These are the "Car Guys" of the pen world. Not sure if anyone else remembers that NPR radio show. Drew: My fountain pens speak to me. Sometimes, I speak back to them Drew. Lol.
@@fiddletwist Don't drive like my brother! - Tom And don't drive like MY brother! - Ray I wasted so many perfectly good hours listening to CarTalk. Although I'm not sure you can consider it a waste when I spent so much of each episode laughing along. I can still (badly) sing the melodies to all their different segments, especially "Stump The Chumps!"
Production value and comfort in doing this has gone up so much. And you guys are good together; you can tell you’re both friends when interacting and riffing off each other. I enjoy it a lot, thanks
Thank you so much for the Eco instructions. I had the exact problem you described, so I pulled my Eco out and followed along to fix it! So much better, thanks!
For shimmer inks, I roll it between my hands. Think of it like you're rolling a snake out of playdoh. Also, you do not want a centrifuge. A centrifuge would specifically separate out the solid shimmer from the ink. What you are looking for is a magnetic stir rod.
So glad to have found your work on RUclips, Brian! Andrew's segment was so educational. I am a huge fan from way back in early FPN days. Keep creating!
Congratulations Drew on your third dog! For years I always had four dogs. Forming a little pack does make things easier. More expensive in vet bills and food. But the dogs will sort of take care of themselves. Having a pack is really cool. Thanks for the demo of cleaning my Eco’s. Now if I can get that Baystate Blue out of one of them. Thanks guys, have a great week. Thanks PS I can see Brian blasting out KC and the Sunshine Band on his subwoofers 😊
It was so funny to hear you talk about colorverse and how you can use it as an inspiration in your writing, because do exactly that, but I keep it in my work pens and I work on astronomy and telescope projects.
Looking at the Hey Ghoul Hey socks, I immediately imagined Brian coming back from the dead, sitting at his kitchen table with a mountain of uncleaned pens, finishing his unfinished business.
I should be embarrassed to confess this, but since I found your pen cast this past August, I have invested abt $1,400 in fountain pens … all from Goulet pens. You guys are great! keep it up. You have even been my ‘go to sleep’ soundtrack. You have very good voices that can be soothing. Of course, I love the pens too! I have even infected my spouse. When I’m not listen to you, she says, “what happened to Brian and Drew?” 🤣🤣🤣
1:13:21: this is literally why I don’t understand why TWSBI is always suggested as a good starter fountain pen. For people that use shimmer inks regularly you might want to give your TWSBI this kind of a deep cleaning more than the rest of us that don’t use shimmer inks. That seems like a bigger headache than it needs to be for new FP users. I’ve used fountain pens for about 15 years and my first one was a Noodler’s Konrad, which happens to be a piston. I didn’t learn till about 5 years later how to care for it properly. I still like pistons the least of all, but by the time I’d realized that I’d already acquired a variety of other inking methods to not be put off by it.
I have a couple of older Montblanc pens (1970s 220 model) which have piston filling mechanisms. I disassembled them as they got older and needed to be re-lubricated so that the parts would move freely and the pen would not leak. The process is so much like the Twisbi disassembly/reassembly process that you detailed so well. There's a sweet spot and you just have to keep adjusting the position of the piston rod to get it in the right spot so that the piston cap will close properly against the barrel of the pen. Stephen Brown has a great video that shows the disassembly/reassembly process for the Montblanc 220 that made me realize there is a bit of technique (or luck) to get it just right. Just like with the Twisbi. I love the Twisbi ECO pen I purchased through Goulet. Now I am looking at the 580. Great pens! Great company!
I can relate to the Eco tale; I've had an Eco inked up with LDL and left unused since February. Picked it up yesterday because I just needed a pen to do the pen thing. Wrote first time and behaved as if I'd just inked it 5 minutes earlier. Also, I think I have a solution to the conundrum about agitating your shimmer ink in your pen. Just step off a ledge 200 feet above the ground and free fall with the pen in, say, a cargo shorts pocket, then resume writing with it (if you survive the fall). Extreme Ink Agitation could be the next big thing. You heard it here first.
for an april 1 episode, I hope to see a video of a mannequin in a blue shirt and big blue fedora, with drew waving around the arms pretending Brian is there
Love the show! I've been interested in fountain pens and journaling for a while, but I've learned way more after what's your videos. I've started to tinker with my pens more. Recently, I did a nib swap on a Kaweco Al Sport using the Goulet Grip I picked up from my last order. I also installed a Lamy Cursive nib on Brian's least favorite fountain pen, the Lamy CP1. Keep up the great work, guys!
Same experience as you, Brian, the Eco truly works with shimmer ink like a champ! I’ve got Diamine Shimmering Seas in my broad nib Eco and it still writes even if I leave it for days. Side note: if you ever find yourself in Charlotte again I recommend dropping by Good Postage or Archer Paper if you have time. The former has a seriously cool wall display of every Travelers Notebook accessory and the latter has a lot of fun Midori products you might not have seen before. It’s about a three hour trip for me from the west end of NC but I love going there.
Drew, what I do with shimmer inks: as I write, I pause between sentences, I tip my pen nib toward the ceiling then go back to writing; it is just enough to keep the 'glitter' suspended 😃
My wife and I just discovered you guys and have been listening non-stop. Both of us are new to fountain pens so we are learning what we like and what we don't like. Thanks for guiding us along the way. Keep up the awesomeness and DOTs for all.
Well, Drew, you don't just tell people you have three dogs then not show their picture! This will not do: no, no, no! We want pictures, we want pictures, we want pictures! 👏
I can think of a few correctable reasons a person might put pressure on a pen that can make nibs, especially fine nibs feel scratchy. One is using a dry ink or one which just doesn’t go well with the nib. I remember using Drew’s tip of trying a different ink on a pen that was skipping and that did the trick. I think the same fix might go for ink that writes dry or is of such a lite shade it’s hard to see. Either would encourage people to press down harder to make it easier to see. So one fix is to try a wetter or darker ink. Another is if the grip doesn’t suit you. Whether you don’t like the way some pens like the Lamy safari force your fingers into position, your fingers slip on the grip or the pen feels heavy, you may well start holding the pen tighter and pushing it into the paper. Here, as with the next reason the trick is to slow down and relax your grip if you can. Finally, if you’re used to ballpoint pens, the odds are you’re going to be in the habit of pressing the pen down on the paper. A good fountain pen writes from its own weight. That’s part of the pleasure of using them. So try slowing down to take it easy on both the pen and yourself. One of the smoothest pens I have is of all things a Platinum #3776 with an UEF nib. That’s Ultra Extra Fine in a model that’s known for its feedback. I’m okay with a little feedback and was curious so I tried it and was amazed by it.
