I LOVE that Brian often gets slightly choked up talking about the kids. That is a heart touching thing. And it WOULD be great if the kids really did want to grow up and go into the bizniz.
Mine was my little Sheaffer 100. I bought it years ago as a "Present to self" for graduating from university. I used it for a bit, then forgot about it. Once I started really getting back into the hobby (like, two months ago), I remembered it. I inked it up with some Yama Budo and I swear I've found my soul mate in a pen/ink combo. Yowza. :P
RE: Orange ink cartridges - People need to keep in mind the option of filling a cartridge with a syringe. Since cartridges have a limited amount of options this is a good option. I used the included ink cartridge with my Platinum 3776 instead of buying a converter for it. Man that large cartridge can hold a lot of ink.
Mike W This is something I can appreciate, especially for the feel-good recycling factor. Couple things to bear in mind though. Firstly, the syringe/eyedropper isn't something that you'll typically carry around with your pen, so you kinda have to make sure you're all good to go for whatever ink. You need to clean the syringe/eyedropper every time it's used, unless you don't mind throwing it away. Secondly, a cartridge lacks the cleaning, water-pumping functionality of a converter. For me, I'll always have a converter with my cartridge-fuelled pens. I even have one for my tiny Parker Vector.
Baran Aygun Very true on all points. My main point is that a person whose looking for more colors shouldn't worry about the lack of optional colors as they can syringe fill their old cartridges with any ink. Yes, that poses a problem for wanting to carry around spare ink cartridges. And most of us don't want to carry a vile of ink and a syringe around either. I'm wondering, though, and I keep meaning to experiment with this, is if putting a dab of silicone caulking at the tip, keeping some protruding would seal it up well. With the bit protruding you could pull it off so it doesn't get pushed back into the cartridge. If I can remember I will give this a try this evening and let you and everybody else know how the hack went.
I've got about forty fountain pens and I tend to rotate a couple a month (while adding to my collection occasionally). As you can figure from my comment below, I dusted off my brown Kaweco Sport. It's a cute little pen, but it's also a work horse and a fun writer. It's been about two years since I used it. I have my favorites of course, but I do try to rotate everyone in a fair manner. Thank you for the Q & A's Brian - it's another reason to look forward to Friday!
QOTW All of my pens like what you have described are "retired". I received my first pen (a Parker 45) in 1960 and used it through high school and retired it in college when I replaced it with another (a Rapidograph) that I used for at least 20 years. That one was replaced by a Cross Century Classic that I used for 15 years and wore out.
QOTW I actually own three FPs at the moment; all three of them considered beginners' pens, and all three in rotation. I only recently started using FPs again -- due in no small part to gentlemen like Brian Goulet and his team -- and remember last using them as a child in high school. I love writing with them, although I may need to swap the TWSBI's 1.1 stub out for something more grounded so I can use it to write between the lines without my 'e's and 'a's looking like ink blobs.
Shout out to you guys and I think Bryce who packed my order ❤ everything came safe and whether it's coincidence or not, I still got the cherry tootsie pop I asked for. You guys are amazing and keep it up 😁
QOTW-I got the Conklin Nighthawk when it first came out. Looked sleek & sexy but I misjudged how light carbon fibre was & didn't care for it after inking it up. I gave it a fair chance but at the time I just didn't like it. Its been sat in a drawer ever since. Funny you posed this question as I was thinking it's time to give it another try before I decide what I'm going to do with it.
+Coasterdude02149 it is a light pen, yes. Pretty much all carbon fiber pens are FYI, unless they have a brass barrel underneath or something. here's hoping you find a renewed interest in it. -Brian
I think that Diamine peach haze is very similar to the hi tec c orange but I don't know if it comes in cartridges. I use both because I too love orange.
It might be surprising, but I find myself passing over the Lamy Safari Petrol time and again when I'm changing out pens. I used it once when I first got it, but now it's been sitting around for about five months. I love my Al-Star - the Safari, not so much.
QOTW I started to rotate my fountain pen collection which is about 8 pens. 3 fountain pens and three inks per month.It's been about six months since I've used my Sheaffer Snorkel.
Of the orange inks I've tried, I liked Toucan Orange's color the best. It was really crusty on the nib, though. I've also tried Diamine's Orange, Sunset, and Blaze Orange. I preferred Orange to the Blaze and Sunset. I actually mixed about half/half of Orange and Sunset and really liked it.
M200- i got it in 2014 during a flash sale and havnt used it since that year. It is just so small!! I had a Parker Premier that i purchased in 2011 when i went to NY that i hadnt used since bc it was too heavy but i sold it.
I have a Pelikano and whenever I wash out the feed and put a new cartridge in (I am using Private Reserve cartridges) it takes upwards of an hour for the ink to replace the water left in the feed (at least that is my assumption of what is happening). It initially writes with the new color extremely faded and watered down and even after a half page of writing it is still pretty dull. If I come back to it later the full color saturation of the ink finally comes through. This doesn't happen with any of my other pens.
New to the pen game, so nothing's had much of a chance to languish. However, the pen to receive the least amount of love is my Sheaffer VFM. Bought it for 15 USD at an OfficeDepot to see what all the fountain pens fuss was. Decided it was the writing tool for me and upgraded to a Lamy Al-Star and Faber-Castell Loom. Both on closeout or Bottom Shelf. Since the VFM is cartridge-only, I haven't used it much. The medium nib is also a little too broad for my tastes. Mrs. Goulet may not like them, but I like me some extra-fine nib. I tried to use it as a dip pen to better sample new inks...with mixed results. Can do the job, but clearing the feed for each ink is a hassle--I've come up with some unexpected colors. Once I finally get an ink syringe, the VFM will probably see more use. Great for a knock-around pen I'm not afraid to beat-up or lose.
