Wordless Wednesday

I'm...too sexy for my shirt.

Shades of Tuesday

In the Clairefontaine pencil pouch (review & buy): PaperMate InkJoy 100, Martha Stewart Dual Calligraphy Marker, Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.4mm (review & buy), Pentel GraphGear 500 0.3mm Drafting Pencil (buy), Uni-Ball Signo 0.7mm.

Levenger Product Review: L-Tech Fountain Pen - Medium

The Levenger L-Tech fountain pen is the first fountain pen I've used that is made by Levenger. As such, I obviously don't have a wide range of experience with different Levenger pens and nibs, so please take my review with a grain of salt.

Levenger says the L-Tech fountain pen puts the tangible pleasure of a well-crafted precision tool in your hand. I couldn't agree more! At first glance, this fountain pen very much resembles a drafting type utensil that an engineer or architect would use.The pictures on Levenger's site does not do this pen justice. It looks way cooler in person.

Nice soft bed and strap

Brand: Levenger
Model: L-Tech
Body Material: Brass barrel with metallic finish
Trim: Metal
Length (capped): 5.39"
Length (posted): 6.65"
Diameter (body): 0.5"
Diameter (grip): 0.39"
Nib type: Medium
Nib material: Stainless steel
Weight: 1.7 oz/47 g (with ink)
Barrel design: Faceted
Fill type: Cartridge/converter (comes with pen)

Packaging

I liked the simple but pretty packaging of the L-Tech fountain pen. The box is very tasteful and attractive. Of course, it arrived in several different boxes before I actually made it to the real packaging... The only disappointment there being it was a waste of materials. I think for the price point of the pen ($79.00), the packaging it came in was appropriate and fair. I have more expensive fountain pens that came in lesser packaging.

Pamphlet with information how to insert cartridge or converter.

The converter has Levenger written on it. It is quite functional and simple. 

Appearance & Build

The L-Tech has 7 facets on the body and a matching cap - all of which line up when either capped or capped. This was very pleasing to my OCD side. The clip is well integrated into the cap, and is color-matched. The clip also has Levenger written on it, quite tastefully. It's the only part of the pen that has a marking.

Capped.

Posted.

Underside of clip.

The substantial weight to this pen no doubt comes from the brass body. As it has a metallic silver finish, you wouldn't even think twice about the body until you pick the pen up and realize how heavy it is. Surprisingly, I was able to write comfortably with it, despite its weight. The only time it became uncomfortable to write with was when I posted it - it was too top-heavy, given how low I hold my pens when I write. If you have large hands, I don't foresee this being a huge problem for you.

The construction is solid. There were no visible flaws on the pen and all the small details (such as the threading and knurled grip) were clean and well made. Speaking of threads, removing the cap is quick and easy - just a short turn. I love this feature. I like the snugness and security of a threaded cap but I hate having to turn a cap many times to remove it or replace it.

I do have concerns about the finish and how long it will last. With proper care, I imagine it will be okay, but it is inevitable that at some point it may be dinged by something. Or maybe it won't show marks! We will see.

Top to bottom: Levenger L-Tech fountain pen, Graf-Von Faber Castell Anello Titanium, Lamy Studio, Pelikan M1005 Demonstrator.

Nib

The nib is not really anything outstanding to look at, but I wasn't expecting it to be. It is a medium nib which I think is a true medium. It says Levenger on it, as well as "Medium Germany" in itty bitty writing. At least... I think it says Germany...

Top to bottom: Levenger L-Tech fountain pen, Graf-Von Faber Castell Anello Titanium, Lamy Studio, Pelikan M1005 Demonstrator.

I popped in the Levenger ink cartridge that came with the pen without any sort of "priming" - no washing or anything. I was impressed that the pen wrote right away. However, I did find the cartridge to be a little on the dry side and a few times while writing, I had to shake some ink down into the feed. Once I did that, the pen wrote comfortably and consistently. No skipping and not scratchy. I did like the response from the nib - but it is not a flexible nib. After a paragraph of writing, the ink petered out again and I had to shake it through the feed, in which it resumed writing nicely. Given that once the ink hits the nib, it writes well, I'm guessing this is a cartridge issue and I suspect the pen will write better with a converter (supplied with pen).

Update: Problem solved. A simple rinse with water and a tiny bit of dish soap has cleared up the issue. Writes like a charm!

 Medium, no flex steel nib.

Sheila asked in her comment if the nib is swappable with the Levenger True Writers, and indeed they are!

Writing 

I was surprised how pleasant it was to write with this pen. It's the first Levenger fountain pen I've ever used, and based on its size and weight, I guess I was expecting some sort of tank. Alas, no! Once the ink reached the nib, I found my cursive just came naturally with this pen. Eventually the ink petered out and I had to shake some through the feed, but once I did that, it flowed nicely. I could not write with the cap posted, it was just too heavy and threw off my uniformed writing.

I may have rambled uselessly, but you get the picture.

Update: I will flush the pen and re-ink it. I just wanted to give a first impression of the nib and writing without having to do anything to it. A first-time fountain pen user might not consider or know about flushing a pen before using it. (Thank you Sheila for mentioning this in your comment!)

