The Pilot Juice is one of the best gel ink pens to enter the market this year. I was very happy with it when I first reviewed the 0.5 mm Juice, and even more happy to see that Pilot released the full line with an 0.38 mm tip. Micro tips for everyone!

The things I enjoyed in the 0.5 mm model hold true with the 0.38 mm. The line is sharp and smooth, the barrel is comfortable, and the wide range of available colors is fantastic. Most importantly, you can get this pen for $1.65. This is the point where I complain about not having a range of pens like this on US store shelves. It can't be because of the price - what is keeping this pen from hoping on a boat and coming over?

Maybe Pilot should share the greatest pen website ever with its US customers and see what they think?

I present to you David Gedge, one of the great songwriters of my generation:

-- Platinum Pen Factory (Fountain Pen Samurai)

-- Review: Edelstein Aventurine Ink (and Flex Nib Dip Pens) (The Well-Appointed Desk)

-- How to make you mark! (Informal Scribble)

-- Anderson Pen Company's Proper Pads: A story about paper (Inkdependence!)

-- INK REVIEW: Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-syogun (Pentulant)

-- Esterbrook #9314B Nib (Fountain Pen Quest)

-- Green Pen Comparison (A Penchant for Paper)

-- Quote of the week and a few words on Brause Arrow and Rose nibs (East...West...Everywhere)

-- Noodler’s 54th Massachusetts – Ink Review (Ed Jelley)

-- Kaweco AL Sport Rollerball Raw Aluminum - Pen Review (The Clicky Post)

-- New School Supplies 2013 (My Supply Room)

-- A Review: Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi-Pen (The Journal Keeper)

-- The nib peep show (Leigh Reyes)

-- rOtring 600 Ballpoint Pen Review (Pocket Philosophies)

-- First Finished Field Notes (Pencil Revolution)

-- Ink Drop Soup: Category Killers (No Pen Intended)

-- Dusting Off The Erasers (Huckberry)

I feel completely normal owning every blue ink variation on the planet, but have little to no interest in black inks. Why is that?

The obvious answer is that there is very little variation in black inks besides dry time and lubrication. I'd say that's true, but if I'm being completely honest I'd say they are just boring. Give me one good black ink and I'm set for life.

As my fountain pen friends know all too well, finding that one good ink is the challenge. Is Pelikan Edelstein Onyx "The One"?

I nearly eliminated this ink right out of the gate because of the hints of brown and purple I saw when inking up my TWSBI Mini 1.5 mm stub for the first time. The one thing I want out of my black ink more than anything is darkness - it needs to be pitch black. It came out on the page nice and dark but dried with more grey than I like to see.

That bears the question: What is the deepest, darkest black ink currently on the market? Noodler's Borealis Black gets my vote, along with the amazingly similar Aurora Black (bottle purchased, review pending). Not only are those two inks darker than Onyx, they cost about half as much. The only plus on the Onyx side of the ledger is dry time - it's probably half that of Borealis and Aurora.

If there is another black that you think is darker than Borealis I would love to hear it in the comments.

The response to my Help Wanted post last week was amazing and overwhelming. I expected a high volume of excellent responses and WOW did you guys deliver. This made my job narrowing it down to one nearly an impossible task, but the choice has been made. I hope to be able to introduce you to the new writer in the coming weeks as soon as we sort out final details.

Thank you to everyone who responded to my call for help. I apologise that I couldn't reply to everyone directly but you can be sure I read and appreciated every single response I received. Pen Addict readers are the best!

I have been very happy with the Pilot Juice since it was introduced earlier this year so I figured it was about time I spread the wealth. Here is how you can win a 12 Color Set of the Pilot Juice from JetPens in either 0.5 mm or 0.38 mm:

1. Leave one comment on this post between now and Thursday night at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. You are limited to one entry. This contest is limited to US residents only.

2. For this contest, I will pick one winner at random from the comments section of this post. The comments will be numbered in the order they are received, i.e. the first comment is #1, the second #2, and so on. The Random Integer Generator at random.org will be used to pick the number of the winner.

3. The contest winner will be posted on Friday, August 16th. The winner will have one week to email me via the Contact link at the top of the page.

Thanks and good luck!

