Nock Co. DotDash Pocket Notebooks

February 18, 2015

The fellas at Nock Co were kind enough to send me over a pack of their DotDash Pocket Notebooks awhile back and I'm finally getting the chance to write down some thoughts.

Get out the sunglasses as the first thing you'll notice about these particular pocket notebooks is the cover. A bright and shining yellow that is sure to catch the attention of those around you and possibly low flying aircraft. In my opinion, this is fun. I'm not generally the type to buy overly bright objects (I'm sort of a grey, blue, black... boring type of guy), but these were a really nice surprise. When I buy or receive products, I sometimes think to myself what color choice I would have made if I was the creator and I know that yellow wouldn't be it, but that's why having so much creative diversity in the world is important. If left up to me, things would be pretty neutral all around.

That being said, just know that they are yellow and if yellow may not jive well with your conservative aesthetic, then consider yourself informed.

The guys have also taken a slightly different approach to your average pocket notebook by choosing a top staple design (like a little reporter notebook almost). By shortening the amount of stapled edge by almost half, it provides the flexibility of using the book in both a portrait or landscape format much easier.

When I hold a Field Notes or Doane Paper Utility Notebook I never think to turn it on it's side to write. With the the Nock books, I could totally see myself doing this if I needed to sketch a quick design or drawing. I'm sure it is all psychological on my part, but I feel this removes some of those boundaries.

How is the performance? Good overall for most everyday writing. I've put down to the page a variety of different pens/pencils and have some thoughts to share on each.

The paper is 50lb which holds up well and is printed with the Nock DotDash pattern in grey.

I found some of the best result with micro gel pens like the Uni-ball Signo DX. The lines were crisp and there was no bleed through.

I've only used one fountain pen with the book, my Pilot M90 with an F nib (inked with Pilot Blue/Black) and found that it didn't really maintain the line width very well. Not a ton of major feathering, but it sucked up a lot of ink and bled a bit through the page. Broader fountain pens would probably be a no-no.

I used two rollerball pens, the Schimdt Cap-less (like found in Retro 51 Tornados) and the Uni-ball Vision Elite and these also tended to bleed through pretty heavily and onto the next page with the Schmidt.

My conclusion would probably be to try and stick with ballpoints, gels, or use with pencils (maybe really fine and drier fountain pens...maybe) for the best possible experience.

Pretty heavy on the Uni-ball it seems...

From a price point, they are on par with other pocket books out there at $9 for a 3-pack.

I really enjoy these books from a utility standpoint. The highlight to me was the ability to easily choose the landscape vs portrait option with the simplicity of top staple binding. A seemingly small thing, but something that stood out.

Thanks again to Nock Co for sending these over! Check out their website for more info and to pick up a pack if you feel these bright beauties will fit your fancy.

Uni Kuru Toga Roulette Mechanical Pencil - 0.5mm - Gun Metal

February 14, 2015

Mechanical pencils both fascinate me and elude me sometimes when it comes to utility as I am more of a pen guy. Although, I'm intrigued by their function, the little "happenings" inside that make the lead shoot out bits at a time, and the overall aesthetic that they usually carry, at least the nicer ones.

The Uni Kuru Toga is a pencil that sees some attention quite often. Why? Because it is awesome. And that concludes the review... just kidding.

As a little bit of Kuru Toga education, this pencil produced by Uni (via Mitsubishi) is a mechanical pencil that automatically rotates the lead while you write. When I tell this to people they are amazed at first, but then have that "Really?" kind of attitude. Is it necessary? Why is this important?

Well, when you write with a pencil, you are slowly smearing the material against a page and wearing down the tip. If you aren't constantly turning the pencil (which years of school have taught us to do subconsciously) you end up with a flat edge that creates wider lines and an uncomfortable writing/drawing experience.

Back to the Uni, each time you lift and press the lead to the page, a tiny mechanism inside does the job for you which makes a consistent sharp point throughout the writing or drawing session. Super slick, right?

The Kuru Toga was originally a Japan import only through specialty shops like JetPens, but the base models have graced the shelves of local US retailers in the last couple of years for generally less than $7. I've owned one of the all plastic base model versions for a while now, but I had some JetPens space credits available (thanks to site sponsor JetPens) so I opted to purchase one of the higher-end Roulette models which has more metal components, a bit more weight, and knurling in the grip. And I got it in gun metal...which is more like a black and sparkly grey.

