Blog Comments

  1. Dan R's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Dan R
    So I tried these and was pleased and dismayed.

    The flavor was quite good. Far better than any of the canned/jar anchovies I have had. The dismayed part was just how many there were in that tin! I am planning to rinse them all and vac-pack them in bundles.

    Let's make this clear for all involved. The head is removed, but not much else. And they really are packed in salt. But the flavor is quite good if you are willing to invest some time in rinsing and trimming.

    Thanks for the tip OTGabe!

    Dan
    A further reply. It is good to rinse the individual fillets of salt and then freeze them. The tin holds quite a few fishies. I then split them up into equal groups and vac-packed them, then froze them. I take a pack out at a time and use them for pizzas and olive stuffing. I use a fine pointed knife to remove the filets.

    It is worth the effort if you like the flavor.

    Cheers!

    Dan
  2. Dan R's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by OTGabe
    I ordered a tin of these and it will last me a very long time. Great bargain if you don't mind some prep work (deboning and rinsing off the salt).

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=AU32KWBPDMDTC
    So I tried these and was pleased and dismayed.

    The flavor was quite good. Far better than any of the canned/jar anchovies I have had. The dismayed part was just how many there were in that tin! I am planning to rinse them all and vac-pack them in bundles.

    Let's make this clear for all involved. The head is removed, but not much else. And they really are packed in salt. But the flavor is quite good if you are willing to invest some time in rinsing and trimming.

    Thanks for the tip OTGabe!

    Dan
  3. Dan R's Avatar
    Kind of soft flex. Mottishaw just tweaked it for flow. Not every pen I have has to be set up for flex or pseudo flex.

    Look forward to the 2000 review. I keep going back and forth on the 2000. Nothing wrong with it. I just keep finding other things I like first!



    Dan
  4. Hayseed Brown's Avatar
    Very cool. Is your nib from Mottishaw a soft-flex, or some other type of configuration? I'm just getting into the fountain pen thing. I bought a Lamy Al-Star, and, after I was impressed with that, about a week or so later I bought a Lamy 2000. Been meaning to do a review on here, but I haven't been on too much, as I've been busy. Review will be forthcoming though.
  5. mlcor's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Hayseed Brown
    Thanks for the suggestion, Dan, but I just ordered a Lamy Al-Star, converter, and some ink. Maybe I'll post some impressions, blog-style. It'll be my first fountain pen.
    Excellent! The type of ink you use can make a big difference, too. I'm no expert but there are definite differences between brands, some wetter, some drier, etc. It's kind of fun to experiment. As a hobby, it's so much cheaper than watches. Ink is sort of the equivalent of straps for watches, but less expensive.
  6. Dan R's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Hayseed Brown
    Thanks for the suggestion, Dan, but I just ordered a Lamy Al-Star, converter, and some ink. Maybe I'll post some impressions, blog-style. It'll be my first fountain pen.
    Look forward to it!



    Dan
  7. Hayseed Brown's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Dan R
    Be sure to look at TWSBI as well. Their Vac 700 is great value for a vacumatic fountain pen.



    Dan
    Thanks for the suggestion, Dan, but I just ordered a Lamy Al-Star, converter, and some ink. Maybe I'll post some impressions, blog-style. It'll be my first fountain pen.
  8. Dan R's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by drunken monkey
    Pens are tools in my trade.
    On a building survey, it has to be quick drying, smudge free, preferably water resistant when dry and of fine line.
    To this end, I use a 0.4 Japanese gel pen.
    When I am outside and it gets a little wet, I go to a ballpoint as it writes better in drizzle.

    On a building site when we are setting out plans and whatever, it's fat marker time.

    In the office when i am reviewing drawings, notes are scribbled on with red and green ball-points.

    So pens form a very big part of my life but purely as tools but while I write a lot by hand, I don't write and so a fountain pen never feels like it has a place in my life.

    On the other hand, I am a prolific pencil wielder and would happily spend on drawing implements.
    I don'r discriminate. My favorite pencil is a Pentel Graphgear 1000.

    Cheers,

    Dan
  9. Dan R's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Hayseed Brown
    Yeah, you're probably right. I was looking at the Lamy Al-Star and Safari models (pretty much the same thing, I think). I don't think I'd mind the cleaning/re-inking too much.
    Be sure to look at TWSBI as well. Their Vac 700 is great value for a vacumatic fountain pen.



    Dan
  10. Hayseed Brown's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by mlcor
    I've been using fountain pens for a year or so now. I would suggest you consider, before you drop a couple hundred bucks, getting an inexpensive (say, $50 or so) model, just to see how you like it. Remember that in addition to the fountain pen behaving differently than a rollerball, you also have to clean it periodically, etc. Take a look at a brand like Lamy (my first fountain pen was a Lamy Al-Star, and I still use it, it writes very nicely), or some of the less expensive Pilots. I've found that cleaning and re-inking a pen is much like winding a manual watch--I enjoy the interaction, but YMMV.
    Yeah, you're probably right. I was looking at the Lamy Al-Star and Safari models (pretty much the same thing, I think). I don't think I'd mind the cleaning/re-inking too much.
  11. mlcor's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by I-B
    i really like fountain pen's but i cant use them cos i'm lefthanded. When i write with them it's real messy cos i drag my hand trough the ink All i can do is buy ballpoints...
    I'm a lefty (at least for writing), and don't have an issue because I am a major league over-writer (one of those guys with a huge hook, where my hand is well above where I'm writing)...
  12. I-B's Avatar
    i really like fountain pen's but i cant use them cos i'm lefthanded. When i write with them it's real messy cos i drag my hand trough the ink All i can do is buy ballpoints...
  13. mlcor's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Hayseed Brown
    Nice article. I'm pretty-much used to writing with rollerballs, but I've been thinking about getting a decent fountain pen. I just really don't know too much about them.