Sub-1.1-Stubs: I found my favorite fine stub in an unexpected place: it's the untipped flex nib from the Noodler's Art Nib Pack (www.gouletpens.com/noodlers-art-nib-pack/p/N18098), which can sometimes also be bough individually. I found the Nemosine 0.6 and 0.8 stubs irritatingly dry at first, but eventually got them to write as I'd like. The pilot Plumix (www.gouletpens.com/pilot-plumix-fountain-pen-black-stub/p/PN90040) is available with with a wide variety of differently sized stubs (at least in Europe).
I use my Nemosine .8 stub with Baystate blue, to get less ink on the page than 1.1 so it doesn't bleed thru as much. I haven't found the nibs dry, but maybe yours came with tight tines.
Yea, the tines were super tight. Things were better once I spread them a little. Also, I discovered that they write quite a bit wetter on my Vac 800, so the feed was probably a factor too.
Great having you back doing videos. Still keep learning and getting nuggets of info from Q&A. QotW: I have quite a few pens sitting around that could be put into rotation. I would like to use my father's Parker 51, but I just leave it with other mementos I have of his- I have my grandfather's and father's stash of fountain pens from the 1920s to 1960s safely tucked away. Out of my collection (or pile) I would like to get back to using the Conklin Duragraph Ice Blue I got from you guys, along with my Platinum Cool in transparent blue, and maybe the 3776 in Chartres Blue. Oh! the Pilot Custom 74 I got way back in the day. Could put the Parker Sonnets back to work, as well as that Conklin Mark Twain... (This could go on and on about each pen I have... :) )
QOTW: I have a Waterman CF60 (originally from my father) with a broad nib and a case of baby's bottom. I'd like to use it more often than I do (though I generally prefer fine nibs), but the frequent hard starts drive me to distraction.
QOTW I had an old Pelikan Level L5, which never really worked and I never used it. After 15 years, I took it out and tried to repair it (it's a rather complicated pen with a sysem of valves inside). It's now been my daily writer for the last 2 years and inspired me to get the entire collection, which I don't use and leave untouched.
QOTW - There are two pens that I tend to not use as much anymore. One is a pen I made for myself a while back. It's a large pen, which I like (Dayacom Statesman). However, though it has a great nib, the pen is a bit too heavy for me, and I like pens with some noticeable weight. Which leads to the other pen that I found myself not enjoying using and that was my Platinum 3776, which I recently sold. That pen was way to light, and the barrel too short, as I don't like to post my pens. Due to finances I've become much more selective on my purchases. The pens that I have I want to make sure I'm using them. If I'm not, then they get sold or gifted.
I haven't inked up my Parker Vector since 2013 (which I have had since I was 7 years old [I'm 31 now]). Also I have had my Keweco Sport inked up with the same ink since I bought it from the GPC and sadly don't write with it much. I love the pen but never use it for no reason.
QOTW: I have some safaris and a seasonal premier I haven't used in a while. With a collection of roughly 20 pens it's hard to keep all of them in a short rotation. I just recently rotated my Lamy 2000 back into my daily carry after a long hiatus. I could definitely be that guy with a house full of my collectibles. Pens, paper, plush toys, books and tea related stuff in mass quantities. I can sympathize with that momentary glimpse of a potential future.
I bought a Pelikan M200 and thought it would be amazing based on what I heard about Pelikan's. I have not used it much for two reasons: 1. it has an italic nib and I really haven't figured out how to use it properly for my handwriting style. 2. It feels too small and too light for my preference. I tend to gravitate towards heavier pens and pens with more girth.
Wild Game Restaurant: Saskatoon (Greenville, SC). Delicious! Elk is amazing! So are Kangaroo and Ostrich. They even have a program for take home weight loss servings.
My Cross fountain pens that I worked hard to get almost 20 years ago havent been used since moved 8 years ago. Also my Levenger brand fountain pens have been sitting as long. I have another tortishell hooded nib pen, can't name the brand and actually can't find it right now. Oops.
Question of the Week Have pens sitting because too scared to damage them... Big example, longest time sitting, Parker Parkette that was Oma's daily carry from '34 until about the mid '60s. So has a lot of wear, guess shouldn't be afraid, make it the desk pen. That solve not knowing where my carry pens are (only have three as avoiding going crazy). Related to that, would say for me the ones love to acquire are the Lamy Al Star special editions. My first was accidentally a special edition, teal. All been green, except the copper toned, as my favorite colour, and why have anything else but my favorite colour? ;P Sad thing is very rare colour for some reason... Even more rare is a vehical in a medium to dark green, keep ending up with blue. ;( Love the ending of this Q and A. The passion and love is so very evident. Good luck on getting that room full. ;P
QOTW: I have a lovely teal-colored Mont Blanc rollerball that has been collecting dust for a couple years now - a fine pen, but I'm left handed and it just smears more than writing with my cheaper ballpoint pens, even when I use refills with a Fine point.
QOTW: Pilot Metropolitan. I haven't used it since I got my Lamy 2000. It really is a great value pen, and writes so well, but I don't love the way it looks and it's not a great fit for me. I like pens with a bit more weight.
I had a question, as someone who Pastors at a Church from time to time (Once or twice a month), I have found myself writing my sermons, quotes, and ideas down for Sunday morning more than I used to. I used to use Google Drive for it all, but I do find it kind of more fun/interesting/engaging to write it down with my TWSBI Eco. I was wondering what anyone (Goulet, or community) would recommend for a good notebook for sermons or similar things? I also tend to write stories down and ideas, and would like something big enough so that its readable, and I don't have to use a ton of pages just to write a sermon. I have used the Clairefontaine clothbound, but the way that it folds open it becomes hard to write more as the back side of pages tend to be want to close, I assume it is the binding. Would a top bind be better? thanks!
