The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 59 - I’ve Never Been So Excited About A Black Staple

In Episode 59 of The Pen Addict Podcast Myke and I discuss the new Field Notes "Night Sky" edition and have some pretty strong opinions about it. Speaking of strong opinions, I discuss my recent Pilot Metropolitan review and the response to it. I also finally got the Fountain Pen Ink 101 series underway.

Be sure the check the show notes for links to the references I used in the ink discussion. I plan on continuing this series in future episodes so please let me know if you have any specific fountain pen ink questions.

Show Notes & Download Links

Image via fieldnotesbrand.com

Cult Pens Deep Dark Blue Ink Review

A dark blue ink made in a limited quantity by a respected manufacturer for a pen retailer - why don't you go ahead and take my first born child while you are at it? All of my buttons were pushed with Cult Pens Deep Dark Blue, a limited run ink made by Diamine. For something this cool I was more than happy to get it shipped across the pond to my doorstep.

In my quest to try every blue ink on the planet (not really - it just seems that way looking at my ink shelf), I have discovered that I enjoy darker blues and blue blacks more than the lighter shades. I also don't like blues that are too black or show too much green. And you guys thought I was picky about my pens!

Deep Dark Blue nails everything I am looking for in a blue ink. Deep and dark truly describes the color but when looking at it on the page you can clearly tell it is blue, and that is key. When it dries you can even see hints of grey and purple. There is minimal shading with my TWSBI 1.5 mm stub but otherwise the ink performed well with no feathering or bleed on my Rhodia DotPad. The dry time was right in the middle of the range of inks I've tested, maybe even on the quicker side.

(Note: It was hard to accurately depict this color in the picture above. The top half of the page most accurately shows the color, while the bottom half is more blown out.)

Overall, I am very happy with this ink and can see having it in my daily rotation. It reminds me a lot of De Atrementis Benjamin Franklin, which I used in my Tomoe River Paper review. I'm glad I picked up two bottles up front, along with two bottles of another ink not available in the US which I will be reviewing soon. I'm such a tease.

Ink Links

-- Organics Studio Edgar Allen Poe (Inkdependence!)

-- Pelikan Edelstein Amber (East...West...Everywhere)

-- Waterman's Washable Blue (Palimpsest: Ink Resurrection)

-- Lamy Blue Ink Cartridge Review (Ink of Me Fondly)

-- Simbalion Supreme Quality Pencil 88 (Bleistift)

-- Belage (Crónicas Estilográficas)

-- Review: Kapdaa Offcuts Notebook (Notebook Stories)

-- Orange Kaweco in the Mail Today (Fountain of Pens)

-- Resistance Is Futile: Monteverde Invincia Deluxe Nighthawk (F nib) (From the Pen Cup)

-- Art Snacks June (Nattosoup)

-- Review: Quo Vadis Habana Bright White Notebook (The Well-Appointed Desk)

-- Tomoe River Paper Review (26 Symbols)

-- Sakura Pigma Micron 005 (Informal Scribble)

-- Doane Paper Goods Review (and thoughts) (The Clicky Post)

-- The Grand TWSBI Review - Part 3. A Review of the TWSBI Diamond 540 Fountain Pen (Built from Ink and Tea)

-- Review: Platinum #3776 Century Bourgogne (Fountain Pen Quest)

-- ryandonahue: Nice pen(cil) haul on this trip (doane paper feed)

-- Pilot Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku (Ed Jelley)

-- No Number Swan (Goodwriterspens's Blog)

-- Pelikan M620 Piccadilly Circus inked with Noodler’s American Eel Blue (JustDaveyB)

-- TuffWriter Ultimate Clicky Titanium Review (Everyday Commentary)

-- Pros and Cons of using a large day per page planner as daily planner + journal (Plannerisms)

-- Seven Seas Tomoe River Paper Pad – Handwritten Stationery Review (Ed Jelley)

-- My Supply Room (Scan Card System Is Back!!!)

-- Render K, I think I love you. (The Well-Appointed Desk)

-- Switching the clips of Lamy Safari (kmpn)

-- Scout Books Brand Notebooks - Part 2 (Design Concussion)

-- Paper Mate Earth Write Retractable Medium Point Ballpoint Pen (No Pen Intended)

-- Staples: Doomed By Amazon Or By Young People? (Seeking Alpha)

Lamy Safari 2013 Neon Yellow Limited Edition Winner

The Lamy Safari is always a popular giveaway pen for pros and novices alike. There is something about the design and feel of the Safari that works for many people, and it doesn't hurt that Lamy puts out a limited edition each year. The winner of the 2013 Neon Yellow Limited Edition is:

Congrats Karen! Please reach out to me via the Contact Page and I will coordinate delivery. And be sure not to hurt yourself when it arrives....

Uni-ball RT1 0.28 mm Blue + Uni Promark Highlighter Review

I want to apologize right up front for the text size in my written review above. It is hard to read but if you click on the image it will take you to Flickr where you can view it in larger sizes like this one.

With that out of the way, the small text size is exactly why I love the Uni-ball RT1 0.28 mm more than any previous version before it, even the 0.38 RT1. The original Uni-ball RT has been around for years and has had a place in my arsenal as long as I have known of its existence. The RT is a quality pen, despite the fact it is a little on the scratchy side.

The scratchiness of the original is the reason I always said the RT was not the retractable version of the Uni-ball Signo DX. The DX has always been the superior writer, but the RT1 has closed that gap, if not eliminated it completely. The 0.28 mm RT1 might be the smoothest, cleanest, finest gel ink pen on the market. Expect to hear me talking about this pen a lot.

And if we are lucky, Uni-ball will see fit to start populating the store shelves with the RT1 now that back to school season is upon us. Let me know if you see them in the wild.

Highlighter reviews are difficult to do individually so I thought what better pairing for the Uni Promark View Highlighter than with the RT1. Uni-ball already had a window tip highlighter in the Propus but made it bigger and better with the Promark. It works wonderfully, although I found myself tilting my head a lot when first using it so I could really see the words well. I self-corrected after a few lines to prevent a stationery inflicted neck injury.

The Uni-ball RT1 and Promark both improve on their original designs in every way. What more can you ask for? Nice job Uni-ball!

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)