Took 1 Year To Make This Fountain Pen - Ensso Piuma Urushi Limited Edition

[@amandak.4246]

thank you for this review! i only saw it after the first run had sold out, so i entered my email for notification if they restocked, not expecting anything to come of it. next day, i got an email about preorders for the second, unnumbered run! i was hesitant, both because i've never touched an urushi pen and also because the price was increased, but i pulled the trigger on it today. happily, your code worked, so thank you very much! i think this may start an obsession with urushi pens.

[@wlbrockman]

Like you, it took me quite a while to pull the trigger on a urushi pen, even though I read & heard so much good about them. Then, I visited the Wancher site, learned more about the process, looked carefully at their products, read/viewed every review I could find & still couldn't justify paying their full price, even though I really wanted to. So I reached out to them & asked if they sold "seconds." As it turns out, they do sometimes, though they call them "prototype" sales. Thus, I bought a Saiki Urushi AO about a year ago for 1/2 price--$200. The slight, cosmetic imperfection is indiscernable unless pointed out, and then only with a magnifying glass. It's steel nib is as good as most gold nibs I own, & I'm blessed to own several. Just a notch below my Pilot 823 & a notch above my e95. Then, in May, Wancher held a Mother's Day contest & I won a Sekai Aizu Urushi, having a list price of $300. I think I may have been the only entrant--it was a poetry contest--but they gave me the pen anyway! It also has a steel nib that is excellent. I treasure both pens & can't say enough good things about the Wancher personnel with whom I've dealt. I've considered Ensso pens very seriously & if I didn't have 2 urushi pens already, I'd definitely go for this one. The price with a gold nib strikes me as fantastic. For your viewers who aren't able to buy one of these, though, I'd encourage them to check out Wancher.

[@Doodlebud]

Thanks for sharing your experience 👍

[@thepenman357]

Wow, that thing is beyond grail!

[@cynthiaalvarado8610]

Congrats to Carlo on such great work with this pen! He knocked it out of the park. Thanks for the review, DB

[@PalashBackup]

Good Urushi can last for lifetimes. I have seen chopsticks, bowls, and many other things coated in Urushi. What a depth of color and warm feel in the hand. Especially over an ebonite or wooden body! The price is very tempting. And the pen looks like it could really sell for double the price.

[@kristiw.1823]

Thank you so much for helping us understand how priceless this technique is! It would be easy to look at this and think - oh. a black pen. But it's so much more than that.

[@Doodlebud]

TBH I never thought much about Urushi pens. I was like "whats the big deal?" Now I understand

[@slo_carry]

I'm really sad I missed out on this one. Hopefully they do more in the future. Piuma and Urushi would probably be my #1 pen if I had it. Also, it turns out that some people are deathly allergic to Urushi since it is made from tree sap. Brian Goulet is one example.

[@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx]

He is allergic?! No way! I thought he for sure would still own some of these ones though.. wow.

[@basta.dotto_]

And I'm another example 😭😭 However, I can get away with it by wrapping the section with some plumbing teflon tape/ribbon: not very aesthetic, but at least I have no reaction. I put a skin protectant barrier film on the web between the thumb and index fingers, and all is good. I tried using it on my finger tips instead of putting the ribbon on the section, but it's too slippery.

[@PalashBackup]

@@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx Allergy is triggered in it's raw form. Once the lacquer is dried and cured, it doesn't affect anyone.

[@freefisheater]

I'm not sure if you've seen or heard, but they are currently doing a non-numbered run of this pen in a second edition. Last I checked yesterday there were 5 pens left! It's a little more expensive now at 450 but with Doodlebud's code that goes down to 370. :-)

[@slo_carry]

@@freefisheater they weren't allowing a code to be used this time from what I saw

[@Javi_C]

I may not own an Urushi pen yet, but I have tried them in Pen shows, great in the hand, and beautiful pieces of art!

[@Doodlebud]

They feel so different. Its tricky to reference another material to compare the feel. Its very unique

[@DevanSabaratnam]

I have an urushi pen from another manufacturer that has a green base layer and love it. Especially because over time the layers will wear away and reveal incredible colours underneath in certain parts. The patina that is generated over the lifetime of using the pen is probably the most special part of owning one. Congrats on your beautiful pen - my goal is to get another one in this similar burgundy/red colour.

[@Doodlebud]

I'll have to add another one at some point too 👍

[@AndrewWertheimer]

Love tame-nuri look. Sold out already. Nice review. Yes miso is amazing in a nice urushi bowl.

[@archivist17]

Beautiful!

[@Doodlebud]

Its such an amazing piece

[@andykellens7237]

Fully agree that urushi has a unique tactile feeling. Now that you went down this rabbit hole, maki-e is the obvious next step 😅 Like it that the limited edition number is put on the nib!

[@Doodlebud]

I've been looking up other Urushi pens now of course

[@mikehoare6093]

very nice, mate !

[@13noman1]

Another instance where I wish I had perfect (or even just decent) foreknowledge! I would've saved my pen budget over the year and planned on this as my Christmas gift! I have rather a few fountain pens but one lone urushi pen (Nakaya) I splurged on a few years back. I also have a number of ensso pens so if my budget allowed I'd snap one of this up! A Doodlebud discount no less! You're killing me, here!

[@charlesbrough6185]

Some thoughts... The red at the end of the section says "rotring" to me. An urushi fountain pen can only be truly appreciated by one who is civilized (cultured). And YOU sir, are one who truly appreciates this work of art. I can tell by the "awe' in your words and voice! Good review, DB!

