I used to teach primary school and my students would love to choose which fountain pen (and therefore colour) I used to correct their work. Eventually they all started using fountain pens and I didn't realize it was because I used them. But sure enough in the whole school only my students had them.
So it was really nice to hear you acknowledge Sharon at the beginning of this cast about how it helped her with her strike recovery. That has prompted me to share how fountain pens have helped me: Like many others, I have put on some pandemic pounds on my already over-large frame. Where the fountain pens have helped me it's that along with eating better some increased exercise, I started journaling. I now have 4 journals that have helped me on my weight loss journey. I maintain a daily journal of my eating (also a personal diary, a book of quotes and a journal of miscellaneous writings). Writing has truly created a vehicle to find a part of myself that I never knew, and writing daily has attributed my current non-surgical 67 pound weight loss since April 27th (40 more to go). I have found writing to be a very carthartic activity that has definitely helped me regain myself (although it has taxed my bank account a bit 🤣). Write on! I expect to receive my first Pilot VP, Monteverde 1.1 stub nib and a sample of J. Herbin Emerald shimmering ink from Goulet later this week.
I have 3 pens for grading. All TWSBI ECOs, extra-fine nibs. I ink up with Diamine Syrah, Noodler's Fox and Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses. My students can usually tell my mood from the ink colour I use on their paper.
I really appreciate your goal of just trying to maintain a vaguely even workflow instead of trying to milk “special” occasions for all their worth. Thanks for looking after your staff!
I can agree with Sharon about fountain pens and rehabilitation. My first fountain pen was a grey Esterbrook J that I found in my folks' barn (left by the previous owner), but got out of them for over 30 years, as ink was just not available in my area, then I forgot about them. 2010 I too had a stroke, and other pens became painful to use. I read that fountain pens, because they don't need pressure like a ballpoint, don't hurt for folks who have problems with other types, so I hunted down a fountain pen (internet really has helped the fountain pen industry. 😁 Wasn't available when I first got into them.) Yep. Fountain pens don't hurt for me to use. This has nudged me down several rabbit holes. Over 100 pens, currently, and 26 different bottles of ink. Right now. 😁 They've encouraged me to start writing letters and such, again, so I'm trying to do my part to keep the postal service running, with a book of stamps a month, minimum. I do have a mechanical pencil, but it's more for a set of grey Esterbrook double jewel pens (like my first one,) and it's seldom used. Besides, it still has the original price sticker on it. My handwriting was back to about the same as a 2nd grader, after my stroke, and fountain pens brought back my version of round hand. Thanks, fountain pens! About fountain pens and airplanes: the author Michael Jecks took his Conway Stewart 58 Indiana Jones on a flight to Australia, and his brother ribbed him about it leaking. His brother's ballpoint exploded, and the Conway Stewart was fine. I'd feel pretty confident with taking most of my pens on a plane (maybe not the antique Mabie Todd I have, but almost everything else.)
I had a bad pen leak (while it was in a built in pen pocket in my purse, staining the purse permanently), the pen, a durable workhorse, was nib up, fully capped - I could not explain the cause of the leak, it wasn’t dropped or handled roughly - and it was a couple days after a flight. It didn’t leak during the flight or immediately afterwards (the pen was in use or handled, so I would have noticed); but because I could not find a crack or any other reason for the leak I attributed the problem to the air travel. This same pen has not leaked since and seems fine (I still can’t find a crack although I have no better explanation), but I admit I use it less often because the mysterious leak makes me nervous - since I don’t know the cause I don’t know how to prevent a recurrence. I have not travelled by air with a fountain pen since, first out of caution, and now because I have not had the opportunity for air travel. It might have leaked due to air cabin pressure, or it might be unrelated, I don’t know.
So, it looks like the Merriam-Webster definition of “Foray” as a verb can mean “to do or attempt something outside one's accustomed sphere : to enter into a new or different field or area of activity”.
I personally think the SWIPE is better beginner FP over the ECO. A lot of people I've introduced FPs to hated the exposed piston filler knob and the need to use bottled ink. The SWIPE is great because you can use a cartridge or bottled ink!
I had that experience with pens making a big difference, but it’s also a bit of a source of heartbreak… At one point a few decades ago I saved up and spent a few hundred dollars on a gorgeous slender brushed steel fountain pen with gold trim accents… after years of using super cheap fountain pens… The pen was perfectly heavy in my hand, the nib was not only amazingly EF but it had ZERO scratchiness… I ended up homeless on & off for several years after that, and kept having my journals and that pen pickpocketed off me. I managed to buy it back from the pawnshops a few times (journaling was one of the very few pleasures and therapeutic activities that kept me out of the psych wards then)… but finally it was stolen and I couldn’t track it down. A couple years later, a family member bought me a lovely $150 schaeffer or parker with the similar dual color metal, and even though the steel on it was shiny and not my favorite, it still had a lovely smooth F nib that really helped motivate me to work on my CBT exercises in my journal. That one I kept under my clothes (with my money) but I still ended up getting robbed while I was sleeping in a shelter (that’s one of the big reasons a lot of people don’t trust shelters- it’s impossible to defend yourself against theft of food, clothes, etc, in that environment, even if using a locker, sadly). That whole experience stopped me from using fountain pens at all for a long time. I’ve since found a place to live, and got a Pilot metropolitan a while back, but not knowing how to tune the nib and the scratchiness of it and a couple other inexpensive pens I’ve tried has been so hard. I think maybe I just got spoiled by how fine and flexible those first two nibs were… using the pens I can afford has been so frustrating that I often just don’t use them at all. I wonder about some of the nibs on the lamy pens, but they just look so ugly to me. I’m not super hot on the Metropolitan, but it at least has a bit of weight to it. Thank you for the beginner and “next” pens roundups. I’ve ordered a preppy, and while I really am not a big fan of plastic pens, I’m hoping that at least the nib will be less scratchy. And I’ve ordered a set of 1200-12,000 grit micromesh pads, so if the nib is uncomfortable, I’m only out the $8 I spent on the preppy. I hope it’s at least better than nothing. In order to keep building mental health recovery, I need to spend more time on the homework my psychiatrist gives me. When the feel of the marker or pencil or pen is setting off all of my SPD triggers and making me shudder with repulsion, that’s a little hard. For now, I can only dream of a EF decimo or something like that. Maybe someday it’ll happen. At least with your channel, I have access to recommendations for pens that I’ve set alerts on ebay for so I can afford to start learning how to tune nibs, and when I get a nicer pen if it still has issues, I’ll have options.
I started my Some Lines a Day this year. I totally agree with Brian, I actually even wrote on the entry for January 1 that I wish I had started it last year and documented my perspective through the pandemic. I think it would be super interesting for my children to read someday (they’re currently 6 & 3 so too young to really remember it many years from now). Also, quick tip to keep away that shame for missing any days in the Some Lines a Day journal - if I don’t have time to write in it on any given day, I have a note in the Notes app on my phone that I will go in at bedtime and jot down the date & what I would have written in the journal for that day, then will fill it in the next time I am able to. I started this when I left my journal at home when I went on vacation for a week with my husband for our anniversary in April. Since then I’ve actually gone several days without actually writing in it, but thanks to my notes app, it never gets to the point where I’ve let too much time pass and no longer remember what to write for each day.
Just heard the hypothetical and for me it is straightforward: the notebook. Pens and ink are great, but a notebook that I could easily search would be paradise!
I ended up jumping on the Swipe once the Prussian Blue EF was back in stock, and I'm glad I did! This is my first TWSBI and I'm really pleased with it. I like changing inks so I'm glad it's a converter pen, and the nib is lovely to write with! Great shirt, Drew!
I like demonstrator body piston fill pens or eye droppering a pen (if the body is transparent); but I fully admit that it takes me forever to use up all the ink - and changing ink colour adds interest and excitement to the task of writing. So my next fresh fill of a pen will absolutely be a converter fill pen! I had 8 pens in use at the start of July and 4 are still going strong now in September, so I’m greatly looking forward to enlisting a new pen and new ink (I am not going to make myself wait to finish the remaining 4 eye droppered/piston pens, that feels punishing). I haven’t jumped on the Swipe because I have 2 Ecos (my first ever fountain pen is one of those TWSBI Ecos), 2 TWSBI 580s, (I had 1 Vac Mini but gave it away because I didn’t like it), 1 Draco, and 1 Go - so I have every TWSBI nib experience in my collection except the Broad…maybe the Swipe in B someday, lol.
@@kimberly3706s I feel like I would love the Eco if I could stick to one ink! What's hilarious is prior to this year, I did just that, but all of a sudden I'm into using colorful inks and changing them up regularly. I thought maybe I could fill the Eco partway with a syringe, but that seems to defeat the purpose?
One thing I love about the SWIPE over the ECO, is the end of the grip (on the nib side) sticks out more. It really helps keep my fingers from slipping down when I get sweaty writing letters in my hot room lol.
Dang, guys, thanks so much for answering my question! It's so great to know that y'all are very mindful about every decision you make, and that you also have the consumers in mind, which all around makes Goulet community a more thoughtful one. Really enjoy hearing and learning from you both as always, Brian and Drew! :)
I like navy, but Prussian blue is lovely and timeless, too -- Big Ben's newly restored hands were re-painted in the original Prussian blue, to match the clock face.
“i have a little field notes here, and I don’t particularly care for the paper, but I use it and it’s fine” LOL i swear this is every fountain pen person I talk to, including me!
I really appreciate your willingness to address some of the more difficult questions about being a conscientious business, including consideration of suppliers, and reducing waste. Also appreciated: chapter marks in a 2-hour video. 😊
Brian, like you, I missed the pandemic year in my lines-a-day journal but I've picked it back up this year and it has been really worth it. Dive on in! I still don't always get seven days per week but I consider 5/7 a win!
