Lots of Schmidt - Refills Sold by Karas Kustoms

June 21, 2014

I, of course, am fanatical about the product offerings from my friends over at Karas Kustoms. High quality, machined goods by a small business right in my backyard (literally). I have the pleasure to visit the fellas at the shop on a regular basis due to living close which is always fun.

One unique thing that I'm sure from time to time has given the guys a bit of flak is the fact that they ship their pens without a refill. WHAT!?!?! The ideology around this is that their pens can take a variety of refills and everyone has their preferences so, instead of sending refills that people might throw away (which would be wasteful, right?) they leave the pens to fill with your favorites.

Although it may seem odd to some, Karas is not completely alone in this. A recent pen I received from JetPens, the Sharbo X by Zebra, has the same mentality that a pen that takes multiple refills should be a custom experience for the owner.

Well, what many people may not know is that Karas does make some of the customization process a bit easier by carrying a few options to choose from at checkout. These options consist of Schmidt brand refills in a variety of types (of which I'm a fan) at reasonable prices for a quality writing experience.

G2 Render K (noted by small machined line in grip) vs Standard Render K with Hi Tec C

The purpose of this post is to go through the arsenal of options and which pens you could use for each. As it is outlining refills specifically, the photos will be a bit more "clinical" than normal as to outline the writing samples more than the pens. Each refill will be reviewed briefly, primarily to provide awareness of the options available.

Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 M (Blue or Black)

Hands down, the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 M is my favorite "Parker style" ballpoint refill. I have a more in depth review of this refill that I know has been helpful for those seeking to change their traditional "Parker style" experience... converts.

In a nutshell, the EasyFlow is not your average ballpoint, but is a ballpoint/rollerball hybrid which makes the ink slightly more wet (but still sticky like a ballpoint) which creates a darker line and a smoother writing experience. Anytime I have a Parker style pen refill needed, this is what I go for.

Only downside to the EasyFlow 9000 M is that the line is pretty broad. For ballpoint pens, a really crisp, fine line is a tough nut to crack when trying to jam a refill into a specialized pen. If you are open to a slightly wider line width, give these ones a shot.

The Retrakt is also compatible with the EasyFlow

The EasyFlow 9000 M is compatible with the standard Render K, The Bolt, and The Retrakt with it's included Delrin spacer and tighter spring.

Schmidt Fineliner (Blue or Black)

The Fineliner is one that many people may not have heard of. It is a longer refill in size which is around the dimensions of the Pilot G2 refill for reference.

What makes the Fineliner refill unique is that it is a porous point or "felt" tip style which warrants a more expressive line on the page. If you are a fan of the Sharpie Pen, Sakura Pigma Micron, or PaperMate Flair, this may be a good option for you to try.

In my experience, the Fineliner refills put down a good amount of ink and may bleed a bit on thinner paper, but the writing experience is great. Who knew you could squeeze a porous point in a Karas Kustoms pen?... Liberating, right?

The Fineliner refill is compatible with the G2 Render K, G2 Bolt (which has an extended front barrel), and the Retrakt.

Schmidt Cap-less Roller (Blue or Black)

If you are a fan of the Retro 51 Tornado rollerball, then you know exactly which refill this is...

From a true, liquid ink roller I would put the Cap-less roller on the top of my list. Super dark lines, great flow, minimal skipping (if any), and super smooth. With as great as this refill is, there is a super limited supply of pen models that actually take it.

Clipless, Ink "Prototype" From First Production Runs

Not compatible with any available Karas Kustoms pens at the moment, but the newest offering on it's way to full production is The Ink, a full sized fountain pen and rollerball. The guys are well on their way in production fulfilling on the Kickstarter pledges of The Ink, but I'd anticipate they'll be available for purchase in the coming months or sooner. Stay tuned to what Karas Kustoms is up to on their site, social media, or newsletter to find out when Ink is up for purchase. Or, you could be put on the waiting list...

Schmidt 5888 Ceramic Rollerball (Blue or Black)

More along the lines of your traditional rollerball refill, the 5888 Ceramic is the same size as the Fineliner (again, like Pilot G2) and provides the liquid ink, dark lines you will come to expect from a rollerball.

The line width of the Ceramic is pretty narrow when comparing to other rollerball pens. I'm not sure if I would consider the Ceramic to be anything overly special per se, but for a standard rollerball option it is quite good.

Aluminum G2 Bolt vs Copper Standard Bolt for Size Comparison

The 5888 is compatible with the G2 Render K, G2 Bolt, and Retrakt.

If you currently own or are in the market for a new Karas Kustoms pen, make sure to check out the inventory of refill options that the guys have to offer so you can be writing the minute it shows up on your doorstep. Also, don't forget to use the promo code CLICKYPOST to save 10% off your purchase!

The Desk of Mike Dudek Featured on OfficeSupplyGeek.com

June 20, 2014

In looking back, I forgot to mention this!

A couple of months ago, fellow blogger Brian from OfficeSupplyGeek.com emailed me and asked if I would be down with having him do a post in his What's on Your Desk series and, of course, I was happy to oblige.

The process involved me sending some photos of my "desk" and what sorts of things I have kicking around in my office space at home.

If you're interested in seeing what things (some of them quirky) comprise the desk of Dudek, head over and visit Brian's post to check it out.

