I remember when I was at secondary school here in the UK (ages 11-18) back in the 1970s we all carried a sheet or two of blotting paper (or ‘blotch’ as we called it) in our school bags, because sometimes you needed to turn the page you were writing on quicker than the drying time, or your pen was running wet. I can’t recall the last time I actually used any, but I think we may have some lying around even now, as both my wife’s parents were head teachers in primary schools and they were both inveterate hoarders.
Inky fingers are a feature not a flaw. Love that oblique broad nib! That petrified wood look is amazing. I keep a page of blotter paper in my journal, and comes in handy if I need to close it quickly. Great review, thanks!
I bought the Estie Honeycomb in needlepoint as a Christmas Gift from me to me this year. It has quickly become my go to for journaling in my Hobonichi . The Needlepoint nib fits very well in those small lines. Love this pen.
FF stands for fine flex. Those blotting papers looked like post cards when I first saw them. It would be nice if Esterbrook designed a protective case to house the extra adapter and nib units. Remember always that ink stained fingers are a badge of honor. Thank you for your video presentation.
Yeah the adaptor is really cool! Can add some fun to the pen and have you keeping an eye out for a rare nib. Brings the best of both worlds together. Modern new materials an build with old school nibs.
Thank you for the great review! I appreciate your eye for the construction of pens, in particular pointing out if things have been put together and designed well! The MV Adapter is definitely a great idea! Just some things to consider on the Estie's comparative value to the Leonardo Momento Zero: the new version of the Momento Zero with the straight section and a retail price of 295 USD (before any discounts) is a Momento Zero Grande 2.0, which is a larger pen than the Estie (and the standard Momento Zero) and is a piston filler. The standard Momento Zero that you showed is a cartridge-converter and usually retails for 199 USD, so almost the same as the Estie. Plus it is made in Italy (hand turned), wheras Esterbrook is quite obscure about where the Estie is made, but it seems like they are made in Asia (I would assume Taiwan or China). That is not a judgment on quality which seems to be great, but simply cost of manufacturing.
Hi! Thanks for another great video. EFF and FF stands for extra fine flex and fine flex. If you haven’t done so already, give the Scribe and Journaler nibs a try you might be pleasantly surprised. I use a Needle point nib on fine line (tiny) 5 mm graph paper, and it works great.
I have the Nouveau Bleu resin. Gorgeous pen. My only concern is that the spring on the cap pen liner is stuck but talking to Esterbrook it still works to seal the nib. These pens are large for me. I don't think I would need the oversized version. That they have an adapter to use vintage nibs is a great plus. I really like my Estie. It is a keeper for me. Glad I got it. The price is reasonable, considering the quality of the pen and they do test the nib before releasing them. Great review.
I also like holding a pen farther from the nib. And I have small hands, but I still found it comfortable to hold Leonardo pen on a thicker portion of the section. And step down doesn't bother me. Thanks for the review.
Very nice looking pen and thank you for bringing up a great review! The resin work of this pen is very interesting regarding what it is trying to represent. As I know from conversations with pen shop holders, most turned pens like this beauty you showed us are not designed for posting, no matter if there is an air seal cap. So I might say the pop-off issue is somewhat of a reminder it is not meant for posting. It will also shorten the lifespan of the seal cap, too.
Just inked up my first Estie in Tortoise finish and I started with the MV Adaptor using a vintage nib first. I've not used the stock flex nib yet because I'm having so much fun with the vintage fine nib.
Saw this pen on a site so went to UA-cam for reviews. What popped up? This fantastic one! Thank you so much. I'm too quickly falling down the FP rabbit hole, and I'm thinking this would be a great one grab on the journey.
I'm glad they sent you one of the fancier resins. They really are pretty. I'd suggest you reach out to them to see if they can get you (or if you can purchase) one of their custom ground nibs. I'm a huge fan of the Journaler nib by Gena Salorino.
I’m thinking it means Extra Fine Flex. Or maybe it is a,… I won’t say it. Lol. But yeah. I’m not sure since I haven’t went to look at what the EFF stands for. Just assuming it for now. Great reviews, Doodlebud. Because of your vods I’ve been really wanting to get one. So it’s on my list of, “thinking abouts,” at the moment. I’m sure I’ll end up pulling the trigger sooner or later. I’ve been looking for about a year at Esterbrooks in general. I really like seeing them though in a persons hand and sizing it up by comparing to other pens and notebooks, etc. Gives ya a feel for it’s girth and size. So thanks again for another great review. Cheers
Great video. My one experience of an Esterbrook is the oversize Scribe. Beautifully made. But I do wish it had a gold nib. Scared to research whether Esterbrook do gold nib options on any of their pens, in case I get tempted to buy yet another pen. It would however be nice to know. Certainly a gold nib option is commensurate with the overall quality of the pens. I guess price wise in the league of the Leonardo, at least over here. Thanks again Doodlebud for a great video.
