minimilist, I only have a few pens but my day to day, my by baby is a faber-castell e-motion wood fountain pen. It's a big gusher and I love the thing - what is interesting is if your turn the pen upside down, and write with the "Wrong" side of the nib. It creates a lot finer line and changes the look and feel of my writing. So I'm thinking may be try all your pens upside down? Then make the decision?
You are a rare breed! You probably enjoy your pens more than most of us hahaha! I think this challenge will clear some "head space" for me to enjoy writing more (I'm hoping). I don't enjoy reverse writing that much, even on nibs where you are supposed to. I always forget to do that on my pen reviews hahaha!
I'd go with the 74. It's got a great nib. I probably won't do this myself because the journal restriction would mess with my workflow at work, but I did enjoy giving serious thought as to which pen. It's not even one of the ones I currently have inked.
Yes, the "only using paper that is in my journal" is the most challenging thing right now. Choosing any pen from my collection would have been easier than limiting it to these pens--I would have picked a more versatile nib (soft flexy fude hahaha!)
I was thinking of the 92 for just having a fine nib for any paper in the wild along with the capacity. Meanwhile, I'm having the opposite situation going on lately. I finally ordered another pen after more than a year of one pen busting and only trying to get pens when there's a critical break and/or a loss. (The inner feed sleeve cracked and the cartridge peg snapped off in a pen with a metallic body.) I had so many ideas on what to get to "replace" it and... I settled on a broad nib with a high capacity that can seal to prevent leaks. With that pen and some standard International longs on the way, maybe I can let those lovely Sailors pass me by since they're just something out of my league for the time being. This hobby is making the most of what I have afterall.
Hi Alesa! This is a very interesting experiment and I wish you luck! =) Now for the pen, well, clearly there is no right answer within your line up. Pelikan, for sure! hahaha! j/k! But seriously speaking, the Pilot Custom 74 definitely gives you more versatility due to the nib. And I wouldn't mind refilling every other day or so. If you have a Con-70 converter within one of your pens, that would be so much better. Have fun!
Hi Franz! Thanks for stopping by! I know you love your birds--maybe you should try the challenge with one of them hahaha! (PS I always remember your explanation about macro lenses when you came to Hawaii. It's now my most used lens!)
Aren't you brave!!! That's quite the selection ... and varied. I have most of those pens (not the Custom 74), but to be honest, I have others in my collection that I would chosen besides those 4. But of the 4 you have presented, the #146 would be my choice. I've owned one since the late 1980s and adore that pen. I'm interested to see which you chose and to hear how the process went for you! :)
I think the correct word is "crazy" hahaha! I wanted to make the pen's as vanilla or generic as possible to make it more relatable to more people. If I really thought about it, I probably wouldn't have done the challenge at all hahaha! Thanks Rick!
I have the Custom Heritage 92 and the Pilot 74. I like them both but in hindsight I should have purchased them in a (M) nib instead of the (F). After watching your video on the Platinum 3776 series I purchased one in the tortoise livery with the (M) nib. Received it yesterday and I haven't put it down since. Very enjoyable writer! I saw Appleboom's video featuring you not long ago. I loved it! I was pleased to see you are a former flyer. Military it looked like. I loved your bio. Very impressive I must say. I'm a corporate pilot by trade and have been flying for 45 years now. Kudos to you! Your videos as always are fascinating and usually end up costing me money. Lol! No buyer's remorse though. I know these videos take a a lot of effort to produce so thank you for sharing them. My 30 day restricted daily driver would have to be my Pelikan M800. I have several Pelikans but this one seems to have a sweet spot. Best thoughts to you!
Thank you so much! It's wonderful to hear from another pilot that loves fountain pens! I'm glad you are enjoying your 3776--I love those pens! That M800 is an ideal pen. I thought the 600 was more my size but lately I've been eyeing the 800--but not for the next 30 days hahaha!
@@InkyRocks Cold rainy day here today but no challenge for a big bowl of curry udon. I have a 4 day trip tomorrow and I'd like to take my new 3776 but fountains don't do well at altitude. At FL410 we can still keep an 8000 ft cabin but the pens will leak. Even some roller balls will too so I'm relegated to a ballpoint. I soften the blow with Pelikan ballpoints. :) I have several M600s (7) and I like them too. Just got the M600 red tortoise last month and it's a really nice writer too. (F) nib with Diamine Sargasso Sea loaded. I like the Iroshizuku inks too. The 3776 has Diamine Ancient Copper in it. 29 days and counting!
Really great video. :) I vote for the Twsbi 580 with the stub nib.I know it would be difficult using that for a whole month. But interesting to se what happens to the perception of other nibs after you get so used to such a broad nib.
That is such an interesting angle! Write with a stub for a month and see if an F nib becomes too sharp! I actually was an EF gal when I started in fountain pens and I only have a few now, though I'm thinking I need an UEF soon hahaha! Thanks so much!
@@InkyRocks Me aswell. :) I started of seeking the finest nibs. Think my two first goldnibs was Platinum 3776 UEF and PTL 5000a extrafine. Since then have gone broader and broader.
LUNCH BREAK YAY. Lol. The custom 74 with the medium nib even tho refilling more is kind of a hassle. With me using my pen the way I do the converter lasts around a week. It’s not too inconvenient as it prompts me to clean my pen regularly. Good video and nice job !
I just noticed this video is 5mo old. Lol well no wait time I’ll check out the results video when I get home. Sounds like a nice problem to have tho . I’m not a minimalist, a fountain pen is a great luxury on my budget. I’ll be tickled when I finally can spare money for another
Hi Inky, Having the means to get more pens and inks (paper too I suppose) isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As long as you’re still able to pay the rent/mortgage, etc... . Your month long experiment should prove to be eye opening for sure. Con70 cleaning is easier with a needle style syringe. Poke the syringe filled with water (cleaning compound of your choice) behind the internal rubber stopper, squirt it several times, and that pesky Con70 is clean, pretty much. (thanks DoodleBud) Clean nib/feed as usual. As always, the choice you make should be your own, but I’m a Pilot Custom man from the git-go (is that a word?). Great video, love your work and style on your videos.👍😎🌹
Thank you so much! I so agree with you--be financially responsible, try to live a good life and enjoy the luxuries you can afford. Thanks for the tips on the Con-70 cleaning. I think it's all that pushing the button while filling it that annoys me --I typically fill the converter with a syringe hahaha! I'm hopeless! Take care!💖
At the end of the video there was a big bottle of pilot blue black ink. Such a huge impressive bottle. What is the volume of ink in that? And i can get it from?
@@InkyRocks Thanks! I do love the simplicity of being very familiar with a single pen, plus I have gotten its value multiple times over out of it. That pen carried me through all of college and all of law school without a single issue. The next step is a gold nib. If you have any suggestions, I am all ears. I didn't care for the hand feel of the LAMY 2000, and the Pilot Vanishing Point has the clip where I place my index finger. I am looking at a cigar style. Currently, I have a bid for a MontBlanc 146. Hopefully I can snag that!
Pilot Custom 72 I haven’t tried one but I love the look of the nib. I know how you feel about not being able to play with new stuff, my Husband has my Lamy 2000, my first bottle of Akkerman ink, a Platinum Prefonte and the Neon and Vintage sets of ink from Vinta. He’s had them for weeks on his self and I can’t touch them till my birthday next month, it’s torture.🤣. Stay Safe and have fun.
I recently bought my first Sailor, and I haven't used another pen since. It's captivated me. I'm halfway from a full month of use, and it just skates on the page. I can write for pages upon pages with no hand stiffness or cramping, and I might offload some other pens to afford more sailors because I've seen the light.
Interesting experiment. You've set hares running. I've been pondering my pen/ink collection, buying strategy and usage. I guess like most FP users I have more pens than I need and certainly more inks than I will need to last the rest of my life. I order new pens and ink and I'm almost bursting for them to arrive. Once I have them in my hands it's a must to use them. However, within a short time I want to change my pen/ink combination. The anticipation of the arrival exceeds the actual ownership. I have concluded that I really enjoy the latest ink I'm using but its not long before I hanker for the next change. And repeat! An (almost) honest answer to the question, 'What is your favourite ink?" would have to be the one I've just loaded into my pen. Ask me that question again later in the day and the answer will be "the next ink I'm going to select". I think I need to try your 30 day experiment. Thank you for planting the seed in my head.
hahaha! I totally understand your thinking. One of my pen friends "curates" his collection and basically buys pens and then sells them as soon as he is tired of them. He has actually received a pen in the morning and has sold it by the afternoon. That my be a strategy you could consider also. Good luck with whatever path you choose!
