Italian, German, and Japanese Pens and Their Differences | Pencast 101

[@ksek]

Shawn at Newton Pens accepts donated pens that he sells on Ebay and puts the money toward a scholarship fund. This is what I've done with the pens that I've retired out of my collection.

[@sluggytube]

That’s an awesome idea!

[@jessicadoyle5613]

Thanks so much for this!

[@janepilecki8083]

Excellent info! Thanks.

[@marilyngardner4269]

Same! It's a great way to move pens on. And don't hesitate to donate inexpensive pens, as Shawn will sometimes bundle them for sale with other pens

[@arabellaholzapfel2046]

"You don't need to write with all of your pens. ... Your journey took you to this place. ... Continue with what brings you the most joy." Applies to so much more than just fountain pens. Thank you, Jedi-master Drew!

[@Puviani]

The definition is actually very easy. Teal and turquoise are both a mix of green and blue. The difference between the two is that teals have a higher proportion of green while turquoises have a higher proportion of blue. A 50%-50% mix, or very close to equal parts, of green and blue is called cyan or aqua.

[@beckyisj]

The act of having to uncap a pen, wait for the ink to dry, before closing the notebook and just having those quiet, slow-down, present moments in the day is truly small joys that continue to brighten my day. Wouldn't have gotten here without Goulet Pens. Forever grateful for you both!

[@Gouletpens]

I couldn't agree with you more! And you sometimes don't know you need to take a breather until your pen forces you to - and then you're like, "oh wow. Thanks, pen." - Drew

[@EdoDoe613]

I really enjoyed your exploration between German, Italian and Japanese pens. It’s so interesting that each nation brings to their fountain pens more of a distinct focus yet equal passion! Also, the discussion about using “cheaper” pens when we’ve obtained higher-end pens was extremely germane for me. I do try to rotate my pens and incorporate some of both. Love the Pencast!

[@michellecanfield8013]

Since the two of you made mention of the Goulet Pens website during the part about the "hidden gems" inks, my comment is that the website is exceptional - and not just in the pen world. I can't think of a more beautiful, well-organized, and user-friendly online shopping experience - not to mention exceedingly helpful, with all the educational and reference content. Great job - don't ever change that!

[@Gouletpens]

Rachel Goulet is going to love hearing this! I've already passed it along. Thank you so much for leaving this comment. This isn't something that often gets commented on, and it really does mean a lot! - Drew

[@TymberJ]

They say that one of the best compliments for a good UX is how little people notice it -- it's just not human nature to pay attention when things just work the way you expected it would, no matter the complexity behind making it work that way. Your site hits all the marks for a good general e-commerce experience, and then the depth you add to take advantage of having such a focused product line up is fantastic. It's really a great achievement.

[@s.n.11]

Totally agree. And the photography work is awesome.

[@gv0861]

LOL...."We have about 15 minutes before we hit the 2 hr. mark so let's wrap this up"...................show goes on for 30 more minutes. Love it.

[@Gouletpens]

I try. - Drew

[@gv0861]

Keep trying, lol. I can't get enough of you two. Let's go for 3 hrs......@@Gouletpens

[@iterationomega]

Finally 2 hours plus again. Good weekend!

[@Rob_Taggart]

The difference in Drew’s stress level before the pen cast and after it was finally over, was absolutely palpable. Also, I got flu A, and was down for a week like everybody else.

[@Gouletpens]

Yeah man! - Drew

[@mellow-jello]

Emerald of Chivor was Brian's favorite ink mentioned in the Goulet videos for the past several years, though its presence has diminished in the Goulet Pencast vids. BTW got it immediately.

[@garethbraid937]

Pencast 101 sounds like it should be an introductory episode. By Pencast 300 I hope we begin to get on top of it all 😂... but just a touch concerned how detailed "it depends" will be at that level.

[@kat_koe]

love you guys playing with wedding rings, you guys rock with your friendship ❤️

[@crystalca9082]

Watching this from a cruise ship off the coast of Alaska! 👋 I follow Drew’s system of switching pens as well as ink with every fill, but mine is a little more structured. I have a loose schedule of the rough order in which I use each pen, slowly cycling through my entire collection and tacking new pens in as I go.

[@loracharis6814]

Had to like this for your faithfulness. Enjoy your cruise 🚢

[@Stitchxavi]

We wave to you with inky fingers 🖋️

[@Gouletpens]

Enjoy your trip, Crystal! - Drew

[@evanbasnaw]

On using cheap pens, I have Lamy 2000s and Pilot Falcons, but I find myself using my Platinum Plasir, Pilot Varsity, and Lamy Safari more often. I like the way they write and I never have to worry about them. The pocket pen is typically one of my cheaper and more reliable pens, the backpack pen is my expensive one that comes out and lives on the desk while I work.

