Episode #39 – Specific Pens

In this episode of Currently Inked, I answer a few questions about specific pens and __pen brands, as we skip around between Nakaya, Waterman, Sheaffer, Marlen, and Pilot pens.

• 00:30 – Thoughts on Nakaya fountain pens
  • Leigh Reyes’ post on soft vs. elastic nibs
• 6:25 – Waterman Carène vs. Sheaffer Legacy II
• 11:05 – Marlen Pens
• 14:15 – What do I like about the Pilot Custom 823
  • Kaweco Palm Green

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Currently Inked 38 – Troubleshooting

NOTE: There was an issue with this video that I missed. A new video is currently being processed and uploaded. Please check back later.

This episode is brought to you by Vanness Pens at http://vanness1938.com. When you order, please thank them for their generous support of The __pen Habit!

In this episode, we dive into a bit of troubleshooting on specific pens.

• 00:45 – Visconti Van Gogh with Ink Starvation
• 04:15 – Faber Castel Loom that leaks between the grip and the barrel
• 07:05 – Aligning Pelikan Nib Unit
• 9:45 – Converter leaking behind the piston

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Currently Inked #37 – All About Ink #1

In this episode, I answer (or pretend to answer) several of your questions about inks.

This episode is brought to you by La Couronne du Comte at http://lacouronneducomte.nl. Use the coupon code PENHABIT10 for 10% off your order (excluding Montblanc items.)

• 00:33 – What is the worst that can happen if I use an “unsafe” ink in my recently restored vintage pens. (For more about ink pH, see this article: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/care/ink_ph.htm)
• 03:15 – How vital is it that I use bulletproof inks?
  • Platinum Classic Inks
  • KWZ Iron Gall
  • De Atramentis Document Inks
  • Scribe’s Inks
  • Rohrer & Klingner Inks (Scabiosa, Salix)
• 6:50 – Diamine Autumn Oak vs. Noodler’s Apache Sunset
• 11:10 – Are the Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks going to stick around?
• 14:30 – Is Cross Violet the same as Pelikan 4001 Violet?

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Unusual Moores

I've been collecting Moores in my typically unsystematic way for quite a few years, putting away pre-lever-filler examples that catch my attention as interesting and unusual (OK, so it isn't as unsystematic as all that). This week two such pens turned up, shown above.

The top __pen is doubly unusual, in that it is an eyedropper-filling stylographic. Many fountain __pen makers also offered stylos, which are typically far less common than nibbed pens. Moore stylographics are rare indeed, with most made in the form of safety pens, the stylo tip retracting into the barrel in the same manner as in Moore's regular safeties (photo here).

A distinguishing feature of Moore stylographic safety pens is the orange dome on their caps -- just as is seen on the second recently-received pen. In this case, however, the pen is neither a stylo nor converted from one, for inside the cap there is the central safety post -- a feature lacking in Moore stylos, for obvious reasons. Aside from the orange dome, the pen is a normal Midget safety from the late 'teens or early 1920s, with a Moore rather than an American Fountain pen Co. nib.

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Currently Inked #36 – How I use my pens

In this episode, I answer questions about how I personally use my pens.

This episode is brought to you by Fontoplumo at http://fontoplumo.nl.

• 1:05 – Do you combine your other hobbies with your pens?
• 4:55 – My process for writing my novel.
  • Scrivener
• 11:00 – Some in-production alternatives to my favorite discontinued inks.
  • FAQ about favorite inks.
• 11:55 – Sponsor Spotlight – Fontoplumo
• 13:50 – What is your favorite sound of nib on paper when you write?

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Currently Inked #35

In this episode, we talk about a couple of green inks, whether or not mixing ink is normal, and how I organize my collection of ink swabs.

This episode is brought to you in part by __pen Chalet at http://penchalet.com. Use the coupon code PENHABIT for 10% off your order.

• 2:30 – Mailbag: Pelikan Edelstein Smoky Quartz, Montblanc Shakespeare Velvet Red
• 3:40 – How do Montblanc Irish Green and Monteverde Green compare to each other.
• 6:00 – I mix a lot of inks to find my perfect colors. Is this normal, or do I need to seek professional help?
• 9:40 – Sponsor Spotlight: Pen Chalet
• 10:45 – How do you organize your ink swab collection?
• 15:45 – Currently Inked: Omas Bologna Carmello with Monteverde Brown Sugar

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Currently Inked #34 | 29 March 2017

• 00:30 – How do I get ink trapped behind the seal of a Pilot Con-70 converter cleaned out?
• 4:20 – How can I avoid getting oils from my hand on the paper as I write?
• 6:45 – What would your perfect custom-made __pen look like?
• 8:30 – __pen with a fine nib that doesn’t skip with a price under $20?
• 9:50 – Currently Inked #1 – Eversharp Skyline (vintage) w/ Monteverde Capri Blue (I think…)
• 12:15 – What is a good replacement for Sheaffer Skrip Peacock?
• 13:45 – How much ink do you find “enough” to sample an ink, and do you have a process for determining whether or not to buy a bottle?
• 16:45 – Currently Inked #2 – Sheaffer Legacy Color Prototype w/ De Atramentis Document Blue
• 19:50 – Are handmade pens of a higher quality than mass-produced pens?
• 24:40 – If you had to pick a favorite manufacturer in Italy, Germany, and Japan, what would they be.
• 27:00 – What is your experience with / opinion on music nibs.
• 28:55 – Can you please make Inky Fingers notebooks with perforated pages? (And a digression about Inky Fingers notebooks in general).
• 34:10 – Has anyone ventured into cryogenic treatment of nibs?

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