The LAMY Unic?  Is this a model that a lot of people have heard of?  I certainly knew nothing about the pen up until about 6 months ago.  I do recollect seeing one on FPN awhile back where it was listed as a "rare model" and was quite pricey, but at the time I didn't really engage with it.

I was perusing the deep, dark corners of LAMY's website and stumbled upon a really neat page called the Design History.  I don't believe it has every variation of every model (which would be awesome), but in a nutshell it is a sort of design timeline of LAMY pens which is super cool.  In flipping through the timeline I stumbled upon the year 1984 where I saw this:

Image from LAMY website

Uhhhh.... cool?  Why haven't I seen this before?!  Oh.  They are discontinued...

Upon reading the page about the LAMY Unic a bit further, one finds out that the designer of the pen is none other than Gerd A. Müller, the designer behind the LAMY 2000, their flagship product.  This is one of four designs by Müller for LAMY: the 2000, cp1, st, and unic.  The man has quite a legacy and it is a shame that this stunning beauty is tucked away in the corners of a timeline rather than gracing thousands of desks today.

The images in the post are from my Instagram feed.

The Gerd A. Müller Collection: 2000, cp1, st, and unics

As it usually does, when I am intrigued by a pen, particularly those that are difficult to find, I am instantly on the hunt.  I scour forums, auction sites...all ends of the internet to see if I can track down more info, or even a pen for that matter.

My luck struck pretty quickly on eBay where I was first able to acquire a stainless steel Unic fountain pen.  I was thrilled and couldn't wait to open the package when it arrived.

Unic with LAMY 585 gold nib

I have subsequently acquired three additional Unic pens: a black fountain pen and ballpoint as well as a stainless steel ballpoint, of course, to match the fountain pen.  The black versions have a bit of a story as a friend on Instagram, Marcellix, was kind enough to work out a deal with me to get my hands on the fountain and ballpoint set.  

The stainless ballpoint I purchased from an eBay type site called Martini Auctions which is out of Germany.  I had never bought from them before, but a friend said he had so I felt more comfortable.  They have a ton of pens, but the pricing can be really high.  Although, I got this ballpoint for 55 Euros which isn't cheap, but compared to prices I've seen it was a steal (not steel...wow).

As you can tell, this post isn't really a "review", but more an awareness post for now.  Actual reviews will be forthcoming in time, but I thought it interesting to share as I always love finding out about pens that are amazing, but for some reason have fallen out of production.  Sounds a bit like the rOtring 600s and Pilot MYU/Murex?  

Why do companies do this?  It isn't like LAMY went through a restructure or merger.  (or at least I think they didn't)  It must boil down to either production costs or lack of popularity.  I mean, LAMY sells a lot of pens and there are similar pens available like the Logo, st, or cp1, so why no Unic?  If anyone knows someone that works for LAMY... 

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One of my favorite bloggers, Mary Collis, posted a review today of her new Divide over at From the Pen Cup.  Mary has a way of making you laugh, making you cry... you get the picture; she is great.  She has a witty humor that just makes me smile.

Mary's Divide all decked out...

In addition to her review, we've arranged to do a giveaway of The Divide to one of Mary's readers, so make sure to head over and check it out.

Thanks Mary!

Whew!  The past month has been absolutely crazy.  With the holidays, orders for Dudek Modern Goods go up in November which puts most of my free time into production mode.  This has prevented me from sitting down to write a full-on pen review for a couple of weeks now, but I knew the Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen was the next on the list to review as it has surprised me as an overwhelming favorite.

I acquired this blue Custom 74 fountain pen about a month or so ago from Pen Chalet and have been so pleased with it.  The honest truth is, I almost didn't buy one.  I have two or three other 14k Pilot fountain pens (Stargazer and CH 92 to name a couple) and I thought, "do I really need to try another one?"  The more and more I kept looking at them, the more I found that I appreciated its design and aesthetic.  

There were three things that really made me want to buy one: looks, size, and that it was a cartridge/converter style.  I really like the Pilot Custom Heritage 92, but I honestly feel that piston fillers probably aren't my favorite.  There are pens where I make an exception as there is no other option like the LAMY 2000, but I prefer to go the cartridge/converter route due to convenience and cleaning.  I find that with piston fillers that it is nearly impossible to get all remnants of the previous ink out and in the CH 92 which is a clear demonstrator, you see it.

From a size perspective, the 74 comes in just a hair longer than the 92, but isn't big at all.  Again, going back to the cartridge/converter thing, I have the Stargazer, but feel I prefer the more full sized pen for everyday writing and use.

I think the Pilot Custom 74 is a handsome, yet sporty looking pen.  It comes in a range of colors from orange to purple, but still maintains a sense of class.  There is just enough chrome trim to dress it up a little.  

Both ends of the pen have a domed piece which softens the looks in comparison to most other Pilot fountain pens I own.  The Falcon, CH 92, Stargazer, and even my vintage Customs, all have flat ends.  Pilot also chose to make the clip a bit different than the others by adding a small round ball to the end of a tapering piece.  I'm sure this allows for easier pocketability if you really think about it, but I presume it is to fit the overall, softer looks they chose to give the pen.  

The nib, to be expected, is fantastic.  Wet and smooth, and haven't had a skip to speak of.  The medium runs, well, medium, but if you are used to a fine nib on a Pilot then prepare to be about double the line width.  The jump from <F> to <M> (Pilot nib language) is pretty big.  At first I wasn't so sure about mediums, but they are very enjoyable due to how smooth the experience is.  When I say "smooth", not like glass smooth, but not scratchy and just enough feedback.

As usual, I've been using my large Rhodia dotPads which are excellent for fountain pens.  I'm also writing with a black ink which is pretty rare for me as I'm usually a blue guy, but a friend of mine let me fill it up with some Noodler's Borealis Black (which is awesome by the way and super saturated). 