Brian trying not to say "It depends," and answering "Yes and no" so many times makes me laugh! My teen son was delighted to discover the German word "Yein" which means "Yes and no" (ya and nein). He uses it almost as much as Brian! The first year I had a TWSBI Edo, I had to disassemble and grease it three or four times because the piston was getting stuck in the ink chamber. That's how long it took me to figure out that using warm soapy water to clean the pen was stripping the grease. Switching to cold water fixed the problem, and I haven't had to disassemble an Eco since making that simple change. Congrats to Drew, Shannon, and Archer on adopting Hank! That's an awesome story! Brian's mail box stand is amazing! Thanks for a wonderful Pencast!!!
I enjoyed the Rickshaw visit. My folks took us to many factory tours when we were kids (Hershey, Beechnut, Utica Club Brewery). I’ve always enjoyed seeing how things are made. You forget to mention the Diplomat Magnum in your discussion of less promoted pen companies.
Once upon a time I had five long haired dachshunds, and I am semi allergic to dogs. The worst was grooming day. I would trim their pads and nails and give them baths and by the end of the day I had hives and could barely breathe. I would not have changed a thing. Congrats on the third, Drew! You will not regret it! I had a mother/son duo, and it was fun! My dogs (and my pens) are my world. Cool point system by the way!
Question for the Q&A: what is the difference between a special edition and a limited edition? Thanks for the pencast and for all the material you post both on instagram and youtube. You are educating and entertaining as well.
I'm watching this eight months later, and when Drew said, "Quiet," to Brian when he was teasing him about his hair, Brian and I were both taking sips of our beverages, and both of us nearly did a spit-take. 😄
With extra fine nibs, I've often found I only get that heavy feedback if I'm using too much pressure. It's a great reminder to lighten up and let the capillary action do its thing. It's also possible the nib is being unconsciously rotated by the user, which will cause one tine to drag.
What would you like to know more about? Unfortunately I had a time restraint, plus urushi is a very very vast topic. It’s like asking someone to deep dive science in 10 minutes! Happy to chat more about urushi though! Was there something you’d like to learn more about?
Brian, would love if you guys made your own fp: but if that’s not possible, would totally go for a Sailor 1911 Large or Pro Gear H-EF - great for those of us with small handwriting!:)
Is it common for platinum 3776 to have cracks on the grip section? I bought a Nice Lavande and the grip section cracked within the first 3 months of light usage. I have a replacement section but i’m struggling to pull the nib out because it’s extremely tight even when i use cloth and rubber band thingy. Do you have any recommendation for trying to get the nip out of platinum 3776?
Cracks should never be common. But this is the issue of using thinner materials with the machining process used. Twsbi and sailor are known for cracks as well! In regards to the nib? They are friction fit I believe. So, a confident pull should do the job!
Hi guys, as usual great pencast! As I love and own the private reserve pearlescent inks series, when will they bring in new colours? If they are listening a nice brown with silver shimmer would be nice! About FP companies, i own 5 diplomats; my first one was from 1990 andit still writes- needs some refurbishment but I’m afraid to do something wrong to it, so i look at it rather than using it. My 2 arrows take care of the writing! Thank you Drew for that last minute cow/glass comment,i laughed out loud,till next week, take care
Chuckled at Drew's shock over being behind the wheel for 5 hours. In the middle of my 4th trip between BC and Toronto, ON in the last month and a half. 2400 miles in 3 days.... I'll let you do the math. 😂😭 Lots of time to listen to podcasts. 👍 And that was me recommending the crochet hook! You just mentioned it just as I was about to post this comment.😂
@@Gouletpens Waaaaay too much time in the seat. Those trips are much more fun when there's time to stop and check things out along the way. Maybe next year when I have to go back I can spread it out to a more humane level. 😜
Just received and unboxed my new Lamy Studio special edition dark brown with medium nib. Drew the last pen cast is why I made the move. Espresso coffee with the sparkles from it being just brewed. Delicious. My first studio this is a great pen. Excellent writing experience, better then some 300.00 plus pens. Finish is beautiful, polished metal, clip is artistic and interesting, posts like a dream and elegant in this color. Inked it up with Monteverde Scottish brown. Pour a great cup of coffee bring this baby out and something inspirational will hit the page. This pen is a winner.
I think they address this in a previous pencast! From what I remember, they can't do that because 1. it's a little touchy with other companies, suggesting swapping nibs for others 2. it could void warranty and they don't want to have that kind of messaging without the right kind of nuance
I could never do urushi lacquering, as I am terribly allergic to poison ivy. The wet sap (from the Chinese lacquer tree) container considerable quantities of the same irritant as in poison ivy. It, of course, is not in the dried urushi work.
Many craftsmen wear gloves for that very purpose, but over the years your body does get used to it. I know some people can get rashes from urushi pens, do you fall in that camp?
@@PenFriends it was a small show of 4 or 5 doing various things. All behind glad from the visitors. They were doing traditional stuff like boxes, plates, etc. No pens. There was a small retail shop attached. Very expensive!
@@Calcprof yeah urushi comes in a magnitude of expense. But watching these people work is fascinating. I’ll be continuing my practice of fuki urushi next year, with hopes to then start collaborating with a pen company here in the uk.
Was waiting until I got paid to order Witch by Starlight and had a 😭 moment when I saw it was sold out. Glad to hear it will restock eventually! Got on the notification list so hopefully I won't miss it again. In the meantime I guess I'll get some samples 🙂
The Canadian suit for a woodworker is denim and flannel, with 9 fingers and a heavily lined snow cap. Oh, and half laced duck boots. Maybe a bit too “Grumpy Old Men.”
