Are LE's a Gimmick? When Did Products Surprise Us? | Pencast 80

[@naahhhhHHHHHHHHHH]

Brian is so obviously a beaver. Obsessed with wood, extremely hardworking, shares chores and parenting duties, generally all around great neighbor. Everyone in the ecosystem wants a beaver around.

[@joanwerthman4116]

AND beavers are Nature’s woodworkers.

[@Gouletpens]

Well said! - Drew

[@differentkindofGEKE]

2:08:19 I love that you chaperoned Ellie’s field trip. One of my best memories was my dad chaperoning our trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago when I was in 6th grade. He made it a challenge for us to see as much as possible. One of the best days of my life!

[@heathergleiser]

I loved going there years ago for my birthday. Seeing Colleen Moore’s castle dollhouse was a dream come true.

[@195516Z]

For what it's worth: In the 1940s when my mother was a young woman a popular combination of correspondence was lavender ink on light grey paper. I tried to reproduce it but somehow the original letters have a look all their own. Whatever kind of ink and paper used is a lovely mystery.

[@MummyBrown]

Oh that sounds dreamy 🥰

[@tiffanybluetarot]

That sounds absolutely beautiful! I’d love to see it. Both the spoken and written words of years past really captivate me. They have a beauty and eloquence all their own.

[@heathergleiser]

“Do you really need to pay $30,000 to have the undergraduate experience?” Absolutely not! My core curriculum classes were totally free in community college in the mid 2000s and I had a much better experience there than when I transferred to a state school to finish undergrad. Smaller classes, more caring professors, and a smaller campus made things far less stressful. Thank you for telling your kids that there’s another way to get your education.

While education here is free (all of it), I did find smaller/community colleges & unis nicer. As you say, the classes & premises are smaller so you get less stress and get to know everyone better. Also professors and instructors get to know you and can focus better on each student. I really liked the experience, and I've been to both, big and small.

[@bartgrossman9361]

@, I have taught at some of the top colleges in the country including Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Berkeley. They are all outstanding grad schools and can be appropriate for students with strong STEM interest and ability. However, I would never recommend them for the average undergraduate and would never have encouraged one of my kids to go one of them. Community colleges and less research focused programs can be a perfect fit for an undergraduate who hasn't decided a direction ,because the research 1 schools provide very little counseling and support, the top scholars do not teach undergraduate courses. Save the big bucks for a graduate program or advanced training. You don't need places like Berkeley and Columbia as an undergrad.

[@kjmav10135]

Community colleges are not free in Illinois, but they are less expensive than 4 year schools.

[@Rob_Taggart]

Been away from the pen game for about a year because of moving my practice to new firm. So happy to be back and see you all are still going strong. I have binged about fifty of these pen casts in the last two weeks and dropped over a grand on your site, too, haha. Customer service there is still incredible as always!!

[@Gouletpens]

You can always count on us continuing to do our thing! - Drew

[@anac9313]

The hypothetical was hilarious. The constant teasing, the corgi beast, everything. You guys are awesome!

[@Gouletpens]

Haha! It's always a great time. Best part of our week! - Drew

[@hollybasiuk2824]

Drew I am right there a long with you with the safety razor and the fancy jeans. Ironically safety razors and ethical clothes actually led me to the fountain pen community. I really try to live a low impact lifestyle, and fountain pens were a "low waste" pen option that really appealed to me. Now they are basically half my personality , vital everyday carry, and way to express myself. My first pen acquisition was from a place of hoping to own one pen for a long long time and buying ink in glass (easily recyclable) . I now have several pens and should probably chill out on the ink samples, nevertheless, there is something special about having beautiful and long lasting things.

[@JanisOnTheFarmette]

Same here, Holly, with the search for lower waste items. I started with refillable highlighters and rollerballs, then added my first “real” fountain pen, which I was convinced would be the only pen I would ever need, lol.

[@Gouletpens]

I'm learning that this is not uncommon! I seem to be in good company! But I did know that already, of course! :) - Drew

[@crystalca9082]

Lie de Thé’s popularity doesn’t surprise me in the least. Like Drew’s endorsement of Buttered Popcorn, Brian talks about Lie de Thé often and it’s specifically why I bought it. Especially after he mentioned how good it looks on warm-toned paper, as I primarily use Midori.

