Posts filed under Blackwing

Palomino Blackwing Volumes Vol 205 Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

It's funny how widely stationery opinions can range. I've heard several people (Brad included!) say that Volume 205 of the Palomino Blackwing Volumes is their least favorite so far, but for me it was the first one where I said, "Okay, fine, I will spend $25 on a box of pencils because I have to have those". And I have not been disappointed at all.

Like all the Blackwing Volumes, these are made from sustainable, responsibly-sourced California cedar. They smell delightful. This edition is designed to resemble the stone jade, both white and green--with six of each color in the box. The number 205 is the molecular weight of Jadeite, the most valuable variety of jade. The swirling colors remind me of the marbled papers inside old books, and I find the colors light and relaxing. I've found myself staring at the pencil when I should be writing with it. The brand is printed in gold, and there is a gold ferule with a black replaceable eraser.

This edition uses the firm lead core, the same as the one used in the 602. While it is definitely firm, it feels buttery smooth to write with, and I found it created a solid dark line, and shaded nicely. I scribbled for quite some time trying to see how long it would retain its point, and was very impressed. I'm certainly going to get my money's worth from this box of pencils, because they may outlast me. It will be a while before I have to sharpen this pencil.

The eraser worked okay--it took up most of the graphite, though it did leave a bit of shadow behind. If I were using these for sketching, I'd use a different eraser. But for writing, which I think the firm point is well-suited to, the eraser works well enough.

I confess, I am not a pencil expert--I have not tried all of the Blackwing editions, so I can't even say for sure if I have a favorite. So it's rather likely that those who don't care for this edition have a reason that is beyond my understanding. But if that's the case, ignorance is bliss, and I am very happy with these lovely pencils. If I didn't think that the ones I have were going to last me forever, I'd stock up on backup boxes.

I'd love to hear what your favorite Volumes edition has been, and why. This one has me wanting to dabble more in the graphite world.

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Posted on June 29, 2017 by Sarah Read and filed under Palomino, Blackwing, Pencil Reviews.

Blackwing Clutch Notebook Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

The Palomino Blackwing 602 pencils are iconic, and for good reason. I'm a fan of the pencils, so it's been exciting to see Blackwing wade into the paper game as well.

There's a whole slew of new notebooks available, but this one is called the Blackwing Clutch, and it fits in your pocket. At 3.5" x 5.5", the size is very familiar, albeit a bit thicker than the standard Field Notes.

I have a couple of small nits to pick with the notebook, but let's talk about the enjoyable and unique points first.

Pros

The cover of the Clutch notebook is a soft but durable black material that feels great to touch. I'm not sure what it is, but it's not any type of leather from what I can tell. It's soft, matte, and strong. I love it. The only branding on the outside of the notebook is an embossed "Blackwing" logo on the bottom of the back cover.

The inside covers feature some general labeling spots that's typical of most pocket notebooks. Nothing exciting there, except for the odd orientation of the printing. That's right, this notebook is intended to be used in landscape mode! (Blackwing refer to this as "clamshell layout".) I wasn't sure what to make of this at first, but it clicked in a few minutes after writing a few notes down. It's a nice format, but not one I think is better than the traditional portrait layout for this size notebook. Luckily, if you have the dot grid or blank version, you can use it however you want. The ruled version locks you in to the landscape view, unfortunately. That being said, I do enjoy the orientation for writing longer notes because it gives me more room to write across the page.

The paper in this notebook is advertised as 100gsm, and I believe it. The paper is phenomenal. It's smooth, thick, and handles everything I've thrown at it with ease. Sure, Blackwing is a pencil company, but this notebook performs really well for fountain pens as well. Not a hint of shading or feathering appeared in my tests, and I was using some wet, brought nibs that typically cause trouble. It can be difficult to find pocket notebooks that play nicely with fountain pens, but this is one of the good ones.

Writing with pencil is also enjoyable, as the smooth paper has enough tooth to take down plenty of graphite. It's also durable, holding up really well to erasers.