Speaking of chunky glitter, have either of you seen Wearingeul inks from South Korea? Crazy amounts of shimmer and they offer what they call “glitter potion” that turns any ink into a shimmer ink. From what I’ve seen they sparkle as much as if not more than Colorverse. Dominant Industry has a chrome finish ink but it’s for dip pen only, sadly.
Lesser known brands: What does it take to be picked up by Goulet Pens? There are really nice and interesting brands that you don't carry - like Laban (they have a sub-300 USD Sterling Silver pen too). How about small brands like Ranga, Lotus, Magna Carta etc?
[I commented recently about urushi on an old video, but that probably won’t get seen so I’ll repeat it here.] If Brian has allergies to toxins in the poison ivy family, I’d be curious to know if he’s had problems handling unprepared mangoes. Their skin has a related toxin (to poison ivy), which I learned when I moved to Hawai’i and came into contact with one. I got big red welt on my leg from where I wiped off my thumb. Took weeks to go away, and it looked like I’d burned myself. I guess I’ll have to be careful with urushi if I’m ever so fortunate to acquire one. And thanks for the deep dive on these GORGEOUS pens.
Interestingly, urushi pens that are generally shipped still have the curing process taking place. Urushi can take up to a year to reach its final polymerisation. Generally speaking you’re looking at about 96 percent cured with a freshly finished pen. I’d be curious if Brian still had those allergic reactions to a pen that’s been finished for over a year. Very sorry to hear about your reaction to mango’s . But you maybe okay with urushi! Definitely something to try before you buy! Of course, you could always wear gloves 😂
😭😭😭 Please guys do your Goulet Magic and figure out the tax stuff so you can ship again to Puerto Rico. There is no place to buy fontain pens & supplies here. I know you can do it. Been a customer since 2020 and it's been great. I miss buying supplies and pens. Please Please. But still you are the best.
A lot of the Broadway touring companies are using the LED panels now-we also saw Mean Girls, but they also had them at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Anastasia. They were AMAZING for Anastasia in particular, but I do hope they don’t stop doing other set design for shows.
So, you boys tell me if such a thing exists. I’m a newbie to fountain pens and inks and dip pens…and I’m hooked already. However, early on I found myself not wanting to spoil my fresh manicure (I know, first world problems) so to fill my converters I wore gloves. 💅🏼🤦🏼♀️🧤 today I made quite a spectacular design on my hands, sans gloves. So, for this Miss fancy pants, is there some sort of hand creme or salve to use as a barrier to ink making it easier to remove from skin?
Drew - I'm a big fan of the Diplomat Aero but now want an Elox. I see that there is a new Matrix version coming out, which now makes four colors to choose from. Which is your favorite? I'm leaning towards the Matrix now...
Pen question: have you heard of using castor oil for piston lubrication? I recently bumped into a FPN thread where members mentions Pelikan staff recommends using castor oil for piston lubrication. Pls search for FPN thread title "Oiling your pelikan" as I can't post a link here.
Totally agree on the Aero. I was so skeptical and almost returned mine but it kept calling to me from the box..."Please try me out...I want you to give me a chance." I am glad I did. It is not cold at all.
I think you should make a video about "baby's bottom." People new to fountain pens (like me) could benefit. I ended up finding videos on it from other people, but you guys are my go-to for videos.
Back in the day when bungee jumping was all the rage, there was a bungee jump set up on the TV tower here in Hamburg - we‘re talking about a fall of 160 meters! Not for me, but Drew would obviously „jump“ at the chance! Sorry, Brian, but you do not fall faster because you are heavier than other people. Gravitational acceleration is independent of mass (in a vacuum, a feather and a cannonball hit the ground at exactly the same time). Might possibly give you an advantage with respect to resistance from the cable, but would be minimal. The mailbox, however, looks fantastic.
There's a home made mailbox stand near my parents' house which is metal worked and it's in the shape of a guy holding the mailbox under one arm and waving or high fiving the mailman with the other.
Would you guys consider selling the PenBBS line? As a brand that is strictly online based, it seems right up your alley. That and the fact that they offer a wide variety of filling systems and colors
Brian, while you were talking about sloshing the Colorverse ink in your TSWBI, how could you not SHOW and tell? It's a video! I had to grab my clear Pilot Prera with its gorgeous golden IVY and slosh to satisfy my ink envy. Actually, I also filled the black translucent Preppy with the Blushing Mushroom and it exudes a coppery color! I would SHOW but we can't, so YOU must! Thanks in advance for future demos. 🖋 PS -- My Prera has had that shimmery Diamine ink since June and still writes perfectly every time despite the now golden feed. I twirl it around quite a bit. After all that's why I got the clear body and barrel-filled it... to enjoy. 😋
I've been listening to your pencasts in the background as I work today, which means half the time I'm not listening, and half the time I'm not working. I was writing lecture notes earlier with an Omas Russian Empire pen filled with Edelstein Garnet ink. Now I'm grading papers, and I find that students are more likely to read and respond positively to my comments if they aren't written in red, so I'm using a sterling Parker 75 in the cisele pattern filled with Kyo-no-oto Moegliro. "This is the most idiotic thing I've ever read" comes off a lot less hostile when it's written in a cheerful green. I stopped working at "yes and no", and again at "diminishing returns" (I'm an economist). Brian sounds like he'd make a great academic. "Dr. Picht, do you think child labor laws and regulations would be a better paper topic, or agricultural price supports?" "Yes." "Yes what?" "Yes, either one would be a better topic, depending on your interest and understanding of the topic." "Daddy", calls my daughter, "should I dye my hair red, or should I put blue highlights on the black?" "Yes", I reply. "Yes what?" "You'll choose opposite of what I tell you, so yes, choose whichever you like. Just for heaven's sake don't shave off your hair." Everything depends. The world isn't black and white. That's why I have six pens inked at the moment, in Delfts blue, Garnet red, Akkerman orange, moegliro green, and Moonstone gray. And Golden Beryl, because sometimes a paper makes you so happy you want to shimmer and shine all over it. Ugh, I've got a thesis to mark up. I think I need to ink up another pen, this one in Writer's Blood.
if y'all are looking for pen spotlight options, I would love to see a spotlight on a sailor pro gear slim, maybe with a 1911S as comparison. I know everyone and their dogs have these pens but I am interested!
