Best Pens and Inks of September 2023, Magazine Sneak Peek - The Write Stuff ep. 16
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- Опубліковано 22 чер 2024
- In this episode, I reveal the top 5 pens of September, top 5 inks, share a sneak peek at our upcoming print magazine, and discuss features to look for in purchasing a new pen. Last, I’ll give away something on my desk.
Comment below with your burning pen questions to be answered in a future video.
(0:00) Intro
(0:26) Magazine Preview
(1:43) September Top 5 Pens
(2:00) Sailor Pro Gear Blue Cobra - goldspot.com/products/sailor-...
(3:17) Leonardo Momento Zero Foresta Umbra
(5:03) Top 5 Inks
(6:13) Mystery Dip Benu Talisman Royal Flush - goldspot.com/products/mystery...
(8:09) Retro 51 Autumn Leaves - goldspot.com/products/retro-5...
(9:17) QOTW
(11:05) Kaweco AL-Sport Mercury Orange - goldspot.com/products/kaweco-...
(11:57) Outro
Links to the Top 5 Inks
5 Wearingeul Phantom of the Opera - goldspot.com/products/wearing...
4 Ferris Wheel Press Poison Envy - goldspot.com/products/ferris-...
3 J. Herbin Fuchsia de Magellan - goldspot.com/products/j-herbi...
2 Diamine Inkvent Green Edition - goldspot.com/products/diamine...
1 Platinum Chou Kuro Blackest Black - goldspot.com/products/platinu...
Find Stickers Here - goldspot.com/collections/stic...
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After about a year of diving into the fountain pen hobby, I’ve sampled quite a few pens from several manufactures. Where I’m at now is that I enjoy pilot and sailor. I feel like fine Japanese pens are like black coffee. If you don’t drink, black coffee, it’s difficult to understand why it’s popular. IMO It takes time to appreciate what it is, and learn to use it. The subtle nuance of a very fine Japanese nib on the paper is something that I’ve learned to appreciate that I didn’t understand it first. That really is about as fun as the writing itself, the discovery of your own tastes, and how they change over time.
Great video I got my first mystery dip box in September. I was blown away ! Thanks to all at Goldsport
Hi Tom. I just ran over to the site and grabbed one of the mystery boxes. Thanks for saving one for me. So my question is: Who decides what goes in to a mystery box? As far as a pen choice: The first is the attractiveness of the pen. The color or design speaks to me and it can’t be too large. I also look at the brand, my favorites are TWSBI, Pilot, Platinum and Kaweco.
I agree with you, Tom. The very first thing that I see in the pen is the appearance. It could be the finish, the style, the size, and once uncapped, the nib and how it appears with the pen. Does the nib complement the appearance of the pen? Or, does the nib stand on its own? I will use Sailor pens. As the sales representative will say to you, "It's all about the nib,". Look at the King of Pen. What stands out? The nib.
Look at Benu pens. What stands out? The body.
When you can get both to wow you on a particular pen, it is going to be a keeper.
I have a question. Do you prefer wide or thin grip sections? Have you found either a thin or wide section to you liking? In other words if you prefer wider pens, have you found a thinner pen to your liking?
Although it sounds superficial, I had to admit to myself that, if I don't care for the pen's looks and design, it won't matter if it has an amazing nib. For ergonomics, I do prefer a grip section that is larger than 9.5mm in diameter. The thickest pen I own is a Montblanc 149, which is very large.
@@GoldspotPens I know you don't carry this brand, but consider getting a Jinhao 9019. It has a wide grip, wider than the 149.
Finally! I typically like trying out new brands or models that i dont have already when considering a new pen. Pilot may be the exception for their smooth nibs, or leonardo for their overall aesthetic of their materials. (Also, good to have you back, Tom!)
How do you choose the quarterly Mystery Dip package?
Sailor pro gear blue cobra is beautiful
Great video. The most important aspect of a pen to me is the nib. Unless the pen is something truly unique, I opt for pens that are known to have exceptional nibs, particularly those that are smooth as glass.