[@brian11344]

I have been binge watching the pencast and I found myself on the site and buying way to many pens… I love you guys!!!keep this pencast coming

[@raventhelight9357]

Same. No plans of stopping either! Guess I'll need a second job.

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks for joining us! - Drew

[@KatelynSweigart]

I feel like you answered this before, but how do you randomly select the random ink sample? Does stock dictate what inks samples are selected? Do you use a random number generator?

[@alanshutko]

I think there's a big bin or bucket and they just pull them out?

[@Stitchxavi]

Oooooh I love this question

[@Gouletpens]

We did answer that - I'll need to dig it up and pass it along! - Drew

[@rsanderson100]

If you have a copy of the architect drawings to your house, and especially if you have the drawing showing all of the electrical, make a copy and use that to map outlets and switches against breakers. If you don’t have the drawings, it’s easy to sketch each room and make a map that way. A perfect use for 5mm grid paper.

[@evilcritter]

I still have my old C-3P0's cereal boxes from the 80's. The cereal was dreadful but I pretended to eat it so my mom would buy more. They also had little packs of cards in them too.

[@Normy12]

the fire and dice tapped into tabletop gamers... that's a pretty big market for people that spend a good amount of money. And they use almost exclusively pencils, because you have to erase a lot. I'm still surprised you haven't sold a fire and dice fountain pen on that note. Same market, but extra fancy.

[@Tombraidertussi]

Came here looking for exactly hat comment xD someone had to tell them! :D

[@elsaw0827]

The Pilot Hi Techpoint with fountain pen cartridges can't be gotten easily in the US. I ordered mine from a UK seller. I actually messaged Goulet customer service a year or two back recommending that u carry this pen. I was told you weren't interested in carrying it. I personally enjoy having a rollerball that writes with my favorite fountain pen inks.

[@nancymcnee2707]

I love the look Drew has when Brian is explaining his woodworking! That's payment for watching this whole video!!!

[@dacksonflux]

Drew, like an old friend of mine, is just such a free spirit. Like a unicorn with a rainbow sweater instead of a rainbow mane because rainbow sweaters are warm.

[@sunnymoondog]

I love that!

[@alanshutko]

Thank you for digging me up about products that surprised you, because it's even better to hear both of your thoughts than it would have been on the old Q&A. The Fire and Dice pencil didn't surprise me at all, because you need a pencil for character sheets! Drew, your shirt today fills me with retro joy.

[@alanshutko]

One that did surprise me was the Pelikan M805 Blue Dunes. It is a gorgeous pen and blue is popular, but maybe it came too soon after the unbelievable Ocean Swirl that the blue birb fans were tapped out. I expected it to sell out quickly, not get discounted.

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks, Alan! - Drew

[@EastWind123]

Alt-Goldgrun will never be unseated as my favorite ink. I have an online business, and I write a personal note with every order. I have sent out over 2000 orders, and every single note has been written with Alt-Goldgrun in a TWSBI 1.1 stub. I have had at least three customers contact me to ask me, "what is that pen?" My business is not pen-related, (I'm a potter and candlemaker) so I always have to give a long-winded answer. "Well, it's actually a fountain pen and blah blah blah." I hope I've penabled at least one person that way. 😆 Oh, and just to contribute to the "do you use your major" conversation, my degree is in Physics. So naturally, I make pottery. LOL

[@lydiabossons]

It’s my favourite ink too!!!

[@jayebird1070]

I love my black cat punilabo pen case and have to resist getting more. You can fit an ink sample in the elastic bit at a slight angle.

[@dawngilkison6123]

These cases are so cute, I just enjoy looking at one sitting on my desk! But they are also very sturdy and functional. I am thinking I need one as a home for the TV remote.

[@shisho5850]

For the love of Cthulhu's tentacled beard, please make a kaiju corgi sticker! PLEASE!!! 🙏💜

[@shisho5850]

And yes, I love my PuniLabo pen case (right next to the laptop I'm on.) My niece loved the calico cat one when I gave her one for Christmas. I'm going to buy the bunny one next. I'm a fan.

[@stareenafraser]

Happy to see you guys and hear you :) , feel like my friends finally came back. #80 take 2

[@gatatl]

OMG…the amount of trivia locked in these two brains never ceases to amaze me!!! So much fun.