They use standard Jowo nib units, so you can replace the nib with a gold one. You just unscrew the unit and screw in the new one. Galen Leather sells replacement gold nibs, as do several other vendors.
Excellent video Doodlebud!! I don't own an Estie myself but have thought about it. I stay away from the oversized because no posting, but perhaps a regular estie is up my alley! Love the music you have in all your writing samples with the acoustic guitar by the way.
I have two of these Esterbrook Estie pens in the petrified forest resin. They are incredibly beautiful and so comfortable to hold. I prefer not to post my pens so the spring-loaded cap insert is not an issue. For the record, my Mont Blanc pen caps will fly off easily if I choose to post the caps and neglect to force the cap down very firmly. I'd rather not do that and risk leaving marks on the pen's body. So I don't post the caps. If you have big hands and need a longer pen, why not get an oversize?
Great video, I love the vintage Esterbrook nibs! Something I've been thinking about from an engineering perspective and I'll ask it here: do the tips of the fountain pen nib heat up much when writing? I imagine they might heat up a bit from friction, but that this would be offset by the ink cooling the nib, and that it only has a tiny contact area, so any heat would probably be negligible. But I'm curious!
The heat generated buy the friction of the nib on the page is pretty darn minimal. We expect pens to be smooth and flow nicely, which is showing just how little friction there is
I bought 3 old J series pens and had to 'resack' them. They work perfectly now. Do I recall that Esterbrook went out of business and some new company bought the entire IP and started it up again? Not sure I remember that happening.
@@Doodlebud I hear that. Totally understand that. Sucks though, I feel for you. There’s such good pentubers out there. You and Mr Doug are still my absolute favorite.
Yeah its a super cool feature they have for the Estie models. There is a huge range of vintage nib options. They have the whole list on the esterbrook site. Sort of a list for a nib scavenger hunt!
I'm impressed by the capping mechanism, but I don't think the barrel trim ring is supposed to be loose ☹ You see that on vintage pens when the plastic has shrunk over the years, resulting in loose trim rings. It's always a source of worry for me because the rings can come off with use. You can either pray to the Pen Gods that you don't lose the ring or swage it in place 🙁
Someone in the comments mentioned they have a few and the rings rotate so seems like it's ok. Doesn't seem like this one will come off the way it fits onto the barrel.
I remember when I was at secondary school here in the UK (ages 11-18) back in the 1970s we all carried a sheet or two of blotting paper (or ‘blotch’ as we called it) in our school bags, because sometimes you needed to turn the page you were writing on quicker than the drying time, or your pen was running wet. I can’t recall the last time I actually used any, but I think we may have some lying around even now, as both my wife’s parents were head teachers in primary schools and they were both inveterate hoarders.
Inky fingers are a feature not a flaw. Love that oblique broad nib! That petrified wood look is amazing. I keep a page of blotter paper in my journal, and comes in handy if I need to close it quickly. Great review, thanks!
Thats a good idea, I should keep one inside my book for that same reason. Thanks for the tip
That's a beautiful looking pen and the review does complete justice to what the pen has to offer. Thanks for the review.
2:00 it's also a 1936 film starring Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, in which case you'd expect the pen to be black & white...
I bought the Estie Honeycomb in needlepoint as a Christmas Gift from me to me this year. It has quickly become my go to for journaling in my Hobonichi . The Needlepoint nib fits very well in those small lines. Love this pen.
Glad you're enjoying it and your custom nib 👍
FF stands for fine flex. Those blotting papers looked like post cards when I first saw them. It would be nice if Esterbrook designed a protective case to house the extra adapter and nib units. Remember always that ink stained fingers are a badge of honor. Thank you for your video presentation.
Then why does the box say "Firm Fine"?
@Jacqueline Derber I was looking at the Esterbrook web site.
@@SodapopTheOutsider thanx for the clarification
Love the adaptor concept. Opens up so many options and we know FP owners love options! Thanks DB, excellent video as always❤️
Yeah the adaptor is really cool! Can add some fun to the pen and have you keeping an eye out for a rare nib. Brings the best of both worlds together. Modern new materials an build with old school nibs.
