Notebook Review: Endless Recorder Notebook

Back in the day, when I still wrote on lined paper and didn’t prefer graph or dot grid, my hardbound notebook of choice was the Quo Vadis Habana, which at the time did not come in a dot grid format. For whatever reason, that notebook became difficult to find, and I moved on to other things, but the format always stuck in the back of my mind - a slim, A5-ish notebook with a leatherette cover, elastic closure, and exceptionally fountain pen friendly paper. I used several Habanas as my personal journals over a multi-year period, and still have them on my shelf.

The Endless Recorder, the product of a relatively new company based in India called Endless Works, has updated this format by incorporating 187 numbered pages of 68 GSM Tomoe River dot grid paper into a compact notebook with a similar faux-leather cover. The notebook comes in four colors: black, blue, red, and green, each with a sky blue elastic closure.

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The specs of the Endless Recorder. The only possible complaint I have is that I wish the elastic were a bit tighter. I have some concern that it will loosen up over time.

The Endless Recorder feels well-made, and lays flat - a relatively uncommon feature in a notebook this thin. As for the paper, this is my first experience with 68 GSM Tomoe River. Most “Tomoe River” notebooks use the lightweight 52 GSM paper, which handles fountain pen ink quite well but which I’ve personally found less durable and subject to tears. If you put a lot of ink on the page, you can also experience extremely long dry times, in addition to the “crinkling” effect which I personally dislike. Though I have several 52 GSM Tomoe River notebooks that I use regularly, I do wish that this 68 GSM version would receive more attention and make its way into more products. The heavier paper is more absorbent, allowing ink to dry quicker, and also has a bit of tooth to it, which I prefer over the glassy-smooth texture of “standard” Tomoe River paper. (Added texture is one of the reasons I enjoy Baron Fig’s paper so much.) While the 68 GSM Tomoe River isn’t quite that toothy, it’s still very pleasant to use with pencils. Many pencil aficionados dislike the 52 GSM variant because it’s too smooth and doesn’t offer enough feedback when writing with graphite.

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You don’t sacrifice the signature thinness of Tomoe River notebooks by opting for the heavier 68 GSM paper. Shown here (bottom) compared against the Baron Fig “Gather” Review Journal.

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It’s relatively uncommon to find a smaller bound notebook that lays completely flat without breaking the spine or holding it open, much less one with 187 pages (16 of which are perforated).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’m impressed with the Endless Recorder, and plan on picking up a couple to use for work. Given the slimmer profile and general absence of bulk, these notebooks would also make excellent travel journals. Since the pages are numbered, this notebook could also easily be converted into a bullet journal.

You can purchase the Endless Recorder directly from Endless via their online shop. Pen Chalet also carries the standard journal, priced at $22.95, as well as a Pen Chalet special edition in “Rust”, currently priced at $17.99.

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Endless for sending me this notebook to review, free of charge. This post contains affiliate links.

Picking a "Workhorse": How To Choose A Fountain Pen for an Everyday Writer

By far the most common question I receive from readers, as well as other people in my everyday life who know that I love pens, is how to choose a fountain pen to use as an everyday writer. Sometimes, they even specify that this will be the only pen they plan to own/use! I basically write for a living, both here and at my day job, so I don’t take this question lightly and it’s also a difficult question to answer, because so much depends on personal preference, not to mention financial circumstances. The truth is that there are a variety of excellent options if what you are looking to do with the fountain pen is actually write. The best choice for you, however, depends upon your particular preferences and circumstances. This post offers my thoughts on different factors you should consider when selecting a pen you plan to use every day.

First, Budget

Be honest with yourself, and don’t feel pressure to stretch financially, because in today’s fountain pen market there are going to be viable options at any price point, even on the extreme low end of the pricing scale. If you are willing to spend as little as $25 you can purchase a reliable pen and avoid serious quality control issues. In any event, even if you have more flexibility, I would think hard before spending more than $200, since using a pen as a daily writer does bring with it the increased risk of loss, theft, and damage.

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PenBBS has absolutely blown me away this year. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a reliable writer that holds a ton of ink.