[@Gouletpens]

Yeah, there's a lot of...stuff in our heads. For better or worse! - Drew

[@TymberJ]

Maki-e the Corgi Kaiju onto the Drew-let Toothbrush, and I think you'll have a *real* winner.

[@loves2readNplan]

May I please request a Corgi Beast sticker based on Drew's description?😁 Today's pencast was fabulous!

[@Gouletpens]

You KNOW I'd love that! - Drew

[@charleshotchkiss1813]

Splitting a room between two breakers keeps one breaker trip from blacking out an entire room. Kitchens often see high power appliances so multiple circuits there make sense. There are label printers that produce black on clear tape labels that are quite discrete and convenient for labeling outlets. Klein tools sells an instrument that lets you find the breaker any individual outlet or socket connects to. Offices often have alphanumeric labels applied to each breaker and outlet. It's worth the effort to label outlets for that rare event when you have an electrical problem.

[@tinathebear]

My obscure hobbies include spinning yarn and (hula) hooping-think freestyle dance crossed with circus arts and rhythmic gymnastics. I also knit, crochet, ride horses, paint, and dabble in bookbinding and jewelry making. I feel so at home in this community with all our niche interests!

[@Gouletpens]

I love all of this! - Drew

[@mamahnita]

Brian's spirit animal would be a beaver.

[@wildbill23c]

Do you carry any loose leaf filler paper that is fountain pen friendly? Or anything in letter size that could simply be hole punched for a binder?

[@lindymcvay5850]

Goulet has Clairefontaine tablets in both A4 and A5. Both sizes come in lined and blank pages.

[@wildbill23c]

@@lindymcvay5850 Ordering some of the Clairefontaine tablets in A4 right now as well as a few other items, and a glass dip pen so I can more easily test ink samples without as much of a mess and less cleanup time.

[@taminalock7957]

Drew mentioning rabbit-hole hobbies: some of you knit Me looking up from the shawl I just cast on at the beginning of the pencast: yup

[@Gouletpens]

I see you out there! Haha! - Drew

[@fossilimprint2954]

Okay, if you are going to skip another Pencast - Drew will you make up a bit by posting a video of your trip to the pen show? When you were showing the silicone pen cases, I laughed when you both did not have any pens to put into the cases to demonstrate. :) Brian, your tree adventures are so captivating, and those photos, wow! I know some people who feel that the trees on their property are like giant weeds!

[@mikideez623]

As a librarian at a community college who had a very circuitous route through college, I can 100% say that community college is a great place to start. Not only are there springboard programs to get people a head start on a 4-year program, but there are really great terminal degrees and certificates that can get you a solid start in many careers. Another thing that a lot of community colleges have are programs for high school students where they can work on their associate’s while still in high school. We have a number of students every year who get a college degree a month before they graduate from high school. These programs also have awesome scholarships, meaning that students get this head start for no to low cost. Pair that with most community colleges having a hefty course reserves collection in their library (assigned textbooks for students to borrow), and I really wish I knew about this route as a kid.

[@robinmosenfelder6226]

Recently I bought an olive green vintage parker 45. Then I made a list of inks I had on hand that would "match" I started with R&K Alt goldgrun. Shortly after that I waffled and thought one of the other inks was a better fit. However I needed to use up the ink in the pen first. Now I am growing more and more into the R&K AGG. Not sure I will ever use a different ink in this pen. And I am still enjoying this simple vintage pen a lot.

[@Quiney08]

Is there any way we can get Drew’s pen idea in a retro51???

[@bbrachman]

Completely random comment. I noticed that you photos of pens and everything else on your website are some of the best composed and shot image I have ever seen. I would love to see the lighting setup your wonderful photographer(s) use. I just looked at the Benu pen mentioned and the images are spectacular.

[@alanshutko]

I was just looking at the photography for the Namiki Emperor Elephant and was thinking the same thing. GPC product photography is one of the best features for the site. I'd love a guest segment with the photographer(s). (I think an older video may have touched on it, but I'm sure things change!)

[@haydenwindmiller8931]

Brian, I'm graduating engineering school May of this year. Glad to hear you understand my pain. There is an engineer in my office who has been graduated for 25 years, he came in to work and said he woke up in the middle of the night from a finals nightmare even 25 years after leaving school.

