Hey everyone, it’s Episode 36 of Goulet Q&A today, and I have a very special guest joining me. My lovely wife, Rachel! I know it’s always a special treat when she’s able to join me in some videos, so it was great that she was able to wiggle some room in her busy schedule to join me in showcasing Platinum pens and ink. Platinum as a brand is somewhat underrepresented, so we’re really excited to be able to shine a little light on this really interesting line of products. In fact, we actually did such a comprehensive overview of the Platinum line in question 1 that we’re working on breaking that out into its own video to make it easier to share and reference. Enjoy!

Here are this week’s questions:

1) @ShreddyEddy- Twitter (3:58):I’m considering picking up a Platinum FP in the near future. Would you be able to quickly go over their lineup? Awesome vids!

  • Pretty big range!
  • $4 for Preppy on up to many thousands of $ for Urushi/Maki-e
  • Preppy
  • Plaisir
  • Desk Pen
  • Brush pens
  • Cool/Balance
  • 3776
  • Modern Maki-e/Kanazawa Leaf Maki-e
  • Celluloid/Urushi/Maki-e
  • President
  • other LE Maki-e and Sterling pens



2) J OC- Ink Nouveau (21:50):
I’m thinking about getting a Platinum 3776 as my first nice FP. (I use Safari and Metro now.) Two questions: What nib size would be closest to a Metropolitan F? How smoothly does the 3776 write — is this going to feel like a big enough step up to justify the cost? FWIW, I mostly take notes intermittently, rather than write full paragraphs or pages.

  • The extra-fine would be closest to a Metro F
  • check out Nib Nook
  • Not super-smooth
  • Platinum’s pens aren’t the smoothest, even the really, really expensive stuff
  • They’re not scratchy, just toothy
  • It’s by design, the nibs are toothy and stiff, that’s just how they do them


3) Bryan- email (25:58):
What is the best way to clean the Platinum highlighter and marker tips? Soaking them in water sometimes seems to ruin them.

  • soaking is pretty much the way to clean them
  • not sure what exactly you mean by ruined, and how it’s the soaking that’s doing it
  • these tips don’t last forever and don’t clean out that well, which is why they sell replacements

4) Charlie V- email (27:12):
I saw in your newsletter that the ultra-extra-fine nibs are now available in the Chartres Blue and Bourgogne pens, what about the music nibs? Are they coming anytime in these pens?

  • Music nibs should be coming in these pens later this summer/fall
  • No official dates yet, but we know they’re working on it

5) John D- email (28:18):
I can’t stand all the junk on the Platinum Preppy pen barrel. I’ve gotten some of what appear to be Preppies in my Noodler’s 4.5oz ink bottles, but they don’t have any logo of any kind. Can I get these, or can I remove the logo from my Preppy to look like this?

  • not sure how Noodler’s gets these, must be before they have logos put on
  • removing the logo isn’t easy
  • sanding/polishing
  • rubbing alcohol (danger of damaging pen)

 

6) Arsenil C.- Facebook (30:54):
Hi Brian! I have a 3776 Century with a Fine nib. And sometimes (rarely) it skips on upward motion and straight horizontal lines. This happenes with Platinum Blue-Black ink, Diamine Damson and Diamine Twilight. Only with Diamine Ancient Copper there was no skipping at all, but it is a pretty lubricated ink as it seems. Is this nib supposed to be so dry? My Lamy Safari extra-fine seems 2-3 times wetter. But i like a thin line that my Century puts on paper. Any recommendations?

  • The pen might be writing a little drier
  • It’s hard to say if your rare amount of skipping is normal or not, sounds like it might be
  • paper could come into play here, too
  • Lamy nibs definitely are wetter
  • stick to inks that don’t skip, unless the skipping is seldom enough it doesn’t bother you
  • Could try diluting inks slightly, though test in small batch first


7) Richard F.- Facebook (34:56):
I got my 3776 with a Music nib. Do you know if they plan on offering separate nib units so that if you also want to write in fine, for example you don’t need to buy a whole new 3776?

