Hey Brian and Drew, would you consider doing an occasional segment covering the history of various ink makers and pen makers? 5 - 10 minutes about where and how they got started, what they're up to now (if still in operation) and what they're best known for?
Just one of the many reasons why I love the pencast is how it brings so many people together with different professional knowledges! All the feedback on chemistry was so fun to listen to because I really don't know much about chemistry. My specialized knowledge comes from my degrees in math: actuarial science (in my job I focused specifically on pension plans) and statistics. However, I only lasted a year and a half in the actuarial science field and I now work as a writer for my church! So I'm really not sure if conversations about probability or American English grammar will ever come up in the Pencast, but I honestly wouldn't be too surprised if one day it did!! Thanks for everything you two (& the rest of the team) do!
I appreciated the discussion about "active weather", having just spent 5 of the last 9 days without electric power due to high winds and ice storms in NW Oregon. After the power came on yesterday and the house strarted to warm up, I made some hot tea and tuned in the pencast, such a comfort! Thanks for being there!
When describing two things that are similar, I like to say “half of one, six dozen of the other.” Like you, no one ever notices, or if they do, they don’t say anything and probably just think I’m just a dufus!
I had a boss whose home language was one of the other 11 official languages in South Africa who used to say "six of one and six of the other", I never corrected him but I noticed it and it grated on my nerves just as I would notice yours and cringe inside!.😅
I was down with the flu, passed on the couch, and letting the TH-cam algorithm do its thang while I battled my demons - I mean, my intense sinus headache. On came this Pencast and I immediately felt better. Then you guys pulled my feedback and question I submitted last time! I was so surprised and delighted to hear the response coming from my TV when I least expected it, especially on the MOST crummy day. It was the first time I ever wrote in and both items got featured. This “superfluous” podcast made my day a million times better ❤ and I’ll even attribute the mood boost to feeling much better the next day. 🥹 Hope you and your families both stay safe and healthy this year! Thank you for all the work you do putting this show on. 🙏
For the Baby Kakuno, it is really a dude at a rave with a pacifier, especially the fluorescent, translucent green, it fits the rave vibe. Spin the EDM, and start dancing.
Goulet already goes further than any other retailer in helping identify #5 vs #6 nibs: your tech specs identify nib length, which is EXACTLY what I want to know. My grip prefers shorter length nibs, and thanks to your providing that measurement, I’ve identified a preferred range of lengths and therefore buy most of my pens from you! 👍🏻 Just another great extra step Goulet takes and much appreciated.
I’m a project manager in Histology at at biotech company and the discussion surrounding surface chemistry of pen body materials to dye inks is just too similar to my daily discussions with scientists and engineers for dyes and stains used for biological tissues… I don’t want my work to blend with my personal hobby 😂
One of the best ways to get ink off of your hands is to shampoo your hair. A craft I used to do meant my hands were often very inky. The advice from everyone to anyone who complained about inky fingers was, "Go wash your hair!". Something about the shampoo and the hairs cuticle does a great job getting rid of inky fingers.
Drew, I feel the SAME WAY about being in active weather - what a great way to phrase that, too. Especially snow, because it completely changes the character of the landscape around you, both in a visual sense, but it also changes how sound travels, and I love it.
5:47 All this chemistry discussion in the feedback. I’m here for it! I’m a chemical engineer and do environmental consulting. I have engineers and scientists for colleagues. This sounds like random conversations I have with them or my dad who’s a retired pharmacist and knows far more about chemistry than I will ever know. And yes, Brian did an excellent job on the description of the properties! Well done. I just love these because I start thinking too.
Hobonichi planners have a quote at the bottom of each two page spread. They are usually from the founder but sometimes from scientists, authors, and artists. Some are inspirational and some are random(such as pasta cooking tips)but they’re always enjoyable.
i got my first hobonichi techo hon this year, the one with the Dr. Tomitaro Makino drawings on the cover. i haven't used it yet. - thanks for the reminder to look at the quotes - I have reverted to my Leuchhturm1917
@@darlenesluder3038It is. I wonder if they’re an authorized Hobonichi retailer because they primarily deal in Japanese stationery, though they might be an exception because both Good Postage and Yoseka Stationery where I’ve bought mine in the past sell it and have physical stores.
If you're looking at Moleskine I'd also highly recommend Leuchtturm, especially if you're taking quick notes at work. The paper is pretty absorbent, despite holding up to ink well, which means you hopefully shouldn't see much smudging!
I can confirm that .. Leuchtturm has been my go-to daily journal (I am a heavy FP user) for the past 8 years and I have been pretty happy with it .. I have diverted to Rhodia just this January aaand yep, it was worth it .. but if I should choose between regular paper you get at any store, Moleskine and Leuchtturm - the Leuchtturm would be a no brainer .. Rhodia takes the cake though :)
Drew and Adrianne did a fabulous video four years ago on Paper Quality Tiers (WN196). After viewing (and bookmarking) it, I ordered the Notebook Sampler Set, which helped me fine-tune what papers to get, since I use different papers for different purposes. I highly recommend both the video and the sampler, for anyone interested in options for notebooks and/or loose sheets.
I've used a standard notebook paper sized dot grid Pen+Gear notebooks from Walmart with my fine nibs. I like to grab them from the clearance aisle for $2 each.
I love the WM pen + Gear notebooks, especially for work notes or quick list. I've used all nib sizes on the paper. Ink does not bleed through. You won't see all the flair from shading inks but if that doesn't matter give it a try. They have all sizes, line, dot and grid.
32:42 Walmart Pen and Gear paper is very fountain pen friendly! The copier paper, composition notebooks, etc. However the steno pads are made from recycled paper and are horrible. Definitely not fountain pen friendly. I like Apica as budget friendly and Maruman binders with its loose B5 paper. Only Apica is sold at Goulet Pens.
Hi Guys!: Thanks for another fine pencast! Really enjoyed the discussion of the different Pilot pens! Some COOL new stuff, too! Watching Brian's flood was exciting! You can count me in as another Fresca fan! I've loved that soft drink for YEARS! It was the first "diet" soft drink that was actually good! For sure going to try it with some OJ! Thanks for the tip Drew!
The Justus 95 is one of my favorite fountain pens. Thank you for showcasing it. It has too many places for ink to hide near the nib, so I always fill it from the cartridge/converter. 😏
Hi Brian and Drew. As always, I love your Pencast. It feels like time with family. I had an idea about nib comparisons. You've already devoted so much energy and time to the nib nook for detail, how about a chart showing ranges of nib sizes from a Lamy 2000 up to a Pilot #30? Obviously there would be a huge logjam (see what I did there) at #5 and #6 nibs but it would show outliers and extremes at both ends. It might help collectors looking to complete sets of rare nibs or help people eliminate pens that are not standard.