Price
Levenger - $79.00

Overall
I was overall impressed with the Levenger L-Tech fountain pen. All my expectations of Levenger quality was riding on this pen. I think this fountain pen is well-made, very solid, writes fairly well, and it looks good. It's not badly priced either, given its construction, and that you receive a converter with it. I would recommend this fountain pen on this basis, though I do warn you it's a heavy pen.

If fountain pens aren't your thing, the L-Tech is also available in a rollerball, ballpoint, and pencil as well!

Disclaimer: I was provided this fountain pen free of charge for the purposes of my review by Levenger. I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions remain my own.

Sunday Reads - October 28. 2012

• Painfully adorable mouse deer at ZooBorns. Resembles Ellie a bit.
• 10 Ways to Use Washi Tape.
• 13 excruciatingly cute pictures of an orphaned baby elephant being raised by humans.  
• I love this pinwheel design, on Lost and Found. 
• The Pentel Color Brush in use. 
• Beautiful pictures of fall. 
• Clouded leopard cubs at the Houston Zoo. Boy are they ever gorgeous! 
• Check out the Paperblanks blog to read an interview with our very own Sandra (molossus1)! 
• If nibs could sing, on My Life As A Verb.

Kickstarter: Allegory Pens - The Precision Collection

Allegory Pens is back with another wicked set of pens for funding on Kickstarter! I'm drooling over this batch even more than a healthy person should (do healthy people drool over pens?... Duh. Of course they do).

Allegory Pens says:

• Our motto: Pens with a legacy, so you can leave yours. All our writing instruments are made with woods that have a story which is meant to connect with your story, so that you have something personally meaningful right out of the box.
• All the woods we use are reclaimed or salvaged, none are fresh cut lumber.
• We plant a tree through The National Forest Foundation for every 10 pens we sell.
• All the refills in our pens are standard models that are readily available.
• Each pen comes with an insert that explains the stories behind the woods.
• We are die-hard believers that carrying well-made, personally meaningful objects with you on a daily basis can make your day better.

The Precision Collection comes with a few choices - ballpoint, mechanical pencil, gel pen, and yes, fountain pens! Some of these including the stylus as an available add-on. But I'll just show you a sexy picture, and you can go look at the Kickstarter project which explains everything far more eloquently than my rambles could.

You can pledge up to $1,500 (or more) but of course, you can get a reward starting at $10. Pens start at $39.

Follow Allegory Pens
Website
Facebook
Twitter

KICKSTART!

Kuretake Brush Writers & Pentel Brush Pen Doodles

A looong time ago, I won a Lamy Joy Calligraphy fountain pen 1.1mm from JetPens. They also sent along two Kuretake Brush Writers - one in black and one in silver. They currently have similar brush writers though I suspect newer models - and they're on clear out! So I highly recommend you pick up a few!

After I first "reviewed" them, I wasn't sure how to use them so I kind of stuck them in a box for over a year. Guess what? They haven't dried out one bit. Super awesome. I also had a Pentel Metallic brush pen I had bought in undergrad so it's a good.... well. It's old. I don't want to give away my age here. I took these three brush writers and made some doodles with them!

The utensils.

I'm not very good at this, okay? I can hear you snickering.

Well. I thought this was a raven but now it kind of looks like a hideous baby bird.

I was just trying to mix up the colors.

I actually rather like the hands here. They're eerie. The theme was jewelry.

Get Your Own!
Pentel Metallic Brush Pen - $7.90
Kuretake Brush Blendable Brush Writers - $7.00 at JetPens

Whiskers & Paws: October 2012 Edition

Doing what he does best.

Being lost behind doors.

Tyco? You stuck?

I AM TEH CRAZED!

Also floofy.

What's that smell?

I dunno.

Hm.

I think it's you.

You are soiled.

Yeah. It's you.

I RUN AWAY!

On the go.

Pads!

Contemplating.

What's over here?

*flies buzzing*

I work out.

Snuggle pals.

Classic Koa lump.

EHHH?

Sleepy boy.

Hears another cat coming upstairs. Becomes alert boy.

First Annual Fountain Pen Day: Friday, November 2. 2012

Fountain Pen Day is the newest and coolest thing to hit the calendar! It is to be celebrated on the first Friday in November. This year, the first annual Fountain Pen Day will be held on Friday, November 2nd, 2012. Taking a day to embrace, promote, and share fountain pens and the handwritten arts.

Check out the official Fountain Pen Day page!
Join the Fountain Pen Day Facebook group or follow on Twitter!

Who's Celebratin'?

A whoooole bunch of vendors! Check out Fountain Pen Day's list of sponsors and some of the discounts and promos going on. Check out other blogs who are celebrating Fountain Pen Day too!

Image from FountainPenDay.org

How will you celebrate Fountain Pen Day?

Wordless Wednesday

This is when we first moved to Texas and our stuff hadn't arrived yet...so we bought lounge chairs. Which Tyco took.

Giveaway at Notebook Stories

Notebook Stories is having a giveaway of PaperBack Note notebooks! Click here for details to enter!