Spoke Pencil Model 4 in Titanium and Aluminum - Review - 0.9mm

While I love a good woodcased pencil, mechanical pencils often feel kind of like an automatic watch to me; parts and springs working in harmony to create a more sophisticated analog experience.

I'm going to take us back a few years to August of 2013 when a new pen (well, sort of) was hitting Kickstarter called the Baux pen. Essentially what the Baux pen was is a metal sleeve to hold your BIC Stic refills in style. As a refresher, here is a link to my review from way back then...

The reason why I bring up the Baux pen is due to the fact that the Spoke pencil is "related", primarily due to the fact that it shares a creator. The Spoke pencils are the work of brothers Dan and Brian Conti, inventors and tinkerers extraordinaire. (Wasn't that pun great earlier?...Made me feel clever.)

The Spoke pencil has seen a few iterations, but the unit I'm reviewing is the model 4. In essence, it is a two part, modular, all-metal mechanical pencil and it is pretty sweet.

Being modular, you get to custom design your pencil with four part variations: grip diameter, grip material, barrel color, and lead width. I've used a lot of writing utensils in my day and I've yet to run into this type of customization for such a reasonably priced product. 

The guys offered to let me design my own for review, so many thanks to them for sending one my way to check out.

Specs on my pencil:
Grip Diameter: 9.2mm
Grip Material: Titanium
Barrel Color: Matte Black Aluminum
Lead Width: 0.9mm

I think the color combo came out awesome, even if it is a bit on the conservative side. But, it fits my taste exactly.

With the all metal barrel and grip the pencil does have a good weight to it. Feels extremely solid in hand and comes in at 0.7oz.

The grip section has a tapered section that runs into a long straight area which I have found extremely comfortable. Along the section are machined 16 grooves for added texture and grip. Near the tip of the pencil the metal goes into a sharp chamfer which I've also found surprisingly comfortable and where my middle finger rests.

As mentioned in the specs, the barrel is machined from aluminum and is overall round in shape. Although, machined into six sides of the barrel are flattened cutouts that also have some "vents" for some added interest and visual texture. Also, I'd imagine this helps to cut down some weight.

The barrels come in anodized black, red, blue, grey, and silver, but I could certainly see them branching out into some wild colors like orange in the future. 

I bet the vents are more so you can see the inside of the mechanism move while you click the knock...  

Now, referring back to the Baux pen, the Spoke pencil shares a similar philosophy of taking something trusted and inexpensive, and making it into a more impressive and lasting experience.

What I'm referring to is that the guts of the Spoke pencil are actually the components from one of my favorite mechanical pencils (use them religiously in my workshop), the Pentel Sharp.

When held up against each other it is obvious that the nose cone and pipe as well as the knock mechanism are shared. The internals stay pretty hidden, but the execution is great overall. 

Regular Pentel Sharp 0.9mm (image via Pentel)

I love that they've done this so much. It is one of those instances where one asks whether it is necessary, but is actually what I appreciate about it. They went for it and they've done an amazing job. The Pentel Sharp is a workhorse of a pencil and they've just made it more of a badass.

The Pentel Sharp has one of the most satisfying clicks in any cheap mechanical pencil so it fits right in when you sheath it in an all metal barrel. As well, the lead doesn't move around while writing.

I'm sure some people will feel that using an existing mechanism from a relatively inexpensive pencil kind of cheapens it, but I disagree. Think of how many metal barrels have been made to hold the Pilot G2 refill... Does a disposable pen really need a $60 metal sleeve over it? No, but we love it just the same.

In addition to the pencil, Dan and Brian also provide a nicely made, black plastic "desk dock" to hold the pencil as it doesn't have a clip. The dock has a custom rubber base which helps to give it a little grip on the surface of a desk or table.

I'm just going to go out and say that if you have even the slightest appreciation for mechanical pencils, I would recommend picking one of these up. For $39 (yes, $39!) you can get a "custom" workhorse of a pencil that is extremely well made and supports a small business in the process. 

Overall I'm so impressed and happy with their execution on such a unique product. Thanks again to Spoke for sending it my way! Definitely take a minute to check out their products.

These "Might" Be The Droids You're Looking For: R2-D2 Cross and Shaeffer Rollerball Pens

If you're a Star Wars fan, how better to show your undying love and commitment to the amazing saga than by purchasing your very own themed writing instruments!

Well, thanks to a few companies, you can. It all just depends on how much you want to spend, and are the pens worth the buy?

Goldspot Pens was kind enough to offer up a couple of pen ideas for review, so I opted to do a side by side comparison of two Star Wars pens that have seemed to be a bit at odds with each other...

The two pens in question are made by Cross and Shaeffer, two companies deeply rooted in American pen manufacturing heritage (although, actually one company now due to a merger).

To start out, I opted to review the rollerball versions of the pens to try and touch on a more "normal" pen experience rather than the fountain pen versions. Not all Star Wars fans are fountain pen users but, darnit, they can buy a nice pen to accompany their fandom.