Final point on the board for the 74: the CON-70 converter.  This is the first pen I've bought that takes the CON-70 which is the largest of the Pilot converters.  The CON-20 is a sort of squeeze filler, the CON-50 is more of your traditional piston filler, while the CON-70 is a button filler that you have to pump a few times to fill up.  Sort of strange, but surprisingly effective.  Bigger reservoir for longer writing stints...

If my opinion isn't fairly clear, I really like the Custom 74 and I think it will be a pen in the rotation a lot.  It looks good, but isn't a lot of fuss and I like that.  Kind of the "old reliable" type if you know what I mean.  Does it have the same technically sophisticated look of my clear Custom Heritage 92?  No, but is probably a pen I'll use excessively more.

Again, I picked this one up from Pen Chalet where they have it listed for a good price and you can get an extra 10% off using the promo CLICKYPOST.

I seriously must be out of my mind.  With as much grief as the Pelikan M205 seems to have caused me in the past, I'm still sinking money into them in hopes that some day I will buy one that knocks my socks off as sufficiently as it does other people.

I think we might finally be there...

What did it take?  Buying a gold nib to switch into it.  Desperate times...

I'll have to pass the credit for the prompting over to Mr. Myke Hurley of Relay FM, co-host of one of our favorite podcasts, The Pen Addict.  Over a year ago I imagine it has been now, Myke bought an M205 and swapped in a gold nib.  He raved and raved about it, but from what everyone else seemed to be saying was that the steel nib was still good.  I decided to give the steel a try.

After going through a couple of M205s to try, they never really grabbed hold of me.  Actually, three M205s to be exact.  One I had sent off for repair which came back writing well, one I sold which was "ok" in my opinion, and another recent purchase I got from Pen Chalet with an italic nib which is fun.  Still, buttons not really being pushed like crazy; until this gold nib.

I was perusing another pen retailer, Cult Pens, out of the UK as they stock Pelikan gold nibs ranging from the 400 to 1000 series.  The M400 14k nib came in at £60 (after excluding VAT), and I had a 10% off coupon code at the time.  So £64 shipped (at the time a little less than $100) got me a new nib on the way from the UK which I thought was cheap.

So, couple a Pelikan M205 from Pen Chalet with one of the coupon codes floating around for less than $90 with about $100 nib from Cult Pens, you can set yourself up with a gold Pelikan that probably rivals the M400 or M405 for about $100 or so less.  Hey, I'm open to saving $100 where I can...

What this gold nib has done has actually made me really, really enjoy the Pelikan.  Honestly, it is probably one of the most fantastic nibs I own.  Super smooth, just enough flex, great flow; excellent.  This swap, if in your budget, is something I would highly recommend.

I went with a medium which puts down a pretty wide line, but can't argue with the smoothness.  Eventually I may end up purchasing another in a fine, but we'll see.  Honestly, I don't want it to seem like I was throwing the M400 or M405 under the bus as I don't own one, but for the sake of giving the experience a fair shake one of those may pop up sometime in the future.  A little side-by-side comparison would be nice rather than me making potentially outrageous claims.

With all of the praise I am now giving the pen, I am still a bit irked if I'm being honest.  I know a lot of people have good experiences with the standard, out of the box M205, but mine were mediocre at best.  I mentioned in a previous review that there is probably a lot of "it's not you, M205, it's me" going on which I'm certain clouds my willingness to move on.  A $200 (retail) pen should write like a $200 pen, case closed.  Compared to others in this price range like the Pilot Custom 74 or Vanishing Point (both come with gold nibs), the standard experience of the M205 doesn't stand up.  I hate feeling like a am paying a premium for a "brand" if that makes sense.  

Still, I know now the the M205 will be more frequent in the rotation due to the swap.  This pen feels like it is finally worth its salt.  

Its been awhile since I've posted an official rOtring review.  In my observations, it looks like the prices on the discontinued models are a bit on the decline which is good as things got a bit crazy (not that $150 isn't a bit crazy) about a year ago.

If you've been following the blog for a bit, you may recall kind of an odd rOtring I reviewed back in November of 2013 called the Lambda.  That particular review was of the rollerball version, but I've been watching eBay from time to time and was able to snatch up a ballpoint for the collection for a reasonable price of I think $30 or $40.  I've seen these go as high as $100+, so I feel pretty good about it.

The history of the Lambda is a little dicey.  I've seen some places where they say it is older than the 600 while others say it is younger, but I'm not really sure.  Regardless, they have long since been a discontinued model and are more of a collector's item today.

When I think of rOtring, I think of metal barrels, generally of the 6 sided variety.  rOtring has made several other models outside of the 600 or Newton, but they seem to be the most iconic and memorable.  Oddly enough, they still only produce the mechanical pencils which is a strange business decision all on its own.  

From a design standpoint, the Lambda can best be described as a "stealth" style pen.  It is completely matte black from tip to tail.  A pen definitely for Batman or a ninja.  The pen does have some metal components (likely brass) in the tip section as well as the knock and clip, but the barrel I believe to be a matte black, rubberized plastic.  It doesn't feel like metal.

One aspect of the pen that gives it somewhat of an edge is the knurling found on the grip as well as wrapped around the knock.  A little bit of subtle kick-butt goes a long way on the Lambda as it takes what could be your average looking clicker and gives it just enough to allow it to stand out.  Even though I'm not into anything super tactical with spears, saws, or glass breakers, I think the edgy look of the Lambda is well played.

I call the grip, "the grip", although there really isn't one.  The knurling I spoke of is a thin, 1/4" line of knurling that wraps around the circumference of the pen at the barrel and tip break point.  Since the barrel is one long cylinder, there are times that my hands don't even grip the knurling.  Lets just say it isn't as apparent as in the 600 series as it makes up the entire grip in those varieties.

The pen takes your standard Parker style ballpoint which allows you to use refills like the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000, Moleskine Gel Roller, Parker gel, or even the Fisher Space Pen with the adaptor.  I used to abhor ballpoint refills when gel pens were all the craze, but they've actually grown on me quite a bit.  Even though they aren't usually the crispiest or darkest writers, they serve their purpose and fit a wide range of writing environments where gels, rollerballs, or fountain pens dare not go...