Filling System

From the perspective of a writer, a fountain pen’s filling system is more important than many people make it out to be. If I’m busy at work, I can burn through a cartridge or a converter in an afternoon. If I’m in a place where I can’t refill, or don’t want to carry multiple pens, I need a pen that holds a lot of ink. My personal preference is a piston or vacuum filler, since these hold significantly more ink than a converter. Eyedroppers are another option, but for daily use I would highly recommend a Japanese-style eyedropper that uses a valve to prevent ink spilling or burping into the cap when the pen is not in use, especially if the pen will be carried in a briefcase, backpack, handbag, etc. where it’s going to get jostled around.

For those who don’t write a dozen pages or more a day, a cartridge-converter pen should work perfectly well for daily use, and you may find it more convenient to have the cartridge option if the pen runs out of ink at work. Just be aware that many brands (specifically Pilot, Sailor, Aurora, Lamy, and Platinum) take proprietary cartridges, so you will be limited to cartridges and ink colors made by that specific brand, unless you want to refill the cartridges yourself using a syringe or bottle-fill from the converter.

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Piston fillers or cartridge-converters? Again, you have multiple options, and the best choice for a daily writer depends on how often you need to refill, and the most convenient option for refilling on the go. From left, the Pilot Custom 74, Lamy 2000, and Pilot Custom Heritage.

Weight and Balance

Once you’ve narrowed your budget and decided what type of filling system you want, the most important consideration becomes how the pen feels in your hand. Remember, you’re going to write with this thing every day, so while looks are important, comfort is key. Two of the most important things I look for in a pen are weight and balance. The two concepts are related, but distinct. By weight, I’m referring to how heavy the pen is. Certain types of pens (particularly metal pens made of copper, stainless steel, or brass) are better suited, in my opinion, for shorter notes and pocket carry, because their heft can make your hand quite tired after several pages. There are exceptions, but I’m dealing in general rules-of-thumb today.

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I’ve tried a lot of pens, and none feel better in my hand than the Lamy 2000, which is made of Makrolon, a type of polycarbonate. It’s quite lightweight.

Balance is a different issue, and relates to where the weight of the pen sits. Do you post your pens, like me? If so, make sure that the cap isn’t too heavy because it will back-weight the pen and make writing awkward, even if the pen isn’t that heavy overall. Front-weighted pens (i.e., those with metal sections), typically don’t pose the same problem, since many people, myself included, prefer a pen in which the weight is shifted to the front, which keeps the nib on the paper and offers an additional degree of control over your handwriting. Because weight and balance are such a key consideration, it’s important to be able to either hold a pen in person prior to purchasing, or purchase from an online retailer that permits returns, especially if you’re shelling out a lot of money for a higher-end pen.

Nib Choice

Is the nib the most important part of the fountain pen? Yes and no. If you have a pen that feels great in your hand, but has a crummy nib, the pen isn’t usable, so the nib IS important. However, a bad nib can usually be improved through tuning and/or smoothing. On certain models of pens (TWSBI, Pelikan, Kaweco, among others) you can even switch out the nib and substitute one that’s a different size or even a specialty grind. For that reason, I tend to prioritize the weight, balance, and overall “feel” of a pen over the nib. Unless the nib is absolutely god-awful, it can be adjusted. The size and heft of the pen can’t.

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I’ve had great experiences with the nibs on the Leonardo Momento Zero. They’re nothing fancy, but all of mine have arrived well-tuned and they certainly get the job done.

With respect to nibs, what’s most important is choosing the right type of nib for the work you want to do. If you write very small, and your day job (like mine) involves annotating or marking up documents that are often printed on the cheapest recycled paper available, you will likely want to choose something in the extra-fine to medium range and be particular about which inks you use. Those with larger handwriting, and who don’t need to write on cheap paper, have more flexibility to go with a broader nib or even a stub as their daily driver. Unless your day job involves calligraphy, however, I generally advise people to avoid super “soft” or “flex” nibs for everyday writing, as they tend to write far too wet.

Recommendations

Hopefully this short guide is helpful. Readers of this blog won’t be surprised to know that after considering all of the factors above, my own preferred “workhorse” pen is the Lamy 2000. I have several of them, and in addition to the fountain pen regularly carry the rollerball, ballpoint, and 4 Color Ballpoint (multi pen). From a fountain pen perspective, I love the Lamy 2000 because (1) it’s perfectly balanced for my hand; (2) it holds a lot of ink; and (3) I love both the way the hooded nib writes AND how it “disappears” in a crowded meeting room, where you don’t want to be that guy writing with a distracting fountain pen.