Thank you for the great review! I appreciate your eye for the construction of pens, in particular pointing out if things have been put together and designed well! The MV Adapter is definitely a great idea!
Just some things to consider on the Estie's comparative value to the Leonardo Momento Zero: the new version of the Momento Zero with the straight section and a retail price of 295 USD (before any discounts) is a Momento Zero Grande 2.0, which is a larger pen than the Estie (and the standard Momento Zero) and is a piston filler. The standard Momento Zero that you showed is a cartridge-converter and usually retails for 199 USD, so almost the same as the Estie. Plus it is made in Italy (hand turned), wheras Esterbrook is quite obscure about where the Estie is made, but it seems like they are made in Asia (I would assume Taiwan or China). That is not a judgment on quality which seems to be great, but simply cost of manufacturing.
Hi! Thanks for another great video. EFF and FF stands for extra fine flex and fine flex. If you haven’t done so already, give the Scribe and Journaler nibs a try you might be pleasantly surprised. I use a Needle point nib on fine line (tiny) 5 mm graph paper, and it works great.
Thanks for the review - does the esterbrook med writes more like a Japanese med or European med ? Again great review
That resin is just WOW!!!
Yeah, its pretty damn eye catching!
This dude has incredible handwriting.
Thanks 😁
I have the Nouveau Bleu resin. Gorgeous pen. My only concern is that the spring on the cap pen liner is stuck but talking to Esterbrook it still works to seal the nib.
These pens are large for me. I don't think I would need the oversized version.
That they have an adapter to use vintage nibs is a great plus.
I really like my Estie. It is a keeper for me. Glad I got it. The price is reasonable, considering the quality of the pen and they do test the nib before releasing them.
Great review.
I also like holding a pen farther from the nib. And I have small hands, but I still found it comfortable to hold Leonardo pen on a thicker portion of the section. And step down doesn't bother me. Thanks for the review.
Very nice looking pen and thank you for bringing up a great review! The resin work of this pen is very interesting regarding what it is trying to represent.
As I know from conversations with pen shop holders, most turned pens like this beauty you showed us are not designed for posting, no matter if there is an air seal cap. So I might say the pop-off issue is somewhat of a reminder it is not meant for posting. It will also shorten the lifespan of the seal cap, too.
Just inked up my first Estie in Tortoise finish and I started with the MV Adaptor using a vintage nib first. I've not used the stock flex nib yet because I'm having so much fun with the vintage fine nib.
Saw this pen on a site so went to UA-cam for reviews. What popped up? This fantastic one! Thank you so much. I'm too quickly falling down the FP rabbit hole, and I'm thinking this would be a great one grab on the journey.
Well happy to know the search function brought up my video! LOL Glad you enjoyed it and hope it answers any questions you have regarding the pen 👍
@@Doodlebud mine is on the way as I type this! Looking forward to it!
So my beauty arrived. Now I think I'd love o get the journaler nib.
I'm glad they sent you one of the fancier resins. They really are pretty. I'd suggest you reach out to them to see if they can get you (or if you can purchase) one of their custom ground nibs. I'm a huge fan of the Journaler nib by Gena Salorino.
Wonderful review, I value your attention to details.
Very nice review 😊
Thank you 😊
I’m thinking it means Extra Fine Flex. Or maybe it is a,… I won’t say it. Lol. But yeah. I’m not sure since I haven’t went to look at what the EFF stands for. Just assuming it for now. Great reviews, Doodlebud. Because of your vods I’ve been really wanting to get one. So it’s on my list of, “thinking abouts,” at the moment. I’m sure I’ll end up pulling the trigger sooner or later. I’ve been looking for about a year at Esterbrooks in general. I really like seeing them though in a persons hand and sizing it up by comparing to other pens and notebooks, etc. Gives ya a feel for it’s girth and size. So thanks again for another great review. Cheers
Nice pen, thanks!
Its so damn pretty!
Looks like one of those salt lamps to me. Definitely got something to it, but I think I prefer the Honeycomb.
I've licked a number of salt lamps in my day 😝
Great video. My one experience of an Esterbrook is the oversize Scribe. Beautifully made. But I do wish it had a gold nib. Scared to research whether Esterbrook do gold nib options on any of their pens, in case I get tempted to buy yet another pen. It would however be nice to know. Certainly a gold nib option is commensurate with the overall quality of the pens. I guess price wise in the league of the Leonardo, at least over here. Thanks again Doodlebud for a great video.
