Posts filed under Fountain Pens

Reflections on Some Currently Inked Pens

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

Despite being in this rabbit hole for 6.5 years, I continue to learn not just about pens, inks and all that, but about my preferences and habits. There isn’t a right or wrong way to be in this hobby and what works for someone may or may not work for you. For some reason during the past few weeks, a few of my currently inked pens were good reminders of lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Pelikan M215 Blue Stripe

*Hard to tell from this picture but there are silver colored stripes on the barrel of this pen.*

Patience (and research), Grasshopper - I have wanted this pen for 3-4 years (maybe longer) and have seen it on eBay for very high/ambitious prices. And I am definitely not one for patience. But I also don’t want to overspend. Doing research ahead of time, including reaching out to folks who have better pulses on the Pelikan secondary market, made it easier for me to pounce on a listing that was finally in the right price range.

Inks & pen combinations matter - As I mentioned in recent ink reviews, inks behave differently in different pens (and also on different papers too). This M215 is currently inked up with Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite, which is a lovely blue-black ink. Is it a shocker that this is a good matchup? No, not really, but I haven’t used this ink since I first tried it, gulp, way back in 2017, in a Lamy Safari. I absolutely hated the combination because it felt like writing with sand and I wondered if I should dump the ink out of the pen and get rid of the sample. What I didn’t know then, was that Lamy pens can be on the drier side and that Pelikan inks are also on the drier side (to compensate for their wetter nibs), so that combination was doomed from the start. What’s sad is that I was hesitant to try the ink again, even though I learned more about pens and inks since 2017. I’m glad I decided to try the ink in this pen, because it flows just perfectly from this pen, and it’s a great match colorwise, too. I’ve also since learned that it’s ok to empty out a pen if the ink just isn’t doing it for you. Life’s too short to write with a bad combination.

TWSBI Classic, Blue

Oldie but goodie - One of my first TWSBIs is the Classic, in Turquoise. I love the non-demonstrator look but I don’t really think about them as much because I usually want a demonstrator when I want to ink up a TWSBI. I needed to ink up a blue pen so I decided on the blue Classic. It had a Fine nib and even though Mediums are my usual jam, I just shrugged and inked it up anyway. Then I wrote with it and was shocked at how much I liked the Classic AND the fine nib. It is so easy to ink up the latest acquisitions and forget about the older pens (and inks). I try to balance that urge by having a mix of old and new pens in the “to-be-inked-next” tray. I do this with inks too. It’s like discovering a lost treasure.

Visconti Van Gogh, Starry Night

It’s ok if looks are important - As a Van Gogh fan, and more specifically of Starry Night, I love this pen. Not because it is an amazing writer (I mean, it writes fine) but because looking at it makes me happy. It makes me think about my favorite piece of art and that makes me happy. People place different levels of importance on the nib vs the appearance and that’s one of the many wonderful things about this rabbit hole. My personal pen preference emphasizes looks over writing (probably 65:35 as long as the nib doesn’t write poorly). In the end, as long as you’re happy, whether it’s with the looks, the nib (or both), it’s a win in my book.

Oldie but goodie, this time with ink - I inked this up with an ink that I once loved but sorta put by the wayside (shame on me) - Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo. When everyone was raving about Shin-kai (cough cough, Bossman), I instead fell in love with Tsuki-yo. With all the deluge of inks that currently exist and continue to be released, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest “must-have ink”. I had forgotten how much I liked that ink and I’m glad I decided to use it again.

Platinum Curidas, Matte Blue

It is not a popularity contest - Not gonna lie, the Platinum Curidas is probably one of the more polarizing pens when it comes to looks, nock length, design, etc. And yet, I still love it. I have the original demonstrator finishes but I love this Matte Blue with black trim. The Medium steel nib gives me the perfect line width. Do I love it more than the Vanishing Points or Decimos? Probably not, but I still love it, even if it’s not for everyone, and that’s what matters.

