Starting Out The New Year With A Clean Sweep

What better way to start the year than with a thorough cleaning. Ten pens got the treatment and are drying, nibs down, in a wad of paper towel. That leaves a mere five for general use and two for testing. Does that sound like a lot? I assure you that is lean for me.

• Parker ’51′ Aero F with Noodler’s Zhivago
• Parker ’51′ Aero Special XF with Noodler’s Black (pen test)
• Sailor 1911 F with Noodler’s Red-Black
• Lamy Vista 1.1 with Iroshizuku shin-ryoku
• Levenger Mink True Writer Masuyama CI with Noodler’s Kiowa Pecan
• Montblanc 220 OB with Rohrer & Klingner Magenta
• Pilot Elite Socrates F Pocket Pen with Diamine Presidential Blue (ink test)

When a fountain pen won’t do, there are four more writing instruments at hand.

• Levenger Starry Night Roller Ball with a black felt tip refill
• Autopoint Mechanical Pencil
• Pentel Pocket Brush Pen with a black cartridge
• OXO Pink Highlighter

Elena sent a couple of Mitsu-Bishi 9800 2B pencils that will get some playtime soon. It’s likely the Levenger Kyoto True Writer Masuyama Stub will get a load of Iroshizuku syo-ro or possibly Private Reserve Ebony Blue in the near future. I love writing with this pen so it never stays clean for long.

That’s my winter rotation. What’s on your desk to start the new year?

This Pilot Prera Is Clearly Brilliant

If you like clear fountain pens, the Pilot Prera Demonstrator might be the perfect thing. Wouldn’t it be gorgeous paired with Iroshizuku ink? Whether matching or contrasting, it’s sure to be eye-catching. Anyone game for this one?

Pilot Prera Demonstrator at Art Brown Pen Shop

Eclectic If Not Entertaining Links

From science to fountain pens to lending a hand, a little something for everyone…

• 10 risky default settings in social media that you need to check
• Jane Farr: A Place To Flourish
• You can be a Citizen Scientist!
• Beyond Calligraphy
• First editions and rare books at Heritage Book Shop
• Hudson Valley Sketches: A Peak Inside My Sketching Bag
• Peaceable Writer: A Bit About Platinum and Nakaya
• 50 for 50 for WriteGirl!
• WSJ: Stationery’s New Followers

The Bounty On My Desk

Sometimes it’s good to appreciate the amazing choices we have. So today I took stock of the bounty on my desk and found plenty to make a pen person smile.

Next to my right hand, coffee mug, and mouse are ten fountain pens, three felt tips, a brush pen, a mechanical pencil, and one highlighter. Does that seem like a lot? You should see the mountain of art supplies that hogs the left side of my workspace. Pens are small, tidy things in comparison. Paper is the biggest space invader but that’s another story.

Inkophile Pen and Ink Samples for August, 2011

The first three pens get daily use and I am content with each. The newest addition is the Namiki Falcon SB which is well-matched to Stipula Verde Mushiato both in flow and shading. The Levenger True Writer Masuyama Cursive Italic is perfect for brown ink but the Namiki Falcon SF gets to change its colors frequently. Its ink will be determined by what is missing when the other pens have been filled.

The three pens not pictured in the sample are due for cleaning and replacement by old favorites like my Sailor 1911 EF. That one works brilliantly with Noodler’s Red-Black and is an easy choice. The Sapporo F might get a fill of something turquoise or possibly one of my 1976 Pilot Elite “Socrates” pocket pens will get Diamine Teal. All three pens are good for long sessions and disinclined to clog even if unused for days at a time.

Sometimes I like to dig deeper in my pen drawer for older pens that deserve some playtime. The navy gray Parker ’51′ Aero F looks like a good mate for Noodler’s Zhivago and the Pelikan M250 Fine Stub has had a thing for Diamine Emerald for years. The dimensions of these two are slightly different from the other pens so that helps reduce hand fatigue on those days that seem to have no end.

Lastly it’s time to go back to black. Either the Limited Edition Sailor Hougado Deep Moss Black or Noodler’s Black but the pen has yet to be determined. The Lamy Safari OB and the Pilot Custom Black Stripe F are good candidates for a rich, dark ink. Again maintaining a variety of dimensions will determine the winner.

So that’s my latest pen and ink rotation.