TWSBI 580! Having that big reservoir of ink will be really nice for the 30 days. Less refilling (I assume) for the duration of writing, also it's just fun seeing the ink go down visually.
It is important to reflect on who we are and what motivates us to collect things. In the other hand, there is something meditative as well as playful in using varying fountain pens, inks and papers. There are also studies that show it improves one's cognitive intelligence. It was Oscar Wilde who said that "to live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist. That is all." I believe that our pen, ink, paper habit is also a form of experiencing life differently and as long as we know how privileged we are and also use our time on this Earth to help others, we should be fine. Anyway, I fully support what you are doing. :)
I so agree with you. My channel is a little off kilter from a lot of other fountain pen channels and sometimes I get a bit of grief over it. And as you say, I keep in mind how fortunate I am to be able to blithely yak away about inks or whatever knowing I get to eat everyday. In the end, this challenge is a cake walk💕
Thank you so much! The Pilot 823 is mentioned the most outside of the 4 I was choosing from. I don't have one, but now I'm thinking I should. 30 days with only the 823--you're going to right?!
@@InkyRocks I don't think I'm brave enough to do it, but to be honest, each time I ink up my 823 I feel like it takes a month to empty. And that's the medium nib. I recently got a clear fine nib 823 from Jacob. It's a bit concerning to see the ink level not move at all after doing 10 pages of note lol
I so enjoy your willingness to experiment! And this exercise really resonates for me because I have too many pens, inks and notebooks. It sounds like the Custom 74 is going to give you the most versatility for your handwriting..I think I'd actually have the most trouble limiting myself to one journal. I use different types of paper and notebooks for different purposes. And not being able to write in my Hobonichi planner would just be too much of a sacrifice. I'm eager to hear what you learn from this challenge. (And by the way, is the new LE Platinum 3776 as insanely priced in Japan as it is in the U.S.? I reluctantly paid for a Shiun but now I'm done.)
Thanks Marilyn! I think you are right. The most challenging thing is the paper since I'm limiting myself to just that paper in that journal. So all notes, planning, letter writing etc. Yikes! What was I thinking?!? hahaha!
I think the Custom 74 would be my choice from your shortlist, because of the wonderful SFM nib, but with the CON-70 converter. I saw your comment below about not being a fan of the CON-70; maybe the recently released version addresses some of the feelings you have toward it, but that's a question for the future when you allow yourself to buy things again. I think the small Pilot converter might drive you a bit crazy, so the most practical option you presented seems to be the Custom Heritage 92. Final thought; nib swap the SFM into the CH92 😋
Thanks! Your nib swap sounds like something I'm really going to have to do after my 30 days. I kind of want to do something "normal" for my viewers so when I report back, it's relatable! Really, a small amount of ink doesn't bother me normally because I change out my inks so much. To tell you the truth, I fill most pens with a syringe!
It seems like the best everyday pen for you to use for 30 days is the Custom 74. Instead of using the Con-40 (which I don't like), I reuse a cartridge since they hold more ink than the Con-40. You'd think that Pilot would come up with a better converter since they sell so many awesome fountain pens!! It will be fun to see how you faired over 30 days with 1 ink, 1 pen, and 1 notebook. I don't think I would make it past about a week 😊
hahaha! I've had a few people say they wouldn't last a day! Converters don't bother me, even the Con-40 because I change inks so often. But with only one ink, I get it now when people complain about it. I guess that's lesson number one from this experiment!
I originally voted for the custom heritage 92, but I think im gonna have to say the custom 74 instead. There is more versatility there, so you can write larger or smaller. I love this idea, this is like One Book July but more intense lol, I want to try to challenge myself to do this same exact thing so thank you for this!
Thank you so much! I had not heard of the One Book July (some one else mentioned it in the comments) before. It sounds like a cool "reset!" If you do decide to do the 30 day challenge--please don't hesitate to contact me by email or IG message to tell me how it's going! I'll include your feedback in my wrap up video!
@@InkyRocks Definitely a huge reset, back to the basics, reminds me of how I used to journal years ago, it will be difficult especially as you said with all the new things coming out, but I think the feeling at the end when it's over like tasting your coffee again- it will definitely be worth it! As soon as I am done with my current journal (about 30 pages lefts) I will definitely start a new one following this exact challenge. 💜
I've got to try this ink... waterproof or water resistant ? You know... does a little come off with water or does it stays still ? (I voted for the Montblanc even though it's too small for me)
The Mont Blanc, it is a piston filler and it is very beautiful. As always a very nice video full of details and it is a pleasure to watch your work. Thanks
I would go with one of the two Pilot FPs. Probably the Custom Heritage 92 (my experience with the SFE nib -- not your SFM -- has been frustrating). Both stub nib pens disquilify for a 3o-day journey. If the Montblanc 146 had a F or EF nib I would probably choose it -- not because of Montblanc's marketing strategies but because the Meisterstück 146 and 149 have excellent ergos and a perfect balance between feeders and nibs, which make then so sweet to write with. Excelent proposal -- I think I have the same problem as you do and will follow on the lines of your 30-day project (what a test!). Thank you!
Thank you so much! First day, and I'm already having to adjust hahaha! I'm sorry you are having problems with your nib. Mine has bee pretty reliable. But that happens sometimes, much like any other product.
I love Pilot pens. For this challenge I possibly would have "cheated" and swapped out nibs to have a SFM nib on a CH 92 body. Your video encouraged me to finally "break in" my 3776 with a SF nib after struggling with it only to clean it out and put it away for months. My challenge is to find inks that give me the smoothest writing experience I can have with a Platinum pen while drying quickly enough so that I won't smudge my words as a lefty. I'll be watching your follow-up video with great interest.
That would be a good choice. I just tried to go generic to appeal to the largest number of people, but I definitely think you should personalize it. Are you having problems with your 3776?
@@InkyRocks My problems with the 3776 Century were so bad, I tried selling it at one point. Even after having a nibmeister smooth it out (a bit) on the sidelines of a pen club meeting it's still toothy on the upstroke. At least, the ink flow issues seem to be resolved. After I'd bought it I came across several posts/comments online that gave me the impression the SF nib is prone to being dry and a bit stubborn to fix. I've been wanting a spark plug gapping tool for the longest for nib tuning. Older models that I bought used and that have regular nibs perform flawlessly. The 3776 is a nice pen with some attractive finishes that's comfortable in the hand. But if I had known what I know now, I wouldn't have bought the SF nib.
@@yuklimka7251 That is so strange. I've had a couple of SF nibs from them and not had a problem. The 3776 nibs DO give more feedback and when I write with them (especially their plain EF or F nibs) after not using them for awhile, I am surprised, but quickly fall back into enjoying them. Most of their soft nibs I've written with have been a bit more wet than their plain nibs. That is a bummer. The 3776 is my favorite pen (I have more than I'm willing to admit...) and I'm sorry you got a bad one.
@@InkyRocks I have three older ones (two celluloid 14k and one in maroon). I'm still trying to find one in the koi finish. Among the modern ones the Kumpoo is one of my favorites since I have a thing for turquoise. And the pens at the tester bar are fine too. Let's see how I feel about this particular one after a month.
I recently finally got down to 7 pens inked up. There's colours I need regularly, but it's usually just one colour for correspondence, which is the majority of my writing. (Currently, it's a Sheaffer Balance Jr with Diamine Sherwood Green.) I think that I agree with the Pilot 74. I'd dug through the comments, and the upgrade in size of the converter makes sense, with only using a single ink for the next 30 days.
@@InkyRocks I've had 20 inked up at one point. 😁 Currently, 4 are vintage (usually only the one that I am using for correspondence, but I have some things that I want to show off some of my vintage pens for, so...) My requirement for a pen is it transfers ink to paper well, so I have several that I only paid about $2 for, but work well for me. Vintage started it all for me, with a barn find grey Esterbrook J, so those have a special place in my heart, but I tend to use whatever suits my fancy when I need to refill a pen.
