Editing The Pen Addict 464/transcript (section)

== Ask TPA Segment ==


'''Brad:''' Let's hit some ask TPA today, Myke. We got a lot of good questions. As always, we never get to them all.

'''Myke:''' Indeed. The first one will come from Gareth, and Gareth says, I have a cross Wanderlust with a fine nib and a converter. When I fill it up, it writes well for a bit, then it stops as if it's run out of ink. When I remove the body to add more ink, I find that it's still three quarters full. If I advance the piston on the converter to expel some of the air, it will start writing again. I have to do this a few times, maybe every quarter or so of the converter before it actually uses all of the ink up. It seems that not enough air is getting in to replace the ink, like vapor lock in an engine. But I could be wrong. What's going on here, and is there a way I can fix it?

'''Brad:''' I don't know for a fact, but I think there's two definite things I would try in this order. Number one, do a full cleaning and disassembly of the pen. You may have already done that, depending. I always have to say that because I don't know how people manage their fountain pens. Some people have a single pen and just do cartridge, run it through, pop it in another cartridge, run it through, and you might do that 10 times and never clean it in between. And at some point, you're going to start having performance issues. So I have to say these things up front. So if you have not disassembled it and clean it, do that first. Secondly, I would buy a new converter. That's not as cool and easy to do. Then you have to spend some more money. I'm not maybe like every company's converters are prone to failure. Like no one makes like the ultimate fountain pen converter. I almost consider them as disposable as refills. And if I have a situation where I know my pen should be flowing well, like it's clean and everything looks good and everything's fit correctly, and then I'm just getting some weird performance in there, I will swap the converter out and go to a new one. That's kind of the two things I would look at if it's not that. And then we probably have another issue we need to look at a little bit further. But I don't even know what that would be. But those are step one and step two in that order I would take.

'''Brad:''' Yeah. And then after that, I think it's just, you know, I don't know what it could be. Yeah.

'''Myke:''' Obviously, if you don't use the pen very often, it might need a bit of cajoling to get it to start up again. Some pens need that. But the way that Gareth's described it sounds like it's just as he's writing, it's like just given out on them.

'''Brad:''' You made me think of something else. I'd also wonder what ink is in there.

'''Myke:''' Yeah. I was going to suggest that the ink or the nib could be causing some issues. Like it might not. Like have you ever dropped the pen? Right. Sometimes that can be an issue, I suppose.

'''Brad:''' And if you're using a red, orange, or yellow dyed ink, those tend to dry up a little bit quicker or hard start a little bit more than more, you know, traditional blues and blacks colors just by the way the ink formulations are. You know, that could be an issue. So that would be option number three is try different ink combinations in there.

'''Myke:''' This is one of those trial and error things sometimes. If there isn't an obvious reason, like something hasn't happened that you can point to to say, you know, oh, I think I know why this might be occurring. It can be a bit of like, all right, you've got to change this one variable and see if you have any lasting change. Yep, exactly. Zach asks, lately I've been finding myself liking a certain type of pen and I'm wondering what could fit my criteria. I'm looking for a pocket-sized fountain pen of a clip and a screw-posting cap. I'm aware of the Twizbee Mini and the Sailor Pro Gear Slim Mini, but I'd love any other suggestions if you have them.

'''Brad:''' I love the Sailor Pro Gear Mini for this. I think that's a good option because you get a compact when it's closed, a full-length when it's open, and a clip. So the and a clip part is always the challenge. Sometimes the screw-posting cap is a challenge too.

'''Myke:''' I mean, you can get a Kaweco and add a clip to it, but it's never as reliable. But you will get a screw-posting cap, and it will be pocket-sized.

'''Brad:''' Those are not screw-posting caps. Oh, posting. I apologize. I'm thinking of a screw-posting cap. Yep. So that's just a friction-posting cap. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The shown designs are a screw-post, but there's not a clip option.

'''Brad:''' I don't know. I'm thinking this is going to be a pretty hard question to answer.

'''Myke:''' The combination of screw-posting and clip, that's tricky. That's a challenge. Getting both of those in a pen is hard.

