Inspired by Kenouni Renoshin‘s suggestion that I do more ink reviews, I give to you the second day of the 12 Days of Inkmas. Cheers!

Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue was part of the December Ink Drop from Goulet Pens. This month, the sample assortment included eight different colors from Private Reserve, favorites of the staff at Goulet in memory of the creator of Private Reserve, Terry Johnson.

Supershow Blue is named after the well-known pen show held in the nation’s capital each year. Its crisp true blue color and its name make me think of flags and uniforms and patriotic red, white and blue. There’s some shading in the color, even with a fine nib and it writes smoothly.

Colors closest in comparison (in my collection anyway) would be the Diamine Washable Blue 80 ml ($12.75) or the Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuyu-Kusa 50 ml ($28). For the price, DC Supershow Blue is a good value.

Dry times were acceptable. The ink did not hold up in my water test.

Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue is sold in 50ml bottles for $8.80 each.

The samples above were written with a TWSBI Mini EF fountain pen in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

Inspired by Kenouni Renoshin‘s suggestion that I do more ink reviews, I give to you the first day of the 12 Days of Inkmas. Cheers!

Private Reserve Spearmint was part of the December Ink Drop from Goulet Pens. This month, the sample assortment included eight different colors from Private Reserve, favorites of the staff at Goulet in memory of the creator of Private Reserve, Terry Johnson.

Private Reserve Spearmint should probably have been named Christmas Green as it is the perfect true green for addressing holiday cards and gift tags. Its not a pine green or deep forest or evergreen but and “Hello! Grab your elf hat we’ve got some egg nog. Now let’s sing some carols!!” green.

Flow was good and it dried in reasonable time. I completely forgot to water test it (the egg nog is to blame, I’m sure) but I don’t expect it to be particularly water resistant so try not to spill any nog on you “Nice” list or you’ll have to start over.

In the swab, you can see the bright, kelly green that may appear in the shading of line work with PR Spearmint. Its a cheery Christmas green for sure.

When compared with other greens in my collection, the colors that were closest to Spearmint is probably Diamine Apple Glory 80ml ($12.75) or Rohrer & Klingner Verdura 50ml ($12). They are close but not exact matches.

Private Reserve Spearmint is sold in 50ml bottles for $8.80.

The samples above were written with a TWSBI Mini EF fountain pen in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

Inspired by Kenouni Renoshin‘s suggestion that I do more ink reviews, I give to you the first day of the 12 Days of Inkmas. Cheers!

On the fourth day of Inkmas, Goulet Pens brought to me… Private Reserve Black Cherry! This is also another of the colors from the December Ink Drop in honor of Private Reserve founder Terry Johnson.

I would best describe this ink as a red-black. It is not the least bit purple or pink that might make it feel more like a burgundy or bordeaux, wine color. In the water test, you can clearly see the red undertone. If anything, I might also describe the color as a brownish red.

As with all the Private Reserve inks the flow is consistent. I’d compare the ink density more closely with Diamine than any other ink I’ve tested. I had no issues with dry time but since I was doing big swabs, and painting and adding water — those areas did take a bit longer to dry than the areas where I was just writing. Paper choices will also affect dry times.

As soon as I put the Black Cherry ink to paper, I thought it reminded be of Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses 3 oz/88ml ($12.50) though once compared, Black Swan has more of a purple undertone. De Atramentis Elderberries 35ml ($12.50) and Diamine Merlot 80ml ($12.75) were also similar (though its hard to tell from these photos to see any distinct differences). Overall, I really like P.R. Black Cherry. It reminds me more of a Cherry Cola. I quite like Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses and De Atramentis Elderberries which are all subtly different from one another but all in the red-black family so it’ll be tough to choose which one to buy as a full bottle.

I’ve added screen shots from the Goulet Pens Swab Shop as its a bit easier to see the color comparisons. Thanks to Goulet for making all these resources.

Private Reserve Black Cherry is sold in 50ml bottles for $8.80.

The samples above were written with a TWSBI Mini EF fountain pen in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

Inspired by Kenouni Renoshin‘s suggestion that I do more ink reviews, I give to you the first day of the 12 Days of Inkmas. Cheers!

