My Fountain Pen Education: Nakaya Naka-Ai Writer Ao-Tamenuri

WARNING: Do not read this post unless you want your wallet to be emptied.

No post I do about Nakaya is going to do this brand justice. I have been reading and researching these pens for about a year now and still feel like I am a complete novice concerning this historic brand. Luckily, I was able to spend some time with one a few months ago. To say I came away impressed is an understatement.

Before ever getting this Nakaya Naka-Ai Writer Ao-Tamenuri from the venerable Thomas I was in awe of everything Nakaya. The pictures I saw and the reviews I read only solidified the fact that this was my holy grail pen. The designs alone are exactly what speaks to me as a pen owner, not to mention the amazing finishes and world-class nibs.

What makes a Nakaya so special? Each pen is a handcrafted work of art, taking from 3 to 6 months to make depending on the requirements and finish. The barrels begin as hand-turned ebonite and then are finished with many layers of Urushi lacquer to provide a depth in color that is unparalleled. If you have an hour or two to kill (and a drool bib), browse through the Nakaya product catalog. Only then will you begin to understand why these pens are so loved and respected.

The naming conventions may be confusing, but once you are familiar with Nakaya's style they are easy to break down. Let's take this model apart to understand what the name means:

Nakaya - The manufacturer

Naka-Ai - The barrel shape

Writer - With clip

Ao-Tamenuri - The finish, in this case blue-green underneath black

The Ao-Tamenuri is one of the newest finishes available, and is a Nibs.com exclusive (Correction: The Naka-Ai model is the Nibs.com exclusive, not the Ao-Tamenuri finish. Thanks Thomas!). I know Thomas had been waiting a while for this one and I can see why. There is a depth to the finish that is impossible to capture in pictures.

When I finally got the nerve to ink up and use this pen I understood why Nakaya's are so revered. As soon as I picked it up I could feel the warmth in the barrel and the perfect balance. The nib provided a writing experience unlike I had felt before (this one has a stock EF nib). It is dead smooth and only takes a feather-light touch to write a solid line, but you can hear the nib moving across the page as you write. It is very hard to explain, other than it sounded like music to my ears.

So why don't I have one of these pens in my arsenal yet? Well, the model I reviewed runs about $700, with entry-level Nakaya's starting around $550. The price isn't necessarily a deterrent. I could save up for one in a few months if I wanted to. The problem is I know I won't be able to stop at one, and I'm not sure how Mrs. Pen Addict would feel about that.

This small review does not do a pen like this justice. At all. Here are several links where you can read and learn more about Nakaya fountain pens:

-- A Bit About Platinum and Nakaya

-- The most gorgeous red - Nakaya Dorsal Fin

-- The Nakaya Urushi Wajima-nuri -Tamenuri

-- A Snooping around the Nakaya Fountain Pen Company

-- Hands-on with the Nakaya Piccolo Writer Heki-tamenuri Fountain Pen

-- 2012 Top Ten Pens

Be safe out there. And hide your wallets.

TWSBI Inkwell Review

When I first became interested in fountain pens and the variety of inks that are available, I made a large bet on Noodler's Heart of Darkness. This was at a point in my fountain pen journey before I knew about ink samples. So, I purchased a 4.5 oz bottle of Heart of Darkness from Amazon that I soon discovered was impossible to use with a fountain pen converter because the bottle opening was too narrow. It was meant to be used with an eyedropper only. I was disappointed, to say the least.

I got by with a syringe for a while. I filled my converter pens with the syringe after dunking it in the large bottle.

Then I discovered TWSBI. I love the two TWSBI pens I own, and their inkwell caught my eye at first because it was, well, eye-catching. But I soon realized that this would be my solution to the awkward Heart of Darkness problem I got myself into.

So what makes this inkwell special? It makes filling TWSBI pens extremely easy, and also works with all other fountain pens.

Before we dive in, it's important to note that only the TWSBI Diamond and Mini lines work with the proprietary TWSBI port on this inkwell.

How it works with TWSBI fountain pens

Using the inkwell with TWSBI fountain pens is a piece of cake. Simply give the inkwell a light shake and unscrew the top lid to expose the TWSBI refilling port. To fill a TWSBI, just unscrew the nib section and plug the barrel section into the port on the inkwell. Fill the pen as usual, remove the barrel section from the inkwell, and replace the nib section. That's it! No mess, no fuss.

There's a small metal tube that goes into the bottle that allows the pen to draw up the ink. If you don't think very hard about it, it seems like magic as you fill the pen.

How it works with all other fountain pens

For all other fountain pens, the inkwell works like most every other bottled ink out there. Unscrew the second lid section to expose the traditional ink filling cone. The cone is rather large, so I imagine it will accommodate most fountain pens no matter their size. Filling is the same as other ink bottles -- dunk the nib into the ink, and fill the pen. The downside to this method is the clean-up after filling the pen. Let's be honest, the clean-up isn't difficult, but the TWSBI filling method is so cool!