[@elsaw0827]

I have a VP, Falcon, a couple of Monteverdes, Lamys, Kakunos, metropolitan, Hong dians, preppys and plat cool, I use what I enjoy. I rotate through most of them, but retire the ones that are not enjoyable, whether they are cheap or expensive

[@EmperorLeyba]

As a broke high school student, I have just saved up and purchased my first expensive pen, and I am looking for the courage to ink it up for the first time and to hold it without the fear of breaking it.

[@janepilecki8083]

I have felt that way about two pens I purchased. I wanted to make sure I was using just the right ink. And I "got to know" the pen by looking at it closely, feeling the texture of it, and dry testing it. But once I inked them up, I was so glad I had bought them. And they give me great joy. Aren't fountain pens just wonderful? Enjoy using your new pen.

[@monisreed1382]

As a teacher I carry my less expensive pens and use more expensive ones when I am not at school.

[@EastWind123]

I have finished off one bottle of Rainfluff and one bottle of Rohrer & Klingner Alt-Goldgrun. It was so awesome to meet you both at the live pencast! You were so kind to stick around to say hello when you were both so tired. You made my week! AND, I am now the proud owner of a Drewlet Feed Brush. YEAH!

[@Gouletpens]

It was a pleasure meeting you face-to-to face! - Drew

[@michaelmedlinger6399]

Thanks for another pencast! Your discussion about teal and turquoise reminded me of my grandmother. She was an artist, and rarely used such mundane words as yellow or blue. She always had the exact words for the various shades. My niece - also an artist - is much the same.

[@StacySchulze-cg1he]

I remember when volunteering on a project and trying to speak my second language (was in Mexico and speaking Spanish) thinking how one definition of being fluent would be knowing the specific words for colors. I will say the kids got quite a kick out of telling me the words for colors when I asked. In general, they seemed to really love helping adults who needed help with language.

[@Gouletpens]

That's so cool! - Drew

[@dawndemanda]

My husband is one of the rare men that really sees the subtle variations in colors and uses more descriptive names than most. He works at an screen printing ink manufacturer and has gotten even MORE precise with color names. I think he’s an artist at heart and has some great artwork from his youth.

[@TheNightowl001]

Happy Anniversary, Brian and Rachel! So grateful for this week's full-dose Pencast! As for teal vs turquoise, I don't know why they don't describe ALL colors just in terms of their wavelength of reflected light.

[@EphraimGlass]

I considered Diamine Marine but I like my inks on the darker side, so I went with Diamine Aurora Borealis, which I adore.

[@CinkSVideo]

I like Aurora Borealis too!

[@deniseplasse5126]

I have to agree, the Akkerman ink bottle is the coolest bottle!!!

[@herbertschulz9468]

Note: Sailor Jentle Ink bottles also come with an insert. Bottles that have separate sections to hold ink (i.e., internal inserts that tip and fill) like classic Sheaffer bottles or some old Pelikan bottles (and Montblanc?) are nice too. Waterman bottles are nice because they have large openings and are multifaceted so are stable at a tilt.

[@blktauna]

Micheal Biehn was sorely underrated. "Come with me if you want to live..." Classic. I have 4 montblancs (one is a gold nib) and I use my Kakunos most. For me its all feel. I have a couple of Jinhao and I love them. I rotate around a bit but the ones I use the most are 2 montblancs, a Schon pocket 6(

[@jolienkrispijn]

That's a clever idea with the silicone rings! My ex-brother in law has lost his finger when his wedding ring got stuck while he jumped over a low fence. You don't want that. I have to say he totally recovered and can do everything he did before, with that hand.

[@archivist17]

Glad he's okay. That's a gory injury.

[@jolienkrispijn]

@@archivist17 yes me too. It must have been very painful

[@johnamoroso271]

A bottle that you didn't mention, Waterman. Cool looking shape and can tilt for easier filling when the level gets low.

[@paulherman5822]

And the Sheaffer inkwell bottle. They reissued it, in a much smaller size than the original ones. Neither carried by Goulet, why they're not mentioned.

[@danbradli4970]

Thanks once again for a great way to end the week! I never understood giving up on my so called starter pens. Those are the ones that got me into the hobby and still enjoy my Safaris and Metropolitans, Preras etc. Love my 2000 and Custom 74 and 823 but the old ones still write wonderfully! Write on!