In Episode 67 of The Pen Addict Podcast Myke and I talk about an AMA all Field Notes fans need to check out, the reasoning behind my five pen load out choices, and a new Cult Pens + Kaweco fountain pen collaboration. We also revisit the stationery resolutions we made in January at the behest of one of our listeners.

Show Notes & Download Links

Hashtag PocketShots

It is not often that I review just a pen refill, but in the case of the Schmidt P8126 it is warranted. Why is it warranted? In simple terms, it fits the Retro 51 Tornado.

If you are unaware of the Retro 51 Tornado (review), it is one of my most recommended pens for people looking for a high quality, great looking, affordable pen. It fits a need in the $20 price range for people wanting to treat themselves or give a gift to others. I love it too, but there is one thing that has held it back ever so slightly in my personal rankings - the refill is too wide.

The Tornado ships with a Retro 51 branded Schmidt 8127 roller ball refill, which has an 0.7 mm tip. In the search for a finer tip, Schmidt's own 8126 model and its 0.6 mm tip has been the most recommended replacement. I finally received a couple now that JetPens is stocking them and I couldnt be happier.

I did a simple writing sample above and the difference is clear. For those of you wanting a finer refill for your Tornado that has the same qualities as the stock refill the Schmidt 8126 is the answer.

It is always fun to talk about the Pilot Juice and even more fun to give them away! And the winner is:

Congrats Shangching! Please get in touch with me via the Contact page and let me know if you prefer the 0.5 mm or 0.38 mm set.. You have one week to claim your prize.

-- Sakai Eisuke and Pilot (Crónicas Estilográficas)

-- Diamine Syrah Ink Review (Write to Me Often)

-- Origins of the Mechanical Pencil (Bleistift)

-- Sailor King Of Pen (Silent Seeing)

-- Another Kind of Perfect Pencil (Pencil Revolution)

-- Vintage Sheaffer Skrip Blue Black ink resurrected (Palimpsest)

-- Caran d'Ache Amazon (East...West...Everywhere)

-- This is what I carry in my pockets every day (Pens! Paper! Pencils!)

-- Pilot 78g (Penfan.ru)

-- Pilot Juice Gel Ink Pen – 0.38 mm – Dark Red (No Pen Intended)

-- Inside my pen, nib and ink selection process (JustDaveyB)

-- Kokuyo Paracuruno Notebook Review (Inktronics)

-- Esterbrook 2442 Falcon Nib (The Well-Appointed Desk)

-- KUM Automatic Long Point Sharpener (Informal Scribble)

-- Schmidt Easy Flow 9000 Refill (The Clicky Post)

-- Pencil Review: General's Kimberly (A Penchant for Paper)

-- Ink Review: Diamine Ancient Copper (Vertical Paper)

-- Noodler’s Sequoia (Green) – Ink Review (Ed Jelley)

-- Washington DC Pen Show Haul (Fountain Pen Quest)

-- Lamy Studio Collection (kmpn)

My history with the Lamy 2000 is long and sordid. I was fascinated by this pen like so many fountain pen users are, but once I got the 2000 in my hand that fascination turned into frustration. This is supposedly one of the greatest fountain pens of all time - why did I want to break it over my knee?

As it turns out, the answer was simple. Getting to that answer, however, was a longer process than it would have been for someone more experienced with fountain pens than I was at the time. Hopefully I can shorten that cycle for anyone else considering purchasing a Lamy 2000.

Despite the fact it has been well over a year since I first opened the box containing my Lamy 2000, I still remember my first reaction to picking it up: Holy amazeballs! The only other pen in its price range that I owned and could compare it to was the Pilot Vanishing Point, and the 2000 was a completely different experience.

Since owning the Lamy 2000, the word Makrolon is now an official part of my vocabulary. Makrolon is the fiberglass-type material that the 2000 barrel is made of, and it is fantastic. It is lightweight, yet sturdy, warms to the touch, and feels great in the hand. Did I mention beautiful? That too, especially for someone who likes minimally styled pens like myself.

The inking system for the 2000 is a piston filler and is integrated flawlessly. In fact, if you were unaware of the mechanism, you would be hard pressed to see the seam at the end of the pen. It moves smoothly when engaged and pulls in ink with ease.