Hello Brian and Drew. My mom and I love watching your pen casts each week. As it would happen my mom's birthday is coming up on Tuesday October 4th. If you happen to see this comment before the next pen cast gets made could you throw in a quick birthday shoutout to my mom Lisa? I have a feeling it would make her day. (And go well with the new pen I bought her). Keep up the great Turkey Hammok work.
They're my favorite ink brand. As with any ink, it can depend a lot on what pen with which you're using them. I'm currently using the Sailor 1911L with the new Colorverse Witch in Starlight and it's a lovely pairing.
@@dapistol1970 I’ll have to try one of the samples we have with my 1911L. I’ve tried them in a number of pens but not that one specifically. I tend to like wider nibs though. I really want to like them they have so many pretty colors I like but every time I use them they’re sooo dry. To the point where when we get one in a random sample bag we just put it in a pile to not use anymore. My wife has had the same issue. As much as we both want to use them we just can’t :(
I'm with you Drew I had to stop minimum 2 to 3 times going down 2 to 3 times coming up. You don't save that much time by not stopping. + stretching your legs a little bit and your mind off the road is a safety factor.
Still listening/catching up while doing dresses. Still leaving random comments to say keep up the good work and HEY RUclips ALGORITHM GET THESE PEOPLE MORE VIEWERS
Oh! Forgot to add re: Shimmer ink agitation-- I've had great success keeping distribution consistent by using my shimmers to refill the Platinum cartridges I use in my M nib Plaisirs (or other compatible pen of your choice). Although sadly it's not fully self-agitating, with that chunky ball bearing rolling around in there it's probably as close as you're going to get without some serious engineering innovations 😄 And as with Brian's TWSBI, the excellent Platinum capping is a plus here-- I *may* have just picked up a pen I inked this way with Rose Gilt Tynte in...April? (sorry Drew) and it started writing immediately. All that said, trying to clean shimmer out of a Preppy/Plaisir/Prefounte feed is kind of a nightmare, soooo this method obliviously has some downsides, but if you're like me and tend to have dedicated pen/ink combos it's less of an issue than it would be if you change inks frequently (I flush between refills with a bulb syringe to keep the feed from clogging, but it's never *completely* clean). So not perfect, but something to consider 🤷♀ Kind of makes me want to experiment with cutting open a Platinum cartridge to get the ball out and then put that in a TWSBI barrel...just to see what would happen...(don't worry I won't).
You need a mini slow-mo blender in there to keep the shimmering ink well agitated. Or you could break open a Platinum cartridge for that metal agitator ball and drop it into the TWSBI barrel. That being said, I also thought that If the shimmer settles down while the pen is upright as you are writing, then gravity will do its job to pull it down as the liquid comes down, so problem solved 🤷
Good show. When there was no Pencast last Friday, I said to myself, "That's it, the guys have run out of material. Goodbye." Wrong! How many pens do you lose/break/unaccountably go missing in a year? Never loan a pen to a stranger with the cap posted.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
These are the "Car Guys" of the pen world. Not sure if anyone else remembers that NPR radio show.
Drew: My fountain pens speak to me. Sometimes, I speak back to them Drew. Lol.
I was thinking the same thing! I expected Brian to say, "You've wasted two more perfectly good hours listening to...."
Totally remember Car Guys!
@@fiddletwist Don't drive like my brother! - Tom
And don't drive like MY brother! - Ray
I wasted so many perfectly good hours listening to CarTalk. Although I'm not sure you can consider it a waste when I spent so much of each episode laughing along. I can still (badly) sing the melodies to all their different segments, especially "Stump The Chumps!"
@@scotts7630 whenever I drive someone somewhere I think of their chauffeur Pikop Andropov!
Brian and Drew’s personalities always remind me of John and Hank Green… one of these days I need a vlogbrothers and goulet pens collaboration
I loved watching the Urushi part. Such a relaxing and beautiful explanation. Love the Pencast. Glad you guys are back this week.
Many thanks!
Production value and comfort in doing this has gone up so much. And you guys are good together; you can tell you’re both friends when interacting and riffing off each other. I enjoy it a lot, thanks
I always enjoy Brian and Drew just being good friends while teaching us all soo much
Thanks for joining us, Timothy! - Drew
Thank you so much for the Eco instructions. I had the exact problem you described, so I pulled my Eco out and followed along to fix it! So much better, thanks!
Yay! Thanks for telling us that! - Drew
Andrew is such a great artist! Thanks for inviting him to showcase his collection of Urushi in such a unique way 🥰🥰🥰🥰 I wish you all a lovely day!
Thank you my friend!!
He's super! - Drew
i think for october (or halloween) it should be the boolet pencast and drew should show off the costumes he has made
Or the Ghoul-et pencast
Perfect timing! i just got my first Urushi pen this week - Platinum Urushi Izumo. Such a lovely feel
It’s a slippery hole ! And the Izumo is a stunning line. Platinum do some great pens
For shimmer inks, I roll it between my hands. Think of it like you're rolling a snake out of playdoh. Also, you do not want a centrifuge. A centrifuge would specifically separate out the solid shimmer from the ink. What you are looking for is a magnetic stir rod.
The classic playdoh snake roll! I love it! - Drew
So glad to have found your work on RUclips, Brian!
Andrew's segment was so educational.
I am a huge fan from way back in early FPN days. Keep creating!
Thank you kindly!
I love the discussion of Urushi.
It’s a vast topic, and one I’m still learning every day. Happy to chat urushi any time!
Congratulations Drew on your third dog! For years I always had four dogs. Forming a little pack does make things easier. More expensive in vet bills and food. But the dogs will sort of take care of themselves. Having a pack is really cool. Thanks for the demo of cleaning my Eco’s. Now if I can get that Baystate Blue out of one of them. Thanks guys, have a great week. Thanks
PS I can see Brian blasting out KC and the Sunshine Band on his subwoofers 😊
It was so funny to hear you talk about colorverse and how you can use it as an inspiration in your writing, because do exactly that, but I keep it in my work pens and I work on astronomy and telescope projects.
Looking at the Hey Ghoul Hey socks, I immediately imagined Brian coming back from the dead, sitting at his kitchen table with a mountain of uncleaned pens, finishing his unfinished business.