[@loukios]

1:53:34 I feel the exact same way about fountain pens. It forces me to look at what I’m doing. For me the thing that actually calms me down isn’t only the writing itself but also the color of the ink. Seeing words being written with Ancient Copper, for example, on the paper makes me happy. Thank you for keeping me company when I feed my baby daughter. Can’t wait till next week!

[@osirisgolad]

I've gone through entire bottles of the complete Akkerman catalog by now(triple broad nibs, baby) and rebought a couple, so two-thirds of my ink collection has been decanted into those bottles. Drew really saved his reputation by mentioning them after that unhinged rant about those dinky Luciferian plastic cups that don't hold enough ink to fully fill an eyedropper...

[@nkhasselriis]

It was such a pleasant and surreal experience getting to finally meet you two in person. I definitely dragged myself away when talking to Brian, as I didn't want to take up too much of his time. My friend who I attended the pen show with commented at the end of Sunday that he found it amusing that after going our separate ways to browse, when he went looking for me I was either "at a table looking at pens, or talking with Drew." Drew, I loved being able to chat with you. You truly are as bright in person as you come through in the Pencasts. Thank you for making my first pen show such a memorable experience. I certainly look forward to attending next year and many more to come. And perhaps other pen shows, my wallet willing! My favourite ink bottles are the Diamine ones (with the legs), the Iroshizuku ones, and the Jacques Herbin (gorgeous) ones.

[@Gouletpens]

It was an incredible experience for me as well! Thanks for coming! - Drew

[@marvinmediocre]

I pulled out the box for one of my Metropolitan and you are correct about the name. The instruction sheet says "MR Collection." On the back of the sheet, it shows three collections of the Pilot MR: Metropolitan Collection (the original three colors), the Animal Collection, and the Retro Pop Collection.

[@kris.1095]

Great episode! My favorite ink bottle is the Edelstein, and I’ve emptied and replaced a bottle of one of my favorite blue inks, Edelstein Topaz. Other bottles I’ve emptied: De Atramentis Document Fog Grey, Noodler’s Liberty’s Elysium and Purple Heart, Diamine Wine Divine, and Platinum Carbon Black.

[@edwardstaats4935]

Happy Anniversary, Brian and Rachel

[@ExiledExia]

I have finished a few ink bottles in my life. The smaller Iroshizuku bottles, several Edelstein bottles, several Waterman bottles, but in term of design and practicality, the Akkerman inkbottles take the cake for me. Love their colors, well behaved ink and the bottles are just like superbly awesome.

[@notarobot4492]

That Pilot measuring machine is fascinating, is it a custom machine developed by Pilot or do machines like that exist elsewhere in the world? As someone who would never consider traveling to a pen show I would be tempted to travel to a show if that machine was there.

[@玉琳柯]

I called it! As soon as Brian said his favorite teal has gold shimmer I went "Emerald of Chicken!" And I still use my inexpensive beginner pens. I replaced, a Kakuno that has been AWOL for years with two from the Family collection because I like the colored demos a lot more than the standard colorways. And I just added two Majohn A1 (stripes and fish scales) to my matte black one that I bought when the A1 first hit the market as a test balloon for the VP. I liked the A1 so much that I bought a VP and a Decimo in short order after using the A1 for a while. The new A1 looks classy, is a smooth writer, and costs a fraction of the Pilot. I wish Majohn would add more nib options, but 0.4 is very serviceable , and I could swap in a VP nib replacement unit. My favorite teals nobody you didn't mention was Diamine Aurora Borealis.

[@emmac5442]

The Pilot MR and the Plumix/Plumix mini only come in the international standard cartridge/converter version here in Europe. The Kakuno, Penmanship, Parallel, Prera, as well as all of the high end (gold nib) Pilot pens all use Pilot proprietary cartridges/converters. The Explorer is a bit of an interesting one, as I can find the model under the name 'Explorer' as an international standard cartridge/converter pen, but I can also find it as the 'Lightive' which is indicated as being "Considered the Japanese version of the Explorer", and it uses the Pilot proprietary cartridges/converters.

[@archivist17]

My 'Metropolitan' is a Cocoon, which is a Japanese version.

