My go to inks are J. Herbin "Bleu des profondeurs" and J. Herbin " Lie de the", a marvellous brown and a georgeus blue black. Both are perfects for any situation...
@@ravesab J. Herbin have been hit and miss for me, but Bleu des Profondeurs is a good one. I’m always intrigued by what pens people use Lie de The in. Any pen I have put it in, it has felt too dry.
@theoffstageme I use normaly this ink with a Conklin All American with a Omniflex nib or with a Jinhao X159 with a F nib and I haven't any issue... Happy new year and congrats for your channel..
Interesting, Mick, and thank you for sharing. Not surprised about the Lamy 2000 nor am I about Diamine Oxford Blue. Both are very high on my list as well. Happy holidays to you.
Another excellent video! Thank you. Now that I've collected all my grail pens, I'm returning to some every day pens and have found the TWSBI Eco T to be a superb writer, as well as the Lamy AL-Star.
I bought an ECO F and ECO EF and yep I'm happy with those. The F - inked with Pilot Iroshizuku yama-budo writes very wet more like a medium with Diamine ink. I'll swap the yama-budo ink into the EF next fill - should be perfect then.
I recently purchased a Piano fountain pen after reading that Indian school children use them. As the pen cost about £1/50, I wasn't expecting anything great, however, I have been delighted with the 1.5 nib and general performance of my least expensive pen. I have a wide range of fountain pens from medium to high-value, however, my modest £1.50 Piano pen gives great results that equal those of my more high value pens.
Agreed on two: Sapiens and Lamy 2000. My third is really a brand, and any of the four I have: Platypus, which I know you know well. Partly because Michael is great, but writing quality, texture/weight and just the uniqueness of the 3D printing within the industry. And my honorable mentions are multiple metal Kaweco Sports. Interesting to see these lists - cheers!
I’m always keen to see these type of year-end videos listing most-loved/used etc pens. And this list of your top 3 was even more revealing and interesting because you have actually covered 5 years, not just this year. Not surprised about Lamy 2000 or the Oxford Blue and RO Tranquility inks. The Visconti HS is a welcome inclusion. But the PC 74 floored me. Couldn’t have guessed that one at all - despite your very favorable review comments about the pen, in the past. Mick, have you ever considered getting the flat-ended, piston-filling sibling of the 74, the 92 (w/identical nib) but more expensive, though? I have the clear demo 92. I just prefer it to the 74.
Yes, I have and love the 92. It’s a wonderful pen, but harder to clean. It’s the convenience of the 74 couple with the fabulous writing experience that got it to this position
@ Got it! I never bought the 74, getting the 92 instead. It would be nice if you did a similar top 3 list for most liked/used paper, notebook etc..over the past 5 years.
Hey there Sajjad! Now that I’ve used the Homo Sapien, I can understand why it’s on the top of the list. I love that the ECO is on here. It’s the same for me. I don’t find myself reaching much for the Kaweco sports. After I cleaned my 74, I haven’t inked it. I appreciate your reminder of the 92. I don’t have that yet. I also don’t have the Esterbrook either. I’m getting ready to do a list for mine as well. Hopefully I can get it done by the new year!
@@KitchenCounterCrafts So cool to see you here, Mona. Sweet surprise. I only get to chat with you on your wonderful channel. And Mick’s is another that I really like. Yea, the 92 is really nice. The novelty of a piston-filling Pilot being not the least of its attractions. Buying it from Japan is the best way, because the pen is predictably priced rather too high in the U.S. The Homo Sapiens is a great pen. But given its notorious QC issues (of the past?) I still think it’s a pen best bought at a physical store, after making sure the nib actually writes properly. I have a pair of even more expensive Visconti Divina Elegance pens. But the Bronze Age is a very distinct pen. I have the very same graphite black Esterbrook Camden that Mick showed here. Although I have three oversized Esties, I reckon the Camden is my favorite modern, ‘reborn’ Esterbrook pen. I love it a lot. Mine has the broad nib. You know that if you put out a video with a list of your own, I’ll pounce on it the moment I see it. 😀
@ very kind of you! I think I might be able to do one soon- still coughing and sounding funny 😄 It’s nice to watch others (who aren’t annoying- this one is great) play with pens- it’s relaxing and refreshing!
Pilot 912 all the way ! Top 3 favorites, the WA, PO and SF nibs ! Regarding inks, Diamine all the way too ! Oxford blue, Blue Black and Prussian Blue !
Do you have a recommendation for an affordable but not-terrible pen with stub nib which is easily cleaned - for use with sheening and shimmer inks? I'm told TWSBI Eco (I have two) are liable to clog the feed with those type of inks. Someone said I ought to get something with a JoWo 6 nib, and could even use a 'Flexible Nibs' ebonite feed and housing. I'm not sure what pen would suit? Any advice welcome :) I do love deonstratpr pens but could the potential for staining etc be a reason to steer clear of such pens in this use case?