Loved the TMNJ as fountain pens! When you started talking about Donatello (I was always Donatello playing with my cousins as a kid) my first thought was the Pocket 6, and then 20 seconds later... I heard Pocket 6 :D I can still be a passionate nerd Donatello, and my favourite colour is purple anyway :) Great job on that! Please do the Avengers next
When Pilot first started importing fine writing instruments into the US (some time in the 1990s I think) it was all sold under the Namiki label. I have a Namiki Silver Dragon (basically the same one that was shown) but, while it has that lovely 3D Dragon engraved body the nib was was 18K Gold but not plated. It's a lovely pen and I find, especially for a Sterling Silver pen, it's perfectly balanced and posts so deeply that the weight is still centered below the webbing of my hand so isn't back weighted at all. I also love the wide girth of the pen! It, like the E95S, can only take cartridges or CON-40 converter (or a discontinued(?) squeeze converter that came with my pen). I have to admit I do like using cartridges for convenience and portability when travelling. I usually stick to the standard Blue or Blue/Black Pilot/Namiki cartridges but have used some of the recently distributed Pilot Iroshizuku cartridges (but really dislike the ultra-high cost of them, even with the standard discount). Ok, I'll stop my rant! 🙂
I was shocked when you mentioned that the new Sheaffer bottles can’t be found anymore 😭 I bought four bottles in 2022 from a UK seller and I love them, already finished one bottle. They are indeed great for both dip pen use and for filling pens with the little internal inkwell. Here’s hoping they bring them back again…again!
2:07:31 Even though color changing ink is not included in the “FP Ink: More Fun Than You Might Think!” video, is still an amazing summary of all the cool things FP ink does 🎨
11.22.63 by Stephen King was a great book. Picked it up on a whim at my local Costco some years ago and was hooked from page one. Inhaled every word in about a week. The series was also very good.
The soft nib Q&A segment inspired me to give my Custom 74 another try since I've been having issues with tight tines. I knew the risks and eventually decided to learn how to tune it. I learned quite a bit from it and now my pen writes well! I did feel how close I was to the edge of that cliff though, phew! 😬I definitelly lucked out.
A question for a next Pencast: What are some brands that do not have pens models throughout the whole price range for fountain pens, but wish that they had? Like for an example a brand that only has pens in the higher price ranges that you would wish would make a pen in a more budget friendly price range, or vice versa?
I zoned out and heard them talking about pacifiers for kids, and the switch from pacifiers to a new Benu pen threw me off guard, but then I realized this is a pencast so I just accepted it and kept on watching as if nothing happened
Re: loud rock concerts. I'm a musician and concert junkie, and I go to all sorts of shows and play in a few bands ranging from small jazz combos and bebop to rock and metal, and I don't have any hearing loss thanks to buying some really excellent ear plugs that don't muffle the sound, so I can still hear everything but don't have any ringing or damage after the show. I recently upgraded to custom molded ones that fit my ear exactly, but back in college when I was gigging three nights a week between 4 bands, I grabbed a pair of "Earaser" music earplugs that allowed me to play on loud stages, hear myself and the rest of the band, and still have perfect hearing after the fact. I absolutely recommend them to anyone who goes to concerts of any kind regularly, or has any interest in doing so. I go to three or four shows a month and never deal with ringing or hearing issues.
For a filter for nib size you could maybe go with the length of the nib? Like ranges of the measurement in millimetres or something from the grip section to the tip. Then you don't have to complicate things by trying to explain all the different numberings of different brands and stuff, but people can still select for pens with similar size nibs. Doesn't solve the can the nibs be swapped out part though.
I like your discussion about soft nibs. Platinum soft nibs are not for line variation but the feel is certainly different. Pilot soft nibs are fabulous for their feel and will provide a nice line variation in normal writing. Not for calligraphy for sure. Providing character is what I look for. Pineider Quill nibs are fabulous, bounce with nice variation. You forgot to mention Leonardo / Jowo elastic nibs. They are wonderful.
I got back into attending metal concerts after a 20 year hiatus, and now wear ear plugs. I spent the 80s and 90s at gigs by the biggest and loudest metal acts, but stopped when I started working as a sound editor, and had to protect my hearing. I do have some tinnitus, and the bands I can afford to see now play smaller venues so sound correspondingly louder. The plugs attenuate the volume to manageable levels, and I no longer feel "stunned" or cotton eared after a show, and there's no recovery time. (Not like the days before safety laws!😁) My plugs are transparent silicone, so they're discrete and hardly noticeable unless you look right at my ears. I've noticed that younger audience members these days are quite confident about wearing brightly coloured plugs. It's good that concert goers have options for convenient hearing protection. 🤘
The Goulet #6 nibs work really well in the Kaweco Supra. I have the 1.1 Goulet stub in my Supra and it works super well with tricky inks inks like Organic Studio Nitrogen.
I received a Pilot/Namiki Sterling Silver Dragon for Xmas. It’s a broad nibbed pen, has a Con-50, and is extremely smooth. I love it, despite it really being a bit too broad for me. It’s very smooth, reminds me a bit of a Parker “51”which in turn reminds me of riding in a Cadillac.
I'm a Stephen King fan from WAyyyyy back. 11/22/63 is by far my Favorite title ever. I even suggested it to Brian (in Audiobook form!) because it reads more like historical fiction than horror. I highly recommend it!
I’ve always loved sterling silver in pens (even if it’s just the cap). I own the sterling Pilot Silvern (Tsumugi). And I love it dearly. I chose to buy it directly from Japan for $435. Terrific value for a superb sterling silver pen with a great 18k gold inlaid nib. More people ought to look at it and consider buying it. I own two E95s pens with the very similar looking inlaid (albeit 14k) gold nib. Both of mine are M nibs. I think the Silvern’s 18k (M) nib has nearly the same springiness as the 14k on the E95s. Edit: I’m extremely fond of my Justus 95. Such a unique pen. I own the striated/lined model with gold trim. I also use both the H and S settings. I sure prefer the Justus 95 to the identically priced PC 823/743 etc..
A suggestion for Archer! Mix heated maple syrup with fresh snow and it becomes a delicious sticky taffy-like treat! (In southern Pennsylvania it's called spotza, but I think it has other names elsewhere.)
Bock numbering system is actually not the same as JoWo’s; they get called the #5 and #6 but not by Bock. And their nib housings aren’t interchangeable. So it’s ALL complicated.
As someone who is super new to fountain pens, I am interested to know what I guess lower cost pens would get me the best range of nibs to learn what i like.
My son called pacifiers "baby lids" which I think is awesome! He was a thumb kid. He's now a writer in his late teens. He uses the Clairefontaine Classic 8.5" x 11" spiral-bound notebooks that are Meade notebook size with his fountain pens, and I think he filled 3 or 4 of those in 2023. I really enjoyed this episode!