On the fifth day of Inkmas, while I do not have five gold rings, I do have Private Reserve Ebony Blue. This is also another of the colors from the December Ink Drop in honor of Private Reserve founder Terry Johnson. And this is in my favorite color wheelhouse, for sure.

I just love blue-black inks. Do I want blue? Do I want black? I get both! Blue-blacks are the Missouri Compromise of inks. They are the “business in the front, party in the rear” of inks. While I’m not a fan of an actual mullet, blue-black inks are a whole other story. I love them. And Private Reserve Ebony Blue is no exception.

Private Reserve Ebony Blue is a blue black with an unusual burgundy undertone. In the large painted letters, you might be able to see a hint of this undertone in the capital E and around the edges in the swab.

My favorite blue-blacks (up to this point) are Noodler’s Air Corp blue-black 3oz/88ml ($12.50),  Noodler’s Navy 3oz/88ml ($12.50), and I sort of put De Atramentis Pigeon Blue 35ml ($12.50) in this category even though its more of a blue-turquoise. But P.R. Ebony Blue is racing up the list. That undertone is such a nice added detail.

There’s a bit of shading in Ebony Blue and a reasonable dry time. I confess I’m all about the color, I’ll find the perfect pen and paper for the right color and this is definitely one of those “right colors” for me. I’m thinking I better go watch Dazed and Confused now to douse all the mullet jokes.

Private Reserve Ebony Blue is sold in 50ml bottles for $8.80.

The samples above were written with a TWSBI Mini EF fountain pen in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

Inspired by Kenouni Renoshin‘s suggestion that I do more ink reviews, I give to you the first day of the 12 Days of Inkmas. Cheers!

For the sixth day of Inkmas, I thought I’d do one more green ink: Private Reserve Avocado. This is also another of the colors from the December Ink Drop in honor of Private Reserve founder Terry Johnson. You’re surprised I’ve only had two green inks in Inkmas, right? Me too.

(Note: I cannot spell Avocado without the aid of spell check so please do not remind me!) I have been having fun using a watercolor brush and dipping the inks to get a better example of the shading and color depth of each of the inks. Depending on the shading, P.R. Avocado can look as light as a bright spring green to as dark as a green-black on the pine-y side. In fine nibbed pens like the one I used for my writing sample, the color is a lightly shaded deep green. In wider nibs, you’ll see more of the color variation.

I’ve had a bottle of Avocado on hand for quite some time and think of it as one of my go-to “neutrals”. Its dark enough to be used on a daily basis but adds a little of color variety. This is one of the big draws of fountain pens for me — color options.

In the swab, you can see how deep the green can get and the sort of evergreen/olive tone overall. In the water test, you can see the halo of red so there’s definitely some red in the ink that dulls down the brightest of the green. Kind of cool!

There’s such a diversity in green inks– some are more blue, some more black, some more yellow– it was hard to find a close comparison to Private Reserve Avocado. The colors I used for comparison all brought a different vibe than Avocado. Rohrer & Klingner Verdura 50ml ($12) is probably closer in color to Private Reserve Spearmint, Scribal Workshop Leviathan is much more of a green-black with a blue undertone, Diamine Meadow 80ml ($12.50) is a springier, yellow-green and De Atramentis Sandalwood 35ml ($12.50) is much more blue. The closest is probably De Atramentis Fir 35ml ($12.50) although my sample above is much runnier (thank you, dip pen) and its scented so it smells a bit like Pine-Sol.

Private Reserve Avocado is sold in 50ml bottles for $8.80.

The samples above were written with a TWSBI Mini EF fountain pen in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

Inspired by Kenouni Renoshin‘s suggestion that I do more ink reviews, I give to you the first day of the 12 Days of Inkmas. Cheers!

On this, the seventh day of Inkmas, I finally have some jewels. Well, ink jewels anyway. Private Reserve Tanzanite. This is also another of the colors (there’s only one left!) from the December Ink Drop in honor of Private Reserve founder Terry Johnson.

Private Reserve Tanzanite is a bluish violet. Its a bright, vivid color with some shading. When writing with a fine nib, the color definitely looks like a violet. It’s a pretty easy-to-use violet ink especially in a standard nib fountain pen. Its a deep color and dries to show a little shading. (My photos look a bit more blue than it appears in real life)

This is a shade of ink that is just not normally to my liking. I prefer darker, dirtier purple colors — more purple-black or plums. That said, I’d happily use this ink for a bit of color variety.