Macrov you could certainly go top-bound, a top wirebound would probably work best for a sermon as the top stablebound is really meant to be torn out of the notebook after being used...it's a bit cumbersome to use with all the pages in there when you get towards the end. The only issue with top-bound notebooks is it becomes awkward to use both sides of the page. You could consider the Leuchtturm Master Notebook, though the paper quality isn't as high as Clairefontaine. I think a Clairefontaine or Rhodia side-staplebound may be a good option for you, it lays flat, writes easily on both sides of the page, and is the most economical of these bindings! -Brian
I don't think Goulet carries it, but Sailor Kin-Mokusei, Osmanthus Orange is brilliant stuff. It shades wonderfully in my Noodler's Neponset or Pilot Music nibs. And, although I'm also an Apache Sunset fan, this is really intense ink. It's formulated to be wet and nonclogging, and if you browse, you can find bargain prices at a Swiss-sounding supplier. Goulet is trying to get back into Sailor's good graces, so someday Brian may carry it, too. Hope I'm not oversharing.
QOTW: 1) My Platinum Cool (my first pen) is permanently out of commission because the feed was jammed and I tried pulling on the tube with pliers, not realizing that when you pull backwards with pliers, they get tighter even if you're trying not to (due to the shape of the handle). 2) I let ink dry for months in my Lamy Safari so I'll have to deep clean it but I can't pull it out, need a better grip ( not pliers :P ) and I should probably get an ultrasonic cleaner. So now the only fountain pen that's still working is my Platinum EF Desk Pen that I keep inked with only Sailor Kiwa-Guro. Works surprisingly well.
+Azure Flash the cool actually disassembles differently than other pens, so I can see how you might have done some harm with pliers. Sorry to hear that :( a good soak might work for your Safari. It'd go faster with an ultrasonic but soaking for a couple of days might do it. -Brian
We have a Kaweco shipment hopefully arriving tomorrow. More of the converters should be included in that order. So we should have stock going into the weekend. - Colin
QOTW- Sadly, I have a Pilot Metropolitan, a Kakuno, and some Noodler's flex pens that I have had a few months and have yet to ink them up at all. My Lamy, Monteverde, and Conklin obsessions have diverted me away. Stubs forever!
QOTW: Caran d'Ache Ecridor Retro. It's been...quite a few months? Maybe? The cap doesn't post so it is a bit too short, and also the pen is bit too slim for me. And it's a medium point so it's too thick for my liking lol. Everything is wrong, it seems. I picked up at a thrift store for super cheap though so I don't feel bad about not using it.
About the Twisbi Classic not being a demonstrator, I'd think it's to do with the name. It's meant to be like a "classic" fountain pen, which historically didn't have any way to see the ink. As to the "Safety Pen", in Nathan's shorter video about it, he mentions that people will probably use india ink in the "Safety Pen", which seems to be the driving force for his coming up with the idea. That doesn't really mean that regular fountain pen ink cannot be used, though.I've purchased 5 fountain pens in my time. One was in a college book shop, the company who made them were discontinuing them and the shop sold them for a dollar a piece as well as 12 ink cartridges for the same price. I used that for as long as I had ink, then lost it. When I started a new job a few years ago, I bought a Visconti Rembrandt in purple with a M nib and used that for about a year until the adhesive holding the metal parts to the resin decided to come off and I've set it aside until I can send it to be fixed. Just before that point, I bought a Visconti Homo Sapiens Steel Age M nib and was surprised when it was one of the few made with their vacuum filler as well as having an 18k gold nib instead of the dream touch.I also experimented with a Noodler's Ahab, which I did not like personally and actually threw it away because of how much I disliked it. And lastly, when I had first gone to get my pen in store after starting my job, I had been asked if I thought I'd like a retractable nib, which at the time, I thought was blasphemy to fountain pens, so I didn't even entertain the idea. But after seeing all the reviews and thinking over how I use my pens now, I purchased a Vanishing Point Decimo EF nib. As a student, I find the experience of being able to click and go very easy, and the EF nib makes it easy to use with the printer paper often given out.So to make things short, the fountain pen I still have that I've not used in a while is my Visconti Rembrandt. It's been about 2.5 years since I've used it.
Caran D ache electric orange is pretty good. They DO have cartridges But I prefer noodler's operation overlord orange O3 especially if i need a permanent ink.
There are some really big Indian pens. Try a Gama Masterpiece. Gama also sells a wonderful giant demonstrator as well. Check "fountainpenindia" : these pens are eyedroppers with ebonite feeds, so they take a bit of finageling, but they are monster big. If that's what you mean by "chunky." Fountainpenrevolution is another place to look.
My Faber-Castell Basic. I purchased it from a bookstore that was going out of business: the owner was retiring. When I purchased it, I confused it for the Loom. I dislike how I am unable to use converters and bottled ink with the pen, and am reliant on Standard International Cartridges. I am beginning to use the pen again, and like the steel nib and writing experience the pen provides. I also purchased a set of ink syringes so that I can refill cartridges with bottled ink of my choosing.