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When I find a pen model I like, I go all out. Hence my collections of Lamy 2000s and Leonardo Momento Zeroes (pictured here)!

But what works for me may not - and in fact, probably won’t - work for you! While I maintain an annually updated list of pen recommendations, I’ve never published a “ranked” list of “Workhorse” fountain pens because the criteria are so subjective. I won’t rank pens here either, but I will provide several suggestions within particular price brackets. Everything listed here is a pen that I enjoy using and either regularly carry or would have no issues doing so. Where possible, I’ve linked to my own reviews, and otherwise to a retailer I trust.

• $20-$50:

  • Platinum Plaisir. I’ve come to believe that the Plaisir might be the best “cheap” pen on the market, especially for one that you plan to use regularly.

  • PenBBS 308 or PenBBS 309. The 308 is a cartridge-converter pen; the 309 is a piston filler. The time has come for PenBBS pens to start appearing on recommendation lists alongside TWSBIs. They’re that good.

  • PenBBS 456. PenBBS’s vaccum-filling model, for around the price of a TWSBI Eco.

  • Faber-Castell Essentio. Faber-Castell makes the best bargain-priced steel nibs on the market.

  • TWSBI Eco. If people ask me for a TWSBI recommendation, I often recommend the Eco over the 580 because (1) it posts; and (2) it’s hard to beat the combination of price, availability, and reliability.

  • Kaweco Sport (Standard). If you don’t mind a shorter “pocket pen,” Kaweco Sports are inexpensive, reliable, and come in a wide array of colors. If you prefer chrome trim, check out the “Skyline” model. You can also swap nibs.

• $50-$100:

  • Faber-Castell Loom. I prefer the Loom to the Essentio because it posts better. It’s only slightly more expensive and uses the same excellent nib.

  • TWSBI 580. If you want a TWSBI that uses interchangeable nibs, opt for the 580 series. If you want a TWSBI with interchangeable nibs that posts, opt for the TWSBI Diamond Mini.

  • Opus 88 Koloro or Opus 88 Picnic. The only eyedroppers I recommend, because they have the Japanese-style valve system that helps prevent “inkcidents.” Be aware that the Omar and “Demo” pens are very large.

• $100-$200:

  • Lamy 2000. See above. My personal workhorse.

  • Pelikan M200/M205. Another relatively inexpensive piston filler, which comes in a wide array of different colors and patterns, including special and limited editions. Pelikan pens are reliable and will stand up to years of use.

  • Leonardo Momento Zero. A recently released pen out of Italy, available in some exceptionally pretty materials. Lightweight and reliable writers.

  • Pilot Custom 74. An underrated cartridge-converter pen with an exceptional nib. These pens don’t get nearly as much attention as they should. If you absolutely want a piston filler the Custom Heritage 92 is an option for more money.

  • Platinum 3776 Century. A pen that attracts a lot of attention for the collectibility of the limited editions, but also excels as a daily writer. Platinum offers a wide range of nib options for this pen.

• OK, I want to blow it out ($200+)

  • Sailor Professional Gear (“Pro Gear”). My pick for a high-end cartridge converter pen. Sailor nibs are exceptional, and the Pro Gear is a well-balanced writing instrument, especially posted.

  • Pilot Custom 823. A vacuum-filler that posts well and makes for an comfortable writer despite the larger size.

  • Montblanc 146. Many people won’t carry a Montblanc because they find the branding pretentious. While I agree these pens have become a bit of a status symbol, they’re still great pens, hold a good amount of ink, and despite what people say, the standard Meisterstuck pens aren’t ostentatious.

  • Pelikan M400, M600, or M800. Personally, I think the Pelikan M400 and M600 make better everyday writers because they are much lighter than the M800.

  • Conid Bulkfiller. If you want the ultimate “ink tank” and cost is no object, get a Conid. Bulkfillers come in a wide array of shapes and sizes to suit any preference.

Again, I hope this is helpful! Please reach out through the comments or “Contact Me” link if you have any additional questions, or would like to share any additional information you take into account when choosing your daily writers.