Putting aside everything on my desk but the fountain pens and the written sample, I looked for a common thread to this rotation. Danged if I can find one save the pleasure in using a fountain pen and the colorful line it produces. That’s pretty simple but it does make me wonder about other fountain pen people. If you are a member of that club, what drives your rotation?

Big And Bold Namiki Falcon

A fountain pen veteran once told me that in time, fine nibs would give way to broad nibs in my collection. Either he was half right or my rotation is still evolving after a mere ten years. As evidence last week two pens arrived, the tangerine Levenger True Writer with a very nice fine nib and Pilot’s resin Namiki Falcon SB with a soft broad nib. Guess which one got the most use. Okay. Did the post title give it away?

The Falcon is one of my favorite pens. The size and weight are very comfortable for my hand and my two soft fine nibs are always close at hand. They have become a bit more flexible with use and produce excellent results with a variety of inks. Sailor Brown, J Herbin Lie de Thé, and Diamine Violet are especial favorites in them.

Namiki Falcon SF, Diamine Violet, Rhodia grid paper

However, being a fan of Pilot’s Iroshizuku line, the new Falcon SB got loaded (drunk and dazzled) on Tsuki-yo for its maiden voyage. What a fat, wet nib! This baby will never skip. On Rhodia paper a blotter helped but a different ink should tame that a bit.

The nib is very smooth but squeaks slightly which is a funny combination. The lack of drag is great when my hand is tired so it will be perfect for my end-of-the-day journal entry, often my longest daily writing session. One of the nice things about that usage is any color ink goes. No need to be all businesslike or conservative so perhaps Rohrer & Klingner Morinda or Magenta or even Solferino will fit the nib’s attributes and the paper’s willingness to accept loads of ink. A nib with this much flow will be a good match for pale colored inks like pink, apricot and pale blue.

This is a “soft” nib with a very limited amount of give though enough to produce a unique signature with a flair or two. I want to play with that a bit but my initial take is that Pilot labeling it SB is generous. Yes, it will flex very slightly but the line looks nearly identical to the non-flex line at least with Tsuki-yo and Morinda. The SF is better at flex but only after it has had some use. I’ve never used the SM (soft medium) but have read it is the nib people like the most. If it is halfway between the two, I can see why that would be the sweet spot for many users. Someday I will have to get my hands on one for comparison.

Namiki Falcon Nib Comparison Test

Not to put anyone off on adding the Namiki Falcon SB to your collection, but this is one pen that puts down a truly broad, wet line. Some folks will be thrilled at that while others may be intimidated. The SB is not ideal for small handwriting. It is best for big, bold statements. My handwriting suffers but my hand is happy with the ease with which I can write albeit sloppily. With practice my penmanship should improve. If not, it doesn’t really matter because when I grab the SB, writing longer will be more important than writing neater. For those times big and bold is just fine with me.

Note: My new Falcon came from Pear Tree Pens as did the bottle of Morinda. Tsuki-yo has been on my shelf since shortly after its release and is available from a number of sources including PTP. It’s a favorite amongst Iroshizuku fanatics and would be a good starting point if you haven’t tried this line of inks yet.

Noodler’s Baystate Blue And The Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen

One of my ink mates recently proved how much of an ink geek he is by noticing the difference between the first run of Noodler’s Baystate Blue and the latest batch. Intrigued I agreed to see for myself.

Noodler's Baystate Blue Fountain Pen Ink Comparison

My written samples validate the observation. Feathering has been tamed sufficiently to give lines a clean look and eliminate the ragged edges. Now it is useful on a wider variety of papers.

Noodler's Baystate Blue Ink Comparison Closeup

BSB still has what it takes to stain fingers and pens making it a less than ideal choice for a clear demonstrator. Since the majority of pens are black, the staining won’t be a problem for most of us. So far no damage to the clear Platinum Preppy sent to test the BSB. That is encouraging but not definitive.

Still it is an ink with a reputation and my experience is too limited to give it anything more than a few cursory remarks.

Noodler's Baystate Blue - Original Formulation

Noodler's Baystate Blue - Newest Formulation

The color is a rich blue that flows very well but does dry slowly. In some ways it reminds me of the long-discontinued Parker Penman Sapphire. Not in terms of that ink’s iridescence but more in its saturated color. I found it a happy match to my daily journal, the Apica 6A10, in which I faithfully use a blotter, the best way to make a non-issue of drying time.

