What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[Misfit]

If you were asking me, I don’t put shimmer inks in my TWSBI pens. I only use them, and rarely, with pens where it is very easy to remove the nib and feed to get the best cleaning. 
 

I’m so over shimmering inks. If they were issue free, maybe I’d like them. 

[lamarax]

1 hour ago, Misfit said:

I’m so over shimmering inks. If they were issue free, maybe I’d like them. 

 

👆 ...this.

[inkstainedruth]

Yeah, I'm pretty much over them as well.  I broke the piston on a 1980s era Pelikan M100 because I didn't realize I hadn't gotten it sufficiently flushed out.  And then, sometime after that, realized that the shimmer particles were mostly NOT staying on the paper after the ink dried....

I'm kinda the same way at this point about scented ink (a few smell just lovely while you're writing -- especially the rose scented ones) but the scent is ephemeral.  So if you were writing a love letter to someone?  There'd be no guarantee that by the time the mail was delivered to the recipient there'd be any scent left.  And some of them *didn't* smell nice at all to begin with (the lavender scented ones were a little overwhelming, and a patchouli scented one just smelled nasty).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[jchch1950]

On 12/22/2025 at 3:59 AM, JonSzanto said:

I haven't purchased a TWSBI pen in well over 10 years. I just ordered one of the limited edition Obsidian pens from Vanness. Because great shop/people and it's a holiday vibe...

 

I will buy one. The Twsbi without a transparent barrel looks much nicer to me. Enjoy.

[Ceramicist]

10 hours ago, Misfit said:

If you were asking me, I don’t put shimmer inks in my TWSBI pens. I only use them, and rarely, with pens where it is very easy to remove the nib and feed to get the best cleaning. 
 

I’m so over shimmering inks. If they were issue free, maybe I’d like them. 

I feel the same way! 

[JonSzanto]

15 hours ago, Misfit said:

I’m so over shimmering inks. If they were issue free, maybe I’d like them. 

 

4 hours ago, Ceramicist said:

I feel the same way! 

 

A couple of years ago I (privately) predicted that around this time, we'd see people start to fade on the fad. I'm sure the legions of new adopters will still be pulled in, until after their umpteenth cleanout of a clogged pen. There will always (now) be glitter inks, because they know how to make them, I just don't think it will be a big market share.

 

Another thing I see coming is a boredom developing with swirly/glittery ink sticks... the faceless, anodyne designs such that you can't really tell one from the other, and one day there will be piles of these for sale, just like the colorful but cheaply made pens from the smaller brands in the 30s and 40s. Custom pours have been very fun but the design-by-pour acrylic era will eventually wane.

 

Man, I need to start drinking my coffee...

[inkstainedruth]

Sounds to me as if you've maybe ALREADY had too much caffeine today.... 

I never really got the hang of ink sticks, although somewhere in the house (probably in my sewing room) is a calligraphy set with an inkstick and ink stone that my parents got me on a trip they took to China in 1980, back when it was first opening back up to the West.  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Penguincollector]

22 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

How do they do with shimmer inks?  I have a couple of TWSBIs, but not with a nib that wide....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

  I have found that they do well with wet inks in general, mine really like the DeAtramentis and Private Reserve pearlescent inks. 
 

[kazoolaw]

“Ink stick” = “Inkstick?” 

[Penguincollector]

1 hour ago, inkstainedruth said:

Sounds to me as if you've maybe ALREADY had too much caffeine today.... 

I never really got the hang of ink sticks, although somewhere in the house (probably in my sewing room) is a calligraphy set with an inkstick and ink stone that my parents got me on a trip they took to China in 1980, back when it was first opening back up to the West.  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

  @JonSzanto means the pens themselves, the swirling acrylic, kind of girthy pens with JoWo or Bock nibs that are being hand turned and sold at pen shows, or made into pens by Leonardo and Laban. 

[Penguincollector]

3 hours ago, JonSzanto said:

A couple of years ago I (privately) predicted that around this time, we'd see people start to fade on the fad. I'm sure the legions of new adopters will still be pulled in, until after their umpteenth cleanout of a clogged pen. There will always (now) be glitter inks, because they know how to make them, I just don't think it will be a big market share.