I have many fps and I recently inked up three of them. Today - just before I watched your video - I cleaned two of them for storage. Now I have only one pen inked up and I'm determined to keep it that way for some time. I think that the more pens one owns the greater the urge there is to use them - even if they are not required!
I also like Pilot Blue Black. Good ink and good price. Never seen a 350ml bottle. It looks like blue ponzu or shoyu in that bottle :) I love the classic ink pot too. And not bad cityscape in the window. It was also fun to hear you join in a few podcasts with CY and Jacob on Tokyo Inklings. You all must have fun discussing this obsession of ours. Aloha.
Technically, I use one pen and one ink each month for my journaling/planning and work, but my 5-year journal has several days that need catching up, so older monthly choices are still hanging out in my pen case! And I did have a couple of pens dry out because of this usage pattern. But you do really get attached to the pen you use. You know it, you know when it might hard start. You know what paper it loves. You know how best to post so it’s comfortable in your hand. I think I’ll keep up this pattern for quite some time!
Oh this sounds pretty cool! I kind of go in different directions and really love the pen I'm currently using and think it's the best. And then think the same with another pen I switch to. I guess I just love them all hahaha!
Custom 74...it's so popular for a reason. My house burnt a year ago this May. I lost use of 90% of my toys. During my rebirth I realized I didn't miss as many toys I thought I would. Here's to a fresh start.
Wow! I'm sorry about your house. I guess you found a silver lining--excellent discipline of your mind! I had to sell or give away or store a lot of my stuff before we moved here (living space is a lot more of a premium here in Japan) and I can't even remember what I am missing much less miss them!
Now I need some Pilot Blue Black ink 😂 This is a really cool conversation. I just spent a lot of money on an Aurora LE pen, which I adore, and I know that people have some serious discretionary income.. It took a minute for me to order the Aurora, but since the first time I saw it it still takes my breath away. I feel very grateful. I like your vids. This is great. My Custom 74 needs a nib tune, hasn’t written well since I bought it.. so I definitely wouldn’t choose that one. Probably a piston fill, the ink capacity is a plus. 💙💙💙 Your 74 looks like a divine writer, I’d probably choose that. The con 70 in it is groovy too.
Thank you! Congrats on your Aurora. It sounds like you will really enjoy it! Maybe you should do a 30 day Aurora only challenge hahaha! You would really get to know your pen. That Blue Black ink is a classic. But I think I now have more than I'll ever need!
Good luck for the next 30 days with my vote on Custom 74 SF. I am using two pens and two inks for last 3 months or so. A sailor pro gear slim MF with sailor blue black ink for generic writing and a parker 45 XF with lamy black ink for math writing. Not getting bored at all. 😅
That's awesome! Knowing what one likes, frees up brain space to really relax and enjoy the fountain pen writing experience! Sounds like you got it figured out!
As always, great video! My choice for a 30 day pen would probably be my Waterman Hemisphere with a medium nib. My first ever fountain pen gifted to me by my husband. The pen that started the addiction!
I'd choose the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 with the SFM transplanted from the Custom 74. I've done this and it's become my most reliable writer that my hand reaches for more often than any of my fancier pens. Hope you have a rejuvenating pen fast! :)
Thank you so much! I just need to make it thru hahaha! I may try that nib transplant--it sounds awesome! But for the 30 days, I'm trying to stay very vanilla to be more relatable to more viewers.
I think the nib on the 74 gives you the chance to write in several styles and refilling more often isn’t really that difficult, is it? Gives you a chance to open the ink bottle, etc. I appreciate this “fast” and it makes me question why I feel the need to acquire a new pen every so often....and then another case because there isn’t enough room....and then another. Penaholicism?
hahaha! It certainly feels like some sort of "ism" or addiction! You are right, refilling is no big deal. I would miss writing with a juicy nib for a month though.
You sound like me. I had to think hard if I wanted to do this. Giving up using some of my schedules (Hobonichi Weeks) was a tough one. I had to clear off my desk so I didn't "automatically" use something else...
@@InkyRocks That would be my problem. I am willing to reduce to one type of paper. I am not sure I am willing to give up my planner (or hope that I didn’t have anything important to add to it).
I added corrected English subtitles for those of you that use them (NOT the normal auto generated.) I also added computer generated subtitles for 9 other languages. Click the CC to get them (and the "settings" icon to select the language you want it in.)
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you for italian sub, very gentle 😊
The 74. The versatility of the SFM nib trumps the small converter issue (for me).
I agree, I think u could also use the con 70 converter in it so the small converter issue can be solved because the con 70 holds a lot of ink.
@T Sherbs The SFM nib also aligns with my writing height. Normally, I like small converters because I use so many different inks--I can't believe I'm discussing ink amounts now!
@FifaBros 855 It does! I dislike it because it's hard to clean, but since I'm only using one ink, that shouldn't matter. I'm living in topsy turvy world, for me, now!
Refill the Pilot cartridges over using the CON-40.
The advantage of the PC 74 is that it can hold the CON-70, Pilot’s best converter. And comes with the converter included. Heck, luckily so can the Pilot Kakuno.
I have been on a buying hiatus before because I felt that I was not using the pens that I had felt I must have. I started buying again, but now I am reaching that place again. Great vid.
I use pens & ink as a distraction sometimes, from issues I don't want to deal with.
Thank you so much! I agree, sometimes waiting for something in the mail for that little pleasurable jolt, is a distraction. It's sometimes hard to tease out my different motivations.
I like the way you're approaching this...cleansing your palate. I would choose the Pilot with the fine nib, but I think the medium seems to be better suited for your use. I'm curious to see what you choose and how it works out. I'm also looking forward to the Bokumondoh video.
I had to. I think it makes it more fun for me looking forward to having more fun after it's over. I've been a busy bee filming all this stuff in preparation for not being able to use the stuff for a month. Now I just have a bunch of editing to do!
If I was going to use only one pen for a month it would be definitely by one of my Preras. ❤️ those pens.
Jackie I’m so with you on that! I have one Pilot Prera in a fine and I love it so much!
@Jackie Parkins They are awesome pens! I think they are frequently overlooked. For some reason, I have more than one...hahaha!
@Chere Liu I love mine too!
Darn, I realize I still don’t have a Prera. I remember wanting one with a solid color, but couldn’t find one I liked. Or the nib of my choice. Instead, I have the similarly sized and splendid Lucina and Legno pens from Pilot.
I love your videos. They always have such a calming soothing vibe.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoy them!
Thanks for the mention. Pilot Blue Black is an excellent ink. Also shades a bit. My choice would be the Pilot 74 with SFM nib. I love their soft nibs. Refilling a converter not a decider for me. Enjoy the 30 days, not something I would do but an interesting exercise.
Thanks Chris! I don't know if I'll "enjoy" the 30 days but I'll try hahaha!
I predict that this pen, ink and paper "fast" will be a worthy and healing project.... maybe one day I'll get brave & try it ... kind of like One Book July in a way. I'm definately in need of enjoying what I have & stopping the acquiring until I've inked all my pens and made many choices lol. Have a great experience ... I can't wait to hear how it goes!!!
Thanks Chris! I had not heard about the One Book until the comments section of this video! It sounds like a cool idea! I knew you would get the "fast" part haha! In the end, it's just stuff. Stuff I really enjoy, but still just stuff. I think I'll enjoy myself!
You went to the extreme, but I am now roughly where you wanted to get with this challenge. I own 2 fountain pens: Kaweco Sport that I use to write at work and carry around and Kaweco Liliput in brass that I use for 'serious' stuff, mainly journaling. I also own just 2 inks: Sailor Souboku and last month I acquired Sailor Seiboku, to stir things up. :-) When I need some colour for titles I use one of my 2 Pigma Micron fineliners. The only notebook I use (apart from those at work) is Leuchtturm 1917. I am quite happy with that. The problem is, that I went little too far in the rabbit hole and now I am looking to get where you are now. I am considering buying my first (and second) gold nib pen. At the same time I am really worried where that will lead me. How many pens/inks/notebooks will I end with? Am I just going to make my life more complicated without getting anything meaningful from it? I guess I am really looking for somebody to tell me to stop where I am now, that less is more and that I don't have to experience expensive and more pens, if I am alright with what I have now.
