Kaweco Al-Sport Navy Blue Piston-Filler Fountain Pen

Hello jello!

Thank you to Appelboom Pennen for sending this pen for me to share with you! You can find it on their website here! Don't forget to use the code "friend" for 10% off when you are checking out. This is not an affiliate code/link.

kbai.

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Lamy 2000 Makrolon Fountain Pen Review @Lamy

Thanks to Lamy Canada for sending this Makrolon fountain pen for a review!

ABOUT

Body material: Makrolon (black fibreglass) + brushed stainless steel
Trim: Aluminum
Cap: Snap-on
Posts: Yes, friction
Nib material: 14 kt gold, rhodium-plated
Filling system: Piston-filler
Length (capped): 138.80 mm/5.46"
Length (uncapped): 124.19 mm/4.88"
Length (posted): 152.96 mm/6.02"
Length (section): 22.93 mm/0.90"
Diameter (barrel):  9.23 - 13.23 mm/0.36" - 0.52"
Diameter (section): 6.30 - 10.80 mm/0.24" - 0.42"
Weight (all): 27 g
Weight (cap): 9 g
Weight (body): 18 g
Price: $226.00 CAD
Where to buy: Wonder Pens

PACKAGING

The Lamy is presented in a simple grey cardboard box with a brushed metal Lamy plaque on top. The pen was placed in an (unnecessary...) plastic sleeve and it was sitting on a felt bed. Very simple and basic and I like that Lamy does not waste packaging. It's not excessively large. Most of it is recyclable as well!

APPEARANCE

The Lamy 2000 is Lamy's flagship model. The Makrolon is probably more recognizable than the stainless steel. The body is round with blunt, flat ends. The cap snaps on with tiny little nubs that stick out of the barrel, which the cap clicks through. The finial is smooth and polished. The clip is attached through a cut out in the cap. It is a sharp, blunt, blocky clip engraved with "Germany" on the bottom and "LAMY" on the side. The clip is brushed metal, which matches the brushed section. There is a silver colored plug at the end of the barrel as well.

The piston-turning knob is well-placed and is flush with the barrel. I can barely even see the seam. The Makrolon has a small ink window. It's not particularly easy to see - you cannot really tell what the exact color of your ink is but you can see if you have any!

The cap and barrel are a matte, brushed black fiberglass. I think it looks quite cool with the brushed stainless steel trim. I like the look of the pen overall, though I usually favour bright colors. I never used to like this model and I never understood what the appeal was and then suddenly I wanted one! Maybe just curiosity but it has a lot going for it.

NIB & PERFORMANCE

The 14kt rhodium-plated gold nib is the hooded type, which was one of the things I did not like about the pen. Although the model appeals to me more now than it used to, I still don't care for the hooded nib. It has a single slit and most of the nib is concealed so there isn't much to it. I have the broad nib and it appears to be quite stubby. Lamy tests all their pens before they leave the factory so I flushed the washable blue ink residue out first.

The nib is well-adjusted and well-tuned. Drying times are average - 20 seconds or so - with medium ink flow. The nib is firm, but it does offer a bit of bounce with little pressure. It is definitely not a soft gold nib, though. It did not skip or hard start, nor did it dry out easily. Due to the stubby shape, I found the sweet spot to be where the nib surface aligns parallel with the page - no rotating the pen and a little difficult for fast writing (or maybe inattentive writing).

If you are looking for a nice, round, easy-to-use nib, the Lamy 2000 broad is not a good option. Stick to the fine or medium! If you are looking for a firmer gold nib with a stubby writing experience, the broad is great. The writing experience is interesting and while I'm not crazy about hooded nibs, this one performs well.

The piston-filling mechanism is smooth and operates easily. The pen can be disassembled for maintainance but it's not very simple to do (like a Pelikan, for example) so do so at your own risk and be careful.

IN HAND

The clip is nice and springy - easy to operate one-handed. It is not particularly snug but the pen is not all that heavy either. It is easy to slide on and off papers, pockets, and pouches without damage.

The seam from the section to the barrel is quite smooth and comfortable to the touch. I do not find the section slippery, despite its tapered shape and metal finish.

Unposted, the pen is not all that heavy and it is weighted towards the front. The cap posts snugly, securely, and deeply by friction. Posting the cap shifts the balance towards the middle, which feels comfortable. I like the feeling and weight more than the stainless steel version of the Lamy 2000.

Makrolon itself feels quite pleasant in hand - slightly textured. I like it.

PROS & CONS

OVERALL

Oddly enough, I used to prefer the stainless steel version for its weight and appearance. I like how it looks but the Makrolon is now easy for me to use extensively. The stubby broad nib is pleasant and well-tuned but not ideal for (my) fast writing. I know a lot of people love the 2000 and I realize the design is timeless since its launch, but I'm not totally in love with it. It's interesting and neat but I still prefer my Safari with a gold nib.



I was sent this item for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion. There are no affiliate links in this post.

