It’s inevitable that, if you use pens, ink is going to end up on your clothing somewhere. If you get ink stains on your clothes, it’s not the end of the world. That favourite shirt or top probably can still be salvaged. [Read more…]
Ideas For DIY Pen/Pencil Grips
Some pens can be almost perfect – except for that not quite comfortable grip. For me, the Pentel EnerGel is like that; it’s a great-writing, dependable pen but it doesn’t really feel as good in the hand as it could.
Fortunately, making a DIY pen/pencil grip is a pretty simple matter. All you need is a good pen, a few inexpensive materials and a little time, and you can improve the cushioning on your pen considerably with minimal effort. [Read more…]
Rehydrate A Dried Out Sharpie
I have exactly one permanent marker, a small keychain-sized one called the Sharpie Mini that works well for marking plastic freezer containers.
The last time I went to use it, it was laying in the kitchen drawer with the cap off. Not sure how that happened, but I’m just gonna blame the cat.
The keychain Sharpie was dead. It refused to write. [Read more…]
First Time Buyer’s Guide To Fountain Pens – Part I
(Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part guest series written by Tyler Dahl, a fountain pen restorer with an extensive knowledge of these classic writing instruments.)
Hello to all of you who are reading this article! My goal here today is to help you in picking out your first fountain pen! It’s a difficult decision, and selecting the right one can be difficult. There are so many options, and with all the great articles and reviews out there, it can be mind boggling to a beginner.
By the end of this series, you should be able to make a wise choice on selecting your first pen. If you’re having a hard time, you can always send me an email, and get a personal response to your questions. Though I am a bit busy with business sometimes, I always make time to talk pens with people, especially beginners.
As with all my reviews and articles, I’m going to provide you with a little list of what we’ll be covering here. By breaking this down into categories, you should have an easier time not getting lost during the read, and scanning through if you bookmark it for reference.
My personal writing style is very “conversational”. I hope you’ll enjoy it, cause I sure love writing it! The way I’m going to break up this into categories is by using questions, and answers. Here goes:
- Part 1: Why would I want a fountain pen, and which is better for me, vintage or modern?
- Part II: Wow! There are so many choices! Can you explain them to me?
- Part III: What pens would you recommend for beginners? [Read more…]
First Time Buyer’s Guide To Fountain Pens – Part II
(Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part guest series written by Tyler Dahl, a fountain pen restorer with an extensive knowledge of these classic writing instruments.
Part I covered the reasons for wanting a fountain pen, and the pros and cons of choosing vintage or modern pens. Part II continues with more detailed criteria for selecting a pen.)
Wow! There are so many choices! Can you explain them to me?
Design:
For me, a fountain pen must look aesthetically pleasing if it’s going to get anywhere near my “to-buy” list. I have a feeling that this is important to most of us. Form over function – yes, but I still want a pen that I enjoy looking at and handling. To best show you some different styles, I’ll go over the basics, and include lots of pictures! 🙂
Classic pens
A classic pen, to me anyway, is a pen that shows a design that is not flashy, but not plain. It’s classy! Much like a fine suit, a classic pen is just the right thing for those who love formal, but not stiff.
Here is a personal favorite of mine. This pen is far beyond the price range we’re looking at in this article, but it’s the perfect example of a classically designed fountain pen. Shown below is a Pelikan M805 – Produced by a company founded in the early 1840’s, known as the Pelikan Pen Company. This pen however, is a modern pen, being produced in the last few years. Everything about this pen – the lovely pinstripes, the subtle trim, the beautiful nib – it’s a true perfectionist’s outcome of the word “classy.” [Read more…]