TWSBI for sure! I have a couple of videos on my channel where I inked with the heavily shimmering RO Rose Gold Antiqua and left it sitting there for a couple of months.
@@LandyVlad_Rides piston so you can take it apart. I don’t think you can do that with the vac fill. My TWSBI is awesome with shimmer inks. So is my Opus 88- you might want to check out these pens- eye dropper so they hold a ton and literally nothing to worry about for cleaning
@@KitchenCounterCrafts The TWSBI Vacs do disassemble for cleaning. Instructions come with the pen as well as the tool and plenty of videos on it on RUclips.
@@anguswhite8233 I generally prefer a No.6 nib myself. And if you look at my ‘favourite’ pens, the Visconti HS, Pilot 823 and 845, Pelikan M805, Diplomat Excellence A2 etc most are roughly that size. This video is about my most used pens… which are often most used for convenience sake and writing experience. The Custom 74 isn’t my favourite pen… I love it… but it’s here solely because in the last 5ish years it is the pen I have inked the most.
@@bkbk1184 well, aside from it being a phenomenal writer, extremely comfortable in the hand, and (to my taste) a beautifully simple design… it lived on my desk for quite a while for use with ‘new inks’ that I got. It guess it’s use added up, and snuck into the lead without me realising.
Completely different pens. Pilot is a 14k gold nib, cartridge/converter pen that retails for about $250 AUD and the Twsbi has a steel nib, a piston filler, and retails around $100 AUD. Both have individual strengths over the other. I will always have e both in my pen drawer.
I really appreciate that you chose reliable daily drivers over grails as your top pens
I find these end of the year videos very interesting and useful. It has inspired to keep track of my top pens as well. Thank you for the video!
My go to inks are J. Herbin "Bleu des profondeurs" and J. Herbin " Lie de the", a marvellous brown and a georgeus blue black. Both are perfects for any situation...
@@ravesab J. Herbin have been hit and miss for me, but Bleu des Profondeurs is a good one. I’m always intrigued by what pens people use Lie de The in. Any pen I have put it in, it has felt too dry.
@theoffstageme I use normaly this ink with a Conklin All American with a Omniflex nib or with a Jinhao X159 with a F nib and I haven't any issue... Happy new year and congrats for your channel..
Interesting, Mick, and thank you for sharing. Not surprised about the Lamy 2000 nor am I about Diamine Oxford Blue. Both are very high on my list as well. Happy holidays to you.
I need to check out that Visconti. Nice.
Another excellent video! Thank you. Now that I've collected all my grail pens, I'm returning to some every day pens and have found the TWSBI Eco T to be a superb writer, as well as the Lamy AL-Star.
I bought an ECO F and ECO EF and yep I'm happy with those. The F - inked with Pilot Iroshizuku yama-budo writes very wet more like a medium with Diamine ink. I'll swap the yama-budo ink into the EF next fill - should be perfect then.
I recently purchased a Piano fountain pen after reading that Indian school children use them.
As the pen cost about £1/50, I wasn't expecting anything great, however, I have been delighted with the 1.5 nib and general performance of my least expensive pen.
I have a wide range of fountain pens from medium to high-value, however, my modest £1.50 Piano pen gives great results that equal those of my more high value pens.
Merry Christmas Michael! Thanks for all the content this last year!
Interesting video again, thank you Mick.
Great video Mick, have a great New Year 🎉🎉🎉
Agreed on two: Sapiens and Lamy 2000. My third is really a brand, and any of the four I have: Platypus, which I know you know well. Partly because Michael is great, but writing quality, texture/weight and just the uniqueness of the 3D printing within the industry. And my honorable mentions are multiple metal Kaweco Sports. Interesting to see these lists - cheers!
I’m always keen to see these type of year-end videos listing most-loved/used etc pens. And this list of your top 3 was even more revealing and interesting because you have actually covered 5 years, not just this year.
Not surprised about Lamy 2000 or the Oxford Blue and RO Tranquility inks. The Visconti HS is a welcome inclusion. But the PC 74 floored me. Couldn’t have guessed that one at all - despite your very favorable review comments about the pen, in the past.
Mick, have you ever considered getting the flat-ended, piston-filling sibling of the 74, the 92 (w/identical nib) but more expensive, though? I have the clear demo 92. I just prefer it to the 74.
Yes, I have and love the 92. It’s a wonderful pen, but harder to clean. It’s the convenience of the 74 couple with the fabulous writing experience that got it to this position
@ Got it! I never bought the 74, getting the 92 instead.
It would be nice if you did a similar top 3 list for most liked/used paper, notebook etc..over the past 5 years.
Hey there Sajjad! Now that I’ve used the Homo Sapien, I can understand why it’s on the top of the list. I love that the ECO is on here. It’s the same for me. I don’t find myself reaching much for the Kaweco sports.
After I cleaned my 74, I haven’t inked it.