2 ✌🏽hours. Whoa. Navy TWSBI for me.. So in the high end Italian pen market folks get paid! Pilot Metropolitan is slightly underrated. It’s a substantial pen for around $20. I like your wholistic approach with your business. I bought a Lamy 2k from you during the earlier part of the pandemic, and the US mail had a major slow down (for those who remember), anyway I called Goulet pen co when my Lamy 2K didn’t show up as expected. Drew called me back, encouraged me to be hopeful about the pen showing up soon, and said they’d help me out of it got lost. You, Drew, were also very supportive about my pen and nib choice, assuring me it was a great choice. You were not wrong, the pen came, and it’s a favorite of mine. The one on one connection was invaluable and the conversation was uplifting and a super unique experience. Thank you! Blessing you both, and all people with children, on the going back to school ‘stuff’.. 💜💜💜
I can’t waste paper, I will eventually fill a notebook, whether there’s a time span gap of years, or repurposing the notebook partway through (maybe I don’t need a bujo calendar in its own dedicated notebook as I thought I needed in 2016 😅). I use dated planners and Hobonici many years outdated, for use of the paper. No unfinished notebook remains unfinished; that said I have a stash of fresh (unused) notebooks, some are becoming vintage, lol!
@@kimberly3706s Nice! I wish I had that kind of commitment. But, most of my half used notebooks come from me ripping out pages. And then I go from a 100 sheet notebook to a 30 sheet notebook,… which then get to take a long nap in the drawer. 🤣😂
Ya'll are awesome! I was feeling so crazy for having a notebook fetish(pile of new notebooks, I'm looking at you!). And I've been ashamed of my half used notebooks for years. It's wonderful to know I'm not the only one with this problem. Hmmm could we maybe get some group T-shirts? I'd definitely get one. Are ya'll in?
@@robhumphrey04 My favorites are colorverse coffee break, monteverde pumpkin cake, diamine tobacco sunburst, herbinLie de The, and akkerman sbrebrown. Oh and platinum khaki black! I love brown inks! I feel that they make my letters look vintage and cozy :)
I am a teacher and I have numerous fountain pens that I use in school with various colors. 😍 My favorite ones are the Diplomat Aero and the Pelikan Souverän. Here in Europe many students use fountain pens. The most common ones are the Lamys.
Oh my god your kids!!! They grow so fast. I've only been a father for a year and a half and she's already growing up too fast for me. What a darling moment.
I got a Lamy 2000 Double Broad from yall when you were carrying them. Love it. So I was one of the odd ones who appreciated you carrying the unusual nibs.
I bought my wife a TWSBI Smoke broad, and she immediately inked it up with Diamine Moon Dust (shimmer ink) using the installed spring piston converter. The pen writes great, but most of the shimmer particles got stuck in the spring. Vigorous shaking and spinning have not dislodged them. I would suggest removing the spring or using the twist converter if you're using shimmer inks.
Is Nathan literally the only person who makes, bottles and runs his Noodler’s ink business? If so, that’s astonishing 😁 I’m in Canada and can go to a local book store to buy his inks…. Think about that, amazing.
Indeed he is - it is mind-blowing when you think of the quality and consistency of his products. If you have never seen the video chat where Brian interviewed Nathan, the link to that popped up in this video when they were talking about Nathan and Noodler's. Check it out - it was fun to watch!
Apparently every bottle of Noodler's in existence has touched a piece of furniture in his living room, because that's where he backs it up before getting it ready for the distributor. JUST a tad crazy.
@@florencefortyseven it's an old record player, the big wooden cabinet type, that belonged to his uncle that he now uses as a work bench. How is that crazy?!
Oh! Ellie is so cute! Loved that interruption. I would ask for the magic notebook. But I’d probably still use other notebooks just because I love a stunning finish on the cover like paperblanks do. Totally agree on the pool issue. 😂
The TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Prussian Blue "spoke" to me. It said "You NEED me!" So, I got one. I have no plans currently to acquire the Navy Blue version. The silver or the nickel gray are still on my want list (actually, I have one of these colors and I need to dig it out and see which I have), but not the Navy Blue. Between an infinite pen or an infinite notebook, I would go with the notebook in a heartbeat. Translucency.
My boyfriend is a teacher and I lent him my TWSBI Eco Smoke and Rose Gold for marking once (as he needed green ink). He loved it so much that he ended up buying the white one too. He wears it on his lanyard and students ask about it all the time. Some students have said that they have even asked for one for Christmas! One student came and asked what ink he used for their last papers because they liked the sheen on the ticks!
I am an art teacher, I always keep a TWSBI 580AL and GO with me all the time, but I also keep a Moonman T1 and TWSBI Swipe on my desk in case a student wants to try a pen or for some reason I forgot my other pens. I generally always keep a black or blue ink in them all. Also, I'm really digging the Swipe, so much so I have ordered a couple more to have in the classroom, in my backpack, and in my studio...
I find it interesting that Americans are questioning the treatment of workers in other countries, and particularly European countries. Meanwhile in Europe we look at our worker’s rights and feel sorry for Americans, many of whom get little or no paid leave or sick leave, maternity provisions, etc. The rest of the world isn’t as backwards as many Americans think!
But the products they are concerned about are made in Europe, so it’s not an issue. Maybe Americans should be concerned with their own employment laws, because most manufacturing countries have better employee protection in place than the USA.
Then why did the guys immediately start talking about European manufacturers? And anyway, even Chinese workers tend to have better terms of employment than many Americans. It’s a question based on ignorance.
@@ffotograffydd not in the manufacturing sector? Lol? But idk probably easier/more relevant to talk about European manufacturers because most fountain pens come from Europe, I just guessed it was about the cheap Chinese pens because of the comments about how pens can be ‘so so cheap’ and come out with that level of quality, and that is certainly easiest to see with the sub-$10 Chinese pens.
My DD has also been helped with FPs and writing, even left handed ( to strengthen her muscle weakness) as she recovers and copes with long haul Covid issues. she enjoys our Pencast and the pens and inks she buys from Goulet Pens.
I would absolutely choose the magic notebook! And I usually hate hypothetical questions, but this one was easy! I love pen and ink variety, pairings, cleaning, even tuning and repairs! I'm currently still hunting for a perfect notebook, so if you have one of those magic ones laying around...😁
Pens for teachers and students are no way near the same. As a teacher of over 32 years, I prefer my Esterbrook Estie pens. They have a decent ink capacity, they NEVER fail me, and everyone knows who they belong to. Benu is another good pen, and the sparkles can spark conversations.
Excellent hypothetical question this week, Drew. It really made me think. I would go for the journal for the same reasons you and Brian gave. I really enjoy the ritual of inking up (and even cleaning!) my fountain pens. I also like to use lots of different pens, and I wonder if I’d be less inclined to do that if I could just snap my fingers and have a different nib and ink whenever I wanted. Great episode, as always. I appreciate you guys!
Question: I recently realized I like bouncy nibs. I first had a Pelikano Up and it blew my mind. I heard that the Diplomat Magnum was bouncy and I tried it and again it was amazing. I recently moved up to the Pelikan M200 and that steel nib is wonderful. I went to the SF pen show and tried a titanium nib from Hinze Pens and it was gorgeous. So my question: what other brands/models of pens come with a bouncy nib?
Another great video! Brian, if you haven't found an orange ink for your orange Aero, may I suggest Diamine Pumpkin? Also, big thanks for taking my question. I am humbled and honored. How about next weekly pen are random ones from Brian's massive collection in his office? I bet Drew would enjoy that. Continue staying safe! Looking forward to the next episode. 👍👍
I am hoping for more colors in the twsbi swipe. While the Prussian blue is nice I personally like the dark blue or navy. It goes well with denim of which I am a fan and I think navy is a classic color. As a new fountain pen user, I look for special attributes: colors I like, must be postable, and available in various nib sizes. I am budget conscious so I will not spend a lot unless available at a deep discount. Keep up the great work!
For the hypothetical: I'd take one perfect pen with any ink, personally. I love changing ink colors but I hate having to clean the pens xD I enjoy having several notebooks lying around and making them organized, so they're not a problem, but pen cleaning between ink changes? Oh boy. In my case the pen would probably be shaped a little more like a Platinum Kanazawa Leaf or a Pilot Vanishing Point (maybe a Decimo since it's smaller, but I don't own one so I can't confirm) since they'd have the perfect ergonomics for my hand :p Quick edit: your team might have seen me place several orders over the past month or so and I'm so sorry for making more work for you guys instead of just placing one big order ^^' It's that I keep trying to tone down the pen addiction by not ordering everything I might feel like getting, but then I watch a video and the need gets real D:
I love my Prussian Blue Swipe! I got a fine nib, and I'm currently using Noodler's Black in it. One thing that I have noticed is that the ink will sometimes get trapped in the top of the push-button converter, and will not flow down to the feed. This is easy to resolve by gently shaking the pen, nib-down, but I didn't figure that out right away. The ink was not flowing, and I thought It had an issue. Happy to figure out it was an easy fix! Love Goulet Pen Co.!!!
You two are SO interesting and entertaining. I had to LOL to myself as I noticed my behavior this morning. I am a super-huge fan of CBS Sunday Morning, and have watched it religiously for over half of my liFE! But I fell asleep watching your Pencast last night and woke up this morning, opened the laptop, and it was still playing. Would you believe that I "muted" CBS this morning to hear Brian and Drew talk Fountain Pens!! (...smiles) I've loved pens for years, but just falling down the Fountain Pen rabbit hole. Call me ALICE - because I'm stuck!! :) Thanks so much for all of the information! Lisa
Drew, I’m also all for aesthetic balance with pen elements. I’d go with the awesome paper. I’m a paper person. So much of my love for pens and inks is about the paper. I love paper. I love ink on paper. I need to go write in my journal.