[@grim0099]

Never been this early! Love y’all and this community 😄🖋💕

[@redmoonvenus7327]

1:04:15 : ink bottles that I have finished and repurchased : - Waterman Violet Tendresse (tender purple - many bottles) - Diamine Dark Forest - Diamine Pansy - Herbin Poussière de Lune - Pilot Iroshizuku Ku Jaku - Pilot Iroshizuku Yama Budo - Pilot Iroshizuku Ina Ho - Pilot Iroshizuku Kon Péki - Noodler's Navajo Turquoise (Turquoise of the Mesa) - Krishna Halloween Orange (4 bottles so far)

[@kathyfannon7563]

Homestar Runner?! Strongbad?! They're a couple of cool cool guys! My son discovered Homestar Runner when he was in 4th grade. (He'll be 30 next month.) A couple of weeks ago he was going to show me something on his phone and I snickered at his Strongbad wallpaper, to which he replied, "Forever until I die!" When he was in high school he had a CD with some of the songs that I had put into my iTunes. It's hilarious when I shuffle my music and "Somebody Told Me" or "These Peoples Try to Fade Me" pop up! 😂 A few months ago he bought the DVD set! SO MANY quotable lines! Good times!

[@Gouletpens]

Haha! That's awesome! - Drew

[@hollishan]

One of the reasons I love Drew's Turquoise/Teal video is because I LOVE Turquoise inks! I have a large bottle of Diamine Havasu Turquoise, and I'm always looking for that bright, rich blue-leaning , aqua color. I tend to shy away from Robert Oster since I had a bad experience with the "Black N Blue" since my pens refused to write with it and all of the shimmer particles fell to the bottom of the sample vial (I know this is a risk with shimmer inks). You've definitely given me other inks to try/think about (like Diamine Marine) since I'm still looking for the perfect ink for my Sea Glass Estie. Completely agree with Drew about having the half and half be like a ticking time bomb to get to the fridge! I'm still basking in the afterglow of the DC Pen show. Thanks again for being so very generous with your time! After meeting you both and experiencing the pen cast live - watching pencast 101 and up feels like we're still there with you (again). Keep up the awesome work!

[@fossilimprint2954]

To answer your question, I found I write with the pens that feel more smooth/gliding, regardless of the cost of the pen. On average I found Pilots and TSWBI pens to fit that smoothness criteria even though my Pilots are way more expensive than my TWSBIs. I found that European pens that I own are not so smooth, my Lamy pens are the most scratchy.

[@thekanthalkid4273]

The waterman ink bottle is still the best bottle design. I have every brand you can think of, but I love that the waterman bottle is designed to sit tilted when your running low, to help get all the ink. To bad I don't use Waterman inks very often lol. Also I love Montblanc and Pelikan Edelstein bottles.

[@jbots8883]

Great response to a general question I had on J v G v I fountain pens.....nice broad stroke response with great detail thrown in. Very thoughtful. Appreciated.

[@bradsteigerwalt8224]

So I've finished of a bottle of thunder fluff. But I agree with Drew, I lose interest before they are done usually. I was all set to list a couple awesome bottle designs that I love, only to look on Goulet pens and find that they don't carry them. I like the ones where you can tilt them and they'll stay for you. So maybe they have a corner that's stable so you can tilt the bottle. For example, three oysters or waterman

[@francestenn7330]

Akkerman is the coolest bottle…I was gifted 3 bottles which came from Akkerman store in Den Haag, Netherland

[@janepilecki8083]

I went to the DC Supershow for the first time, and wow! Having only been to one pen show and that was the Commonwealth Pen Show which was in ONE very crowded room, I was truly overwhelmed! But iveryone I met was so nice and hug abounded! I had the time of my life. And I was thrilled to meet Brian and Drew, Adrienne and Brian K! You are all so very nice. I hope someday to return, but we shall see. As for favorite pen bottles, three immidiately come to mind: the Diamine 80 ml bottle because it has a good solid cap, a wide opening, it's deep, and it has a nice big footprint making it very stable. The Akkerman bottle is fabulous for the obvious reasons. And the other is one you no longer sell but it is handsdown my favorite: the Caran d'Ache bottles. They have a nice and sold metal cap, they are deep, and they are already tilted when you put them on your desk. Third favorite is Pilot Iroshizuku, but the caps are not tall enough for thick fingers and hands. I often have trouble getting them off.

[@Gouletpens]

It was a pleasure finally meeting you! - Drew

[@evayaaasantewaa448]

In awe of your expertise, gentlemen.

[@dawngilkison6123]

I was awed by the Pilot Iroshizuku bottle the moment I saw it, and the ink range lives up to the beautiful design. The Akkerman bottle is the coolest - I plan to get one when there is room on my ink shelf.