Thanks again, Brian! That was fun.

Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen - Fine Nib (Makrolon)

June 16, 2014

I must admit, I've been looking forward to reviewing the Lamy 2000 fountain pen for quite some time. Being one of the most reviewed pens in the pen blog world I don't anticipate saying anything extremely new, but to perhaps finally pay some homage to this specimen of design and prestige.

Oddly enough, it took me a very long time to finally acquire a Lamy 2000 and not necessarily because I didn't want one or I couldn't pull the trigger (spent too much on the rOtring obsession...?). The 2000 is often one of the first nice pens that a lot of pen addicts tend to buy, which makes it even more odd that it took me as long as it did.

In reality, at my house there was what seemed to be (my interpretation) an unspoken rule about the Lamy 2000 line and me purchasing them. You see, my wife has traditionally been the one to buy me pens from the 2000 line as gifts for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. She had bought me first the ballpoint and then later the rollerball (both in Makrolon), so it seemed only fair that I stick it out and wait for her to get the fountain pen for me. As a few of these occasions passed without a Lamy 2000, I was starting to wonder if she would ever get me one!... So, as I often do, I brought it up to her and she said "go for it", meaning, buy it if you'd like. Needless to say I was happy, but I always found it very kind that she had bought me these thoughtful gifts in the past.

I purchased this Lamy 2000 from my friends over at Pen Chalet who have recently started carrying a selection of the Lamy line. They have the Safari, Studio, and 2000 fountain pens to name a few. As time goes on their selection will grow, but being newer to the pen retail space I was very excited to see their line expanding as they are great to work with. They do have some specials running right now on their Lamy offerings, but you could also use the promo code CLICKYPOST for an additional 10% off of your order. Give them a look for sure if you're in the market.

Does the 2000 really need that much of an introduction? It is an icon that will withstand the tests of time, or as long as we still use pens. Heaven forbid we someday go without ink, I hope Lamy is still around as a company and makes the 2000 in whatever writing gizmo we have going at the time. Even THEN, it will still stand out as an exquisite writing instrument.

As the flagship of the Lamy collection, the 2000 has held its own for nearly 50 years, something not many pens of its kind can do. There are definitely models out there that are still around for as long or longer, but the 2000 is likely one of the most recognizable due to its unique and modern design. It seems simple enough from a glance, but it is captivating and has a beauty to rival the "classic" styled pens that seem to look so much alike.

In all honesty, I think the Lamy 2000 is extremely well priced. The fit and finish of it is top notch, the design is striking, and the nib is gold (14k). It is a premium product, but the pricepoint is on par with where it should be. These retail at $199 in most places but, with the promo at Pen Chalet, you'd be looking at less than $145 before tax which is a great deal from a reputable retailer.

The barrel is made of Makrolon, a polycarbonate, and is brushed to a matte finish which also provides a slight texture to it. You could almost describe it is like fine grains in wood, but of a plastic material.

The seams in the pen are tight and the piston mechanism at the end is nearly invisible without taking a close look. That is one thing I really enjoy about the pen is the seemingly high attention to detail. In holding and looking at the pen, nothing seems out of place or "off" if that makes sense. There aren't multiple metal rings getting in the way or acting as connectors for the various pieces of the barrel like many other pens do. Not that there is anything wrong with those as they are growing on me as well, but the 2000 really does have a seamless look and appeal to it. Like all the parts (that you can't distinguish) have been put together with precision.

One thing that has been a consideration with the Lamy 2000 is the nib quality. After all of this talk of precision and exactness, reports come in pretty often from other reviewers/readers that the writing experience out the gates with the 2000 can be hit or miss. Thankfully, mine came writing wonderfully and I have yet to have a complaint about it.

The nib (or mine at least) is in between a wet and dry I'd say. Running the nib along the page I can feel it writing, but it is smooth and provides almost a soft feel when putting ink to page. I am currently running Iroshizuku Shin-kai (also acquired during my purchase from Pen Chalet) which is a popular blue/black and I've greatly enjoyed it. I may be a bit more in the Kon-peki camp as I like a more traditional blue, and although the Shin-kai is a very conservative color that may not stand out in a crowd, it is still a lovely choice. The fine nib puts a fairly good sized line to the page probably around the size of a 0.7mm rollerball or gel pen.

The cap is adorned with a large angular and monolithic stainless steel clip that is pretty much the 2000's most recognizable feature. Against the matte black Makrolon, it stands out boldly and is a design element all its own rather than being just a functional piece of the pen trying to be as conservative as possible.

A wonderful design element is that of the grip being made of a brushed stainless steel. The brushed finish provides some slight texture for gripping, whilst the metal provides a nice cool section to grab when initially starting to write. Being metal, it also provides a substantial feel and heft towards the front end of the pen while writing, but not heavy.

The hooded nib is also one of the more iconic features of the pen while uncapped and provides an interesting design element to appreciate while writing on the page as you always get to see it.

I'm grateful to have the Lamy 2000 now in my collection as I know it is one that I will enjoy for as long as possible. Even if something were to happen to this one I know that I would likely replace it straightaway with a new one. In a way, I'd say the 2000 is a pen to be revered a bit for it's place in pen history for that fact alone, but using it is so pleasing that providing it the respect it deserves is easy....