+William T. Dluger yeah, it's a nice pen otherwise, but the converter thing is a deal breaker. It wasn't always that way, it use to accept one. That's when we carried it, and something changed and it wouldn't take anymore, so we dropped it. -Brian
Nooooooo! For what it's worth I would totally buy the safety pen and the inks with a bonding agent that Nathan made for it... $55 for that pen seems like it would be a good profit too. These products seem killer though. The pen is so unique but it's not just that, I get that you guys wouldn't carry whatever odd obscurities. It's appealing because it's an opportunity to revive awesome historical (but not ancient) pen technology. It's so imbued in the essence and art of writing itself. I would expect a lot of interest. That's too bad. Plus, let's be serious, who wouldn't want a pen you can shake? At worst I would be concerned about user error and teaching people how to use it so they don't pour out ink or let the ink dry on the nib. But for anyone that's done calligraphy and used an ink with a bonding agent and seen how it can dry on nibs, that should come pretty naturally. Then the fun quirks of the ink become a feature, and its degree of waterproofness is pretty badass.
Qotw - That would have to be my Pilot Metropolitan, inked it with Noodlers 54th Massachusetts and the poor thing has never recovered, despite repeated soakings to loosen it up
Orange cartridges: www.gouletpens.com/ink-cartridges/c/26?sortBy=productName+asc&facetValueFilter=Tenant~Ink_Color%3Aorange To my eye Diamine Orange is bright and really pops. I'm a fan of Kaweco Sunrise Orange for it's shading.
Bison burgers just add a bit of fat from somewhere to help with the over leanness of the meat. In my opinion a better burger than straight beef. I do 85% Bison and 15% Beef to give that fat needed I'm sure you can find a different thing to add the fat needed other than the beef you are trying to avoid goes well with a smoked gouda.
Dee Dee I was only out there for 9 months (No, I wasn't in prison. Why does everybody ask?) and I remember the elk burgers more than the bison. *Shrug* Maybe one of the guys had a killer recipe? It was also in '91 so my memory may not be as good as I...er...remember.
I have 10 Pilot VP's I Fermo and 1 Decimo I refuse to use them it makes no sense I like to feel them touch them. But using them for something like a grocery or a to-do list feels wrong. I have puled out one of my VP's and people have asked to see it, I said no. I should be ashamed but my Pilots are my babies.
I should add someone asked to borrow my Waterman Carene which I was totally cool with no problem letting them test it out but Pilot makes special fountain pens
writing sample please for those two nib sections ? ? ? Nathan is going to have to do something about that safety pen,,, I watched the videos almost as soon as they were posted... maybe he should sell the pen and ink together...Ill leave him my thoughts...I was hoping you would say something about the safety pen... it is an unusual one. In the UK there are very very few Noodlers products, I think its because of the price being so good and his politics maybe... I'll have to get one via a USA site. Thanks for telling us so many things about your family affairs and the Goulet gang. I enjoy your video's very much. Best wishes to all pen people. LeZc @@
My platinum 3776 century has been sitting around for about 6 months. I like the pen and it writes well, but there’s just nothing special about it or the way it writes.
My Platinum 3776 was my first gold nibbled pen. I loved the balance in hand and the feel of the broad nib on paper. However, the written line was kind of boring; I always felt a bit disappointed when I used the pen. I had the nib ground into a cursive italic and now am eager to write with it.
I NEED ALL THE GREEN PENS!! Let's go Goulets.... find me a Noodler's Carpathian Firefly.... ;) "variate" Erin McKean, a lexicographer and dictionary editor, says if you use a word, it's a real word. She has a great Ted Talk, I'd post a link, but i'm on my phone and searching for links is a PITA..... google it.... Ok... google her Ted Talk from 2007, here's the 2014 one that is good also: ua-cam.com/video/pMUv6UWkuWw/v-deo.html QOTW: oldest pen laying around is a Parker Vector i used in high school.... it had sat in a box in my attic since about 1993 or so... i put a cartridge in it, inked it up and used it for a little while.... finding it inspired me to get back into fountain pens.... i cleaned and dried it and put it away in a drawer in my desk.... i have 7 pens currently inked, 6 i carry with me everywhere... any not in use i have in my desk... the Parker, a JinHao ceramic dragon i'm not a fan of, a Singularity i bought for the color (green), a spare pilot Metro, an Emerald Ahab (the clear ahab is an EDC pen)
I LOVE that Brian often gets slightly choked up talking about the kids. That is a heart touching thing. And it WOULD be great if the kids really did want to grow up and go into the bizniz.
So good to have you back for videos! Love seeing new video notifications :)
Mine was my little Sheaffer 100. I bought it years ago as a "Present to self" for graduating from university. I used it for a bit, then forgot about it. Once I started really getting back into the hobby (like, two months ago), I remembered it. I inked it up with some Yama Budo and I swear I've found my soul mate in a pen/ink combo. Yowza. :P
RE: Orange ink cartridges - People need to keep in mind the option of filling a cartridge with a syringe. Since cartridges have a limited amount of options this is a good option. I used the included ink cartridge with my Platinum 3776 instead of buying a converter for it. Man that large cartridge can hold a lot of ink.
Mike W I do that all the time. Almost easier than a converter to fill.
Mike W This is something I can appreciate, especially for the feel-good recycling factor. Couple things to bear in mind though. Firstly, the syringe/eyedropper isn't something that you'll typically carry around with your pen, so you kinda have to make sure you're all good to go for whatever ink. You need to clean the syringe/eyedropper every time it's used, unless you don't mind throwing it away. Secondly, a cartridge lacks the cleaning, water-pumping functionality of a converter.
For me, I'll always have a converter with my cartridge-fuelled pens. I even have one for my tiny Parker Vector.
Baran Aygun Very true on all points. My main point is that a person whose looking for more colors shouldn't worry about the lack of optional colors as they can syringe fill their old cartridges with any ink. Yes, that poses a problem for wanting to carry around spare ink cartridges. And most of us don't want to carry a vile of ink and a syringe around either. I'm wondering, though, and I keep meaning to experiment with this, is if putting a dab of silicone caulking at the tip, keeping some protruding would seal it up well. With the bit protruding you could pull it off so it doesn't get pushed back into the cartridge. If I can remember I will give this a try this evening and let you and everybody else know how the hack went.
Maybe get a Noodlers ahab and getting the 308’s?
Mike, I've heard of people using dabs of hot glue for that purpose.
I've got about forty fountain pens and I tend to rotate a couple a month (while adding to my collection occasionally). As you can figure from my comment below, I dusted off my brown Kaweco Sport. It's a cute little pen, but it's also a work horse and a fun writer. It's been about two years since I used it. I have my favorites of course, but I do try to rotate everyone in a fair manner. Thank you for the Q & A's Brian - it's another reason to look forward to Friday!
QOTW All of my pens like what you have described are "retired". I received my first pen (a Parker 45) in 1960 and used it through high school and retired it in college when I replaced it with another (a Rapidograph) that I used for at least 20 years. That one was replaced by a Cross Century Classic that I used for 15 years and wore out.
Only three fountain pens since 1960? You get your money's worth, and it is admirable to extensively use what you have.
QOTW I actually own three FPs at the moment; all three of them considered beginners' pens, and all three in rotation. I only recently started using FPs again -- due in no small part to gentlemen like Brian Goulet and his team -- and remember last using them as a child in high school. I love writing with them, although I may need to swap the TWSBI's 1.1 stub out for something more grounded so I can use it to write between the lines without my 'e's and 'a's looking like ink blobs.
Shout out to you guys and I think Bryce who packed my order ❤ everything came safe and whether it's coincidence or not, I still got the cherry tootsie pop I asked for. You guys are amazing and keep it up 😁
QOTW-I got the Conklin Nighthawk when it first came out. Looked sleek & sexy but I misjudged how light carbon fibre was & didn't care for it after inking it up. I gave it a fair chance but at the time I just didn't like it. Its been sat in a drawer ever since. Funny you posed this question as I was thinking it's time to give it another try before I decide what I'm going to do with it.
+Coasterdude02149 it is a light pen, yes. Pretty much all carbon fiber pens are FYI, unless they have a brass barrel underneath or something. here's hoping you find a renewed interest in it. -Brian
I think that Diamine peach haze is very similar to the hi tec c orange but I don't know if it comes in cartridges. I use both because I too love orange.
It might be surprising, but I find myself passing over the Lamy Safari Petrol time and again when I'm changing out pens. I used it once when I first got it, but now it's been sitting around for about five months. I love my Al-Star - the Safari, not so much.
I have my father's 1937 Vacuumatic that hasn't been inked since the 1950s. I'd love to get it overhauled.
QOTW I started to rotate my fountain pen collection which is about 8 pens. 3 fountain pens and three inks per month.It's been about six months since I've used my Sheaffer Snorkel.
Of the orange inks I've tried, I liked Toucan Orange's color the best. It was really crusty on the nib, though. I've also tried Diamine's Orange, Sunset, and Blaze Orange. I preferred Orange to the Blaze and Sunset. I actually mixed about half/half of Orange and Sunset and really liked it.
M200- i got it in 2014 during a flash sale and havnt used it since that year. It is just so small!! I had a Parker Premier that i purchased in 2011 when i went to NY that i hadnt used since bc it was too heavy but i sold it.
I have a Pelikano and whenever I wash out the feed and put a new cartridge in (I am using Private Reserve cartridges) it takes upwards of an hour for the ink to replace the water left in the feed (at least that is my assumption of what is happening). It initially writes with the new color extremely faded and watered down and even after a half page of writing it is still pretty dull. If I come back to it later the full color saturation of the ink finally comes through. This doesn't happen with any of my other pens.
New to the pen game, so nothing's had much of a chance to languish. However, the pen to receive the least amount of love is my Sheaffer VFM.
Bought it for 15 USD at an OfficeDepot to see what all the fountain pens fuss was. Decided it was the writing tool for me and upgraded to a Lamy Al-Star and Faber-Castell Loom. Both on closeout or Bottom Shelf.
Since the VFM is cartridge-only, I haven't used it much. The medium nib is also a little too broad for my tastes. Mrs. Goulet may not like them, but I like me some extra-fine nib.
I tried to use it as a dip pen to better sample new inks...with mixed results. Can do the job, but clearing the feed for each ink is a hassle--I've come up with some unexpected colors.
Once I finally get an ink syringe, the VFM will probably see more use. Great for a knock-around pen I'm not afraid to beat-up or lose.
Sub-1.1-Stubs: I found my favorite fine stub in an unexpected place: it's the untipped flex nib from the Noodler's Art Nib Pack (www.gouletpens.com/noodlers-art-nib-pack/p/N18098), which can sometimes also be bough individually.
I found the Nemosine 0.6 and 0.8 stubs irritatingly dry at first, but eventually got them to write as I'd like. The pilot Plumix (www.gouletpens.com/pilot-plumix-fountain-pen-black-stub/p/PN90040) is available with with a wide variety of differently sized stubs (at least in Europe).
I use my Nemosine .8 stub with Baystate blue, to get less ink on the page than 1.1 so it doesn't bleed thru as much. I haven't found the nibs dry, but maybe yours came with tight tines.
Yea, the tines were super tight. Things were better once I spread them a little. Also, I discovered that they write quite a bit wetter on my Vac 800, so the feed was probably a factor too.