Hi Tom, can’t wait for the new magazine! What pens do you feel most thankful for this holiday season and why? I’m thankful to Goldspot for my beautiful Kaweco Al-sport Mercury orange -so bright and happy!
Aw! I'm glad you are enjoying the Mercury Orange.
What's your preferred refill for the Retro 51 rollerball? I've tried a variety over the years (Schmidt EasyFlow 9000, Schmidt P8126, Parker Quinkflow, an orange Monteverde ballpoint, just to name a few), and my current favorite is the Ohto flash dry needle-point gel refill. Just curious what you use, since there are so many different types of refills to choose from. Really enjoy these episodes!
Amother great episode. I wonder if you have used or featured Indian Fountain pen inks? There are few Indian pen manufactureres but there Indian ink industry has beeen overlooked or not featured much.
Personally, I've used Krishna inks before. In my experience, they aren't as user-friendly as other ink brands we carry and supply tends to be inconsistent. Which Indian ink brands would you like to see featured?
Hi Tom! My question is...do you think that a pen being a "limited edition" or "exclusive" tends to make them more desirable to consumers? Or does it make them tend to sell faster due to the alure of it being limited? The Kaweco Mercury Orange is a beautiful color by the way! Thanks!
I am curious to know what factors contribute to an ink being on the dry vs wet side? Why are lighter colors generally more dry?
Awesome
Another great video Tom!! Do you have a “doesn’t leave the house” pen? If so why? Price, irreplaceable, sentimental
Thanks, Michael! No, actually all my pens leave the house, mostly to go to the Goldspot office. Thankfully, I work at a pen company so everyone knows to respect our pens and not steal them from each other's desks.
Tom, how many pens are in your personal collection and which is your favorite? When I pick a pen, first it's for it's looks, then how the nib is perceived by other users (will it meet my standards). This morning, Goldspot was the first company to email me about the new Esterbrook, so I purchased from you. As the day went on, at least four others had weighed in. So......the early bird got the sale.
You got really lucky, the Ravens sold out in a flash on Friday. Good for you! I usually have a top 10 pens that I keep at home, inking 3-4 of them at a time. This rotation does change some, so I might have to update in a future video.
It is so cool. Came yesterday and I am trying to pick an ink. I would love to see a video of your favorites. Thanks@@GoldspotPens
How many large background pens do you guys own? And which one would you want to add? I think some large versions of Goldspot exclusives would be cool. Love the visuals of it all :)
That's all the super-over-sized pens we have in the office, actually!
What’s you favorite Halloween candy?
What I'm looking forward to having (I impose a candy tax on my kids - after all, they need supervision and a ride to get to the trick-or-treating with their friends) - York peppermint patties, Reses peanut butter cups, and Kit Kats.
I have the Foresta Umbra, Autumn Leaves, and Fright Night, and I'm planning to get the Cobra Sailor very soon.
At roughly what price point would you consider a pen to have diminishing returns and be more about luxury materials and a brand name than providing a vastly improved writing experience and better build?
Thank you for your support! It means a lot to us that you enjoy so many of our collaborative pen creations. Your question is one that requires a thoughtful answer. I'll work on it!
I need to stop watching these videos. I have just placed two orders in the space of about 10 minutes and my pocketbook is apparently undergoing a bad case of anaphylactic shock. But it will be so worth it. Thanks for a great video. And for being such an enabler.
Hi Tom, which brand of pen and what kind of nib do you believe is the smoothest and easiest nib for everyday use? Thank you for your informative videos. I have learned a lot.
If I want to make sure an expensive pen I am about to purchase will be good to go when I get it, is there a testing or evaluation that Goldspot can do of the actual pen w/nib before it is shipped? Thanks in advance and love your videos!
It is not a service that we actively advertise because, if we did, we'd have to hire a bunch of people to test write hundreds of pens a day. However, we do accommodate requests if you write a comment in the order notes. You might see some of our testing videos on UA-cam shorts.