[@StacySchulze-cg1he]

Agreed: lust at first sight with the Iroshizuku bottle. Seeing them in a beautiful, lit glass case at a local store didn’t hurt, but I made myself wait months while I decided which color to get. It was Tsukushi, which I was so sad to see discontinued. Yet, I did not buy another. Having worked too many years in a yarn shop, I learned that there’s always something else that will be available when you need it.

[@annoxelia5440]

Thanks for another great show. I have been listening on youtube but have recently started listening on Spotify when I drive to/from work. I have started at the first episode. Given that it only takes me about 15 min to get to work, it will take me a while to get through all the pencasts that I've missed.

[@nope8535]

I only have one ink bottle, Noodler's 4.5oz. It is definitely what I needed, I write a lot so I primarily use an eyedropper pen because the Charlie pen I can drain in less than a week. Hand writing 25 pages in a single day at times, my cartridges I use are like a couple days.

[@karmesindryade]

HI there. Ink bottles I have completely used up and bought (several times) again are: Montblanc "Toffee Brown", Pelikan 4001 "blue-black" (I have used up probably 10 bottles of it), J.Herbin "Perle Noire" and Diamine "Imperial Purple".

[@wendywander7]

For my first several years with fountain pens, all my purchases were below the $40 mark. Even though I've been blessed to acquire some more expensive pens with remarkable writing experiences, I still use the less expensive pens all the time. I like to keep multiple nib sizes and ink colors at the ready for journaling and calligraphy projects. so whatever I have inked gets used. My current palette includes Jinhaos, Kawecos, Lamys, Diplomat Magnums, and TWSBIs as well as Benu, Pilot Custom 74, Leonardo Momento Zero, and Pilot E95S. I'm happy using all of them! I have used a whole bottle of Noodler's Lexington Gray, so I purchased the larger bottle (4.5 oz?) from you to refill the original 3 oz bottle. It's the only ink bottle I keep an Ink Miser insert in at all times. Thank you, gentlemen, for your interesting recap of the DC Pen Show and answers to more pen questions. Thanks for a great Pencast!

[@cd3694]

Kinda surprised to hear you guys were so separated from each other at the DC show. I would’ve assumed you’d be hanging out together.

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

I go with my daughter and we don't stick together the whole time. We want to look at different things, and I get sensory overload and need to occasionally take a break.

[@Gouletpens]

Brian stays still for too long. I gotta move! - Drew

[@dawndemanda]

I have yet to use a full bottle of any ink. I’m fairly new to the hobby and have gone wild with the inks - I have 30 bottles and don’t write with them for the little work I do. I absolutely love the Diamine Inkvent bottles with the feet. They are beautiful and the feet being spread makes it quite stable to me. The lid is awesome and it’s a good width for filling pens. I also like the look of Montblanc ink bottles but have never used one.

[@subhashishdg77]

Hey Drew - I am going to be at the SF Pen show on Saturday morning. If you are there, I would love to come say hi! LMK please! I have been watching Brian, you, Rachel and the rest of the team on KZbin for the past 6yrs - almost everything you have released during that time and some even before that. So it would be an honor!

[@jehan60188]

37:30, these three countries have something /else/ in common, too.... 😂

[@carlozsantos6246]

I have an question inspired by the ink bottles talk, what ink have you used an entire bottle of, and why ? And what ink can you realistically see yourself finishing ?

[@ShantiSatya-p6v]

KuJaku, Emerald of Chivor, and J.Herbin’s Perle Noir.

[@StacySchulze-cg1he]

Pelikan 4001 Violet was my grading ink. Used up bottle and have started another, but no longer grading papers. Herbin Poussiere de lune is my go-to in vintage pens. Used 30ml and working on 100ml now. In my deep past, I only had cartridges, but I’d bet that I used as least a bottle’s worth of blue or black.

[@adrienneyoung898]

Onto my second bottle of Wearingeul’s stone cutter’s song and so happy to see you carrying the line. It’s just a bunch of TRULY terrific inks!

[@ilikepens]

I use my less expensive pens to use my more temperamental inks. I also give them away to penable people that show interest. I also like having pens that I just don’t have to worry about.

[@StacySchulze-cg1he]

Yes! Less expensive pens are great to experiment with. I make sure to have a pen or 2 to penable someone (often copies of other pens I also use when I don’t want to worry).