Drew! I'm as neurodivergent as they come, but I also really love music. I don't so much go to indoor concerts anymore, but I did in the Pre-COVID beforetimes. Regarding Archer and concerts, have you heard of Loop earbuds? I promise I have no affiliation with them, but they filter out excess sound, while still allowing some through. They're pretty well-known in AuDHD communities for just that reason. Also, if they don't provide enough protection, or in-ear things are too much sensory stuff, there's always noise-reducing earmuffs -- just the general kind used for working with power tools, or whatever. They're a lot more visible, but also can provide a lot of protection, depending on decibel level, and can be more comfortable for some people than earbugs. Also -- sunglasses in concerts! It helps *so* much with the strobing/flashing lights, bright colors, and general overwhelm. Sitting farther away, like in the nosebleeds can help a lot, too, as can being near an exit, or outdoor/lawn seating when it's offered. Brian, I'm so sorry about the turn your outdoor adventures took! But your videos and photo were so beautiful. Nature really is astounding, gorgeous, and awe-inspiring. As someone who used to love hiking, camping, and swimming, and who now usually can't due to health issues, I can't tell you how much it means to see all the pictures of your woods and nature escapades. It's like getting a window and mini virtual vacation into the types of things I used to love. I know it sounds silly, and the Pencast is theoretically supposed to cover, well, pens, but getting to see pictures and videos of your outdoor adventures truly does my heart good.
@@Gouletpens They are the absolute best thing since the original NES, which yes, would be blasphemy, if it weren't so true. They make them in sizes specific for kids, too.
after chasing soft and flex vintage as a sample in my library, I find it to be more finicky the more the soft and flex characteristic is added; you have this gold material itself being shaved a little to make to look like a beak, behind the tipping, or under, sometimes a little closer to the feed, or just designed so slimly, on top of being slightly downturned or upturned, which to me, seems like it alters the response and feel to pressure. they all make pressure and speed while writing kind of necessary and highly particular between eras and brands. If you just want soft and smooth-ish without line variety, Large 21k nib from modern Sailor, medium nib at minimum actually does soft better than their 80s 21k, or Pineider quill nib. some 'soft' nib feels toothier than their regular nibs, letting me know that it really dislike any pressure on cross stroke, these ranged from 60s Platinum pocket Soft, to extra soft Nakaya(downturn+side cuts), but they don't do line variety as intentionally as Pilot custom do, albeit limited. IMO, the downside of soft nib pens is how particular each of them mostly are, you might find a true flex that you like, you might find a very soft nib that you like, but instead of luck of the draw, these are mostly undocumented or rarely shown, spoken exactly about the particularity of the nib.
1:22:49 Drew, you should definitely watch the HBO live action Titans. It was my first introduction to the characters and I loved it! It's so dark . It doesn't feel like a superheroes show, it feels more like the Sandman. I guess it's because it's not meant as a show for kids. There was one episode that broke me a bit, so well done. Give it a try.
One of my favorite stationary accessories sites is online only (as far as I can tell based on their website and content), and Hobonichi is the most popular planner on their site. 🤔🤷🏽♀️🤞🏼
JetPens? I wonder if they have a different/special relationship because the company was originally founded on pens from Japan. Or maybe they started selling Hobonichi before the physical store rule started. 🤷🏾♀️ They also sell non-USA pens like the Pilot Elabo (Falcon in USA) but those don't include the 'Pilot Corporation of America' warranty, like the Falcon.
Drew, when I was a kid, we were told; don't eat snow cream because of all the radiation in the atmosphere, from nuclear bomb testing. We ate it anyway 😂 I love changes in weather too! I wish that I had studied to be a meteorologist.
RE: composition books- If you’re looking for something cheap or emergency paper, look for where it’s made. Composition books made in Vietnam or India (sometimes China, but that’s hit or miss) tend to be found at dollar stores and grocery stores and are very fountain pen friendly, as school children still use fountain pens. I vastly prefer better paper, but if it’s for work, it’s a step up from the usual.
Composition notebooks: 8 times out of 10, the cheapest generic composition notebooks I can find at target, Walmart, even the grocery store are actually very good for fountain pens, showing sheen, no feathering, etc. Look for non-recycled paper that is bright white and smooth. Test discreetly on the last page of the notebook to be sure, and donate any that don’t work to a school supply drive. You are only risking $.50-$1!
I absolutely love paper, but I had my work cut out for me when I got into the Fountain Pen World nine months ago. I started out getting a sample pack to find out what paper was good. My favorites are the Maruman Mnemosyne front and foremost, Clairefontaine, Apica, Kokuyo Campus. Moleskine is not fountain pen friendly IMO only, but I love the feel of it, It feels like smooth leather, I believe this should only be used with ballpoint, rollerballs, or gel pens. Some of the composition is good for notes and they are not that bad. They have to be smooth and not just regular feeling notebook paper. Pen & Gear (Walmart) is a good brand too. Just my two cents. Brian and Drew always has good advice. I hope that this helps someone that are at a loss.
Ok, a question...How much does the nib size have to do with/or affects/effects the writing size? What I mean is does a size 6 nib in an extra fine write the same as a size 5 nib in an extra fine? Does the nib size effect the line size?
The bottles that Scrip inks used to come in had a glass shelf built into the side, so when the ink got low, or whenever the writer felt the urge, the bottle could be tipped and the ink would flow to the side and then be caught in the shelf, so less ink was wasted and less got on one's fingers. Recently I bought a modern Shaeffer pen bundle that included one of those bottles, but it was not quite the same. The original cap, as Brian recalled, is the same size as the bottle, is metal, and is prone to first rusting and then disintegrating altogether. Some show up on sites like Etsy and EvilBay.
Loving the hoodie vest, Brian! We called a pacifier a "gosee." My youngest sister was the only one who ever had one. We were perpetually looking for her pacifier, hence the instruction to "go see" where she had dropped it. I'm pretty sure no other family has used this moniker. I have a vintage Pilot Custom Sterling, too. I love absolutely everything about that pen!
The key (for me, anyway) of dealing with nervousness in public performance (as a musician) is to channel it into more energy. One of the main reasons that there are no large settlements on the lower Mississippi is that the Mississippi river historically would change course. Like your creek.
Hello! Thank you for answering my question. I asked this because I was looking for pens with bigger nibs. It was challenging to google this since the search terms would overlap with nib tipping size instead of the physical dimensions of the nib itself. The nib length listed on your site really helped though! Anyway thanks again!!! 🎃 Edit: I've seen some good suggestions already on the comments. I'll go give 'em a thumbs up!
To the composition book discussion, I recommend Kokuyo Campus B5. They are 30 sheet notebooks, but a 5 pack is around $12-15, so roughly a buck per 10 pages if you think about it that way. They are very fountain pen friendly, and come in lots of designs. They also put the same paper into A LOT of products, so you can get it in binder form, different line printings, soft ring, glue bound, etc.
I hadn’t tried fountain pens in my Campus notebooks yet because I was worried the ink might feather. Good to know they’ll be OK! I think they have the same paper in loose leaf form too for use with a Kokuyo binder.