In the swab, you can really see how bluish the color is and just a hint of the reddish undertone.

Purples, like almost all the other ink colors have such a range of hues. I’d say the closest color I could find to P.R. Tanzanite with the De Atramentis Hyacinth 35ml ($12.50)  though it’s a bit more blue, and its scented. (These sample images seem a bit more blue on my screen than in real life — ah, the joys of color correcting!)

Private Reserve Tanzanite is sold in 50ml bottles for $8.80.

The samples above were written with a TWSBI Mini EF fountain pen in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

Inspired by Kenouni Renoshin‘s suggestion that I do more ink reviews, I give to you the first day of the 12 Days of Inkmas. Cheers!

I must confess, of the eight inks I received this month from the December Ink Drop,in honor of Private Reserve founder Terry Johnson, I waited to do Private Reserve Black Velvet last. Partially because I find it hard to say much about black ink. I love fountain pens because I don’t have to use black. But I know lots of people like using black inks or need to use black for professional reasons. So, for you, lovers of the black inks, this is my review of Black Velvet. Let’s start by admitting that I love the name and find it quite fitting for the holiday season.

I found the Black Velvet to be a fairly neutral black. In the water test, there is a slight undertone of red but overall its a very neutral black. In writing, it seems to be a solid black with slight shading. Black Velvet is not a waterproof or even water resistant ink but it does leave evidence on the paper after water which means it could stain clothes or surfaces if spilled.

Black Velvet is a wet ink and flowed easily out of my EF TWSBI mini. If I felt compelled to use a black, this is not a bad option.

When compared to other black inks in my collection, I’d say its most comparable to Lamy Black. Noodler’s Zhivago ($12.50)and El Lawrence ($18.50) both are 3 oz/ 88ml bottles and  both have more of a green undertone.  Monteverde Black 90 ml ($12.50) has a clear red undertone making it look a little purply, even in my samples.

Private Reserve Black Velvet is sold in 50ml bottles for $8.80.

The samples above were written with a TWSBI Mini EF fountain pen in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

I was wondering whether you had come across any ‘solutions’ to stop left handed writers from smudging their writing as they/we rub across our hand.

I love ink and fountain pens but I remember I used to make an incredible mess of my work – the only solution was to crook my wrist to avoid the rubbing of the side of my palm.

And sadly, the last option is to try to alter your writing position so that your hand is below your writing. As an overhanded left-hander, I find this option awkward and uncomfortable. But there are many folks who claim this is the best option. If you have left-handed children just learning to write, you may want to try to get them to write in the under writer position to spare them from the challenges that we over-writers have had to face. The UK-based Anything Left-Handed site has a lot of resources for writing left-handed and so many other things!

Above is what over-writing looks like. It looks wonky but it is how I learned to write and so its comfortable to me.

This is what under-writing looks like. It looks more like the position that right handed writers use. While it looks more graceful, I find it awkward but many lefties employ this technique and it eliminates a lot of smearing issues.

I hope this helps.

On this, the ninth day of Inkmas, I give you a tried-and-true classic, Pilot Blue. This is not the fancy-pants Iroshizuku version but the back-to-basics, loyal-like-a-labrador Pilot Blue.

It comes in a gorgeous, classic bottle with a pedestal base that will look nice on your desk and last for ages. The bottle has an ingenious little plastic tube in the middle. When the ink level in the bottle starts to drop, just cap the bottle, flip it over and then right it and open it. The plastic tube will be filled with ink and you can easily fill your pen.

Pilot Blue has a bit of a strong smell in the bottle but once its loaded in my pen, I don’t notice it. There’s lots of shading details in my writing sample from a crystal sky blue to a deep indigo. The dry time was pretty reasonable. I was using a wider nib than I normally do and didn’t have any smudging issues. It stood up pretty well to water. While it is not waterproof, there is a bit of water resistance which is nice.