[@fiddletwist]

I've sent some pens to Shawn Newton to auction for his scholarships, and also there are well stocked swap tables at some pen shows (Baltimore and DC have great ones) where you can leave things for others to pick up.

[@j.s.matlock1456]

Dear Drew, don't let Brian shame you for drinking coffee in hot weather. In the South, especially in Texas, sweet tea is the house wine, and we drink iced tea all year round.

[@StacySchulze-cg1he]

My most recent emptied bottles are Pelikan 4001 Violet and Herbin Poussiere de Lune (30ml). Since Poussiere de Lune lives in my Parker Vacumatic and is a bit of a signature ink, I now have a 100ml bottle. Will be quite the day when I finish it. Thinking of bottles I’ll probably never finish, Noodler’s Blue Ghost is my prime example. Maybe I need to start experimenting with mixing it into other inks. As for low cost pens, I absolutely keep them in rotation-for taking quick notes, when on the go and not wanting to worry, and to get other people to try fountain pens-especially children!

[@dhamijay]

pantone's color palette is consistent with teal being more green and dark, and turqoise being brighter and leaning into the blue

[@javiermazza1980]

Hello guys! Love the pencast, you're the soundtrack for my weekend chores. Question.... Although not ideal, sometimes you find yourself in the situation of having to use you fountain pen on "scratchy paper" (regular, non-smooth paper). When that happens I usally confirm how key paper is to the "trifecta". But I also wonder, can this "scratchy paper" "hurt" my nib or throw it out of allignment? Hope you can answer my question!

[@itsmeLori]

Dominant Industry bottles with their thick bottoms are pretty

[@redmoonvenus7327]

43:24 : speaking from France here. We do have the Kakuno taking international standard cartridges, as well as the MR (métropolitan, but here it is calles MR). I dont know about the Explorer - now that you mention it, I havent seen an Explorer yet in my brick and mortar stationnery boutique. We also have a kit to turn a Platinum pen into taking standard international. I dont know if Sailor does anything similar Also, supermakets here sell unbranded cartridges that are both Standard International or Parker/Lamy compatible, depending on which end you insert in your Pen.

[@mickimicki]

Used up and bought again: several bottles of Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue, Black and Violet, Turquoise at least once, and Lamy Blue-Black (while it was still the old formula. So long ago.)

[@davegoodridge8352]

Hope you all have a great weeend

[@zdzislawaprzyborska5653]

It does goes both ways! It's a pleasure to be able to losten to you guys! If you ever want to couch surf in Poland let me know!

[@s.n.11]

New section proposal: matching inks and pens. You can decide of an ink each week and propose color-matching pens for it. Or Pick a pen in a specific colour and propose inks that would go well with it. You could do this with the pen spotlight of the week. Also I think people would comment on them proposing their preferred ones giving me more options. Loved the show and your work. Thanks 😊

[@heathergleiser]

Homestar Runner! I used to watch Strongbad in college too in my computer science class if I finished my work. Those were the days!

[@RobertFisher1969]

The only ink bottle we’ve finished despite years of this hobby is Kon-Peki. Of course, that’s because we’ve bought way too many inks, and I picked Kon-Peki to be my “control” ink that always use as the first ink in any new pen. For me the Waterman ink bottle is still the best looking and most practical bottle.

[@nerdartastic]

I use cheap pens like preppy and swipe for carrying permanent inks like platinum carbon ink. My platinum preppy had gone through at least 5 refills of the carbon ink and I don't have to worry if it does happen to dry out on me. And I can disassemble and clean it out. But none has dried out on me yet. One time I didn't use my preppy for 1+ years and it miraculously still worked.

[@pontoon_cat]

Regarding the MR name for the Metro. It actually does say it somewhere! :) In the packaging, the Use and Care guide has the name "MR Collection" at the top. Another perfect and entertaining PenCast guys, loved the topics this time as I just acquired a #3376 Century in Laurel Green (was a "out of my league" pen for a while), so i needed the help to convince me to go back to an MR or my AL-Star right now. And currently have Emerald of Chivor in my Taccia Spotlight and they LOVE each other. On a Stalogy 016 notebook I have never gotten teal though, it comes out as a perfectly gold glitter emerald green. Just writing these few lines I realize how "deep" I am into this now, lol

[@FaithfulFarm]

I have actually "killed" two bottles of LAMY Benitoite and have already started on my third bottle. It is a wonderful ink - well behaved, quick drying, and pretty waterproof, too! I am also very close to the bottom of the bottle of Noodler's V-Mail Burma Road Brown. It is the first ink bottle I ever bought and still my favorite!