The Lambda is pretty light weight, but feel sturdy.  In using it I'm never in fear that it will break or even that a gentle drop will damage it.  The knock has a very satisfying click and it's design makes it literally feel like you're pressing a button or plunger of sorts.

Should you race out to buy a Lambda ballpoint?  Probably not, unless you happen to be a collector.  They are, oddly enough, fairly tough to find for a decent price.  There is also a fountain pen version, but I've only seen them ridiculously priced at around $300 or so.  Pass.  Good deals do pop up from time to time it seems as I got my rollerball for around $35 if I remember correctly.

So why review a pen that is hard to find or discontinued?  Simply to provide some history and awareness.  Although, sometimes these elusive rabbit holes are the hardest ones to get out of!

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As the year is wrapping up and I've been scrambling to get all the final pen holders sent out (nearly all in time for Christmas!), I've been reflecting on just how grateful I am for the support I've received.  I've been blown away by not only the demand for Dudek Modern Goods pieces, but by the overwhelmingly positive feedback I've received.  Thank you!

I wanted to take the time to put together a post of some of the pics shared or sent to me by customers and friends (I don't have them all...) showcasing their Dudek pieces.  If you have some, also feel free to share them with me as I'd love to see how they are being used!  

Thanks again for an amazing 2014,

Mike Dudek

@Parklund

@pelletenvy

@pensomnia

@amswain12

@basandlokes

@bioworkz

@bmorejoe

@brogue_and_captoe_battle

@dag4321

@dag4321

@damondamore

@damondamore

@frosty

@hongninja

@mscollis

@pentulant

@thedailycarry

@tr4656

@trhall

@ubiquitously_

Bob Owens

With the year coming to a close, how much fun would a giveaway be?!  

Bill from Karas Kustoms has kindly offered up one of the new Ink rollerball pens to be given away to a reader of The Clicky Post!  Thanks, Bill.

When the fellas asked me which Ink we should give away, my reply to Dan Bishop was: "you pick."  Dan has come up with a cool combo that looks awesome.  He has referred to it as the unofficial (copyright/trademarks and all) "Iron Man" version.

The barrel is machined from solid aluminum and anodized in a bright candy red.  There isn't a plastic piece in the construction of this pen which is one of the things I enjoy so much about it.  A lot of companies put metal sleeves over a plastic core, but not this beauty.  All metal and feels awesome. 

The rollerball grip section Dan chose is machined from solid brass which adds some extra heft and weight to the front.  It will also patina and add a bit of character to the pen the more you use it.  Included with the pen is a Schmidt Cap-less rollerball refill which writes super smooth and lays down a nice dark line.  In the rollerball realm, this refill is at the top of my list.

In addition to the Ink rollerball, I am also including a Rhodia dotPad to sweeten the deal that was kindly provided by rhodiapads.com!  The dotPad has become my favorite paper in almost all cases.

CONTEST RULES (the "fine print"):

- Contest will run through Wednesday, December 31st and will end at 11:59pm Arizona Time, USA.  I will be announcing the winner on New Years Day!  Happy New Year to a lucky winner...

- To enter, leave a comment below (limited to one entry per person; no cheating!): do you have a favorite Karas Kustoms pen or what type of pen would you like to see the guys do next?

- I will arrange the entries in numerical order and randomly select a winner.  The winner will be announced on the blog on Thursday, January 1st and will need to connect with me within a week to claim their prize. 

- This giveaway is open to both US and International readers.

Thanks again to Karas Kustoms and Rhodia for offering up the prizes!  Good luck everyone.

Happy New Year!

Thanks to everyone who entered to win the Karas Kustoms Ink Rollerball (Iron Man colors) and Rhodia dotPad!  

And the winner is:

Congrats Ben!  Looking forward to sending these your way so make sure to connect with me within one week to claim your prize.  Darn that autocorrect always changing "Karas" to Kara's...

If you didn't win and are still looking to pick up a pen from Karas Kustoms, use the promo code HAPPYHOLIDAYS for an additional 15% off which is good only through today, January 1st.  Sweet deals...

Thanks again to everyone for playing and I'm sure we'll have more giveaways soon so stay tuned!

There is currently running a Kickstarter campaign by Andrew Sanderson of Modern Fuel for a metal barreled mechanical pencil which has seen tremendous success up to this point.  Andrew was kind enough to send me a sample prototype to review which I am excited to provide my thoughts and opinions on.  Thanks again, Andrew.

I've seen a few names floating around for the pencil: Mechanical Pencil That Will Last You A Lifetime or the 6061 Pencil, but moving forward I will simply refer to it as "the pencil".

Prior to Andrew connecting with me about the pencil I had seen the Kickstarter campaign and the first thing that comes to mind is how sleek and modern the pencils are.  Milled from either aluminum or brass, the shape of the pencils are very minimal; simple almost, but attractive nonetheless.  The design is done in such a way that the seam between the barrel and tip is invisible and the lead simply comes out of a solid cone shape versus having a metal tube sticking out like you would see in a lot of other pencils.  This is a distinct design element.  

The modern and simple style reminds me a lot of something that a company like LAMY would produce, or one of their designers would present to the table.  The pencil is a bit sexy, if that makes sense and as far as writing instruments go.  

In the video, Andrew discusses his reasoning for designing the pencil: he is a mechanical designer that uses pencils a lot for sketching and drawing and was tired of throwing cheaper pencils in the trash when used up.  He decided to design his own.  I can appreciate the philosophy of buying something for life considering the highly disposable society we live in.

The pencil does not come with a built in clip, but all pledge levels provide a removable slip on version if you find one necessary.  Personally, the design without the clip suits me best, but makes portability an issue that I think I'm willing to live with.  I actually opted not to put my clip on as it seems to be a pretty tight fit and I didn't want to scratch up the barrel unnecessarily during installation.  The clip is definitely an "add-on" type piece made from pressed metal and coated in black and is more of a function over form in my opinion, but doesn't really accentuate the overall barrel design.  Not everything needs a clip!     

