Reverse Writing, Pen Show Memories, and Grail Nibs | Pencast 122

[@rakisk8r]

I love Goulet Pen Company, the heart and soul of your business & how you all seem so kind and respectful with each other and so helpful with your customers! Ethan was a Helpful Honeydew to me. I am an older person and I've had a stroke and have a scrambled brain. Ethan was soooo helpful and patient with me and it really warmed my heart and helped restore my optimism for the future of humanity. I am NOT exaggerating. Thank you, Ethan, Brian, Drew and team! May you all be blessed with good health & joy. ~ kari 🦊 in Victoria, BC Canada ☮

[@Gouletpens]

I'll make sure Ethan sees this! - Drew

[@crystalca9082]

1:16:19 Reverse writing also comes in handy for artists, as it gives ultra fine lines/low ink output that’s great for fine detail and hatch work.

[@woodthrushcottage]

It's pencast Fri-Yay! love my Sticker Brian and would like a Sticker Drew. He is sporting his patch jacket, converse sneaks, 3 pens inked, carrying corgi. Thank you in advance. 😊

[@emilyl3365]

Yes! That’s perfect! Drew will also have to wear a cool shirt with the patch jacket!

[@krys6461]

Right? I mean, sticker Brian needs his friend!

[@noop5_plans]

I fourth this motion!

[@s.n.11]

I'm totally in!!

[@emmac5442]

You've once again activated my Chemistry student side haha! Bismuth is my favourite element, Bismuth crystals are absolutely stunning! It's not steel (steel is specifically an alloy of Iron and Carbon), but it is a metal! Metal describes a certain section of elements of the Periodic Table that have certain characteristics, which Iron, Gold, Silver, Copper, but also Bismuth and many more elements belong to. Bismuth crystals are not really formed by a chemical reaction, but by melting the metal and then cooling it down slowly (there's a bunch of youtube videos showing how you can diy one). The amazing square spirally step structure the crystals have, has to do with the way the Bismuth molecules stack onto each other when the molten metal is cooled down! The beautiful iridescence the crystals have is a result of a chemical reaction: the surface of the Bismuth oxidises when exposed to air, and those oxides on the surface cause the beautiful oil-spill colours! Edited to add: A crystal just refers to a solid that has a highly ordered microscopic structure, i.e. the particles/atoms/molecules are stacked onto each other very orderly. So metals can be/form crystals, but not all crystals are metal!

[@jar7709]

Geochemist chiming in to agree this is all correct! I am the one "banging my head against the keyboard" and yelling that metals can absolutely form visible crystals 😂

[@StacySchulze-cg1he]

Me, too, as a former analytical chemist who previously did research with catalysts made from rare metals. @@jar7709

[@s.n.11]

Thank you very much for the clear explanation!!

[@arianalee2100]

Well said! Bismuth is one of my favourites too, it’s a shame it’s so brittle.

[@davidparrishproductions5082]

Brian always says KaWeko…Drew Says KaVeko, and comically… it’s never discussed. Can you, like, discuss? Love you guys!

[@lefthandedclogger]

Dunno if they’ll discuss but JetPens has a video on how to pronounce German stationery terms by a fluent German speaker. In German, the letter W is pronounced like a V. So “KaVeco” is technically correct. (Source: I studied German for ten years along with Linguistics in college. So I can confirm that the pronunciation in that video is flawless!)

[@nilsweers1887]

​@@lefthandedcloggerim a native speaker and i second this

[@loukios]

1:16:20 as a sidewriting lefty, I reverse write sometimes if I need the ink to dry asap, as it lessens the ink flow and keeps the tines from flexing out. Unfortunately, being left handed and writing from left to right means you push against the paper, not pull away and that makes reverse writing more challenging as well.

[@raventhelight9357]

Hey drew very very cool watch this week!! Also I normally listen to the pencast with headphones. I just want to say that Brian has done a fantastic job on not hitting the mic anymore.

[@IAimTo-Misbehave]

Ethan helped me out several times. He's great. Thanks again for the assistance!