When compared with other blues in my arsenal, Diamine Washable Blue 80ml ($12.75) was the closest in color. De Atramentis U. S. Constitution 35ml ($12.50) (besides being extremely bloopy in my dip pen) is a bit more of a smoky blue. Private Reserve American Blue 50ml ($8.80) is more of a royal blue and leans much darker when applied in heavy strokes.

Pilot Blue comes in a 70ml bottle for $16.50. If you’re looking for the best value for the volume, Pilot Blue might not be the favored option but the easy-to-use bottle adds a benefit some of the other inks don’t offer.

The samples above were written with a vintage Esterbrook outfitted with a #2442 falcon stub in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

Today’s Inkmas offering is Diamine Red Dragon. It’s a dramatic red-brown. I say red-brown because it is not at all pinkish though there is a cast of a deep burgundy. It’s a good holiday red for sure but its also a solidly-spirited red ink, good for use all year long. Diamine inks have impressed me with how well they stand up on paper. Generally, Diamine inks seem less inclined to bleed than other inks though they may have a longer dry time. I notice this phenomena when using dip nibs particularly.

Once again, I forgot to do a water test but its not a water resistant or water proof ink so if that’s a concern, skip this ink.

You can see the range of hue in the swab above. Red Dragon can appear dark reddish brown down to a clear, bright red in the shaded areas. There’s some nice shading, if you like that kind of thing.

When compared with other inks in my collection, De Atramentis Oriental Red 35ml ($12.50) was probably the closest in color. R&K Morinda 50ml ($12) has more of an orange cast, Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo 50ml ($28) is much more of a purple and the others were all more of a burgundy/brown. (The bloops are a result of trying to use fountain pen inks with dip pens. Its not always a successful venture.)

Diamine Red Dragon is available in 80ml bottles for $12.50, quite a value.

The samples above were written with a Kaweco Art Sport with a B nib (review coming soon!) in theQuo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Jet Pens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

Today is the tenth day of the first ever Inkmas and today’s offering is Rohrer & Klingner Verdigris. I have a little experience with French but not much with German so my first instinct was to think Verdigris would be a green-grey, vert gris. Totally wrong! It’s actually a blue-black. Yep. Jet Pens does not include swabs or samples with the R&K inks so I went on name alone when I selected it. Not that I mind a good blue-black (see the Inkmas Private Reserve Ebony Blue ink review for details), because I quite like them. But I was surprised that the name is 100% misleading.

I tested the ink with a very special pen I just received (more about that later this week) which sports a wider nib than I usually use so dry times were a tiny bit longer but not too bad. Its a deeply pigmented color so I did not see a lot of shading in the writing which gives a consistent look to the writing.

Rohrer & Klingner Verdigris is not a waterproof ink but it can withstand a bit of water without completely vanishing. In the swab, the Verdigris has a blue undertone with a tiny hint of violet but its very subtle.

I think this will be the last time I use the J. Herbin glass pen for my ink comparisons as its scratchy and inconsistent, ranging from super dry to bloopy with no warning.  Of the inks in my collection, The Noodler’s 54th Massachusetts and the Private Reserve Ebony Blue are the closest in color to the Verdigris though the 54th Massachusetts has a bit of a brownish undertone when dry and the Ebony Blue is a bit more turquoise with that unusual hint of burgundy when you get it in just the right light.

Rohrer & Klingner Verdigris is available in a 50ml for $12.

The samples above were written with a prototype Karas Kustoms INK fountain pen with a M nib (review coming soon!) in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a J. Herbin glass pen which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Jet Pens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

Today is one of those gray, winter days so I thought maybe I’d choose an ink that reflected the gray days for the eleventh day of Inkmas. Its called Diamine Graphite. I expected it to be a neutral grey-black. What I got instead was a very unusual grey-green. My first thought was that it reminded me of the wash water for Noodler’s Zhivago possibly.

Diamine Graphite has a ton of shading in a wide nib fountain pen but looks much darker when used with a crow quill dip nib. Even with the B nib on my Kaweco Art Sport, the ink was dry quickly which is a very nice trait considering the mess I made at the top of the page because the brush lettering wasn’t quite dry. Ah, the trouble with lefties!

Overall, I find a lot of interest in Graphite. Its not altogether grey but its not green either. It shades like crazy in my fountain pen but dips to a deep dark grey. Just like a gray winter day, there are still wonders and interest to be found.