Great having you back doing videos. Still keep learning and getting nuggets of info from Q&A. QotW: I have quite a few pens sitting around that could be put into rotation. I would like to use my father's Parker 51, but I just leave it with other mementos I have of his- I have my grandfather's and father's stash of fountain pens from the 1920s to 1960s safely tucked away. Out of my collection (or pile) I would like to get back to using the Conklin Duragraph Ice Blue I got from you guys, along with my Platinum Cool in transparent blue, and maybe the 3776 in Chartres Blue. Oh! the Pilot Custom 74 I got way back in the day. Could put the Parker Sonnets back to work, as well as that Conklin Mark Twain... (This could go on and on about each pen I have... :) )
QOTW: I have a Waterman CF60 (originally from my father) with a broad nib and a case of baby's bottom. I'd like to use it more often than I do (though I generally prefer fine nibs), but the frequent hard starts drive me to distraction.
QOTW I had an old Pelikan Level L5, which never really worked and I never used it. After 15 years, I took it out and tried to repair it (it's a rather complicated pen with a sysem of valves inside). It's now been my daily writer for the last 2 years and inspired me to get the entire collection, which I don't use and leave untouched.
+Random Model Making Channel nice! That's one I've read about but never used for myself -Brian
The Goulet Pen Company you wouldn't like it. It needs these special ink bottles and only really likes Pelikan Royal Blue
QOTW - There are two pens that I tend to not use as much anymore. One is a pen I made for myself a while back. It's a large pen, which I like (Dayacom Statesman). However, though it has a great nib, the pen is a bit too heavy for me, and I like pens with some noticeable weight. Which leads to the other pen that I found myself not enjoying using and that was my Platinum 3776, which I recently sold. That pen was way to light, and the barrel too short, as I don't like to post my pens. Due to finances I've become much more selective on my purchases. The pens that I have I want to make sure I'm using them. If I'm not, then they get sold or gifted.
I haven't inked up my Parker Vector since 2013 (which I have had since I was 7 years old [I'm 31 now]). Also I have had my Keweco Sport inked up with the same ink since I bought it from the GPC and sadly don't write with it much. I love the pen but never use it for no reason.
QOTW: I have some safaris and a seasonal premier I haven't used in a while. With a collection of roughly 20 pens it's hard to keep all of them in a short rotation. I just recently rotated my Lamy 2000 back into my daily carry after a long hiatus.
I could definitely be that guy with a house full of my collectibles. Pens, paper, plush toys, books and tea related stuff in mass quantities. I can sympathize with that momentary glimpse of a potential future.
I bought a Pelikan M200 and thought it would be amazing based on what I heard about Pelikan's. I have not used it much for two reasons: 1. it has an italic nib and I really haven't figured out how to use it properly for my handwriting style. 2. It feels too small and too light for my preference. I tend to gravitate towards heavier pens and pens with more girth.
Wild Game Restaurant: Saskatoon (Greenville, SC). Delicious! Elk is amazing! So are Kangaroo and Ostrich. They even have a program for take home weight loss servings.
My Cross fountain pens that I worked hard to get almost 20 years ago havent been used since moved 8 years ago. Also my Levenger brand fountain pens have been sitting as long. I have another tortishell hooded nib pen, can't name the brand and actually can't find it right now. Oops.
Time to put these old friends to use.
I have a question: Is it possible to be notified if an item in your wish list goes on sale?
Hmmm, that's not a feature we have currently. But I really like that idea. I'll pass this along to our developers! - Colin
Question of the Week
Have pens sitting because too scared to damage them... Big example, longest time sitting, Parker Parkette that was Oma's daily carry from '34 until about the mid '60s. So has a lot of wear, guess shouldn't be afraid, make it the desk pen. That solve not knowing where my carry pens are (only have three as avoiding going crazy).
Related to that, would say for me the ones love to acquire are the Lamy Al Star special editions. My first was accidentally a special edition, teal. All been green, except the copper toned, as my favorite colour, and why have anything else but my favorite colour? ;P Sad thing is very rare colour for some reason... Even more rare is a vehical in a medium to dark green, keep ending up with blue. ;(
Love the ending of this Q and A. The passion and love is so very evident. Good luck on getting that room full. ;P
QOTW: I have a lovely teal-colored Mont Blanc rollerball that has been collecting dust for a couple years now - a fine pen, but I'm left handed and it just smears more than writing with my cheaper ballpoint pens, even when I use refills with a Fine point.
QOTW: Pilot Metropolitan. I haven't used it since I got my Lamy 2000. It really is a great value pen, and writes so well, but I don't love the way it looks and it's not a great fit for me. I like pens with a bit more weight.
I had a question, as someone who Pastors at a Church from time to time (Once or twice a month), I have found myself writing my sermons, quotes, and ideas down for Sunday morning more than I used to. I used to use Google Drive for it all, but I do find it kind of more fun/interesting/engaging to write it down with my TWSBI Eco. I was wondering what anyone (Goulet, or community) would recommend for a good notebook for sermons or similar things? I also tend to write stories down and ideas, and would like something big enough so that its readable, and I don't have to use a ton of pages just to write a sermon. I have used the Clairefontaine clothbound, but the way that it folds open it becomes hard to write more as the back side of pages tend to be want to close, I assume it is the binding. Would a top bind be better? thanks!
Macrov you could certainly go top-bound, a top wirebound would probably work best for a sermon as the top stablebound is really meant to be torn out of the notebook after being used...it's a bit cumbersome to use with all the pages in there when you get towards the end. The only issue with top-bound notebooks is it becomes awkward to use both sides of the page. You could consider the Leuchtturm Master Notebook, though the paper quality isn't as high as Clairefontaine. I think a Clairefontaine or Rhodia side-staplebound may be a good option for you, it lays flat, writes easily on both sides of the page, and is the most economical of these bindings! -Brian
I will check that out! Thanks a lot :)
I don't think Goulet carries it, but Sailor Kin-Mokusei, Osmanthus Orange is brilliant stuff. It shades wonderfully in my Noodler's Neponset or Pilot Music nibs. And, although I'm also an Apache Sunset fan, this is really intense ink. It's formulated to be wet and nonclogging, and if you browse, you can find bargain prices at a Swiss-sounding supplier. Goulet is trying to get back into Sailor's good graces, so someday Brian may carry it, too. Hope I'm not oversharing.