  • haven’t heard of any plans of Platinum doing this
  • hasn’t been feasible in previous models, needed special tools to pull the nibs
  • the Century is easier to swap nibs, friction fit


8) Gordon C.- Facebook (36:19):
Hi Brian, I’ve been wondering since purchasing my first Platinum Preppy pen: are their cartridge inks also available as bottled inks? If so, do you carry that range of inks? More specifically, is there a bottled version of their purple ink? I love Noodler’s Purple Heart, but it’s a more muted hue, and I also really enjoy the vibrancy of my purple Preppy. [Alternatively, is there a bottled ink from another brand that would work as a close match? PR Plum looks close-ish, based on your Ink Swabs…). Thanks in advance – really enjoying your Q&As!

  • Only bottles inks are Black, Blue-Black, and Red
  • No bottled purple
  • Purple Heart definitely is more muted, by design (to match the Badge of Military Merit from George Washington)
  • Can’t honestly say what the best ink match is, use the Swab Shop which you’ve already done!


9) Mate F.- Facebook (39:31):
How does the 3776 compare to the Pelikan M200 and Pilot custom 74?

  • Similar price ranges
  • Pelikan m200
    • piston-fill
    • smaller steel nib, but writes well
    • smaller pen overall
  • Custom 74
    • similar in size to 3776
    • smoother nib
    • softer nib
    • larger ink capacity with Con-70 converter
    • fewer nib sizes though, F, M, B only
  • 3776
    • gold nib, but stiff
    • not scratchy, but intentionally toothy nib
    • many nib options, ultra-extra fine, extra fine, fine, soft fine (on black), medium, broad, music (stub) on some
    • slip-n-seal cap (on Century models), won’t dry out
    • exotic materials like celluloid, urushi lacquer, maki-e,


10) 林理谙– Facebook (42:35):
Can I buy 10-20 preppies at a discount? I guess I’m about the only person to want 10-20 preppies, so it’d probably not sell well, though.

  • Preppy Rainbow Package Set– one of each 7 color, $24.95 instead of $27.65
  • not typical to have quantity discounts on pens
  • email info@gouletpens.com for special requests, we’ll talk it out

11) Eli C.- email (43:53):
Is it normal to see ink in the part where I’m holding my Platinum Preppy? Why is this there?

  • yes, this is normal!
  • fins in the feed help regulate ink flow with changing writing speeds
  • same as every other pen, you just usually don’t see it!


12) Kevin L.- Facebook (46:30):
I received a sample of Platinum Ink in Earth Brown recently thanks to the efforts of Caitlin and Katy of Goulet Pens{ they are first cabin all the way!}. What does the no mix designation mean as far as the ink properties go? It writes great in my X450 and has a great color on paper Keep up the great work!!

  • “Mix Free” doesn’t mean “don’t mix”, it means “feel free to mix me”

13) Rebekah H.- email (48:42):
What is so special about Platinum Mix Free?

  • 9 colors all designed with identical properties for mixing together for custom colors
  • also has dilution liquid (clear ink) for lightening a given color


14) Matthew B.- Facebook (50:03):
How does Platinum Carbon Black compare to something like Isaac Newton from organic studio?

  • both pigmented inks
  • PCB is the go-to ink for artists doing any watercolor/ink washing
  • Isaac Newton doesn’t seem to be quite up to par, though we haven’t tested in thoroughly ourselves



15) Ray G.- email (52:13):
I’ve seen something called the Platinum cartridge adapter. What the heck is this?

  • it allows standard international cartridges to fit on Platinum pens
  • pretty simple and kind of expensive for what it is, but it works and is only available in this specific product

16) Dennis B- email (55:50):
Do you know when (or if) the remaining two lakes of Mt Fuji will be given their own Platinum #3776 Century special editions, like the Motosu, Shoji, and Sai?

  • It’s been coming out each summer so far
  • just yesterday, Platinum Japan’s website said that this year’s pen will be announced July 20
    • will not be part of the 5, but a new concept
  • not sure what this means for the 4th and 5th, maybe they’ll pick it back up next year

Thanks to everyone who asked such great questions this week, keep them coming! Next week will be an Open Forum again, so go ahead and ask whatever you want in the comments below. Be sure to check out previous Goulet Q&A’s if you’ve missed any of them. Have a great week!

Write On,
Brian Goulet