I did compare Diamine Graphite to Noodler’s Zhivago 3oz/88ml ($12.50) and, at its full concentration, Zhivago is much more of a black than a grey but it was worth a shot. De Atramentis Silver Grey 35ml ($12.50) is close in overall color tone but Silver Grey is much more of a blue-grey than Graphite. I really couldn’t find a good ink match in my collection to Graphite so its definitely a unique ink.

Diamine Graphite is available in a 80ml bottle for $12.75.

The samples above were written with a Kaweco Art Sport with a B nib (review coming soon!) in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

Shout out to Karen P. for sending me a sample of Diamine Graphite as well as the Diamine Salamander and De Atramentis Cement Gray. Much appreciated!

On the last day of Inkmas, my true pen was inked with De Atramentis Pigeon Blue! Not as romantic as a partridge in a pear tree but its my favorite ink (at the moment) so I thought it was worthy of being the last ink of the first annual Inkmas.

Initially, I ordered a sample of  this ink because I loved the name. I used the sample up immediately and decided I needed a whole bottle but Goulet was sold out. A friend sent me another sample to hold me over until they restocked. The bottle I purchased is already half-used. That’s a true testament to how much I like this ink.

It’s not a true blue but rather a slightly grey turquoise blue. I’d almost call it a teal. There’s enough black in the ink to keep it from being garish but its still a beautiful color.  In general, de Atramentis inks are super easy-flow, and Pigeon Blue is no exception. It makes the inks good options for fine nib pens and also quick drying which means I don’t track wet ink all over my paper.

The swab shows the range of color variation that makes for great shading in wider nib pens. Pigeon Blue is not waterproof or even water resistant all that much but it will hold up to the occasional slosh of coffee and pat drying.

I tried to find a comparable color in my collection but nothing I could find was all that similar. Diamine Aqua Lagoon 80ml ($12.50) was close but its a much more vivid, jewel-tone  blue-green. Sheaffer Skrip Turquoise 50ml ($9)  in much bluer overall and Diamine Soft Mint 80ml ($12.50) is much more of a green ink with blue undertones.

De Atramentis Pigeon Blue is available in 35ml bottles for $12.50.

I hope you’ve enjoyed Inkmas as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing all these wonderful ink colors with you. Happy holidays to everyone and please send your comments and recommendations for other inks I should try.

The samples above were written with my Lamy Studio brushed stainless steel with 1.1mm nib in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

Fabulous video of a hand-writing automaton boy built over 240 years ago (via Letter Writers Alliance)

Paper & Notebooks:

• Studio Ghibli Moleskine (not for sale) (via Notebook Stories)
• Overview of the Word Standard Memorandum (via East, West, Everywhere)
• Doane Flap Jotter Notepad Review (via Ed Jelley)
• Scout Books Mega DIY Notebooks (via Design Concussion)
• Nock Co. Hobonichi Planner Cover Review (via The Pen Addict)
• Hobonichi Planner Review (via Unroyal Warrant)
• Gift Suggestions for Pen Pals (via Letter Writers Alliance)

Pen Pal Interview with Josh Scruggs (via Jet Pens Blog and 26symbols)

Pens and Ink:

• Designing the Karas Kustoms Ink fountain pen (via Design Concussion)
• Ink Fountain Pen reviews (via From the Pen Cup and Clicky Post)
• Esterbrook J Fountain Pen Review with Gregg Shorthand 9556 nib (via The Pen Addict)
• Listening While You Write (via My Pen Needs Ink)
• Pilot Kakuno Fountain Pen Review (via The Pen Addict)
• Montblanc Toffee Brown (via The Pencil Case Blog)
• Private Reserve Orange Crush (via Ink of Me Fondly)
• Kaweco Sepia Brown (via Ed Jelley)
• “Expensive” Fountain Pens Just 30 or Under (via No Pen Intended)

Misc:

• Origami Santas (via How About Orange)
• Foldio Kickstarter: Paper foldable portable photo light box (via Design Work Life)
• Doxie portable scanner review (via Notebook Stories)

Tom asks:

Several of my fountain pens seem to be clogged.  Certainly the ink does not flow as freely as it did when they were new.

