ystudio Brass Ballpoint Pen - Brassing Edition

I've had my eye on the ystudio brand for quite some time now, but have never pulled the trigger on one for some reason. When I saw Brad Dowdy from The Pen Addict had acquired one I asked if he would mind sending it my way on loan and he was kind enough to oblige.

Why haven't I pulled the trigger on one yet? It would seem like such a no brainer for me. Hexagonal barrels, super minimalist, unique... pushes all of the buttons.

All of the pens are made from brass which is ok, but brass can be weighty (downright uncomfortable in some cases) and eventually can patina and create a "smell" from all of the oil in your hands over time. 

Another reason I've potentially hesitated is due to their availability, or, seemingly lack there of. This isn't a jab, but ystudio would be what I consider a more boutique brand and the online retailers we frequent like Pen Chalet, Jetpens, Goulet Pens, Pen Boutique, Appelboom, or Cult Pens don't carry the brand at all.

I'm usually always willing to take a chance on a pen I find interesting (for science, of course), but not knowing how it will actually feel (weight) coupled with a slight difficulty in purchasing one from companies I know and trust has definitely created some hesitation.

ystudio is a Taiwanese company that runs a small studio and has their pens made locally. The products they create are eye-catching and downright beautiful in my opinion. Each time I see them I'm always intrigued.

My loaner, the brass retractable ballpoint, came in its original packaging which is an elegant black card stock box with "brass" foil lettering. Not over the top fancy, but nice. Inside is a small pamphlet talking about the pen, a foam insert for the pen to nestle into, as well as a sheet of sandpaper (yes, sandpaper). 

This version is referred to as the "brassing" edition, meaning, it is an all brass pen but coated in a black paint/finish which will eventually wear through over time. Or, with a little help...

That's right, they provide you with sandpaper to use on creating a worn down, wabi sabi look of your own. Brad got started on the pen around the grip section, but I opted to leave it as is and not sand it further.

First hesitancy: the weight. Not a problem actually. The pen is a comfortable 1.2 ounces and actually feels amazing in the hand.

The ballpoint version of the ystudio pens take a standard Parker style refill, so ease of finding something that suites isn't too difficult.

The pen is designed as either a pocket, desk, or sleeve type of carry as it doesn't come with a clip. Oddly enough, I've been leaning more towards clipless pens as of late, so this doesn't bother me, but if you're strictly a front shirt pocket or clip to the pants type of carrier, this one may be a problem.

What is obviously the most striking and interesting feature of the ballpoint pen is the knock mechanism. An exposed brass cylinder attached to another hexagonal piece, upheld by a visible spring. Describing it in words is tough, but thank goodness for pictures.

I love this feature of it from a design perspective. It adds a very industrial and mechanical feel to something elegant and minimal which is a unique blend. 

Execution of the knock mechanism is a bit on the tricky side as it is very different from ballpoint "clicky" pens you've used before. Rather than simply a click-on, click off process, this pen requires a slight push in and then the knock screws down into the barrel from the inside to extend and lock in the tip. Very interesting.

From a purely functional standpoint, this isn't the best feature of the pen as it requires (unless you're super tricky) a two-handed process. For capped pens this is a given, but for a retractable pen it is more of a rarity.

Personally, I wouldn't let this get in the way of enjoying the pen. The experience of the ystudio look and feel is what we're going for and it is probably worth the extra twist with both hands. Just me.

I've really, really enjoyed carrying this pen and I will certainly be picking up something from their lineup very soon. 

The Brassing ballpoint retails at $85 so isn't cheap, but the build quality and design is wonderful in my opinion.

If you are interested in purchasing something from their lineup, there is an online retailer called Kohezi that has a pretty broad selection.  

When Stationary Meets Fashion - The New Doane Paper Junk Drawer T-Shirt

Doane Paper is one of my favorite products ever, hands down. Love the brand, love the story, love the product, and love that it is small business making it happen.

Chad Doane recently released a new t-shirt called "Junk Drawer" with artwork by the super talented Brandon Wilson of Contrabrand, the same graphic designer whom I was privileged to have create my Dudek Modern Goods logo.

I couldn't help but share this... 

Check out the new Doane Paper t-shirt in Chad's shop, as well as peruse his other awesome goods! 

Kaweco Supra Brass Fountain Pen Review

When pen lovers start digging into the "nicer" writing instrument realm, brands that often come to mind are Pilot, LAMY, and maybe even Pelikan. A brand that is right up there in pedigree and history is Kaweco, but often is a brand people learn about a bit later.

I really enjoy Kaweco pens. The most iconic pens of theirs are a bit quirky, like the Sport series, but that is what makes them stand out.

The smallest pen in their lineup, the Liliput, is a tiny pocket fountain pen (or ballpoint) that many love due to its compact size. Although, its minimal size often makes it a miss for those of us with larger hands.

If you've always thought the Liliput design was appealing, but too darn small, Kaweco may have come up for an ideal solution for you. The Supra.

Kaweco was kind enough to send me a Supra to check out, so special thanks to them.

The Supra was released within the last year or so and, in essence, is a Liliput but on a much grander scale. 

The standard Liliput we've known for several years is machined from aluminum making it extremely light, but Kaweco decided to branch out into new materials like brass, stainless steel, and copper for added "heft" and opted to use brass for the Supra's debut. I really hope they decide to release this pen in other materials.

Kaweco's metal pens are always top notch, and the Supra is no exception. Mine has since acquired some patina which has dulled the pretty new brass finish, but the feel and quality of how this pen is made leaves nothing to be desired in my opinion. Everything is tight and intentional. No missteps or cut corners.

Being larger in size, the Supra can take a full international standard converter or long cartridge (currently in mine), but with a bit of a catch. Rather than being only the cap, barrel, and section like the Liliput, the Supra has an added extension tube that fits between. This is a pretty fantastic feature of the pen as it also allows you to omit the tube to use a short cartridge and make the pen even more pocketable.

In general, most of the popular Kaweco fountain pens like the Liliput or Sport series are small which means they have small nibs. Kaweco does have a few larger pens that incorporate the same small nibs, but they always seem to be a bit out of place. 

With the Supra, Kaweco gratefully didn't fall into the same formula and opted to use a larger nib which fits perfectly. (this seems an odd way to say thank you to Kaweco, but "thanks!")

The larger nib gives the pen a grander presence, which it certainly deserves.

The model I received has a medium nib which writes nicely. Not as much flow out of the box as I usually like, but no skipping or hard starts, nor is it "too dry". I did find it has a bit of a sweet spot though.

With the added extension tube, I find posting the cap to be manageable, but I'd say a bit on the lengthy side for what most people might be comfortable with. Although, without the posting could seem a bit short (but, again, manageable). Its sort of a weird place really, but doesn't deter me from liking the pen immensely.   

Without the tube, it posts comfortably.

Overall I think this is a dynamite pen. It's portable, hefty, well made, and has a bit of "interesting" due to its overall design. Bravo, Kaweco.

One thought I had was for another model of the Supra that takes a ballpoint/rollerball combination. It could take either Parker style or longer Pilot G2 style refills simply by adding or removing the extension tube. #micdrop

The Supra comes in at a retail of $140 which could seem steep, but is actually in-line with Kaweco's overall pricing model. And for the fit and finish, I'd say the price seems fair. Pen Chalet carries these in their shop and have an ongoing CLICKYPOST promo code for 10% off if interested in picking one up.  

Special thanks again to Kaweco for sending the Supra my way for review.