[@erkschadeable]

Kakuno for the win! Love that little cheapy. Also by swopping to a cheaper pen every now and then, helps me appreciate my nicer pens

[@TheRacerRich]

I'm sitting at a desk with a Iroshizuku, Edelstein, Graf von Faber Castell, and some other bottles on it, and the best looking bottle is the ST Dupont bottle (the modern boat shaped ones), though the GvFC bottle gets second place.

[@yorkdox7]

Talking about wedding rings and working with your hands… my dad welded his wedding ring to the furnace once upon a time. Good call going with silicone!

[@dawngilkison6123]

OMG that sounds scary!

[@dragonrambles]

FWP Grape Pop is a finish and replace bottle for me. It's a great work ink. FWP Bluegrass Velvet will be too but as I have the big bottle, it'll take a while to get empty. For great ink bottles that both look good and are practical, I like the TWSBI diamond. I have it at work where I love being able to unscrew the nib section from my 580 and use that filling mechanism instead of dipping my pen in the bottle. Means I can refill in meetings if I run out.

[@Pr4mer]

Drew, highly recommend you borrow one of Brian's Pilot Metropolitan 1.1 Stub nib pens and give it a whirl. The nib gives a lot of feedback but the line variation is fabulous and gives a flare to day-to-day writing without the effort of being deliberate to create that same line variation.

[@ejourneys]

Welcome back! Glad you two had a chance to rest and recover. Levenger's 50 ml ink bottles include inserts and are very stable. I've most recently emptied and replenished their Gemstone Green and Amethyst (and likely others in the distant past; Levenger was my entry into fountain pens in the 1990s). As for inexpensive vs expensive, my pens in use range in price from Platinum Preppy to Benu Scepter, with different nibs, ink colors, filling mechanisms, etc. The Preppy is my EDC.

[@heathergleiser]

I didn’t know Levenger had ink but I’ve seen their pens. Are either of them worth checking out?

[@ejourneys]

@@heathergleiser I enjoy their ink, which is a quality product. That being said, I've only recently begun branching out, so I have very little basis for comparison with other brands. Although Levenger sells only their own ink (and sold it before they established their own pen), they sell multiple pen brands, so my first purchase from them was a Waterman Phileas (no longer being made). I adore the Phileas, which is still one of my favorite pens. I had purchased one of Levenger's earliest True Writer pens, which writes well, has good balance, and is sturdy. However, it felt more cheap in the hand than the Phileas, which made sense because it cost less. Still, it's a good, basic pen. I have no idea what the True Writer is like these days, except for many more varieties of design. I assume it still performs well, but I don't know whether the feel of the resin has changed.

[@heathergleiser]

@@ejourneys Thank you! I’d wondered about the True Writer pens since they have the look of Esterbrook pens but at a fraction of the price. Maybe if they’re on sale one day I’ll try one.

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

Drew, the lobby restaurant serves real nice lattes. I also drink coffee for the cozy comfort of it. I had to take a break on Friday, and desperately needed coffee, because the coffee maker in my room didn't work! I also met Azizah. She was standing by the registration desk and I wouldn't have known she was there, but I heard her voice. Its funny how some of us listen to so many pen videos that we recognize you guys by your voices alone. My daughter; Robin; heard you at the Triangle show, before seeing you.

[@Gouletpens]

I did have a nice Americano in the lobby! - Drew

[@CinkSVideo]

I’ve only finished the smaller bottles of Pilot ink. A couple I liked so much I bought the larger bottle. I’ve finished a couple of Mont Blanc bottles, but haven’t bought any in years. I rotate through ink colors so no one ink gets used all the time except Noodler’s Black that I use for sketching. At this point, I’ve bought enough ink in large enough bottles that I doubt I will ever run out of ink. I’ve not dabbled in the Sailor inks yet, but this will change soon. Twsbi Eco are my least expensive pens and I use them regularly. They are my travel go to pens too because I don’t worry about running out of ink on a week long trip.

[@monkpato]

The thing that gets me about the Iroshizuko bottles is that they were so close to being awesome! If only that indent were twice as deep.

[@NicholasPaulFranks]

Are there going to be special extended episodes?😅

[@JefferyHall-ct2tr]

Hey Guys!: Another cracking episode of the Pencast! Really enjoyed the discussion of the different teal inks! Want to try some of the ones you showed! Sounds like the DC pen show was like a NICE long vacation: You have a GREAT time on your trip, but after it's over you need time to RECOVER! Been there done that! Never been to a pen show, however, going to have to do one. There is one in Orlando, that might be possible for me. Anyway, can't wait until the next pencast!