I love your comment because I kind of asked myself many of these same questions. I'll voice an opinion that many people don't like (and will explore in a later video) but gold nibs are in no way shape or form better than steel nibs. When you buy a gold nib, it is like jewelry---you are upgrading the material not the function. A steel necklace is just as good as a gold one, but we like gold ones for esthetic reasons. If you are happy with what you have, stop buying. When you see something new that you think you want, would you be willing to sell one of the pens you already own to purchase the new one? We just had a pen meet a few weeks ago and one of the attendees had a very small but curated collection (maybe 4 pens?) He enjoyed them. You may think about collecting along those lines.
"Pen fasting" ??! Ha! I love it ; it suggests an increased awareness post fast of your entire collection, of feel, form, look, and insight.
Quidado, however : when rather younger I did the entire fasting/ yoga/ shankaprakshalana routine....for two weeks---- it led directly to a lifelong obsession with food!!
Exceptionally thoughtful review as ever, and ohhhhhhhh, that voice...!🤗😌😂❤️
Thank you so much! That is such a great way to put it for how I will feel after my 30 days (I would imagine--need to complete it first!) I've always had an obsession with food hahaha!💕
"Good Luck"; that's what they said to Lindbergh when he left for France in 1927. Yours is a similar journey, fraught with danger and impossible for most of us. The best I personally can manage is to go with only one pen for a single day.
Thank you! I'm going to align myself more with Amelia Earhart...but she didn't make it back...Yikes! Like you, I haven't been able to go more than a day either. I'll need that luck hahaha!
@@InkyRocks More of an Amy Johnson, perhaps?
@@archivist17 Ah! Much better!
I use all my pens in a year and keep track of them. I do this because I want to enjoy them--I'm in some pen groups where people go overboard with pen and ink acquisition. It's good to slow down. Enjoy minimalism!
Thanks! I don't know if I'll "enjoy" it but I'll try! Acquisition is no fun if you don't enjoy them!
I would probably use the Twsbi because I love stub nibs.... but looking forward to seeing what you chose!
I love stubs too! It's probably my most requested grind on my "normal nibs."
I was thinking the 74 👍🏻 The nib seems to be better for your writing style with the 30 days in mind 🙂 Where was ‘The Executive Notebook’ from? Am guessing a shop and not just online?
Thank you! The 74 seems to be the most popular so far! I got the notebook from Ink and Volt online. It's a collab with the Japanese company Kunisawa.
Oooh I think I want to try this later in the year. I'm excited to see which pen you chose!
Several people are doing the challenge right now too! I'm interested in what they got out of it. Some of my results so far are rather interesting!
Hi Alesa, for me I would like to see how the 74 performs over 30 days. will have to look for that Tomoe River notebook in Australia, I like the layout. I can't wait till you post those upcoming videos you mentioned, sounds great. Cheers Peter...
Thanks so much Peter! The journal seems to be sold on quite a few websites. I believe it's made in India. I have a MOUNTAIN of editing to do now!
I’d definitely go with the 74. It’s a versatile pen with a great nib for the money.
Hi Gary, hey I also want to know where those clear envelopes come from. I must’ve missed that on the video your letter was mentioned it.
Thank you Gary! It really is a great value!
Great idea. You are brave person for using a CON-40 for your Custom 74. I switched to W CON-70 for all my Custom 74s.
Thank you! I use the CON-40 because I normally change out inks often--but the 70 would definitely be more appropriate for this!
I've thought of doing this. But I need a stub for my journals and a medium or fine for other writing. So I would choose two pens. If I had to choose from the ones you show? I don't think I could do it!
hahaha! I know I'm going to miss A LOT of my pens. But a month will fly by! You could try it with two pens!
@@InkyRocks it occurs to me that I could uses a Pelikan 200 and switch out the stub for a fine nib. That would work I think. However, I'm not sure I want to clean out the nib twice a day, so I suppose I could do a "two-of-the-same-exact-pen" challenge: one stub and one fine m200. It would be another way to get back to basics.
@@katherinesmith235 It would! Pretty cool too--being the same pen!
I think this is a super intriguing concept. I've always wanted to do something like this. Personally, I'd go for the custom 74. Good standard pen with a nice nib - and the fact that you're only using one ink makes the small convertor slightly less painful!!
You should try it Aidan! What I'm finding already is that I carry my one notebook and pen around everywhere! If you do it, let me know and I'll include your feedback in the wrap up video.
@@InkyRocks Yeah, sure I'll give it a go! I'll let you know how it goes!
Another fantastic and thoughtful production. Thank you.
Thank you so much!💞
Best of luck! Looking forward to hearing how your challenge goes. I feel I’m at a point in my collection where I have all the pens I want and am now trying to reduce my collection to those I truly, truly love. But I don’t know if I could go with only one pen/ink/journal for even a day, so hats off to you!
Thank you! I may eventually go to a "one in and one out" kind of thing. But I think I will have to address that later as there may be a bit of a spending spree after the 30 days! (spending, using pens in both hands, bathing in ink etc)
I would definitely choose flex and versatility over convenience. And refilling a bit more often isn't that much of an inconvenience either when you keep using the same ink. You don't need to clean the pen every time.
That is so true. Not having to clean the pen because it's the same ink does make it better!
Ever since you posted this video, I began to rethink my thoughts on my collection. I found myself overthinking what pen to use next after I finished a fill. Inking up too many pens would also bring me to the same thoughts. It surprisingly stressed me out. So, I decided to sell off a good portion of my collection and keeping 3 pens. I hope it stays this way for awhile especially since there is constantly new stuff coming out!
You are so right! I kind of think of my "pen budget" as a big eco-system where I sell stuff that doesn't meet my needs at the current moment and get a chance to buy new things. I do keep some sentimental and collectable pens though as they make me happy just looking at them! Three pens is pretty committed! But I'm still in the middle of my 30 day challenge and I can tell you, it does make you feel a lot less stressed!
This is a very good video and food for thought. There must be something in the air. Similar questions have arisen in other collecting circles. BTW, min 5:06 3rd from left: May I know what fountain pen that is? 😬
Seriously? I had researched it a lot and couldn't find anyone doing this. They are probably on FB or someplace I don't go on much. It's an Atelier Lusso pen and I'll be putting out a vid on that soon!
@@InkyRocks The aftermath of the pandemic and 2020 might move a lot of people to naval gaze. Not quite what you are doing now specifically, but just reflecting on collecting in general. Ah yes Atelier Lusso. I have yet to manage ordering anything from them. Perhaps I should ask: Who made the blank and what is it called 😬Looking forward to your video on it!
Go with the Pilot it seems to have the best option regarding nib size.
That's probably true. Good luck on your endeavor!
i wish you good luck and happy focusing. I'm looking forward to hearing the results...very intriguing! I would go with the Pilot 92. I LOVE that you bought the new Platinum before starting. That made me smile. I'm so happy I made you chuckle with my Chic Sparrow post to yours over on Instagram. The struggle is real! Take good care and thank you for your videos. Love'em!
hahaha! I KNOW! I felt a little guilty about moving my schedule around so I don't miss out on a pen I want! But maybe by day 20 or so, I'll be glad I did!
I love this! I can't wait to see how this goes!
Thank you so much! Hopefully it won't be a car wreck. But then again, if it is, it would make an interesting video!
I have inadvertently been using my new M800 Black/Brown with Lie de The this whole month! Did not expect to do it, but I just put it out on my desk since I got it, and haven’t been able to put it away.
That, obviously, is a keeper! Always nice to like a pen/ink that just works!
No hobo weeks? For a month? Omg!
That’d be the most difficult part for me. I love the Prera, but choosing one single pen? Mmm 🤔 it would be hard between a F and a M, but I guess if you are only using one with a relatively boring ink I would go for a F. Piston filler. I would go for the Pilot with the piston filler.
Pilot generic? I’d say consistent! :) I like the look of that 74, SFM. Wish they would come in different colours, I already have one in SF.
hahaha! Sorry about the Pilot slam! I guess what I really meant was that Pilot doesn't run around chasing special editions like Sailor. I'm not using ANY OTHER paper other than what's in the journal. I still can't believe I committed to that...
The most versatile nibs I know are fude nibs. A Huashi 90 with an ”artist nib” was for a while my sole companion, serving every need from taking notes in the margin while reading , to lettering small signs. Of course ideal for sketching.