[@Gouletpens]

That's great to hear! - Drew

[@patriciaclark7135]

How timely to see Ethan today! He just very patiently answered my questions about a pen a bought a few years ago. It didn't show up (on my end) in my order history. I couldn't remember the name of the wood my pen was made out of. Thanks Ethan! My new pen inventory is now more accurate thanks to your time and effort. :)

[@itsmeLori]

Drew’s game boy watch is super cool

[@pixlfox9902]

I might have screen shot that and sent it to a friend >_> (The friend is in consensus by the way.)

[@MadameM.]

Loved hearing from Ethan. Great to get to know some of the wonderful staff at Goulet. Ethan is truly amazing at what he does, I've been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of his help and advice. He is a stellar employee! Wish he would have been allowed to actually finish some of his sentences.

[@kristiw.1823]

Ethan was one of the first folks in customer service that I got to pepper with questions about fountain pens. Lovely to put a face with the name. You and the rest of the CS team go way beyond the basics, in terms of taking care of Goulet fans!

[@mai-linhmainor5965]

Drew! Your Esterbrook idea is freaking genius! Like the Kaweco or Monteverde calligraphy set? Pen body of your choice and then all the specialty nibs in a beautiful box! 😍

[@mikideez623]

Sleep overs, ice pops, Langoliers, and Drew's Gameboy watch? This episode was a total 90s flashback for me. Just throw in a Tamogotchi, a Koosh Ball, and a Skip-It, and there's my childhood. 😂

[@Tomatohater64]

Wow! A two and a half hour Pencast! My week is now truly complete. Love it.

[@archivist17]

Yeah, but it's been a busy week, and I hadn't finished last week's when this was published 😱 Trying to catch up now... 😀

[@amyfeigt6715]

In regard to reverse writing, I actually had a really cool experience with that. I purchased a 2nd hand Benu Euphoria, but it had a Broad nib (I almost exclusively use F/EF) so i ordered a replacement Fine nib unit with the intention of swapping it out. I am not, however, patient enough to wait for the replacement nib to arrive before inking up the pen. The broad was way too thick for me, but on a whim, I flipped it over to try it reverse....PERFECT line width! So now, i kind of have 2 pens in one! I use the broad side for drawing thick grid lines for some tracking that I do for work & use it in reverse for regular writing. Both sides are smooth as glass & the feed never struggles.

[@fletcherchambers7175]

My respect for Drew rose when he answered "Chaos Emeralds" instantly.

[@jamesstorie2826]

I am so glad to hear Drew say that he hates summer! I fully agree, between the bugs, and the humidity in Alabama I cannot stand it. So nice to hear someone else hate summer. Love the Pencast, they are very enjoyable and a great way to end the week!!!

[@GummyBear1972]

I use reverse writing now and then to write in a tiny space in my bullet journal, especially because I tend to buy medium and broad nibs, but I have a yearly tasks spread with a small grid to track the dates completed. It works as a quick fix when I don't have a fine nib pen handy.

[@JefferyHall-ct2tr]

Hi Guys!: Really enjoying the segments where we get to meet one of your team! Of course your pencasts are ALWAYS fun! Can't wait to see what Brian's bridge looks like when it is done!

[@davegallagher1109]

29:26 Brian is thinking of the Pelikan Stola III, which was actually my first fountain pen and ran around 30-35$ when I bought it. Found it to be pretty consistent of a writer and got me more into the world of fountain pens

[@catewatrous2131]

I was on a flight the other day with a man wearing what I now call a “Drew shirt” with smurfs on it. The first thing I thought of when I saw him was, ‘I bet owns fountain pens.’ And I meant that as the most sincere compliment. Thanks Drew for all you do to make personal expression through statement shirts so cool and fun.

[@joanwerthman4116]

Funny thing: USPS delivered my order from you just as I started the Pencast. I checked, naturally rinsed the nib and had filled my brand new Lamy LX (of course in Marron) with Kaweco Caramel Brown right as you got in the subject. I’ve got to note that nib is wonderfully smooth compared to the Safari which is a pleasant nib. But the LX is such a palpable step up, I was thrilled. Thank you so much for your great service as always. Edited to correct Autocorrect changing nib to Nike. Go figure.