I would definitely choose a magic notebook. To finally be at notebook "peace" and have the perfect unicorn of notebooks (for me) would be absolutely invaluable. And to have the ability to have ONE with everything in it, that goes immediately to what I need without me searching or having to remember WHICH notebook I put it in, yeah, sign me up!! And Brian, in regards to your Some Lines a Day: just continue now, gaps and all. Those gaps and blank pages also tell a story. And isn't it better to have SOME memories written down, instead of none at all?
Oh yay!! I got excited when I read the word notebooks in the title of this video 😁 so glad to see what you guys use! Glad you mentioned that travelers style notebook Drew! It was what caught my eye in several of your videos. Thanks so much for sharing and answering my Q. The travelers notebook spirit is strong 😍
I am a paper person! So I would choose the magic pen. I don’t have a big collection of pens and inks, so I think being able to try any ink I would want seems so enticing. My ceremony comes from choosing my own notebook, having a multi-notebook system with different paper for different uses. And I love seeing them fill up overtime too.
I have each of my inks assigned a month, and it is used that month.. so they all get use through the year. That way they are all used and loved. I also match pen/ink so pens also get used though the year.
Wow, great idea. For me, it takes way longer than a month to write a pen dry, plus I own a few inks (perhaps shimmer or particularly bright) that I could not bear to read in a long letter or journal writing session, too sore on the eyes; but great for short writing (date, headings, signatures, a special quote, etc.). Luckily I don’t need to match pen with ink - but it would be a handy reminder of ink colour if a pen became neglected long enough to forget what ink it housed. I find the need to keep note of currently inked pens, which would not be necessary if I matched ink colour to pen. I will need a lot more pens though (don’t own a pink or brown or green, etc. but I have such inks). 🙂
Believe it or not, I just re-watched this Pencast (yes, the entire thing!), and something caught my ear. You spoke about the "grow or die" culture in business and how you don't really ascribe to that business model, as it were. I have to wonder if you are considering the basic philosophy of your business model to begin with. I've seen you mention this before, so I'm assuming you still operate as a "no debt business." The grow or die business model tends to be heavily dependent on debt and investors, or stock offerings. You can have flat or even declining sales (in a short term; I'm not talking about the life of your business), and it doesn't affect your investors or your debt payments. Stockholders aren't going to flee your company for better investment returns if they got less this year than last year, like they do in the greater public sector of business financing. I don't know how much this would apply to smaller companies like you talk about, companies with 5-20 employees, say, but I suspect many of them are not "publicly traded companies," and thus don't have investor or shareholder worries to have to try to respond to. Just a thought.
RE Hypothetical: I'm going to say the notebook because I find it hard to keep track of what's in each notebook so having a notebook that opens to where I need it and have unlimited high quality paper would be a godsend Like Drew, I appreciate the ceremonial aspect of inking (esp with new inks) and washing out pens and I think a fountain pen that doesn't have that would be kinda pointless (for me anyways)
I'm choosing the magic pen, only because of back pain, making cleaning pens tough. I usually have around 10 pens inked up and right now I'm missing my fountain pens so much! Can't wait to feel better and get back to having too many inked up again. 😉 I love lots of ink colors. Question for Q&A: So I purchased a pack of the Pilot Varsity from an office supply store 5 or more years ago and they still work great, every time you pick one up it starts first try. So why do they work so well never being cleaned and my "normal" fountain pens would not be so agreeable to the lack of cleaning/use? Thanks. 🤓🌻
Hello to both of you🙂love the discussions as i always do; i just wanted to say that the brown diplomat ( looks like bronze to me ) is the one I’m saving up for! I love that one. Can’t wait to hear about it next week. Have a good week🙂
As a former teacher, who got pens stolen from 😭, I would recommend the Jinhao Sharks or Pilot Metros. I don't own any Sharks, but I think the fine point will work well on cheap copy paper and that you wouldn't mind terribly if it was swiped off your desk. After that I think if you wanted something nicer, I think the metro is a good choice because, when closed, it doesn't look too far off from a regular pen. Both writing utensils were stolen in my first year of teaching. 😭 The first was a Uni Kuru Toga. The next was a pencil by the brand Franklin Covey. I had the matching fountain pen and ballpoint, so I was sad to be missing one from the set!
I love my Prussian Blue 580ALR. And actually quite like the grip. I do love the color of it, and chose the Prussian Blue over the navy as both were available when I ordered.
I am a teacher. I have a Lamy Al-Star and a Pilot Metro in my desk. Sometimes I bring my Pilot Custom 74 but I keep it in my desk when I go to class. My co-workers seem to be more curious about my pens, especially during meetings or when they see me refilling my pens.
I love the swipe more than the go. I wish the Clíp were a bit more functional and not so tight but otherwise it’s a great design and writes as wonderfully as I have come to expect from twsbi. Definitely a solid pen.
Gretchen, I have the same feelings about the difficult-to-use pocket clip. Important because that is how I carry my fountain pens. They need to be easily accessible and easy to pocket when done. I am reluctant to alter the clip to make it function easier. But I might have to.
I got a TWSBI Swipe, EF nib. The only ink I’ve had in it so far is Diamine Green Black. Did my journal pages for August in it. It’s a lovely ink. The shading was good, even with a EF nib. Good choice Drew!
I really love the Swipe - it's my first TWSBI and I was blown away by how smooth it writes. I find it didn't play well with my shimmer ink but I'm using it with a Lamy Crystal Ink Amazonite right now and it brought out a lot of shading that I never to go see with my Metro (although TBF, I got the Swipe in medium and my Metro in fine).
I'm a middle school teacher, but have gone a bit down the fountain pen rabbit hole (lots of mini-tootsie pops!). I use Vanishing Points (2) in class because of the efficiency of click-and-use. I keep a battery of moderately. priced pens, one for each period (5), color-coded by period (Lamy Safari, Pilot Explorer, Platinum Procyon,etc.) for grading. A real key is paper; My notebooks are all fountain pen friendly, which makes the experience of writing more satisfying.
I prefer the Vanishing Point click over snap cap pens for quick note taking purposes, without a doubt! I have plenty of Rhodia and Clairefontaine notebooks as well as fountain pen friendly loose leaf paper; but I find I can still freely use lower quality paper without feathering and bleed through if my pen is F or EF. Sometimes it’s the ink that just feathers on everything, even the best paper, or if the nib is a wet gushing writer (or nib/ink combo is wet+wet), you can get bleed through on even the best paper. Plus sometimes you can find an unfamiliar brand name, no gsm indicated, notebook at a random shop that turns out to have really great fountain pen friendly paper, such has been my experience. Not inexpensive, but if you’re wanting a large composition style notebook, I recommend Galison brand (based in NY, but made in India using recycled cotton paper, wood pulp free, acid-free, 120 lined pages…I buy the one with a hand embroidered peacock on the cover). There’s no label that says fountain pen friendly paper and shopkeeper had no idea, but I discovered it is great for fountain pens and I really like the size of the line spacing (it’s that school lined paper sized spacing). I repurchase it once one is filled - $20 Canadian, so maybe $12-15 US? Not as cheap as a composition notebook by any means, but might be okay for your personal use, or long term classroom use, such as a mark book? I don’t have any connection to Galison, my point is just to encourage paper or paper-nib-ink combinations exploration you might find combinations that save money for one use or splurge on another use. 😂
Brian, The USA was once so dominant in fountain pen manufacturing, particularly in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. In this era Shaeffer and Parker produced high quality pens that consumers pay premium prices for in the secondary market. While there are some greenshoots with the likes of Noodler’s and revived Esterbrook, the USA has ceded its dominance in fountain pen manufacturing to Germany, Japan and Italy? (Even these pens rely on German made nibs) How did this state of affairs come to pass? How do you see the American fountain pen manufacturing landscape today?
Gentlemen, a question for you both. I'm an author and I use my pens for making notes, but I also like to sign books with my pens. The trouble is the quality of paper isn't great. So far I've managed to get away with using a TWSBI Diamond with a M nib, or 1.1mm stub, with Noodlers X-Feather Blue, but I wonder is there a good pen, nib and ink combination you would recommend for poor quality paper - so that it won't feather or bleed or tear the paper. Thanks guys, these videos are really enjoyable and always make me smile.
Great question! I'd recommend a finer nib to start - perhaps a Japanese one. The Pilot Kakuno EF is one of the most affordable ways to get a really nice Japanese EF - you may want to give that a try and see if it makes a difference on your pages! - Drew www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-kakuno-fountain-pen-clear?variant=11884882231339
Brian and Drew. I look forward to this show every week. I get a lot of windshield time and love to listen to you guys chat about pens and life! I wanted to take a minute to applaud you both for a very specific reason. COVID. You guys have been perfect about it. With all of the division in America over the virus and the vaccine, you acknowledge it, speak about the changes it has forced in life, but do not take a political or radical stance publicly and that is such a breath of fresh air! I have to hear about it all of the time and it is really nice to check out of all of that and listen to light hearted talk for a while. Thank you both so much and keep doing what you’re doing! Love it! Write on!
Ok Drew, you've convinced me. All your great conversation about brown inks finally sunk in. I love Noodler's inks. If I choose just one brown ink from Noodler's, which would you recommend?