 

  

  I’ve seen many a pen and ink phase come and go, and what was once the big thing becomes passé. Remember when saturated inks were the thing? Recently it’s been chroma shaders. There’s always a drawback- sheeners don’t dry fast enough (or at all, sometimes), shimmer clogs some feeds, shaders are very dry and can be illegible. 
 

  What I’ve found is if you like the look of shimmer inks, but hate the cleanup, try the Sailor Hocoro.  I use mine just about every day.  I also find that my ebonite feed c/c pens are the easiest to clean. The pens that get the most out there inks are my 144s. The feeds don’t clog at all, and even the fine nibs take shimmer well. 

 

[boilermaker1975]

On 12/21/2025 at 3:59 PM, JonSzanto said:

I haven't purchased a TWSBI pen in well over 10 years. I just ordered one of the limited edition Obsidian pens from Vanness. Because great shop/people and it's a holiday vibe...

 

 

I am really liking the looks of this pen. I don't have a TWSBI pen, maybe I should start with this one? I do have $25 in rewards to spend at Goldspot.

[JonSzanto]

5 minutes ago, boilermaker1975 said:

I am really liking the looks of this pen. I don't have a TWSBI pen, maybe I should start with this one? I do have $25 in rewards to spend at Goldspot.

 

If that is the case, I would make your move. This is a Limited Edition pen and will likely sell out, though they don't say how many will be made.

[JonSzanto]

9 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

  What I’ve found is if you like the look of shimmer inks, but hate the cleanup, try the Sailor Hocoro.  I use mine just about every day.  I also find that my ebonite feed c/c pens are the easiest to clean. The pens that get the most out there inks are my 144s. The feeds don’t clog at all, and even the fine nibs take shimmer well. 

 

That's very helpful information, thanks. I picked up an ink at the Tokyo International Pen Show (Tono & Lims "Mushroom Cream") only to later realize it has a mild case of the shimmers!

[Penguincollector]

10 minutes ago, boilermaker1975 said:

 

I am really liking the looks of this pen. I don't have a TWSBI pen, maybe I should start with this one? I do have $25 in rewards to spend at Goldspot.

 Do it- it’s really pretty. Jon is right, these go quickly.

[Penguincollector]

8 minutes ago, JonSzanto said:

 

That's very helpful information, thanks. I picked up an ink at the Tokyo International Pen Show (Tono & Lims "Mushroom Cream") only to later realize it has a mild case of the shimmers!

  You’re so welcome . The 🐧 show! I really want to attend someday. Is the Mushroom Cream ink dry? The one ink I have of theirs -Crazy Penguin- is pale, slightly shimmery and dry, the Eco hated it, but in the 144 it was lovely. 

[Doug C]

24 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

  @JonSzanto means the pens themselves, the swirling acrylic, kind of girthy pens with JoWo or Bock nibs that are being hand turned and sold at pen shows, or made into pens by Leonardo and Laban. 

I have a number of these as well as traditional brands and vintage pens. 

I agree that there are too many faceless brands producing 'sticks' with no discernible features that separate them from the pack.

The ones I do have have a unique slant on design i.e. Atelier Lusso.

[Penguincollector]

1 minute ago, Doug C said:

I have a number of these as well as traditional brands and vintage pens. 

I agree that there are too many faceless brands producing 'sticks' with no discernible features that separate them from the pack.

The ones I do have have a unique slant on design i.e. Atelier Lusso.

   They’re ok, some are really pretty, but I always balk at the prices- for the price, I want a distinctive gold nib. I understand that you’re paying for the craftsmanship rather than the nib. They’re also usually too large a size for me. The one Atelier Lusso pen I have used was made of micarta, and very interesting, but also giant. 

[boilermaker1975]

@JonSzanto and @Penguincollector Thanks for your advice. I went ahead and got my order in. Goldspot is now sold out of all but the broad nibs. I may have gotten the last medium nib!

[ParramattaPaul]

I was never interested in shimmer inks.  I think the reason is I am not particularly artistic and that conservative that 'plain and simple' the upper limits of my tastes