Yeah! They are surprisingly FP friendly. As usual though, ink matters :-). The Diamine and Moteverde inks i have tried in it have looked great though. I'm impressed by their loose leaf 26-hole (B5) and 30 hole (A4) paper as well, even feels like a heavier weight and slightly smoother than the Campus Notebooks.
For nib size filtering, maybe take measurements on the length of the nibs and group by length ranges. For example nibs 10mm long or less grouped together under a filter. Nibs between 11-15mm long grouped. 16mm-20mm long nibs grouped. >20mm nibs grouped.
To Brian's question - I would use an indicator of nib sizes, since it's not always readily apparent from photos. It would be a factor among many in my purchasing decision, with larger nib making me more likely to purchase.
There is a smaller Mead composition book that has a different paper that is pretty good. Ghosts too much to use both sides regularly, but doesn't feather, and shows ink properties.
I use and enjoy the Rhodia and Mnemosyne notebooks Drew mentioned. For top quality to bring out the best in fountain pens and inks they are great. I also teach highschool and like to introduce my students to fountain pens. I have found that often Walmart and Dollar General have economy line (Pen + Gear) composition books made in India that perform quite well with fountain pens for everyday notes. When I find them, I buy one, take it home to test with a range of pens and inks, then go back the next day and buy all they have from the same lot to hand out to my Fountain Pen Adventurers.
Concerning those 30mL bird's nest bottles from Sheaffer, they have/had really weird distribution and it seems like they've been discontinued now, with some stores seemingly on their last stock. I could buy them in the UK from both specialist retailers and random big box stationery stores like WH Smith from about late 2019 until now, and they were also available in Eastern Europe during that time. In Western, Southern and Northern Europe, no retailer or distributor has ever heard of their existence. In North America, they were also available until not too long ago(Anderson had them if I recall correctly). I have three of them which have since been refilled with different ink and I do actually use them almost exclusively for dipping. There was one grey ink called "Bling" which had the tiniest touch of silver shimmer in it, which I thought was quite unusual for an ink made by a pen manufacturer, especially since it didn't mention the shimmer anywhere on the packaging.
We took my daughter to the Cartoon Network hotel for one night for her birthday present, and they had bunk beds with individual TVs and she got to stay up as late as she wanted. They had a channel that only played Teen Titans so she left it on all night. She had a blast!
For the nib sizing, you could put the size on standardized nibs, and put something like “modified #6” for non-standardized nibs, then put a disclaimer that they will not work with other #6 nibs. That way people that want to check nib compatibility can filter by just standard #6 nibs, and those that are just looking for a bigger/smaller overall size can filter by #6 and modified #6 nibs
I do like the bounce of soft nibs, but I can say an advantage of hard nibs is that it doesn't mess with my head. Sometimes the soft ones make me write slower than I want to because it's tricking my hand into thinking it needs to press harder on the downstrokes to get the line variation. With a hard nib, I don't press down because I know there's no line variation, so I can write smoother and faster.
Great video! I have to ask, as you frequently comment on how difficult it is to clean a Con 70 converter. Why do you think it is hard to clean a Con 70? I have no problem. I stick the blunt needle attached to a syringe filled with water and shoot the water right up there! I tilt the little disc so the needle will go up past it and thoot water up in it. Then I shake it around. And then I shake the converter like a glass thermomerter (to get the mercury down past 97 degrees. Remember those?) And it's clean! I don't understand why you think it's hard to clean. Please explain. Also, I loved how Drew was able to expound on the personalities of each of the Ninja Turtles so completely and eloquently! I have never seen the show, or anything but pictures of them (way past my time) and I am now intrigued. And lastly, I have a Pilot Silvern Tsumugi with a broad nib and I absolutely love it. It's great especially if the E95s is not big enought for one's hand, like me. It has essentially the same shape and nib feel, but is much more comfortable for my big hand. And I really love the extra weight. It's not too heavy. Just a good weight. Thanks for another great Pencast!
Wirebound is always a negative in my book(ha) because I end up with the binding squashed flat and the paper jams up trying to turn the page by halfway into it. How do you carry yours?
The wonky Sheaffer bottle looks to be Chinese from a Fountain Pen Network discussion ~ it has a red line arounbd the cap which I think looks neat. The title on FPN is "New Sheaffer Skrip Jam Bottle" posted by "Boiling Black Coffee" on January 13 2022 for reference.
Hey Brian and Drew, would you consider doing an occasional segment covering the history of various ink makers and pen makers? 5 - 10 minutes about where and how they got started, what they're up to now (if still in operation) and what they're best known for?
I would love to do that! - Drew
Oh, I love this idea so much! I hope they do it! I'd especially love to see the smaller companies -- Schon, Gravitas, Robert Oster, De Atramentis...
Am I the only one that gets excited when I see the video is over 2 hours long? You know that means plenty of shenanigans ahead!
You are not alone!😂
Y'all are crazy! Don't change. - Drew
Just one of the many reasons why I love the pencast is how it brings so many people together with different professional knowledges! All the feedback on chemistry was so fun to listen to because I really don't know much about chemistry. My specialized knowledge comes from my degrees in math: actuarial science (in my job I focused specifically on pension plans) and statistics. However, I only lasted a year and a half in the actuarial science field and I now work as a writer for my church! So I'm really not sure if conversations about probability or American English grammar will ever come up in the Pencast, but I honestly wouldn't be too surprised if one day it did!! Thanks for everything you two (& the rest of the team) do!
I appreciated the discussion about "active weather", having just spent 5 of the last 9 days without electric power due to high winds and ice storms in NW Oregon. After the power came on yesterday and the house strarted to warm up, I made some hot tea and tuned in the pencast, such a comfort! Thanks for being there!
My favorite malaphor: "That train has already sailed." Nobody ever notices when I say that. LOL
If you say it intentionally, is it still a malaphor?
When describing two things that are similar, I like to say “half of one, six dozen of the other.” Like you, no one ever notices, or if they do, they don’t say anything and probably just think I’m just a dufus!
@@RichardAnderson-v7w HA! That's a GREAT one! I doubt people notice it at all. I had to read it twice. 😄😄
I had a boss whose home language was one of the other 11 official languages in South Africa who used to say "six of one and six of the other", I never corrected him but I noticed it and it grated on my nerves just as I would notice yours and cringe inside!.😅
My favorite is "we'll burn that bridge when we get there"
5:31 Brian’s reaction to the chemistry conversation is wonderful and just made my morning
I was down with the flu, passed on the couch, and letting the TH-cam algorithm do its thang while I battled my demons - I mean, my intense sinus headache. On came this Pencast and I immediately felt better. Then you guys pulled my feedback and question I submitted last time! I was so surprised and delighted to hear the response coming from my TV when I least expected it, especially on the MOST crummy day. It was the first time I ever wrote in and both items got featured. This “superfluous” podcast made my day a million times better ❤ and I’ll even attribute the mood boost to feeling much better the next day. 🥹
Hope you and your families both stay safe and healthy this year! Thank you for all the work you do putting this show on. 🙏
For the Baby Kakuno, it is really a dude at a rave with a pacifier, especially the fluorescent, translucent green, it fits the rave vibe. Spin the EDM, and start dancing.