That's a tough one! I'm using Beaver right now, so I'll just recommend that one. However Noodler's Brown is great - so is Kiowa Pecan, Walnut, #41, and Burma Road. Golden Brown shades super well, too! - Drew
I’m taking Greek and Roman mythology this semester so I’m loving the interesting fact about Cerberus! It makes sense though since he guards hell for Hades thus the heat aspect. (As I was listening I was organizing my syllabus for that very class lol)
@1:51:25 ...are those the new colors of the Diplomat Magnum, not the Aero as Brian says? They look different enough from my prismatic purple one that I really don't know what model it is, I just know it's not the Aero! Oh yeah, and weren't these supposed to be released on Fridays? It's also somewhat confusing when talking about upcoming holidays which are in the past when it's posted.
Hypothetical: I would choose the magic pen. What I love the most about writing with fountain pens are the different nibs and all the different inks. It would be wonderful to have a different nib and ink several times a day. I have 3 notebooks. One is a daily planner, one is a journal and one is for inspiring quotes. I am happy with how they work for me. Thanks for that great hypothetical, Drew.
My first experience with fountain pens was in High School 22 or so years ago. I found a Pilot Varsity that someone had left in a classroom from a previous class.
@Hanna Choe You don’t need a syringe, you could just partially fill an Eco with its plunger mechanism, but even a partial fill might be more than a standard converter amount.
I would choose a magic notebook, for the same reasons. I like using my different fountain pens, filling, cleaning, and writing, so I would give up multiple notebooks in order to keep all my pens!
I pre-ordered myself a Prussian Blue TWSBI Swipe (w/ a 1.1 Stub, my first stub nib :D) which arrived early in August I already have a TWSBI Go in Smoked and so I'm not the biggest fan and unlike Drew, I like a mix of transparent and opaque (such as on the AL-Star) Upon receiving it, I inked it up with Waterman Inspired Blue (an especially safe ink so I always use it for testing my pens when I recieve them for the first time) using the spring converter (in the UK we do not get the twist converter) I have to say I really enjoy using it! The nib is smooth and consistent, had a much better flow than my TWSBI Go and I now want more stub nibs, it's encouraged me to start practicing more cursive writing After testing, I washed it out and inked it up with the ink I intend, Diamine Syrah and then I just fell even more in love with using the pen. Washing out the pen was really easy as I could use a bulb syringe unlike on the GO, and the disassemble-able converter is really good!! (be sure not to lose that bead ball agitator) I have small hands so I'm not drawn to posting my pens, my only downsides are the snap cap is a little more firm than I prefer and also the clip is more stiff than I also prefer but it did manage to clip into my pen case other than that it's definitely a great pen and would reccomend it, potentially a top 3 beginners fountain pen
I agree on the TWSBI stub nib, I mean all TWSBI nib sizes are great writers (at least I have no duds), but the stub makes handwriting seem prettier - I don’t find that to be a universal truth for all stub nibs, I have other brand nibs that definitely give writing the stub line, but the TWSBI stub is particularly nice.
As a professor, I use a lot of pens--rotating through all. I really like the Diplomat Magnum, Platinum or Pilot with for my project journal and planner due to the finer nibs, anything with a good fine tip for grading. For taking notes for research, I rotate through two to 10 pens (and Drew involuntarily cringed at the thought--I have 15 inked right now), I write a page or two and then switch. And then something nicer in a medium or fine with a blue ink for signing paper work, letters that I always keep on my desk. I like the TWSBI 580 ALR prussian Blue, Moneverde Rodeo Drive, and of course the Lamy 2000 for that. But what I REALLLY would like is a ink called Tears of Students. Students often ask how I grade, I typically say with an ink made from the tears of students. So...how about you guys partner with a company and make one--I like Red (although many have moved away, but I'm open to anything that stands out---a vibrant purple?
As long as we get to keep our “pretty” pens in addition to the plain magical one, I would choose the pen. I wouldn’t want to sacrifice the art and aesthetic of beautiful pen bodies, but it would be cool to change ink and nibs almost instantly. I like flipping through the pages of a notebook or referencing an old, used up notebook or consulting an index to find a particular note…a magic notebook would take away all that tactile enjoyment, that time of “smelling the roses” and being physically immersed in a task. If it was to be a one-and-only I could like a plain notebook better than a plain pen. I have only ever bought one plain black pen and it was purchased for the sake of the vintage nib and I immediately swapped it out for use in a prettier pen. The body was relegated to the spare parts box in case useful for emergency repair, and will likely never be used.
On a driving trip coast to coast to coast we went from sea level to passes over eight thousand feet. Nothing special was done regarding the pens as I was sending postcards and the occasional letter every couple of days. One cartridge converter developed a leak that was only a problem when the body and feed were separated. Problem continued after cleaning when we returned, I replaced that converter.
I’m curious to know whether you guys have your children using fountain pens 🖋. If your kids use fountain pens which ones do they use? What inks do they like?
Teacher speaking here: Don‘t get the typical „student pens“ like the Lamy Safari. Most students use those here, so you will never find it again if you misplace it.
I’ve had my Swipe filled with Colorverse Cat glimmer ink and am using the spring loaded converter..Er, filler…anywho, I haven’t noticed it being any better with agitating the shimmer ink than my boring Lamy Safari converter that currently has Emerald of Chivor in it. Also, I like the flush clip because I rarely use clips for their intended purpose but very much appreciate them for preventing my pens from rolling off my desk!!
This hypothetical is very difficult. I love the ceremony of a notebook but on the cusp of tomoe River going away it’s tempting. However I think i love the idea of changing ink as the whim strikes. I don’t love the cleaning process. So I would have to say pen. I have a hard time committing to nib size as well. I think pen/ ink of the week might be even more fun if you drew them from a hat or had a spin wheel or something. Or picking for each other if you are going to different ones. Loving this segment!
Hahahaha! I was listening to you and though I like the Prussian Blue it wasn't my jam. But the Navy actually makes me smile. I think the Navy looks more sophisticated and it is a pretty pen. The Prussian I just wasn't sure what it was truly going to look like. I am a Purple pen girl so I think this Navy will go with my Purple collection quite well.
Brian: Apache Sunset would make for a good ink for your Aero (if you aren't using it already given the upload delay). Drew: Very interesting hypothetical. I would also choose notebook. While I enjoy an array of notebooks with neat designs, they are definitely more utilitarian. Having different pens, inking them, cleaning them, spilling ink, it's all part of the joy of using different pens. Speaking of spilling ink... I split some Birmingham Pen Co. Tesla Coil on my keyboard last night (while playing Guild Wars 2) and did an initial clean up, but then spent this entire episode deep cleaning the keyboard. I took all the keys off and cleaned everything just now. My trash bin is filled with many blue cotton swabs, paper towels and tissues. All better now, and had a great time (as per usual) being able to watch the Pencast whilst doing so.
I think at 32:12, the concern is that if the jinhao and shark pens are using forced labor to produce pens making it cheaper. I'm not worried about western and japanese companies underpaying their employees. Because of transparency.
I'm a teacher and when grading papers in shuffling papers a lot, so I go for EF or F nibs and a drier red ink. And yes, I've given pens away. So fun and satisfying And I have no problem carrying my Leonardo momento zero grande to school
I used to teach primary school and my students would love to choose which fountain pen (and therefore colour) I used to correct their work. Eventually they all started using fountain pens and I didn't realize it was because I used them. But sure enough in the whole school only my students had them.
That's so awesome! I'll have to use that too .
So it was really nice to hear you acknowledge Sharon at the beginning of this cast about how it helped her with her strike recovery.
That has prompted me to share how fountain pens have helped me:
Like many others, I have put on some pandemic pounds on my already over-large frame.
Where the fountain pens have helped me it's that along with eating better some increased exercise, I started journaling. I now have 4 journals that have helped me on my weight loss journey.
I maintain a daily journal of my eating (also a personal diary, a book of quotes and a journal of miscellaneous writings).
Writing has truly created a vehicle to find a part of myself that I never knew, and writing daily has attributed my current non-surgical 67 pound weight loss since April 27th (40 more to go).
I have found writing to be a very carthartic activity that has definitely helped me regain myself (although it has taxed my bank account a bit 🤣).
Write on!
I expect to receive my first Pilot VP, Monteverde 1.1 stub nib and a sample of J. Herbin Emerald shimmering ink from Goulet later this week.
I have 3 pens for grading. All TWSBI ECOs, extra-fine nibs. I ink up with Diamine Syrah, Noodler's Fox and Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses. My students can usually tell my mood from the ink colour I use on their paper.
I really appreciate your goal of just trying to maintain a vaguely even workflow instead of trying to milk “special” occasions for all their worth. Thanks for looking after your staff!
I can agree with Sharon about fountain pens and rehabilitation. My first fountain pen was a grey Esterbrook J that I found in my folks' barn (left by the previous owner), but got out of them for over 30 years, as ink was just not available in my area, then I forgot about them.
2010 I too had a stroke, and other pens became painful to use. I read that fountain pens, because they don't need pressure like a ballpoint, don't hurt for folks who have problems with other types, so I hunted down a fountain pen (internet really has helped the fountain pen industry. 😁 Wasn't available when I first got into them.)
Yep. Fountain pens don't hurt for me to use. This has nudged me down several rabbit holes. Over 100 pens, currently, and 26 different bottles of ink. Right now. 😁
They've encouraged me to start writing letters and such, again, so I'm trying to do my part to keep the postal service running, with a book of stamps a month, minimum. I do have a mechanical pencil, but it's more for a set of grey Esterbrook double jewel pens (like my first one,) and it's seldom used. Besides, it still has the original price sticker on it.
My handwriting was back to about the same as a 2nd grader, after my stroke, and fountain pens brought back my version of round hand. Thanks, fountain pens!