Wordless Wednesday

Review: Aurora 88 Satin Fountain Pen @iguana_sell @Iguanasell_ES

Thanks to Iguana Sell for lending me this pen for a review! I have reviewed a different nib but it was so long ago that I figured a full review wouldn't be a bad thing.

ABOUT

Body material: Resin
Trim: Rose Gold
Cap: Screw on
Posts: Yes, friction
Nib material: 14 kt gold, rose gold plated
Filling system: Piston-filler
Length (capped): 135.9 mm/5.35"
Length (uncapped): 129.2 mm/5.08"
Length (posted): 155.0 mm/6.10"
Diameter (barrel): 12.2 - 13.9 mm/0.48" - 0.54"
Diameter (section): 10.5 - 11.8 mm/0.41" - 0.46"
Weight (all): 22 g
Weight (cap): 6 g
Weight (body): 16 g
Price: $515.00 USD
Where to buy: Iguana Sell

PACKAGING

The Aurora 88 is presented in a large black clamshell box with an Aurora-branded outer cardboard box. The side of the outer box has the nib and pen details. The clamshell box has a leathery feeling to it and has the Aurora logo on top. The inside is a cream colored leather-like material. The removable bed holds the pen in place. There is a small plaque on the bed that says:

Pennino oro massiccio

14 kt

Solid gold nib

There is an Aurora booklet under the bed with company details/history, pen information, instructions for best use, filling ink, etc. If you are new to fountain pens, this is worth reading through. There's a lot of box for this pen.

APPEARANCE

This is a good looking pen that ticks all the right boxes for me. It is a regular sized pen with a cigar shape - a round body with smoothly rounded off ends. The finial is a black satin dome but it is unmarked. The clip is attached to a metal ring around the top of the cap. I love the shape of the clip! It's smooth, curvy, and ends in a teardrop.

There is a center band located at the end of the cap. It is engraved with "Aurora" and has two thin black rings in it. It's a simple but attractive center band. There is also a thin metal band at the end of the piston-turning knob. The section is fairly long, tapering slightly towards the nib and ending in a flared ridge. There are resin threads at the back of the section, and a clear, double walled ink window. The ink window is not visible when the pen is capped, and the cap band connects smoothly with the barrel. The cap, section, and barrel are all black satin resin - black with a matte finish, that is. The clip, center band, and all other trim is a polished rose gold. I love the warmth of the rose gold against the matte black resin. The pen appears well finished and well made. I observed an evenly-spaced, very small gap between the finial and cap ring but that's about it. Minor detail because it looks like it was intentional.

One thing I really like about this satin black finish is the material holds up really well for regular use. It doesn't pick up or show micro scratches as easily as a polished resin pen so it looks its best for a long time!

NIB & PERFORMANCE

This nib is a solid 14 kt gold nib with rose gold plating, and an ebonite feed. The nib has a single slit, a round breather hole, and is engraved with some flourishes, 14 K, 585, and Aurora. The feed is dark red and has a B printed on it to indicate the nib width.

The nib performs quite well and its only real downside is that it writes finer than I would expect from a broad nib! It offers a fair amount of feedback that feels like writing with a pencil. It's not at all scratchy but you can definitely feel the nib on the paper. I actually like that feeling and it's different from most of my super-smooth nibs. Drying times with this nib are quite fast and it's not a gusher. Ideal for daily writing, note taking, journaling, etc. The nib is firm and does not yield much when writing. You can squeeze out a little line variation with pressure but I don't think it's ideal for this pen. The feed keeps up well with fast writing

IN HAND

The clip is snug but it can be lifted. The teardrop ball at the end is angled underneath so it can be slid on and off papers, pockets, and pouches. It's tight enough to hold the pen in place as well. The piston-filling mechanism has an interesting design - a hollow piston that houses some extra ink. It's great if you run out of ink but requires some attention when you're cleaning.

Unposted, the pen has a comfortable length and is on the light side. It feels well balanced. I think if you have larger hands, you'll have to post it to give it more length. The cap can be posted snugly by friction and it gives the pen a bit more weight and length, which feels right and more comfortable for me. I love that it isn't a super heavy metal body. It's lighter and doesn't tire out my hand.

PROS & CONS

OVERALL

Another beauty from Aurora. I'm a rose gold person - I know it's all in and trendy right now, but for me, it works. I love the black and rose gold theme and the shape of the pen is elegant and the trim is warm. I prefer the rounded ends of the 88 than the flat ends of the Optima. The nib performed well but my favorite nib remains the stub and italic. The pen is not inexpensive but I do appreciate the quality and especially that Aurora makes their own nibs in-house!



I was loaned this item for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion.

Review: @TWSBI Eco Clear Fountain Pen - 1.1 mm stub @GouletPens @BrianGoulet_

Thank you to Goulet Pens for sending the TWSBI Eco fountain pen for a review! I have had my eye on the clear because I wanted to see how much clearness there really was! Plenty, as it turns out.