Goulet already goes further than any other retailer in helping identify #5 vs #6 nibs: your tech specs identify nib length, which is EXACTLY what I want to know. My grip prefers shorter length nibs, and thanks to your providing that measurement, I’ve identified a preferred range of lengths and therefore buy most of my pens from you! 👍🏻 Just another great extra step Goulet takes and much appreciated.
I’m a project manager in Histology at at biotech company and the discussion surrounding surface chemistry of pen body materials to dye inks is just too similar to my daily discussions with scientists and engineers for dyes and stains used for biological tissues… I don’t want my work to blend with my personal hobby 😂
One of the best ways to get ink off of your hands is to shampoo your hair. A craft I used to do meant my hands were often very inky. The advice from everyone to anyone who complained about inky fingers was, "Go wash your hair!". Something about the shampoo and the hairs cuticle does a great job getting rid of inky fingers.
I’ve noticed that!
I learned this when I took a silkscreen class in college many, many years ago.
I am so happy that Drew considers listening to audiobooks reading.
Drew, I feel the SAME WAY about being in active weather - what a great way to phrase that, too. Especially snow, because it completely changes the character of the landscape around you, both in a visual sense, but it also changes how sound travels, and I love it.
Yes! Exactly! - Drew
5:47 All this chemistry discussion in the feedback. I’m here for it! I’m a chemical engineer and do environmental consulting. I have engineers and scientists for colleagues. This sounds like random conversations I have with them or my dad who’s a retired pharmacist and knows far more about chemistry than I will ever know.
And yes, Brian did an excellent job on the description of the properties! Well done. I just love these because I start thinking too.
“I don’t wanna do work to recreate!” I felt that 😂
Watching the scientific feedback gradually break Brian’s brain is delightful.
Hobonichi planners have a quote at the bottom of each two page spread. They are usually from the founder but sometimes from scientists, authors, and artists. Some are inspirational and some are random(such as pasta cooking tips)but they’re always enjoyable.
i got my first hobonichi techo hon this year, the one with the Dr. Tomitaro Makino drawings on the cover. i haven't used it yet. - thanks for the reminder to look at the quotes - I have reverted to my Leuchhturm1917
Isn't JetPens online only?
@@darlenesluder3038It is. I wonder if they’re an authorized Hobonichi retailer because they primarily deal in Japanese stationery, though they might be an exception because both Good Postage and Yoseka Stationery where I’ve bought mine in the past sell it and have physical stores.
@@darlenesluder3038I thought they were. Very surprised to hear Brian say Hobonichi only sold to brick and mortar shops.
If you're looking at Moleskine I'd also highly recommend Leuchtturm, especially if you're taking quick notes at work. The paper is pretty absorbent, despite holding up to ink well, which means you hopefully shouldn't see much smudging!
I can confirm that .. Leuchtturm has been my go-to daily journal (I am a heavy FP user) for the past 8 years and I have been pretty happy with it .. I have diverted to Rhodia just this January aaand yep, it was worth it .. but if I should choose between regular paper you get at any store, Moleskine and Leuchtturm - the Leuchtturm would be a no brainer .. Rhodia takes the cake though :)
My favorite one that I've heard:
""Not the brightest brick in the drawer."
"He lies like a sieve".
Not the sharpest knife in the shed
Drew and Adrianne did a fabulous video four years ago on Paper Quality Tiers (WN196). After viewing (and bookmarking) it, I ordered the Notebook Sampler Set, which helped me fine-tune what papers to get, since I use different papers for different purposes. I highly recommend both the video and the sampler, for anyone interested in options for notebooks and/or loose sheets.
Yay! I enjoyed that one as well! - Drew
Cracking up at Brian saying we'll do rapid fire questions with no research! 🙄🧐🤪😅🤣😅
"...just don't tell my boss..." - Drew 😂😂😂
I've used a standard notebook paper sized dot grid Pen+Gear notebooks from Walmart with my fine nibs. I like to grab them from the clearance aisle for $2 each.
I second this!
I love the WM pen + Gear notebooks, especially for work notes or quick list. I've used all nib sizes on the paper. Ink does not bleed through. You won't see all the flair from shading inks but if that doesn't matter give it a try. They have all sizes, line, dot and grid.
32:42 Walmart Pen and Gear paper is very fountain pen friendly! The copier paper, composition notebooks, etc. However the steno pads are made from recycled paper and are horrible. Definitely not fountain pen friendly.
I like Apica as budget friendly and Maruman binders with its loose B5 paper. Only Apica is sold at Goulet Pens.
"They have a song literally named 'Jump' - Well, I might as well sit." Laughed so hard at that one.
Hi Guys!: Thanks for another fine pencast! Really enjoyed the discussion of the different Pilot pens! Some COOL new stuff, too! Watching Brian's flood was exciting! You can count me in as another Fresca fan! I've loved that soft drink for YEARS! It was the first "diet" soft drink that was actually good! For sure going to try it with some OJ! Thanks for the tip Drew!
The Justus 95 is one of my favorite fountain pens. Thank you for showcasing it.
It has too many places for ink to hide near the nib, so I always fill it from the cartridge/converter. 😏
Actually Pilot calls the one with a pacifier "BABY"
Hi Brian and Drew. As always, I love your Pencast. It feels like time with family. I had an idea about nib comparisons. You've already devoted so much energy and time to the nib nook for detail, how about a chart showing ranges of nib sizes from a Lamy 2000 up to a Pilot #30? Obviously there would be a huge logjam (see what I did there) at #5 and #6 nibs but it would show outliers and extremes at both ends. It might help collectors looking to complete sets of rare nibs or help people eliminate pens that are not standard.
My spouse would ABSOLUTELY LOVE the Chrono Trigger cast as fountain pens. And we do both swap nibs from time to time.
Loved the TMNJ as fountain pens! When you started talking about Donatello (I was always Donatello playing with my cousins as a kid) my first thought was the Pocket 6, and then 20 seconds later... I heard Pocket 6 :D I can still be a passionate nerd Donatello, and my favourite colour is purple anyway :) Great job on that! Please do the Avengers next
When Pilot first started importing fine writing instruments into the US (some time in the 1990s I think) it was all sold under the Namiki label. I have a Namiki Silver Dragon (basically the same one that was shown) but, while it has that lovely 3D Dragon engraved body the nib was was 18K Gold but not plated. It's a lovely pen and I find, especially for a Sterling Silver pen, it's perfectly balanced and posts so deeply that the weight is still centered below the webbing of my hand so isn't back weighted at all. I also love the wide girth of the pen! It, like the E95S, can only take cartridges or CON-40 converter (or a discontinued(?) squeeze converter that came with my pen). I have to admit I do like using cartridges for convenience and portability when travelling. I usually stick to the standard Blue or Blue/Black Pilot/Namiki cartridges but have used some of the recently distributed Pilot Iroshizuku cartridges (but really dislike the ultra-high cost of them, even with the standard discount). Ok, I'll stop my rant! 🙂
Have missed you guys. I haven’t watched in awhile. Love the bus discussion.