Oddly enough, even whilst being primarily a pen and ink guy, I do still own a lot of mechanical pencils it seems.  Upon receiving the pencil from Andrew it prompted me to pull out my collection of rOtring, OHTO, Kaweco, Pilot, and Uni pencils.  With "the pencil" coming in at around $60, I wanted to take a look at it as it compares to some of these others, but not in a completely "apples to apples" type of way which I will explain.  All of these I've discussed are manufactured by big companies; this pencil is not.  

The truth of the matter is that there are other non-disposable mechanical/drafting pencils on the market.  Tons of them, and many you can get easily for $60 or less.  So, why back Andrew's project with all of these others?  This will be a decision you need to make on your own, but there are a few factors which I think set it a part.

At least the barrel sections of "the pencil" were designed and are manufactured in the United States by small businesses.  I live in the USA and like to support my local economy like the next guy or gal.  My own products are handmade in the USA and I do take a sense of pride in that I suppose, so I get it.  There are many brands that we buy and love like Nock Co, Karas Kustoms, Doane Paper, Tactile Turn and Field Notes that are made in the USA.  The truth is, it costs more to do so which can translate into higher prices on certain goods, but we are supporting small business.

Even though it is a seemingly simple design, this is appealing and there isn't anything that quite fits this style on the market.  The pencil is bound to stand out in a kind of cool and collected way rather than trying to make an overly bold statement.  It was built to be sleek, but also functional.

Things I enjoy about the pencil are the slim and simple styling, the feel, and the subtle weight (coming in around .66 oz for the aluminum).  It really is a good looking pencil that feels great in your hand while writing.  The lead doesn't wobble about which is a major plus.

As I'm sure all Kickstarter projects are concerned about with reviews, I do have some things that concern me, but I want to provide some honest feedback.

The points made above are to allow the pencil to stand out in ways from its competition in the market (the "why should I consider it"), but there are certain points that should be compared to other metal drafting/mechanical pencils particularly due to the price.

The inside mechanism of the pencil is made of plastic as opposed to a brass mechanism found in many (if not most) pencils in this price range.  Andrew says in his video that if something goes awry with the pencil that he will fix or replace it.  This is good, but is something as a consumer I shouldn't need to worry about if the pencil is built to last a lifetime if that makes sense.  I do appreciate his willingness to step in if problems arise.

In addition to it being plastic, the click in the mechanism for the pencil feels ok, but not as substantial as others.  I'm the type to look at the positive in the pens/pencils I review, but in this instance the mechanism stands out to me as a potential issue/gripe for some people.

I don't want my concerns of the mechanism to come across as a criticism, but as something that could be considered for change to raise the pencil up a few notches.  

Is the design great?  Yes.  Is there anything quite like it in the market yet?  No.  Is there an opportunity for the pencil to still get better?  Absolutely.  In backing a Kickstarter project like this you are helping to support the vision and mission of the designer, a great thing, which we hope will turn into a lasting opportunity for not only the designer, but us as consumers.

Bottom line is that I enjoy the pencil that Andrew has created and I find it to be a striking and handsome writing instrument.  Would I like to see some revisiting of possible mechanism swaps (perhaps a Schmidt)?  Yes.  I think by updating the "innards" to more-so withstand the tests of time, this pencil will be an unstoppable winner.

Thanks again, Andrew, and make sure to visit and support his effort on Kickstarter if you want to get involved! 

With the Kickstarter campaign for The Cube (CU13E) by Karas Kustoms + Dudek ending last month, production and fulfillment on pledges made by backers will be commencing soon!

As a recap, The Cube (CU13E) is a revisit of my original walnut pen holder design of the same name that started it all, but machined out of solid metal (aluminum or brass) as a collaboration with my friends over at Karas Kustoms.   

Thanks again for helping to make it a success!

The Cube (CU13E) in Tumbled Aluminum

If you weren't able to get in on the Kickstarter pledges, but are still wanting to get a Cube when they are available for retail purchase, the guys at Karas have put together a waiting list if you wanted to put your name down.  This isn't a pre-purchase, but a sign up to gauge demand for colors/finishes and to notify directly those that are interested when they officially launch.

To sign up, you can visit the Waiting List form to fill out your information.

Thanks again for the support!  

From time to time I feel a need to consolidate a bit and sell some of the pens/pencils that aren't really seeing use.  Not that they aren't great writing instruments, but there really is a point when having too much can really be too much.  That being said, more are certain to come into my possession; I write a pen blog for goodness sakes...

Below are some pieces I've acquired that I will try to price as reasonably as possible and am not really open to haggling or trading.  All pens (unless otherwise noted) are in overall excellent condition.  A couple I have acquired secondhand and may have some wear from age, but were in this condition when I received them.

If you are interested in purchasing, please contact me and we'll work out an arrangement through PayPal.  Shipping for the pens or pencils will be an additional $4 for USPS First Class and $7 for International USPS International First Class both with tracking.

First come first serve!

LAMY Swift Rollerball - Matte Black - $40

LAMY Vista Fountain Pen - F Nib - SOLD

Kaweco Liliput Fountain Pen - Aluminum - M Nib - SOLD

The Liliput is in overall excellent shape, but has some light surface scratches/scuffs.

rOtring 600 Fountain Pen - Silver - B Nib - $135

The barrel of this pen has some slight bends in them.  I would probably consider them "dents", but between two of the facets on the barrel the side concaves a bit.  Other than this, the pen is in mint condition.

rOtring 600 Ballpoint - Matte Black - $80

Highly collectible, this is an original rOtring 600 ballpoint pen (Japan manufactured) with the red lettering.  This particular example works great, but has some surface wear.  This is the reason for the low price as these generally fetch $150+ nowadays.  This is a spare of mine that I would love to pass on to a rOtring addict that wants one for a good price.  

rOtring Newton 0.7mm Mechanical Pencil - $40

An older discontinued rOtring Newton mechanical pencil that has some surface wear and some dings around the grip.  Telescoping retractable tip.