That is so cool! You are probably right. I'm imagining myself, on the road (metaphorically), me alone, taking on the world, with my pen...
I think the comment about resell value is spot-on. Some retailers, like Usagiya and Kobayashi, are trying to deter scalpers by limiting purchases to one pen per customer. I wish they would also sell directly to overseas customers.
Great video as always, and what a cool idea! Maybe I'll follow your lead. Pilot 823, Maruzen Marine Blue, and some Tsubame memo pads. Need to turn off those daily Kingdom Note notifications...
OK. I TRIPLE DARE YOU!!! I could see you doing it. I'm not so sure about anyone else in our group hahaha!
Your Custom 74. Great solid well known pen, good nib size for you. Use the con 70 with it
This is the most popular response. Probably because it makes sense ahaha!
I’ll go with Custom 74 due to its soft medium nib suitable for long writing sessions..
Frequent re-inking due to cartridge converter isn’t a deal breaker !
You're right, it really isn't!
custom 74. Very impressed with this challenge you are starting. Looking forward to learn and also want to see how I can do something similar day after I purchased like 4 different new notebooks to test "new" paper. Thank you again for creating this video!
Thanks so much! Well testing out paper is important--so you are doing research!
Thanks for the subtitles. I use them all the time so I can understand it.
I would recommend a Jindao x750, but that is what I like to use.
I am going to vote for the 74. Refilling the converter is not that big a deal, is it?
You are right, it isn't a big deal refilling a pen hahaha! Thank you for the feedback on the subtitles. It's a little extra work but I'm willing to do it if it makes watching my video easier to people.
I'd liked to see you writing with the Montblanc Meisterstueck 146
Thanks! It was a way more difficult decision than I thought it would be.
I have done a 30 day one pen, one ink and one journal. I used my Montblanc 146 with OB nib, Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuyu-kusa and a Nanami Seven Seas Standard journal with 52 gsm Tomoe River paper. I chose the Seven Seas journal because it had so many pages in it and I was fairly certain that I would only need one. When I was preparing for my 30 day experience, I had narrowed my pen selection down to 3 - a Leonardo Momento Zero with 1.1 stub nib, a Lamy 2000 with a medium nib, or the Montblanc 146. I chose the Montblanc 146 because it was a piston filler and the nib was versatile enough to meet all of my needs. Also, the Pilot Iro Tsuyu-kusa and the Montblanc 146 paired very well together. My biggest frustration during the 30 days was color withdrawal. I wanted more color. But, it was a great experience. I am glad I did it, and I am glad when it ended.
Thank you for the feedback on your experience! Color withdrawal is something I thought about but I feel like my biggest barrier will be the lack of different nibs.
I’m very intrigued by the roller perforator tool, any tips on where I can find one?
You are the first to notice that! I was so excited about it when I saw it at a stationery store. I don't know if you can get the same exact one but just Google "perforating tool" or something to that effect, and a bunch of different kinds show up.
With your style of writing the Custom 74 would be ideal. Can you eyedropper it?
I don't know. I would imagine any pen with a little silicone grease you could. It does have metal fittings but I don't worry about that. I think I'm more worried about accidentally opening it to check the level of the converter as I completely forget that I eye-droppered it hahaha! (Yes, I've done that before--even on camera..it makes a mess!)
Pilot 74 seems more versatile for all month writing needs. If it was me I would probably go for the 92 as I like Japanese fine nibs the most. Also I really love your rocks/crystals ... They are so beautiful.
I was a big Japanese fine nib person till I moved to Japan and though I still love them, I've now become a fat nib lover too! (they are also more readily available in special editions since the Japanese don't buy them as much--win for me!) Thank you for noticing my rocks--I love pairing them up with things in my vids!
One book July here in the US is the same. One book, 1 pen for the entire month.... not easy but it bring me back to basics every time and gives me an opportunity to try out different lay outs. I liked the Mont Blanc
Thanks so much for this--I've not heard of that before. Do they even cut out paper from their journal (for like letters etc?) It might be something fun to do every year. But I first need to see if I can make it thru this 30 days. A lot of new stuff is coming out now here in Japan. That is the hardest part for me!
@@InkyRocks One Book July is a thing here in the States. You can add or delete things as you wish, but one book and one pen is the basic. Check out on You Tube MyLifeMits, Carie Harling, or just One book July. My sympathy goes to you seeing as Japanese stationery is highly addicting- speaking from experience LOL! so being right there when new things come out must be hard. Hope this helps your journey of 30 days.
So. Interesting to see what everyone is choosing! It makes me want to start journalling again with my Pilot custom 91. I love that nib.
It really is! I thought the TWSBI would have outpaced the other pens but it looks like the Custom 74 is the leader!
The Pilot Custom 74 was my first pen when I started out, so I am pre-disposed to that. Mine has the SF nib, but I think I now wish I had the SFM, based on your writing samples. Also, it can use the Con-70 converter which holds more ink (unless you are among those who hate that converter).
I slowed way down in my pen acquisitions last fall, when I took a look in my records at how many pens I had bought so far that year. But every so often I get the bug again, and I get 3 or 4 pens in a short time. Then I slow way down again. I have a bunch of pens I want to sell, but it seems like a lot of work, and a big responsibility to take someone's money for something that may not work out for them. Good luck on your 30 days, and I hope you come out of it with the results you want.
Thank you! I'm not sure what will happen but we will see hahaha! I don't hate the Con-70, it's just a pain. I almost always use a syringe to fill it and clean it. I know what you are saying about all the work to sell. That's why I sell in fits and spurts. I usually under price my pens when I sell so that I feel like I don't need to worry too much about the buyer. People say I'm leaving money on the table, but I get peace of mind and the buyer gets a possible good deal!
They are all fabulous; I'm sure whatever you choose will be great!
Thanks! I more worried that it's just one...hahaha!
Why dow we like so many of anything? Abundance? Since watching your wonderful videos full of aesthetic pleasures and soothing tones I had a think and found out that for me it all starts with paper. How it feels, sounds when crinkled, what it does with inks and the nibs of my tiny, tiny fountain pen collection. So while I have my Pens contained in one make-up bag and my inks in half a desk drawer, paper threatens to take over. Paper to wrap parcels, paper to wrap presents, paper to fold, paper to glue, paper to collage with, paper to stamp on, and of course paper to write on. I wish you joy with your pen and ink fast. It seems the custom 74 is most suited to your writing.
Thank you! Knowing what you like helps with decisions and enjoying your hobby. You will be happy to know I ordered one of those journals with onion skin paper a few weeks ago (but it will arrive when I'm on this challenge and I won't be able to play with it hahaha!) But when you said "crinkle" I thought of it.
I'm actually a pen minimilist, I only have a few pens but my day to day, my by baby is a faber-castell e-motion wood fountain pen. It's a big gusher and I love the thing - what is interesting is if your turn the pen upside down, and write with the "Wrong" side of the nib. It creates a lot finer line and changes the look and feel of my writing. So I'm thinking may be try all your pens upside down? Then make the decision?
You are a rare breed! You probably enjoy your pens more than most of us hahaha! I think this challenge will clear some "head space" for me to enjoy writing more (I'm hoping). I don't enjoy reverse writing that much, even on nibs where you are supposed to. I always forget to do that on my pen reviews hahaha!
Montblanc 146 is a desk standard easily up to 30 days of rigorous demands.
So true! It is a wonderful writer!
Custom 74...its a solid gold nibbed pen, perfectly sized for almost everyone, and they are always coming out with new colors!
I think you summed that up perfectly!
I'd go with the 74. It's got a great nib. I probably won't do this myself because the journal restriction would mess with my workflow at work, but I did enjoy giving serious thought as to which pen. It's not even one of the ones I currently have inked.
Yes, the "only using paper that is in my journal" is the most challenging thing right now. Choosing any pen from my collection would have been easier than limiting it to these pens--I would have picked a more versatile nib (soft flexy fude hahaha!)
I was thinking of the 92 for just having a fine nib for any paper in the wild along with the capacity.
Meanwhile, I'm having the opposite situation going on lately.
I finally ordered another pen after more than a year of one pen busting and only trying to get pens when there's a critical break and/or a loss. (The inner feed sleeve cracked and the cartridge peg snapped off in a pen with a metallic body.)
