- I don’t feel I can answer it intelligently
- I don’t feel I have enough context to give a proper response
- I’ve answered it in a previous Q&A
- It’s too specific and wouldn’t benefit most of the Q&A audience
- It doesn’t fit that week’s theme
- I just run out of time
Are there two versions of the Pilot Metropolitan? I am in Europe and the con-50 does not fit, but the standard international seems to fit perfectly…
- Yes, the European market (called the MR) uses a Standard International cartridge/converter
- US uses Pilot/Namiki C/C
- No idea why they did this, but they must have had their reasons
2) @ellynmv- Twiiter (9:22):
Sometimes the cartridge converter in my Platinum Cool gets tough to twist. Is it fixable or should I get a new one?
- definitely fixable
- check out Nov. 28, 2010 vid: Cleaning Ink Behind the Converter Piston Seal
How nervous should I be about keeping ink bottles out? How long before inks start to fade? Tips on displaying?
- Technically speaking, it’s best to keep them in the box/out of direct light
- Some colors (blues, reds) are more sensitive than others
- I personally haven’t experienced dramatic changes with inks left out, but play it safe
- If it’s an ink you regularly use, say replace once a year or every other year, keep it out if you want
- If you don’t use it often and want it to last years and years, store it away
- best stored at room temperature, keep out of direct sun
- fridge might be overkill
Do you find that manufacturers pens work best when used with the manufactures own inks? i.e. pilot/namiki pen with pilot ink. I have a Platinum 3776 and have found it loves Platinum inks but when I use Noodler’s or Pilot ink the pen writes very dry and doesn’t start as soon as nib hits the paper.
- most pen makers will say so
- not really the case
- most inks by pen makers are less saturated, usually fewer flow issues, less vibrant
- may vary ink-to-ink, try cleaning thoroughly
- not sure why this would be the case with your pen
Let’s say you are quitting your job, hypothetically speaking, and you storm into your boss’s office armed with a bottle of ink. What ink would you throw on his white shirt?
- really? is there any other choice?
- Baystate Blue, hands down
Hi Brian! What is your take on the current overall state of the fountain pen industry / market ? Where do you see it and your company in five years ?
- Hard to say, I haven’t been around 5 years yet!
- industry is seeing changes, for sure
- some brands on upswing, some are losing focus
- noticing a trend of larger companies owned by conglomerates losing touch, aging with population and not bringing in new users
- newer brands are exciting new users, Noodler’s, TWSBI, Edison, Jinhao, Monteverde
- I won’t turn down either, usually!
- Cake, definitely
- Goulet shop is about 40% cake, 60% pie
- Oxblood’s great, when we have it!
- A little dark for me, I like Red Dragon better
Can you give an advice on a very wet ink to use in a very dry pen? (Other than Iroshizuku)
- Noodler’s Eel series, Polar, Fast Dry
- De Atramentis, most of them
- many Noodler’s and Diamine colors
- broad 14k Lamy nib
- only available on Platinum Gray/Palladium Studio and Dialog 3
Hey Brian! I love writing with my Pilot Metropolitan. It’s so smooth. I usually have it filled with Noodler’s 54th Massachusetts. The only thing is I feel like it writes just a little too wet. This may just be a result of it being a medium nib or the ink that I’m using. But before I break down and shell out for the sweet, sweet fine nib version, is there any way to “customize” or adjust the nib and feed to control the flow of ink? Kinda like with the Noodler’s nib creepers? Thanks!
- Nope, they are what they are
- adjust with type of ink/paper, that’s all
- viscosity? “the state of being thick, sticky, and semifluid in consistency, due to internal friction.”- not really
- flow, yes
- but different brands are really different designs, you usually don’t have a choice on a given pen
I have a question: what pen & ink do you use when signing things you consider important, like a contract, a marriage or birth certificate for your children, &c?
- Noodler’s Liberty’s Elysium– mortgage and will
- Noodler’s Black
15) Joey H.- Facebook (43:14):
What is your favorite shading blue ink?
- Diamine Marine– turquoise
- Noodler’s Navajo Turquoise– turquoise
- Diamine Majestic Blue– deep with red sheen
- Noodler’s Blue– mid-range blue, like Liberty’s Elysium, but the absence of permanence allows for better shading
Is there any risk involved in returning ink from a pen to a bottle after you’ve already used the pen and ink for some time. I usually do this when I can’t wait for the current ink to get used up and I want to use a different one.
- yes, risk of contamination
- paper fibers, dust, dried ink, etc going back in
- probably won’t notice anything until the near end of bottle
Do you guys offer any kind of military discount, if not, do you have any plans to implement anything in the future? Maybe even something small like free shipping
- free shipping to APO’s
- no real way to do more, with our current site limitations
- Nib creep
- you’ll wipe forever!
- some pens/ink just do this, embrace it
How about what IS a standard international cartridge? In my limited experience, Lamy has their own cartridges, ditto with Shaeffer and Parker.
- effort made by pen companies to standardize the many proprietary cartridges when they became popular in the mid 20th century
- some companies adopted them, some didn’t
- Cartridge/converter guide on GPC
20) Prashanth S.- Facebook (56:51):
What is the best part of owning your own business? What is the worst part of owning your own business?
- working with my wife, being able to pursue my calling, huge sense of fulfillment
- “the burden”, feeling crushing responsibility/duty to grow, expand, provide opportunities for Goulet team, provide benchmarking service, constantly improving, doing things better than competition, you name it
- challenge I’ve embraced and it is gratifying to achieve goals
- very difficult not to put everything else aside and work to death
- life balance
