Ackerman Pens - calligraphy and ink sketching fountain pens
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.ค. 2024
- Today I am having a look at one of my favorites G nib fountain pens - the Ackerman Pens.
Quirky, they require you to be full hands on - definitely not a beginner's pen. However, if you put in the effort and time, you can get some nice and fun results :).
Enjoy!
TIMELINE
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00:00 - Start review / line-up introduction
05:53 - Basic and Classic lineup
17:37 - Why I like these pens
18:19 - The issue with the overfeed
21:57 - Writing sample
32:52 - Short time lapse
33:56 - Final thoughts
WEIGHT / DIMENSIONS
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BASIC:
Cap on: 16.70 g / 135.2 mm
No cap: 11.80 g / 123.3 mm
Posted: 16.70 g / 150.0 mm
Cap: 4.90 g / 65.3 mm
Cap at its widest part: 12.8 mm
Body at its widest part: 11.1 mm
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CLASSIC:
Cap on: 17.30 g / 135.2 mm
No cap: 12.20 g / 123.3 mm
Posted: 17.30 g / 150.0 mm
Cap: 5.10 g / 65.3 mm
Cap at its widest part: 13.7 mm
Body at its widest part: 12.6 mm
---
CLASSIC OVERFEED:
Cap on: 16.80 g / 135.2 mm
No cap: 11.60 g / 123.3 mm
Posted: 16.80 g / 150.0 mm
Cap: 5.16 g / 65.3 mm
Cap at its widest part: 12.9 mm
Body at its widest part: 12.7 mm
MEDIA USED
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Ink: Dr Ph. Martin's - Bombay Sepia India ink
Paper: DeSerres Mix Media by Fabriano / 160gsm / 5.5 x 8.5
MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO
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www.bensound.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
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See finished drawing(s) on my Instagram:
/ eugen.borcan
NOTE
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I tend to confuse terms sometimes, so I apologize for that. I correct myself in the subtitles - so if by any chance something doesn't make sense, look at the subtitles - things might make more sense.
You have clearly spent a LOT of time with these pens. Thanks for a well considered review.
I'm glad to hear you found this information useful - thank you for your comment!
Fantastic detailed review. Thanks.
Happy to hear you enjoyed it!
I’ve had my eye on these pens for quite some time, and I keep talking myself down from them, because I suspected there would be flow issues. Seems like I was right based on your review. You managed to do a pretty cool drawing, despite the struggles. Cool video!
Thank you Stephen! :)
This is the most thorough review I’ve found about these pens. I’ve had them for a while and just recently reintroduced myself to them. Thanks for the time and effort you put into your video. (Commenting from Seattle, Washington in the U.S.).
Thank you - I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it! 😃
This is a great review. Thank you 😁
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the overview, gonna get one of these and just deal with what ever it throws at me. hopefully I can get it work no problem
I hope it will work out as well!
Excellent review. I have 6 pump Ackerman pens. I discovered that the feed should protrude over the barrel for not more, than 16 mm. Otherwise, there will be leaks. Three of my pens are inked with water based Diamine ink, other three with acrylic Liquitex inks. With waterproof inks I use the same trick like you -. I put a small piece of foam in the cap. When I start working with the pen I moisten the nib, overfeed andhe feed with a water brush and it usually enough to start the ink flow. I wonder about your experience with Ackerman pens. I think it's a good product for someone who has some competency with dip nib drawing.
Definitely great fountain pens for artists... and those that are OK to be hands on with their pens.
I keep one inked all the time with some India ink. Since I've been using the foam inside the cap, I never had to moisten the nib at all - it works right away without an issue. The challenge that I find sometimes (especially when you have too many pens) is to remember to add a drop of water inside a cap once a week 😄.
Thank you for sharing your experience! 😊
Thanks to this invaluable video,I just bought the classic edition and I would like to know if using a small ball bearing in the barrel can help with stopping ink spillage. Have you tried this in wider barrelled types? I really like to have an india ink pen that can handle detailed renderings.
I don't think it will - the small ball bearing that I have added in the thinner version was because ink was getting stuck at the top of the barrel and the ball is breaking the surface tension.
In the wider bodies I doubt it will act as a "plug" since the ball is round and the ink will go around it. You would need something maybe like a small cylinder that is the perfect size to fit snug inside the top of the section to stop ink from flowing.