[@debcarroll8192]

Way to bypass the whole bar exam thing, Drew-- congratulations! I have that Hawaiian print corgi shirt, too. I hope to make it to the Atlanta pen show in April-- if I do, I will wear my corgi shirt.

[@mar1nka.]

Ethan!!! So great to see you, thanks for helping me with yet another order just this week! 🤩 You are a star in my book.

[@jess53nz]

Never would've dreamed me saying you can pronounce it Aussie would end up like this. They took it to the next level! Awesome

[@Gouletpens]

I never know which random statement could generate a side quest! - Drew

[@jess53nz]

@@Gouletpens good point! We just have the best community don't we. ❤️

[@jeremywhetzel4007]

1:19:17 Richard Binder's italic grind with a fine on the reverse was, I believe, called an Itali-fine. Even though, like Drew, I'm a big fan of extra-fine nibs, I also love having reversible versions of those. The regular extra-fine is good for everyday writing, but having an even finer line is great for artwork, and also for fitting more in a Some-Lines-a-Day journal.

[@plaipie]

Please attend more pen shows. You guys are our pen celebrities. Still remembered meeting Drew in SF😊

[@existentialcrisisoctopus]

As soon as Mr. Goulet mentioned that it had rained a lot before he started unloading the lumber from his truck, I had a feeling I knew where the story was going. Sorry he had to go through that again, but at least he knew what to do now! Experience is the hardest teacher, always giving the test first and the lesson after 😊😅 (Also, I was unreasonably excited about the Return of the Snatchblocks!) I was at the Raleigh Pen Show last year; it was my first pen show and it was a great experience, but apparently I missed Mr. Brown every day I was there unfortunately! Maybe this year. Thank you for a great Pencast, as usual! Turkey hammock!

[@kjmav10135]

You guys are just so enjoyable. Thank you for doing this crazy podcast.

[@saltywarden]

I always use reverse writing for filling in newspaper crosswords or puzzles with small boxes or spaces. It also gives you a better viewing angle of the text you are trying to write down.

[@fine_nib_witch]

All the lovely pen show memories made me wonder if you all had plans to come to the PNW pen show in June??

[@penguin1780]

Adding my voice to the chorus, come visit us here in the PNW. Staci, the woman who puts on the show, is a wonderful, friendly person and a personal friend of mine. I volunteered last year and will probably do so again this summer.

[@fine_nib_witch]

@@penguin1780 ooh how do you volunteer? I think i’d like to do that too if i can!

[@MelissaElsworth]

I too add my voice for the PNW pen show! For volunteering there is usually a link on the website. I also volunteered last year and it was a blast.

[@Gouletpens]

I would love to get out there someday! - Drew

[@DrewSprague1218]

It was great to put a face to Ethan's name. When I called in December to ask if you had an ETA on an Estie Raven piston restock, I was disconnected in the middle of asking my question. Before I could redial, Ethan had called me back! He was a delight then and seems like a great guy.

[@Gouletpens]

He's a good one! - Drew

[@geraldlinhofer7931]

At least in Europe Pelikan does offer affordable fountain pens for adults. For example "Jazz Noble", "Pura", "Pina Colada" or "Ilo".

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

When it comes to reverse writing, I know of artists that value this option in order to get a thinner stroke with the same pen. Typically they own multiple pens with different nib sizes, but when it comes to on-the-go sketching this is a useful feature to have in a pinch.

[@arianalee2100]

Idea for the narrow cabinets in Drew’s house: put your chopping boards there. Along with trays. Or use them as condiment cupboards by installing shelves with railings on them so you can pull them out and use them. I’ve got similar cupboards and that’s how I use mine, respectively.

[@Gouletpens]

That is indeed what occupies one of them. The problem is that we have three more! - Drew

[@jimkrieger776]

(1) Reverse writing is an ideal way to add a word or two above the larger words that fill most of the space between the lines of typical journals. The available space can be too cramped for broad nibs to write legibly. In addition, the thin script stands out from the rest of the text and draws the eye to notes and edits that might otherwise go unnoticed. (2) The instant my new Platinum Music pen, filled with my new Bad Belted Kingfisher, touched the first page of my new Rhodia journal--all purchased directly from Brian, with his help and advice, back when he was answering the phone--my writing life changed. (Possibly for the better.)

