The Well-Appointed Desk

I’ve always been interested in the ink colors possible when using fountain pens – that was a huge draw of fountain pens for me. Being able to mix my own colors of ink (without the risk of creating an ink monster) has always been fascinating to me but I never could find a group of mixable inks that I enjoyed – some had colors that muddied quickly when mixing or didn’t contain enough ink to get a good idea of possible colors or it was annoying to find appropriate containers or droppers…

The Pineider Ink Alchemy set seemed like it would be plenty of fun when I first saw it. But the price tag held me back. A few weeks ago, however, I found a set that was discounted at Truphae so I grabbed it.

The Ink Alchemy set is BIG. The outer box measures around 4.5″ x 6″ x 12″. It’s heavy (relatively). I believe the box and included bottles are around 2.5 pounds. The set came with 5 glass ink bottles that are each 50mL with a glass and plastic ink dropper, 5 mixing bottles (also glass and not shown below), a Pineider travel ink vial and a Pineider snorkel (to attach to converters to make filling a less messy affair), and an instruction booklet. These were all held in place with a molded plastic cover although loosely – Truphae added more packing material to help keep the bottles secure.

I enjoyed the packaging – bright and colorful with a place for each item. Thinking about how much packaging would have been required if each bottle was in a separate box, I believe this method was not overkill. The extra packing material added by Truphae did end up tearing the paper tray under the ink bottles but that didn’t bother me. Going forward, I plan to keep the bottles (all 10 total) in the box for storage – it was useful to have a way to keep the bottles together and not in danger of tipping over as I was mixing.

The five ink colors included were Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, Black, and Transparent. The Transparent ink is supposedly just clear ink – I did find it seemed to alter the color a bit as I was mixing, however. It seemed to add a touch of blue each time. But it was very slight.

The travel vial and snorkel are interesting. The vial is made of four parts – the clear plastic container (10cc or 10mL is the most you are supposed to fill it), a large black cap, a small black stopper, and a blue flexible sealing piece in-between. I haven’t used this yet for ink, but water doesn’t leak even in rough conditions. The booklet says the vial can be used to fill any pen that fits into the blue sealing section. I haven’t tested every pen, but those I have tested fill very well.

The snorkel can fit into variously sized converters due to a graduated section. I had a hard time using it with Sailor converters, but it worked very well with converters that fit. The snorkel would help tremendously when getting the last ink out of a sample vial or trying to fill a converter from a nearly empty bottle. However, a syringe can also solve both issues and costs less. Unless you have a situation where owning or using a syringe would be inappropriate, I would say the snorkel is probably unnecessary.

The included booklet is actually helpful. It contains extensive instructions along with examples of ink combinations. I used it as a starting place to make my own mixtures. One typo – the water green color comes from adding 6 parts transparent ink rather than 6 parts black.

This booklet also includes perforated cards to swatch your personal inks and keep the formulas as well. I didn’t use these but kept the same information on Col-o-ring cards.

The card with two holes in the lower right corner is given so you can measure a pen to ensure it will fit in the travel vial. I appreciated that small detail!

The back three pages offer a place to record your personal ink mixtures and keep it in the instruction booklet.

Now, finally, the ink! I was impressed by the brightness of each color. Each color is true to the name (rather than leaning towards a secondary color).

To mix colors, I started with small amounts of two inks at a time – 5 or 10 drops of each. I tested the mixture and wrote the current ink count with the resulting color at each step. That should help if I want to go back and replicate a mixture I passed through while trying to find other colors.

I enjoyed seeing how the ink changed with each addition.

The five ink bottles provided by the ink alchemy set ended up being filled with 5 colors I love.

I decided to name them after Colorado wildflowers – plus the sky color I love in the summer.

The big question after all of that – is this set worth the money?

It includes 50mL of each ink is a total of 250 mL of ink plus the travel vial and snorkel. The prices I can currently find for the alchemy set are between $200 and $241 and the snorkel and travel vial are approximately $32 combined. All said, this puts the price of just the ink around $0.68 per mL. As a comparison:

With the ink alchemy set, you get the four base colors plus as many ink colors as you can dream up (and figure out how to mix). The biggest difference between using these Pineider inks and inks chosen from the lineup of other ink manufacturers is, in my opinion, the purity of the colors and the knowledge that the inks are suited to mix with one another (chemically).

I think the $200 price tag for all of this is reasonable. Worth it? Not for everyone. For me, yes. I am glad I purchased the set and will continue to enjoy it until I run out of ink. For individuals who love to explore new ink colors or enjoy making an ink in a signature or hard to find color, I believe it is worth the money. If that description fits you, you can find the alchemy set at some retailers, although some have sold out. If you do happen to purchase this set, let us know what colors you have dreamed up!

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were purchased by me. Please see the About page for more details.

In Link Love

Link Love: Filled with Joy!

AnaJanuary 27, 2021January 27, 2021Leave a comment

This is a good week. News that Retro51 will continue was announced this week. Scientists discovered Cookie Monster faces inside an agate stone. There’s a video showing the 10-billion pixel scan of the Girl with the Pearl Earring painting, there’s a new shade of blue, animals help photographers, learn genetics with gummi bears, new Star Wars postage stamps (!!!!!) and finally watch gymnast Nia Dennis absolutely rock her floor routine to Beyonce and an assortment of other popular artist with moves influenced by stepping and a fist-pumping Black Power salute. Her teammates were dancing along the sidelines and it made me grin from ear-to-ear.

Hope you are having a good week and that this collection of links lifts your spirits.

We need each other. Please support our sponsors and affiliates. Your patronage will let them know you appreciate their support of the pen community. Without them, and without you, we could not continue to do what we do. Thank you!

In Fountain Pen Review

GIVEAWAY: Lamy AL-Star Vibrant Pink

Laura CameronJanuary 26, 2021January 26, 2021112 Comments

Valentine’s Day approaches and if you’re Team AL-Star all the way, then we’ve got a giveaway for you. Spoil yourself (or someone you love) with a Vibrant Pink Lamy AL-Star with a medium nib (Ana’s review here), generously sent to us by Appelboom for this giveaway. Just in time for the pinkest of holidays!

Cartridges are included and I’ll throw in some samples of the matching Vibrant Pink ink. A converter isn’t included, but I’m happy to throw in one of those as well (though I’ll have to ship it to you under separate cover because somehow I don’t have one in stash). May the odds be ever in your favor!

THE DEETS: You are entering to win a brand new, unused Lamy AL-Star in Vibrant Pink with a medium nib. Converter not included, but will be shipped to you separately. I’ll throw in a few ink samples and some fun goodies as well!

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below and tell me what you would do with your new pen! Play along and type in something. It makes reading through entries more interesting for me, okay? One entry per person.

If you have never entered a giveaway or commented on the site before, your comment must be manually approved by our highly-trained staff of monkeys before it will appear on the site. Our monkeys are underpaid and under-caffeinated so don’t stress if your comment does not appear right away. Give the monkeys some time.

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Friday, January 29, 2021. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Saturday, January 30th so we can ship to you before V-day! Winner will be selected by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your actual email address in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. If winner does not respond within 7 days, I will draw a new giveaway winner. Shipping via USPS first class is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will have to be paid by the winner. We are generous but we’re not made of money. US and APO/AFO only, sorry.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Appelboom for the purpose of this giveaway. Please see the About page for more details.

In Fountain Pen Review

Fountain Pen Review: Tibaldi Bononia Martini Olive (M Nib)

AnaJanuary 25, 2021January 25, 20215 Comments

Tibaldi is a name spoken in reverence among the fountain pen community. The original Tibaldi brand existed from 1916 to 1965 and were known for beautiful resin material that glowed with its depth of color. Now, having relocated to Bassano del Grappa and come under the direction of the Aquina Family that also owns the Monteggrapa brand, Tibaldi has been reborn. For us who came into the pen collecting community after 1965, we have occasionally seen a Tibaldi pen every now and then but thanks to the relaunch of the brand, we may actually have a chance to see them now.

The Tibaldi Bononia Martin Olive fountain pen (M Nib) (€161.16, approx. $195USD) was my first experience with the brand. The material is as luminous as people have described. I am getting ahead of myself but I couldn’t resist peeking at the material as soon as the pen arrived. It is luminous. There’s no other way to describe it.

The packaging is a super-heavy duty paperboard slipcase box with a debossed orange wrap around the exterior. Inside is a suede-like pad with elastic to hold the pen in place. Under the pad is a packet with two cartridges and a black credit card with a place to stamp and date official purchase.

Once removed from the box, it’s a lot easier to see how luminous the color of the resin is. The pen itself is a classic tapered cigar shape with a slim clip. The silver hardware is all palladium.

The branding on the pen is subtle. Just etched under the clip “Tibaldi” and on the opposite of the cap from the clip “Made in Italy”.

Holding up the cap up to the light, it becomes apparent how translucent the material in some spots.

The nib is stainless steel and etched with the Tibaldi logo.

The nib is a larger nib that seems proportional for the pen.

In my writing tests, the nib is a firm medium nib. It writes will but surprised me with how well it wrote in “reverse writing” which is when you turn the nib upside down with the feed facing up while writing rather than the nib. It was not as wet in “reverse writing” but was still smooth and easy to use.