The tried and true cures – such as soaking in a bowl of warm water with two drops of ammonia – do not seem to work.

What is the approved 21st Century approach?

Many thanks,
Tom

I have not had a lot of clogging issues myself. I have purchased several old pens that needed cleaning and I just let them soak in warm water for several days, changing the water every day and then flushing the pen completely with good success.

Since it sound like you have more serious issues, I put a call out to some of the folks out on Twitter and here are there responses:

1. Azizah from Gourmet Pens: Can you disassemble it? Soak it in 10% ammonia and 90% water (section and nib) and flush it out with water.. Should clear it.
2. Inktronics says: Time for a total tear down and getting the toothbrush out.
3. FPGeeks says: After Azizah’s advice, next step would be to use ultrasonic cleaner.
4. Anderson Pens says: How long did they let it soak? Overnight at least if no ultrasonic or use a bulb to force water through the feed.

I would also wonder about the ink that you are using if you are continuing to have clogging issues. You may want to try a new, different ink once you get your pen cleaned out to see if the issue was a result of gritty ink.

I hope these tips help. Let us all know if you have any luck.

A lot of topics I’ve mentioned in the past, have made appearances on other blogs this week. I thought I’d start with those…

Note: In this section, the first link is my original post and the links in parentheses are the posts from other bloggers.

• Write Notepads (via Pencil Revolution and My Pen Needs Ink)
• Standard Memorandum (review via Ed Jelley and Unroyal Warrant)
• Hobonichi Planner (review from Notebook Stories)
• Plants in the workplace (via Fast Company)

(via Pelikan Edelstein)

And now back to our regularly scheduled Link Love:

Paper:

• Arc Customizable Notebook System (via Office Supply Geek)
• Notebooks (via Put This On)
• Ink Samples in a Maruman Mnemosyne Word Book (via Pen Addict)

Pencils, Pens & Ink:

• TWSBI Vac 700 (via That One Pen)
• Fountain Pen Experts Share Their Favorite Pen (via Best Fountain Pen)
• Kaweco Art Sport in Alabaster (via Clicky Post)
• Weekly Loadout: Mike Dudek (via Ed Jelley)
• TWSBI Classic (via That One Pen)
• Kickstarter: Hands-On with the Masterstoke Airfoil Ballpoint Pen (via Ed Jelley)
• Esterbrook #1314 Flexible Stub (via Fountain Pen Quest)
• Tombow Mono 100 Review (via Pencil Revolution)
• Diamine Registrar’s Ink (via Ed Jelley)

Misc:

• Accidental Early Review of the Nock Co. Brasstown (via The Daily Carry)
• Colored Staples That Actually Work (via Office Supply Geek)
• Good Stuff on my Desk (via Inkophile)

I am so sorry I completely missed/forgot/skipped the Goulet Pens Ink Drop for November 2013. It was filled with colors that could be used for Christmas, unless, of course, you’re me and use green all year long. I also quite like reds so let’s call this my January Ink Drop and move on.

The inks included were Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-Ryoku which is a green with a blue undertone like a blue conifer. The Diamine Kelly Green is in my sweet spot: a green with yellowish undertones. And the De Atramentis Pine Green with is a deep green black. Maybe its the cold bleak weather but the Pine Green was my least favorite in this assortment.

In the reds is Diamine Crimson which is a wicked, vampish red and De Atramentis Poppy Red which is a brighter red with a slight orange undertone.

At some point, I’ll probably purchase bottle of the Shin-Ryoku as its such a unique green and the Crimson which would be perfect for Valentine’s Day or my first vampire novel.

All the writing samples were done with a dip flexible nib which are a bit more prone to bleeding then a fountain pen but so much easier to test and clean quickly.