[@Doodlebud]

When I hold it and use it I think about the whole process involved. From the person who is harvesting the tree using their own tools they made, all the way up to the final person putting the polish on it. There is so much work involved in this coating and its great you get to hold in your hand, write with it, and feel the work that was put into it. And of course now I'm looking up Urushi pens non stop. More stuff to add to the list!

[@ironmic9244]

Very nice. I don't know if I felt it wrong, but I when I tried the Emperor, it did not impress me the way I thought it would.

[@basta.dotto_]

That pen is just beautiful!🔥🔥🔥👏👏👏 I give it a 9.9/10 only because I prefer rhodium plated nibs.

[@Calcprof]

When I was in Japan in 2017, I visited a Lacquer shop. I could never work with urushi, as the wet lacquer contains the same irritant as poison ivy (to which I am very allergic). The workers (when I visited) were behind glass (from the visitors). The level of care and precision was incredible. I own one urushi pen, which I keep inked with Aurora black.

[@Doodlebud]

I love how ensso did a video of the coating process!

[@philnaunton7181]

Brian Goulet of Goulet Pens has said he is sensitive to Urushi pens.

[@Calcprof]

@@philnaunton7181 The dried pens 9or other lacquer work) don't bother me. Just the wet lacquer.

[@philnaunton7181]

Still, you might not want to stick it in your mouth while you consider what punctuation to use. 😏

[@Mr.H-YT42]

@@Doodlebud Thank you for posting the link and your own video! Fascinating process to watch I’m sure I’ll return to many times this coming year…

[@edwardwiper1323]

I am fortunate to own 2 Urushi fountain pens,I have to limit myself to usage because if ink one up I tend to keep filling it up & using it, all down to the tactile feel there’s nothing quite like it

[@KenVanderheyden]

Nice review @Doodlebud, thanks. And good news for those on the look out for this Ensso Urushi pen ... there is a new batch being sold now ! As of this writing 35 left of 100. Delivery estimated in July 2024. You need to be subscribed to the list on the site, then you get an invitation to a private sale. Good luck !

[@KenVanderheyden]

update: the new batch appears as link below the "you may also like" at the bottom of the page of the "first urushi edition" ...

[@santauxia]

Areally cool pen, great review. Happy Holidays to you and yours DB.

[@Doodlebud]

Same to you 🎅

[@sailcat9]

This is a great price on a great pen. Unfortunately, I am a bit short because of the season, unfortunately. Congrats to anyone who buys one, though.

[@Mr.H-YT42]

I’m curious what other inks you were considering! My first thought was Yama Budo to pull the red undercoat out but would love other ideas 😉

[@paulmchugh1430]

Beautiful pen. Pity it is sold out!

[@Doodlebud]

This was his first Urushi pen and he wasn't sure how much response it would get. Guessing there will be other editions coming out in the future

[@sushanart]

All three pens look amazing, but the Urushi is exceptional. I almost cried at the thought of having it in my hands (which I never will and maybe that's one reason it moved me so much, the other reason being all the love and care that is put into these works of art). This is pure perfection. Thank you for showing me this artwork! 😇🩵🙏🙌

[@Doodlebud]

Its great to be able to appreciate all the work, skill, and people involved on something like this

[@user-gl5ld9vm7i]

Hey DB! I am not sure if I am more impressed with this beautiful pen or your ability to pronounce....... "u-r-r-r-u-s-s-s-h-i"..... 😅

[@nope8535]

I sadly wont be able to feel the difference. Heavy nerve damage in my hands and welders hands. Ive forgotten more then a few times to use an oven mitt to pull things out of the oven. Yeah didnt realize it until I put the pot or pan down.

[@Doodlebud]

Oh man, sorry to hear about that

[@Scouzeboy]

It looks fab. But does it scratch easily?

[@Doodlebud]

I don't think I will try to find out LOL. I'll be taking extra care of this one

[@dimhelmet]

Got mine ordered last night! Missed your discount code, though. :(

[@Doodlebud]

You're lucky to have secured one as they sold out QUICK!

[@dimhelmet]

@@Doodlebud it just arrived! I have a Wancher True Urushi also in Kuro Tamenuri, and this looks like its little brother!

[@ΗλίαςΤσιλικίδης]

Is it only me who thinks that the piuma deserves a pocket clip? That's the only thing missing for me to make my purchase...

[@teslastellar]

Yes, it's you :) I don't like pocket clips on cigar shaped ebonite pens especially if they're urushi coated.

[@MissMarilynDarling]

it should be said that Urushi should be very carefully prepared when put on a bowl because the plant is poisonous just pointing that out in case somebody got a wild idea DONT EAT URUSHI !!!

[@Doodlebud]

Same goes for Tide Pods

[@methyldioxymethamps]

But they're such pretty colors...

[@1968gadgetyo]

Sold out 😭

[@Doodlebud]

They sold out extremely quick

[@DDawg1144]

Careful man they tend to multiply.

[@basta.dotto_]

"I think these are going to sell out pretty quick [...] pretty darn quick" Ya think?! 😉🤣 They are all gone... 🤬😢😢😢

[@Doodlebud]

It only took a few hours

[@MrAndrew1953]

There’s someone out there with one of these as a giveaway. I’ll let you know how I went.

[@Doodlebud]

Oh wow!

[@larsgottlieb]

And they're gone (o:

[@Doodlebud]

I figured they would sell quickly

[@larsgottlieb]

@@DoodlebudWell you were obviously right (o:

[@tayterlik]

Limited edition. Only Fine nibs. = not for me. I do have the Wancher Dream Pen in Aka-Tamenuri with their in-house B nib (gold) plus red ebonite feed and a roll stop. Fantastic pen, bought during Kickstarter campaign for JPY 45900, which makes sth like USD 305. Now it is more like a $500...