Notebook Review: Baron Fig Gather Review Journal

Baron Fig ended their quarterly limited edition subscription program a few years ago, but continues to release special editions of their Confidant notebook at regular intervals. The Gather “Review Journal” is the latest in a string of special-purpose notebooks issued by Baron Fig that they call “Guided Editions”, including the well-received Clear Habit Journal (a habit tracker), the Grow Daily Journal (designed to help you “form and keep a journaling habit”), the Savor Recipe Journal (self-explanatory), and the Wander Dream Journal (dream tracking). While each of these latter notebooks was a bit too specialized for me, and I took a pass, “Gather” intrigued me because, well, I spend a large part of my time reviewing products, and a notebook structured to help you track your notes on whatever it is you may be reviewing - pens, movies, books, music, wine, beer, etc. - struck me as potentially useful.

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I love the olive green fabric, and wish Baron Fig would sell the standard Confidant in this color.

How I Intend to Use the Gather Review Journal

As I work to grow The Gentleman Stationer and ensure that I maintain a steady flow of content that people want to read, I’ve made an effort to improve my systems - namely, keeping better track of notes and thoughts on the various products I’m using and other topics that I want to write about. Gather intrigued me because I immediately saw the case for a structured notebook that I could use to collect my notes on different products at various stages of the review process. Overall, I can see this working out, and not just for pen reviews. I purchased a couple Gather journals, and I’m also considering dedicating one to keeping a logbook of other things, probably books I’ve been reading because I’d like to do a better job of retaining what I’ve read.

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My only quibble is that I would have preferred either narrower ruling or a dot grid. There’s not much space to write your reviews, and I will probably end up using two pages for some products.

A Note on Paper Performance

Baron Fig has made my preferred “daily use” paper over the past few years, given it’s relatively low cost (at least in the standard Confidant), it’s reasonable performance with most pens and inks, and the texture, which I absolutely love for both pens and pencils. Paper is a highly personal preference, and what works for me may not be the best choice for you. Lately I’ve read a couple of comments about inconsistency in Baron Fig’s paper quality. While I’ve not personally noticed any significant drop-off over the past year, I would note that I don’t believe Baron Fig (or their manufacturer) single-sources their paper, so there may be slight batch variations in notebooks. For the most part, I would compare the performance of Baron Fig’s paper to something like Leuchtturm 1917 - it’s fine for most people, but you will start seeing some feathering and bleed-through if you use broader nibs, particularly wet-writing stubs or flex pens. Due to the slight texture, I find Baron Fig paper especially pleasant to use with pencils, and have since the beginning.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Like all Baron Fig Confidants, the Gather Review Journal is a well-made hardcover notebook, and Baron Fig designed this particular release with a specific purpose in mind. While I have a use-case for this notebook, I do question how broad the appeal will be for this layout, and whether it’s playing too much into the current trend of encouraging everyone to “track” everything, from money to habits to, now, hobbies. I’ve always been a tracker and list-maker, but sometimes I wonder whether it might be better to just sit back and enjoy things without trying to quantify or “review” them.

You can purchase the Gather Review Journal directly from Baron Fig’s online store. This “Guided Edition” Confidants start at $24, with a 5% discount if you purchase two and a 10% discount if you purchase three. The pricing represents a markup over the standard $18 Confidant, but it’s understandable given the additional work that went into designing and producing a special purpose notebook with a custom layout.

You can read my initial review of the original Baron Fig Confidant, titled “Perfect Paper for Pencils? Agreed” here. It’s hard to believe Baron Fig has been around for nearly five years!

Disclaimer: I purchased the notebook featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use.

Flooding the Market? A Recap of Lamy's 2019 Special and Limited Releases

I don’t think I realized until this week just how many special and limited edition pens Lamy released in 2019 (and the year is not even over yet). While the annual release of the special edition Safaris and AL-Star pens is a much-anticipated tradition for many, this year saw Lamy issue two more Studios, a special edition “LX”, a Scala, and the heavily hyped blue Lamy 2000 limited edition celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Bauhaus. While some portions of today’s post will strike readers as a bit of a rant, please know that I love Lamy. It’s one of my favorite brands, and makes one of my favorite pens of all time, the Lamy 2000. Also, it’s not that I don’t love the fact that Lamy is taking the time to develop all of these different pens and bring them to market, I just don’t understand the strategy behind doing it all at once, in what seems like a sudden flood of releases, with some of them receiving next to no promotion or build-up. With that said, let’s take a look at this year’s pens in more detail.