About fountain pens and airplanes: the author Michael Jecks took his Conway Stewart 58 Indiana Jones on a flight to Australia, and his brother ribbed him about it leaking. His brother's ballpoint exploded, and the Conway Stewart was fine. I'd feel pretty confident with taking most of my pens on a plane (maybe not the antique Mabie Todd I have, but almost everything else.)
I had a bad pen leak (while it was in a built in pen pocket in my purse, staining the purse permanently), the pen, a durable workhorse, was nib up, fully capped - I could not explain the cause of the leak, it wasn’t dropped or handled roughly - and it was a couple days after a flight. It didn’t leak during the flight or immediately afterwards (the pen was in use or handled, so I would have noticed); but because I could not find a crack or any other reason for the leak I attributed the problem to the air travel. This same pen has not leaked since and seems fine (I still can’t find a crack although I have no better explanation), but I admit I use it less often because the mysterious leak makes me nervous - since I don’t know the cause I don’t know how to prevent a recurrence. I have not travelled by air with a fountain pen since, first out of caution, and now because I have not had the opportunity for air travel. It might have leaked due to air cabin pressure, or it might be unrelated, I don’t know.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Paul! - Drew
I got back into fountain pens in 2016. A math student of mine was using a TWSBI mini in class. He sent me to your website so I bought the same one.
Yay! Thanks so much for the support! - Drew
So, it looks like the Merriam-Webster definition of “Foray” as a verb can mean
“to do or attempt something outside one's accustomed sphere : to enter into a new or different field or area of activity”.
Thank you! Haha! - Drew
I forget way too much, so the notebook that would automatically open to whatever I needed would be absolutely amazing for me.
I personally think the SWIPE is better beginner FP over the ECO. A lot of people I've introduced FPs to hated the exposed piston filler knob and the need to use bottled ink. The SWIPE is great because you can use a cartridge or bottled ink!
I had that experience with pens making a big difference, but it’s also a bit of a source of heartbreak… At one point a few decades ago I saved up and spent a few hundred dollars on a gorgeous slender brushed steel fountain pen with gold trim accents… after years of using super cheap fountain pens… The pen was perfectly heavy in my hand, the nib was not only amazingly EF but it had ZERO scratchiness… I ended up homeless on & off for several years after that, and kept having my journals and that pen pickpocketed off me. I managed to buy it back from the pawnshops a few times (journaling was one of the very few pleasures and therapeutic activities that kept me out of the psych wards then)… but finally it was stolen and I couldn’t track it down. A couple years later, a family member bought me a lovely $150 schaeffer or parker with the similar dual color metal, and even though the steel on it was shiny and not my favorite, it still had a lovely smooth F nib that really helped motivate me to work on my CBT exercises in my journal. That one I kept under my clothes (with my money) but I still ended up getting robbed while I was sleeping in a shelter (that’s one of the big reasons a lot of people don’t trust shelters- it’s impossible to defend yourself against theft of food, clothes, etc, in that environment, even if using a locker, sadly).
That whole experience stopped me from using fountain pens at all for a long time. I’ve since found a place to live, and got a Pilot metropolitan a while back, but not knowing how to tune the nib and the scratchiness of it and a couple other inexpensive pens I’ve tried has been so hard. I think maybe I just got spoiled by how fine and flexible those first two nibs were… using the pens I can afford has been so frustrating that I often just don’t use them at all. I wonder about some of the nibs on the lamy pens, but they just look so ugly to me. I’m not super hot on the Metropolitan, but it at least has a bit of weight to it.
Thank you for the beginner and “next” pens roundups. I’ve ordered a preppy, and while I really am not a big fan of plastic pens, I’m hoping that at least the nib will be less scratchy. And I’ve ordered a set of 1200-12,000 grit micromesh pads, so if the nib is uncomfortable, I’m only out the $8 I spent on the preppy.
I hope it’s at least better than nothing. In order to keep building mental health recovery, I need to spend more time on the homework my psychiatrist gives me. When the feel of the marker or pencil or pen is setting off all of my SPD triggers and making me shudder with repulsion, that’s a little hard. For now, I can only dream of a EF decimo or something like that. Maybe someday it’ll happen. At least with your channel, I have access to recommendations for pens that I’ve set alerts on ebay for so I can afford to start learning how to tune nibs, and when I get a nicer pen if it still has issues, I’ll have options.
Fountain pen users , a warm, happy, smart and sometimes Nerdy community. LOVE. Thanks for being such great contributors to our community.
We're so incredibly fortunate to have found this community - it's exactly as you described, and we love it! - Drew
Of course we watch and listen until the very end. We like going down the rabbit hole as deep as it will go; remember?
Haha! You're the perfect kind of crazy, and we love it! - Drew
I started my Some Lines a Day this year. I totally agree with Brian, I actually even wrote on the entry for January 1 that I wish I had started it last year and documented my perspective through the pandemic. I think it would be super interesting for my children to read someday (they’re currently 6 & 3 so too young to really remember it many years from now).
Also, quick tip to keep away that shame for missing any days in the Some Lines a Day journal - if I don’t have time to write in it on any given day, I have a note in the Notes app on my phone that I will go in at bedtime and jot down the date & what I would have written in the journal for that day, then will fill it in the next time I am able to. I started this when I left my journal at home when I went on vacation for a week with my husband for our anniversary in April. Since then I’ve actually gone several days without actually writing in it, but thanks to my notes app, it never gets to the point where I’ve let too much time pass and no longer remember what to write for each day.
Just heard the hypothetical and for me it is straightforward: the notebook. Pens and ink are great, but a notebook that I could easily search would be paradise!
I ended up jumping on the Swipe once the Prussian Blue EF was back in stock, and I'm glad I did! This is my first TWSBI and I'm really pleased with it. I like changing inks so I'm glad it's a converter pen, and the nib is lovely to write with!
Great shirt, Drew!
I like demonstrator body piston fill pens or eye droppering a pen (if the body is transparent); but I fully admit that it takes me forever to use up all the ink - and changing ink colour adds interest and excitement to the task of writing. So my next fresh fill of a pen will absolutely be a converter fill pen! I had 8 pens in use at the start of July and 4 are still going strong now in September, so I’m greatly looking forward to enlisting a new pen and new ink (I am not going to make myself wait to finish the remaining 4 eye droppered/piston pens, that feels punishing). I haven’t jumped on the Swipe because I have 2 Ecos (my first ever fountain pen is one of those TWSBI Ecos), 2 TWSBI 580s, (I had 1 Vac Mini but gave it away because I didn’t like it), 1 Draco, and 1 Go - so I have every TWSBI nib experience in my collection except the Broad…maybe the Swipe in B someday, lol.
@@kimberly3706s I feel like I would love the Eco if I could stick to one ink! What's hilarious is prior to this year, I did just that, but all of a sudden I'm into using colorful inks and changing them up regularly. I thought maybe I could fill the Eco partway with a syringe, but that seems to defeat the purpose?
One thing I love about the SWIPE over the ECO, is the end of the grip (on the nib side) sticks out more. It really helps keep my fingers from slipping down when I get sweaty writing letters in my hot room lol.
Woohoo! I spot a Goulet video in my subs, and I can't help but smile.
Dang, guys, thanks so much for answering my question! It's so great to know that y'all are very mindful about every decision you make, and that you also have the consumers in mind, which all around makes Goulet community a more thoughtful one. Really enjoy hearing and learning from you both as always, Brian and Drew! :)
Thanks for the question! It was a good one. - Drew
I like navy, but Prussian blue is lovely and timeless, too -- Big Ben's newly restored hands were re-painted in the original Prussian blue, to match the clock face.
“i have a little field notes here, and I don’t particularly care for the paper, but I use it and it’s fine” LOL i swear this is every fountain pen person I talk to, including me!
Came back to Episode 14 like Brian said, since there wont be a pencast next week.
I really appreciate your willingness to address some of the more difficult questions about being a conscientious business, including consideration of suppliers, and reducing waste. Also appreciated: chapter marks in a 2-hour video. 😊
Thank you, Deb! Yes - the chapter marks are definitely important! - Drew
Brian, like you, I missed the pandemic year in my lines-a-day journal but I've picked it back up this year and it has been really worth it. Dive on in! I still don't always get seven days per week but I consider 5/7 a win!
2 ✌🏽hours. Whoa. Navy TWSBI for me..
So in the high end Italian pen market folks get paid!
Pilot Metropolitan is slightly underrated. It’s a substantial pen for around $20.
I like your wholistic approach with your business.
I bought a Lamy 2k from you during the earlier part of the pandemic, and the US mail had a major slow down (for those who remember), anyway I called Goulet pen co when my Lamy 2K didn’t show up as expected. Drew called me back, encouraged me to be hopeful about the pen showing up soon, and said they’d help me out of it got lost. You, Drew, were also very supportive about my pen and nib choice, assuring me it was a great choice. You were not wrong, the pen came, and it’s a favorite of mine. The one on one connection was invaluable and the conversation was uplifting and a super unique experience. Thank you!
Blessing you both, and all people with children, on the going back to school ‘stuff’.. 💜💜💜
Thanks for the support! - Drew
I, too, suffer from a drawer full of half finished notebooks. 😂 it’s so nice to not be alone.
You're in good company (well, depending on your opinion of us)! :) - Drew
@@Gouletpens then I’m in the most excellent of company - no doubt! 😁
I can’t waste paper, I will eventually fill a notebook, whether there’s a time span gap of years, or repurposing the notebook partway through (maybe I don’t need a bujo calendar in its own dedicated notebook as I thought I needed in 2016 😅). I use dated planners and Hobonici many years outdated, for use of the paper. No unfinished notebook remains unfinished; that said I have a stash of fresh (unused) notebooks, some are becoming vintage, lol!