These two pens, although sharing a common R2-D2 themed design and writing experience, couldn't be further from each other in overall execution and price. It really just depends on what you're looking for and what your budget is for novelty.

Shaeffer Pop Series

Let's start out with the R2-D2 Shaeffer Pop, the less expensive of the two. Starting at around $20, you get a fun, printed plastic barrel of your favorite friendly droid wrapped up in pen form.

The Shaeffer is definitely a "retail" and novelty designed product coming in a plastic, pegboard ready blister pack. Nicely done with some good dual branding, but nothing special.

The pen is lightweight being nearly all plastic parts that has a wonderful resemblance of the R2-D2 lines imprinted on the barrel. I believe it to be a sort of silk screen as it does have subtle texture so it is likely to wear off over the years as it is used. But, for $20 we can't complain too much!

The cap of the pen pops on and off through a stepped friction fit and also posts in the same way. Posted the pen is a bit on the long side, but being so light isn't a bother in the least.

Spoiler alert, both pens share the same refill being under the same umbrella, but with each being branded with their specific company names. The refill used is actually one of my favorite "roller" refills all things considered. It is the Cross/Shaeffer Gel Rolling Ball in 0.7mm which lays down one of the darkest, smoothest lines for any rollerball which is a plus. It probably doesn't trump the P8126 for versatility or overall convenience, but is still quite good.

The grip section on the Pop Series is a grippy rubber texture which makes it easy to hold.

So, the fact that this pen is $20, Star Wars themed, and has a great refill out the gates are all good signs that you might be pleased.

Is it a fancy pen? Not by any means. It feels like a novelty, nicely made (although cheap at the same time) pen that fans will enjoy using. A great stocking stuffer for either yourself or a Star Wars lover in your life.

Cross Townsend

The next pen takes us on a completely different journey from being a mere inexpensive novelty to that of high-end ultra fandom. The bulk of the review will be spent on the Cross as I feel there is a bit more to tell...

Coming in at $450, the Cross Townsend R2-D2 pen is not for the faint of wallet, but we'll discuss my thoughts on whether it is "worth it" as I really dislike tying price to value when you get into this territory.

Rather than a retail blister pack, the Cross comes in a branded cardboard sleeve that includes a nice-ish (not really blown away by it) yellow and black clam-shell cardboard pleather (lots of description here) where the pen lives. Also included is a separate similar box holding a piano black acrylic stand that has Star Wars on one side in silver letters, and Cross on the other in yellow.

What immediately distinguishes the Cross from the Shaeffer is the overall attention to detail and execution. While the Shaeffer is a nicely printed piece of plastic, the Cross in contrast is done in brushed stainless steel with the R2-D2 lines actually etched/engraved into the surface. The blue accents are a cleanly executed paint inlay that provides some "pop" against an otherwise monochrome barrel.

The Cross is weighty, feels solid, and has a certain amount of stage presence that the Shaeffer just doesn't have. Granted, it is 20 times the price, but these are not comparing apples to apples.

Adorning the ends of the pen as well as the center band are polished chrome accents which provide a bit of bling when butted up against the stainless as well.

Wrapping around part of the finial is a laser etching of the limited edition number of 1977 (the year Star Wars came out) and at the very tip is a black jewel to crown it all off.

Overall, the execution is pretty impressive and the pen looks and feels great. Certain to turn heads by anyone that sees you using it.

The cap pops off through a plastic insert in the cap, kind of like a vacuum seal almost with a pretty good tug, and also posts. Writing unposted seems most comfortable given the weight of the pen.

The grip section is a polished black acrylic that goes into an all chrome tip that ties together with the other furniture on the pen. I'm not completely in love with the black section (blue may have been better, or even stainless to match), but it still looks nice.

From a quality standpoint where the wheels come off a little is when you start to unscrew the grip to replace the refill. The pieces start to squeak and wobble and underneath you find some "unfinished" parts with molding seams and rather cheap looking material. In my opinion, not $450 material. It doesn't really matter if the parts are only seen when you take the refill out, on a pen of this price (or even half its price), you expect a level of attention to detail. Do I think this will dissuade someone who's buttons this pen pushes to not enjoy it? Likely not, but to me it takes it down a few notches.

For the sake of validation, I took apart a few pens that normally run comparable or even cheaper to the Townsend rollerball and fountain pens in price, and found that NONE of them had similar issues in quality control. Or, at least they pay better attention to detail than Cross.

(Pens I referenced were a Sailor Pro Gear, Montblanc 146 Platinum, Platinum 3776, and even a Kaweco Elite for good measure.)

For being one of Cross' flagship products, upon further inspection it did leave some things wanting.    

Referencing back to the acrylic stand, quality control on these didn't seem to go so well. The silver Star Wars lettering is a bit wavy where the lines should be straight and even looks a bit on the crooked side. May seem like a small detail to some, but getting the actual logo wrong (wavy lines means "wrong" to any company) cheapens the pen experience.

