We are big Troublemaker Ink fans around these parts, and thanks to my friends at Flax Pen to Paper, I have a set of their three exclusive inks to give away this week. Kimberly reviewed all three here if you would like a sneak peek, and if you just want to win the set of three inks, read the rules below and enter away!
BOLT: Titanium Retractable Fountain Pen by ēnsso (Sponsor)
BOLT is the new retractable fountain pen by ēnsso. It is a grade-5 titanium pen with a bolt-action mechanism and a silicone seal at the tip. This new solution prevents the nib to be exposed to air when the pen is closed or retracted. The silicone seal has an ‘X’ cut that allows the nib to go though and naturally seals off when the nib is retracted. This mechanism has been thoroughly tested for over a year and keeps the nib wet for months.
For quick, one-hand operation, the pen relies on a bolt-action mechanism in which a knock at the end of the pen is pushed forward to extend the nib. As soon as the knock is moved away from the lock position, the spring automatically retracts the nib. This simple solution is ideal and has minimal components.
The pen comes equipped with an ink converter for bottled ink. Its nib system is interchangeable and nibs in fine point and medium point will be offered.
BOLT is currently available to preorder on Kickstarter for $84 and it will be delivered in June.
My thanks to ēnsso for sponsoring The Pen Addict this week.
Dominant Industry Decade in the Desert Fountain Pen Ink Review
Pen Chalet has their collaboration game on point, including this recent release with South Korean ink maker Dominant Industry. And by recent, I mean Summer 2023, which means that Decade in the Desert, the two inks created to celebrate Pen Chalet’s 10th anniversary, are already sold out.
My apologies.
Even though they are no longer available, I wanted to discuss these two inks - Arizona Sky Citrus and Arizona Sky Crimson - because I’m not only enjoying them individually, but also in use together.
Dominant Industry is known around the hobby for their wild interpretation of inks, including many that are made for dip pens only, less they clog up the inner workings of a fountain pen. Take one look at their Alchemist Inks for Calligraphy and you’ll see exactly what I mean.
This commitment to ink making translates well to their standard ink lineup, too, and I have been impressed with every Dominant Industry ink I’ve tried - to the point where they have become a core choice for my writing.
Cotton swabs on Yamamoto Bank Paper (left) and Sanzen Tomoe River 52 gsm.
Heavier application with a Kakimori Dip Nib on Sanzen.
As the product names indicate, these two inks were created to represent the brilliant shades seen in the Arizona skies during sunset. Even if you’ve never been in Arizona to see the beauty in person, these inks do a great job of capturing the scene.
The orange-leaning Citrus is a knockout in my book - to the shock of no one - but Crimson is the real surprise here for me. Normally, burgundy shades are not my thing, but this one has two things going for it: hints of purple, and a perfect pairing with its counterpart.
Basic testing on Kokuyo Business paper.
Both inks exhibit slight amounts of shading, and no sheen. Dry times are moderate, if not quick - at least for a fountain pen ink. Both flow nicely from the nib, although Citrus could be a little drier. That is par for the course for yellow dye inks. Overall, these inks were a joy to write with.
Line art in the Yoseka Notebook.
Joy. That’s a common term I use with Dominant Industry inks. The bottles are a joy to look at, the inks are a joy to use in my pens and on the page, and the price - $9.60 for a 25 ml bottle for standard inks - is a joy to my bank account.
What’s not to love?
(Pen Chalet provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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