[@archivist17]

That's an extra use I'd not thought of. Thanks!

[@davegoodridge8352]

Thanks guys. I sat down to watch Pencast with a cup of coffee. Then I Remembered talking to Ethan the time one of my pens was frozen. He was very friendly and helpful. I ended up finding my pens and trying reverse writing. Then grabbing my Doritos and putting them in the freezer. Kind of tired me out. Hope you all have a great weekend and good workweek next week…dave

[@lantismail]

I think Ethan was the one who helped me on chat awhile ago. I wanted to know if the loose nibs could fit into a calligraphy holder and the Customer Care Team tried to fit them into different holders for me to test them out! That was definitely going above the call of duty and I appreciated it very much!!!! Thank you to the Customer Care Team!!!

[@keyofchronology]

It was nice to meet Ethan! One pen that didn't dry out for me when I left it in my drawer for 2+ years was my Transparent Orange TWSBI Eco. I was dreading taking it out again and avoided looking at it for so long, only to take it out and have it write fine with no dry starts.

[@redmoonvenus7327]

1:12:22 Reverse Writing I something turn my nib upside down when I have to write very small, like when I add a note between two lines of a text ; or if I missed a letter inside a word and have to cram it back in. Or when I have to write on a very crappy paper like newspaper or a paperback book. It's mostly just one word or two, and it is not often that I do that, but sometimes it comes in handy.

[@harmonybat]

I had an older Pelikano that was reasonably adult looking, I think from the early 2000s? It was blue and had a steel cap and a slightly inset nib.

[@nibbedinthebud]

Materials science and engineering student here - another commenter has beaten me to the punch here, but I wanted to weigh in on the metal/crystal topic. Like they said, "crystal" describes any material that has its atoms arranged in a repeating, orderly pattern. Basically all metals are indeed crystals at the atomic level. The main difference between a metal and something like a clear hexagonal quartz crystal is that quartz has stiffer bonds between atoms, so it's able to keep all of its atoms lined up in tiny hexagons, which makes the whole thing one giant hexagon. Metals have more flexible atomic bonds, so the atoms can wiggle around and fall out of symmetry more easily, making the metal a mish-mash of small crystal pieces facing different directions. It's sort of like if you took a box of Dots and made them into a candy tower by stacking them up in neat rows, versus just mushing them all together, with each Dot representing a mini-crystal. Materials science is a field with a lot of fountain pen intersections!

[@Gouletpens]

Thank you! - Drew

[@keefensera2004]

I can totally relate to Brian's difficulty in interpreting the very subtle hints provided by ones partner. After nearly 20 years of marriage I still struggle to understand what is an offer and what is a request. When my wife walks into the room and says "cup of tea?" I always have to check whether I am very generously being offered a nice cup of tea, or whether I am being instructed to make a cup of tea. Nine times out of ten it is the latter, but it does keep me on my toes🙂🙂

[@ryanmcfadin09]

I'm guessing that Monteverde Regatta is based on the De Stijl artist Mondrian. His art is pretty dang cool, and definitely worth checking out.

[@archivist17]

Definitely the best looking Regatta yet (but that could be because it acts like 'dazzle ships' camouflage 😄)

[@marcusm359]

I want a gold nib TWSBI!! 31:19

[@wendywander7]

I have a few Sailor medium-fine steel nib pens which were around $40, the Lecoule and the Profit Jr, and they're some of my most-used pens, consistent and reliable. I don't know if they're generally available in the U.S., but they're great pens! I would say they nailed it, but maybe they don't distribute them yet, which is too bad. I use reverse writing in my journal tracker where there's a small slot, and I'm really glad to have the option. I enjoyed getting to see Ethan! He assisted me with pen purchases a year ago and was very helpful. I have never heard of cold Doritos before. Thanks for the great Pencast!

[@LightningWithaTouchofMag-on7oe]

Random question: if you could take one of the pens in the other person’s pen collection, all personalizations included (nib grinds, converting to eyedropper, etc.) free of cost and repercussions, what would it be and why?