[@Gouletpens]

WHOA! Congratulations!!! - Drew

[@paulherman5822]

Inks that didn't originally "do it" for me: sorry, Brian, but a lot of the blues, though specifically royal blue/washable blue. I got examples of every other color that interested me and it took a Black Friday sale for me to break down and get Waterman Serenity Blue. Then I started to get interested in vintage inks (I "scored" a bottle of the first ink I used in 1983, Sheaffer Skrip blue-black, from the same era. Then got hooked.) At this point I have blues from virtually all the major players of vintage inks (recently a 4 ounce of Skrip permanent Royal Blue) and a pen always is inked with one. As to limited edition, I think you are fairly correct. Though I wish some who originally were basically the same colors for decades and seldom changed that now regularly have a limited whatever would stop. Those limited edition ones kind of are the opposite of everything that the name was, in the past.

[@karisbarfield8948]

Drew's corgi lava beast needs to be a sticker.....

[@haydenwindmiller8931]

There is a concept of "hero cars" meaning there is one that is set up for the movie and the other ones that get screwed up are shells. The manufacturer can give them shells that are meant to be destroyed. The hero car is kept in great shape

[@archivist17]

In the original Italian Job, scrap cars were destroyed (E-Type, Lamborghini etc), and it's funny seeing how the empty shells look so different as they are eg tossed down the hill.

[@leanngoodall7602]

Lie de The is a fabulous ink. I use it in my watercolour painting. It is not waterproof so it bleeds beautifully. It's pale enough that it can disappear under colours, but is just visible enough to keep the structure of the subject. It has become my favourite ink to sketch with.

[@dandelionpuff]

Oh man, I got a random ink sample of Robert Oster's Bondi Blue. I was kind of disappointed because I was super new to fountain pens and I had never been into blue rollerball or ballpoint inks. It took me a while to actually use it, and when I tell you it is STUNNING. GORGEOUS. IMMACULATE. I'm so glad I got it!

[@Gouletpens]

YES! That's a great one! - Drew

[@sharlenezuhlke1561]

So, you have been commenting on managerial duties such as reviews. I just want to add my Two cents and say that I think Drew does an exceptional job with Goulet pens. For as crazy as he gets during the podcast at times, his KZbin videos are organized and informative. I enjoy listening to him on any of his clips. Brian give him a pat on he back.

[@N1inSK]

I have a Plaatinum Plaisir that rolled off my desk and, of course, fell nib down. The nib looked like the nose of a Concorde aircraft. Since Preppy pens are so cheap, I tried to fix the nib: it still ad a ripple in it, but it worked just fine. But it still found a new home in the round bin. Most of the wall plates of each outlet at my work (a leisure centre) have Dymo labels to say which breaker, and which breaker box, powers them. Makes it REAL easy - except for the one outlet that is behind a desk and never got labelled. Rumour has it that the breaker is in the same office as the outlet, but we never found it.

[@bellananicmorgan]

Random hobby collection: cemetery photography; stained glass; foam pumpkin carving (they last longer than the real ones, though I do a few of those a year, too); various arts projects related to Halloween: tombstone carving, props creation, etc.; brewing (mead, wine, and cider); silk banner painting; sewing; watercolour painting; hydroponics; scuba diving; underwater photography; cross stitch; candle making. I'm sure there are more. If it's to be found at the craft store, I can probably make at least a passable attempt at it.

[@Hey_its_CeeTee]

Brian tattoo? Obviously, it would have to be the iconic blue ink splat! Love the Pencast - Chantal

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks for the longtime support, Chantal! - Drew

[@janepilecki8083]

Brian, I beg to differ about the large subwoofer in a car. I had one when I had a 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis LS (my favorite car ever!) and my Honda Accords, and Subaru. As a musician, I listen to classical music as much as popular music. And I don't listen to rap. To hear the full range of sound of the orchestra, organ, or band, a subwoofer is essential to provide the low register of sound. I never made the bass so loud as to overpower the rest of the music. But Cruising down the highway listening to Beethoven, Bach, or Lyle Lovett, the sub is absolutely necessary!!! But It should be used correctly, and not to annoy other drivers. Love you guys. Thanks for a great pencast.

[@donhall-aquitania1025]

$300 for Coral Red Pilot Vanishing Point Limited Edition vs $168 for the regular red. So $132 up-charge for the color?