(Ironic artwork)

Paper:

• World War 2 Diaries Found in Attic (via Notebook Stories)
• Pocket Notebooks: What does Fountain Pen Friendly really mean? (via Ed Jelley)
• Paperblanks Journals (via Inkophile)
• Moleskine Cahier Pocket Notebook (vi Ink of Me Fondly)

Pens and Ink:

• Esterbrook #1461 Rigid Fine (via Fountain Pen Quest)
• Kaweco Carribean Turquoise Ink (via The Pencil Case Blog)
• Kaweco Allrounder Fountain Pen (via Office Supply Geek)
• Delta Fusion 82 Fountain Pen Review (via From The Pen Cup)
• Friends don’t let friends let the ink dry up in their fountain pens (via Rhodia Drive)
• Pilot Razor Point Marker Stick Pen 0.5MM Review (via The Royal Warrant)

50 Shades of Grey: Mechanical Pencils (via Wired)

Pencils:

• Forest Choice Pencil by Palomino (via The Daily Carry)
• Tombow 2558 B (via Economy Pens)

Misc:

• US Postal Rate Increases (via Letter Writers Alliance)
• Printable Calendars (via Paper Pastries)
• Inspiring Mousepads (via Domesticatd Desk)

Shades of Lime (via A Penchant For Paper)

Pens & Ink:

• Kaweco Sport Luxe Fountain Pen (via The Pencil Case Blog)
• Vintage Pen Review: ca. 1929 Parker Lady Duofold “Lucky Curve” (via Pen Habit)
• The Airfoil by Masterstroke – Aviation Inspired Kickstarter Pen (via Clicky Post)
• Retro 51 Tornado Black Acrylic Fountain Pen Review (via The Pen Addict)
• ACME “Eames Chairs” Rollerball (via From The Pen Cup)
• rOtring Lava Multipen Review (via The Clicky Post)
• Bic Duo Ballpoint & Highlighter (via No Pen Intended)
• From The Archive: Pens (via A Penchant For Paper)
• Yasutomo Y&C Stylist Gel Ink Pen Review (via The Pen Addict)
• A Survey of Browns (via Inkdependence)
• Sailor Jentle Sky High Blue Ink (via Ink of Me Fondly)

Pencils:

• Start With A Pencil (via Woodclinched)
• Golden Bear #2 HB Pencil Review (via The Daily Carry)

Paper:

• Tomoe River Paper (via Inkophile)
• Black n’ Red Notebook Review (via The Pen Addict)
• bRead Notebook in White, Wheat, & Whole Wheat (via No Pen Intended)

US Postal Rate Increases (illustration by Donovan Beeson via Letter Writers Alliance)

Misc:

• Stationery Travel Kit (via East, West, Everywhere)
• Philadelphia Pen Show Recap (via That One Pen)
• Do You Keep Your Pen Boxes (via My Pen Needs Ink)

I received an actual letter from Leah a week or so ago. She asked lots of different questions about pens and tools so I thought I’d include some of my answers here as well as in a letter to her.

She asked:

What pen/nib did you use for the titles of your 12 Days of Inkmas?

The secret is that I didn’t use a pen at all. I used a brush!

I got the idea to use a brush from seeing some ink “swabs” on European Paper. They were using a brush to create a lovely little ink swab. I like that a brush was easy to clean and I wasn’t creating a landfill full of q-tips in sampling inks each month.

I’ve used several different brushes that I’ve accumulated over the years to not only create “swabs” but also to create a more interesting header for the 12 Days of Inkmas. I’ve tried to keep up the habit for future ink samples and reviews as I can see the range of shading with the inks this way.

EDIT: The word “Wide Strokes” was done with the Scharff FINELINE 3000 #3, not the #6. Oops!

From left to right: Robert Simmons #2 red Kolinsky hair and synthetic filaments round brush, A. Langnickel 670 #5 Red Sable script brush, Scharff Kolinsky red sable FINELINE 3000 #3 round and #6, and a Silverwhite synthetic 1500S #2 Round.

I’ve acquired brushes over the years from friends, yard sales and various art supply stores. I’m stunned to see how expensive the Scharff #6 brush is ($67)! I’ll definitely take better care of it. I’m confident that any good quality round brush recommended for watercolor, acrylic or oil would make a perfect tool for “swabs” and ink tests. Visit your local art supply or craft shop to pick up a couple.

Just remember to wash out your brushes in water, squeeze dry and reshape the tip to dry. Don’t scrub them and make the bristles flair out  or you risk breaking the fibers and/or hairs. Always dry your brushes with the tip up and don’t leave them sit indefinitely in your wash water or the bristles will bend at a weird angle. If you let them cake with inks or paints, try The Masters brush cleaner. It will save just about all your brushes!