Pilot Stargazer Fountain Pen - F Nib - $120

Pilot Fermo Retractable Fountain Pen - M Nib - $170

BIGiDESIGN Ti Post Raw - SOLD 

I no longer have the stylus tip.

BIGiDESIGN Solid Titanium Pen - Silver - $55

I no longer have the stylus tip.

SCHONDSGN Pen - Black Aluminum - $50 (pending)

Caran D'Ache Ballpoint - Black - $10

Tactile Turn Shaker (the shorter one) - Black Anodized Aluminum - $45 (pending) 

Tactile Turn Mover (the longer one) - Bronze - SOLD

I've actually been sitting on this ink for awhile and am finally getting around to posting a review.

9 out of 10 times (9.9 out of 10 actually) I prefer blue or blue/black ink, but Ron from Pen Chalet provided me a bottle of this Aurora Black to try a few months back and it almost converted me... ok, not really, but it makes me wonder if I will ever use another black ink again.

The label on my black bottle got wet...

I've used several black inks: Noodler's, Kaweco, Lamy, Namiki; the Noodler's was pretty good, but the others seemed to be a thinner, lighter ink that leaves room for more.

When I first put the Aurora Black to the page I was literally surprised at the experience.  The ink came out super smooth, wet on the page, and super dark.  Like, midnight black type dark.  

Another characteristic seems to be the sharpness of the lettering.  Granted, this is greatly due to the Rhodia dotPad I use for my day to day fountain pen writing, but even then some inks feather.  The Aurora makes crisp and clean lines which adds to the appeal in my book.

Dry times (again, paper considered) range probably between the 15 - 30 second mark which isn't super fast, but fast enough.

Water resistant?  Nope.  If this is a need for you, the Aurora won't cut it. 

Compared to the others I'd tried before that left me wanting, the Aurora stood out and made me think that if I had to convert from blue to black (which is silly) that this would probably be it.

Is Aurora the cheapest bottle of black ink you can buy?  No, but I feel it is priced really well for the quality you get.  $15 per bottle from Pen Chalet (use promo code CLICKYPOST to save 10%) is actually quite a steal when compared to Iroshizuku or Edelstein at $25 - $35 per bottle.

I'd highly recommend this ink to anyone that is looking for a nice saturated black.  Thanks again, Pen Chalet!

If you haven't heard, the Ti2 TechLiner by Mike Bond is all the rage these days in the machined pen community.  Since gracing Kickstarter and many blogs for review over the last year, it has garnered favorable reviews with good reason; it is a solid pen!

I've made several reviews of the TechLiner here on The Clicky Post and I love this pen.

• Material: Titanium
• Magnetic tip and tail (sweeeet)
• Refill: Uni-ball Signo 207

Mike was kind enough to offer up as a giveaway one of his TechLiner "Shorty" pens in the matte PVD black edition.  The pen retails at $120, so this is a big deal and an awesome prize so a big thanks to Mike!

Regardless of whether you win, Mike is running some specials on all of his TechLiners so make sure to check out his site if you've been itching to get one... and if you use the promo code CLICKYPOST you can get 15% off!  

See details below of how to enter:

CONTEST RULES (the "fine print"):

- Contest will run through Friday, January 30th, 2015 and will end at 11:59pm Arizona Time, USA.  I will be announcing the winner the next day so stay tuned...

- To enter, leave a comment below (limited to one entry per person; no cheating!)

- I will arrange the entries in numerical order and randomly select a winner.  The winner will be announced on the blog on Saturday, January 31st and will need to connect with me within a week to claim their prize. 

- This giveaway is open to both US and International readers.

The response to this giveaway was awesome!  Thanks to everyone that entered as these are always fun to put on.  I wish everyone could win!

And the winner is:

The RNG HAS spoken... congrats!  Please contact me with your details so I can get your pen sent out!

A special thanks to Mike Bond from Ti2 for sponsoring the giveaway!  Make sure to visit the Ti2 site to check out all of their cool wares, especially the TechLiner.

The Zebra F-701 pen is a bit of a surprise for its price range of about $7.  Stainless steel barrel, knurled grip... it just looks cool for an off the shelf pen.

What many people have found out is that you are able to swap in a Fisher Space Pen refill to the F-701 pretty easily, but there is another mod to swap out some of the hardware of the Zebra F-402.

Why do this?  Well, the only downer to the F-701 (besides the Zebra ballpoint refill) is that the click mechanism is made of plastic.  An all metal-ish pen and they choose to put in plastic instead.  What is odd is that the F-402, a less expensive pen, has a brass mechanism.  This is where the hack comes in...

Shopping List/Items Needed:

• Zebra F-701 Ballpoint
• Zebra F-402 Ballpoint (usually in a twin pack)
• Fisher Space Pen Refill
• Needle Nose Pliers
• A Lighter (we'll get to it)

First things first, we need to remove the plastic click mechanism from the F-701.  I've found this easiest to do with a pair of needle nose pliers as I discard the part.  I know, I know, I am throwing away perfectly good pens to do this hack...

Second, and a bit more tricky, use a lighter to remove the brass piece from the F-402.  I had a blow torch laying around my shop while shooting this, but a lighter is better.  There is a pressure fit plastic sleeve that threads the brass mechanism into the barrel; our goal with the lighter is to heat up slowly the end of the pen to melt the plastic.  If you have a pair of non marring pliers, use them instead.  The reason we don't want to go clamping down on the clicker is because we don't want to scratch it. (makes the pen a bit unsightly)  

It actually sort of oozes out the end of the pen with the brass mechanism inside the goop, so have something handy to pull it out when this happens.  DO NOT BURN YOURSELF PLEASE...

You may have to remove the melted plastic from the brass mechanism, but once cooled it is easy to break off.  Make sure not to mar the brass threads as this will cause you problems later.

You can now take the shiny brass mechanism and original F-701 clip and install it into the barrel.  I find that it is a pretty snug fit, so you may need something grippy like a rubber glove to tighten it down.  You should now have an all "metal" F-701.