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

speaking of hobby tangents...my love of fountain pens and inks and papers has led me to a new obsession with vintage typewriters. Since last April I have acquired over 20 manual typewriters!

[@Gouletpens]

You're not alone! I know a couple of pen friends who collect typewriters! - Drew

[@Rob_Taggart]

Two questions, one for Q&A, one for personal: Q&A- how close are Brian and Drew in every day life? You have such a great rapport on video, it’s hard to believe you don’t hang out outside of the office. Personal- will you ever carry the tortoise shell Conklin All American again? My clip broke off of mine and you don’t stock them anymore. Thanks!!!

[@jackruaro]

For Brian's maki-e pen, he might want to look at Kumeki patterns as a base. Then pick out your favorite tree and a mountain scape

[@sbornot2b]

Limited editions are great marketing: some new and attention getting variation of a pen gets posted all over social media and drives interest to the brand overall. Marketing is more valuable than the added profit from the pens. Even with a substantial up charge they’re not making huge profits off of what, 200 pens?

[@mikideez623]

I love these pen cups! I have the grey kitty that I use to bring my six currently inked pens with me to work. Lamys (Lamies?), TWSBIs, and my Plaisir are the perfect height for it (remain protected while not popped, easily grabbable when popped). Kaweco Sports can get a little lost, but they stand just below the zipper when the cup is popped. I wouldn't recommend it for more expensive pens that might get damaged from rubbing against its compatriots, but it's definitely good for starter pens (as well as for non-fountain pens). As for the loop in the top, I believe it's meant to hold an eraser or something of similar size. I use it for small sticky note flags.

[@johnnymontalvo5620]

Hey, guys! Is there any chance of your picking up Leonardo Officina pens? Or are they more like a brick-and-mortar exclusive situation like Montblanc?

[@nukadog1969]

While not a Bond film, I can't watch Breakfast at Tiffanys because of Micky Rooney's horrifically terrible caricature of a Japanese man, let alone the rampant misogyny. Films are an excellent time capsules of social mores...we've come a long way, but we certainly aren't at our destination yet.

[@Gouletpens]

Agreed! - Drew

[@crystalca9082]

Yeah, that caricature is super cringy. I still love the movie, but grit my teeth during Rooney’s scenes.

[@jenoakborn]

I tried watching "Airplane" the other night and had to stop when the blatant anti-black racism hit the screen. I also can't watch Holiday Inn for the same reason.

[@camojoe83]

Wait, you guys are serious? "I speak jive" is hilarious.

[@dandelionpuff]

I just had a similar experience rewatching Star Trek The Original Series. Big Yike™️. All of (ok like 90%) the aliens are just white people in brown paint. And the misogyny 😬😬😬 the 60s were wild

[@DanielForgosh]

Yay! I'm glad you mentioned Buttered Popcorn is coming back. I really wanted to order some for my birthday coming up, but was upset it was gone.

[@HighWideandHandsome]

How to clean an eyedroppered Platinum Preppy? I am finding the ink in the grip section in particular to be stubborn.

[@arabellaholzapfel2046]

Drew's expression when he says "Extra and School..." reminds me a little of Eeyore. And I mean that with love, Drew! 🙂

[@Gouletpens]

Ugghhh...yeah, those words together make me anxious. - Drew

[@ilikepens]

When you all make sample vials of shimmer inks, do you guys shake the bottle or syringe between every vial to ensure even amount of shimmer per sample?

[@martham9980]

Good question: I’ve been wondering the same. I got a Chivor sample but it has almost no shimmer.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

I never liked gold or yellow inks and now lately I've been absolutely obsessed with Diamine Candle Light and Wearingeul Kyonghui! I can't stop writing with these inks. another ink I didn't expect to love but and totally obsessed with is Wearingeul "I am a Cat" - this ink has the most amazing shimmer of any ink I've ever used WITHOUT clogging my pens!!! Glorious!!! Thanks to Drew I'm going to be buying Diamine Winter Spice IMMEDIATELY!