I had so many ideas on what to get to "replace" it and... I settled on a broad nib with a high capacity that can seal to prevent leaks.
With that pen and some standard International longs on the way, maybe I can let those lovely Sailors pass me by since they're just something out of my league for the time being.
This hobby is making the most of what I have afterall.
Thanks! It sure is!
Hi Alesa! This is a very interesting experiment and I wish you luck! =)
Now for the pen, well, clearly there is no right answer within your line up. Pelikan, for sure! hahaha! j/k! But seriously speaking, the Pilot Custom 74 definitely gives you more versatility due to the nib. And I wouldn't mind refilling every other day or so. If you have a Con-70 converter within one of your pens, that would be so much better. Have fun!
Hi Franz! Thanks for stopping by! I know you love your birds--maybe you should try the challenge with one of them hahaha! (PS I always remember your explanation about macro lenses when you came to Hawaii. It's now my most used lens!)
I’d go with Pilot Custom 74. A wonderful writer with the soft fine nib. So versatile.
Thanks! It really is a great pen!
Aren't you brave!!! That's quite the selection ... and varied. I have most of those pens (not the Custom 74), but to be honest, I have others in my collection that I would chosen besides those 4. But of the 4 you have presented, the #146 would be my choice. I've owned one since the late 1980s and adore that pen. I'm interested to see which you chose and to hear how the process went for you! :)
I think the correct word is "crazy" hahaha! I wanted to make the pen's as vanilla or generic as possible to make it more relatable to more people. If I really thought about it, I probably wouldn't have done the challenge at all hahaha! Thanks Rick!
@@InkyRocks All the best to you. I'm sure it will be quite a challenge!
I have the Custom Heritage 92 and the Pilot 74. I like them both but in hindsight I should have purchased them in a (M) nib instead of the (F). After watching your video on the Platinum 3776 series I purchased one in the tortoise livery with the (M) nib. Received it yesterday and I haven't put it down since. Very enjoyable writer! I saw Appleboom's video featuring you not long ago. I loved it! I was pleased to see you are a former flyer. Military it looked like. I loved your bio. Very impressive I must say. I'm a corporate pilot by trade and have been flying for 45 years now. Kudos to you! Your videos as always are fascinating and usually end up costing me money. Lol! No buyer's remorse though. I know these videos take a a lot of effort to produce so thank you for sharing them. My 30 day restricted daily driver would have to be my Pelikan M800. I have several Pelikans but this one seems to have a sweet spot. Best thoughts to you!
Thank you so much! It's wonderful to hear from another pilot that loves fountain pens! I'm glad you are enjoying your 3776--I love those pens! That M800 is an ideal pen. I thought the 600 was more my size but lately I've been eyeing the 800--but not for the next 30 days hahaha!
@@InkyRocks Cold rainy day here today but no challenge for a big bowl of curry udon. I have a 4 day trip tomorrow and I'd like to take my new 3776 but fountains don't do well at altitude. At FL410 we can still keep an 8000 ft cabin but the pens will leak. Even some roller balls will too so I'm relegated to a ballpoint. I soften the blow with Pelikan ballpoints. :) I have several M600s (7) and I like them too. Just got the M600 red tortoise last month and it's a really nice writer too. (F) nib with Diamine Sargasso Sea loaded. I like the Iroshizuku inks too. The 3776 has Diamine Ancient Copper in it. 29 days and counting!
@@HabuBeemer Have a good trip! I have a great hack for the Pelikan ballpoint--I don't use their refills, I use Japanese ones. Love the combo!
@@InkyRocks I don't use them either. Lol! I'll have to look into what the Japanese one are. Have a great week!
Really great video. :) I vote for the Twsbi 580 with the stub nib.I know it would be difficult using that for a whole month. But interesting to se what happens to the perception of other nibs after you get so used to such a broad nib.
That is such an interesting angle! Write with a stub for a month and see if an F nib becomes too sharp! I actually was an EF gal when I started in fountain pens and I only have a few now, though I'm thinking I need an UEF soon hahaha! Thanks so much!
@@InkyRocks Me aswell. :) I started of seeking the finest nibs. Think my two first goldnibs was Platinum 3776 UEF and PTL 5000a extrafine. Since then have gone broader and broader.
LUNCH BREAK YAY. Lol. The custom 74 with the medium nib even tho refilling more is kind of a hassle. With me using my pen the way I do the converter lasts around a week. It’s not too inconvenient as it prompts me to clean my pen regularly.
Good video and nice job !
Thanks so much! One converter per week is not too bad. My problem is more that I leave so many pens inked and they dry out.
I just noticed this video is 5mo old. Lol well no wait time I’ll check out the results video when I get home.
Sounds like a nice problem to have tho . I’m not a minimalist, a fountain pen is a great luxury on my budget. I’ll be tickled when I finally can spare money for another
Hey can you please help with video timing 5:10 , wat pen is it, details , can u please reply me as am very much fascinated with its color
Scriptorum Idyll (small) in Dark Teal Abalone
@@InkyRocks thsbk u
Hi Inky, Having the means to get more pens and inks (paper too I suppose) isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As long as you’re still able to pay the rent/mortgage, etc... . Your month long experiment should prove to be eye opening for sure. Con70 cleaning is easier with a needle style syringe. Poke the syringe filled with water (cleaning compound of your choice) behind the internal rubber stopper, squirt it several times, and that pesky Con70 is clean, pretty much. (thanks DoodleBud) Clean nib/feed as usual. As always, the choice you make should be your own, but I’m a Pilot Custom man from the git-go (is that a word?). Great video, love your work and style on your videos.👍😎🌹
Thank you so much! I so agree with you--be financially responsible, try to live a good life and enjoy the luxuries you can afford. Thanks for the tips on the Con-70 cleaning. I think it's all that pushing the button while filling it that annoys me --I typically fill the converter with a syringe hahaha! I'm hopeless! Take care!💖
At the end of the video there was a big bottle of pilot blue black ink. Such a huge impressive bottle. What is the volume of ink in that? And i can get it from?
It's 350 ml and you can get it online at a lot of pen websites. I believe I saw it on Rakuten too. I got mine on Amazon.jp
I've used a single Lamy Safari EF nib for 7 years now with the same ink and a legal pad. Haha. Finally getting into different options. great video
Actually you need to recognize the purity of your experience! You've mastered the basics. I'm curious what your next step is. Thank you!
@@InkyRocks Thanks! I do love the simplicity of being very familiar with a single pen, plus I have gotten its value multiple times over out of it. That pen carried me through all of college and all of law school without a single issue.
The next step is a gold nib. If you have any suggestions, I am all ears. I didn't care for the hand feel of the LAMY 2000, and the Pilot Vanishing Point has the clip where I place my index finger. I am looking at a cigar style. Currently, I have a bid for a MontBlanc 146. Hopefully I can snag that!
@@butters6295 The best bang for your buck on a cigar shaped gold nibbed pen is the Pilot Custom 74. But that 146 is pretty nifty too!
Pilot Custom 72 I haven’t tried one but I love the look of the nib. I know how you feel about not being able to play with new stuff, my Husband has my Lamy 2000, my first bottle of Akkerman ink, a Platinum Prefonte and the Neon and Vintage sets of ink from Vinta. He’s had them for weeks on his self and I can’t touch them till my birthday next month, it’s torture.🤣. Stay Safe and have fun.
hahaha! It IS torture! But focus on how much fun it will be when it's your birthday! I'm focusing on next month! Take care!💕
Who won the Stationary kitt last week ? Who is Miss No last name ?
her IG handle is @ms_nolast name!
Interesting challenge. I'd use my Kaweco Skyline Sport, Diamine Onyx, and Rhodia Dotpad.
Awesome that you know so confidently what you would use! You understand your collection and what you want!
@@InkyRocks I just have simple tastes :-)
I recently bought my first Sailor, and I haven't used another pen since. It's captivated me. I'm halfway from a full month of use, and it just skates on the page. I can write for pages upon pages with no hand stiffness or cramping, and I might offload some other pens to afford more sailors because I've seen the light.
I'm so glad you are enjoying your pen! It is always so gratifying to "hit" with a pen!