Thanks for coming back! - Drew
I was shocked when you mentioned that the new Sheaffer bottles can’t be found anymore 😭 I bought four bottles in 2022 from a UK seller and I love them, already finished one bottle. They are indeed great for both dip pen use and for filling pens with the little internal inkwell. Here’s hoping they bring them back again…again!
Can at least save them and refill with other ink!
I found them up here in Canada through "stylo" if that helps at all! Haven't ordered one yet but thinking about it. The purple one looks nice!
2:07:31 Even though color changing ink is not included in the “FP Ink: More Fun Than You Might Think!” video, is still an amazing summary of all the cool things FP ink does 🎨
11.22.63 by Stephen King was a great book. Picked it up on a whim at my local Costco some years ago and was hooked from page one. Inhaled every word in about a week. The series was also very good.
It is one of my favorite books.
The soft nib Q&A segment inspired me to give my Custom 74 another try since I've been having issues with tight tines. I knew the risks and eventually decided to learn how to tune it. I learned quite a bit from it and now my pen writes well! I did feel how close I was to the edge of that cliff though, phew! 😬I definitelly lucked out.
A question for a next Pencast: What are some brands that do not have pens models throughout the whole price range for fountain pens, but wish that they had? Like for an example a brand that only has pens in the higher price ranges that you would wish would make a pen in a more budget friendly price range, or vice versa?
Great Question! - Drew
I zoned out and heard them talking about pacifiers for kids, and the switch from pacifiers to a new Benu pen threw me off guard, but then I realized this is a pencast so I just accepted it and kept on watching as if nothing happened
Re: loud rock concerts. I'm a musician and concert junkie, and I go to all sorts of shows and play in a few bands ranging from small jazz combos and bebop to rock and metal, and I don't have any hearing loss thanks to buying some really excellent ear plugs that don't muffle the sound, so I can still hear everything but don't have any ringing or damage after the show. I recently upgraded to custom molded ones that fit my ear exactly, but back in college when I was gigging three nights a week between 4 bands, I grabbed a pair of "Earaser" music earplugs that allowed me to play on loud stages, hear myself and the rest of the band, and still have perfect hearing after the fact. I absolutely recommend them to anyone who goes to concerts of any kind regularly, or has any interest in doing so. I go to three or four shows a month and never deal with ringing or hearing issues.
For a filter for nib size you could maybe go with the length of the nib? Like ranges of the measurement in millimetres or something from the grip section to the tip. Then you don't have to complicate things by trying to explain all the different numberings of different brands and stuff, but people can still select for pens with similar size nibs. Doesn't solve the can the nibs be swapped out part though.
We actually already do that! Those measurements are listed on every product page. - Drew
I like your discussion about soft nibs. Platinum soft nibs are not for line variation but the feel is certainly different. Pilot soft nibs are fabulous for their feel and will provide a nice line variation in normal writing. Not for calligraphy for sure. Providing character is what I look for. Pineider Quill nibs are fabulous, bounce with nice variation. You forgot to mention Leonardo / Jowo elastic nibs. They are wonderful.
I got back into attending metal concerts after a 20 year hiatus, and now wear ear plugs. I spent the 80s and 90s at gigs by the biggest and loudest metal acts, but stopped when I started working as a sound editor, and had to protect my hearing. I do have some tinnitus, and the bands I can afford to see now play smaller venues so sound correspondingly louder. The plugs attenuate the volume to manageable levels, and I no longer feel "stunned" or cotton eared after a show, and there's no recovery time. (Not like the days before safety laws!😁) My plugs are transparent silicone, so they're discrete and hardly noticeable unless you look right at my ears. I've noticed that younger audience members these days are quite confident about wearing brightly coloured plugs. It's good that concert goers have options for convenient hearing protection. 🤘
Good call! Metallica in 2003 nearly killed me. - Drew
@@Gouletpens Iron Maiden 1986, at the Odeon Hammersmith, made my shin bones rattle even though I was in the balcony!🤣
The Goulet #6 nibs work really well in the Kaweco Supra. I have the 1.1 Goulet stub in my Supra and it works super well with tricky inks inks like Organic Studio Nitrogen.
Happy Weekend! Time to clean some pens.
Yes please to a blog post about compatible nib sizes! It would be super helpful for those looking to get several custom grinds done for the same pen.
I received a Pilot/Namiki Sterling Silver Dragon for Xmas. It’s a broad nibbed pen, has a Con-50, and is extremely smooth. I love it, despite it really being a bit too broad for me. It’s very smooth, reminds me a bit of a Parker “51”which in turn reminds me of riding in a Cadillac.
Happy Friday my pencast people 🎉😊
I'm a Stephen King fan from WAyyyyy back. 11/22/63 is by far my Favorite title ever. I even suggested it to Brian (in Audiobook form!) because it reads more like historical fiction than horror. I highly recommend it!
I'm loving it so far! - Drew
Sometimes, really only in very brief moments, we can understand the parents in the fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel" 😇😂
The Caliber brand composition notebook from CVS is great. They handle my pens and ink well.
I’ve always loved sterling silver in pens (even if it’s just the cap). I own the sterling Pilot Silvern (Tsumugi). And I love it dearly. I chose to buy it directly from Japan for $435. Terrific value for a superb sterling silver pen with a great 18k gold inlaid nib. More people ought to look at it and consider buying it.
I own two E95s pens with the very similar looking inlaid (albeit 14k) gold nib. Both of mine are M nibs. I think the Silvern’s 18k (M) nib has nearly the same springiness as the 14k on the E95s.
Edit: I’m extremely fond of my Justus 95. Such a unique pen. I own the striated/lined model with gold trim. I also use both the H and S settings. I sure prefer the Justus 95 to the identically priced PC 823/743 etc..
A suggestion for Archer! Mix heated maple syrup with fresh snow and it becomes a delicious sticky taffy-like treat! (In southern Pennsylvania it's called spotza, but I think it has other names elsewhere.)
It’s funny hearing you guys talk about Southwest VA. It definitely feels like a different country.
Bock numbering system is actually not the same as JoWo’s; they get called the #5 and #6 but not by Bock. And their nib housings aren’t interchangeable. So it’s ALL complicated.
As someone who is super new to fountain pens, I am interested to know what I guess lower cost pens would get me the best range of nibs to learn what i like.