[@Gouletpens]

I've heard great things about the Orlando show! - Drew

[@josh1216]

I have a Sailor 1911 Realo and it is my favorite piston pen. Was unaware there was a mini version though. Apparently they don't offer the KoP Realo anymore because they got in trouble with Monteblonc over it, so stopped making it. Instead of using (what is imho the best ink window of any pen) the ink window style of the 1911/PG they used the Monteblonc ink window style.

[@tbayless8324]

For bottles Diamine because of the legs. I just bought an empty bottle just to have it. And agreed on Ferris Wheel Press. It's nice to pour my ink samples in because it is small.

[@marilyngardner4269]

Office Depot (and probably Office Max) in the U.S. sells the Pilot Metropolitan and calls it the MR. I see both the MR Metropolitan line and MR Retro line listed, so I guess they're doing it properly. As for tryal inks, there are many I love, but I'm with Drew -- Robert Oster Deep Sea is a favorite.

[@movingchicane22]

I have also wandered around the Short Pump mall many times killing time on business trips to Glen Allen and I don't think I've ever bought anything. I distinctly remember visiting the Crate and Barrel in Short Pump with my wife and making fun of many things.

[@differentkindofGEKE]

Diamine Serendipity for another teal with shimmer. I love it in my Lamy AL-Star in petrol. I’m looking for non-shimmer teals. I’m going to use the filter. Great tip! Marine is one I’m going to have to explore.

[@clockworkgnome]

1:04:23 Monarca Stationery Nopal and Kyo-no-oto No. 04 Yamabukiiro (I add a drop or two of White Lightning to it as well)

[@Calcprof]

Taiwan pens are interesting -- TWSBI and Opus 88 (are there others? I'm probably missing some.) Then there are Chinese pens, which often (but not always) are based on other brand's designs, but they seem to be recently branching out. And I suspect that some Chinese companies are OEM for other (western) brands. Inks bottles used up: Penman Sapphire, Noodlers Black and Baystate Blue, Aurora Black. Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue. Other interesting ink bottles: Caran D'Ache (the tilt-y one!) , Graf von Faber Castell, Scribo.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

Mr Cypress is also another Taiwanese pen brand.

[@cringecentral751]

Although Mont Blanc cartridges and converters are similar to the international ones, they are slightly different and only work with that brand

[@marileemck]

My fav teal ink with shimmer is Emerald de Chivor also. However to my eyes J Herbin Bleu Austral looks to be the same color (or close enough) so it's always inked in my teal Pilot Custom 74 pen.

[@mkbuike7895]

Using inexpensive pens: I don’t buy pens over $50. I mostly use my pens to draw as an Urban Sketcher. I prefer cheaper pens when I’m drawing on location in case I drop, loose, or something else. I’ve also started to carry a Preppy with a cartridge to give to another artist who wants to try fountain pens.

[@StacySchulze-cg1he]

Yay! I’ve mostly been a watercolor sketcher who has been trying more ink sketching, and I’ve been using inexpensive pens for the same reason.

[@kmhurd4493]

I have kept every pen I have bought- except my Retro51 Lincoln which is on loan to my hubby. 😂 I love my less expensive Picasso for work- I’m on my second one b/c of breaking the first one dropping on tile😅. I also like my Jinhao pens for everyday. My EDC pen is my Monteverde Regatta b/c it is magnetic cap and looks 😚🤌🏻 as a conversation starter. Also- my husband bought me a Noodler’s Ahab as my first pen for the flexy nib - but the filling/cleaning annoyance of that one keeps me from using it anymore.

[@heathergleiser]

Haha, I feel like Brian flexing on sales reps when I get out two of my pens that are regional exclusives. “Ever seen this color? Boom.” 😁 DC sounds like a fun show but pretty overwhelming.

Diamine Marine is also my fave! As recommended by Brian, of course. 😊

[@zeus52452]

Another great video. I think Brian is spot on with Studio 967 for a really nice olive green, but I think 743 is the better dark blue. However, I think 943 would be a good replacement for other ink companies Blue/Black!! As for pens, I like the full range of price points, but do not own any one that cost more than $400 including some vintage. I recently acquired an inexpensive BOGO special of a $17.00 pen that amazed me as such a smooth and wet writer for having a fine nib. The pen is the Indus model that I got from Fountain Pen Revolution. You should give them a try!!