Lamy Studio Aquamarine and LX All Black Special Editions

I’d call the Lamy Studio one of the “unsung heroes” of the fountain pen world. It’s a well-made, reasonably priced mid-range fountain pen (or rollerball) that not only costs well under $100, but you can easily switch the nib (or even upgrade the nib from steel to gold) because it uses the same interchangeable nib format as the Safari and the AL-Star. Lamy has previously released special edition Studios - I’ve reviewed the Ruby Red and the Racing Green - but the emergig trend has been to release not one but two special editions. The 2018 pens included Terra Cotta and Olive, while this year’s releases are Aquamarine and the “LX All Black.” While I’m certainly glad to see Lamy pay more attention to the Studio, I’m not sure that I understand the strategy behind making two special editions in colors that don’t seem to relate to one another. And what about Lamy’s decision to port the “LX” moniker to the Studio? What does “LX” even mean now?

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If you like dark green pens, the Lamy Studio has you covered. Shown here are the Olive Green (left) and Racing Green (right). Not pictured is my LX All Black, which is en route from the Netherlands as we speak.

Both of the current special edition Studios are still available at retail. Our U.S.-based sponsor Pen Chalet has all of the 2018 AND 2019 Studios in stock, and if you are based outside of the U.S., shipping may be more economical to purchase from our Netherlands-based sponsor Appelboom. (Where possible, throughout this post, I will highlight more than one purchasing option, since many of these pens are not expensive enough to trigger free international shipping.)

Lamy LX “Marron” Special Edition

Lamy created some confusion a couple of years ago when they released the “LX,” which was essentially an AL-Star in “iPhone colors” with a nicer looking nib. (Read my review here.) The LX received a bit of attention, then quickly fell off the radar because not much was done to distinguish the pen in any way from the less expensive AL-Star. You can say I was surprised to see the LX “Marron” Special Edition appear at retailers over the past month. The pen is a nice chestnut-brown, with a bronze-colored clip to match, and it’s a gorgeous pen. (Confession: I bought one immediately.) What confused me was the decision to release a special edition LX, especially since I like this pen much more than this year’s “Bronze” AL-Star. Given the “bronze” clip on this pen, they should’ve passed on the LX special edition and just gone with the Marron.

You can purchase the Lamy LX Marron special edition from both Pen Chalet and Appelboom.

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That clip kills me. More of this, Lamy!

Lamy Safari “Independence Day” U.S. Edition

I waited for a bit, but finally caved and ordered the “Independence Day” Safari for the white cap + red clip combination alone. A U.S. exclusive, Lamy released this pen just before the 4th of July, and despite being a bit puzzled by Lamy’s overall decision to release so many special editions this year, I can get behind the occasional regional special edition. Even the packaging has been upgraded for this pen, signaling that Lamy put a lot of thought into this one. You can purchase this pen from any U.S. Lamy retailer, including Pen Chalet (where the pen is currently on sale).

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The clip game is strong for these two releases.

Lamy Pastel Safaris and Bronze AL-Star

Much has been written about Lamy’s decision to release three special edition Safaris, but viewed in the overall context of just how many special editions Lamy released in 2019, the decision seems even more puzzling to me. Look, the Pastel Safaris (offered in Light Blue, Mint, and Rose) are quite attractive, present a welcome departure from what was seeming like an endless flood of neon and “dark” themed pens, and they have sold well, but the decision to offer three of them has me thinking that someone over at Lamy can’t make hard decisions. The Bronze AL-Star looks fine but is just boring, and let’s be honest - the “matching” ink is orange, not “bronze.” As I noted above, I would have rather seen them release the excellent LX Marron as this year’s AL-Star release.

You can still purchase the Pastel Safaris, and likely will be able to do so for some time. Pen Chalet and Appelboom both have them in stock. Likewise, both Pen Chalet and Appelboom still carry the Bronze AL-Star.