I have a couple of these pens and favour the zebra G nib version with overfeed. Looking at your video I think you may have the overfeed positioned too high on the nib - I sit mine further back, about 3mm from the tip of the nib, and have not encountered any interference with the flex.
I love these pens but they do require a fair bit of maintenance. Probably due to the fact that I use indian ink I've found the pen needs to be stripped and cleaned after use unless it's in use absolutely every day, otherwise the dried ink interrupts the flow, clogs the feed and also makes it tricky to change the nib or disassemble the pen. Ackerman actually make a dedicated tool to free stuck feeds - although I've found a chopstick and small hammer to be more efficient😉
The overfeed came pre-installed from them as it was. I just keep it in the same position.
Also, I did just give it a try and the overfeed doesn't go any higher since is already all the way in, touching the inside lip of the section. The only way is to pull the nib out more... but then the nib is not in the ideal place.
So, I don't know what is going on... :). Based on my other experiences with overfeeds, I still believe that this is not as flexible as it should be.
You are right, these pens are definitely not for beginners. Maintaining them is quite the pain sometimes :).
@@eugenborcan I think your nib is too far back on the overfeed pen. The pen's documentation recommends playing with the nib position to see what works best for you. Mine sits so that the slit on the side of the nib roughly aligns with the edge of the feed. This position allows me greater flex yielding broader lines as well. But if you've found a position that suits you I'd stick with it.
@Jeremy Richardson Actually the nib is in a very similar position to what you mention. If I pull it any further, the nib has an odd rocking feeling to it.
In the video it shows off, but that is not how I use it - this was after cleaning it - when I assembled it back together, I did not pay attention to the proper position.
Que excelente vídeo nos has regalado. Muy agradecido por todo el esfuerzo y por tan completo review. Me voy a comprar un ackerman pen y buscaba review para conocer opiniones. La tuya es muy completa. Has probado con otras puntas? Principal EF por ejemplo?... Muchas gracias.
Sorry, I do not know Spanish, so I used Google translator...
If I understand correctly, you are asking about the "Principal nib"?
Ackerman pens are using flex, untipped nib - link below. I have tried the principal nib as well and it works - in the same way the G-Zebra nib is working - same shortcomings and benefits that I have highlighted in my review.
ackermanpens.com/collections/nibs
Thank you for the kind words and I hope I understood your question correctly! :)
Hola de nuevo. Finalmente me compré una Ackerman pen y es realmente una exquisitez. Fue la Classic con Zebra G. Al comienzo andaba de maravillas, luego comenzo a atascarse la tinta en mitad de la punta hasta formar una gota enorme que caia sobre el papel. Cambie tintas, pero aun así producía el mismo resultado. Mis conclusiones fueron que las puntas zebra G solo duran muy pocos días y hay que cambiarlas, decidí usar puntas vintage y comencé con una Josiah Mason que encajaba muy bien. Y debo decir que me ha funcionado perfectamente. Llevo 2 semanas usando a diario y no me ha fallado en nada. El único inconveniente es que al ser una punta vintage, cuesta demasiado encontrarla (solo tengo dos), pero ya veré con que la reemplazo cuando toque la hora.
Y bueno, nuevamente agradezco tu muy completo video y tu amabilidad para responder.
Mis disculpas por escribir en español.
Saludos.
Glad to hear it worked out for you!
Yes, the G nibs seems to be temperamental on these pens for whatever reasons. I'll try and see if I can get a hold of the nibs that you are using.
Thanks for coming back and giving an update - no worries for using Spanish... fortunately Google translate exists!
Hello from Turkey, can you please tell me Eugene? What is your favorite Ink for ideal ink flow? I have one too, but I can only dilute the ink and use it.
The top favorite ink of mine is India ink... but since unfortunately I cannot use that in fountain pens, I tend to use "Platinum carbon ink" or any other carbon-based ink.
As a fun fact, actually at the moment my favorite ink is "Iroshizuku Winter-Shogun" - has OK water resistance, but I love the way it allows you to build value by adding different layers once the ink is dry.
Thank you. Btw, heat the nib with a match for about 3 or 4 seconds to increase flexibility - I always heat my nibs before use and wait until it cools off.