'''Brad:''' Because the way screw-posting works, you end up with generally, there's ways to solve it, but generally you end up with a cap that's too far away, or the cap is not long enough to manage the clip, right? So with a screw-post, I'm getting myself twisted. I'm trying to explain this. With a friction-posting cap, the cap is long and deep because it sleeves over the barrel, right? So you generally don't have a clip in those situations because they get too low and can get in the way of your hand. So the opposite is a screw-posting cap where the cap is shorter because it has to post on the back of the pen and screw on, but the clip is generally visually or technically wants to be longer than the cap because of the design of the cap to fit on a shorter screw post. I don't know if I'm making verbal sense. I know what I mean in my head, but there are technical challenges why this isn't a common thing. So when you get something like the Pro Gear Slim Mini and see how awesome it is, you wonder why everyone doesn't do this. Well, because there's some give and take that has to be made when you're designing short caps versus long caps and then adding clips to those things and not affecting other things like writing performance, appearance, or usefulness of the clip. So it's a challenge. Like, I get that. That's why Zach is looking for the thing because it's not easy. So like I have like an expensive mini pen with a screw cap and a clip and it's a Mont Blanc Boheme. It's one of the coolest pens ever made, but it's going to be like $300, $400. I bought mine used. But it has a short cap and a short clip, right? There's like a sacrifice you make to have that screw on the back of the pen because it wouldn't functionally work otherwise. So it's a challenge. If anyone has any other suggestions, let me know. I'm sure we're forgetting some, but there's a reason why that's just not a default option.

'''Myke:''' David asks, my office, which I haven't been to in over a year, was recently moved without my assistance. I later retrieved the desk contents. I've had this happen to me and discovered that my Lamy All-Star had gone missing. Sorry, but I'm Team All-Star. Obviously, David, maybe they did you a favor, you know? I have plenty of other pens, so I'm not desperate to replace it, but I'm thinking about it. I'd like to stay in the Safari or All-Star price range. I still have a Lamy 2000, though, so I don't feel like I owe it to Lamy to buy another All-Star. Here are the alternatives I see. Replace it with another All-Star, or maybe even a Safari. Replace it with a pen in the same price range from a different manufacturer. I'll hold off until I see something that I really want, even if it costs more. In other words, I don't want to replace it just to replace it. What are your thoughts?

'''Brad:''' You want to take a crack first? I have an answer. Oh, well, I mean, I have my answer, and it's not definitive, but you want to go?

'''Myke:''' I don't know if it is particularly surprising or intriguing. Toosby Eco, I think, will be what I would recommend. It's a great pen. Very different to a Lamy Safari, but in the same kind of... I can't think of a better word, so I'm just going to say milieu. I apologize. Milieu. It was the best I could do. Yeah.

'''Brad:''' Price range, usability, functionality, feel, all those things. Material. Milieu.

'''Myke:''' Like, it's not precious. But with a Twisby Eco, you are getting a different type of pen. You're getting a piston filler. And so I recommend that because it's fun, and they're demonstrators, and you can get them in a bunch of really great colors now. So I would recommend a Twisby Eco.

'''Brad:''' So that would be my number two choice. Okay. My first choice would be to buy another All-Star. There is something... Even though that's the wrong decision, I mean, Safari, obviously, but if you're an All-Star fan, like, it's okay for David to be an All-Star fan. I call them both. Don't send me your emails.

'''Brad:''' Anna's the only one I will give real grief about choosing it because there's something about using those Lamys and those molded grips if they work for you, the way those work with those nibs that they have. And if you like those, like, steel, firm, but still kind of wet nibs, I thoroughly enjoy whenever I pick up a Safari. It puts a smile on my face. I'm going like, oh, yeah, this is why this is a good pen. And if you like the All-Star, like, I say replace it. That's my number one. My number two pick is the Twisby Eco.

'''Brad:''' You will have to... If you don't already use a converter, you know, you're going to have to get a bottle of ink for that. I don't know if that works for your office or the way you have things set up. So that is a consideration. Outside of that, if you wanted to get something that costs more, I'm still thinking about Lamys and thinking about, like, a Lamys Studio, even though it has a completely different feel. It has a cylindrical grip section as opposed to a molded grip section. So it's round. And it's a different feel. I'm going with the All-Star.