I want a dog with Drew’s personality.
As a Canadian, gotta say I found it hilarious that the "Canadian tuxedo" came up. 😂
I should be embarrassed to confess this, but since I found your pen cast this past August, I have invested abt $1,400 in fountain pens … all from Goulet pens. You guys are great! keep it up. You have even been my ‘go to sleep’ soundtrack. You have very good voices that can be soothing. Of course, I love the pens too! I have even infected my spouse. When I’m not listen to you, she says, “what happened to Brian and Drew?” 🤣🤣🤣
1:13:21: this is literally why I don’t understand why TWSBI is always suggested as a good starter fountain pen. For people that use shimmer inks regularly you might want to give your TWSBI this kind of a deep cleaning more than the rest of us that don’t use shimmer inks. That seems like a bigger headache than it needs to be for new FP users.
I’ve used fountain pens for about 15 years and my first one was a Noodler’s Konrad, which happens to be a piston. I didn’t learn till about 5 years later how to care for it properly. I still like pistons the least of all, but by the time I’d realized that I’d already acquired a variety of other inking methods to not be put off by it.
I’d go for an m200 WAY easier to clean and a decent ink capacity
I have a couple of older Montblanc pens (1970s 220 model) which have piston filling mechanisms. I disassembled them as they got older and needed to be re-lubricated so that the parts would move freely and the pen would not leak. The process is so much like the Twisbi disassembly/reassembly process that you detailed so well. There's a sweet spot and you just have to keep adjusting the position of the piston rod to get it in the right spot so that the piston cap will close properly against the barrel of the pen. Stephen Brown has a great video that shows the disassembly/reassembly process for the Montblanc 220 that made me realize there is a bit of technique (or luck) to get it just right. Just like with the Twisbi.
I love the Twisbi ECO pen I purchased through Goulet. Now I am looking at the 580. Great pens! Great company!
I can relate to the Eco tale; I've had an Eco inked up with LDL and left unused since February. Picked it up yesterday because I just needed a pen to do the pen thing. Wrote first time and behaved as if I'd just inked it 5 minutes earlier.
Also, I think I have a solution to the conundrum about agitating your shimmer ink in your pen. Just step off a ledge 200 feet above the ground and free fall with the pen in, say, a cargo shorts pocket, then resume writing with it (if you survive the fall). Extreme Ink Agitation could be the next big thing. You heard it here first.
for an april 1 episode, I hope to see a video of a mannequin in a blue shirt and big blue fedora, with drew waving around the arms pretending Brian is there
And Drew should wear a Canadian tux.
YES! I love it! - Drew
Love the show! I've been interested in fountain pens and journaling for a while, but I've learned way more after what's your videos. I've started to tinker with my pens more. Recently, I did a nib swap on a Kaweco Al Sport using the Goulet Grip I picked up from my last order. I also installed a Lamy Cursive nib on Brian's least favorite fountain pen, the Lamy CP1. Keep up the great work, guys!
Same experience as you, Brian, the Eco truly works with shimmer ink like a champ! I’ve got Diamine Shimmering Seas in my broad nib Eco and it still writes even if I leave it for days.
Side note: if you ever find yourself in Charlotte again I recommend dropping by Good Postage or Archer Paper if you have time. The former has a seriously cool wall display of every Travelers Notebook accessory and the latter has a lot of fun Midori products you might not have seen before. It’s about a three hour trip for me from the west end of NC but I love going there.
Drew, what I do with shimmer inks: as I write, I pause between sentences, I tip my pen nib toward the ceiling then go back to writing; it is just enough to keep the 'glitter' suspended 😃
My wife and I just discovered you guys and have been listening non-stop. Both of us are new to fountain pens so we are learning what we like and what we don't like. Thanks for guiding us along the way. Keep up the awesomeness and DOTs for all.
The glasses is what I’m impressed by…I love it! You go Drew!!😅
Well, Drew, you don't just tell people you have three dogs then not show their picture! This will not do: no, no, no!
We want pictures, we want pictures, we want pictures! 👏
Hear hear!
Coming right up! - Drew
Love the Sactionals! Waited about 9-mo for ours to arrive along with extra covers. The ability to strip the cushions and wash the covers is priceless.
I can think of a few correctable reasons a person might put pressure on a pen that can make nibs, especially fine nibs feel scratchy.
One is using a dry ink or one which just doesn’t go well with the nib. I remember using Drew’s tip of trying a different ink on a pen that was skipping and that did the trick. I think the same fix might go for ink that writes dry or is of such a lite shade it’s hard to see. Either would encourage people to press down harder to make it easier to see. So one fix is to try a wetter or darker ink.
Another is if the grip doesn’t suit you. Whether you don’t like the way some pens like the Lamy safari force your fingers into position, your fingers slip on the grip or the pen feels heavy, you may well start holding the pen tighter and pushing it into the paper. Here, as with the next reason the trick is to slow down and relax your grip if you can.
Finally, if you’re used to ballpoint pens, the odds are you’re going to be in the habit of pressing the pen down on the paper. A good fountain pen writes from its own weight. That’s part of the pleasure of using them.
So try slowing down to take it easy on both the pen and yourself.
One of the smoothest pens I have is of all things a Platinum #3776 with an UEF nib. That’s Ultra Extra Fine in a model that’s known for its feedback. I’m okay with a little feedback and was curious so I tried it and was amazed by it.
I've been married for 22 years and we still have the same hand-me-down couch we were given when we got married! 😆
Brian trying not to say "It depends," and answering "Yes and no" so many times makes me laugh! My teen son was delighted to discover the German word "Yein" which means "Yes and no" (ya and nein). He uses it almost as much as Brian!
The first year I had a TWSBI Edo, I had to disassemble and grease it three or four times because the piston was getting stuck in the ink chamber. That's how long it took me to figure out that using warm soapy water to clean the pen was stripping the grease. Switching to cold water fixed the problem, and I haven't had to disassemble an Eco since making that simple change.
Congrats to Drew, Shannon, and Archer on adopting Hank! That's an awesome story!
Brian's mail box stand is amazing!
Thanks for a wonderful Pencast!!!