Don’t judge an ink before using it - I bought a sample of Taccia Ukiyo-e Hiroshige-Ruri and after swatching it, I thought “yet another dark blue ink” and was glad that I hadn’t bought a bottle. After pairing it up with the Curidas though, I’m loving the richness of this blue ink, along with its subtle sheen that can even been seen on Rhodia, and am now adding it to my “bottles to buy” list. It’s another reminder that I shouldn’t judge an ink too quickly!

Pilot Falcon/Elabo, Metal Blue

They can’t all be winners - The Pilot Falcon (or Elabo in other markets) is a pen that has a fun, bouncy nib that can give some line variation, which I generally love, but there’s something about this one that isn’t doing it for me. I really like the plastic version of this pen with a Soft Fine nib, but I don’t think it’s the minimally- added weight. The Akkerman Delfts Blauw ink is flowing just fine so it’s not that. Maybe it’s the Soft Medium nib which feels blobby and almost squeaky. I really want to love it, but I don’t, so I think it’s better to part ways, than to have it stay in the collection untouched and unloved.

It’s hard saying goodbye - Despite everything I just wrote about the pen not being a good fit, it’s still really hard for me to decide to sell a pen. I just have to remember that someone else will enjoy it more than I do and that I can use the proceeds to get something else, like that bottle of Taccia Hiroshige-ruri :-)

None of these things are earth-shattering or new in any way, but I don’t usually have these revelations when I’m writing with my pens. So when they do pop up, it’s worth taking a moment to pay attention to what they’re trying to teach me.

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Kimberly Lau and filed under Fountain Pens, Pilot, Pelikan, TWSBI, Visconti, Platinum.

Mike’s Pen Fun Fountain Pen Review

When I’m too busy using the pen instead of reviewing the pen, I know that is a good sign. That’s the case with this Mike’s Pen Fun Fountain Pen that I picked up all the way back in May at the Chicago Pen Show. It has been in my writing rotation for many weeks since, and given the fact that it is recently cleaned and re-inked, I finally decided to give it its proper due.

Mike Green has been making pens at his Minnesota home for the past several years, and has begun sharing them online and at various pen shows throughout the United States. I first met Mike as part of my Twitch community, and was excited to meet him in person this year and check out his craftsmanship. Needless to say, I came away impressed.

Standing in front of his table that Saturday in Chicago, I had incredible difficulty choosing which pen was coming home with me. Mike uses materials from ALL THE MAKERS for his pens. I finally settled on mine, turned from Divine Pens Plus Wicked Wisteria. I mean, how could I not choose this pen?

When buying a pen from an individual maker, especially for the first time, I look for a few things:

Does the weight and balance fit my hand?
Does the shape of the grip section work for me?
How is the acrylic finished? If polished, is shiny and even? If matte, is it consistently smooth?
Are the threads smooth? Not only the cap threads, but the internal barrel threads as well?

There are exceptions to all of these rules, but this is a good starting point when I’m fortunate enough to be able to handle pens in person.

With Mike’s pens, I was hooked by two things: the rounded ends, and the exceptional polish job. In conjunction, those two things made for a pen that I enjoyed holding, and looking at. After it was in my hands, I went through the rest of my checklist and found a pen that I wanted to come home with.

This Wicked Wisteria model is fitted with a Jowo #6 nib, but Mike does offer pens with Bock #6 and #8 nibs, plus various gold and titanium options. I almost exclusively buy steel nibs in my maker pens. I prefer the stiffness, not to mention the cost savings.

*I regret to inform you that this material, Wicked Wisteria from Divine Pens Plus, is no longer being produced.*

Speaking of cost, this clipless model runs $150, with clip and roll stop models starting at $170. That is a fantastic price for craftsmanship of this level. Mike offers pens directly from his website, and at several pen shows throughout the year. As with many small makers, if you see something you like, you better grab it because there may not be another one like it available.

Like this Wicked Wisteria.