'''Myke:''' I'd say if you want to bump up in price range, like other brands, I would say.

'''Brad:''' Sure, sure. Then that... If we're bumping up from here, like, the All-Star is so good and the Eco is so good, I'm probably moving straight into, like, a triple-digit type of pen.

'''Brad:''' Because I just think you replace it because it's that good. And it is, to me, it is that enjoyable to write with. I really believe that about the Safaris, and that's why I love them so much and talk about them all the time, even though they are absolutely not for everyone because of how they're built.

'''Myke:''' Yeah, I still kind of don't understand that mid-range Lamy pen. Like, for me, like, I don't know what I'm personally supposed to get out of that experience that I can't get from an All-Star or Safari. That...

'''Brad:''' We could do a whole show on Lamy's mid-range pens.

'''Myke:''' Like, the Lamy 2000 is fantastic if you get a good one. That's an important part.

'''Brad:''' I'm not even... I'm considering below that. Yeah, I know. That's their upper end.

'''Myke:''' Like, at the top, at the very top, that's fantastic. And their entry pens, Safari and AOS are also fantastic. But, like, Studio and all those other ones that they have... Their mid-range is a nightmare. I don't get it.

'''Brad:''' I think they're just missing out.

'''Myke:''' Yeah, I don't really get it. Like, even the Vista, the Vista I don't understand. Like, I don't know why they need to brand a clear version of the Safari a different thing anyway. But, like...

'''Brad:''' Myke, you'd be shocked to know that I have thoughts on this.

'''Myke:''' Yeah, logo, CP1. I don't get them. Studio, Ion.

'''Myke:''' It's a problem. That don't make sense to me. I have thoughts. I know why Safari makes them. Because they can just fill out a shelf space in a store. Like, I get it, you know. But at the same time, I feel like there's a missed opportunity.

'''Myke:''' You know where I stand.

'''Myke:''' I'll say if I hire him.

'''Brad:''' They're leaving so much on the table. It frustrates me. Because I love them so, so much. I genuinely love Lamy.

'''Myke:''' We both do. Alright, that's about going to do it for this episode of The Pen Addict. I'll be back in two weeks. Brad will be back next week. In the meantime, you can follow us online. You can go to Dowdyism on Twitter. That's where you'll find Brad. And he is Pen Addict on Instagram. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Twitch.tv slash Pen Addict. You can find Brad streaming. That's at least Tuesdays and Thursdays. Brad's been on the streaming today.

'''Brad:''' Wednesdays and Thursdays. I went ahead and added the post-podcast show to the schedule. So Wednesdays, 11.30.

'''Myke:''' So Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

'''Myke:''' I apologize. I'm going to bump into you tomorrow. Oh, I don't care. I'm streaming tomorrow. I'm just letting you know in advance. Because I don't want you to... Yeah, no biggie. I'm saying it now. Because if I don't say it now, when I go live, you'll start cussing me out. Oh, I'm going to do it anyway. Yeah, but now podcast listeners know that I at least told you in advance. So I'm going to be streaming tomorrow, 10.30 Eastern.

'''Brad:''' So here's the play. So you have Twitch apps and you have Twitch in the browser and you have a lot of devices. You can at least get two Twitch screens up.

'''Myke:''' People do this anyway. Like I see people let me... I can't do it, but I do. People have multiple things going. Maybe people can see if we'll start to sync up, you know? I'm quiet a lot in my streams because I'm doing stuff. Yours are more talking than mine. So yeah, you can check us out both out. We both really enjoy streaming. So you can check us both out. Thank you so much to ExpressVPN, Squarespace, and Penchale for the support of this episode. And most of all, thank you for listening. And we'll be back next time. Until then, say goodbye, Brad.

'''Brad:''' Goodbye, Brad.

[[Category:Podcast Transcripts]]
[[Category:The Pen Addict Podcast Transcript]]