[@siggikalkmann]

Brian, this could be on/in your special pen: ‘In the Totomi Mountains’ by Katsushika Hokusai (1830-1833) From the series - Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji

[@mariafagerlundStylophile]

I love your show and I was so glad to have you back. Im gonna miss you next week. A humble request: I would like to see more from Brians pen collection. Im sure he has some pulse raisers in his drawers🤗

[@ann-ingridhelik3056]

Loved the long pencast! Brian, your wood explanation was very interesting! Book matches are always beautiful! - having been an interior designer (long ago ) i loved designing book matched furniture . My uncle made keepsake boxes with leftover wood and taught me to woodwork ; he also took me on rock excursions ,with steel capped boots etc.. and i still have a huge stone collection! So i don’t do rubicks cubes, but i do have “weird” hobbies as well (did i talk about my bird feather collection? )🤷‍♀ Enjoy your girl as much as you can, your building memories that will last a lifetime! Have a good 2 weeks!

[@BenjaminVaterlaus]

Just ordered another 8-pack of random ink with 10 of my choice. I love trying so many different inks that these samples are my favorite thing you offer! :) Thanks for keeping it up!

[@Gouletpens]

I agree! It's so much fun! - Drew

[@jondowee]

You have the best repartee in pen podcasts. Products, too. Not to be missed.

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks for choosing to spend your time with us! - Drew

[@robbinallan3767]

Hello Brian and Drew. So much good stuff in this episode. I'm glad to hear about all the precautions Brian takes in the woods. My father was a great woodman and woodworker. I was a medical professional. I can't tell you the number of calls I got from him asking for advice about his chainsaw hitting a knot and bouncing on to his leg, boards kicking off a saw and impaling nearby trees or kicking him off as he was topping a tree...stay safe. Also, are those pine logs sound wood? My father had patterns for things like a Lincoln desk that used the soft pine so that you could replace the top periodically. He supplied a lot of his lumber from his own trees, ripping boards and planing his own wood. My favorite was spalted Poplar

[@hmadrone]

I love drawing with brown ink, like lie de thé, and then smoothing out the shading with a lightly applied water brush. The browns bleed out to pink and yellow and sometimes green and give a cool vintage effect. Very nice sepia look.

[@dawngilkison6123]

Thank you for answering my Bond question-I am proud to have provided such a tangential discussion!

[@williamcatalano1762]

I'm really surprised Brian hasn't made his own guitar before. He was talking about book matching like what Luthiers do to make guitars for the back and sides. There are kits that are already pre cut for you and you just build them too from Martin I think and StewMac.

[@thebluebell89]

Ok so I'm late to the party on this pencast but I can't believe the Tibaldi didn't take off. I saw them at first launch and saved my little butt off to get one (import costs be like that sometimes) and I am so glad I did because it's an amazing pen... That nib is *chefs kiss*

[@a22lotti]

Inks that grew on me... I think Kon-Peki has to be in there. I probably got a bottle of it because of Brian and along with Yama Budo, and back then I really fell for Yama Budo. It wasn't until like a year ago or two that I rediscovered Kon-Peki and the fact that it can sheen, which made it rise in my own popularity ranking. Helped that my taste in nib sized broadened (literally), as I started out mostly with EFs and am now most comfortable around a European M. Similar to Drew, I didn't want to have anything to do with pink inks for a long time. Then I encountered Monteverde's Kindness Pink (shoutout to inkjournal's ink flights) and had to eventually get a full bottle of that.

[@mrcat3493]

I have two of the Punilabo cases. I am a teacher, so one is for my dry-erase markers and the other goes in my brief case to carry my Tombo brush pens that I use in my Hobonichi Cousin.

[@davyj5216]

LEs? I dunno. What I do know is that a Sailor KOP PG is not worth $500 more than a standard PG. it's a bit bigger is all. Not $500 worth bigger.

[@westboundpony]

The Corgi-lava-beast has me in tears. Thank you for this awesome visual!

[@Gouletpens]

My pleasure! - Drew

[@beckyisj]

My fave moment is when the two played with the pen cases T_T

[@wyntyrmute]

I love Lie de the and Poussiere de Lune. Monboddo's Hat is great for a dark ink that shades well.

[@gv0861]

The Chameleon Nib sticker as a tattoo on your forearm would be awesome! Great colors, unique motif and cool as heck.