[@classdatsite17]

Hi, thank you guys for your tireless and consistent work spreading the fountain pen hobby! You have certainly reignited my interest after a 10-year hiatus. I recently purchased a vintage Waterman CF at an auction, the 18K nib was a surprising delight, but unfortunately the plastic cartridge that came with it didn't seal very well and broke done very quickly due to the aging process. I wanted to buy an original one but it is very difficult to find. I wonder if you guys could provide me some tips about how to DIY a cartridge with easy-to-find materials? And if possible, maybe some general tips that are not specific for the CF but apply to other vintage pens that are not compatible with today's standard cartridge converters? Thank you so much!

[@obsoleteengineer6507]

My favorite stuffed animal growing up was Patch from 101 Dalmatians. In fact he is enjoying a second life as he is now one of my Son's favorites!

[@MamaTomasu]

I'm loving Drew's tips on ice pops...I'm 39 with 3 kids and never thought about intentionally freezing them upright to avoid the sticky scissors. Also, great tip to cut off the tops in a rounded fashion to avoid the stabby corners! So simple. #iamtodayyearsoldwhenilearnedthis

[@Gouletpens]

Happy to have been of assistance! - Drew

[@stareenafraser]

🎉🎉🎉🎉 happy Friday ! So glad to see yall

[@patriciaclark7135]

Happy to finally get here!

[@Surtak]

Feedback on the topic of reverse writing. I actually find it very helpful to make annotations in my notes. I own a Platinum Procyon that reverse writes very well and I can basically switch between a Medium line and an Extra Fine line (maybe even EEF). It fits very neatly in between my lines of writing or on the sides. And since I have ADHD and frequently have to go back to add thoughts or change things because of wonky brain chemistry, it's a very useful edit function that is otherwise missing from a pen and paper experience. Btw, I think that Procyon's nib may be intentionally good at reverse writing because of how good it is. Not even that scratchy!

[@kjmav10135]

The Mondrian pen is named after Piet Mondrian, one of the founders of the abstract art movement. His “Composition” series of works look a lot like these, and they’re in the best museums all over the world.

[@LordWaterBottle]

For a fist time fountain pen user who generally likes wider tipped roller-balls like the Uni-Ball Vision 0.7mm, what do folks think of: Diplomat Magnum medium nib Pilot Metropolitan stub nib + CON-40 2 ink sample kits Ink syringes and bulb syringe I am a heavier handed writer, so I do not think fine points are appropriate to begin.

[@bradsteigerwalt8224]

Hey guys! I was laughing so hard at the irony of your back to back questions on grail nibs and reverse writing. I have a monoc nib from schonDSGN and it is the only pen I enjoy reverse writing. It works as a fine in regular, but when flipped out is a medium, great for underlining and bold text.

[@Claudia_CG_Garza]

I have 3 of my grail nibs being made for me right now by Jeremiah (Monty Winnfield) on the way. I purchased his Vario Wet Noodle (a flex nib, not stacked), and 2 of his stacked nibs - a Cobra & Talon nibs. I am SO HAPPY that I ordered all 3 last month because now that you guys mentioned his "artistry" & ingenuity he'll be back logged for a year or more! I really REALLY want his Basilisk nib but at this point I need to save up for it. Great call you 2 on mentioning him because he IS really talented & creative!!

[@Gouletpens]

I'm sure you'll be thrilled with the results! - Drew

[@blackhellebore89]

You could sand down the cabinet doors and maybe the back of the cabinet to make more space for the plates. I got looked at very judgingly once in the whiteware section carrying around a dinner plate. The person's expression changed to wonder as I place my awkwardly sized plates into all of the dishwashers to see which one my dinnerware would fit in the best. The one we were replacing couldn't fit it in!

[@nope8535]

I tune my nibs to reverse write as well as normal so that I can have 2 line widths. It is useful for different papers and for editing notes in margins or in tight spaces. Did make a stub that initially made the reverse a normal nib grind, but didnt have a use for it.

[@vm32ph]

1:12:16 I reverse write 100% of the time with my Lamy Safari at work, the work diary we are given uses ok paper but on the thin side and bleeds quite easily so to counter this issue, I reverse write 😅

[@VailsMom]

I would love to see the major makers find a solid design and function at the entry level equivalent to the Pilot Metropolitan and its worldwide sisters (Cocoon, Retro Pop, MR). Having said that, it would be amazing for Pilot to give the Metropolitan a glow-up with some new colors.