To install the Space Pen refill, there is a small plastic cone inside the tip of the pen that needs to be removed.  Some people prefer to shave it down or modify it, but I've found removing it to work fine.  To do so, I actually just take the Fisher refill and push it into the tip in the opposite direction.  It will at least loosen the plastic piece which can then be tapped out of the metal tip piece.

Replace the Zebra refill with the Fisher and you are good to go!

This hack, if done with all new parts, will run you about $20 but is a fun project that is pretty inexpensive.

I imagine the reason people do this hack is the low price, stainless steel look, and it is kind of fun.  With the discontinuation of the rOtring 600, there aren't a lot of good knurled options on the market.  Even the rOtring Rapid Pro is kind of "meh", particularly with the $40+ price tag.  If you are simply wanting to buy a cool knurled pen on a budget to take the Fisher, you might look into the Retro 51 Hex-o-Matic.  Super rOtring-esque and attainable for less than $30.

After a couple of months of teasers, I'm pleased to finally announce the launch of a collaboration between Scott Fuller of The Studio Temporary and Dudek Modern Goods.

Scott is a designer out of Georgia that has found his way into our little community through a couple of ways.  If his name/company doesn't sound familiar, then perhaps some of this work will.  He is the artist behind the logos for both Fountain Pen Day as well as the Field Nuts Facebook group (for Field Notes fandom) and he has been a guest on The Pen Addict Podcast to discuss his work.

One of my favorite pieces from Scott is a "USA" logo he created last year.  It instantly grabbed my attention and I was excited when he and I started talking about a possible collaboration as I knew I wanted to incorporate it into our project.  With both of our little companies being here in the USA, it seemed appropriate.

What we've created is a limited edition run of The Block and The Daily pen holders made from solid mahogany that is inlayed with Scott's "USA" artwork in maple.  We're excited at how these turned out and are stoked to finally share them.

Why mahogany?  My normal material of choice is walnut for all of my other pieces, but for the collaboration I felt that changing the wood up completely would help it to stand out as a true limited run.  

Mahogany is an interesting wood and is much grainier than the walnut.  It has a much more contrasting appearance as the wood itself is a golden orange while the deeper grains are dark.  The wood also has what I would consider a wavy, almost iridescent effect when you move the piece back and forth in the light.  A shimmer of sorts, which makes the color change with each angle you see it from.  Its a lovely, lighter wood that turned out great.

In addition to the inlayed maple "USA", each piece is laser etched on the bottom with The Studio Temporary and Dudek Limited Edition mark and each piece is numbered in the series.  The Block is limited to 15 pieces and The Daily is limited to 12, so expect them to sell out quickly.

USA Patch

To carry around and promote some red, white and blue pride, as an add-on to each piece you can elect to purchase one of Scott's "USA" patches to stitch on to your jacket or bag for only $5.  

Made in the USA.

SPECS: 
01. 2.5 inches around! 
02. Sew-on. None of that iron-on mess... 
03. USA!!!

THE BLOCK - $70 (+shipping)

Solid mahogany with maple USA inlay.  Holds 21 of your writing instruments 1/2" in diameter or smaller.  Protected with several coats of satin poly.

Options

Pen Holder Only $70.00 USD + USA Patch $75.00 USD

THE DAILY - $55 (+shipping)

Solid mahogany with maple USA inlay, that has a slot for up to three of your pocket notebooks and pens or pencils 1/2" in diameter or smaller.  Protected with several coats of satin poly.  

Options

Pen Holder Only $55.00 USD + USA Patch $60.00 USD

A special thanks to Phillip McKee of McKee Markings, a local small business that provided the fantastic laser services and Timber Hardwoods, my local small business lumber source, both out of Mesa, AZ.

Also, a special thanks to all of the support around The Studio Temporary and Dudek Modern Goods.  Without it, our creative ventures wouldn't be possible.

- Mike and Scott

If you've listened to The Pen Addict podcast or read Brad's many posts over the last few years (including one last week...) then you've likely heard the name Thomas Hall shared from time to time.

Who is this "Thomas Hall"?  Is he man?  Myth?  Legend...?  In our little world, he is pretty much all of the above.  He is often referred to as the enabler to the enablers due to his incredible way of making people like Brad and myself purchase expensive things.  We then talk about these things; a lot.  This, in turn, trickles the enablement avalanche down to our readers and friends.  

I was kindly introduced to Thomas through Brad in a round about way (although I'm not entirely sure of our first interaction), but from the get-go, I was impressed by the knowledge this man possesses about pens.  Like encyclopedia Britannica type knowledge levels.  Thomas would likely argue that this is not the case, but all I know is that every topic, every pen, every ink question I throw his way is answered and usually with a link to a site to purchase amazing things!

You all may have heard some rumors that I may have a problem buying vintage stainless steel Pilot pens; this is true, and largely thanks to Thomas' insight and willingness to share his time when questions arose.  I now have MYUs, Murex', M90s, Elites, Customs.... (sigh)  When Thomas tells you about something...  

I'm going to say that he has this way of opening your eyes to new things you didn't even know existed; deep secrets locked away in pen history that wouldn't likely cross your path unless you went looking.  Sounds like we're meditating on top of a mountain, right?  Not far off... He is kind of like our community pen shaman.

For a very long time, I had known about custom acrylic/celluloid pens by people such as Shawn Newton or Brian Gray of Edison Pens, but it wasn't until Thomas helped nudge me over the edge did I buckle down and start purchasing some.  He also very kindly sent me three of his personal Edison pens to use in order to see what felt right; a very kind and trusting gesture from someone who only knows me as "the guy who writes The Clicky Post".  I'm now pleased to call him my friend.

This is a very uncommon post it seems, but one that I have been meaning to write for some time.  

Thomas also started writing a blog this past year called Penucopia.  His writing schedule may seem spread out in comparison to other blogs, but when he writes I always make sure to consume his posts immediately.  He takes a great deal of time providing fantastic insights and his site is one that should be on everyone's blog reader.  Also, he is on Instagram and Twitter if you'd like to keep an eye on what he is up to.

To Thomas: thanks for being such a great contributor and asset to this community.

