The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 179 - Super Traditional Camo Pattern

My weekend was jam-packed full of awesomeness as Nock Co. attended the American Field pop-up shop in Atlanta. Myke and I discussed the full experience, from being strangers entering into a new world to releasing new products into the wild. We also cover a trifecta of paper goodness from Midori, Field Notes, and Hobonichi.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

lynda.com: An easy and affordable way to help individuals and organizations learn. Free 10-day trial.

Dudek Modern Goods: Use code 'PENADDICT' for 10% off through the month of November.

Fracture: Photos printed in vivid color directly on glass. Use code 'PENADDICT' to get 15% off.

The ArtSnacks Studio Collection (Sponsor)

ArtSnacks is the premier monthly subscription box for full-size, premium art supplies, and they've recently launched a new series of limited edition curated boxes called “Collections.”

The 2015 Studio Collection includes 7 full-size premium products with two exclusive products that you can't find anywhere else. It's a one time fee, not a subscription, and ships for free to anywhere in the USA. International shipping is also available.

ArtSnacks is offering the PenAddict audience a coupon code for $10 off their Studio Collection Order using the code PENADDICT at check out. Shipping the week of December 7th, this is the perfect surprise gift for any artist, doodler, or stationery lover, including yourself!

First Look- Mini-Click Pen Project

The Kickstarter Fist Looks have been rolling in fast and furious lately, and I am happy to bring you another one with the Mini-Click Pen Project. Jack Roman from Tuff-Writer Pens is back on Kickstarter for the third time with a lighter, shorter click pen with a new custom designed and maufactured clicky mechanism.

Many machined pen manufactuers use the stock Schmidt SKM-88 click mechanism for their retractable pens. It is readily available and works well. Jack wasn’t content with using an off the shelf mechanism for this project and set out to design his own. The result is what you see here, first used in the Mini-Click.

The design, specs, dimensions, and materials are all laid out on the project page, but all you really need to know is that the mechanism works, and it works well. It is solid, smooth, and responsive. When you depress the knock to engage the pen you know you are locked in and ready to write.

The pen barrel itself is made from aluminum, giving it a lightweight yet durable feel, while the clip is stamped from steel. The balance and feel are spot on. The glossy coated anodization on my prototype is wonderful, give it a sharp, crisp finish. Refill wise, the Mini-Click is based around the standard Parker design, and ships with a Fisher Space Pen pressurized refill.

The only issue I have with the pen is the use of o-rings in the grip area. Theoretically, they are there to allow for a better grip when writing. While this is true, the tradeoff is you will be losing them constantly, and hunting for one is like searching for a lost contact lens. When I unscrewed the barrel to get to the refill, I lost the middle o-ring, never to be found again. I’m not the only one either, as eagle-eyed viewers will see Jack in the video writing with a pen at one point missing the very same o-ring after swapping the refill. I would much rather a smooth or machined grip area than have to worry about extra o-rings on hand.

Aside from that, the Mini-Click is rock solid to use. All of the tolerances are tight, the new click mechanism design is great, and it feels good in the hand when writing.

Pledge levels begin at $60 for aluminum finished barrels, with anodized barrels priced at $65. For an American made pen with a brand new in-house designed click mechanism this is a good deal. Head over to Kickstarter and check it out now.

My thanks to Jack for sending me this pen at no charge for the purposes of this review.