Where I ran into trouble with my 2000 was with the nib. It is a 14k gold hooded nib that is integrated perfectly into the barrel. As soon as I inked it up the first time I enjoyed how it wrote but noticed quickly that I was having trouble with some of my strokes. I felt the nib was sticking to the page, which caused skipping in the line. The thing was, it wasn't unusable. It was a very minor issue.

I went through several cleanings and different inks to see if the writing performance would improve. It didn't, so off to the internet I went. After only a minute of searching I found a common theme: Lamy 2000 nibs are notoriously inconsistent out of the box. Unfortunately for me, I had found a bad one.

The refrain I heard was to send it to a nibmeister to get it fixed. The issue at the time was I had never done that before, and was nervous about doing so. I put it off, my 2000 collected dust despite how badly I wanted to use it, and I pouted. I did formulate a plan though. The Atlanta Pen Show was going to be my savior.

Getting my Lamy 2000 nib fixed at the pen show was the number one item on my list. I made an appointment with Mike Masuyama, and when I sat down with him and handed him the pen he noticed the problem immediately: the right tine was longer than the left.

This is nothing I would have noticed on my own, so letting an expert handle it was the best route. Not only did he even the tines and smooth it, I had him grind it down to a Japanese EF size - around 0.2 mm. My Lamy 2000 is now usable!

Not only is it usable, it is one of the best pens I own, if not the best. In the time since I bought my 2000 I have bought a dozen or more very nice fountain pens and it is a contender for the best of them all. I get asked "Pilot Vanishing Point or Lamy 2000" often and now the answer is clear: Lamy 2000.

What did I learn through this experience? Even though I spent a good amount of money on a pen and the expectation is it should be perfect out of the box, it often times isn't. This isn't just a Lamy 2000 issue by the way. It can happen to any pen, and spending $30 or so to have a professional look at it and smooth it is money well spent. I have sent many pens to Mr. Masuyama since, and each time they return better than before.

The Lamy 2000 is an iconic pen, and I wanted to share my personal experience with it. There are many things I didn't touch on in this review, so be sure to check out some of these wonderful posts to learn more about the Lamy 2000:

-- Lamy 2000 Review (Pen and Design)

-- Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Ed Jelley)

-- Icon: Lamy 2000 (Makrolon) (From the Pen Cup)

-- Lamy 2000 – The Awesome Review (FPGeeks)

-- Lamy 2000 And The Origins Of Lamy Design (The Fountain Pen Network)

I'm sure many of you who follow me across various social media platforms have put the pieces together enough to figure out I am up to something. Well, I am, and it is time I share it with you.

Nock Co. is a company I am starting with my friend Jeffrey Bruckwicki, formerly of Alter Manufacturing. If that name sounds familiar, it should - they made one of my favorite pen cases in the the Mod.02. Jeffrey and I have been talking for months about combining forces, starting a new company, and designing and manufacturing our own Made in the USA pen cases. Nock Co. is the result of those conversations.

To say Jeffrey and I are excited would be an understatement. We think there is space in the market for unique ideas and we plan on filling it. To get things rolling, we will be launching a Kickstarter project in September, followed by the opening of our online shop at NockCo.com when the Kickstarter campaign comes to a close.

Why are we pulling back the curtains now before we launch our Kickstarter? We want you to see the process of taking our designs from sketch, to prototype, to production so you know everything that is involved in bringing this product to life. We want you to feel like you know the people behind Nock Co. and we want you to be involved if you have any questions prior to launch.

So, where are things at right now? I'd say we are in the alpha prototype phase. Jeffrey and I have collaborated on several designs and he is stitching up cases at an epic rate. We are both road testing each product and are constantly tweaking dimensions, materials, and styles. Things are looking good!

In case you are concerned, nothing is changing here at The Pen Addict. It is not going to become the Nock Co. blog. We have our own blog, plus Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram feeds to keep you up to date on the latest news and product information. I bet that Help Wanted ad a couple of weeks ago makes a lot more sense now doesn't it?

I appreciate all the support Pen Addict readers have given me over the years and I hope you find as much enjoyment in my latest project as I do.