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

Happy Friday Morning! Time for a Pencast! I'm here for the discussion of reverse writing, because I've been wondering why it's a thing. That Barrier Reef pen appeals to me on so many levels. I think Nahvalur is attempting to go upscale, with their Ebonite pens, Voyage and Horizon series and their D.C.show pen debut. I hope they don't abandon their affordable pen range, though.

[@Green.Candies]

Even if I don’t reverse write, as far as I’ve seen on different pen related channels it is used when you want to write “sub notes” or really really fine. But that is my own perception of this, so take it with a grain of salt

[@ksek]

I have a Monty Winnfield nib that was made to write differently regularly and reverse (the Kestral nib). I also sometimes reverse draw with the fude nib if I want to switch between broad strokes and fine lines when sketching.

[@shazzagirl9803]

Drew congrats on becoming an honary Auzzie of the Brisbane chapter. We actually prefer all our words to be said as we say them, thats when you really fit in.Mighty impressed with your pronunciation of Brisbane as "Brisbin" and the city of Melbourne is pronounced "Melbin". But then we shortenen so so many words. Brisbane becomes "Brizzie" Sharon becomes Shazza, sunglasses become Sunnies. Watching the local Brizzie weather the other night thinking no tourist would have any idea what location our presenters are talking about. "The Goldie" the "sunny coast", "surfers", "D Bar" are all locations amongst many more. That's how much our slang has taken over our lives. How funny 😊

[@archivist17]

I love listening to Aussies talk (though not enough to watch soaps!).

[@shazzagirl9803]

Haha that's totally understandable, I couldn’t bring myself to do that either😊

[@mai-linhmainor5965]

I purchased a Regatta very early in my pen journey, it was heavy, hated the omniflex nib and wasn't too happy with the regular nib either so I gifted it to my nephew but.....everytime a new version comes out I have to stop myself from getting one. They look is so cool!

[@timothymay9646]

I love the Pineider Metropolis---but then again I got it for $30. I use it with my planner every day. I probably would have balked at the original price..but on the other hand, I got a white and this pen at this price convinced me that 1) I'd get another white pen, and 2) Pineider makes some really great pens. Pelikan also has some inexpensive pens...the Elegance. But I got that in Kazakhstan and haven't seen it anywhere in the states. It is a thinner, but very professional/office type looking metal pen with black lacquer.

[@tiantuatara]

Hey Drew! I ordered up a bunch of Chinese food and had friends over for the Rumble. It's great fun because there's always stuff going on.

[@E.Williams-z9y]

Frozen chips a new thing for me. Frozen Pop-Tarts sound interesting though. Start haunting a local Habitat for Humanity store for used cabinets. It might take a while but you can get great cabs for really cheap. Still have to pay for install, but the savings can be huge.

[@MelissaElsworth]

I would say the Ritma Gala would be pronounced like the ball type of Gala as it reminds me of the pencils used with dance cards.

[@krys6461]

For super high end of usually low end brand, I'd design a PENdant rainbow flex nib with anodized trim TWSBI meant to be fully disassembled with some interesting edges between parts cut to disappear in the exterior surface but to have the whole thing done as a clear demonstrator but in Jack Storms type material so that the many "seamless" edges do that thing Jack Storms do in the light.

[@noop5_plans]

I bought a Sinclair pouch and am going to give the three pen rule a try! I will update how it goes 😅

[@INERTIA4SC]

Love the podcast. Awesome stuff. My question is, if you can no longer get the original Tomoe River paper for your notebooks, will you replace it with the Sanzen Tomoe River?

[@JeffWernerIthacaNY]

A fancy Lamy with a big gold nib could totally have some kind of weird geometric design to the nib, something consistent with their smooth simple lines but still makes you say whoa nobody has ever made anything like this...

[@sunnycharacter]

Yes guys, artists that use fountain pens do use their reverse writing, or “drawing” from time to time because we like the option for thinner lines without switching pens or nibs.