The Preppy surprised me more than the ink. It has a very stiff, fine nib that helps control BSB. A flexible nib would lay down more ink and slow the drying time to unacceptable lengths for ordinary use. For such an inexpensive pen, the Preppy has a really solid build along with the intriguing appeal of a demonstrator. Should you order one, do get a Platinum converter to accommodate your bottled inks.

My Preppy has a pink nib which admittedly is kind of cute. Even though it arrived on Valentine’s Day and it is now April, the pinkness still makes me smile.

Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen in Pink

Oh, the ink geek? Ryan Roossinck of The Pear Tree Pen Company.

Seize the Dave has a full review of Baystate Blue.

Pilot Custom 742 Falcon Update #1

That cranky Pilot Custom 742 Falcon returned from its spa visit improved but not perfect. Not that it isn’t a handsome pen and comfortable to use. It is certainly that but the nib and flow just challenge me in a way that other fountain pens don’t.

To give the pen a fair chance, the original Pilot piston converter was temporarily swapped for a Pilot cartridge which improved the flow somewhat. Since sucking up ink from a bottle proved utterly useless with the converter, I purchased some pipettes with narrow tips to better fill the stubborn thing. Although it took a bit of doing to get the ink to zip along, the nib is much improved over its initial performance and the converter is now useful.

Funny how the pen seems to work best with Pilot ink, from Pilot Blue-Black to the black cartridge to a fill of Iroshizuku Asa-Gao. Hopefully, it will expand its repertoire to include a few other inks known for shading like Noodler’s Apache Sunset and Golden Brown. However, for now Asa-Gao will do.

Nevertheless, the flow still cuts out especially on descenders. It does not happen nearly as often as it did prior to its trip to the spa for some corrective work but the issue is still there. The nib has not been customized for my hand and might work beautifully as is for someone else. Someday I may put that to the test.

Another issue is that the nib sometimes catches unless held at what for me is an unforgiving angle. Again, the nib has not been customized for me so even though a monkey owned it first, I have to assume this is what is normal for the 742 Falcon nib. It is not an insurmountable problem but rather one that requires practice to overcome or possibly modification for a wider range of contact.

Of this I am certain: modern flex cannot compare to vintage flex. The mechanics are very different in how that wider line is accomplished and the effort necessary is much greater. Perhaps once the 742 FA has broken in to the degree my Namiki Falcons have, it will demonstrate enough suppleness to sustain a comfortable rhythm. Maybe a better flow will result as well. In the meantime it will get some use as held lightly, the nib is quite soft and nearly effortless to use. It will suffice for journal writing but not for correspondence where legibility is more important. After all no one needs to read my journal. Heh. Not even me!

Namiki Falcon Meets Diamine Ink

Namiki Falcon nibs come up often in pen discussions so here is a closer look at one of my favorite pens. The pen works well with all of my inks so this is intended as no slight to other ink makers. It just worked out that both Falcons have Diamine in them.

Namiki Falcon

There is a difference between my two Soft Fine (SF) nibs though the samples don’t reflect the sharpness of the finer of the two. It is only evident when writing with it. The nib doesn’t drag exactly but may catch on laid or textured paper. Otherwise it works well on my usual selection. In this case an Apica 6A10 Note Book shows what a Falcon can do. However, a less absorbent paper like Rhodia or Clairefontaine will produce a finer line. Triomphe is a great stationery for the Falcon as are all the Japanese papers I have tried.

Are you interested in line variation? The Falcon offers a little of that but only with effort. Though the nib will soften slightly with use, it is tiring to produce much variation unless I limit instances of it to the occasional stroke and my signature. However, it is fun for a flourish here and there.

As an all around pen, the light weight and comfortable balance make the resin model of the Namiki Falcon a very good choice for long sessions. If you are so inclined, it is really fun for doodling and drawing where a little variation makes for lively line work. Check out Mattias Adolfsson for some serious inspiration.

Namiki Falcon with Diamine Violet

All things considered the Namiki Falcon is a versatile pen that is always in my rotation and one I very much recommend though with one caveat. It may not be suited to heavy-handed users. The fine nib might get sprung with too much pressure.

Otherwise, it’s a terrific pen in the over $100 category. Used ones can be found for less but may not be as satisfactory if the former owner worked it too hard. As in everything purchased used, “you pays your money and you takes your chances.” If you prefer new pens, Oscar Braun Pens carries both the acrylic and the metal versions. Stateside, that’s the place to start.