To learn more about our products and to be notified when our Kickstarter project launches, head over to NockCo.com and sign up for the mailing list. We can't wait to share everything we have in store for you!

Wow - what an episode! Episode 68 of The Pen Addict Podcast started out with reader submitted poetry and wrapped up with my announcement around the launch of Nock Co.. In the middle, Field Notes was the focus, with new sales highs on eBay being reached and a conversation with Jim Coudal discussed.

Speaking of Field Notes, Myke and I will be joined next week by Field Notes product manager/art director/COLORS guru Bryan Bedell. I would love to hear any questions you have for Bryan so please leave them in the comments section or send me an email prior to the weekend.

Show Notes & Download Links

 #NockCo #Prototyping

I don't understand myself sometimes. I love blue black and dark blue ink. Montblanc Midnight Blue fits in that range and I should like it.

I don't.

This is where the not understanding myself comes in to play. I desperately want to like this ink. I have tried it in different pens and different nibs and I find it to be too black. In wider nibs like the 1.5 mm stub in my TWSBI Mini the blue comes out but in the finer nibs I use on a daily basis it is too dark.

Why can't I just consider this a black ink, use it as such, and be done with it? Because it says BLUE in the name and I can't get past that! I'm certifiable, I know. I can't help it

Please tell me I'm not alone.

-- Write This Down (Soapbox for Nerds)

-- Noodlers – Heart of Darkness (Informal Scribble)

-- Bullet Journal (Plannerisms)

-- Field Notes Pencil in Action (Pencil Revolution)

-- P.W. Akkerman Vorhoot Violet – Ink Review (Ed Jelley)

-- Stationery Store Series: R.S.V.P. in Berlin (Palimpsest)

-- Kaweco AL sport 'RAW' mechanical pencil (The Pencil Case Blog)

-- Review: Noodler's Konrad Flex Fountain Pen - Hawaiian Tortoise (Gourmet Pens)

-- Fountain Pen! Sailor Professional Gear (Matte Black) (The Daily Acquisition)

-- TWSBI Notebooks (Heath Cates)

-- Custom Grandee, Music Nib (1978) (Crónicas Estilográficas)

-- Sailor DE! (Good Pens)

-- Kokuyo Neo Critz (Penfan.ru)

-- Doom, Gloom And Suchlike (Goodwriterspens's Blog)

-- By Chance: Bexley BX802 Cappuccino Fountain Pen (From the Pen Cup)

-- Pelikan Fountain Pen Size Comparison / Pelikan Dolmakalem Ebatlari (Write to Me Often)

-- Pilot Custom with 74 SM nib, 2013 (Too many pens)

-- Ohto Sharp Pencil - Wooden Mechanical Pencil (OfficeSupplyGeek)

-- DC Fountain Pen Supershow (Part 3) (Inkdependence!)

-- Hybrid Ballpoint Showdown (The Well-Appointed Desk)

-- Endurance (Another Name for the TWSBI Mini? (Earnest Ward: Drawn to Life))

-- An Ode to a Pen (VintageZen)

-- For the Pen Addict Podcast (Mails From Mars)

-- Vertical Paper (Ink Review: Diamine Twilight)

-- Rainy day finds (And All Other Tasks)

-- Rik Reimert's Rotring Rapidograph Drawings (Mole Empire)

-- Black rOtring 600 Rollerball (The Clicky Post)

-- Why I number my nibs (JustDaveyB)

Two months back I reviewed the Pentel Vicuna 2+1 Multi Pen. It was a solid multi pen - decent ballpoint writer, good build - pretty standard stuff. Not too long after, I saw the Pilot 2+1 Evolt Multi Pen appear in my JetPens new product feed. Wait a minute, didn't I just review that pen?

The design of two pens is eerily similar. Like I said, I thought they were the same pen. Not only do they look alike, they are priced exactly the same at $16.50. There is a lot of "borrowing" of design between pen companies, but never have I seen anything as close as this.

The Pilot Evolt offers more - and brighter - barrel colors, but that is the only check in the positive column compared to the Vicuna. The biggest flaw - which should be considered the multi pen plague - is a barrel that rattles. I'm surprised I didn't wake my kids when I was writing with this one. It is frustrating to see a pen this sharp looking function so poorly.