[@TheTanusaki]

Hello! I just have a question for Brian and Drew. I don't know If you have answered this before in a previous Goulet Pencast but could you please be so kind to suggest a fountain pen and a small, preferably wire-bound notepad for taking notes while standing and not sitting in the comfort of a desk. Maybe something forgiving in terms of quick and relatively reckless writing?! Thank you for educating me on fountain pens for over a decade! Cheers xx

[@adammettafusion]

Hi Brian and Drew - Seeing the wonderful painted valentines Benu gave me an idea - I have pens! I have paint! but that is where my idea ends :) Do I need any specific materials, primers, top coat sealer etc, or special paint to decorate one of my fountain pens. Love the show - my mum and I watch each week on our living room tv :)

[@HoytRoberson]

Completely agree with Drew and the Lamy nibs. From time to time I think about buying another Lamy - maybe even an Imporium. But, alas, there drifts from the back of my mind, "it's the same nib." So, no Imporium.

[@Chris_the_Muso]

I reverse write occasionally. Yes it might be to sign a form on really porous paper, but also sometimes if you need a really fine line, like on a drawing or as decoration, doing some fine shading etc. Most nibs, even the cheap ones will write reverse and even if they are a bit scratchy that is something that is pretty easy to fix. Usually just a few strokes on some wet and dry will fix it well enough for the purpose. I recommend people learn on cheap nibs. I don't consider myself qualified to work on anything that would be too expensive to replace.

[@HeadbangerTomcat]

Reverse writing. While most fountain pen users don't need it, the option can be useful in certain situations because of the contrast in line width. The bigger the contrast, the better. I currently use a TWSBI 580 ALR broad when writing on A4 size paper, and really like being able to flip the nib over to write extra fine annotations quickly, and flip back again without needing to grab another pen. It's the utility that appeals to me. I have a few pens that will reverse write without an issue, but the 580 nib is by far the best, probably due to the generous ink flow, and feel comfortable writing several sentences at a time with the nib upside down, as it doesn't scratch or dig into the paper. Not all nibs can reverse write, so for me, it's a joy when I find a good one.

[@spiderwrangler4457]

I feel like Cold Doritos™ is the team playing a prank on Drew.

[@Gouletpens]

Thank you! It's crazy talk! - Drew

[@pandabugdiaries2384]

any gold sheening ink recommendations? got the sf penshow ink by colorverse that is red and sheens gold and it really charmed me, was wondering if there were any other gold sheening inks out there (that are regularly offered) since I don't think I've really seen them before.

[@stampedinhisimage1]

I'm almost 72 and I have never heard of Cold Doritos! I have a bunch of great grand kids living here with me, the oldest is 15 so maybe I will buy some and put them in the freezer for us to try. I will maybe be known as the really "COOL" great grandma after that. I love these Pencasts, you guys are fun! Keep them coming!

[@sunnycharacter]

Ok, I thought of a name for you two. “Penablers”! 😊

[@michelethirteenknots]

Will you be getting more Capt Hook?? I just got a sample of Capt Hook and I adore it! I went to the website to buy and it’s out! 😢😢😢 whomp whomp lol

[@Gouletpens]

Yes, it'll be back! - Drew

[@iterationomega]

There is a Kaweco Sterling Sport with a gold nib. That one is 1500 Euro.

[@DWhoLover]

I love the Sailor Lecoule. I got the Rose Quartz for $23 USD & it writes well and is, in my opinion, more attractive than the Compass, which I also have. They both write well and were very affordable, so I have a great opinion of the brand even though their higher end pens are outside my budget.

[@pk3178]

Brian and Drew, I have to share a proud dad moment that also segways into a “Me too!” moment with Drew. I purchased a Lamy ABC for the specific reason of letting my 3 year old (4 now) try a fountain pen. She loved it and now I have purchased her the 7 pack of pilot varsitys (she is still working on being gentler with her pens). The me too moment is that, I try to abide by the same 3 pen rule that Drew uses (with the exception on my edc pocket six) and I am currently in the “how are you still writing?!” stage of trying to empty said Lamy ABC so I can ink another pen…

[@AulosMacabre]

I know this is an older pencast but just wanted to input that Bic, Papermate and Pentel all make fountain pens at a low price point. The Bics you mentioned of course, then there is also the Papermate Ninja for ~$4USD(though admittedly seems to be geared towards much younger audiences), and then there is the Pentel Tradio which is like much of your typical budget ~$20 fountain pens and I do quite like mine. I do wish Uniball made one though 😂 I mean even Zebra has fountain pens from their stainless series and a disposable.