@@kimberly3706s Nice! I wish I had that kind of commitment. But, most of my half used notebooks come from me ripping out pages. And then I go from a 100 sheet notebook to a 30 sheet notebook,… which then get to take a long nap in the drawer. 🤣😂
Ya'll are awesome! I was feeling so crazy for having a notebook fetish(pile of new notebooks, I'm looking at you!). And I've been ashamed of my half used notebooks for years. It's wonderful to know I'm not the only one with this problem. Hmmm could we maybe get some group T-shirts? I'd definitely get one. Are ya'll in?
I'd love to see brian and drew's top 5 brown inks as a video
As would I! I’m just getting into browns and so far my top ones are Herbin Lie de Thè, MB Toffee Brown, and Noodlers Walnut.
@@robhumphrey04 My favorites are colorverse coffee break, monteverde pumpkin cake, diamine tobacco sunburst, herbinLie de The, and akkerman sbrebrown. Oh and platinum khaki black! I love brown inks! I feel that they make my letters look vintage and cozy :)
DeAtramentis Mint Turquoise is an oldie that I've fallen in love with once again. 😊 I remember Rachel used to love this ink too.
I am a teacher and I have numerous fountain pens that I use in school with various colors. 😍 My favorite ones are the Diplomat Aero and the Pelikan Souverän. Here in Europe many students use fountain pens. The most common ones are the Lamys.
Brian's take on consumerism and ethics in business is fantastic. Thanks for that!
Thanks for that - a heavy duty topic is good every once in awhile! - Drew
Oh my god your kids!!! They grow so fast. I've only been a father for a year and a half and she's already growing up too fast for me. What a darling moment.
I got a Lamy 2000 Double Broad from yall when you were carrying them. Love it. So I was one of the odd ones who appreciated you carrying the unusual nibs.
Gardening journal followed by toy accordion songs? You need to be a character in a quirky novel.
Haha Thank you! - Drew
@@Gouletpens this is a question for Drew, this hypothetical made me think: does Drew play D&D? If he does what creature would he be!?
I bought my wife a TWSBI Smoke broad, and she immediately inked it up with Diamine Moon Dust (shimmer ink) using the installed spring piston converter. The pen writes great, but most of the shimmer particles got stuck in the spring. Vigorous shaking and spinning have not dislodged them. I would suggest removing the spring or using the twist converter if you're using shimmer inks.
Is Nathan literally the only person who makes, bottles and runs his Noodler’s ink business? If so, that’s astonishing 😁 I’m in Canada and can go to a local book store to buy his inks…. Think about that, amazing.
Indeed he is - it is mind-blowing when you think of the quality and consistency of his products. If you have never seen the video chat where Brian interviewed Nathan, the link to that popped up in this video when they were talking about Nathan and Noodler's. Check it out - it was fun to watch!
Apparently every bottle of Noodler's in existence has touched a piece of furniture in his living room, because that's where he backs it up before getting it ready for the distributor. JUST a tad crazy.
@@florencefortyseven it's an old record player, the big wooden cabinet type, that belonged to his uncle that he now uses as a work bench. How is that crazy?!
@@gunsmokeandghouls . I mean crazy in a good way, to wrap your head around.
Oh! Ellie is so cute! Loved that interruption.
I would ask for the magic notebook. But I’d probably still use other notebooks just because I love a stunning finish on the cover like paperblanks do.
Totally agree on the pool issue. 😂
The TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Prussian Blue "spoke" to me. It said "You NEED me!" So, I got one. I have no plans currently to acquire the Navy Blue version. The silver or the nickel gray are still on my want list (actually, I have one of these colors and I need to dig it out and see which I have), but not the Navy Blue.
Between an infinite pen or an infinite notebook, I would go with the notebook in a heartbeat.
Translucency.
My boyfriend is a teacher and I lent him my TWSBI Eco Smoke and Rose Gold for marking once (as he needed green ink). He loved it so much that he ended up buying the white one too. He wears it on his lanyard and students ask about it all the time. Some students have said that they have even asked for one for Christmas! One student came and asked what ink he used for their last papers because they liked the sheen on the ticks!
Such a cool story! Please thank him for spreading the love! - Drew
Excited to see what you all think of my favorite everyday Carry pen the aero is incredible
I am an art teacher, I always keep a TWSBI 580AL and GO with me all the time, but I also keep a Moonman T1 and TWSBI Swipe on my desk in case a student wants to try a pen or for some reason I forgot my other pens. I generally always keep a black or blue ink in them all. Also, I'm really digging the Swipe, so much so I have ordered a couple more to have in the classroom, in my backpack, and in my studio...
I find it interesting that Americans are questioning the treatment of workers in other countries, and particularly European countries. Meanwhile in Europe we look at our worker’s rights and feel sorry for Americans, many of whom get little or no paid leave or sick leave, maternity provisions, etc. The rest of the world isn’t as backwards as many Americans think!
I'm pretty sure it's not European countries that Americans are concerned about.
But the products they are concerned about are made in Europe, so it’s not an issue. Maybe Americans should be concerned with their own employment laws, because most manufacturing countries have better employee protection in place than the USA.
@@ffotograffydd nah I think that question was pretty pointedly leveled at jinhao lol
Then why did the guys immediately start talking about European manufacturers? And anyway, even Chinese workers tend to have better terms of employment than many Americans. It’s a question based on ignorance.
@@ffotograffydd not in the manufacturing sector? Lol? But idk probably easier/more relevant to talk about European manufacturers because most fountain pens come from Europe, I just guessed it was about the cheap Chinese pens because of the comments about how pens can be ‘so so cheap’ and come out with that level of quality, and that is certainly easiest to see with the sub-$10 Chinese pens.
My DD has also been helped with FPs and writing, even left handed ( to strengthen her muscle weakness) as she recovers and copes with long haul Covid issues. she enjoys our Pencast and the pens and inks she buys from Goulet Pens.
I buy every Twsbi ALR and Eco they release, so it doesn't matter to me. I love to have the variety.
I would absolutely choose the magic notebook! And I usually hate hypothetical questions, but this one was easy! I love pen and ink variety, pairings, cleaning, even tuning and repairs! I'm currently still hunting for a perfect notebook, so if you have one of those magic ones laying around...😁
Thank you for smooth, steady and not crazy! We all need that in our lives!
Oh we're crazy, just not in comparison to everything else going on right now. :) - Drew
Pens for teachers and students are no way near the same. As a teacher of over 32 years, I prefer my Esterbrook Estie pens. They have a decent ink capacity, they NEVER fail me, and everyone knows who they belong to. Benu is another good pen, and the sparkles can spark conversations.
Excellent hypothetical question this week, Drew. It really made me think. I would go for the journal for the same reasons you and Brian gave. I really enjoy the ritual of inking up (and even cleaning!) my fountain pens. I also like to use lots of different pens, and I wonder if I’d be less inclined to do that if I could just snap my fingers and have a different nib and ink whenever I wanted. Great episode, as always. I appreciate you guys!
Question: I recently realized I like bouncy nibs. I first had a Pelikano Up and it blew my mind. I heard that the Diplomat Magnum was bouncy and I tried it and again it was amazing. I recently moved up to the Pelikan M200 and that steel nib is wonderful. I went to the SF pen show and tried a titanium nib from Hinze Pens and it was gorgeous. So my question: what other brands/models of pens come with a bouncy nib?
Another great video! Brian, if you haven't found an orange ink for your orange Aero, may I suggest Diamine Pumpkin? Also, big thanks for taking my question. I am humbled and honored. How about next weekly pen are random ones from Brian's massive collection in his office? I bet Drew would enjoy that. Continue staying safe! Looking forward to the next episode. 👍👍
Great idea, Juan! - Drew
:-D -- - Great content in this video. Very thoughtful answers to some fairly deep questions. As usual... Yay!
I am hoping for more colors in the twsbi swipe. While the Prussian blue is nice I personally like the dark blue or navy. It goes well with denim of which I am a fan and I think navy is a classic color. As a new fountain pen user, I look for special attributes: colors I like, must be postable, and available in various nib sizes. I am budget conscious so I will not spend a lot unless available at a deep discount. Keep up the great work!
I love denim blues! - Drew
For the hypothetical: I'd take one perfect pen with any ink, personally. I love changing ink colors but I hate having to clean the pens xD I enjoy having several notebooks lying around and making them organized, so they're not a problem, but pen cleaning between ink changes? Oh boy. In my case the pen would probably be shaped a little more like a Platinum Kanazawa Leaf or a Pilot Vanishing Point (maybe a Decimo since it's smaller, but I don't own one so I can't confirm) since they'd have the perfect ergonomics for my hand :p
Quick edit: your team might have seen me place several orders over the past month or so and I'm so sorry for making more work for you guys instead of just placing one big order ^^' It's that I keep trying to tone down the pen addiction by not ordering everything I might feel like getting, but then I watch a video and the need gets real D:
Great episode -- so nice to see you both.
Thank you, Sue! - Drew
I love my Prussian Blue Swipe! I got a fine nib, and I'm currently using Noodler's Black in it. One thing that I have noticed is that the ink will sometimes get trapped in the top of the push-button converter, and will not flow down to the feed. This is easy to resolve by gently shaking the pen, nib-down, but I didn't figure that out right away. The ink was not flowing, and I thought It had an issue. Happy to figure out it was an easy fix! Love Goulet Pen Co.!!!
