Posts filed under Blackwing

Palomino KUM Blackwing Automatic Brake Long Point 2 Step Pencil Sharpener Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

While the name is comically long, the Palomino KUM 2 step pencil sharpener is quite a small device that can create an exceptionally fine point on your pencils. The market for small, portable pencil sharpeners has plenty of standard options, but there's also plenty of unique selling features. 2 step sharpeners are capable of achieving a long, fine point that most other sharpeners can't touch.

As the name implies, this product is actually made by KUM, a company that produces many different pencil sharpeners. The Palomino product is a white-labeled version of KUM's own sharpener of the same name, except this sharpener features the Blackwing branding on the side and comes in unique color options.

What sets this sharpener apart from other standard sharpeners is the fact that it is two sharpeners. The first slot shaves away the wood casing while allowing the whole lead to pass through almost untouched. This allows the lead to reach a much longer length than normal, and it looks quite weird.

The second slot is much smaller and only shaves the lead. Once this sharpener starts removing more from the wood casing, you know that it's ready to go. This two step approach results in a point that is about 1-2 mm longer than usual.

I've used this sharpener over the past few months, and I've had mixed results. When done correctly, it does produce a long tip with a very fine point. In practice, I've broken the lead several times while trying to use the second slot to sharpen the lead core. From what I can tell, you have to use extremely light pressure and be incredibly careful about the angle that you use when sharpening.

The sharpener is a convenient size and also collects shaving inside the transparent compartment. The blades are really high quality, and it also comes with two extra blades that are stowed in the end of the shaving compartment. Aside from the learning curve that resulted in a lot of broken lead, I've really enjoyed this sharpener.

For me, I prefer using my Kutsuwa Stad T-Gaal pencil sharpener most of the time, but it's nice to shake things up. Like most small sharpeners, they're incredibly affordable (less than $10) and easy to experiment with. If you're interested in the 2 step sharpening method, this is a great place to start. You can buy the Palomino-branded sharpener, but you can also purchase the KUM version of the same product, and you can even purchase the sharpener without the plastic container and shavings compartment. For any wood-case pencil lovers, it's a great addition for your arsenal!

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on December 5, 2018 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Blackwing, Kum, Palomino, Pencil Sharpener.

Palomino Blackwing Pencil Pouch Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

As I dive deeper and deeper into the pencil world, it doesn’t take long to realize that not all pen/pencil cases are long enough to accommodate a standard size wood-case pencil. They’re just longer than your average writing utensil, and that means you have to purchase a case that is made for these instruments in mind.

It should come as no surprise that Palomino has their own case for just this purpose. The Pencil Pouch from Blackwing is a black waxed-canvas pencil case that features a low-key branding and big, brass zipper to keep everything secure. On the outside, it looks great and, due to the waxed canvas, should hold up for quite a long period of use.

Pencil pouches are fairly simple — they are usually a rectangle with enough space inside for a dozen or two dozen pencils, and close with a zipper of some kind. The Blackwing version is no different, but stays in line with the branding of their notebooks and pencils — it’s minimal and unassuming. I think it looks great, but it’s not perfect.

The brass zipper on top of the case looks fantastic. It has a rugged, aged look that compliments the black canvas. It also has a small leather pull attached to the zip pull to make it easier to operate. On one side of the zipper, there’s also a small leather tab affixed in the seam of the pouch that provides a nice gripping point when unzipping the pouch. Palomino definitely thought through the design and use of this case, and it shows. While the zipper looks great, it uses a relatively large zip size that can be someone difficult to open and close. It tends to get caught midway through the zip, and that can be frustrating. The last thing you want is a struggle with trying to close the pencil pouch that results in some of the tips of your pencils getting damaged or broken.

Apart from the zipper, there’s the feel of the waxed canvas when it’s still new. It has a waxy feel on the outside and the inside of the pouch, and this residue can stick to your fingers. I really dislike this, but it’s happened to me with almost every other new waxed canvas bag that I’ve had. Fortunately, this residue wears off over a brief period, but the protective elements of the wax coating remain. If you can live through a short period of waxy residue on your fingers and pencils, you’ll be fine with this case. The other downside of waxed canvas is that it loves to pick up lint, hair, etc. This drives me nuts because I detest lint, so keep that in mind if you also suffer from this idiosyncrasy.

In the pictures in this review, I’m using a dozen pencils. You can see in the pictures that the pouch looks about half-full, and that’s accurate according to the specs on JetPens. This case should comfortably fit 24 pencils. If you leave a few out, there’s also plenty of room for a sharpener and an eraser.

On the quality side, the case seems very well made, although a little messy on the inside. The outside of the case looks very clean and well-made. The stitches are consistent and I haven’t seen any stray threads coming off the case with use. If you turn the pouch inside out to inspect the interior stitches, they seem a bit messier and might potentially unravel a bit over a long period of time. Still, since they’re on the inside of the pouch, they’re very well protected. I imagine this is normal for any stitched goods that are made in high volume, as I assume these Blackwing pouches are.

The Palomino Blackwing Pencil Pouch will set you back around $35, which seems a fair price for the materials used. I’ve been happy with it aside from the minor complaints I noted above, and I’d happily recommend this case if you like the aesthetic and price-point.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Blackwing, Pen Case.

Palomino Blackwing Volumes Vol 16.2 Pencil Giveaway

I love what Blackwing does every quarter with their Volumes releases, and the most recent - Vol 16.2 - is a personal favorite for the style and the subject. If you haven’t made the jump into wooden pencils yet, this is a great place to start. I have one box of these pencils to give away to a lucky reader, so read the rules below and enter away!

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Palomino, Blackwing, Giveaways.