Lamy Scala

Most of you will probably join me in asking: “What the heck is the Lamy Scala?” I saw this pen offered for sale a few years ago through EU-based retailers, but assumed it had been discontinued. It’s a metal pen that sort of looks like a chunkier, non-streamlined Studio. Apparently it comes in range of finishes, ranging from matte black to brushed steel to “piano black” to “titanium,” but the Scala is not widely sold in the U.S., with most retailers carrying only the “Dark Violet” and “Rose” special editions. These aren’t necessarily unattractive pens, but like most mid to high-end Lamy pens, the Scala is priced nearly twice as high in the U.S. as overseas. I’m not at all sure I see any value here, especially compared to the Studio. You can purchase a Studio with a gold nib for just slightly more than a steel nib Scala. This makes no sense, and Lamy either needs to fix the pricing discrepancy or discontinue this line.

Pen Chalet carries the Lamy Scala special editions, and Appelboom carries the entire line.

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I will say that Lamy absolutely killed it on the presentation. The packaging, in addition to looking classy, also appears to be recyclable like their other boxes.

Lamy 2000 Bauhaus 100th Anniversary

And, finally, the commentary most people are probably waiting for: my thoughts on the Bauhaus 100th Anniversary edition Lamy 2000. I did get one of the pens, and I love it. I was, however, extremely frustrated and even a bit angry at how hard it was to track one down. While I probably could have “pulled some strings” and asked a sponsor to set one aside for me, I didn’t do that, mainly because I wanted to write this article from the perspective of someone who loves the Lamy 2000, wanted to participate in this particular anniversary release, and was attempting to find one of the pens at retail without having to pay what I expect will be extortionate prices on the secondary market. It was a difficult, frustrating experience that was completely unnecessary.

The Lamy 2000 is Lamy’s flagship pen. It’s marketed as an example of simple, form-follows-function Bauhaus-inspired design. The Lamy 2000 is also reasonably priced - a piston-filling pen with a gold nib that you can often find for well under $200. The pen is widely loved, and I’m not the only one who has a soft spot for the 2000 because it was the first “nice” pen they ever purchased. So I will say this: It makes absolutely zero sense for Lamy (or their distributor) to price this pen at $500 in the U.S. market, with a release so limited that I’ve heard only 80 - yes, less than 100 - pens made it to the United States. Retailers are holding raffles for the “opportunity” to purchase this pen. In light of Lamy’s decision to flood the market with special editions in the Studio, LX, and Scala lines, it’s absurd that the Lamy 2000 received such a limited release. Sure, I understand the business strategy of selling a smaller number of higher-priced luxury items, but I’d venture that Lamy could have sold thousands of these pens at $300, or even $350. Hype and artificial scarcity during an initial release can drive demand, but with Lamy, if there are not going to be any more of these pens made, what are customers going to come back to buy? Another standard black Lamy 2000? I’m no design historian, but to me, their strategy also seems inconsistent with Bauhaus principles - make well-designed, functional objects made to be used, not sit on a shelf as overpriced collectors’ items.

At the end of the day, I still bought a blue Lamy 2000 at the more reasonable European pricing, and fully intend to ink this pen up and use it just like the old standby that I used to draft this post. I will write in the notebook and throw the box away. The Lamy 2000 remains my favorite pen ever, and I couldn’t bring myself to pass up the opportunity to get the blue one if I found a pen available. Fortunately, Sakura Fountain Pen Gallery in Belgium came through, but I don’t know whether anyone else still has the pens in stock. You’ll have to look hard.

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Taken individually, I can say that I like most of the pens Lamy has released in 2019. Taken collectively, they don’t offer much insight into where Lamy is going as a brand or the company’s overall strategy due to the marked lack of consistency or any common theme. The decision to flood the market with inexpensive special editions in the Safari, AL-Star, and Studio models, and to release special edition Scalas while severely restricting their Bauhaus 100th Anniversary Lamy 2000, is incomprehensible to me and already has alienated Lamy’s customer base.