Thanks for watching, Wendy! - Drew
I enjoyed the Rickshaw visit. My folks took us to many factory tours when we were kids (Hershey, Beechnut, Utica Club Brewery). I’ve always enjoyed seeing how things are made. You forget to mention the Diplomat Magnum in your discussion of less promoted pen companies.
That's so cool! Thank you! - Drew
Once upon a time I had five long haired dachshunds, and I am semi allergic to dogs. The worst was grooming day. I would trim their pads and nails and give them baths and by the end of the day I had hives and could barely breathe. I would not have changed a thing. Congrats on the third, Drew! You will not regret it! I had a mother/son duo, and it was fun! My dogs (and my pens) are my world. Cool point system by the way!
Question for the Q&A: what is the difference between a special edition and a limited edition?
Thanks for the pencast and for all the material you post both on instagram and youtube.
You are educating and entertaining as well.
Oh great, just when I thought I've bought my last pen for a while, you show me the new eco and that amazingly poetic Sailor!!!! Drool
Drew, I'm so excited you all are adopting Felix's dad! Yay to Shannon for making the right call! :)
Haha! I'll tell her you said that! - Drew
I'm watching this eight months later, and when Drew said, "Quiet," to Brian when he was teasing him about his hair, Brian and I were both taking sips of our beverages, and both of us nearly did a spit-take. 😄
With extra fine nibs, I've often found I only get that heavy feedback if I'm using too much pressure. It's a great reminder to lighten up and let the capillary action do its thing. It's also possible the nib is being unconsciously rotated by the user, which will cause one tine to drag.
Yes! Soooo many people press when they don't need to. - Drew
From Charlotte, born and raised. It's a great place. Thanks for the props.
Just found this. Yes, Drew. Total agreement about Colorverse. One of my faves is Space Laika. It's brown. But the story behind it is why i love it.
Whoop whoop! Shout out to the knitters! 🧶🧶🖋🖋
We know you're out there! - Drew
Love hearing your stories and great mailbox corner, Brian! Good luck with the incoming of Hank, Drew :)
Thanks Becky! It's going well! - Drew
I’m glad they tried to offer a more in depth dive, but there wasn’t much actual info in that Urushi segment.
What would you like to know more about? Unfortunately I had a time restraint, plus urushi is a very very vast topic. It’s like asking someone to deep dive science in 10 minutes! Happy to chat more about urushi though! Was there something you’d like to learn more about?
Can we get a “Yes and No” GP sticker 😆
Lovsac sofa … we have been looking at those too ! It’s just a matter of deciding which pieces we want / need … it ends up being so many choices !
Brian, would love if you guys made your own fp: but if that’s not possible, would totally go for a Sailor 1911 Large or Pro Gear H-EF - great for those of us with small handwriting!:)
"none of this seems necessary.."
"FOUNTAIN PENS aren't necessary, brian!"
Is it common for platinum 3776 to have cracks on the grip section? I bought a Nice Lavande and the grip section cracked within the first 3 months of light usage. I have a replacement section but i’m struggling to pull the nib out because it’s extremely tight even when i use cloth and rubber band thingy. Do you have any recommendation for trying to get the nip out of platinum 3776?
Cracks should never be common. But this is the issue of using thinner materials with the machining process used. Twsbi and sailor are known for cracks as well!
In regards to the nib? They are friction fit I believe. So, a confident pull should do the job!
Hi guys, as usual great pencast! As I love and own the private reserve pearlescent inks series, when will they bring in new colours? If they are listening a nice brown with silver shimmer would be nice!
About FP companies, i own 5 diplomats; my first one was from 1990 andit still writes- needs some refurbishment but I’m afraid to do something wrong to it, so i look at it rather than using it. My 2 arrows take care of the writing!
Thank you Drew for that last minute cow/glass comment,i laughed out loud,till next week, take care
As someone who does R&D for a tire company, I really appreciated the tire analogies.
Just for you, Matthew! - Drew
Chuckled at Drew's shock over being behind the wheel for 5 hours. In the middle of my 4th trip between BC and Toronto, ON in the last month and a half. 2400 miles in 3 days.... I'll let you do the math. 😂😭
Lots of time to listen to podcasts. 👍
And that was me recommending the crochet hook! You just mentioned it just as I was about to post this comment.😂
Wow! I salute you! That's a lot of time in the seat! - Drew
@@Gouletpens Waaaaay too much time in the seat. Those trips are much more fun when there's time to stop and check things out along the way. Maybe next year when I have to go back I can spread it out to a more humane level. 😜
Just received and unboxed my new Lamy Studio special edition dark brown with medium nib. Drew the last pen cast is why I made the move. Espresso coffee with the sparkles from it being just brewed. Delicious. My first studio this is a great pen. Excellent writing experience, better then some 300.00 plus pens. Finish is beautiful, polished metal, clip is artistic and interesting, posts like a dream and elegant in this color. Inked it up with Monteverde Scottish brown. Pour a great cup of coffee bring this baby out and something inspirational will hit the page. This pen is a winner.
When can you add a section on the website for all compatible nib/upgrades for fountain pens to make it real easy for us to upgrade or nib swap?
I think they address this in a previous pencast! From what I remember, they can't do that because 1. it's a little touchy with other companies, suggesting swapping nibs for others 2. it could void warranty and they don't want to have that kind of messaging without the right kind of nuance
I found it! They address it in Episode 44 at 44 minutes in!
Thanks, Gwen! You're now the official Pencast historian. :) - Drew
@@Gouletpens haha that's fun! I am in school for archival science :)
Anybody know where I can find the wooden pen box that Andrew showed? I need THAT 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
That’s a Toyooka Craft 8 pen storage box
I could never do urushi lacquering, as I am terribly allergic to poison ivy. The wet sap (from the Chinese lacquer tree) container considerable quantities of the same irritant as in poison ivy. It, of course, is not in the dried urushi work.
Many craftsmen wear gloves for that very purpose, but over the years your body does get used to it. I know some people can get rashes from urushi pens, do you fall in that camp?
@@PenFriends No. I actually saw some lacquering at a small shop in Japan a few years back. The artisans are incredible.
@@Calcprof that sounds like a fantastic experience, did you catch them applying the lacquer? Or were they sharpening ?