My son called pacifiers "baby lids" which I think is awesome! He was a thumb kid. He's now a writer in his late teens. He uses the Clairefontaine Classic 8.5" x 11" spiral-bound notebooks that are Meade notebook size with his fountain pens, and I think he filled 3 or 4 of those in 2023. I really enjoyed this episode!
Drew! I'm as neurodivergent as they come, but I also really love music. I don't so much go to indoor concerts anymore, but I did in the Pre-COVID beforetimes. Regarding Archer and concerts, have you heard of Loop earbuds? I promise I have no affiliation with them, but they filter out excess sound, while still allowing some through. They're pretty well-known in AuDHD communities for just that reason. Also, if they don't provide enough protection, or in-ear things are too much sensory stuff, there's always noise-reducing earmuffs -- just the general kind used for working with power tools, or whatever. They're a lot more visible, but also can provide a lot of protection, depending on decibel level, and can be more comfortable for some people than earbugs. Also -- sunglasses in concerts! It helps *so* much with the strobing/flashing lights, bright colors, and general overwhelm. Sitting farther away, like in the nosebleeds can help a lot, too, as can being near an exit, or outdoor/lawn seating when it's offered.
Brian, I'm so sorry about the turn your outdoor adventures took! But your videos and photo were so beautiful. Nature really is astounding, gorgeous, and awe-inspiring. As someone who used to love hiking, camping, and swimming, and who now usually can't due to health issues, I can't tell you how much it means to see all the pictures of your woods and nature escapades. It's like getting a window and mini virtual vacation into the types of things I used to love. I know it sounds silly, and the Pencast is theoretically supposed to cover, well, pens, but getting to see pictures and videos of your outdoor adventures truly does my heart good.
I've never heard of those! - Drew
@@Gouletpens They are the absolute best thing since the original NES, which yes, would be blasphemy, if it weren't so true. They make them in sizes specific for kids, too.
after chasing soft and flex vintage as a sample in my library, I find it to be more finicky the more the soft and flex characteristic is added; you have this gold material itself being shaved a little to make to look like a beak, behind the tipping, or under, sometimes a little closer to the feed, or just designed so slimly, on top of being slightly downturned or upturned, which to me, seems like it alters the response and feel to pressure. they all make pressure and speed while writing kind of necessary and highly particular between eras and brands. If you just want soft and smooth-ish without line variety, Large 21k nib from modern Sailor, medium nib at minimum actually does soft better than their 80s 21k, or Pineider quill nib. some 'soft' nib feels toothier than their regular nibs, letting me know that it really dislike any pressure on cross stroke, these ranged from 60s Platinum pocket Soft, to extra soft Nakaya(downturn+side cuts), but they don't do line variety as intentionally as Pilot custom do, albeit limited. IMO, the downside of soft nib pens is how particular each of them mostly are, you might find a true flex that you like, you might find a very soft nib that you like, but instead of luck of the draw, these are mostly undocumented or rarely shown, spoken exactly about the particularity of the nib.
1:22:49 Drew, you should definitely watch the HBO live action Titans. It was my first introduction to the characters and I loved it! It's so dark . It doesn't feel like a superheroes show, it feels more like the Sandman. I guess it's because it's not meant as a show for kids. There was one episode that broke me a bit, so well done. Give it a try.
Thank you! Perhaps I will! - Drew
One of my favorite stationary accessories sites is online only (as far as I can tell based on their website and content), and Hobonichi is the most popular planner on their site. 🤔🤷🏽♀️🤞🏼
JetPens? I wonder if they have a different/special relationship because the company was originally founded on pens from Japan. Or maybe they started selling Hobonichi before the physical store rule started. 🤷🏾♀️
They also sell non-USA pens like the Pilot Elabo (Falcon in USA) but those don't include the 'Pilot Corporation of America' warranty, like the Falcon.
@@MarshaLove0723 Yep, that's the one.
I love the fact that I also immediately thought Benu for Michelangelo.
Drew, when I was a kid, we were told; don't eat snow cream because of all the radiation in the atmosphere, from nuclear bomb testing. We ate it anyway 😂 I love changes in weather too! I wish that I had studied to be a meteorologist.
RE: composition books- If you’re looking for something cheap or emergency paper, look for where it’s made. Composition books made in Vietnam or India (sometimes China, but that’s hit or miss) tend to be found at dollar stores and grocery stores and are very fountain pen friendly, as school children still use fountain pens. I vastly prefer better paper, but if it’s for work, it’s a step up from the usual.
Sheaffer made those bottles with the built in inkwell into the 60s. I have a few. I think it was initially designed for the triumph nibs.
Malaphors? ‘Don’t burn your bridges at both ends,’ and ‘You’re beating your head against a dead horse’ are a couple of the better ones I’ve heard.
Composition notebooks: 8 times out of 10, the cheapest generic composition notebooks I can find at target, Walmart, even the grocery store are actually very good for fountain pens, showing sheen, no feathering, etc. Look for non-recycled paper that is bright white and smooth. Test discreetly on the last page of the notebook to be sure, and donate any that don’t work to a school supply drive. You are only risking $.50-$1!
I absolutely love paper, but I had my work cut out for me when I got into the Fountain Pen World nine months ago.
I started out getting a sample pack to find out what paper was good. My favorites are the Maruman Mnemosyne front and foremost, Clairefontaine, Apica, Kokuyo Campus. Moleskine is not fountain pen friendly IMO only, but I love the feel of it, It feels like smooth leather, I believe this should only be used with ballpoint, rollerballs, or gel pens.
Some of the composition is good for notes and they are not that bad. They have to be smooth and not just regular feeling notebook paper. Pen & Gear (Walmart) is a good brand too. Just my two cents. Brian and Drew always has good advice. I hope that this helps someone that are at a loss.
Ok, a question...How much does the nib size have to do with/or affects/effects the writing size? What I mean is does a size 6 nib in an extra fine write the same as a size 5 nib in an extra fine? Does the nib size effect the line size?
The bottles that Scrip inks used to come in had a glass shelf built into the side, so when the ink got low, or whenever the writer felt the urge, the bottle could be tipped and the ink would flow to the side and then be caught in the shelf, so less ink was wasted and less got on one's fingers. Recently I bought a modern Shaeffer pen bundle that included one of those bottles, but it was not quite the same. The original cap, as Brian recalled, is the same size as the bottle, is metal, and is prone to first rusting and then disintegrating altogether. Some show up on sites like Etsy and EvilBay.
Loving the hoodie vest, Brian! We called a pacifier a "gosee." My youngest sister was the only one who ever had one. We were perpetually looking for her pacifier, hence the instruction to "go see" where she had dropped it. I'm pretty sure no other family has used this moniker. I have a vintage Pilot Custom Sterling, too. I love absolutely everything about that pen!
Now I have to buy a Benu Michelangelo is my favorite and that was a perfect description
The key (for me, anyway) of dealing with nervousness in public performance (as a musician) is to channel it into more energy. One of the main reasons that there are no large settlements on the lower Mississippi is that the Mississippi river historically would change course. Like your creek.