They use standard Jowo nib units, so you can replace the nib with a gold one. You just unscrew the unit and screw in the new one. Galen Leather sells replacement gold nibs, as do several other vendors.
Great review as always, Doodlebud.
Fountain pen owners and users always have some ink on their fingers! It's a badge of honor! Shows that I AM DIFFERENT! I USE Fountain Pens!
Excellent video Doodlebud!! I don't own an Estie myself but have thought about it. I stay away from the oversized because no posting, but perhaps a regular estie is up my alley! Love the music you have in all your writing samples with the acoustic guitar by the way.
Glad you like the music, tough to find decent music I can add to vids that are free for use
@@Doodlebud It reminds me of something from a movie or something but I can't remember what. Like a stream or creek scene. Tranquility haha
Beautiful pen. I’d never post it though.
That spinning ring doesn't bug you? Is that on all standard Esties? I don't know: it might bother me if I feel it spin.
I have two of these Esterbrook Estie pens in the petrified forest resin. They are incredibly beautiful and so comfortable to hold. I prefer not to post my pens so the spring-loaded cap insert is not an issue. For the record, my Mont Blanc pen caps will fly off easily if I choose to post the caps and neglect to force the cap down very firmly. I'd rather not do that and risk leaving marks on the pen's body. So I don't post the caps. If you have big hands and need a longer pen, why not get an oversize?
Yup have an oversize version in black as well
Great video, I love the vintage Esterbrook nibs!
Something I've been thinking about from an engineering perspective and I'll ask it here: do the tips of the fountain pen nib heat up much when writing? I imagine they might heat up a bit from friction, but that this would be offset by the ink cooling the nib, and that it only has a tiny contact area, so any heat would probably be negligible. But I'm curious!
The heat generated buy the friction of the nib on the page is pretty darn minimal. We expect pens to be smooth and flow nicely, which is showing just how little friction there is
@@Doodlebud Interesting, thought that would be the case! Thanks for giving your opinion on my random question haha
Extra Foo Fighters.
Nice pen. Gorgeous resin. Thanks for a very thorough review.
Its a serious piece of eye candy and writes wonderfully!
Very high price for something with a steel nib. For this price I want a gold nib.
Yup, we all have different expectations at different price points
Does this adapter work in other pens?
It would have to be another pen that takes the same threads
I bought 3 old J series pens and had to 'resack' them. They work perfectly now. Do I recall that Esterbrook went out of business and some new company bought the entire IP and started it up again? Not sure I remember that happening.
Here's the info: www.esterbrookpens.com/en-ca/pages/brand-history
Great review, thanks.
BOOM
Doodlebud strikes again. Talked me into another pen purchase.
LOL my apologies to your wallet! Damn, I should be getting a cut of the action LOL
That’s a bute right there!!!. What did you think of Doug’s rosewood Leonardo?
Haven't seen that one. Funny thing is since I started making vids I rarely have time to watch any pen vids now LOL
@@Doodlebud I hear that. Totally understand that. Sucks though, I feel for you. There’s such good pentubers out there. You and Mr Doug are still my absolute favorite.
MV? I haven't acquired an Esterbrook as yet. The oblique Broad looks like a very interesting nib.
Yeah its a super cool feature they have for the Estie models. There is a huge range of vintage nib options. They have the whole list on the esterbrook site. Sort of a list for a nib scavenger hunt!
@@Doodlebud Still trying to find out what the initials MV stand for with the adapter. Could you please let me know - thank you.
No idea what MV stands for, my guess for the V is vintage
I'm impressed by the capping mechanism, but I don't think the barrel trim ring is supposed to be loose ☹ You see that on vintage pens when the plastic has shrunk over the years, resulting in loose trim rings. It's always a source of worry for me because the rings can come off with use. You can either pray to the Pen Gods that you don't lose the ring or swage it in place 🙁
Someone in the comments mentioned they have a few and the rings rotate so seems like it's ok. Doesn't seem like this one will come off the way it fits onto the barrel.
@@Doodlebud Good to hear! I lost a trim ring on a vintage pen one time and they're a pain to source lol
Yeah that sucks :(
Love that ink, darn it I just bought Edelstein Star Ruby, which is nice, but I wish I knew about that Diamine ink
beautifull and beautywow wak wak aibad allah..
I wanted to buy the petrified pen, but I was far too scared.
…sorry
I see what you did there......