Custom 74! Love listening to your very calming voice. Good luck and have fun!.....Julie
Thank you so much Julie! I'm glad you find it calming💕
Interesting experiment. You've set hares running. I've been pondering my pen/ink collection, buying strategy and usage. I guess like most FP users I have more pens than I need and certainly more inks than I will need to last the rest of my life. I order new pens and ink and I'm almost bursting for them to arrive. Once I have them in my hands it's a must to use them. However, within a short time I want to change my pen/ink combination. The anticipation of the arrival exceeds the actual ownership. I have concluded that I really enjoy the latest ink I'm using but its not long before I hanker for the next change. And repeat!
An (almost) honest answer to the question, 'What is your favourite ink?" would have to be the one I've just loaded into my pen. Ask me that question again later in the day and the answer will be "the next ink I'm going to select".
I think I need to try your 30 day experiment. Thank you for planting the seed in my head.
hahaha! I totally understand your thinking. One of my pen friends "curates" his collection and basically buys pens and then sells them as soon as he is tired of them. He has actually received a pen in the morning and has sold it by the afternoon. That my be a strategy you could consider also. Good luck with whatever path you choose!
TWSBI 580! Having that big reservoir of ink will be really nice for the 30 days. Less refilling (I assume) for the duration of writing, also it's just fun seeing the ink go down visually.
Yes--I'm always a sucker for a boatload of ink sloshing around in a pen!
It is important to reflect on who we are and what motivates us to collect things. In the other hand, there is something meditative as well as playful in using varying fountain pens, inks and papers. There are also studies that show it improves one's cognitive intelligence.
It was Oscar Wilde who said that "to live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist. That is all."
I believe that our pen, ink, paper habit is also a form of experiencing life differently and as long as we know how privileged we are and also use our time on this Earth to help others, we should be fine.
Anyway, I fully support what you are doing. :)
I so agree with you. My channel is a little off kilter from a lot of other fountain pen channels and sometimes I get a bit of grief over it. And as you say, I keep in mind how fortunate I am to be able to blithely yak away about inks or whatever knowing I get to eat everyday. In the end, this challenge is a cake walk💕
Love this video relaxing and inspiring. Maybe I should do something similar, and if I do it has to be pilot 823 in Medium
Thank you so much! The Pilot 823 is mentioned the most outside of the 4 I was choosing from. I don't have one, but now I'm thinking I should. 30 days with only the 823--you're going to right?!
@@InkyRocks I don't think I'm brave enough to do it, but to be honest, each time I ink up my 823 I feel like it takes a month to empty. And that's the medium nib. I recently got a clear fine nib 823 from Jacob. It's a bit concerning to see the ink level not move at all after doing 10 pages of note lol
I like the Custom 74. it looks like it will satisfy.
Yes, it's a great all-around pen!
I so enjoy your willingness to experiment! And this exercise really resonates for me because I have too many pens, inks and notebooks. It sounds like the Custom 74 is going to give you the most versatility for your handwriting..I think I'd actually have the most trouble limiting myself to one journal. I use different types of paper and notebooks for different purposes. And not being able to write in my Hobonichi planner would just be too much of a sacrifice. I'm eager to hear what you learn from this challenge. (And by the way, is the new LE Platinum 3776 as insanely priced in Japan as it is in the U.S.? I reluctantly paid for a Shiun but now I'm done.)
Thanks Marilyn! I think you are right. The most challenging thing is the paper since I'm limiting myself to just that paper in that journal. So all notes, planning, letter writing etc. Yikes! What was I thinking?!? hahaha!
Pilot Custom 74.... maybe it is not too bad to ink every 2~3 days :)
I think under normal circumstances, but I'm a bit worried that since I can only use that pen, it may be more often hahaha!
@@InkyRocks It can be a nice break for you :)
I think the Custom 74 would be my choice from your shortlist, because of the wonderful SFM nib, but with the CON-70 converter. I saw your comment below about not being a fan of the CON-70; maybe the recently released version addresses some of the feelings you have toward it, but that's a question for the future when you allow yourself to buy things again. I think the small Pilot converter might drive you a bit crazy, so the most practical option you presented seems to be the Custom Heritage 92. Final thought; nib swap the SFM into the CH92 😋
Thanks! Your nib swap sounds like something I'm really going to have to do after my 30 days. I kind of want to do something "normal" for my viewers so when I report back, it's relatable! Really, a small amount of ink doesn't bother me normally because I change out my inks so much. To tell you the truth, I fill most pens with a syringe!
It seems like the best everyday pen for you to use for 30 days is the Custom 74. Instead of using the Con-40 (which I don't like), I reuse a cartridge since they hold more ink than the Con-40. You'd think that Pilot would come up with a better converter since they sell so many awesome fountain pens!! It will be fun to see how you faired over 30 days with 1 ink, 1 pen, and 1 notebook. I don't think I would make it past about a week 😊
hahaha! I've had a few people say they wouldn't last a day! Converters don't bother me, even the Con-40 because I change inks so often. But with only one ink, I get it now when people complain about it. I guess that's lesson number one from this experiment!
I originally voted for the custom heritage 92, but I think im gonna have to say the custom 74 instead. There is more versatility there, so you can write larger or smaller. I love this idea, this is like One Book July but more intense lol, I want to try to challenge myself to do this same exact thing so thank you for this!
I'm seconding that.
Thank you so much! I had not heard of the One Book July (some one else mentioned it in the comments) before. It sounds like a cool "reset!" If you do decide to do the 30 day challenge--please don't hesitate to contact me by email or IG message to tell me how it's going! I'll include your feedback in my wrap up video!
@@InkyRocks Definitely a huge reset, back to the basics, reminds me of how I used to journal years ago, it will be difficult especially as you said with all the new things coming out, but I think the feeling at the end when it's over like tasting your coffee again- it will definitely be worth it! As soon as I am done with my current journal (about 30 pages lefts) I will definitely start a new one following this exact challenge. 💜
I've seen several pens I'd love to have lately but I have so many already and can't justify another one right now. It is so tempting, though.
I hear you. Something that I didn't mention in this video is I'm doing a big clean up and selling a bunch of stuff that I'm not using much.
I've got to try this ink... waterproof or water resistant ? You know... does a little come off with water or does it stays still ? (I voted for the Montblanc even though it's too small for me)
It's water resistant. I did a review video on it about a year ago and I spilt coffee all over the writing sample. Worked great!
@@InkyRocks Oooh... I did see it... Gonna take a second look !
I'm betting it's the 74! But the 146 would be difficult to pass up!
I think the odds are in your favor. hahaha!🤓
The Mont Blanc, it is a piston filler and it is very beautiful.
As always a very nice video full of details and it is a pleasure to watch your work.
Thanks
Thank you so much! It IS a gorgeous pen!
I would go with one of the two Pilot FPs. Probably the Custom Heritage 92 (my experience with the SFE nib -- not your SFM -- has been frustrating). Both stub nib pens disquilify for a 3o-day journey. If the Montblanc 146 had a F or EF nib I would probably choose it -- not because of Montblanc's marketing strategies but because the Meisterstück 146 and 149 have excellent ergos and a perfect balance between feeders and nibs, which make then so sweet to write with. Excelent proposal -- I think I have the same problem as you do and will follow on the lines of your 30-day project (what a test!). Thank you!
Thank you so much! First day, and I'm already having to adjust hahaha! I'm sorry you are having problems with your nib. Mine has bee pretty reliable. But that happens sometimes, much like any other product.
I love Pilot pens. For this challenge I possibly would have "cheated" and swapped out nibs to have a SFM nib on a CH 92 body.
Your video encouraged me to finally "break in" my 3776 with a SF nib after struggling with it only to clean it out and put it away for months. My challenge is to find inks that give me the smoothest writing experience I can have with a Platinum pen while drying quickly enough so that I won't smudge my words as a lefty.
I'll be watching your follow-up video with great interest.
That would be a good choice. I just tried to go generic to appeal to the largest number of people, but I definitely think you should personalize it. Are you having problems with your 3776?