QOTW: 1) My Platinum Cool (my first pen) is permanently out of commission because the feed was jammed and I tried pulling on the tube with pliers, not realizing that when you pull backwards with pliers, they get tighter even if you're trying not to (due to the shape of the handle). 2) I let ink dry for months in my Lamy Safari so I'll have to deep clean it but I can't pull it out, need a better grip ( not pliers :P ) and I should probably get an ultrasonic cleaner.
So now the only fountain pen that's still working is my Platinum EF Desk Pen that I keep inked with only Sailor Kiwa-Guro. Works surprisingly well.
+Azure Flash the cool actually disassembles differently than other pens, so I can see how you might have done some harm with pliers. Sorry to hear that :( a good soak might work for your Safari. It'd go faster with an ultrasonic but soaking for a couple of days might do it. -Brian
Diamine Autumn Oak is a really beautiful ink - oke of the best in my collection.
Not sure where to put this question but when do you plan on getting more Kaweco Sport cartridge converters in? Thank you so much! :-)
We have a Kaweco shipment hopefully arriving tomorrow. More of the converters should be included in that order. So we should have stock going into the weekend. - Colin
Thank you Colin!
is there a new york pen show? i heard about the dc one and you talked about boston.
QOTW- Sadly, I have a Pilot Metropolitan, a Kakuno, and some Noodler's flex pens that I have had a few months and have yet to ink them up at all. My Lamy, Monteverde, and Conklin obsessions have diverted me away. Stubs forever!
He's in the second grade now? It will only seem like a few months have passed when crosses the stage at high school graduation.
What do you think Pilot will make for it's centennial year?
We haven't received any official news from Pilot. But I would guess a limited-edition VP & new Namiki pens would be on their list. - Colin
QOTW: Caran d'Ache Ecridor Retro. It's been...quite a few months? Maybe?
The cap doesn't post so it is a bit too short, and also the pen is bit too slim for me. And it's a medium point so it's too thick for my liking lol. Everything is wrong, it seems. I picked up at a thrift store for super cheap though so I don't feel bad about not using it.
Ground bison makes the best burger!
About the Twisbi Classic not being a demonstrator, I'd think it's to do with the name. It's meant to be like a "classic" fountain pen, which historically didn't have any way to see the ink. As to the "Safety Pen", in Nathan's shorter video about it, he mentions that people will probably use india ink in the "Safety Pen", which seems to be the driving force for his coming up with the idea. That doesn't really mean that regular fountain pen ink cannot be used, though.I've purchased 5 fountain pens in my time. One was in a college book shop, the company who made them were discontinuing them and the shop sold them for a dollar a piece as well as 12 ink cartridges for the same price. I used that for as long as I had ink, then lost it. When I started a new job a few years ago, I bought a Visconti Rembrandt in purple with a M nib and used that for about a year until the adhesive holding the metal parts to the resin decided to come off and I've set it aside until I can send it to be fixed. Just before that point, I bought a Visconti Homo Sapiens Steel Age M nib and was surprised when it was one of the few made with their vacuum filler as well as having an 18k gold nib instead of the dream touch.I also experimented with a Noodler's Ahab, which I did not like personally and actually threw it away because of how much I disliked it. And lastly, when I had first gone to get my pen in store after starting my job, I had been asked if I thought I'd like a retractable nib, which at the time, I thought was blasphemy to fountain pens, so I didn't even entertain the idea. But after seeing all the reviews and thinking over how I use my pens now, I purchased a Vanishing Point Decimo EF nib. As a student, I find the experience of being able to click and go very easy, and the EF nib makes it easy to use with the printer paper often given out.So to make things short, the fountain pen I still have that I've not used in a while is my Visconti Rembrandt. It's been about 2.5 years since I've used it.
All but one of my Levenger pens is retired. The one that isn't is the only non-True Writer in the bunch. These were my starter pens.
I haven't touch my century 3776 (UEF) for months, it's scratchy and it writes really dry. PTL-5000A (EF) is my EDC.
Can you please review some Mont Blanc pens?
we don't currently sell Mont Blanc pens so we typically stick to pens that we offer on our site. -Margaret
Caran D ache electric orange is pretty good. They DO have cartridges
But I prefer noodler's operation overlord orange O3 especially if i need a permanent ink.
I'm still frightfully involved with all my pens but I suppose the most neglected is my Lamy
i wanted to ask. is there a really chunky fountain pen out there?
There are some really big Indian pens. Try a Gama Masterpiece. Gama also sells a wonderful giant demonstrator as well. Check "fountainpenindia" : these pens are eyedroppers with ebonite feeds, so they take a bit of finageling, but they are monster big. If that's what you mean by "chunky." Fountainpenrevolution is another place to look.
Patrick McCord yes that what i ment. Thank you very much! 💚💚
would you guys ever consider opening a physical shop?
Brian & Rachel actually tackled that question in a recent Q&A, check it out: ua-cam.com/video/JW_myVUkw90/v-deo.htmlm21s - Colin
My Faber-Castell Basic. I purchased it from a bookstore that was going out of business: the owner was retiring. When I purchased it, I confused it for the Loom. I dislike how I am unable to use converters and bottled ink with the pen, and am reliant on Standard International Cartridges. I am beginning to use the pen again, and like the steel nib and writing experience the pen provides. I also purchased a set of ink syringes so that I can refill cartridges with bottled ink of my choosing.