[@johnnosal2589]

Lamy should do a take off of the Visconti Homo Sapiens using the same material as the Lamy 2000. I could see that in the $400 to $500 range. have some girth and a big gold nib.

[@bigdreviewshowtos6361]

Brian i know you like both... but for a pocket travel pen which would you choose, Kaweco AL Sport or Traveler's pocket pen. Then a third choice .. a Schon DSGN Pocket Six.

[@bartgrossman9361]

Both Parker and Sheaffer had pens where the reverse side was optimized. The idea was that you would have a single pen with, in effect, two nibs of different sizes. If you really get into that idea look for a Parker 180. That pen had a nib which was essentially two nibs combined. Each side was a different size nib.

[@gailbarcus1388]

Narrow cabinets are great for cookie sheets and sheet pans.

[@StacySchulze-cg1he]

Ah, Drew, the story of the new dishware reminds me of the book The 9” Diet. The opening story of what inspired the book is similar. Your fun fact: the former standard size of a plate was 9”. Older cabinets were built with that size in mind. My vintage kitchen really wouldn’t be able to hold your new plates.

[@LightningWithaTouchofMag-on7oe]

Have either of you tried a Platinum Starlet? What’s its relation to a Preppy? Does it write well? Can you eye dropper it?

[@Gouletpens]

I'm not familiar with that one! - Drew

[@LightningWithaTouchofMag-on7oe]

They’re everywhere in Japan and Korea; I saw them during my trip to Nagoya and I live in Korea. Nobody seems to have heard of them…they’re candy-coloured and metallic (other than the demonstrator) and have little stars on the nibs. Equivalent of maybe less than 10$(not sure about the transfer rate) and extremely cute. I’m tempted.

[@2sherrymoore]

It was a pleasure meeting both of you! Some of my favorite memories from the Pen shows! Some phrases that stand out with Drew’s visits… “Stranger Danger!”, “Affagato!” & “Jibun Techo!” Hahaha! Brian- your videos got me through many sleepless & sad times and brought me back to my long time love of fountain pens! I have been a listener and watcher of your videos since the beginning and I continue to enjoy them! Thank you so much!!! Are either of you going to be at the Calif Show? Or SF Show??

[@Gouletpens]

Jeebu-what? Jin bun? Jeebo teecho? - Drew

[@Kaylin1357]

Hi Brian and Drew, I love my Sailor 1911S EF, can you recommend any other pens that have a similar nib? Also, unrelated, can Drew show or explain how he catalogs his collection on his pen spreadsheet?Thank you so much for your weekly show it keeps me connected to the pen community and I learn new things. I listen to you both during my commute, at the gym, or just relaxing at home.

[@BenKickert]

Drew and Brian, Do any other brands have nibs that are as easy to replace as Kaweco? Being new to fountain pens, I want to be able to experiment while still limiting the number of variables. I have enjoyed being able to try 4-5 different nibs in the same pen with Kaweco. What would suggest for a similar experience (one pen, multiple nibs), perhaps in a #6 size?

[@pixlfox9902]

"Crazier than my Costco dishes!? Did I tell you about the small bowls! Maybe you missed that part!?" Thank you, my computer screen needed that drink more than me?

[@gabriellepaluch3198]

Is there any chance Drew or Brian can explain why dual-shading inks are capable of creating more than one color? Is it because the ink itself contains more than one dye? Or is it one dye that gives two different color properties depending on how thickly it pools and dries?

[@JasonReimink]

Bismuth is an element, not really a chemical reaction. And it's technically within the metal section of the table of elements, just on the more crystal side of the table. Metals exist on a bit of a spectrum to how soft and malleable they are to how brittle and crystalline they are.

[@jessicayeo97]

When you folks run out of team members to interview.. please introduce us to your pets! A segment on each team member's furry friends would be too cute!