When compared to other pens, from left to right: Platinum 3776, Opus 88, Sailor Pro Color, Tibaldi, TWSBI ECO, Pelikan M605, Pelikan M205, the Tibaldi is a bit longer when capped but similar in width to the Opus 88, Platinum 3776 and TWBI Eco. The Sailor Pro Color and the Pelikans are a little slimmer.

Posted, the Tibaldi is the longest but still not heavy. The TWSBI is really the longest the cap does not post snugly so I’m not counting it. The Tibaldi weighs 15gms unposted and 23gms posted or capped so it’s very similar in weight to the TWSBI ECO.

Overall, the Tibaldi Bononia Martini Olive is stunning. The price for a “made in Italy” pen is quite competitive too. It even has the Ollie “paw of approval”.

Tools:

Paper: Rhodia Uni-Blank No. 18 with 6mm guide sheet
Pens: Tibaldi Bononia Martin Olive fountain pen (M Nib) (€161.16, approx. $195USD)
Ink: Pen BBS No. 224 Tolstoy ($16 for 60ml bottle)

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Appelboom for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

Pen Review: Metaxas & Sins Stylos Green Fountain pen

Jaclyn MyersJanuary 22, 2021January 22, 2021Leave a comment

When I first picked up the Metaxas & Sins pen, I had two thoughts. First, I immediately noticed the weight of the pen. It’s hefty for its size. Secondly, the shape and size of the pen remind me of mascara. Yes, mascara.

I am learning that one of the interesting things about reviewing pens is that every once in a while a pen arrives from the Desk headquarters that I’ve had no previous experience with and have not researched or heard much about online. In this particular case, I wasn’t even sure of the price point of the pen when I first started using it. I purposely inked the pen and used it for a couple of days before looking into any of the details of the pen online to see how my own perspective might be similar or different to how the pen is advertised and where it fits in the market.

Let’s start with some high points. The pen feels very solid, and as it turns out it is machined from a block of solid aluminum. You can definitely tell. The finish of the metal is also slightly textured and matte, which I think is a really nice touch for an all metal pen. It’s slightly grippy. The branding around the cap isn’t my favorite, but it’s not outrageous or large.

The pen is fitted with a full size #6 Bock nib. One interesting note is that you can only purchase the pen with a medium nib. At the price point of the Metaxas, additional nib options are almost expected. Issues with Bock nibs have been discussed in length, but I’m happy to say I didn’t find any issues with mine in this case. It was a smooth writer and a typical medium width nib. However, one potential issue with the pen for some people is the combination of the short section and the very sharp threads as seen above.

The section is compared to that of a TWSBI Eco and a Franklin Christoph p66 above. It’s not a huge problem for me because I have small hands, but it could be an issue for some- especially with how uncomfortable the threads are if you happen to grip the pen in that area.

Pen comparison (from L to R): TWSBI Eco, Franklin Christoph p66, Metaxas & Sins Stylos, Benu pen, Pilot Metropolitan, Lamy Safari, Pilot Kakuno, Kaweco Perkeo.

Compared to every other pen on the tray above, the Metaxas is the heaviest by far. Comparing it to the Desk common pen weights table below, its significantly heavier than all of the pens listed coming in at 46gms filled.

Overall, at almost $90 the Metaxas has some tough competitors. One of the most utilized pens in my entire collection, the Kaweco Brass Sport comes in around this price point as does one of Ana’s personal favorites the Caran d’Ache 849. The thing that makes this pen unique in this price range is the all metal construction, size, and weight of the pen. I’ve been asked several times at pen shows for the most affordable option for a larger size, heavy pen. In that specific case, this pen may be a good choice especially if the styling of the pen is personally appealing to you.

For me, the overall style of the pen is not one that speaks to me enough to use on a regular basis. But that piece is simply personal taste. Others may really enjoy the style of the pen, and in that case, outside the concern over the threads and the section, I think this pen could be recommended if you are specifically looking for a larger, all metal pen with solid construction and a variety of color options under $100.

DISCLAIMER: Some items included in this review were provided by Appelboom for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature, Ink Review

Ink Line Review: Van Dieman’s Harvest Ink

Jessica ColesJanuary 21, 2021January 21, 20214 Comments

By Jessica Coles

Van Dieman’s ink seems to be everywhere lately. By that, I mean there are LOTS of Van Dieman’s inks. The newest line up – Harvest – has 16 harvest themed ink colors that are perfect for a fall palette.