Rohrer & Klingner Verdura

Bright, true green is one of my happy colors. Orange ranks close behind but that’s another story. On a dull or boring or difficult day, either color will produce a respite that is far more healthful than any vice should be. Yesterday I needed a jolt and popped the top on Rohrer & Klingner Verdura, a sample from Ryan at Pear Tree Pens.

Rohrer & Klingner Verdura Ink

Verdura is a nicely balanced green though slightly more blue than yellow. It isn’t exactly emerald but close. Waterman Green and Iroshizuku Shin-Ryoku have more blue while J. Herbin Lierre Sauvage and Diamine Kelly Green are decidedly more yellow.

Though it may not be as evident in my scan as it is in the real sample, there is a lot of shading with the Pilot Elite on Clairefontaine brushed vellum journal paper. The drying time was faster than I expected though admittedly the pen is a somewhat dry-writer. In fact it was nearly instantaneous except for dots where slightly more ink was deposited.

Verdura is not highly lubricating though the flow is fine. It is more similar to J. Herbin inks than Iroshizuku. On 24# printer paper with the Elite, it wrote a bit dry but exhibited no feathering. Only under magnification were a few instances of slightly rough outlines visible.

If you love Iroshizuku inks, Verdura might be disappointing since it lacks the flow and lubrication associated with Iroshizuku and the color is quite similar to Shin-Ryoku. But if that high priced ink isn’t your cuppa, Verdura will do nicely for a lively color that will fit your green needs from St. Patrick’s Day doodles to Christmas card signatures and all the summer grass in between.

If you are a fan of J. Herbin or Diamine, Verdura should work well for you. Although I haven’t seen all of the Diamine green inks, online swatches of Ultra Green look similar to Verdura. None of their other inks come close. Herbin does not offer a blue-based green like Verdura. However, if you love Lierre Sauvage, Verdura may not be different enough to become an instant, must-have addition to your collection.  But do consider it as your next green ink purchase for a subtle, bluish change of pace.

While the Rohrer & Klingner no-frills bottle does not offer a well or insert, it is tall with a wide mouth and suitable for the chunkiest of pens. At around $12 per 50 ml bottle, this brand fits well within the acceptable price range for most fountain pen users.

With the quality and varied range of colors, Rohrer & Klingner is certainly worth adding to your list. Hit up Ryan for samples if you are not yet convinced. That sure sold me.

More at Without Ink.

Pilot Pen’s Flexible Nibs

A thread on FPN prompted me to evaluate my experience with Pilot’s flexible nibs. No images for this post since I no longer have one of the pens and another is headed out for repairs. However, the descriptions ought to give you a pretty good sense of what to expect from each model.

Pilot Elite Pocket Pen S(oft) F(ine) – Has very little flex but great flow. An uncommon nib but a good writer. Made in the 1970′s.

Pilot Custom 74 S(oft) F(ine) – Has very little flex. Not even enough to call it semi-flex. It is a very good writer with a little give to the nib. The C74 has enough length to write comfortably without posting. It is not a heavy pen and so is excellent for long writing sessions.

Pilot/Namiki Falcon S(oft) F(ine) – Has a bit more flex that increases with use. This nib qualifies as modern semi-flex but is stiff compared to vintage semi-flex. At some angles the SF can be quite sharp and catch on paper that isn’t fairly smooth. With one of my Falcons the sharpness has decreased over time and is now rarely an issue. This is one nib that can write incredibly fine while also giving you the option of a dramatic signature. IME it makes a great all-around writer especially for those who like inks that shade well. The Namiki Falcon really brings out that characteristic.

Pilot Custom 742 FA(lcon) – Can flex well for a modern pen but cannot compete with vintage flex. The FA doesn’t give as much or snap back as fast as a good vintage nib. Transitions from thin to thick and back require more hand control to avoid jerky lines than with vintage flex. The 742FA nib is unlikely to produce a satisfactory result for heavy-handed writers but there are a lot of other nib options for this Montblanc 146 sized model. The FA is better for those who have at least some experience with flex. If you want a cart/converter pen with good build quality and a flexible nib, this is the best pen I’ve found in its price range.

I have heard great things about Namiki Falcon nibs modified by John Mottishaw but have no personal experience with them. Someday I will rectify that omission.