(I purchased this pen at regular price at the 2023 Chicago Pen Show. Mike also provided a second pen for giveaway at the same time, which I did for Pen Addict Members earlier this year.)

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Posted on November 13, 2023 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Mike's Pen Fun, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Faber-Castell Hexo Rose Fountain Pen Review

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

I'm a big fan of fountain pens that can deliver a solid fundamental writing instrument along with unique or delightful design elements for under $50. This has to be a difficult price range to deliver on, and not everyone succeeds. In my experience, the biggest letdowns in this price range usually come in the form of a unique looking pen that just doesn't write well. At $50, you want something that looks nicer than a disposable or $20 entry level pen, but you also want it to write as well as any of the fantastic pens in the lower price bracket (if not better).

The Hexo from Faber-Castell is an entry-level fountain pen with a modern design and fantastic build. The name "Hexo" aligns with the hexagonal shape of the pen body and cap, but the corners are rounded off and smooth to make it comfortable to handle. The Rose color that I have now is a light pink — almost difficult to detect unless there's plenty of light. Otherwise it looks silver or champagne.

The broad matte black clip contrasts the aluminum body well, and also does a great job of keeping the pen attached to things. It's really strong, but easy to use.

One of my favorite features of the Hexo is the mechanism that auto-aligns the cap to the barrel so that the hexagonal lines match. When you design a pen with lines that go from top to bottom, you have to assume that a large portion of buyers will be compelled to make sure those lines always line up, and I really appreciate them thinking ahead and making that process automatic for me. This is accomplished with some small guides on the grip that ensure the cap lines up. The click fitting for the cap also makes this pen easy to uncap/cap, and features a satisfying click to let you know it's capped securely.

On top of the aligning cap, the grip section also has a similar alignment guide for screwing it into the body. Once you reach the end of the threads when screwing the grip onto the body, the final quarter turn positions the grip so that it aligns perfectly with the body. It's hard to explain how satisfying it is to achieve perfect alignment on this pen with zero effort. It's so good that I think it's the biggest selling point of this pen. Faber-Castell has seen the OCD crowd, and they have delivered a fantastic pen for us.

Aside from the design and nifty alignment features, this pen is actually really good at being a writing instrument as well. The steel nib is firm, but provides a crisp line with plenty of feedback. The EF size in my pen is right on target for a European-style nib size. Mine is smooth and required no tuning or tweaking — it wrote well out of the box. The nib and feed provide great flow when writing, and the good seal from the cap means you can uncap and start writing immediately without waiting or scribbling a few lines to get the ink flowing. It's a workhorse in the writing department.

The grip section features a flared shape that provides a nice butt for your fingers to rest into when writing. Something else I appreciate is that the shape is uniform in diameter, meaning this will work well for right- or left-handed writers who use some form of standard-ish grip. The grip provides just enough shape to be useful for many grip styles. Pens that lean into the three-finger tripod grip alienate a lot of people who don't grip pens that way, and the pen is either uncomfortable or unusable. With the Hexo, it's really comfortable, functional, and inclusive.

The light weight body and contoured grip are further complimented by the larger-than-average diameter of the pen, which I find to be more comfortable. Not everyone will agree with me, but I like pens that are a little wider for writing in cursive or for writing for extended periods. All three of these design choices result in a really comfortable writing experience.

The Faber-Castell Hexo is a fantastic entry-level pen from a company that knows a thing or two about stationery. At $42, it’s easy to recommend as a stylish, modern alternative to other sub-$50 pens. The $50 price point has a few "luxury" brand pens that don't deliver on the writing instrument fundamentals, but this is not one of those. This is pen that nails the fundamentals, but also provides some nice extras like the unique design, auto-aligning cap, and wider body. If the Rose color isn't your thing, you can also find this pen in black, silver, bronze, and blue. And, you have a choice of EF, F, M, and B nibs. This is a great pen for gifts, introducing people to fountain pens, or as a nice treat for yourself!

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)