Mechanical pencils both fascinate me and elude me sometimes when it comes to utility as I am more of a pen guy.  Although, I'm intrigued by their function, the little "happenings" inside that make the lead shoot out bits at a time, and the overall aesthetic that they usually carry, at least the nicer ones.

The Uni Kuru Toga is a pencil that sees some attention quite often.  Why?  Because it is awesome.  And that concludes the review... just kidding.

As a little bit of Kuru Toga education, this pencil produced by Uni (via Mitsubishi) is a mechanical pencil that automatically rotates the lead while you write.  When I tell this to people they are amazed at first, but then have that "Really?" kind of attitude.  Is it necessary?  Why is this important?

Well, when you write with a pencil, you are slowly smearing the material against a page and wearing down the tip.  If you aren't constantly turning the pencil (which years of school have taught us to do subconsciously) you end up with a flat edge that creates wider lines and an uncomfortable writing/drawing experience.

Back to the Uni, each time you lift and press the lead to the page, a tiny mechanism inside does the job for you which makes a consistent sharp point throughout the writing or drawing session.  Super slick, right?

The Kuru Toga was originally a Japan import only through specialty shops like JetPens, but the base models have graced the shelves of local US retailers in the last couple of years for generally less than $7.  I've owned one of the all plastic base model versions for a while now, but I had some JetPens space credits available (thanks to site sponsor JetPens) so I opted to purchase one of the higher-end Roulette models which has more metal components, a bit more weight, and knurling in the grip.  And I got it in gun metal...which is more like a black and sparkly grey.

I say higher-end a bit loosely as even the Roulette models you can get for about $16 which is a steal in the nicer mechanical pencil world.  rOtring 600s will run you around $30 and the 800s around $70.  There are others in between like the Pilot Automac for around $50, but needless to say, pencils can be pricey.  I wouldn't say the Kuru Toga Roulette is in the exact same league as these others I mentioned, but they do a pretty darn good job with the overall fit and finish for the price.

The writing experience is pretty solid although I have noticed an ever so slight movement in the tip.  I'm pretty sensitive to this with pens and pencils to where if it is too noticeable I will probably choose not to use it again.  With the Kuru Toga, it is enough to notice, but I didn't feel that it drastically diminished my writing nor did I notice it enough to be completely annoyed.  Just keep this in mind when buying if you are ultra-hyper sensitive to it.

As far as the spinning goes, for your own amusement (and to prove to friends that this thing is legit), Uni puts a small window in the grip section that reveals an orange cylinder inside with a marking on it.  As you write, you can watch the mark move in and out of view which is a cool touch.  I know it amuses me at least...

As mentioned above, the grip section is knurled and has a good bite to it.  Not offensively sharp, but not simply there as decoration either.  Personally, I feel this is a good improvement to the pencil because, lets face it, I like knurling.  The grip section is also metal which pushes more of the balance to the front of the pencil, but has a good feel.

I opted to also purchase some of the Kuru Toga specific lead as it claims to wear better with the mechanics of the pencil, but I honestly didn't notice a huge difference over other brands.  I went with the B as I prefer a slightly softer and darker line and it didn't disappoint.  My sweet spot is generally a 2B or even 3B, but it doesn't appear that Uni offers it in any softer grade.  If they do, I'll be sure to pick some up.  The lead in the Kuru Toga seems to snap rarely (never, really) which is a huge plus.

The eraser, of course, is one of the under the cap, smaller than a Tic-Tac sized ones we all love so much (sarcasm intended).  From a performance standpoint with the Kuru Toga lead it did great, but after about a dozen solid uses I'd say the eraser would be toast.

My only gripe: make the Roulette in a 0.7mm.  0.5mm is fine, but I'm definitely a wider line type of writer when it comes to pencils.

In conclusion, if you like the base model Kuru Toga or have been looking at buying one, the Roulette might be a nice step up if you were willing to spend only about $10 more.  I've personally enjoyed it and would recommend it due to the value based on the added weight and metal materials.

The fellas at Nock Co were kind enough to send me over a pack of their DotDash Pocket Notebooks awhile back and I'm finally getting the chance to write down some thoughts.  

Get out the sunglasses as the first thing you'll notice about these particular pocket notebooks is the cover.  A bright and shining yellow that is sure to catch the attention of those around you and possibly low flying aircraft.  In my opinion, this is fun.  I'm not generally the type to buy overly bright objects (I'm sort of a grey, blue, black... boring type of guy), but these were a really nice surprise.  When I buy or receive products, I sometimes think to myself what color choice I would have made if I was the creator and I know that yellow wouldn't be it, but that's why having so much creative diversity in the world is important.  If left up to me, things would be pretty neutral all around.

That being said, just know that they are yellow and if yellow may not jive well with your conservative aesthetic, then consider yourself informed.

The guys have also taken a slightly different approach to your average pocket notebook by choosing a top staple design (like a little reporter notebook almost).  By shortening the amount of stapled edge by almost half, it provides the flexibility of using the book in both a portrait or landscape format much easier.  

When I hold a Field Notes or Doane Paper Utility Notebook I never think to turn it on it's side to write.  With the the Nock books, I could totally see myself doing this if I needed to sketch a quick design or drawing.  I'm sure it is all psychological on my part, but I feel this removes some of those boundaries.

How is the performance?  Good overall for most everyday writing.  I've put down to the page a variety of different pens/pencils and have some thoughts to share on each.

The paper is 50lb which holds up well and is printed with the Nock DotDash pattern in grey.

I found some of the best result with micro gel pens like the Uni-ball Signo DX.  The lines were crisp and there was no bleed through.

I've only used one fountain pen with the book, my Pilot M90 with an F nib (inked with Pilot Blue/Black) and found that it didn't really maintain the line width very well.  Not a ton of major feathering, but it sucked up a lot of ink and bled a bit through the page.  Broader fountain pens would probably be a no-no.

I used two rollerball pens, the Schimdt Cap-less (like found in Retro 51 Tornados) and the Uni-ball Vision Elite and these also tended to bleed through pretty heavily and onto the next page with the Schmidt.