ABOUT

Body material: Plastic
Trim: Metal
Cap: Screw on
Posts: Yes, friction
Nib material: Steel
Filling system: Piston-filling
Ink capacity: 1.76 ml
Length (capped): 138.8 mm/5.46''
Length (uncapped nib-end): 131.0 mm/5.15''
Length (posted): 166.0 mm/6.53''
Length (section): 26.50 mm/1.04"
Barrel Diameter: 12.5 mm/0.49''
Section Diameter: 8.8 - 11.0 mm/0.34'' - 0.43''
Weight (all): 21 g
Weight (cap): 8 g
Weight (body): 13 g
Price: $ 28.99USD
Where to buy: Goulet Pens

PACKAGING

I generally like TWSBI's packaging - it's pretty compact but it's also useful. The Eco arrived in a translucent plastic clip box. Inside, the pen, a plastic wrench, and some grease all sit on a foam bed. There is a little tag on the pen that warns against the use of rubbing alcohol to clean the pen - this clouds the plastic. I appreciate this warning because more expensive clear pens don't really offer this warning and surely plastics have been clouded by alcohol as a result. There is also a paper guide for the pen, which is really useful, especially for newbies or those who are unsure of what to do with their fountain pen. Decent packaging, not completely wasteful.

APPEARANCE

The Eco has been out for a few years now so I've come to remember the Eco is not the 580 and I shouldn't expect the same thing. When it first came out, it was a new model and I just couldn't stop comparing it to the 580, which I like a little more. The Eco is a pretty little thing though. It has a blocky shape because the cap is thick, round, and has flat facets around it. The finial is blunt and flat, with the TWSBI logo in red plastic, flush in the center of the cap. The clip is attached internally and mimics the shape of the cap - blocky and straight. It's not my favorite clip design, but I'm bearing the low cost of the pen in mind again. The cap on the clear model has a slightly translucent inner sleeve around the nib, which disrupts the total clear look but I find I ignore it most of the time.

The center band is on the end of the cap and is marked with TWSBI, Eco, and Taiwan. The barrel is round and completely clear. It was well-polished and looks nice. There's a thin, black rubber O-ring at the end of the piston-turning knob (for posting). The piston-turning knob is a little thinner than the barrel, and has the same blocky, blunt shape as the cap. The section is connected to the barrel in an all-in-one design, and is completely clear, just like the barrel. It is fairly thin and tapers towards the nib, ending in three flared ridges, forming a triangular shape (but it's not as triangular as that on a Lamy).

Overall, it looks decent. I don't like the blocky shape of the cap and the piston-turning knob, and I really miss those pretty diamond facets of the 580 barrel, but the Eco has grown on me. I think the finial is a little plain as flat plastic - it takes away some detail. It is an economical model, after all, so overall, it's not too bad. 

NIB & PERFORMANCE

This 1.1 mm stub steel nib has a single slit and a breather hole. The nib alone can swap with the Mini and Classic (but it's not an intact unit). It is engraved with the TWSBI logo, TWSBI, some simple flourishes, and the nib grade. As the section is clear, it's easy to see that the feed is quite long. After flushing, the nib wrote very well and was a lot of fun. It is fairly smooth with slightly sharper edges, wet ink flow, pretty fast drying times, and decent line variation from the shape of the nib alone. Works well for faster writing so long as you keep the nib aligned with the page and it's also fine in longer sessions but does feel a little dry after awhile. It never ran completely dry on me.

The piston-filling system is one of the highlights of the pen and this one arrives smooth and worked well. TWSBI includes necessary materials for maintenance at home, which I really appreciate. 

IN HAND

TWSBI suggests that after inking, or after removing the nib and feed, to blot the nib and feed to remove excess ink. I usually just expel a few drops after inking up any pen.

The clip is snug but springy, so it's usable. I don't like it though. The section feels thin to me during longer writing sessions. The ridges at the end of it (before the nib) are hard and I usually grip right on them. I also felt the section was a little slippery, but not to the point that I struggled to use it.

Unposted, the pen is light and more comfortable for me than when it was posted. The problem for me is the section diameter. Weight and balance-wise though, it was quite comfortable. Unlike the 580, the cap posted comfortable and securely. An O-ring holds it in place so it won't fly off. I used to think it felt comfortable posted but the more I used it, the more it felt too long and unbalanced for me.

PROS & CONS

OVERALL

This is a very interesting pen, especially given the price. You get a clear pen (for those of you who like to watch your ink slosh around), it's a high capacity piston-filler, it posts if you want, it comes with a wrench and grease, it's pretty affordable, and it's robust - so far. I have not had any cracking issues with the Eco and I have my fingers crossed that is a long-gone issue. No tinkering, no messing around. It writes. Great for getting friends hooked, great as a gift. I really enjoy the nib!

If I had to pick between this and the 580, I'd pick the 580 because I think it's more attractive, but if you're on a budget and can't hit the price of the 580, the Eco is really not too shabby.

I received this item free of charge for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion.