Tombow Pencil Comparison

October 29, 2015

Let's take a look at how the Tombow 8900, Mono Professional, and Mono 100 stack up! Below you can find the handwritten review that I showed in the video, as well as some pictures that show the color of the 8900 a bit more accurately.

PS - sorry for the little bits of dust/fuzz that can be seen sticking to the pencils in the pictures and video. I noticed them while I was editing, but alas, that is the price you pay when you film on beautiful wood floors.

These pencils were given to me as gifts from various sources (you know who you are, and thank you very much again) and I am not being compensated for this post in any way. All opinions above are my own and you are free to disagree with me if you like.

Check This Out! Part 2

October 28, 2015

Have you heard about the CartoGraphite website? Not only do they have a super cool logo, they also have a map that compiles the locations of stationary and pencil stores submitted by readers. I submitted the local art store here on campus, and if you know of someplace special, you should drop them a line.

Anyway, what inspired this post was a really cool infographic they put up today on how to pick a wooden pencil based on some simple yes/no questions. Of course it doesn't cover some of the brands that are tougher to get here in the States, but it's a good place to start if you want to pick some pencils for yourself or a friend.

There's a much better version of the chart on their website, so head over there and check it out! You can either click on the image and that will take you there, or use this link.

Pen Review: Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Maxi

October 18, 2015

Here's a bit of info/propaganda about the material that the pen is made out of, from the Visconti marketing materials:

"The material in this pen is as antique as the world: lava from the Etna volcano. Nevertheless, it has several characteristics that render it unique in the manufacturing of writing instruments. Visconti has successfully produced a material containing over 50% of pure basaltic lava, catalysed together with resin in a formula – patented thus obviously kept secret -whose extraordinary characteristics practically transforms it into a material perfectly fit to writing instruments."

This info comes from here.

If you would like more precise weights and measurements, you can find them here. (No affiliation with Goulet Pens, just gotta support the local retailer!)

Also, if you don't have time/the inclination to watch the video, here are my notes that summarize the key points of the review:

This pen was loaned to me for the purpose of review and I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions above are my own and you are free to disagree with me if you like.

Will it write?

October 1, 2015

*Update - I've been informed by a pretty reliable source that the CH 92 was most likely also inked with Pilot Blue Black*

Now that Pencil Month is over, I thought I would have a little fun and see which of my fountain pens would put ink to paper right away after a month of very little use.

Here's the post that inspired me, from Pentulant.

Science Stuff episode 2 - how pencils work

September 30, 2015

Thanks everyone for a wonderful Pencil Month! Wrapping it up today with some of my rusty chemistry knowledge and attempt to enlighten you as to how pencils work on a chemical level.

Here are the links to information I used to put this video together:

Basic info about graphite
SEM image of the surface of paper
Basic info about pencils
Basic info about erasers
Patent for method of preparing pencil cores

And here is the step-by-step process that is used to put pencil cores into the wooden slats