In Fountain Pen Review

Fountain Pen Review: Wing Sung 618 Demonstrator

Author AnaPosted on 15 Comments
Fountain Pen Review: Wing Sung 618 Demonstrator

I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately but I think I was inspired to buy another cheap Chinese fountain pen from a photo on Economical Penster’s Instagram. All those demonstrators lined up made me weak. So I hopped over to Ebay and I bought a clear demonstrator Wing Sung 618 (approx $10.70) which is a weird attempt to copy the beloved Parker 51. I also bought a version in a pastel pink but it’s staying in the packaging because it turned out to be even more difficult to use as I’ll explain later.

Both pens came in the same packaging. Does it look familiar? It is a direct knock-off of the Lamy packaging for the Safari pens. They even clip the caps to the insert card inside just like Lamy. The diecut windows are the same as Lamy too. Weird to put a Parker 51 in a Lamy Safari box. Makes my head spin. I will deposit the box in the nearest recycling bin and we can move on.

Since there were probably few true Parker 51 demonstrators, its doubtful anyone would ever mistake this pen for a true vintage classic but the hooded nib is not something often found on modern pens and for less than $15, it was a gamble I was willing to take. I have a Wing Sung 698 that I love because I’m pretty sure the nib is a Pilot steel nib and its buttery smooth so I was willing to gamble on another Wing Sung pen on the chances that another pen would also have a super smooth nib.

The 618 also has a plunger/piston filling mechanism that is a bit janky and this is where the demonstrator model comes in handy over the solid colored plastic version. Being able to see how far I’d pulled the plunger and how much ink I’d filled was really helpful. The solid plastic was really hard to tell if I’d gotten any ink in the pen and it was possible to completely pull the plunger out of the back of the pen hence allowing the ink to leak (or flood) out the back end. The demonstrator allowed considerably more control since I could see how far I’d pulled the piston out without any unfortunate accidents. For -$15, I can’t complain too much.

The ink capacity is pretty substantial too though it took me awhile to make sure I got the mechanism properly reseated. The Wing Sung 698 is much easier to reseat and even has a bit of a locking mechanism that I think is an improvement over the actual TWSBI 580 it was aping.

The nib is fine and as smooth as I was hoping. Being able to see the ink color is also kind of cool.

As for knocking off Parker… well, I don’t quite understand the Chinese mentality behind taking design elements from other brands and using them as your own. You can either live with this or you can’t. The nib on this pen is so smooth that I am overlooking the blatant copyright infringement. I would MUCH prefer that they did something else with the clip.  The cap band is not true to a Parker 51 so they are not trying to emulate or convince anyone that this is a real NOS Parker so I don’t see why they bother with the clip? Do your own clip. If you want something that feels reminiscent of the time period, that’s fine but make it your own. I digress. I knew what I was getting into when I bought it. And the clip works just fine. I just feel a little dirty when I use it.

As for the hooded nib, other brands made hooded nibs though clearly the 618 is trying to replicate the Parker 51 and its other hooded pen designs as well. Since other pen manufacturers made hooded nibs in the 60s, I’m more inclined to overlook it had it been the only retro design element. But again, I digress. The actual nib is smooth and a little springy and a delight to write with just like the Wing Sung 698 (TWSBI 580 replica with Pilot nib).

So, all-in-all, despite being a blatant knock-off  of a Parker 51, the Wing Sung 618 did have the decency to choose a pen with perfect cigar lines to mimic. The cap band is a little beefy for the rest of the pen and the piston is janky but the nib more than makes up for its faults at it’s sub-$20 price. I’m on the fence as to whether I’d recommend the 618 or the 698 first if someone was looking for an inexpensive Chinese pen. For the filling mechanism, I’d go with the 698 but for looks, I like the 618 better.

In Link Love

Link Love: Leftover Love

Author AnaPosted on 8 Comments

This week I have a few posts I forgot to include in previous weeks. You may have already seen these elsewhere but, if not, I wanted to bring them to your attention.

And know that I try to keep Art Supply Posse alive in my own little way with my Art & Art Supply links. If you’re looking for some creative inspiration and enjoy those, please let me know in the comments, okay? Thanks!

Posts that Almost Got Away:

Pens

Ink:

Pencils:

Paper & Notebooks:

Art & Art Supplies:

Other Interesting Stuff:

In Paper Review, Pen Review

Preview: Baron Fig Lock & Key (Squire & Confidant Set)

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment
Preview: Baron Fig Lock & Key (Squire & Confidant Set)

When it comes to a themed set, after the Back to School Set, I didn’t think Baron Fig could top themselves again so soon. But their latest release, the Lock & Key Squire and Confidant Set ($77)  is a fabulous pairing. The Lock Confidant notebook ($20 if purchased separately) is a deep, forest green, linen cover debossed with a maze pattern with a key design in the center. The ribbon bookmark is a mellow, yellow-gold color.

The endpapers are foil stamped in gold with maze designs and symbols on warm white paper.

Inside is the same warm white stock we’ve grown to love with the popular, light grey dot grid as well.