You two are SO interesting and entertaining. I had to LOL to myself as I noticed my behavior this morning. I am a super-huge fan of CBS Sunday Morning, and have watched it religiously for over half of my liFE! But I fell asleep watching your Pencast last night and woke up this morning, opened the laptop, and it was still playing. Would you believe that I "muted" CBS this morning to hear Brian and Drew talk Fountain Pens!! (...smiles) I've loved pens for years, but just falling down the Fountain Pen rabbit hole. Call me ALICE - because I'm stuck!! :) Thanks so much for all of the information! Lisa
Lol thank you so much! I love this! - Drew
Drew, I’m also all for aesthetic balance with pen elements. I’d go with the awesome paper. I’m a paper person. So much of my love for pens and inks is about the paper. I love paper. I love ink on paper. I need to go write in my journal.
So you don't like paper at all, then? - Drew
@@Gouletpens Haha, it’s meh.
ON OPPOSITE DAY!
I would definitely choose a magic notebook. To finally be at notebook "peace" and have the perfect unicorn of notebooks (for me) would be absolutely invaluable. And to have the ability to have ONE with everything in it, that goes immediately to what I need without me searching or having to remember WHICH notebook I put it in, yeah, sign me up!!
And Brian, in regards to your Some Lines a Day: just continue now, gaps and all. Those gaps and blank pages also tell a story. And isn't it better to have SOME memories written down, instead of none at all?
Great insight! - Drew
Oh yay!! I got excited when I read the word notebooks in the title of this video 😁 so glad to see what you guys use! Glad you mentioned that travelers style notebook Drew! It was what caught my eye in several of your videos. Thanks so much for sharing and answering my Q. The travelers notebook spirit is strong 😍
Thank you so very much for watching, and for the great prompt! - Drew
I am a paper person! So I would choose the magic pen. I don’t have a big collection of pens and inks, so I think being able to try any ink I would want seems so enticing. My ceremony comes from choosing my own notebook, having a multi-notebook system with different paper for different uses. And I love seeing them fill up overtime too.
I have each of my inks assigned a month, and it is used that month.. so they all get use through the year. That way they are all used and loved. I also match pen/ink so pens also get used though the year.
That's brilliant! - Drew
I sort of do the same, one pen and ink per month in my bullet journal. In other notebooks, I only change pen and ink when one runs out
Wow, great idea. For me, it takes way longer than a month to write a pen dry, plus I own a few inks (perhaps shimmer or particularly bright) that I could not bear to read in a long letter or journal writing session, too sore on the eyes; but great for short writing (date, headings, signatures, a special quote, etc.). Luckily I don’t need to match pen with ink - but it would be a handy reminder of ink colour if a pen became neglected long enough to forget what ink it housed. I find the need to keep note of currently inked pens, which would not be necessary if I matched ink colour to pen. I will need a lot more pens though (don’t own a pink or brown or green, etc. but I have such inks). 🙂
Believe it or not, I just re-watched this Pencast (yes, the entire thing!), and something caught my ear. You spoke about the "grow or die" culture in business and how you don't really ascribe to that business model, as it were. I have to wonder if you are considering the basic philosophy of your business model to begin with. I've seen you mention this before, so I'm assuming you still operate as a "no debt business." The grow or die business model tends to be heavily dependent on debt and investors, or stock offerings. You can have flat or even declining sales (in a short term; I'm not talking about the life of your business), and it doesn't affect your investors or your debt payments. Stockholders aren't going to flee your company for better investment returns if they got less this year than last year, like they do in the greater public sector of business financing. I don't know how much this would apply to smaller companies like you talk about, companies with 5-20 employees, say, but I suspect many of them are not "publicly traded companies," and thus don't have investor or shareholder worries to have to try to respond to.
Just a thought.
RE Hypothetical:
I'm going to say the notebook because I find it hard to keep track of what's in each notebook so having a notebook that opens to where I need it and have unlimited high quality paper would be a godsend
Like Drew, I appreciate the ceremonial aspect of inking (esp with new inks) and washing out pens and I think a fountain pen that doesn't have that would be kinda pointless (for me anyways)
I'm choosing the magic pen, only because of back pain, making cleaning pens tough. I usually have around 10 pens inked up and right now I'm missing my fountain pens so much! Can't wait to feel better and get back to having too many inked up again. 😉 I love lots of ink colors. Question for Q&A: So I purchased a pack of the Pilot Varsity from an office supply store 5 or more years ago and they still work great, every time you pick one up it starts first try. So why do they work so well never being cleaned and my "normal" fountain pens would not be so agreeable to the lack of cleaning/use? Thanks. 🤓🌻
I would definitely take the magic pen. 🖊️ I love inks! I like the ceremonial aspect of a new notebook!
Hello to both of you🙂love the discussions as i always do; i just wanted to say that the brown diplomat ( looks like bronze to me ) is the one I’m saving up for! I love that one. Can’t wait to hear about it next week. Have a good week🙂
Get it while you can! They've been discontinued, sadly! - Drew
As a former teacher, who got pens stolen from 😭, I would recommend the Jinhao Sharks or Pilot Metros. I don't own any Sharks, but I think the fine point will work well on cheap copy paper and that you wouldn't mind terribly if it was swiped off your desk. After that I think if you wanted something nicer, I think the metro is a good choice because, when closed, it doesn't look too far off from a regular pen.
Both writing utensils were stolen in my first year of teaching. 😭 The first was a Uni Kuru Toga. The next was a pencil by the brand Franklin Covey. I had the matching fountain pen and ballpoint, so I was sad to be missing one from the set!
That's helpful insight! Thank you! - Drew
@@Gouletpens You're welcome! Happy to contribute to the community!
Elementary kids would definitely steal a shark pen! 💕 A shark is too fun and tempting to sticky fingers, lol.
I love my Prussian Blue 580ALR. And actually quite like the grip. I do love the color of it, and chose the Prussian Blue over the navy as both were available when I ordered.
I am a teacher. I have a Lamy Al-Star and a Pilot Metro in my desk. Sometimes I bring my Pilot Custom 74 but I keep it in my desk when I go to class.
My co-workers seem to be more curious about my pens, especially during meetings or when they see me refilling my pens.
I love the swipe more than the go. I wish the Clíp were a bit more functional and not so tight but otherwise it’s a great design and writes as wonderfully as I have come to expect from twsbi. Definitely a solid pen.
Gretchen, I have the same feelings about the difficult-to-use pocket clip. Important because that is how I carry my fountain pens. They need to be easily accessible and easy to pocket when done. I am reluctant to alter the clip to make it function easier. But I might have to.
I've been using Sailor Shikiori Yamadori with my Prussian Blue SWIPE and it's the perfect combo! They look so nice together.
I got a TWSBI Swipe, EF nib. The only ink I’ve had in it so far is Diamine Green Black. Did my journal pages for August in it. It’s a lovely ink. The shading was good, even with a EF nib. Good choice Drew!
Great choice, Melanie! - Drew
I really love the Swipe - it's my first TWSBI and I was blown away by how smooth it writes. I find it didn't play well with my shimmer ink but I'm using it with a Lamy Crystal Ink Amazonite right now and it brought out a lot of shading that I never to go see with my Metro (although TBF, I got the Swipe in medium and my Metro in fine).
I'm a middle school teacher, but have gone a bit down the fountain pen rabbit hole (lots of mini-tootsie pops!).
I use Vanishing Points (2) in class because of the efficiency of click-and-use. I keep a battery of moderately. priced pens, one for each period (5), color-coded by period (Lamy Safari, Pilot Explorer, Platinum Procyon,etc.) for grading.
A real key is paper; My notebooks are all fountain pen friendly, which makes the experience of writing more satisfying.
I prefer the Vanishing Point click over snap cap pens for quick note taking purposes, without a doubt! I have plenty of Rhodia and Clairefontaine notebooks as well as fountain pen friendly loose leaf paper; but I find I can still freely use lower quality paper without feathering and bleed through if my pen is F or EF. Sometimes it’s the ink that just feathers on everything, even the best paper, or if the nib is a wet gushing writer (or nib/ink combo is wet+wet), you can get bleed through on even the best paper. Plus sometimes you can find an unfamiliar brand name, no gsm indicated, notebook at a random shop that turns out to have really great fountain pen friendly paper, such has been my experience. Not inexpensive, but if you’re wanting a large composition style notebook, I recommend Galison brand (based in NY, but made in India using recycled cotton paper, wood pulp free, acid-free, 120 lined pages…I buy the one with a hand embroidered peacock on the cover). There’s no label that says fountain pen friendly paper and shopkeeper had no idea, but I discovered it is great for fountain pens and I really like the size of the line spacing (it’s that school lined paper sized spacing). I repurchase it once one is filled - $20 Canadian, so maybe $12-15 US? Not as cheap as a composition notebook by any means, but might be okay for your personal use, or long term classroom use, such as a mark book? I don’t have any connection to Galison, my point is just to encourage paper or paper-nib-ink combinations exploration you might find combinations that save money for one use or splurge on another use. 😂
This is great! Wow! That sounds awesome, Peter. Is this your first school year with this system? - Drew
😮😮😮 a magical Tuesday surprise! 🥳🥳🥳
Wheeee! - Drew
Definitely would go for a forever notebook, that would tie really well into the paper production sustainability :)
Good point! - Drew
Brian,
The USA was once so dominant in fountain pen manufacturing, particularly in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. In this era Shaeffer and Parker produced high quality pens that consumers pay premium prices for in the secondary market. While there are some greenshoots with the likes of Noodler’s and revived Esterbrook, the USA has ceded its dominance in fountain pen manufacturing to Germany, Japan and Italy? (Even these pens rely on German made nibs) How did this state of affairs come to pass? How do you see the American fountain pen manufacturing landscape today?