With so many inks, I’ll get right down to the photos instead of chatting too much! A couple notes about the overall colors – the inks are all great for fountain pens and are very easy to clean out. They are also not waterproof at all as a general rule. There were two exceptions in this group – Golden Nugget Pumpkin was legible after water was applied and wiped off and Beeswax became lighter with water but was actually water resistant. I have heard that Van Dieman’s inks are sometimes used in watercolor style paintings. Let us know if you have seen any!

First, the Yellows:

Van Dieman’s Beeswax is slightly darker in writing than Montblanc Lucky Pig or Robert Oster Sunrise Yellow.

Van Dieman’s Apple Cider is close to Robert Oster Olive Green in the swatch but slightly more orange in writing.

It was hard to find a close match to Van Dieman’s Apricot. It seems closest to the lighter portions of Lamy Mango.

In writing, Van Dieman’s Peanut Brittle is very close to Noodler’s Golden Brown.

Next up are the Reds and Oranges:

Van Dieman’s Golden Nugget Pumpkin is almost identical to Montblanc Lucky Orange although it looks a bit dustier.

Tasmanian Safron (yes, I checked the spelling) was hard to match exactly. Slightly more red than Monteverde Ruby.

Callifolio Aurora is a bit lighter and a tad more orange than Van Dieman’s Sweetheart Cherry.

Van Dieman’s Pink Radish is a darker version of Ferris Wheel Press Pink Eraser.

Monteverde Mercury Noir is only a touch more red than Van Dieman’s Rhubarb Crumble.

Now the best section, the Purples:

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Van Dieman’s Beetroot Relish (great name) is quite close to Pelikan Edelstein Amethyst although with a bit more blue. But considering how hard it is to find Amethyst, I think Beetroot Relish is a great alternative.

Robert Oster Berry d’Arche is a lighter form of Van Dieman’s Blackberry Jam.

Van Dieman’s Tasmanian Lavender is absolutely my favorite color of the Harvest line. My full bottle of it arrived last week. In writing it is a bit darker than Kobe #57 an Ferris Wheel Press Little Robina but it keeps the same lovely color.

Van Dieman’s Eggplant is a great match to Kobe #32.

Finally, the Greens and Brown:

Van Dieman’s Zucchini is a good match for Monteverde Jade Noir and also shows a hint of sheen.

Van Dieman’s Wasabi is a wonderful bright green and a bit more yellow than both Kaweco Palm Green and Diamine Apple Glory.

Van Dieman’s Nutmeg is one color that I couldn’t find a close match. Pilot Iroshizuku Tsukushi comes close but is darker and contains a bit more red.

It was tough to fit all of the swatches in my light box at the same time, but here they are!

Swatch Cards: Col-o-ring cards (100 for $10)
Ink: Van Dieman’s Harvest Inks ($12.95 for 30mL)

DISCLAIMER: The inks in this review were purchased by me although the Col-o-rings were provided to me by Ana because she knows she can keep me writing all the time in exchange for the wonderful cards. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

Link Love: In which we discuss pen community goings-on

AnaJanuary 20, 2021January 19, 20211 Comment

As I settle in to my new teaching schedule (5 hours a day, two days a week– all on ZOOM!) blended with freelance design work, blogging, and shop upkeep (shipping, inventory, new designs, etc), I find that it’s easy to get distracted by the new shiny releases that have been trickling into view from the pen community. The first big announcement was the early reveal of the Lamy Safari Limited Edition colors for 2021: Savannah Green and Terra Red. These are both reinterpretations of the original Safari pens released in 1980.

But some astute person on Facebook made a unique observation. I can’t find which of the many pen community boards it was posted on but the gist was… do the 2021 Lamy Safari pens remind you of anything?

Vintage Tupperware — Photo from Etsy listing

Yeah, me too.

Next, is the release of new Pilot Parallel Pens in 3.0mm and 4.5mm widths ($10 each). These new sizes feature new body color (white which looks like it may be updating the whole line) and cap colors (pink and teal) as well. If you are a fan of Pilot Parallel pens, I feel certain these new additions will get added to your collection too.

More pen news next week.

Onward, to the links this week!

I included the “9 Best Fountain Pens” from My Modern Met just to rile you all up. Feel free to rage at the ineptitude of the recommendations. I certainly did.

After you cool down, there are lots of paper reviews this week from people who actually know a thing or two about what they are talking about as well as gobs of new ink reviews. There’s some joy to be found in “Other Interesting Things” like floral Lego collections, a Maya Angelou Barbie, Sisters with Transistors and Lava Lamp internet security. Then, you can roll your eyes at the sheer volume of mail that the USPS had to process in 2020. What a mess! (I do not blame postal employees. Upper management had to have seen this barrage coming and didn’t plan accordingly.)

Okay, onward. Enjoy!