@@PenFriends it was a small show of 4 or 5 doing various things. All behind glad from the visitors. They were doing traditional stuff like boxes, plates, etc. No pens. There was a small retail shop attached. Very expensive!
@@Calcprof yeah urushi comes in a magnitude of expense. But watching these people work is fascinating. I’ll be continuing my practice of fuki urushi next year, with hopes to then start collaborating with a pen company here in the uk.
Can the Pilot Con 40 converter be disassembled? How?
Was waiting until I got paid to order Witch by Starlight and had a 😭 moment when I saw it was sold out. Glad to hear it will restock eventually! Got on the notification list so hopefully I won't miss it again. In the meantime I guess I'll get some samples 🙂
Drew: We. need. dog. photos.
Like every pencast!
Coming right up! - Drew
The Canadian suit for a woodworker is denim and flannel, with 9 fingers and a heavily lined snow cap. Oh, and half laced duck boots. Maybe a bit too “Grumpy Old Men.”
Speaking of chunky glitter, have either of you seen Wearingeul inks from South Korea? Crazy amounts of shimmer and they offer what they call “glitter potion” that turns any ink into a shimmer ink. From what I’ve seen they sparkle as much as if not more than Colorverse. Dominant Industry has a chrome finish ink but it’s for dip pen only, sadly.
Lesser known brands: What does it take to be picked up by Goulet Pens? There are really nice and interesting brands that you don't carry - like Laban (they have a sub-300 USD Sterling Silver pen too). How about small brands like Ranga, Lotus, Magna Carta etc?
We'll keep an eye on those! Thank you! - Drew
Free ink with a pen purchase. Cannot resist.
[I commented recently about urushi on an old video, but that probably won’t get seen so I’ll repeat it here.] If Brian has allergies to toxins in the poison ivy family, I’d be curious to know if he’s had problems handling unprepared mangoes. Their skin has a related toxin (to poison ivy), which I learned when I moved to Hawai’i and came into contact with one. I got big red welt on my leg from where I wiped off my thumb. Took weeks to go away, and it looked like I’d burned myself. I guess I’ll have to be careful with urushi if I’m ever so fortunate to acquire one. And thanks for the deep dive on these GORGEOUS pens.
Interestingly, urushi pens that are generally shipped still have the curing process taking place. Urushi can take up to a year to reach its final polymerisation. Generally speaking you’re looking at about 96 percent cured with a freshly finished pen.
I’d be curious if Brian still had those allergic reactions to a pen that’s been finished for over a year.
Very sorry to hear about your reaction to mango’s . But you maybe okay with urushi! Definitely something to try before you buy! Of course, you could always wear gloves 😂
😭😭😭 Please guys do your Goulet Magic and figure out the tax stuff so you can ship again to Puerto Rico. There is no place to buy fontain pens & supplies here. I know you can do it. Been a customer since 2020 and it's been great. I miss buying supplies and pens. Please Please. But still you are the best.
A lot of the Broadway touring companies are using the LED panels now-we also saw Mean Girls, but they also had them at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Anastasia. They were AMAZING for Anastasia in particular, but I do hope they don’t stop doing other set design for shows.
So, you boys tell me if such a thing exists. I’m a newbie to fountain pens and inks and dip pens…and I’m hooked already. However, early on I found myself not wanting to spoil my fresh manicure (I know, first world problems) so to fill my converters I wore gloves. 💅🏼🤦🏼♀️🧤 today I made quite a spectacular design on my hands, sans gloves. So, for this Miss fancy pants, is there some sort of hand creme or salve to use as a barrier to ink making it easier to remove from skin?
Drew - I'm a big fan of the Diplomat Aero but now want an Elox. I see that there is a new Matrix version coming out, which now makes four colors to choose from. Which is your favorite? I'm leaning towards the Matrix now...
Pen question: have you heard of using castor oil for piston lubrication? I recently bumped into a FPN thread where members mentions Pelikan staff recommends using castor oil for piston lubrication. Pls search for FPN thread title "Oiling your pelikan" as I can't post a link here.
Every twsbi I have has been regreased already twice. The pistons and vac fills always get stuck.
Totally agree on the Aero. I was so skeptical and almost returned mine but it kept calling to me from the box..."Please try me out...I want you to give me a chance." I am glad I did. It is not cold at all.
I missed you guys.
Thanks for coming back, Darrel! - Drew
The urushi is so, so beautiful!
Dont be affraid, tolerances are more in area of 20 to 50 microns/micrometers ;) you can do it ;)
I think you should make a video about "baby's bottom." People new to fountain pens (like me) could benefit. I ended up finding videos on it from other people, but you guys are my go-to for videos.
Back in the day when bungee jumping was all the rage, there was a bungee jump set up on the TV tower here in Hamburg - we‘re talking about a fall of 160 meters! Not for me, but Drew would obviously „jump“ at the chance!
Sorry, Brian, but you do not fall faster because you are heavier than other people. Gravitational acceleration is independent of mass (in a vacuum, a feather and a cannonball hit the ground at exactly the same time). Might possibly give you an advantage with respect to resistance from the cable, but would be minimal. The mailbox, however, looks fantastic.
There's a home made mailbox stand near my parents' house which is metal worked and it's in the shape of a guy holding the mailbox under one arm and waving or high fiving the mailman with the other.
Is there anything more elegant sounding than a Brit pronouncing Japanese words and names? I mean, come on!🥰
Hah! Thanks
@@PenFriends 🫠🖋
The issue I have with fine and extra fine nibs is that I can easily outwrite the ink flow. I have to deliberately slow down.
Would you guys consider selling the PenBBS line? As a brand that is strictly online based, it seems right up your alley. That and the fact that they offer a wide variety of filling systems and colors
Brian! Need yourHELP! Suggestions for a distinctive, yet businesslike Blue?.
They do have some videos on this topic if that helps. Need bottles or cartridges?
You guys... your friendship is so heartwarming 😊🖖🧑👱 , ✍️ on!