Another honest entertaining podcast, I could probably buy more of my pens in the UK but I prefer to purchase from you guys to support your content :-)
That really does mean the world to us, David. Thank you so very much, from all of us! - Drew
Gentlemen, a question for you both. I'm an author and I use my pens for making notes, but I also like to sign books with my pens. The trouble is the quality of paper isn't great. So far I've managed to get away with using a TWSBI Diamond with a M nib, or 1.1mm stub, with Noodlers X-Feather Blue, but I wonder is there a good pen, nib and ink combination you would recommend for poor quality paper - so that it won't feather or bleed or tear the paper. Thanks guys, these videos are really enjoyable and always make me smile.
Great question! I'd recommend a finer nib to start - perhaps a Japanese one. The Pilot Kakuno EF is one of the most affordable ways to get a really nice Japanese EF - you may want to give that a try and see if it makes a difference on your pages! - Drew www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-kakuno-fountain-pen-clear?variant=11884882231339
@@Gouletpens Thanks Drew.
Brian and Drew. I look forward to this show every week. I get a lot of windshield time and love to listen to you guys chat about pens and life! I wanted to take a minute to applaud you both for a very specific reason. COVID. You guys have been perfect about it. With all of the division in America over the virus and the vaccine, you acknowledge it, speak about the changes it has forced in life, but do not take a political or radical stance publicly and that is such a breath of fresh air! I have to hear about it all of the time and it is really nice to check out of all of that and listen to light hearted talk for a while. Thank you both so much and keep doing what you’re doing! Love it! Write on!
We're certainly doing our best. Thanks so much for joining us each week! - Drew
I listened to this late. I have the Navy 850 and I love it! Medium nib. I bought Noodler’s Navy ink and love it for the pen.
Ok Drew, you've convinced me. All your great conversation about brown inks finally sunk in. I love Noodler's inks. If I choose just one brown ink from Noodler's, which would you recommend?
That's a tough one! I'm using Beaver right now, so I'll just recommend that one. However Noodler's Brown is great - so is Kiowa Pecan, Walnut, #41, and Burma Road. Golden Brown shades super well, too! - Drew
@@Gouletpens I chose Walnut because I prefer a darker brown - good choice.
I’m taking Greek and Roman mythology this semester so I’m loving the interesting fact about Cerberus! It makes sense though since he guards hell for Hades thus the heat aspect. (As I was listening I was organizing my syllabus for that very class lol)
@1:51:25 ...are those the new colors of the Diplomat Magnum, not the Aero as Brian says? They look different enough from my prismatic purple one that I really don't know what model it is, I just know it's not the Aero!
Oh yeah, and weren't these supposed to be released on Fridays? It's also somewhat confusing when talking about upcoming holidays which are in the past when it's posted.
Hypothetical: I would choose the magic pen. What I love the most about writing with fountain pens are the different nibs and all the different inks. It would be wonderful to have a different nib and ink several times a day. I have 3 notebooks. One is a daily planner, one is a journal and one is for inspiring quotes. I am happy with how they work for me. Thanks for that great hypothetical, Drew.
Good choice, Sandy! - Drew
I did not catch the first part of Drew explaining the hypotheticals and only heard the description of the pen. I was ready to order!!! LOL!
Sorry to disappoint! Haha! - Drew
My first experience with fountain pens was in High School 22 or so years ago. I found a Pilot Varsity that someone had left in a classroom from a previous class.
@Hanna Choe You don’t need a syringe, you could just partially fill an Eco with its plunger mechanism, but even a partial fill might be more than a standard converter amount.
I would choose a magic notebook, for the same reasons. I like using my different fountain pens, filling, cleaning, and writing, so I would give up multiple notebooks in order to keep all my pens!
I pre-ordered myself a Prussian Blue TWSBI Swipe (w/ a 1.1 Stub, my first stub nib :D) which arrived early in August
I already have a TWSBI Go in Smoked and so I'm not the biggest fan and unlike Drew, I like a mix of transparent and opaque (such as on the AL-Star)
Upon receiving it, I inked it up with Waterman Inspired Blue (an especially safe ink so I always use it for testing my pens when I recieve them for the first time) using the spring converter (in the UK we do not get the twist converter)
I have to say I really enjoy using it! The nib is smooth and consistent, had a much better flow than my TWSBI Go and I now want more stub nibs, it's encouraged me to start practicing more cursive writing
After testing, I washed it out and inked it up with the ink I intend, Diamine Syrah and then I just fell even more in love with using the pen. Washing out the pen was really easy as I could use a bulb syringe unlike on the GO, and the disassemble-able converter is really good!! (be sure not to lose that bead ball agitator)
I have small hands so I'm not drawn to posting my pens, my only downsides are the snap cap is a little more firm than I prefer and also the clip is more stiff than I also prefer but it did manage to clip into my pen case
other than that it's definitely a great pen and would reccomend it, potentially a top 3 beginners fountain pen
I like a mix of transparent and opaque, I just prefer a balance - not just having it in one place. I love my Al-Stars, though! :) - Drew
I agree on the TWSBI stub nib, I mean all TWSBI nib sizes are great writers (at least I have no duds), but the stub makes handwriting seem prettier - I don’t find that to be a universal truth for all stub nibs, I have other brand nibs that definitely give writing the stub line, but the TWSBI stub is particularly nice.
As a professor, I use a lot of pens--rotating through all. I really like the Diplomat Magnum, Platinum or Pilot with for my project journal and planner due to the finer nibs, anything with a good fine tip for grading. For taking notes for research, I rotate through two to 10 pens (and Drew involuntarily cringed at the thought--I have 15 inked right now), I write a page or two and then switch. And then something nicer in a medium or fine with a blue ink for signing paper work, letters that I always keep on my desk. I like the TWSBI 580 ALR prussian Blue, Moneverde Rodeo Drive, and of course the Lamy 2000 for that. But what I REALLLY would like is a ink called Tears of Students. Students often ask how I grade, I typically say with an ink made from the tears of students. So...how about you guys partner with a company and make one--I like Red (although many have moved away, but I'm open to anything that stands out---a vibrant purple?
Hey, if you can actually manage 15 pens, more power to you! Also, a Tears of Students Ink is positively brilliant. - Drew
Oh I'd definitely buy a bottle of ink if it was named that!!! 😂
As long as we get to keep our “pretty” pens in addition to the plain magical one, I would choose the pen. I wouldn’t want to sacrifice the art and aesthetic of beautiful pen bodies, but it would be cool to change ink and nibs almost instantly. I like flipping through the pages of a notebook or referencing an old, used up notebook or consulting an index to find a particular note…a magic notebook would take away all that tactile enjoyment, that time of “smelling the roses” and being physically immersed in a task.
If it was to be a one-and-only I could like a plain notebook better than a plain pen. I have only ever bought one plain black pen and it was purchased for the sake of the vintage nib and I immediately swapped it out for use in a prettier pen. The body was relegated to the spare parts box in case useful for emergency repair, and will likely never be used.
On a driving trip coast to coast to coast we went from sea level to passes over eight thousand feet. Nothing special was done regarding the pens as I was sending postcards and the occasional letter every couple of days. One cartridge converter developed a leak that was only a problem when the body and feed were separated. Problem continued after cleaning when we returned, I replaced that converter.
I’m curious to know whether you guys have your children using fountain pens 🖋. If your kids use fountain pens which ones do they use? What inks do they like?
Teacher speaking here: Don‘t get the typical „student pens“ like the Lamy Safari. Most students use those here, so you will never find it again if you misplace it.
Thanks for the insight! - Drew
I’ve had my Swipe filled with Colorverse Cat glimmer ink and am using the spring loaded converter..Er, filler…anywho, I haven’t noticed it being any better with agitating the shimmer ink than my boring Lamy Safari converter that currently has Emerald of Chivor in it. Also, I like the flush clip because I rarely use clips for their intended purpose but very much appreciate them for preventing my pens from rolling off my desk!!
This hypothetical is very difficult. I love the ceremony of a notebook but on the cusp of tomoe River going away it’s tempting. However I think i love the idea of changing ink as the whim strikes. I don’t love the cleaning process. So I would have to say pen. I have a hard time committing to nib size as well.
I think pen/ ink of the week might be even more fun if you drew them from a hat or had a spin wheel or something. Or picking for each other if you are going to different ones. Loving this segment!
Hahahaha! I was listening to you and though I like the Prussian Blue it wasn't my jam. But the Navy actually makes me smile. I think the Navy looks more sophisticated and it is a pretty pen. The Prussian I just wasn't sure what it was truly going to look like. I am a Purple pen girl so I think this Navy will go with my Purple collection quite well.
Brian: Apache Sunset would make for a good ink for your Aero (if you aren't using it already given the upload delay).
Drew: Very interesting hypothetical. I would also choose notebook. While I enjoy an array of notebooks with neat designs, they are definitely more utilitarian. Having different pens, inking them, cleaning them, spilling ink, it's all part of the joy of using different pens.
Speaking of spilling ink... I split some Birmingham Pen Co. Tesla Coil on my keyboard last night (while playing Guild Wars 2) and did an initial clean up, but then spent this entire episode deep cleaning the keyboard. I took all the keys off and cleaned everything just now. My trash bin is filled with many blue cotton swabs, paper towels and tissues. All better now, and had a great time (as per usual) being able to watch the Pencast whilst doing so.
On your keyboard!? Noooooooo! UGH I am so sorry! - Drew
I think at 32:12, the concern is that if the jinhao and shark pens are using forced labor to produce pens making it cheaper. I'm not worried about western and japanese companies underpaying their employees. Because of transparency.
Enjoyed another show. Thanks a bunch!
Thank you for joining us! - Drew
I'm a teacher and when grading papers in shuffling papers a lot, so I go for EF or F nibs and a drier red ink.
And yes, I've given pens away. So fun and satisfying
And I have no problem carrying my Leonardo momento zero grande to school