I really appreciate the quality of the TWSBI inkwell. The 50 mL reservoir is made of glass, and the lids are made of aluminum in your choice of color. This inkwell solved my Heart of Darkness problem, and I've even considered getting another (or more) just because I like how it looks so much. If you have a troublesome ink bottle, then this just might be the inkwell for you.

The TWSBI inkwell is available on Amazon in an assortment of colors.

Tools of the Trade: A Review of the TWSBI 580 F Nib and Noodler's Bernanke Black Ink

(This is a guest review by Chase McCoy. You can find more from Chase at chasemccoy.net.)

If you know me at all, you know that I am a lover of analog tools. I am particularly fond of pens and paper. Any pen addict knows that entering the world of better-than-average pens is a hobby that grows as rapidly as your wallet shrinks.

Inspired by the Pen Addict himself, Brad Dowdy, as well as his co-host on The Pen Addict Podcast, Myke Hurley, I have recently begun using fountain pens. There is something about a fountain pen that just feels right. It is an entirely different experience than using a gel ink pen. Until I purchased the TWSBI 580, however, all of my fountain pens have been cartridge filled models like the Lamy Safari and the Kaweco Classic Sport. Both of these are fine pens, but I was ready to take it to the next level.

After researching my options, I decided that the TWSBI 580 was going to be my next pen. Those who have used the pen rave about its spectacular nib and relatively cheap cost. I picked one up from Goulet Pens for $50 along with a bottle of ink and I am quite impressed.

Construction

The TWSBI 580 comes in a few color combos, but I chose the clear demonstrator model. I like being able to see the ink slosh around in the barrel. Plus, I can easily tell when it’s time for a refill.

The 580 is made out of a durable clear plastic with some chrome accents. The cap of the pen screws onto the pen so that you don’t have to worry about leaks. The pen also features a bright red TWSBI logo on the very end of the cap, which adds a nice accent.

One thing that I really like about the pen is that the barrel is not completely round. It is actually many flat sides. I like this because the pen doesn’t roll around when you put it on a flat surface. While that may not seem like a big deal, it relieves a lot of frustration.

Another cool thing is that the nib simply unscrews off the barrel. This means that if you want to try out a different nib size, all you have to do is buy it and screw it on.

Filling

The 580 is the first fountain pen that I have owned that utilizes a piston filling mechanism.

The pen itself is essentially a converter. There is a piston inside the barrel that creates an airtight seal with the inside of the pen. To fill it, you simply unscrew the end of the pen so that the piston is extended towards the nib. Next, you insert the nib into your bottle of ink and twist the piston back up into the pen. This suction draws ink up into the barrel of the pen.

Filling this pen is a simple as could be. Cleaning it should be pretty easy, although I haven’t had to yet. All you should have to do us unscrew the nib and flush it out, and then just wash out the barrel.

Writing

The moment of truth comes after you’ve filled your pen. I purchased an F nib, and I am quite happy with it. If you have a Lamy Safari F nib, the TWSBI is slightly finer. I like my Safari F nib, but I have aways wished that it was a touch finer. I have tried the Safari in an EF nib, but it was too fine. The TWSBI 580 is a happy medium.

I had some issues with my pen at first. It was skipping and having hard starts. Fortunately, flushing the nib solved the problem. I did not flush my nib before I filled it the first time, but I definitely will in the future.

I am happy to say that the 580 writes really well. The pen is smooth and really different from the cheaper fountain pens I have used in the past.

The only problems I have experienced with this pen is that sometimes the pen skips a bit when I first start using it. It is usually a little thin on the first character that I write, but it never lasts longer than a letter or two. I have a feeling that this has to do with the ink that I am using, which I will talk about a little later.

I am really happy with my 580. It writes great and it feels great to write with. If you are looking to step up your pen collection with a smooth, affordable pen, the TWSBI 580 is for you. Plus, a pen like this lets you have a lot if fun with the hundreds of inks out there.

Noodler's Bernanke Black ink

When I set out to find an ink for my pen, I was looking for two things: dark and quick drying. I like black inks, and so I wanted a black that was deep and dark. I was tempted by Noodler's Bulletproof Black, but all of the reviews said that it was very slow to dry.

I settled on Noodler's Bernanke Black because people seemed to really like it and it is a fast drying ink.

So far, I am pleased with the dryness of this ink. It dries almost immediately when you put it on the page. The ink is also nice and dark. It could be a bit darker for my tastes, bit I am pleased with its shade of black.

One issue that I have had with this ink is that because it is a fast drying ink, it tends to dry up a little bit if my pen is sitting out uncapped for a little bit. Usually this means that the pen skips a bit on the first letter that I write. It’s not a huge inconvenience, but I look forward to trying out some other inks in my 580.

Conclusions

I am really happy that I settled on this pen. The TWSBI 580 is a great way to jump into fountain pens and inks. If you are interested, I suggest you purchase yours from Goulet Pens. They have incredible customer service and are based in the U.S.