As I alluded to above, it’s great to see bursts of creativity from what, traditionally, has been a somewhat staid German company, but someone needs to start making difficult decisions on their lower-end and mid-range releases, while at the same time catering to and engaging more with the enthusiasts who are basically lining up to give Lamy money for higher-end goods. If customers can’t actually get these pens, they will spend that money elsewhere, and eventually give up and stop coming back.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I purchased the Lamy 2000 “blue Bauhaus” with my own funds, for my own collection, but acquired the other pens pictured here from Pen Chalet and Appelboom using store credit generated through their affiliate programs.

Water and White Lightning: Fixing High Maintenance Inks

For years I avoided certain ink brands, namely Noodlers and Private Reserve, not because I actually believed those inks would destroy or “melt” pens, but because of batch inconsistency and the fact that many of the inks bled and feathered on all but the thickest coated paper. Others never dried, remaining tacky and subject to smearing for up to a week or more. I would get frustrated and give up, selling or giving away the bottles I had accumulated.

With nearly a decade in this hobby under my belt, I’m slightly more patient than I used to be, and writing this blog has provided me with the opportunity for experimentation. Noodlers makes a wide range of vibrant and unique colors, and most of the inks are so saturated with dye that you can add a couple drops of water or ink additive to improve the ink’s behavior without changing the color significantly or sacrificing vibrancy. The only caveat is that by diluting the ink, you run the risk of compromising special properties such as “bulletproofing” (permanence/water resistance) or quick-drying. I generally don’t purchase inks for these reasons, however, other than a couple water-resistant inks I keep in my collection, and I’ve found that most aren’t significantly affected by a drop of dilution.

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Noodler’s Walnut has always been a favorite of mine, but I’ve had trouble with feathering and slow dry times if I use the ink undiluted. How did I fix it? Read on below.

So How Do I “Fix” Problematic Noodlers Inks?

I’ve found that certain Noodlers Inks that are prone to feathering, bleeding, and extremely slow dry times work better with 1-5 drops of water added to a 5ml sample vial. Inks such as Air Corps Blue Black and Walnut are great colors, but sometimes bleed, feather, and smear on cheaper paper, or take a long time to dry on fountain-pen friendly paper like Clairefontaine, Rhodia, or Tomoe River.

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Writing Samples of Noodlers Walnut, Air Corps Blue Black, and Shah’s Rose, three colors that behave extremely well with a touch of water (Walnut, Air Corps) or a tiny drop of White Lightning (Shah’s Rose).

On the other hand, for inks that are too dry, I take the same amount of ink (5ml in a sample vial) and add a tiny drop of Vanness Pens “White Lightning” ink additive. You might remember a version of this product when it was sold by Organics Studio, under the moniker “Cuddles Flo Plus”, but Vanness acquired the formula after Organics Studio discontinued it and are now bottling the product directly. White Lightning is intended “for use in poor flowing or dry inks to increase flow consistency,” and the product really does work. I can’t emphasize enough, though, that you should use this product sparingly, and do not add directly to the bottle unless you are extremely sure of the amount. Use too much and you can turn a dry ink into the inverse: an ink that feathers, bleeds, and never dries. I’ve had success using White Lightning to improve the flow of drier Noodlers Inks such as basic Noodler’s Black, 54th Massachusetts, and Shah’s Rose. I’ve also spoken with other people who swear that White Lightning improves extremely dry inks such as certain Kyoto TAG inks, as well as Platinum’s “Classic” series of Iron Gall inks.

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One of the great things about Noodlers is that the bottles come filled to the brim. (Just be careful opening them for the first time.) I’ve actually heard some people describe the full bottle, the super-saturation, and the need to dilute certain colors as a “bonus,” because it makes the bottle last a very long time.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Noodlers Ink is widely available from most pen retailers, and the bottles pictured here were supplied by site sponsor Pen Chalet. What I’ve discovered over the years is that Noodlers makes “tinkerer’s inks.” If you don’t mind playing around with the formulation, you can better enjoy the wide range of colors and properties that the brand has to offer. White Lightning Ink Additive can be purchased from our sponsor Vanness Pens, and is a product exclusive to them. This unique product really does work, and if you have a large ink collection that includes colors you love but can’t use due to how the inks themselves behave, consider experimenting with water dilution or additives to tailor the inks to your preference.

Disclaimer: The inks and ink additive were provided to me free of charge by my sponsors, for review purposes. Many thanks to Pen Chalet and Vanness Pens for making this review possible!