@@InkyRocks My problems with the 3776 Century were so bad, I tried selling it at one point. Even after having a nibmeister smooth it out (a bit) on the sidelines of a pen club meeting it's still toothy on the upstroke. At least, the ink flow issues seem to be resolved. After I'd bought it I came across several posts/comments online that gave me the impression the SF nib is prone to being dry and a bit stubborn to fix. I've been wanting a spark plug gapping tool for the longest for nib tuning. Older models that I bought used and that have regular nibs perform flawlessly. The 3776 is a nice pen with some attractive finishes that's comfortable in the hand. But if I had known what I know now, I wouldn't have bought the SF nib.
@@yuklimka7251 That is so strange. I've had a couple of SF nibs from them and not had a problem. The 3776 nibs DO give more feedback and when I write with them (especially their plain EF or F nibs) after not using them for awhile, I am surprised, but quickly fall back into enjoying them. Most of their soft nibs I've written with have been a bit more wet than their plain nibs. That is a bummer. The 3776 is my favorite pen (I have more than I'm willing to admit...) and I'm sorry you got a bad one.
@@InkyRocks I have three older ones (two celluloid 14k and one in maroon). I'm still trying to find one in the koi finish. Among the modern ones the Kumpoo is one of my favorites since I have a thing for turquoise. And the pens at the tester bar are fine too. Let's see how I feel about this particular one after a month.
16 pens inked up? Now I am consoled as I rarely ink more than 5. Great video--hypnotic voice.
Thank you! It got out of hand hahaha!
Put the Pilot Con-70 converter that came with the Custom 74 in it. The SFM is more your jam anyway...
hahaha! I think it is!
I recently finally got down to 7 pens inked up. There's colours I need regularly, but it's usually just one colour for correspondence, which is the majority of my writing. (Currently, it's a Sheaffer Balance Jr with Diamine Sherwood Green.)
I think that I agree with the Pilot 74. I'd dug through the comments, and the upgrade in size of the converter makes sense, with only using a single ink for the next 30 days.
Thank you! Seven pens is pretty awesome. It would seem like something simple to do--ink up less pens. But it is so hard hahaha!
@@InkyRocks I've had 20 inked up at one point. 😁
Currently, 4 are vintage (usually only the one that I am using for correspondence, but I have some things that I want to show off some of my vintage pens for, so...) My requirement for a pen is it transfers ink to paper well, so I have several that I only paid about $2 for, but work well for me.
Vintage started it all for me, with a barn find grey Esterbrook J, so those have a special place in my heart, but I tend to use whatever suits my fancy when I need to refill a pen.
I have many fps and I recently inked up three of them. Today - just before I watched your video - I cleaned two of them for storage. Now I have only one pen inked up and I'm determined to keep it that way for some time. I think that the more pens one owns the greater the urge there is to use them - even if they are not required!
So it sounds like you are ready for the 30 day challenge! How about it? hahaha!
@@InkyRocks I'll certainly try. As for your choice of pen, I'd go for the Pilot Custom Heritage 92.
@@Addwrite If you decide to try it, contact me on email or IG if you want to give me feedback on how it's going--I'll include it in my wrap up video!
@@InkyRocks I will. It's been about six hours since I put away my fps - leaving me with only one humble little Pilot MR, inked with Lamy Obsidian.
I’d go with the Pilot Custom 74. The special-ness of that nib outweighs the fact that it has a cartridge converter.
Thanks! Yes, refilling isn't that big of a deal hahaha!
I also like Pilot Blue Black. Good ink and good price. Never seen a 350ml bottle. It looks like blue ponzu or shoyu in that bottle :) I love the classic ink pot too. And not bad cityscape in the window. It was also fun to hear you join in a few podcasts with CY and Jacob on Tokyo Inklings. You all must have fun discussing this obsession of ours. Aloha.
It DOES look like shoyu hahaha! Thanks so much Andrew!
@@InkyRocks the pleasure is all mine. It is fun to be part of this virtual world of FP peeps. Aloha
Technically, I use one pen and one ink each month for my journaling/planning and work, but my 5-year journal has several days that need catching up, so older monthly choices are still hanging out in my pen case! And I did have a couple of pens dry out because of this usage pattern. But you do really get attached to the pen you use. You know it, you know when it might hard start. You know what paper it loves. You know how best to post so it’s comfortable in your hand. I think I’ll keep up this pattern for quite some time!
Oh this sounds pretty cool! I kind of go in different directions and really love the pen I'm currently using and think it's the best. And then think the same with another pen I switch to. I guess I just love them all hahaha!
Custom 74...it's so popular for a reason. My house burnt a year ago this May. I lost use of 90% of my toys. During my rebirth I realized I didn't miss as many toys I thought I would. Here's to a fresh start.
Wow! I'm sorry about your house. I guess you found a silver lining--excellent discipline of your mind! I had to sell or give away or store a lot of my stuff before we moved here (living space is a lot more of a premium here in Japan) and I can't even remember what I am missing much less miss them!
Thank you...It's growth!
Now I need some Pilot Blue Black ink 😂
This is a really cool conversation. I just spent a lot of money on an Aurora LE pen, which I adore, and I know that people have some serious discretionary income.. It took a minute for me to order the Aurora, but since the first time I saw it it still takes my breath away. I feel very grateful. I like your vids. This is great.
My Custom 74 needs a nib tune, hasn’t written well since I bought it.. so I definitely wouldn’t choose that one. Probably a piston fill, the ink capacity is a plus. 💙💙💙
Your 74 looks like a divine writer, I’d probably choose that. The con 70 in it is groovy too.
Thank you! Congrats on your Aurora. It sounds like you will really enjoy it! Maybe you should do a 30 day Aurora only challenge hahaha! You would really get to know your pen. That Blue Black ink is a classic. But I think I now have more than I'll ever need!
No doubt in my mind. It should be the Pilot Custom 74. Enjoy your experiment!
Thank you! I hope I do (and it's not one long hunger for other pens hahaha!)
Good luck for the next 30 days with my vote on Custom 74 SF.
I am using two pens and two inks for last 3 months or so. A sailor pro gear slim MF with sailor blue black ink for generic writing and a parker 45 XF with lamy black ink for math writing. Not getting bored at all. 😅
That's awesome! Knowing what one likes, frees up brain space to really relax and enjoy the fountain pen writing experience! Sounds like you got it figured out!
@@InkyRocks so true. However, after watching this video, I will have to ink my pink Prera. Let me see how many days I can resist. 🙈
As always, great video! My choice for a 30 day pen would probably be my Waterman Hemisphere with a medium nib. My first ever fountain pen gifted to me by my husband. The pen that started the addiction!
Thank you so much! That would be a great pen to do the challenge with! So you are going to start today, right?! hahaha!
I'd choose the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 with the SFM transplanted from the Custom 74. I've done this and it's become my most reliable writer that my hand reaches for more often than any of my fancier pens. Hope you have a rejuvenating pen fast! :)
Thank you so much! I just need to make it thru hahaha! I may try that nib transplant--it sounds awesome! But for the 30 days, I'm trying to stay very vanilla to be more relatable to more viewers.
I think the nib on the 74 gives you the chance to write in several styles and refilling more often isn’t really that difficult, is it? Gives you a chance to open the ink bottle, etc. I appreciate this “fast” and it makes me question why I feel the need to acquire a new pen every so often....and then another case because there isn’t enough room....and then another. Penaholicism?
hahaha! It certainly feels like some sort of "ism" or addiction! You are right, refilling is no big deal. I would miss writing with a juicy nib for a month though.
Do you have a Pilot Custom 823?
No I don't. I kind of got into Sailors after the awhile and never went back to pick up the 823.
I’d have said the Pilot 74 soft fine - you can get some scripts done. Gear experiment - good luck!
Thank you so much! A lot of new pens are coming out now--Yikes! hahaha! But I think I'll enjoy it!
Mmmmmmmm......I don't think I can. I have journals and work and each take a different pen...
You sound like me. I had to think hard if I wanted to do this. Giving up using some of my schedules (Hobonichi Weeks) was a tough one. I had to clear off my desk so I didn't "automatically" use something else...
@@InkyRocks That would be my problem. I am willing to reduce to one type of paper. I am not sure I am willing to give up my planner (or hope that I didn’t have anything important to add to it).
@@brettgilland6887 Yes, and perversely, I may have to use my phone planner more hahaha!
Pilogt Custom 74. Have fun with your challenge. Thanks for all the excellent videos..
Thanks so much Barry! I think it will be more of an adventure instead of fun--but we shall see!