[@Gouletpens]

You're not wrong! - Drew

[@shazzagirl9803]

OMG the Corgi Beast Drew? It just got better and better. So funny 😁

[@dawngilkison6123]

The product that surprised me was Iroshizuku Yama-budo ink. I had ordered the sample set of Iroshizuki inks, thinking I wanted a closer look at the blues and greens, but I ended up loving the Yama-budo most, and just ordered that. It surprised me because I really do not like pink (Yama-budo is fuschia or red-violet).

[@RedShadow3333]

As far as unusual hobbies goes, I got sucked into Onewheel. You just can’t beat that feeling of snowboarding across the grass/dirt/concrete. And it goes uphill… ahh I love it.

[@Gouletpens]

Oh no! Don't tell me that! Hahaha! - Drew

[@savannahrachele]

For the loop in the pencil case, they make a holder for Sailor cartridges that’s about the size of one of those rectangle erasers. Clearly the loop is for that!

[@rileycone4939]

Hi Brian and Drew. Great pencast, as always. I wanted to ask you this question via email, but since you've touched the topic of repairing your own nibs it feels like this question would fit here better. I recently dropped my TWSBI GO, and for the first time since I got into fountain pens the nib took the hit (1.1 stub if it matters). It's bent downwards towards the feed and looks kinda like a hook now. I wanted to ask what would be the best tool to try and fix this. It'll be the 1st time I try to do some stuff with my nibs, so I know that I'm out of my depth, and I'll probably screw it up even more, but at this point I don't really have anything to loose. I was thinking of using the small combination pliers that come with my Swiss army knife, but perhaps you both have some better ideas? Any tips on how to do it maybe? I'd be very grateful for any advice you may offer. Also, when you got distracted and started talking about collecting various stuff another question poped into my mind. Despite only getting truly into fountain pens in the recent 3 years, I've been enjoying them and writing with them throughout my school years, and from that time I've still got a small collection of the agitator balls from ink cartridges. Nowadays I store them in an empty Pelikan ink bottle, and I've been wondering if you've ever heard of anyone having similar weird things they collect relating to fountain pens. And on the topic of your question about obscure hobbies. Not sure how obscure it is, but like a year ago I've started watching the 'Cracking the Cryptic' youtube channel, and let me tell you. I never knew that there were so many types of various sudoku rules and variants, and I never thought that watching someone solving Sudoku for 2 hours straight would be so fun. Anyway, Can't wait for another pencast. Keep up the good work guys!

[@davegoodridge8352]

A Maki-e would be to expensive for me, but I would like to see a canine themed pen.

[@heathergleiser]

Me and you both, Brian! I remember the first time I saw the video for Taylor Swift’s Blank Space and being like “not the car!!”, a lovely Shelby Cobra that gets hit with a baseball bat. Luckily that was CGI!

[@lfcreations8718]

G2’s were my go to before switching to fountain pens for my daily driver.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Really am loving the Mirage Mythos! I bought that because of your video! I actually enjoyed my original gray Mirage Horn and thought it was an excellent pen but the mythos is much nicer and feels much more confortable in the hand somehow and it's just a gorgeous pen. A wondeful choice for that price point! I have the brown one and now I'm really thinking I must have the pinkish one.

[@Gouletpens]

I'm so glad you like it! - Drew

[@agachwosta3101]

Yaaay! So happy you decided to use my hypothetical and loved your answers, although I was hoping Drew's design would be a Ghostbusters pen. Also, you made me cry with laughter with your pronunciation - it's actually /hvosta/ 😂 After binge-turkey-hammocking the entire Pencast I was really missing it, and now you've made my day! Thanks! I've had the same tattoo idea problem as Brian, but finally managed to come up with a design - basically a bunch of tiny icons representing all my hobbies and loves running from the wrist to the elbow 🙂 Obscure hobby - watching snooker 😀 One last thing - a question for Brian: what would be the best and animal safe glue for plywood? I'm about to make a "mezzanine house" for my guinea pigs 🙂

[@Gouletpens]

I mean, yeah, I would LOVE a Ghostbusters pen!! - Drew

[@Stitchxavi]

Limited editions are a fun way for a company to explore an unusual color or style, that they’re not committed to over the long term. And they’re fun for me because I get to play with newer styles. I just got the FWP Limited edition Carousel, and I’m so excited for it.