Thanks! ❤
I do the same with the nibs - that is how I get rid of the oil on them, using flame. Just be careful not to overdo it - can ruin the nib that way.
I agree with the inconsistencies. I love the pen, especially in a combination with a Zebra G Titanium nib, but the inkflow and leaking can be disastrous. I have had a lot less problems with my basic pen (besides overfilling, which is hard to notice with black ink on a black pen body until you insert the feed and suddenly ink starts overflowing 😂😂 I have had very little problems with ink dripping from my basic fountain pen, but lots with the classic, especially once the ink cartridge (which I agree, is super inconsistently fitted) is either fully filled or nearly empty. But for now, the basic pen is behaving very well for me in combination with Liquitex Carbon Black Acrylic Ink. What is that band you are using to remove the feed? Just an elastic of sort?
100% agree - the Basic seems to be a little more reliable and better fitted.
I guess it could also be because the Basic was released after the Classic - as far as I know (I'll stand corrected if I am wrong) - and maybe they learned from the Classic on how improve some things.
Yes, the band that I am using is just an elastic band - usually it comes with the mail for me - when the post bundles up things for me. I keep them... useful little things :D.
Thanks for the video! I've just got a basic pen with a Zebra G nib, which I haven't used yet. I have a question, how much must you push the feed and nib in after filling the pen? I suppose I must push the feed all the way in, though this makes me wonder how to remove it without making a mess unless the pen has run completely out of ink (say, if I know there is little ink left, and want to refill the pen because I know I'll be using it for a long time where I cannot carry an ink bottle, I foresee lots of splashing around with whatever ink was left inside the pen). Any tip on how to avoid this? And as to the nib, how do I know when to stop pusing? If I insert it all the way, it doesn't look right, as the feed shows under the tines. I don't know whether it's just a matter of inking it and trying, but I'd like to have an approximate idea before staining everything.
Hello - thanks for the comment - I'll try and answer your question as good as I can :).
The feed you push it all the way in and then you have to experiment with the position of the nib. Usually is not all the way in - is just before you start to feel a little bit of resistance - but this will be slightly different from pen to pen - you have to experiment and find the right position for you.
This type of pen will always make a mess when you are trying to check the ink levels or adjust/replace the nib while you still have ink in the barrel. Some tips on how to try and avoid some of the mess...
- Definitely add the ball or spring inside the barrel - something that fits - it helps with the next step.
- Always keep your pen with the nib up before removing feed or nib - tap it gently on the desk (nib up) on any horizontal surface to make the ink go down in the barrel - this is where the ball or spring can help because it will break the surface tension.
- Carry some nitrile gloves and paper towel sheets in your back-pack - will reduce the mess on your hands and wherever desk you are working on.
In the end though, the Ackerman pens are very "hands on" - so expect inky fingers from time to time :). If you want something more "cleaner" but still able to use the G nibs, look into the Osprey pens - you CANNOT use India Ink with these pens though:
th-cam.com/video/pqOjVMHYlFc/w-d-xo.html
@@eugenborcan, thanks a lot for your kind answer! I'm lookig forward to start using the pen (I haven't been able to, yet, owing to some hectic days at work). I'll follow all of your advice.
Am tot căutat pe site-urile românești, un stilou de genul ăsta, dar nu găsesc nicăieri, din păcate... Există vreun vânzător în România?
Nu cred ca stilourile astea se gasesc in Romania... tipul care le face este din US si le vinde numai pe site-ul lui.
my pen is dripping😢 i was very disappointet about this pen.
Yeah, as mentioned in the video, kind of unfortunate with these fountain pens 😑.
I'm sorry. I wish I could hear you better!
I'm sorry to hear that you cannot hear me better.
put subtitles
I don't know what the people are doing who are making reviews for this pen but I tried every single thing I could possibly think of other than buying a special super fucking thick India ink that you use for a dip pen even though the website says you can use any type of ink including fountain pen ink. God this is so ridiculous, do not buy this pen, I have a feeling these people are getting lucky and these handmade pens are like shooting fish with a harpoon in the fucking ocean so your odds of getting one that are actually cut properly or one in a fucking million
Unfortunately that's how my experience has been as well - which is a pity, these are interesting pens.
Have you tried Acrylic Artist inks? Those tend to be a little thicker.
can’t understand a word you say
Sorry to hear that...
put sub titles