I say higher-end a bit loosely as even the Roulette models you can get for about $16 which is a steal in the nicer mechanical pencil world. rOtring 600s will run you around $30 and the 800s around $70. There are others in between like the Pilot Automac for around $50, but needless to say, pencils can be pricey. I wouldn't say the Kuru Toga Roulette is in the exact same league as these others I mentioned, but they do a pretty darn good job with the overall fit and finish for the price.

The writing experience is pretty solid although I have noticed an ever so slight movement in the tip. I'm pretty sensitive to this with pens and pencils to where if it is too noticeable I will probably choose not to use it again. With the Kuru Toga, it is enough to notice, but I didn't feel that it drastically diminished my writing nor did I notice it enough to be completely annoyed. Just keep this in mind when buying if you are ultra-hyper sensitive to it.

As far as the spinning goes, for your own amusement (and to prove to friends that this thing is legit), Uni puts a small window in the grip section that reveals an orange cylinder inside with a marking on it. As you write, you can watch the mark move in and out of view which is a cool touch. I know it amuses me at least...

As mentioned above, the grip section is knurled and has a good bite to it. Not offensively sharp, but not simply there as decoration either. Personally, I feel this is a good improvement to the pencil because, lets face it, I like knurling. The grip section is also metal which pushes more of the balance to the front of the pencil, but has a good feel.

I opted to also purchase some of the Kuru Toga specific lead as it claims to wear better with the mechanics of the pencil, but I honestly didn't notice a huge difference over other brands. I went with the B as I prefer a slightly softer and darker line and it didn't disappoint. My sweet spot is generally a 2B or even 3B, but it doesn't appear that Uni offers it in any softer grade. If they do, I'll be sure to pick some up. The lead in the Kuru Toga seems to snap rarely (never, really) which is a huge plus.

The eraser, of course, is one of the under the cap, smaller than a Tic-Tac sized ones we all love so much (sarcasm intended). From a performance standpoint with the Kuru Toga lead it did great, but after about a dozen solid uses I'd say the eraser would be toast.

My only gripe: make the Roulette in a 0.7mm. 0.5mm is fine, but I'm definitely a wider line type of writer when it comes to pencils.

In conclusion, if you like the base model Kuru Toga or have been looking at buying one, the Roulette might be a nice step up if you were willing to spend only about $10 more. I've personally enjoyed it and would recommend it due to the value based on the added weight and metal materials.

An Often Unknown Influence - Mr. Thomas Hall

February 5, 2015

If you've listened to The Pen Addict podcast or read Brad's many posts over the last few years (including one last week...) then you've likely heard the name Thomas Hall shared from time to time.

Who is this "Thomas Hall"? Is he man? Myth? Legend...? In our little world, he is pretty much all of the above. He is often referred to as the enabler to the enablers due to his incredible way of making people like Brad and myself purchase expensive things. We then talk about these things; a lot. This, in turn, trickles the enablement avalanche down to our readers and friends.

I was kindly introduced to Thomas through Brad in a round about way (although I'm not entirely sure of our first interaction), but from the get-go, I was impressed by the knowledge this man possesses about pens. Like encyclopedia Britannica type knowledge levels. Thomas would likely argue that this is not the case, but all I know is that every topic, every pen, every ink question I throw his way is answered and usually with a link to a site to purchase amazing things!

You all may have heard some rumors that I may have a problem buying vintage stainless steel Pilot pens; this is true, and largely thanks to Thomas' insight and willingness to share his time when questions arose. I now have MYUs, Murex', M90s, Elites, Customs.... (sigh) When Thomas tells you about something...

I'm going to say that he has this way of opening your eyes to new things you didn't even know existed; deep secrets locked away in pen history that wouldn't likely cross your path unless you went looking. Sounds like we're meditating on top of a mountain, right? Not far off... He is kind of like our community pen shaman.

For a very long time, I had known about custom acrylic/celluloid pens by people such as Shawn Newton or Brian Gray of Edison Pens, but it wasn't until Thomas helped nudge me over the edge did I buckle down and start purchasing some. He also very kindly sent me three of his personal Edison pens to use in order to see what felt right; a very kind and trusting gesture from someone who only knows me as "the guy who writes The Clicky Post". I'm now pleased to call him my friend.

This is a very uncommon post it seems, but one that I have been meaning to write for some time.

Thomas also started writing a blog this past year called Penucopia. His writing schedule may seem spread out in comparison to other blogs, but when he writes I always make sure to consume his posts immediately. He takes a great deal of time providing fantastic insights and his site is one that should be on everyone's blog reader. Also, he is on Instagram and Twitter if you'd like to keep an eye on what he is up to.

To Thomas: thanks for being such a great contributor and asset to this community.