Review: Ranga Modified Fountain Pen

Ranga Nikko G Fountain Pen

The Ranga Acrylic Fountain Pen is a very different kind of pen for me to review and to describe so I apologize in advance if this is a little strange. First of all, this pen came to me pre-modified by the fabulous Leigh Reyes. She has provided detailed instructions on her web site along with a video on how to make this modification for yourself, I was just lucky enough to get a hands-on demonstration and prepared pen.

So, to give you more details, the Ranga acrylic fountain pens come with a standard steel fountain pen nib with an ebonite feed that is friction fit and an eyedropper filling mechanism. The reason this is such a good candidate for modification for a flex dip nib is because of the ebonite feed which will allow better flow and can be manipulated to increase flow.

If you can’t tell yet, this is not a beginner’s fountain pen or project. If you averse to having inky fingers for get annoyed if your pen chokes up on you this is NOT a pen for you. However, if you are tired of dip pen dipping, then this can be your new best friend. Because, with some patience and tweaking, the Ranga can hum along beautifully.

Ranga Nikko G Fountain Pen

I included the above image to show that there was a lot of trials on scratch paper and nib cleaning. I’m serious when I say this is a tweaker’s pen. But look how cool this is! If you do a lot a lettering with flex dip nib, anything that makes writing a few more lines without dipping is a bonus so you know what I’m so excited about.

Ranga Nikko G Fountain Pen

The pen is about 5.5″ long capped. The cap will post making the pen almost 7″ from the tip of the flex nib to the end of the cap. Filled with ink it is pretty light, only 20 gms but the Ranga Acrylic is a little wider at the grip section in the hand than a lot of nib holders which tend to be very narrow which is really nice.

Fountain Pen Weights

Ranga Acrylics are available on Amazon with free shipping which seems to be the best option if you live in the US. If you live in the Phillipines, Pengrafik stocks the Ranga Acrylics. Peyton Street Pens in the US stocks some Ranga pens fitted with vintage nibs that may offer some flex as an alternative to using dip nibs.

I purchased a Desiderata Daedalus pen in Chicago that I will review in the next week or so. It works on a similar principle in that it holds a Zebra G nib but is comes prepared to accept the Zebra G nib without the tinkering required to make the Ranga work with a flex nib but it still requires some preparation.

Finally, here’s a little Instagram video I did (handheld!) and managed to misspell Ranga in the process but you can see the flex in action. I’ve since purchased a tripod so hopefully my videos will improve.

Fashionable Friday: Off To The Races

Fashionable Friday: Off To The Races

I’m back on schedule and just in time to celebrate Derby weekend, Desk-style. So, pull out your race day finery, mix up some mint juleps and place your bets! And don’t worry, I practice what I preach, I bought the Rose Garland dress immediately.

  • Too Much Fun Dress in Rose Garland On Sale $59.99 (via Modcloth)
  • Mint Julep recipe (via Food52)
  • e + m Cedar Wood Pencil in Metallic Copper $1.45 (via Anderson Pens)
  • Pilot Iroshizuku Tsutsuji (50ml Bottle) $28.50 (via Anderson Pens)
  • Montegrappa Copper Mule Fountain Pen Retail $375, Sale Price when added to cart (via Pen Chalet)
  • Karas Kustoms Copper Retrakt Pen $95 (via JetPens)
  • Filofax Cover Story Primrose Personal Organizer $52 (via Goldspot Pens)
  • Cross 2014 Year of Horse Imperial Special Edition Fountain Pen $360 (via Pen Boutique)
  • PH Memo Pad in Green $5 (via Fresh Stock Japan)
  • Midori D-Clips Horse Paper Clips – Box of 30 $7.25 (via JetPens)
  • Bulleit Bourbon available wherever fine liquors are sold
  • Elegance 6-inch Silver Mint Julep Nickel Plated on Brass Cup $21.26 (via Amazon)
  • Kentucky Derby Horse Racing Poster 24×32″ Giclee Print $99.99 (via Art.com)

Link Love: Shows & Trolls & Links Galore

rp_link-anaPost of The Week:

Pen Show-related:

Pens:

Ink:

Paper & Notebooks:

Planners & Organizers:

Other Interesting Things:

Fashionable Friday: Road Trip Edition

FF-RoadTrip

After driving all the way to Chicago and then back to Kansas City, I thought this week’s Fashionable Friday TUESDAY (?) should be inspired by the great American road trip. Open roads, adventure, truck stops and roadside attractions that you might want to capture with pen and paper.

On our road trips, we like to make lists à la Top Four like Desert Island books, most earth-shattering album purchases, movies we’d watch 100 times, etc. Which reminds me, you should probably add Top Four to your podcast list before hitting the road, as inspiration, of course. I also recommend Sporkful, 99% Invisible, Pop Culture Happy Hour, Note To Self and, of course, The Pen Addict and Erasable. Don’t forget to pack lots of great tunes to sing along to as well.