Key Squire pen ($65 if purchased separately) comes in a matching, deep green tube printed with a decoder for the symbols printed on the endpapers on the Confidant. Should someone take time to solve puzzles in the maze, the fine folks at Baron Fig suggest there may be prizes…!?!?

But the real wow moment is seeing the new Key Squire and holding it your hand. The Key Squire is made of brass and weighs in at  a whopping 50gms! The original Squire pens in aluminum weigh 22gms. That’s a considerable difference!

The etched key is lovely and the metaphor that the pen unlocks possibility and creativity and that the lock is the paper is perfect. Is it time for you to take the first step on your next adventure?

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Baron Fig for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In Pen Review

Pen Review: Uni Signo DX 0.38 – 2017 Colors

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment
Pen Review: Uni Signo DX 0.38 – 2017 Colors

It’s been awhile since I’ve reviewed any gel pens or standard non-fountain pens so I thought it was about time to delve back into some of the basics. Uni-ball introduced a range of new colors in their much-loved Signo DX line. I went ahead and got all 12 new colors ($34). These new colors are only available in the 0.38 size and not in the smaller 0.28 or the larger 0.5 size. This works out fine for me because the 0.38 size is my favorite.

The Signo DX pens are the traditional capped pen with a silicone grip section with a conical tip. The clip is plastic and not super sturdy but does at as a roll stop.

It seemed appropriate to test these pens on Leuchtturm1917 paper as they seem to be one of the most commonly used notebooks for Bullet Journals and the Signo DX pens seem a great choice for color coding for notes and list making.

Of the colors in the set, the Beige is the least usable. It did not show up at all on the ivory colored paper. I tested it on dark paper and it didn’t show up either. The Yellow was actually quite readable for a yellow but would probably show up better on a brighter white. The Apple Green is a little lighter than I hoped it would be but I like the color. All the other colors: Grey, Dark Grey, Purple, Lilac, Prussian Blue, Blue Green, Khaki, Brown, and Light Pink are all totally usable and wonderful colors. They actually all remind me of some of the best colors from Marvy LePens, especially the Prussian Blue, the greys and the browns. Yeah!

I turned the page over to show any show through which you can see is pretty minimal.

I used a Col-o-ring card to swatch the colors as well to show the colors on true white as well so you could see the Yellow and how pale the Beige is.

So, while I might not recommend getting the full 12-color set, there are some great colors in the set. I love the Prussian Blue, the Blue Green, the Khaki, the Light Pink and the greys — both the light Grey and the Dark Grey. It’s always nice to have some gel pens in your arsenal and its nice to have some fun colors.

TOOLS

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by JetPens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In Ink Review

Ink Review: Organics Studio Nitrogen Royal Blue

Author AnaPosted on 7 Comments
Ink Review: Organics Studio Nitrogen Royal Blue

I have been hoarding this review for ages because Organics Studio Nitrogen Royal Blue ($14 per 55ml bottle) is almost always out of stock. No matter how fast it is restocked, it sells out. If you haven’t seen this ink, what makes it so covetable is that it sheens like crazy, even in the finest of nib. And by sheen, I mean that when it catches the light, the color shifts like taffeta or velvet.

So, the base color is a bright, vivid royal blue but when the light shifts it sheens red/magenta/purple depending on your perspective. Hopefully, the photos above show how the colors shift. And the amazing thing about Nitrogen is that this effect works on a lot of different papers, not just Tomoe River.

I have had Nitrogen in my recently acquired Pelikan M205 Demonstrator Blue since October and its not caused any major issues. Of course, I haven’t tried to clean it out so wish me luck there. I also just got a new dip pen from a Chinese vendor on Ebay (link in the Tools section at the bottom) which shows off the color variation nicely.

I just noticed I totally butchered the spelling of Organics! Don’t judge. I had a cold this weekend and was thinking about orange juice and listening to the Sporkful podcast (which is all about food) so I totally had food on the brain. I recommend the episode with Patti LaBelle and the How Use the Force to Stir Risotto episode but you already know I’m a huge Star Wars nerd.

Even on the Rhodia paper, the sheen is visible. Obviously, the painted lettering is a very vivid example but you can clearly see the color shift.

You can see why its such a favorite. I definitely favor this over Nitrogen over Walden because, as someone said at one o of the pen shows last year, it looks a bit like pond scum. Walden is interesting but in the wrong light or on the wrong paper it can flatten out and look a bit bleh. Nitrogen, though, is four stars of sheening awesome!

TOOLS

In feature, Tools

Product Review: Rickshaw Pen/Pencil Sleeves & Pouches

Author AnaPosted on 70 Comments
Product Review: Rickshaw Pen/Pencil Sleeves & Pouches

Thanks to Rickshaw Bags, I’m awash in fluorescent pink pen and pencil cases. I already spread the wealth a bit. Laura will be reviewing the Waldo Field Cases in the future. Rickshaw, and Mark Dwight, seem to have warmly embraced the pen community and was even very kind when I fan-girled all over him at the San Francisco Pen Show. I have been a fan of Rickshaw Bags since they launched. I bought their Moleskine notebook cover very early on and I have several Zero Messenger Bags. So when I saw Mark walking around the pen show, I wanted to walk up and say hello but I chickened out. Lcukily, he came back the following day and I got up my courage to walk up and tell him what a fan I was of Rickshaw.