The books are sewn-bound, and come in at 48 pages each. Blackwing claims that the sewn binding allows the notebooks to lay flat, but that hasn't been the case in my use.

Cons

These are thick notebooks, and the binding is fairly square, similar to glue binding. In my use, this makes it particular difficult to use because it really does not want to be flattened. It resists even after being pressed and over-bent to try and wear in the binding a bit. The notebook starts to lay flat easier once you get halfway through, but that leaves a lot of other times that it can cause frustration. As an added bonus, this also means that the notebook refuses to stay closed on its own. I've opted to use a Field Notes band to keep mine from popping open. It's a minor nitpick, but it's one that I feel every time I use it.

Another point that might turn away some customers is the price. At $14.95 per 3-pack, it's not the cheapest option out there. Field Notes are a couple bucks cheaper, but the Blackwing paper is far superior. Clairefontaine offers similar paper, but is much cheaper. Write Notepads also work great, but at a lower cost. The list of cheaper alternatives is long, but the Clutch does have plenty of unique features to set it apart from the rest. The key feature for me is the paper quality, but the aesthetic is also unique and pleasing.

Overall

The Blackwing Clutch notebooks are unique, stylish, and feature excellent paper. The layout is pushy if you choose dot grid or blank, but outright stubborn if you choose lined. The price is a bit high compared to other 3-pack pocket notebooks on the market, but did I mention how awesome the paper is?

The Blackwing Clutch notebooks are available on the Blackwing website, where you can choose between Ruled, Blank, and Dot Grid paper types. Each set of three notebooks runs you $14.95.

(Blackwing provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on June 28, 2017 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Blackwing, Notebook Reviews.

Palomino Blackwing Volume 344 Pencil Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

I'm not a regular user of the Blackwing pencils, but I've been impressed with each of the ones I've had the opportunity to try. And the Volumes Vol. 344 Series, a tribute to Dorothea Lange and her iconic photograph "Migrant Mother", is quite frankly the best pencil I've ever used. It hits all the high points for me.

On the purely practical side of things, this is a really nice lead. It takes a sharp point that doesn't shatter. It lays down a super smooth dark line, but the tip lasts for ages and doesn't wear nearly as fast as you'd think. The lead doesn't smear excessively, either. Any lead smudges a little, but this one stayed put nicely, even when I carried my sketches around. It erases well--leaving just a shadow behind. The eraser does wear down a bit quickly, but it can be replaced if needed. It's a very well-balanced compromise between dark and hard. I've often been frustrated looking for that balance. I think this nails it.

It's a good size in the hand, with a rounded hexagonal barrel. The coated wood is comfortable--smooth but easy to grip. The red foil ferrule keeps the black eraser secure. Everything about it feels solid and well-constructed. The wood smells good when you sharpen it and the shavings are gorgeous. And, maybe my favorite part--it's a creative tribute to a talented woman who highlighted important social issues.

This pencil is beautiful. The colors are meant to mimic what a pencil would look like under the red lights in a photographer's dark room. It's difficult to capture the deep red of the body color--it's a rich burgundy that almost looks like it's glowing from within. The bright red ferrule and black eraser set it off beautifully. They're very passionate colors, which I think are an excellent choice for Dorothea's passion--and compassion--for her photo subjects.

Her documentation of the working poor during the great depression led to intervention, and her photographs of the Japanese interment camps in California during WWII were so stirring that the government locked them away for decades. The red on this pencil doesn't just seem like the red of a darkroom light--there's a fire to it that is truly inspiring. Finally, the volume number, 344, is a nod to where you can locate her photographs in the Library of Congress. That's just so cool.

The reason I haven't used many Blackwing pencils is because they're usually sold by the box--and I just don't need or want that many pencils. Until now. Now I'm looking at my box of pencils and thinking I might need a few backup boxes.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on January 19, 2017 by Sarah Read and filed under Blackwing, Pencil Reviews.