  • Rabbitbrush Sweater pattern by Andi Satterlund (via Stranded Magazine)
  • Pilot Iroshizuku Ama-iro Ink (Sky) 50 ml Bottle $28 (via JetPens)
  • Clairefontaine 1951 Staplebound Lined Notebook in Black – 5.875 x 8.25 $4.50 (via Anderson Pens)
  • DeAtramentis Sky Blue Bottled Ink (35ml) $15.95 (via Goldspot Pens)
  • Field Notes Chicago Edition 3-Pack $9.95 (via Field Notes)
  • Chuck Taylor All Star Lo-Tops In Lemon Chrome $50 (via Converse)
  • Nomadic PE-09 Flap Type Pencil Case in Red $14 (via JetPens)
  • Nähe General Purpose Wide Case $7 (via Fresh Stock Japan)
  • China Glaze Pop The Trunk Nail Polish $3.05 (via Amazon)
  • Faber Castell Ondoro Graphite Black Fountain Pen € 110 (via Fontoplumo)
  • Sailor Professional Gear Color Series Fountain Pen in Yellow $248 (via Pen Chalet)
  • Edison Collier Fountain Pen in Blue Steel $149 (via Anderson Pens)

Review: Platinum Maki-E Nylon Bristle Brush Pen

Platinum Maki-E Brush Pen

Platinum Classic Brush Pen with Mt. Fuji and Cherry Blossoms Pattern ($52) is a nylon fiber brush pen with a beautiful slender black body. It features a gold toned clip and gold accents and a painted Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms designs. Its one of the most traditionally Japanese motfi pens I’ve ever owned and I’m surprised how tickled I am with the overall aesthetics of the pen. The overal shape of the pen is a smooth torpedo shape and the cap has a smooth, pill-shaped clip which is simple and understated.

The pen came in a simple black paperboard box with gold foil lettering and graphics on the exterior and red velveteen paperboard on the inside with a simple ribbon band to hold the pen in place. The packaging was elegant without being extravagant, if that makes sense.

Platinum Maki-E Brush Pen

Platinum Maki-E Brush Pen

But the real feature of the pen is the brush tip rather than a fountain pen or rollerball under the cap. The brush tip is made up of nylon fibers like a paintbrush but inside the aesthetics of a fountain pen. The pen works with a cartridge or a regular Platinum converter.

Platinum Maki-E Brush Pen Close-up

The bristles on the nylon tip come to a crisp point and the nylon fibers spring back quickly with a nice bounce. I decided to test the pen on both my usual Rhodia paper as well as some Strathmore Mixed Media drawin paper which is a toothier stock and found both the pen and the stock ink cartridge to perform quite well. The toothier Strathmore paper made it a little bit easier to control the brush pen versus the silky smooth Rhodia paper making me feel a little more confident in my mark-making.

Platinum Maki-E Brush Pen Writing Sample

The pen comes with a black cartridge with Platinum Black ink and the  Platinum converter ($7.50) will fit as well which will allow a range of inks to be used. The Platinum Black ink is not waterproof but its definitely water resistant. I’m inclined to keep only black ink in this pen for the duration as I expect it would be difficult to ever get all this black out of the bristles and feed. I’d also be cautious about leaving this pen sit too long without using it in case the ink dried in the brush. It might be difficult to get it cleaned completely if the ink were to dry. Altenately, the Platinum Black is a rich, dense black that looks fantastic so it appears to be worth the trouble it might cause if you like a good solid black line for drawing or calligraphy.

Overall, I really like this pen. As its one of my first brush pens over $10 (by a long shot) I don’t have a huge basis for comparison. However, the quality of the brush tip itself is a big upgrade from the budget-priced nylon bristle brush pens I’ve purchased in the past. Add to that, the overall feel of the pen and the beautiful Maki-E painting and I feel like I have a real treasure on my hands.


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

Cognitive Surplus Wax Seal Kits

Cognitive Surplus Wax Seals

Cognitive Surplus asked me if I’d like to try out their awesome array of Wax Seals. I had such a hard time choosing a design, they kindly sent me two because I could not make up my mind. I got the Erlenmeyer Flask and the Moon. The Erlenmeyer Flask came with a deep red wax stick and the Moon Seal came with a metallic silver wax stick.

If you love space and science themes, then their selection of of wax seals will be right up your alley too. Each kit comes with a brass seal mounted to a wooden handle and a coordinating wax stick in a small box with a lovely label. Each kit sells for $26.

Cognitive Surplus Wax Seals

Cognitive Surplus Wax Seals

The detail on the moon seal is excellent. This is so cool!

Cognitive Surplus Wax Seals

And the Erlenmeyer flask is also nerd cool!

Cognitive Surplus Wax Seals

I did my best to light the wax stick and pool the wax onto my envelope and then press the seal into it. I waited for for a few seconds for the wax to cool and the slowly wiggled the seal loose as the wax cooled and voila! the seal looks pretty good for my first try!

Cognitive Surplus Wax Seals

I had equally good luck with the moon seal and on my first try too. It looks so amazing! But I think my husband will steal it and take it to Skylab Letterpress. So if you want a letter sealed with moon wax, you better write a letter to Skylab.

Special Deal for Desk Readers: Receive 20% off your purchase when you use the coupon code WellAppointedDesk. Offer is good through May 15, 2016.


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