I appreciate your reminder of the 92. I don’t have that yet.
I also don’t have the Esterbrook either.
I’m getting ready to do a list for mine as well. Hopefully I can get it done by the new year!
@@KitchenCounterCrafts So cool to see you here, Mona. Sweet surprise. I only get to chat with you on your wonderful channel. And Mick’s is another that I really like.
Yea, the 92 is really nice. The novelty of a piston-filling Pilot being not the least of its attractions. Buying it from Japan is the best way, because the pen is predictably priced rather too high in the U.S.
The Homo Sapiens is a great pen. But given its notorious QC issues (of the past?) I still think it’s a pen best bought at a physical store, after making sure the nib actually writes properly. I have a pair of even more expensive Visconti Divina Elegance pens. But the Bronze Age is a very distinct pen.
I have the very same graphite black Esterbrook Camden that Mick showed here. Although I have three oversized Esties, I reckon the Camden is my favorite modern, ‘reborn’ Esterbrook pen. I love it a lot. Mine has the broad nib.
You know that if you put out a video with a list of your own, I’ll pounce on it the moment I see it. 😀
@ very kind of you! I think I might be able to do one soon- still coughing and sounding funny 😄
It’s nice to watch others (who aren’t annoying- this one is great) play with pens- it’s relaxing and refreshing!
Pilot 912 all the way !
Top 3 favorites, the WA, PO and SF nibs !
Regarding inks, Diamine all the way too ! Oxford blue, Blue Black and Prussian Blue !
@@korax67 I would love a 912. It’s on my list… but it would take a lot to knock the 823 and 845 out of my top 3 favourites.
@theoffstageme an 823 is high on my next pen list !
I like these top video's. So thanks a lot. :-)
The pilot Custom 74 that was a shock,
Do you have a recommendation for an affordable but not-terrible pen with stub nib which is easily cleaned - for use with sheening and shimmer inks? I'm told TWSBI Eco (I have two) are liable to clog the feed with those type of inks. Someone said I ought to get something with a JoWo 6 nib, and could even use a 'Flexible Nibs' ebonite feed and housing. I'm not sure what pen would suit? Any advice welcome :) I do love deonstratpr pens but could the potential for staining etc be a reason to steer clear of such pens in this use case?
TWSBI for sure! I have a couple of videos on my channel where I inked with the heavily shimmering RO Rose Gold Antiqua and left it sitting there for a couple of months.
@KitchenCounterCrafts thanks. Piston or vacuum filler best?
@@LandyVlad_Rides piston so you can take it apart. I don’t think you can do that with the vac fill.
My TWSBI is awesome with shimmer inks. So is my Opus 88- you might want to check out these pens- eye dropper so they hold a ton and literally nothing to worry about for cleaning
@@KitchenCounterCrafts The TWSBI Vacs do disassemble for cleaning. Instructions come with the pen as well as the tool and plenty of videos on it on RUclips.
everyone’s different but I like a European no.6 nib so prefer my lovely Sailor pro gear, Platinum 3776 and Pilot ch912: all have EF nibs:)
@@anguswhite8233 I generally prefer a No.6 nib myself. And if you look at my ‘favourite’ pens, the Visconti HS, Pilot 823 and 845, Pelikan M805, Diplomat Excellence A2 etc most are roughly that size. This video is about my most used pens… which are often most used for convenience sake and writing experience. The Custom 74 isn’t my favourite pen… I love it… but it’s here solely because in the last 5ish years it is the pen I have inked the most.
I am not a a blue or black ink person. I love brown inks and all shades of brown . My go to ink atm is a Robert Oster - Melon Tea.
@@hishamw6755 it’s good we all have different taste… it keeps the companies in business.
I've got this dark green thing in my head - have a couple of dark green inks on the way :)
@ The Melon Tea is not dark green, it looks like the green in a broken branch, brown with a hint of green
RUNNER UPS: Twsbi Eco; Kaweco Sport ; Esterbrook Camden ; Pilot Custom 823 ; Gravitas Delrin
WINNERS: Visconti Homo Sapiens bronze age ; Lamy 2000; Pilot Custom 74
INK; Robert Oster Tranquility ; Lamy Black; Diamine Oxford Bleu
I'd love to know WHY the 74 won. ie. why it was used more than others.
@@bkbk1184 well, aside from it being a phenomenal writer, extremely comfortable in the hand, and (to my taste) a beautifully simple design… it lived on my desk for quite a while for use with ‘new inks’ that I got. It guess it’s use added up, and snuck into the lead without me realising.
@@theoffstageme How would you compare the Pilot 74 and TWSBI 580?
Completely different pens. Pilot is a 14k gold nib, cartridge/converter pen that retails for about $250 AUD and the Twsbi has a steel nib, a piston filler, and retails around $100 AUD. Both have individual strengths over the other. I will always have e both in my pen drawer.
@@theoffstageme thanks