So, Mark gave me my first Solo Pen Sleeve at the show to match Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen which started the whole PINK thing, I think. Well, that and my hair, I suspect.

The Plush Pen Sleeves

There are lots of options available from Rickshaw in the pen sleeves (and all the other pen and pencil-related products and even the ability to customize them!) but the Solo Pen Sleeve ($12) has been holding that Caran d’Ache 849 everyday since the San Francisco Pen Show. The Solo Pen Sleeve has been lovingly dubbed the “pen taco” at our house. It’s so simple. Slide the pen into the plush-lined taco, then when it’s needed, squeeze the bottom of the taco like a Go-Gurt to get it out. The great thing about the Solo Pen Sleeve is that it doesn’t add a lot of bulk to your Everyday Carry so if you have a pen you like to keep in your pocket or the pocket of a bag, the plush sleeve provides an extra layer of protection without inhibiting access. My thinking is if you just dropped three digits on a new pen, $12 on a sleeve seems like a no-brainer.

The Duo 2-Pen Sleeve ($20) is exactly what you think it is. The Solo plus one. Initially, I couldn’t wrap my head around what to do with it. Pen and pencil set? Then I saw someone (and I can’t for the life of me remember where I saw it!) used a Duo to add some extra NO TOUCHING protection to their NockCo Sinclair case and it all became clear! And, if you have some extra special pens you want to carry in your Sinclair or Brasstown, the Duo will give you the added plush lining to protect your most treasured items.

The Trio 3-Pen Sleeve ($24) is three times the pen fun.  In case you’re curious, there’s a Sailor Fresca, Karas Decograph and a Sailor Pro Gear Slim Cosmos in the 3-Pen Sleeve. I put a Pelikan M205 and something shiny in the Duo but I can’t for the life of me remember what the other pen was. Needless to say, the medium size holds a variety of sizes easily. I quickly discovered that the Trio is a case for the pen minimalist which I am not. It’s so cool looking and lovely but I can neither pare down my bag carry to just three pens nor do I ever wear anything that can accommodate the Trio. But I love the look of it.

The Plush Pencil Pouch

The Plush Pencil Pouch ($18) was specifically designed to hold the loved but annoyingly long Blackwing pencils. The Plush Pencil Pouch is able to carry up to two dozen unsharpened Blackwings.

The interior is lined with plushy goodness. This is both a perk and pain. The plushy lining protects your treasures but it will pick up pencil marks, shavings and other detritus fairly easily.

As a sketcher, I don’t carry just pencils. I also carry other tools with me like a sharpener, eraser, ruler, leads for mechanical pencils, etc. My KUM 2-step sharpener pushed the limits of what the Plush Pencil Pouch could hold which was a bummer. Even with what I consider a very pared down assortment of drawing tools, I was straining the zipper. I am NOT a minimalist.

I switched to the Plush Pen Pouch ($18), which is not as long as the Plush Pencil Pouch but is considerably deeper. I filled it with my watercolor palette and some of my other pen and drawing tools.

Behold! Chaos!

If you are looking for a step up from art supply store pouches to protect your nicer tools but don’t necessarily need a sleeve for everything, then I think the Plush Pen Pouch is a good option. This is a good option for the urban sketcher, bullet journalers, and maybe those sub-$50 fountain pens you have in your collection.

The Hemingway Deluxe 6-Pen Roll

The Hemingway Deluxe 6-Pen Roll ($39) is the fanciest case on offer from Rickshaw, IMHO. It offers six slots to protect all your best pens with a protective flap.

I clearly should have watched Mark’s video on how to properly roll the roll because I’ve been doing it wrong the whole time. He makes it look so easy!

There’s plush lining throughout as well.

Remarkably nice looking case and well-constructed. I am, however, so not the target audience on this one. I can never narrow down to just six pens and I pretty thoughtlessly throw my pens around. I’m the same person who never buys cases for my computer and thinks “protection” for my camera is wrapping it in a t-shirt before traipsing across the globe.

The Giveaway:

So, the fact that I’m a pen heathen is your bounty! I want these awesome cases to go to folks who will actually put them to good use. I am giving away the following items reviewed above:

  • Trio 3-Pen Sleeve
  • Plush Pencil Pouch
  • Hemingway Deluxe 6-Pen Roll

Let me know, in the comments below, (1) which item you’d like (warning: fluorescent pink!) and if you’ve shopped at Rickshaw Bags before, (2) what you’ve bought. If not, (3) what you’d buy in the future. GO!

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. All entries must be submitted on THIS post at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Wednesday. Winner will be selected by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include the email address you would like to be contacted at in the comment form so that you be notified 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 residents and AFO/APO only please.

DISCLAIMER: These items were sent to me free of charge by Rickshaw Bags for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.