    What would you suggest for around a couple hundred bucks, probably grey market? I like some of the less-expensive Montegrappa pens, but not sure if there's a better option out there. For example, many people say that Montblancs are not the best value. Thanks.

    Oh, and I'd probably start with a fine point, but I also know that the stroke thickness can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
    I've been using fountain pens for a year or so now. I would suggest you consider, before you drop a couple hundred bucks, getting an inexpensive (say, $50 or so) model, just to see how you like it. Remember that in addition to the fountain pen behaving differently than a rollerball, you also have to clean it periodically, etc. Take a look at a brand like Lamy (my first fountain pen was a Lamy Al-Star, and I still use it, it writes very nicely), or some of the less expensive Pilots. I've found that cleaning and re-inking a pen is much like winding a manual watch--I enjoy the interaction, but YMMV.
  14. drunken monkey's Avatar
    Pens are tools in my trade.
    On a building survey, it has to be quick drying, smudge free, preferably water resistant when dry and of fine line.
    To this end, I use a 0.4 Japanese gel pen.
    When I am outside and it gets a little wet, I go to a ballpoint as it writes better in drizzle.

    On a building site when we are setting out plans and whatever, it's fat marker time.

    In the office when i am reviewing drawings, notes are scribbled on with red and green ball-points.

    So pens form a very big part of my life but purely as tools but while I write a lot by hand, I don't write and so a fountain pen never feels like it has a place in my life.

    On the other hand, I am a prolific pencil wielder and would happily spend on drawing implements.
  15. Dan R's Avatar
    I have a Montblanc, but I bought it before East and West Germany were just Germany. The older models are fine IMO.

    Lately, I have been dabbling in Japanese and have not been disappointed. If you want one that is close to airtight when capped, I would look at the Platinum 3776 series. If you want a slightly different nib design, the Namiki Falcon (resin) is worth considering. If you want a very different look, the Pilot Vanishing Point is rather cool.

    All have gold nibs and most models are well under $200.

    On the vintage side, there are several Parker vacumatics and Sheaffer touchdown models that are nice, but that requires knowing more about them to make sure you get a good deal.

    Cheers,

    Dan
  16. Hayseed Brown's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Dan R
    Sorry about your owner.

    I have made some observations on fountain pens. If you can spend between 100 and 200 USD, you can get a Japanese FP with a great gold nib. That number would be under 100 USD for vintage Japanese. Above 200 USD, you are getting a nicer body.

    So it seems to depend if you are looking for a writer as opposed to a writer and statement. I usuallly go for a writer, but from time to time, will do a statement.

    I'll amend to say you do not need a gold nib. I have several fine steel nibs. But it looks nice!

    Dan
    Nice article. I'm pretty-much used to writing with rollerballs, but I've been thinking about getting a decent fountain pen. I just really don't know too much about them.

    What would you suggest for around a couple hundred bucks, probably grey market? I like some of the less-expensive Montegrappa pens, but not sure if there's a better option out there. For example, many people say that Montblancs are not the best value. Thanks.

    Oh, and I'd probably start with a fine point, but I also know that the stroke thickness can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
  17. Dan R's Avatar
    Sorry about your owner.

    I have made some observations on fountain pens. If you can spend between 100 and 200 USD, you can get a Japanese FP with a great gold nib. That number would be under 100 USD for vintage Japanese. Above 200 USD, you are getting a nicer body.

    So it seems to depend if you are looking for a writer as opposed to a writer and statement. I usuallly go for a writer, but from time to time, will do a statement.

    I'll amend to say you do not need a gold nib. I have several fine steel nibs. But it looks nice!

    Dan
  18. Dan R's Avatar
    What happened with your Visconti is what happened with my metal Falcon. My plastic Falcon with a medium nib is just a dream writer. I have to write too much too quickly to go back to a fine nib. Which is a shame because I do like fine nibs. But I have not ordered a fine nib in eons. Then again, I do enjoy them daily!
  19. watchdaddy1's Avatar
    I write alot @ wrk, so I wouldn't mind spending 250-300 for a nice pen but I never have nor will I.
    I'm happy w/ my Faber Castell 65.00 pen.I have been looking lately for a nice pen, but I can't see spending 2-3 hundred $$ because my Owner is a klepto pen stealer.
    Updated Jan 28, 2015 at 04:35 PM by watchdaddy1
  20. mlcor's Avatar
    Dan--it could have been the ink, or maybe the nib wasn't quite right. I have Diamine Poppy Red in my Falcon at the moment, and it's been perfect. I'm struggling a little with the Visconti, had to send it back to the distributor because it wasn't writing properly. They fixed it promptly, and it's working fine now, but the nib doesn't feel fine enough for my tastes. I knew that was a risk, since Visconti doesn't make an extra fine (which would be more like a Japanese fine). Wish there were a nibmeister near me to look at it. I absolutely love the feel and looks of the pen, but not the way it writes. If it wrote like my Aurora or my Edison, I'd be in heaven...
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