NAPKIN Forever Pininfarina Cambiano Inkless Pen Desk Set - Walnut

May 23, 2015

You may have seen this "pen" around and wondered which part of the future it decided to drop in from. An inkless pen?... Made of metal? Sounds pretty crazy.

Ron from Pen Chalet was kind enough to send me the NAPKIN Forever pen to review (from his personal collection no doubt), so a special thanks goes out to him.

In a nutshell, the NAPKIN Forever pen is a writing instrument that is neither pen or pencil, but is a really slick and futuristic looking mesh of metal and wood that writes via the oxidation produced from a metal tip.

I must admit, this is a work of art. It is beautifully made, extremely eye catching, and is bound to start up a conversation with every person that walks into your office. I assure you, no one is likely to pass this "pen" up from the perspective of unique curiosity.

The pen display set comes in two distinct parts: the pen and the stand.

The stand for this particular model is made from walnut (which I have a thing for) and is quite lovely.

A block, rectangular shape, the stand has an angled hole drilled into the top as well as a slight routed rest either to lay your pen on or to act as a sort of shadow imagery underneath while it is propped up at attention. In the side of the stand is a small plastic sliding door that reveals a hole for the pen to be placed in during transit or for storage. Super neat.

The pen itself really is fantastic looking. The overall form is made from cast metal which has been coated in a matte black finish and on each side are inlaid contoured pieces of walnut with "pininfarina" etched in. It really is a sexy thing to behold, like something out of a really cool futuristic sci-fi movie (although they likely wouldn't use wood?...).

Weight wise the pen has some heft but feels good in your hand.

Now the real question: how does it write? In all honesty, not super great. The tip is quite grabby (almost scratchy) as you transfer the oxidation from the tip to the page but, lets face it, WE ARE WRITING WITH METAL. No ink or graphite to smooth things out, so the expectation shouldn't be that it is going to be a silky experience.

That being said, I don't really think that is the point. The purpose of creating something like this is for its artistic design, placement as a desk accessory or novelty, and maybe for a quick and short note.

The pen does leave a surprisingly good mark on the page, although very light. I would put it close to a 4H-6H range graphite pencil.

I tried to write some full pages and it was pretty daunting. The grabbiness of the tip mixed with the weight made it a bit of an uncomfortable experience. If the plan was to use something like this to jot a quick note on a small card or Post-It, perfect. Definitely not something ideal for journaling or writing long winded notes.

The pen isn't overly cheap coming in at just under $100 (through Pen Chalet who has it at a decent discount), but for what it is I think this price is pretty good. It is a beautiful piece of desk art that would make a lovely showcase and offer some optional writing usage.

Thanks again to Ron for sending it my way for review.

Ink Bottle Series - New From Dudek Modern Goods

May 19, 2015

I'm pleased to announce the three newest offerings from Dudek Modern Goods! Coming up on the second year anniversary of the brand, I am extremely grateful for all of the tremendous support I've received from around the globe. Thank you for letting me make these pieces to share.

The three new products are part of the Ink Bottle series: The Main, The Writer, and The Workspace. The goal was to create elegant desk pieces that allow you to keep your favorite ink(s) close at hand as well as pens and possible notebooks.

THE MAIN

The smallest of the three, The Main holds one included 60ml amber bottle for your favorite ink and three writing instruments you want to keep close at hand.

Approx. dimensions: H 2.5" - W 4" - D 3"

THE WRITER

Slightly larger, The Writer provides space for two included 60ml amber bottles (so you don't have to choose only one favorite ink) and 9 of your writing instruments.

Approx. dimensions: H 2.5" - W 8" - D 3"

THE WORKSPACE

The largest piece in the Dudek Modern Goods line, The Workspace should provide ample room for all of your writing needs. Included are two 60ml amber bottles, room for 9 writing instruments and two slots for your favorite pocket notebooks or index cards.

Approx. dimensions: H 2.5" - W 10.5" - D 3"

Uni-Ball Air Rollerball Pen - New! (iPhone Used for Review)

May 14, 2015

I was at one of my local big box retailers recently and stopped by the pen aisle (who wouldn't?) and stumbled upon something new, the uni-ball Air rollerball pen. In blue! Of course I purchased a pack to try out and to give my thoughts.

Trying to remember, but I think a three pack ran me about $7, so not too pricey. Uni-Ball pens seem to be on the slightly higher price spectrum for your average throwaway, but this is pretty in line with others.

The pen is all plastic and has a sleek and futuristic looking black barrel. On the barrel is a sort of circuit board-esque/tribal design in contrasting matte and shiny black. The design does have some very subtle texture which almost subconsciously adds a slight amount of grip.

You have to run your finger or thumb across it and think about whether you feel texture or not, but it is there. I'm going to wager more for design rather than function.

The clip of the pen is an integrated piece of blue plastic that flows with the overall design of the cap. It isn't really an add on so much as it is a part of the overall cap design and aesthetic. It is super flimsy, but sufficiently stiff for its purpose. If you really bent it back it would strain the plastic enough to where it would no longer be effective.

How does it write? Extremely smooth and extremely wet. The pen pushes out a lot of ink and even on thicker paper like a Doane Paper pad, the letters feathered a bit. Rollerball pens are generally the sweet spot on these pads, but this one seems to react differently.

This leads me to believe that the function is not the same as your traditional rollerball. The tip of the pen seems to have a bit more of a flex to it, almost like a porous point.

The closest pen it reminds me of is the Pentel Rolling Writer, a classic rollerball (technically) that behaves a bit more like a plastic tip pen. A really strange hybrid, but one that makes for a super smooth writing experience. A pen I haven't used for awhile, but is really fun.

The lines seem to perform better on the Doane Paper Flap Jotter (slightly smoother paper), but the ink floats on paper like Rhodia almost like a fountain pen. This equals long dry times...

I think the Air is a really fun writer and is worth giving a shot, particularly if you have used a pen like the Rolling Writer before and enjoyed it. The feathering is kind of a pain due to the heavy ink flow which could cause some problems on most papers.

There doesn't seem to be much out there on this pen as of yet and I couldn't even find it on Uni-Ball's website...