Ask The Desk: Sharpeners, Skripsert Converters and Staples Legal Pads

Ask The Desk: Sharpeners, Skripsert Converters and Staples Legal Pads

Geoffrey asked two questions: 1) What would your recommend for a short point pencil sharpener? Think the stubby point on a golf pencil. My husband is obsessed with short point pencils, but his current method of using a wider sharpener to make a short point isn’t always ideal. There are three readily available adjustable pocket…

Ask the Desk: Repairs, Refills, and Expert Fountain Pens

Ask the Desk: Repairs, Refills, and Expert Fountain Pens

Tim asks: My father-in-law who passed in 1988 used a variety of fountain pens which we just uncovered in the attic. The pens have not been used in probably 35 to 40 years. Can you recommend a site that would recondition the pens? These pens have a rubber bladder Which would need to be replaced.…

Ask The Desk: Planner for Medical Editor, Waterproof inks and Cross Porous Point Pen Options

Ask The Desk: Planner for Medical Editor, Waterproof inks and Cross Porous Point Pen Options

Angela asks: Hello–I’m a freelance medical editor. I have to keep track of jobs for ±6 clients each day. For years, I’ve used a spiral notebook and pencil. I’ve been upgrading my notebooks, and now I think I’d like to use a daily planner so I have a more orderly view of finished projects. I…

Ask the Desk: Refills, Sharpeners & Stamp Pads

Ask the Desk: Refills, Sharpeners & Stamp Pads

Kiran asks: I love your blog! I had a pen that used Schneider topball 850 refills. I liked that pen but it has been damaged so I’m looking to replace it with something similar that uses the same refills. Do you know how I would find pens that fit the Schneider topball 850? I tried…

Ask The Desk: Digital Drawing Tablets,  Typing Paper, & Astrobrights

Ask The Desk: Digital Drawing Tablets, Typing Paper, & Astrobrights

Joe asks: I need your advice on the purchase of a drawing table for my 10 year old granddaughter. She really is very good and I wish I could attach one of her drawings for you to see. She draws constantly and learns from books that I and her parents have bought her. She also…

Ask The Desk: Muting Ink & Sheening Ink Colors

Ask The Desk: Muting Ink & Sheening Ink Colors

Carol asks: I wrote Brad Dowdy this question and he didn’t know however thought you might be able to help me understand. I am looking to find a way to desaturate some of my fountain pen inks. As an artist I’m looking to add ink lines, marks by drawing on top of my watercolor washes.…