Hello! Thank you for answering my question. I asked this because I was looking for pens with bigger nibs. It was challenging to google this since the search terms would overlap with nib tipping size instead of the physical dimensions of the nib itself. The nib length listed on your site really helped though! Anyway thanks again!!! 🎃 Edit: I've seen some good suggestions already on the comments. I'll go give 'em a thumbs up!
I have one if the Sheaffer ink containers with the angled glass shelf thing. Haven't used enough of the ink for it to be necessary though.
To the composition book discussion, I recommend Kokuyo Campus B5. They are 30 sheet notebooks, but a 5 pack is around $12-15, so roughly a buck per 10 pages if you think about it that way. They are very fountain pen friendly, and come in lots of designs. They also put the same paper into A LOT of products, so you can get it in binder form, different line printings, soft ring, glue bound, etc.
I hadn’t tried fountain pens in my Campus notebooks yet because I was worried the ink might feather. Good to know they’ll be OK! I think they have the same paper in loose leaf form too for use with a Kokuyo binder.
Yeah! They are surprisingly FP friendly. As usual though, ink matters :-). The Diamine and Moteverde inks i have tried in it have looked great though. I'm impressed by their loose leaf 26-hole (B5) and 30 hole (A4) paper as well, even feels like a heavier weight and slightly smoother than the Campus Notebooks.
For nib size filtering, maybe take measurements on the length of the nibs and group by length ranges. For example nibs 10mm long or less grouped together under a filter. Nibs between 11-15mm long grouped. 16mm-20mm long nibs grouped. >20mm nibs grouped.
"But it's really nice!" -My defense for every pen I've ever purchased.
I have the Sterling Tiger, I love those pens, made of precious metal.
Hank going feral over snow was NOT on my list of things I expected out of 2024?! What a spry ole guy!!
He actually just turned 4! He was a young Dad. Haha! - Drew
@@Gouletpens THAT was even more unexpected!!! Hank just seems like a geriatric soul 😭😭♥️🐕
To Brian's question - I would use an indicator of nib sizes, since it's not always readily apparent from photos. It would be a factor among many in my purchasing decision, with larger nib making me more likely to purchase.
There is a smaller Mead composition book that has a different paper that is pretty good. Ghosts too much to use both sides regularly, but doesn't feather, and shows ink properties.
I use and enjoy the Rhodia and Mnemosyne notebooks Drew mentioned. For top quality to bring out the best in fountain pens and inks they are great. I also teach highschool and like to introduce my students to fountain pens. I have found that often Walmart and Dollar General have economy line (Pen + Gear) composition books made in India that perform quite well with fountain pens for everyday notes. When I find them, I buy one, take it home to test with a range of pens and inks, then go back the next day and buy all they have from the same lot to hand out to my Fountain Pen Adventurers.
Some people have said the adjustment on the Justus nib only changes how wet the ink writes and less of line variation
Concerning those 30mL bird's nest bottles from Sheaffer, they have/had really weird distribution and it seems like they've been discontinued now, with some stores seemingly on their last stock. I could buy them in the UK from both specialist retailers and random big box stationery stores like WH Smith from about late 2019 until now, and they were also available in Eastern Europe during that time. In Western, Southern and Northern Europe, no retailer or distributor has ever heard of their existence. In North America, they were also available until not too long ago(Anderson had them if I recall correctly).
I have three of them which have since been refilled with different ink and I do actually use them almost exclusively for dipping. There was one grey ink called "Bling" which had the tiniest touch of silver shimmer in it, which I thought was quite unusual for an ink made by a pen manufacturer, especially since it didn't mention the shimmer anywhere on the packaging.
These Pilot Kakunos are supposed to be a family! They are part of a "Family Series".
Yes, that's how they were marketed overseas. Here in the US, they omitted that theme. - Drew
BTW, yay for youtube community page!
We took my daughter to the Cartoon Network hotel for one night for her birthday present, and they had bunk beds with individual TVs and she got to stay up as late as she wanted. They had a channel that only played Teen Titans so she left it on all night. She had a blast!
For the nib sizing, you could put the size on standardized nibs, and put something like “modified #6” for non-standardized nibs, then put a disclaimer that they will not work with other #6 nibs. That way people that want to check nib compatibility can filter by just standard #6 nibs, and those that are just looking for a bigger/smaller overall size can filter by #6 and modified #6 nibs
Did I just hear Chrono Trigger? *hands UP!* You gotta do it Drew!
I would LOVE that! - Drew
I do like the bounce of soft nibs, but I can say an advantage of hard nibs is that it doesn't mess with my head.
Sometimes the soft ones make me write slower than I want to because it's tricking my hand into thinking it needs to press harder on the downstrokes to get the line variation.
With a hard nib, I don't press down because I know there's no line variation, so I can write smoother and faster.
Always enjoy your pencast, just wonder tho, would you consider to give a monthly currently ink from the team or an extended member.. :P
Great video! I have to ask, as you frequently comment on how difficult it is to clean a Con 70 converter. Why do you think it is hard to clean a Con 70? I have no problem. I stick the blunt needle attached to a syringe filled with water and shoot the water right up there! I tilt the little disc so the needle will go up past it and thoot water up in it. Then I shake it around. And then I shake the converter like a glass thermomerter (to get the mercury down past 97 degrees. Remember those?) And it's clean! I don't understand why you think it's hard to clean. Please explain. Also, I loved how Drew was able to expound on the personalities of each of the Ninja Turtles so completely and eloquently! I have never seen the show, or anything but pictures of them (way past my time) and I am now intrigued. And lastly, I have a Pilot Silvern Tsumugi with a broad nib and I absolutely love it. It's great especially if the E95s is not big enought for one's hand, like me. It has essentially the same shape and nib feel, but is much more comfortable for my big hand. And I really love the extra weight. It's not too heavy. Just a good weight. Thanks for another great Pencast!
60:00 I would love this for Disney princesses! Which fountain pens are Ariel, Mirabel, Aurora, Belle…?
Yes please do that!!
Corgis in the snow!
Good morning fellas! Wow am I early for this one. Today is going to be a great day
Wirebound is always a negative in my book(ha) because I end up with the binding squashed flat and the paper jams up trying to turn the page by halfway into it. How do you carry yours?
Do you plan to carry Vinta and Troublemaker inks? Love their unusual colors but quite hard to find
The wonky Sheaffer bottle looks to be Chinese from a Fountain Pen Network discussion ~ it has a red line arounbd the cap which I think looks neat. The title on FPN is "New Sheaffer Skrip Jam Bottle" posted by "Boiling Black Coffee" on January 13 2022 for reference.
Yes the old Sheaffer Skrip ink bottles with glass inkwell have metal caps. I have a bottle of blue-black with lid.
Do you have a 2 oz or 4 oz? I have a 2 oz of blue-black and a 4 oz of emerald green. I like using them in my vintage pens.