Ohto Rook Fountain Pen Review

Just as I have turned the corner on the erasable ink of the Pilot FriXion, I have really started to come around on fountain pens as well. The more I am around them, the more I want to use them. The more I use them, the more I enjoy how they write, and all the different options that are available. The Ohto Rook doesn’t fall into the category of a traditional fountain pen, but it is a fun portable fountain pen that I am very much enjoying.

When I first took the pen out of the package, it took me a few seconds to realize how to open it up to write with. When capped, it measures just 3.7 inches in length, but once I figured out how to pull it apart and post the cap, it reached its full writing length of 5.6 inches, which is comparable to most standard pens. Getting it to open after that first time hasn’t been an issue.

From a writing perspective, the Rook does a fantastic job. The fine iridium nib lays down a smooth, clean line, and the ink is a nice shade of black. The silver portion of the barrel is made from aluminum, while the black sections are plastic, making for a very light weight pen.

This is about as portable as you can get from a fountain pen. If you would like to get another perspective on the Ohto Rook, check out the review by Brian at Office Supply Geek.

Review: Pelikano Fountain Pen - 2010 Edition

This review is by Kalina Wilson, who can also be found at geminica.com.

The Pelikano Fountain Pen has been around for 50 years as a sturdy, easy-to-use fountain pen aimed at school kids. Pelikan has redesigned the pen several times over the years; this version is new for 2010.  

The Pelikano writes smooth and wet, gliding easily across the paper with ink flow that doesn't let up at any speed. Probably due to this abundant ink flow, the line width seems to depend largely on the surface. 

On absorbent papers the width of the "fine" nib is similar to a Lamy Safari EF, but on non-absorbent papers (or sketching over watercolors, as shown above) the line gets quite broad.

As with previous designs, the Pelikano 2010 is available in a few nib sizes, colors, and customized for left-handed and right-handed writers.  It currently retails for $18.40 at JetPens.

Like our friend the Pen Addict, I favor a fine line or else a variable line that is quite fine at its minimum width so this one is a bit broad for me. That said, the ease with which it lays down a whole lot of ink is quite alluring. I have no other fountain pen that will effortlessly fill an area with ink like this one will. The sketch to the right was made on a relatively absorbent paper, but it was still easy to get a thick, rich ink fill.

The grip on the pen feels very comfortable. Fingers naturally end up where they are intended to be.  The body is lightweight and unobtrusive. The cap is not as unobtrusive;  it doesn't feel like it is intended to be posted, and wobbles around on the end of the pen. I notice it a little, but it's not so bad that it stays on my mind while drawing.

The bright side of the cap is that it snaps closed very snugly over the nib. Between the cap and the design of the nib housing, this pen feels... safe.  My fingers don't come into contact with the ink at all.  There has been no ink leakage at all.  Any time you have a large amount of ink in any pen in your bag, there is at least some small chance of disaster - but this pen feels quite secure.

The Pelikano takes international standard ink cartridges as well as a special long cartridge that appears to hold twice as much ink.  I don't really like the way these cartridges connect to the pen - it takes a little pushing to get the cartridge to connect, and it's hard to be certain when it is all the way on.  However, it is nice to know I could travel with this pen and have no problem finding extra cartridges.  Between the easy-to-find cartridges, clean nib, and affordable price point as far as fountain pens go ($18.40), this would be a good choice for on-the-road sketching.

I do wish there weren't two holes in the bottom of the body because otherwise this would be a great choice for an eyedropper conversion.  You can use a silicone sealant to close up those holes but personally I would never be able to trust the pen enough to travel with it after that.   If you want to use your own inks, the other option is the cartridge converter ($5.50).

This pen was a pleasant surprise, despite the broad line.  I'll probably fill it with black ink and use it in combination with a finer-tipped fountain pen to achieve two different line weights.

 If you like a broader line or tend to have flow issues due to writing or drawing quickly, this pen could be a great match for you!

Review: The Noodler's Flex Pen, Revisited

This review is by Kalina Wilson, who can also be found at geminica.com.

Not long ago I reviewed the Noodler's flex pen with mixed results.  I wanted to love it, but my pen just couldn't keep up a steady flow of ink. Thinking it was just a matter of proper adjustment I spent hours trying every bit of advice online, even carving into the ebonite feed, but the pen got no more usable. Instead of giving me a graceful, sweeping line I was ending up with awful chicken scratch because so much labor was involved in making the pen flow.

It must be concluded that at least some of these pens aren't very good straight out of the box. That's not too surprising - it's often the case with affordable fountain pens, and  the Noodler's is very affordable at $14.  At least the Noodler's Flex is made to be easily worked on, with easy disassembly and a workable feed. It's a great intention, design, and pricepoint, you can't knock that. Still, I was disappointed that I was spending more time fiddling with my flex pen than actually drawing with it.

Now to the GOOD NEWS.

In June, a few online suppliers received new shipments of the flex pens, and I picked one up in 'Vulcan Coral' from Goulet Pens.  

This one flows like a dream.  Straight out of the box! No struggle required, though I did wash the nib in soap and water as always.  I love sketching with this thing, and am already angling to grab another one next time they're on the market (that June batch is already long gone, but online retailers can put you on a list to be alerted when they're coming back). Flex nibs have a learning curve attached for those of us that aren't used to them, but now that I'm spending more of my time learning instead of cursing, I'm making some progress. 

Does this mean the new Noodler's flex pens are better?  Or is it a game of chance, since each ebonite feed is slightly different than the next?  Did I irrevocably destroy my first pen during my efforts to salvage it? Is my new flex pen made out of magic?

Who knows.  But I can tell you this - a functioning Noodler's flex pen is a thing of beauty, and a great sketching tool for artists.  It's a gamble but the payoff might be the pen of your dreams.