+William T. Dluger yeah, it's a nice pen otherwise, but the converter thing is a deal breaker. It wasn't always that way, it use to accept one. That's when we carried it, and something changed and it wouldn't take anymore, so we dropped it. -Brian
If you use a F-C branded cartridge converter, it fits snug, and I've used bottled ink ever since.
Good job - loved it!
Nooooooo! For what it's worth I would totally buy the safety pen and the inks with a bonding agent that Nathan made for it... $55 for that pen seems like it would be a good profit too. These products seem killer though. The pen is so unique but it's not just that, I get that you guys wouldn't carry whatever odd obscurities. It's appealing because it's an opportunity to revive awesome historical (but not ancient) pen technology. It's so imbued in the essence and art of writing itself. I would expect a lot of interest. That's too bad. Plus, let's be serious, who wouldn't want a pen you can shake?
At worst I would be concerned about user error and teaching people how to use it so they don't pour out ink or let the ink dry on the nib. But for anyone that's done calligraphy and used an ink with a bonding agent and seen how it can dry on nibs, that should come pretty naturally. Then the fun quirks of the ink become a feature, and its degree of waterproofness is pretty badass.
Qotw - That would have to be my Pilot Metropolitan, inked it with Noodlers 54th Massachusetts and the poor thing has never recovered, despite repeated soakings to loosen it up
+Pete Azouz have you tried dish soap or a pen flush? -Brian
I tried with a pen flush once, but didn't think to use dish soap, I'll give that a try, thanks for the tip.
Orange cartridges: www.gouletpens.com/ink-cartridges/c/26?sortBy=productName+asc&facetValueFilter=Tenant~Ink_Color%3Aorange
To my eye Diamine Orange is bright and really pops. I'm a fan of Kaweco Sunrise Orange for it's shading.
Yeah, I mentioned Sunrise Orange to Brian as a good option for cartridges. Really good shader from Kaweco. - Colin
Bison burgers just add a bit of fat from somewhere to help with the over leanness of the meat. In my opinion a better burger than straight beef. I do 85% Bison and 15% Beef to give that fat needed I'm sure you can find a different thing to add the fat needed other than the beef you are trying to avoid goes well with a smoked gouda.
Maybe I'm weird but I prefer elk to bison. Maybe that's a Wyoming thing?
duckrutt I prefer straight bison! I grew up in Gillette WY... We can get it from Wyoming herein California.
Dee Dee I was only out there for 9 months (No, I wasn't in prison. Why does everybody ask?) and I remember the elk burgers more than the bison. *Shrug* Maybe one of the guys had a killer recipe? It was also in '91 so my memory may not be as good as I...er...remember.
A Karas Kustom , never really liked the writing experience. I found it to be very scratchy and dry.
You could just say you are collecting pens to start a museum! That's a justifiable cause right?
I have 10 Pilot VP's I Fermo and 1 Decimo I refuse to use them it makes no sense I like to feel them touch them. But using them for something like a grocery or a to-do list feels wrong. I have puled out one of my VP's and people have asked to see it, I said no. I should be ashamed but my Pilots are my babies.
I should add someone asked to borrow my Waterman Carene which I was totally cool with no problem letting them test it out but Pilot makes special fountain pens
You could have a Goulet Museum!!!!!
writing sample please for those two nib sections ? ? ? Nathan is going to have to do something about that safety pen,,, I watched the videos almost as soon as they were posted... maybe he should sell the pen and ink together...Ill leave him my thoughts...I was hoping you would say something about the safety pen... it is an unusual one. In the UK there are very very few Noodlers products, I think its because of the price being so good and his politics maybe...
I'll have to get one via a USA site.
Thanks for telling us so many things about your family affairs and the Goulet gang.
I enjoy your video's very much.
Best wishes to all pen people.
LeZc
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"using a cleaning solution that is meant to clean ink will continue to clean the ink after the cleaning solution is mixed with the ink." Heavy man.
My platinum 3776 century has been sitting around for about 6 months. I like the pen and it writes well, but there’s just nothing special about it or the way it writes.
My Platinum 3776 was my first gold nibbled pen. I loved the balance in hand and the feel of the broad nib on paper. However, the written line was kind of boring; I always felt a bit disappointed when I used the pen. I had the nib ground into a cursive italic and now am eager to write with it.
I NEED ALL THE GREEN PENS!!
Let's go Goulets.... find me a Noodler's Carpathian Firefly.... ;)
"variate"
Erin McKean, a lexicographer and dictionary editor, says if you use a word, it's a real word.
She has a great Ted Talk, I'd post a link, but i'm on my phone and searching for links is a PITA..... google it....
Ok... google her Ted Talk from 2007, here's the 2014 one that is good also: ua-cam.com/video/pMUv6UWkuWw/v-deo.html
QOTW: oldest pen laying around is a Parker Vector i used in high school.... it had sat in a box in my attic since about 1993 or so... i put a cartridge in it, inked it up and used it for a little while.... finding it inspired me to get back into fountain pens.... i cleaned and dried it and put it away in a drawer in my desk.... i have 7 pens currently inked, 6 i carry with me everywhere... any not in use i have in my desk... the Parker, a JinHao ceramic dragon i'm not a fan of, a Singularity i bought for the color (green), a spare pilot Metro, an Emerald Ahab (the clear ahab is an EDC pen)
That diet makes it sound like its a good time to take up hunting.
Snare wild burgers