In conclusion on the Cross, I don't like to make prescriptions when it comes to luxury goods, but while I feel there are some really great aspects to the pen (it really is a stunner), not sure I could see it holding up to the high price tag for me personally. That definitely doesn't mean that there aren't others that would absolutely love using this pen every day.

Special thanks again to Goldspot for sending these over for review!

What do you think about the two pens?

One Star Leather Goods - Custom A5 Notebook Snap Cover With Pen Sleeve

One of the makers that caught my attention early on with this whole "pen thing" was Keegan from One Star Leather Goods. He has been manufacturing higher end leather products for over 5 years and has a stellar 5-star reputation on Etsy with over 2000 reviews. 

Actually, my first review of one of his products that I purchased was his wallet/notebook cover called the Park Sloper Sr. (don't judge the old photos!) back in 2013. Since then he's made me a variety of pen sleeves, notebook covers, a belt, some watch straps... I keep going back because his work is excellent.

Keegan has recently been working on expanding a custom notebook cover offering where you can work with him on getting exactly what you want, all using some of the finest leathers.

Heading into the holidays he wanted to see if he could put together a custom notebook cover for me (based on my specs) to review here on the blog to give an idea of what options are available. Special thanks to him for providing the opportunity to once again review some of his work here on the blog.

My notebook of choice as of the last year or so has been the softcover Leuchtturm 1917 A5 notebook (in line ruled surprisingly) due to its high quality when accepting fountain pens, but not quite as glossy as a Rhodia which takes longer to dry. I consider it kind of the perfect middle range notebook that seems to work well in most instances for me. So, I instantly knew that this would act as the "base" of the cover.

I've always seemed to like the A5 size. Some people enjoy a smaller, more pocketable book, but the A5 gives me enough space to work without being constrained while also being your "normal" notebook size so it isn't un-rule-y. (Pun? Couldn't resist.)

If I'm totally honest, one of the hardest parts when working with Keegan is the wide range of leather types and colors that you can just from. It is A LOT. But, that also means that you will likely get exactly what you want. 

Now, I've had him do several pieces for me and every time I'm still like, "um, what color is this one (sending him a specific picture from a listing in his store)?" As much as this is likely a constant battle for him, he is super cool to work with and willing to answer questions or help with decision making.

His motto is: "Buy good things, own them for a long time." He truly lives this philosophy himself and is anxious to make sure your purchase will serve you for years (if not forever).

I opted for a black and chestnut combination made from Wickett & Craig harness leather (a tannery out of Pennsylvania that has been at it since 1867) that looks pretty traditional, but still has some interest due to the contrast of colors. He has a wide array of colors like blue, green, red, burgundy... so, if you want to stand out a bit more than mine he can likely accommodate.

The leather has a slick, somewhat glossy feel, comes a bit on the stiff side, but is still pliable and will break in over time. It is beautiful stuff and smells amazing.  

In addition to being a notebook cover I was interested in adding a pen sleeve to keep one close at hand. Stitched between the interior and exterior covers was sewn in a folded "loop" of leather that sits below the top cover made from the same interior chestnut colored material.

I wasn't expecting it, but really like the way he accommodated the pen sleeve. Well, part of what I like is actually by accident. You see, this cover is traditionally made for the hard cover Leucchturm notebook, but I prefer a soft so the cover fits a little large but that's alright. I like this because it creates a little bit of a cover for the pen that doesn't completely hide it, but tucks it in a bit. I also like the option that I can use it for either soft or hardcovers...

Like the cover, the pen sleeve will need to break in a bit to make adding and removing pens easy.

The final design feature is the addition of a brass snap closure. Connected to a strap of black exterior leather it loops around the outside edge and pen sleeve and snaps the notebook shut. As it is brand new the brass is bright and shiny, but over time it will likely gain an aging and patina all its own.

To stitch it all together I opted for the golden thread which brought the two colors together nicely.

Whenever I get one of Keegan's pieces in I'm always impressed at how impeccable everything is. Every seam is hand stitched, every edge is hand burnished, and they are always perfect. It is extremely obvious that this is not a mass-produced, quick turnaround leather goods outfit and it shows through his quality. 

From a branding perspective, his covers and many of his products do come with some makers marks. In the instance of this cover there are two, one small circled star logo on the inside of the front cover and then the larger One Star Leather Goods "seal" in the back which is about 2" in diameter. 

As a final personalized touch, he also stamped my initials on the front cover.

From a price standpoint, One Star Leather Goods tend to run slightly higher than some, but the quality is impeccable and he uses only the finest materials. And, the brand reputation stands to reason that the goods produced are worth the price. They certainly are in my opinion and I've been happy to spend money with them.

If you are looking for a special gift this holiday season, definitely give One Star Leather Goods your consideration. I'm certain that the recipient of a custom leather notebook cover (or if you are the recipient!) would be sure to see it at the top of their favorite and most meaningful gifts.

Special thanks again to Keegan and One Star Leather Goods for sending the cover for review.