The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 598 - Big Pen + Big Nib = Big Price

We all have a dream pen, right? I talk about one of mine in this week’s episode (not pictured above - but close!) and discuss what pens I am actually using, instead of fawning over. I’m also Kickstarter-curious, with the launch of Dominant Industry’s latest campaign.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

Pen Chalet: Click the ‘podcast’ link at the top of the website and enter the password 'penaddict' for this week's special offer, and to get your code for 10% off.

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Podcast.

T. Wyitt Carlile Fountain Pen Wand Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And her latest book, Root Rot, is now available for pre-order!)

Writing is inherently magical, turning abstract thought into a concrete object that someone else can read, absorbing that thought, sharing it. Whole lives and worlds conjured out of imagination. Magic! Then Wyitt comes along and is like, MORE MAGIC.

I was envious of everyone who got to play with the T. Wyitt Carlile Wand Pens at the Orlando Pen Show, and elated when Brad said he was sending one my way. Granted, I was a bit let down to discover that this is not, in fact, an enchanted pen that will complete my projects for me while I nap, but it is otherwise delightful.

The body of the pen is made from beautifully turned dark wood that woodsy people will probably be able to identify in the comments (my best guess is ebony.) The wood is smooth and polished with very neat shaping that is comfortable to hold. Both the handle/cap and the pen body/wand have a purple-rose-orange-gold resin insert that shimmers with real (I assume) magic. Or sparkle, same difference. The cap band, grip section, and hardware are a rose gold color with some decorative engraving.

The nib is a fine #5 steel nib. The nib and hardware come from the fairly common kit suppliers used by pen turners, and past experiences have led me to expect a mediocre performance from these nibs, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the smoothness and excellent flow in this one. It's a true fine, with just the right amount of feedback, does not feel too dry, and has never skipped. I don't know if Wyitt tunes or adjusts the kit nibs at all, but this is definitely the best behaved kit nib I've used to date. A very nice writing experience.

While the nib is lovely, the overall writing experience is a wee bit awkward just due to the hugeness of the wand pen. Practicality isn't the objective here--whimsy and style are the driving forces of this design. It's a statement piece, perfect for when you need to sign something with flair or turn someone into a newt. Or both at once.

The handle is the cap, so if you're holding it in proper spellcasting position, it's nib-down, and a wee bit of ink leaking can be expected, or a lot bit, if you're particularly enthusiastic. As a decorative and functional desk accessory, it works perfectly.

I love how fun these are. The fact that it also writes well is icing on the cake. I think this would be perfect for a book signing, or as an art piece for the magically inclined. It would be great for D&D players, LARPers, or anyone who conjures story from the air.

Wyitt sells his pens, wands, and wand pens on his website. The wand pens run from $130-$150, which is very fair, considering the craftmanship. They're all unique and gorgeous and I hope I'll get to see more of them in person someday.

(Brad purchased this pen from T. Wyitt Carlile at normal retail price at the 2023 Orlando Pen Show.)

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Posted on January 18, 2024 by Sarah Read and filed under Wyitt Carlile, Fountain Pens, Pilot, Pen Reviews.

Troublemaker Inks Petrichor Review

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

There are so many combination black inks available today — blue-black, blue-green, etc. — but gray combination inks are actually more exciting for my preferences. Mixing a gray ink with another color has potential for creating some really interesting shading effects if the formula is right. Today, we're looking at a gray-purple (or gray-green?) ink from Troublemaker Inks, who are based in the Philippines.

Petrichor is from Troublemaker's Shading collection, which features inks with (you guessed it) pronounced shading characteristics. Petrichor is a gray ink with a slight purple or green hue in some light. It's described as a gray-purple, but I don't think there's enough purple in this ink to really do the description justice. In most of my samples, it looks like a dusty gray that leans more toward green than purple. I really enjoy the color of this ink; it just isn't purple.

Since this ink is part of a collection that focuses on shading, it comes as no surprise that this ink has loads of shading. Even in small nibs, this ink shades easily. The color variation goes from a light semi-translucent gray-green to a darker gray with green and purple/blue tones. When it comes to shading, this ink does not disappoint.

Dry time is on the fairly slow side of the scale for this ink. In a medium nib, the ink was dry and smudge-resistant by 30 seconds. It smudges and smears easily under the 30-second mark, so this isn't a good choice for lefties or if you need to write and close your notebook quickly/frequently.

The characteristic of this ink that makes me hesitate the most when picking it up to use is the ink flow and lubrication. More than 90% of the inks I use are either in the middle of the scale for flow and lubrication, and I tend to like inks better if they are well-lubricated and flow easily. With Petrichor, it feels like ink supply is constricted even on pens that usually have no problem delivering lots of ink to the page. This also makes the nib feel a little dry when writing, which constantly makes me stop and think that I might have an ink flow problem. No, the ink is flowing just fine; it's just the ink formula is on the dry side and doesn't provide the amount of lubrication I like for writing. That's not to say it's a bad characteristic, but it is one that you should be aware of. If you want a dry ink with very controlled flow, this is great. If you want easy flow and a glossy feel when writing, this isn't for you.

The ink behaves well on paper. I haven't noticed any feathering or bleeding, and it starts right away. It's also easy to clean out of pens with just a water flush. I haven't experienced any weirdness with long-term storage in a pen either (meaning, no weird crusty build-up or other residue on the nib after it isn't used for a few days).

I've enjoyed the inks I've tried from Troublemaker Inks so far. This isn't my favorite by any stretch, but I still enjoy the color and shading that it offers. The dry flow takes some getting used to, but once I dialed in my writing speed and expectations, it keeps up just fine.

Petrichor is available in a 60ml bottle for $16.50, or as a 4ml sample vial for just $4. This is one of those inks where I'd really recommend going for the sample first. Given the color variation and dry flow, you need to be sure you like it before committing to such a large bottle. But, if you want the bottle, it's a great deal! Looking forward to trying more inks from Troublemaker Inks in the future.

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on January 17, 2024 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Troublemaker Inks, Ink Reviews.