I want to boy my first fountain pen. Which whine I should buy BTW I'm gonna use it for school
Hey Tom, what pens would you use with shimmer/sheening ink? Ones that are clean up friendly and write the best. I use broad nibs to show the ink color, saturation and shimmer/sheen. BTW…I love my Benu Royal Flush!! It’s my first Benu and I love it!!
I gave my recommendation of how to use shimmer inks in this episode here - ua-cam.com/video/2B8riYpEO-A/v-deo.html
In summary, I'd reserve an inexpensive pen that is easy to take apart to clean. For me, it's the Kaweco Sport. Glad you love the Royal Flush!
What composition notebooks would you recommend for use with fountain pens?
Here are our top 5 notebooks for fountain pens - ua-cam.com/video/8xG6cFW0g-E/v-deo.html
How do you decide between flex nib, stub nib, or cursive nib?
Hey Tom, great video! What's the scariest pen you've seen?
Thank you for your support, Jennifer! We appreciate it even though your pocketbook does not. It will definitely be worth it. Get out there and write stuff!
@@GoldspotPens i think your response belongs to another comment.
What's the best fountain pen for each personality type you can think of!
How are we organizing personality types?
@@GoldspotPens i was thinking maybe along the lines of sociable, introverted, kind, thoughtful, chaotic?
Will you get any more Esterbrook Raven piston fillers? I just saw Hemingway Jones review this pen, and when I checked your website it's sold out. I'm a fan of piston fillers, not cartridge/converter pens.
Yes, we're expecting more pens to arrive by December. You may sign up for an in-stock notification e-mail on our website so you can know exactly when they come back.
What is your biggest draw in luxury pens vs other price ranges?
I have a Monteverde Charisma fountain pen from the 90's. I can unscrew out the nib but I don't know what size it is for a replacement. The feed is a larger diameter than a Jowo #6- do you know what size this is?
Unfortunately, I would not know. However, you can ask the folks at Yafa Pen Co and they would be able to help you find a replacement nib for the Charisma. They own the Monteverde brand. You can contact them through their website yafa.com
Tom, thanks for all you do for the pen world. I love Pelikan fountain pens, however, I don't like the fact that I have to do so much searching for a good price because Pelikan pricing is all over the map!!! Why so???
That is a thorny subject that frustrates us as well. We hope that, sometime in the near future, Pelikan can come to a consensus about their global pricing strategy. It is now a global market where it's easier than ever to buy from anyone no matter their geographic location.
What is Goldspot doing for Fountain Pen Day 2023?
Hi Tom. My handwriting is decent when I use ballpoint pens. However, I've recently started to use fountain pens and my handwriting with fountain pens is not acceptable at all. I can't precisely control the pen when it slips on the paper.
I've tried a couple of fountain pens with fine and medium nibs. Now the question is what I can do. Does it only need more practice or there are some tips that can help?
You could try a paper with a bit more “grit” that isn’t as smooth. Leuchtrum 1917 is what I prefer to journaling while Tomoe River Paper is one of the smoothest (and will cause that feeling of moving around the paper). Other than that it just takes practice!
First, I'd check out this video on how to improve your handwriting with a fountain pen - ua-cam.com/video/A9NNIUUBmNQ/v-deo.html
Then, like Brittany suggests, I'd change the paper. Perhaps the paper is too slick for your nib and you need something with a bit more tooth. Leuchtturm1917 and the new Endless with regalia paper have adequate tooth.
What ink says "autumn" most, for you?
I offered my top 5 favorite fall inks in the previous episode here - ua-cam.com/video/QZXxThqZox8/v-deo.html
Ah, thanks!
You’re at a job interview and the interviewer says “Sell me this pen”. What do you say?
Hahahah! "Hold my beer."
@@GoldspotPens 🤣
The President of the United States (and other heads of state) have their go-to pens. The White House buys thousands of pens as giveaways for when the President signs a law or document for the people who helped to make it happen. My question is, if you were elected President, Tom, which brand/model would you have the White House get as these gift pens?
Can't wait to see the magazine! :D
Oooh, this is a fun one to answer. I'll have to think about this and have an answer before 2024. ;-)
@GoldspotPens for sure! idk why this isn't #1 on the list of topics for debates lol