Brian, while you were talking about sloshing the Colorverse ink in your TSWBI, how could you not SHOW and tell? It's a video! I had to grab my clear Pilot Prera with its gorgeous golden IVY and slosh to satisfy my ink envy. Actually, I also filled the black translucent Preppy with the Blushing Mushroom and it exudes a coppery color! I would SHOW but we can't, so YOU must! Thanks in advance for future demos. 🖋
PS -- My Prera has had that shimmery Diamine ink since June and still writes perfectly every time despite the now golden feed. I twirl it around quite a bit. After all that's why I got the clear body and barrel-filled it... to enjoy. 😋
I've been listening to your pencasts in the background as I work today, which means half the time I'm not listening, and half the time I'm not working. I was writing lecture notes earlier with an Omas Russian Empire pen filled with Edelstein Garnet ink. Now I'm grading papers, and I find that students are more likely to read and respond positively to my comments if they aren't written in red, so I'm using a sterling Parker 75 in the cisele pattern filled with Kyo-no-oto Moegliro. "This is the most idiotic thing I've ever read" comes off a lot less hostile when it's written in a cheerful green.
I stopped working at "yes and no", and again at "diminishing returns" (I'm an economist). Brian sounds like he'd make a great academic. "Dr. Picht, do you think child labor laws and regulations would be a better paper topic, or agricultural price supports?" "Yes." "Yes what?" "Yes, either one would be a better topic, depending on your interest and understanding of the topic." "Daddy", calls my daughter, "should I dye my hair red, or should I put blue highlights on the black?" "Yes", I reply. "Yes what?" "You'll choose opposite of what I tell you, so yes, choose whichever you like. Just for heaven's sake don't shave off your hair." Everything depends. The world isn't black and white. That's why I have six pens inked at the moment, in Delfts blue, Garnet red, Akkerman orange, moegliro green, and Moonstone gray. And Golden Beryl, because sometimes a paper makes you so happy you want to shimmer and shine all over it.
Ugh, I've got a thesis to mark up. I think I need to ink up another pen, this one in Writer's Blood.
if y'all are looking for pen spotlight options, I would love to see a spotlight on a sailor pro gear slim, maybe with a 1911S as comparison. I know everyone and their dogs have these pens but I am interested!
Hello Brian and Drew. My mom and I love watching your pen casts each week. As it would happen my mom's birthday is coming up on Tuesday October 4th. If you happen to see this comment before the next pen cast gets made could you throw in a quick birthday shoutout to my mom Lisa? I have a feeling it would make her day. (And go well with the new pen I bought her). Keep up the great Turkey Hammok work.
Color verse makes very pretty inks but of the 8 I’ve tried, every single one has been dryyyy. Dry as the Sahara. Is that normal?
Me too. Can’t write with them.
They're my favorite ink brand. As with any ink, it can depend a lot on what pen with which you're using them. I'm currently using the Sailor 1911L with the new Colorverse Witch in Starlight and it's a lovely pairing.
@@mstraat me too. I’ve about given up on them. And it sucks because they have so many pretty colors!
@@dapistol1970 I’ll have to try one of the samples we have with my 1911L. I’ve tried them in a number of pens but not that one specifically. I tend to like wider nibs though. I really want to like them they have so many pretty colors I like but every time I use them they’re sooo dry. To the point where when we get one in a random sample bag we just put it in a pile to not use anymore. My wife has had the same issue. As much as we both want to use them we just can’t :(
@@avgjoeshow4208 that's a shame. They're lovely inks. All of my pens are fine or extra fine, mostly Japanese, and I've had no issues yet.
NIce Saved by the Bell shirt.
I use my Pilot Prera for shimmer inks. Easy to clean, and say what you want about the CON40, but those balls keep that ink agitated.
I'm with you Drew I had to stop minimum 2 to 3 times going down 2 to 3 times coming up. You don't save that much time by not stopping. + stretching your legs a little bit and your mind off the road is a safety factor.
Always a great time and some laughs, thanks! Congrats on Hank!!!!
Can we please make an “it depends” sticker?!!!!
Still listening/catching up while doing dresses. Still leaving random comments to say keep up the good work and HEY RUclips ALGORITHM GET THESE PEOPLE MORE VIEWERS
LOL you tell 'em! - Drew
Are we all just going to ignore the fact that brian is wearing blue shirt while talking about the twsi cerulean blue eco.
Oh! Forgot to add re: Shimmer ink agitation-- I've had great success keeping distribution consistent by using my shimmers to refill the Platinum cartridges I use in my M nib Plaisirs (or other compatible pen of your choice). Although sadly it's not fully self-agitating, with that chunky ball bearing rolling around in there it's probably as close as you're going to get without some serious engineering innovations 😄 And as with Brian's TWSBI, the excellent Platinum capping is a plus here-- I *may* have just picked up a pen I inked this way with Rose Gilt Tynte in...April? (sorry Drew) and it started writing immediately.
All that said, trying to clean shimmer out of a Preppy/Plaisir/Prefounte feed is kind of a nightmare, soooo this method obliviously has some downsides, but if you're like me and tend to have dedicated pen/ink combos it's less of an issue than it would be if you change inks frequently (I flush between refills with a bulb syringe to keep the feed from clogging, but it's never *completely* clean). So not perfect, but something to consider 🤷♀ Kind of makes me want to experiment with cutting open a Platinum cartridge to get the ball out and then put that in a TWSBI barrel...just to see what would happen...(don't worry I won't).
love when you guys enter dad mode lol
You need a mini slow-mo blender in there to keep the shimmering ink well agitated. Or you could break open a Platinum cartridge for that metal agitator ball and drop it into the TWSBI barrel.
That being said, I also thought that If the shimmer settles down while the pen is upright as you are writing, then gravity will do its job to pull it down as the liquid comes down, so problem solved 🤷
Good show. When there was no Pencast last Friday, I said to myself, "That's it, the guys have run out of material. Goodbye."
Wrong!
How many pens do you lose/break/unaccountably go missing in a year?
Never loan a pen to a stranger with the cap posted.
Haha! I don't think we'll ever run out of things to talk about, Phil! As far as I know, I haven't lost any pens in a few years! - Drew
Needed that twisbi tip.
The Pilot Custom 823 is the perfect sub-$300 pen. Gold nibs are ultra smooth and don't get that scratchy sound. Steel nibs can't compare.
I am guessing that BENU has a brown pen coming out... ?
The Benu Dream Bean is pretty darn BROWN... curious what's grabbed Drew, too.