My conclusion would probably be to try and stick with ballpoints, gels, or use with pencils (maybe really fine and drier fountain pens...maybe) for the best possible experience.

Pretty heavy on the Uni-ball it seems...

From a price point, they are on par with other pocket books out there at $9 for a 3-pack.

I really enjoy these books from a utility standpoint.  The highlight to me was the ability to easily choose the landscape vs portrait option with the simplicity of top staple binding.  A seemingly small thing, but something that stood out.

Thanks again to Nock Co for sending these over!  Check out their website for more info and to pick up a pack if you feel these bright beauties will fit your fancy.

I have to admit, I've been a bit reluctant to review the Pilot M90 fountain pen.  As it is a discontinued model it kind of stands really close to that line of "is it fair to review if people can't find them?"  Personally, I think it is ok (hence the review) as it helps to spread awareness of older models that may intrigue people to dig a bit deeper on their own.  This is what lead me down an unhealthy path to the rOtring 600s and vintage Pilot pens... consider yourself warned!

That being said, head into this review with two disclaimers: these pens can be difficult to find and, if you find one, expect to drop some money on one.  We're talking Montblanc kind of money... (although I don't own a Montblanc; another discussion) and may not be realistic for everyone to delve into.

The history of the M90 actually takes us back to 1971 when Pilot released a pen called the MYU 701.  We'll consider the MYU 701 to be the M90's dad or older brother...

The MYU is a stunning work of art.  The nib is made from a single piece of steel that extends to a point which consists of both the grip and nib.  This is referred to as an integral nib meaning the section and nib share the same material. 

Sadly, Pilot discontinued this line of pens back in the 1970's.  Why?  I don't know.  Cost, demand, economy... who knows?  

For Pilot's 90th birthday in 2008 they decided to produce a pen that was very similar to the MYU 701 and called it the M90.  Made to look almost identical (although with some slight modifications and upgrades), the M90 shares the same iconic integral nib made from stainless steel which is a total stunner.  Futuristic, modern; nothing really touches it in comparison.

Sadly, Pilot only made 9,000 of these units (with a relatively small number coming to the USA) which now makes them sold only on the secondary market where I purchased mine.

I was really nervous about this pen as it was pricey.  Full transparency, I think when I purchased mine it ran me close to $400.  Gulp.  In seeing the resale value staying pretty consistent on them, I figured that if for some reason I didn't completely fall for it that I could pass it on to another collector.  At the point I purchased it, the M90 was by about double the most expensive pen I'd bought.  I've seen them now (in less than a year) ranging still from around $450 all the way up to people asking $700+.  Would I go as far as to call it an investment pen?  Meh.  But you can't argue with the supply/demand issue and its apparent toll on the price.

It arrived and upon taking it from the box I was pretty much awestruck by this pen.  Hard to say if I've laid eyes on anything quite like it where pens are concerned.  I have a vintage MYU pen so I had an idea of what to expect, but the M90 is like the MYU 2.0 if that makes sense.  

The overall build quality and finish is top notch.  It is slightly larger than the original MYU and has a different posting mechanism.  The older MYU pens had three spring pressure "flanges" that fit into the section from within and poked out.  Think LAMY 2000 fingers.  When the cap was placed on the pen, these little fingers held it in place.  When posting the pen for writing, the cap simply slipped onto the tail of the pen with no clasping other than a tight fit between the barrel and the cap.

The M90 employs a duel posting system where a ring in the center with fingers serves as the mechanism to hold the cap whether closed or in the writing position.  The cap seems to have a bit of a recess that these "clip" into gently.  A seemingly subtle change, but definitely an engineering advancement for the pen.

The pen can take either the Pilot/Namiki cartridges or a CON-20 Pilot converter.  Some people are funny about this converter (I was) as it is the squeeze type, but it really seems to do the job well.  I've yet to have any emergencies, but I always try to make sure the converter is snugly attached.  

To fill the pen it works like most others: dip the nib into the ink, squeeze the converter a few times, and voila.  Being stainless steel, the nib/section is easy to clean up.

The nib on this M90 is a fine, but they also produced a medium.  Definitely expect a Japanese fine with this pen, but what I've found is that the flow is fantastic and the nib is surprisingly smooth.  I've stuck pretty much with either Pilot or Namiki blue/black (not the same) and have really enjoyed writing with the pen.  I would put it in the good everyday category as long as I have the right paper.

The nib does not have a sweet spot and has taken well to almost any angle I've thrown at it.

Going back to the build, the entire pen isn't made from solid stainless steel as there are some plastic parts inside.  The feed looks pretty cool (what you can see of it) as it is a sculpted piece that molds up into the tip so you don't see any fins.  Pretty neat and doesn't distract from the streamlined goodness of the design.  The threading in the barrel and the section are made of plastic, but the join together by a middle piece made from metal.  The M90 shares this with the MYU and I haven't heard of major issues of cracking, stripping the threads, etc.

One final point on the design/aesthetic, Pilot adorned the top of the pen with a blue stone or piece of glass to pay some homage (with slightly more flair) to the MYU which had a small, dark inlay at the tip of the cap.  I think it is tastefully done.  I'm really not a "jewel" pen person, but the M90 is a bit on the classy side so I'll let it slide.

At this point, buying one of these pens is going to take some commitment from you.  This is definitely not a fly-by-night kind of pen purchase and I wanted to try and showcase the pen as best as I can.  Is it worth $400-700?  I'm going to leave that up to you.  The original price tag on these was in the sub-$200 range which was likely underpriced in hindsight.  

I look at the M90 as part of the legacy of the Pilot MYU, Murex, Elite family of which I've become a fan (ok, obsessed).  My reasons for buying aren't necessarily for the "how does it write" factor, but also the appreciation of its history and the way I feel about the design and engineering marvel that it is.  It writes great and I enjoy the function of the pen, but there are a lot of pens for less money that can give you a great experience.  The question is, are you smitten enough with the design to justify the M90?