[@anneK3801]

The ink that grew on me was Iroshizuku ina-ho. It came in a sample pack and was the only Iroshizuku I thought "who would ever want this color?". I use ink for my nature sketching and I put ina-ho in a fude nib pen. When I was sketching trees, that was the one ink that perfectly reflected the color of some barks and twigs. It is a favorite now, and I had to buy a bottle (Iroshizuku is too pricey for me to buy bottles of most colors). Now, to the question that has been burning in my brain: how, exactly, do you fill ink sample bottles? As a former lab rat, I picture using 2 ml pipette tips, but do you pour the ink into troughs and use a multi-pipettor or a liquid handling system? How do you keep shimmer inks in suspension while filling sample bottles? Perhaps this isn't interesting to anyone but me.

[@dandelionpuff]

Oh noooo def should have thrown the spiderweb elbow to the Goog, Brian is on the right track with that one.

[@ILoveFountainPensCdn]

1 sec into Drew's description and I'm even MORE into Brian's choice. Some antique tools would be nice as well.

[@darkchocolate4643]

I laughed so hard at "but it's a Corgi" that I scared my cat. Oh Drew, I love you, dude, only you could come up with something so silly and bold and make it sound like an awesome idea.

[@Gouletpens]

Sorry, kitty! - Drew

[@darkchocolate4643]

@@Gouletpens I asked him, he says he totally forgives you.

[@LimitlessFrank]

Boots: Catskill Mountain Moccassins. Custom fit to your feet so the fit you right away. Hand-made and hand-tooled.

[@TymberJ]

For the Iced Caramel Latte, you're just not going to find anything like that in Benu or anyone else's lineup. It doesn't necessarily mean there's a huge market for brown, swirly, sparkly pens. But I doubt there are many people out there who passed on buying one because "eh, I've got a dozen pens just like it".

[@Meela33]

Oh my gosh the pure pain on Drew’s face when Brian’s talking about the English class 😂. Priceless! Q-when it comes to your inks, how do you store them and do you display any because you love how they look or just because it’s the one you’re using at the moment?

[@MrDanzano]

I'm 31 years old and just got number 31 of the All American Pau Preto Wood in Gun Metal. Was it more not by much, Is it unique and awesome YES!! Do I think limited pens should stick around yes more choice means everyone can have something that's special to them even if it's not seen that way by others.

[@poeticpolecat]

I have a PuniLabo that looks like my cat. The rubber band holds one of those aluminum tubes of 6 herbin vert olive cartridges (looks like you do not sell those though), but it stretches it out so that may be all it ever holds for me now. I can put cartridges or nibs or spare retro erasers in there and treat it like a lil pocket in the lid.

[@annestrasko7581]

Pausing the pencast to say that we obviously need a sticker of each of your maki-e designs now. They'd both be amazing.😂

[@Gouletpens]

I like that idea! - Drew

[@NicoleCB]

Does anyone know which Pilot Hi Tech point rollerball pen was recommended for fountain pen ink?

[@Calcprof]

I'm a big fan of Zamberlan hiking (and hunting) boots. Made in Italy. Not cheep. I have one pair. They take about 25 miles to break in. Highly recommended.

[@archivist17]

My first 'adult' hiking boots my parents bought me were Zamberlan, with one piece uppers, integrated bellows, ski lacing, supportive insoles, no heel.... I remember they were 40GBP, which was a huuuuge sum then (1979), but I was out walking all the time, so my parents were prepared to make the investment. Compared to my traditional heavy boots, I felt almost like I could fly wearing these Italian marvels. 🇮🇹 I now wear boots from Vegetarian Shoes these days, but they are also crafted in Italy, and owe a lot to Zamberlan's styling.

[@galaxiesareborn3797]

I was laughing at some of the things that surprised you two lol. You have to remember that you are both guys and women see and like things totally different. Take the Benu pen you mentioned for example. This one just made me smile. As a woman who loves iced coffee and the softness of these colors with a little bling it just speaks to me. I don't have one but hope to some day. I think the Benu pens and their colors and designs speak to women a lot. Some of us like bling, but add in the coffee and it's a match for sure.

If you find Sean Connery's era misogynistic you should check the original books. They were so much worse... Fun fact about the V5/V7 Hi-tec Pilots. When they first came out in the 80s many didn't know they were refillable & stores more often than not sold them together with other pens, no ink or anything offered. So we threw them away thinking they were disposable pens. It took me like 20 years to finally find out that they're meant to be refilled!