It is almost unfair to compare the Evolt ballpoint cartridges to the Vicuna. The Evolt uses standard ballpoint ink and the Vicuna uses hybrid ballpoint ink. That is an unfair fight, which is even more reason to consider the Vicuna if you are looking for this style of pen.

Better luck next time Pilot. Time to start using Acroball ink in your high-end multi pens!

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)

If you are a Field Notes nut like me - and many others - you are aware of how rare the second ever COLORS edition is. Butcher Blue singles are tough to come by and three-packs are nearly impossible. Well, the nearly impossible is now up for sale on eBay and collectors mouths are frothing. 36 hours into the auction it has eclipsed the $250 mark, and with five days to go I am interested to see where it ends up.

I have no interest in spending this kind of money on a notebook, but I figured lets have some fun with it:

Leave a comment and tell me what you think the final price will be for this auction. The closest without going over (aka The Price is Right rule) will win a three-pack of the Field Notes Night Sky edition.

Everyone is eligible and I will announce the winner as soon as the auction is over. Please have your guess in by Midnight Eastern Wednesday night.

Go!

Myke and I were thrilled to be joined by Field Notes own Bryan Bedell in Episode 69 of The Pen Addict Podcast. We discussed Bryan's duties on the creative side of things at the mothership, and how a few specific COLORS editions came to be. He also gave us insight into the production and testing process as well as many other tidbits that you will have to listen to discover.

Thanks for joining us Bryan! To see him in action and learn more about the content he produces, hit up the Films section of the Field Notes website.

Show Notes & Download Links

Platinum joins Pilot and Sailor as part of the "Big Three" Japanese fountain pen makers. All three have a long history of producing quality products, from entry level up to the most expensive custom pens you can find. Buy a fountain pen with one of these three names stamped on it and there is a high likelihood you will have a good experience.

Platinum does entry level as good as any of them, with the famous Platinum Preppy leading the charge. I've made no bones about how great I think that pen is for $3. The Platinum Plaisir is the cool older brother to the Preppy and fits right in with the family.

The Plaisir features the same fine, firm nib as the Preppy but upgraded the design of the barrel greatly. Not only does it feature a lightweight, silky smooth aluminum body, it also has an innovative cap that allows the pen to be stored for a year without drying out. That is a great feature for me since I often have many pens inked up at once and don't use them all every day.

I went with the more recently released Gunmetal color for my first Plaisir and there are several other colors to choose from in both 03 Fine and 05 Medium nibs. I syringe filled an empty Platinum cartridge with Pelikan Edelstein Topaz ink for the awesome combo you see on the page above. I have been very happy with the Plaisir and it will continue to see frequent use.

Myke Hurley and myself were honored to be part of an article titled "Penultimate" in the latest issue of The Magazine. Gabe Bullard did an amazing job with the piece, conversing with myself, Myke, and many other names you will recognize.

If you are not a subscriber to The Magazine already, you can sign up for a 7-day free trial to read this article.

-- Organics Studio's Jules Verne Nautilus Blue (Inkdependence!)

-- Diamine – Sapphire Blue (Informal Scribble)

-- Drawing with a Sailor Profit Brush Pen (Drawing with a Squirrel)

-- Ballpoint Bliss: A Pair Of Ballpoints by Retro 1951 (From the Pen Cup)

-- 23 (Crónicas Estilográficas)

-- Pelikan M815 Wall Street LE inked with Diamine Mediterranean Blue (JustDaveyB)

-- Sailor Sapporo Fountain Pen Review (Ed Jelley)

-- Rohrer & Klingner Fernambuk Ink Review (Ink of Me Fondly)

-- Kaweco Classic Sport (Pens! Paper! Pencils!)

-- Noodler's Drangon's Napalm - Ink Review (Vertical Paper)

-- J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune Ink Review (Ink of Me Fondly)

-- Retro 51 Tornado "Jefferson" Vintage Metalsmith Series - Pen Review (The Clicky Post)

-- Pelikan Toledo M900 Fountain Pen Review (! Write to Me Often)

-- Another Old BIC Counter Top Display (My Supply Room)

-- Ink Drop Soup: The Most Awful Jetstream (No Pen Intended)