The modern ballpoint, which has a long and fascinating history, is still quite relevant. While many other pen types have come about and fountain pens have seen a serious resurgence, ballpoints have gotten much better as well.
Ballpoints are no longer the default writing utensil they once were, but they are still useful and pretty great.
One of the most popular questions we get asked here at Unsharpen.com is which pens people should buy, specifically which fountain pens under $100. This guide will attempt to help people with this popular problem.
2021 might feel off, but it’s September which means it’s just a third of the year away. Our 2020 Hobonichi Techo explainer was quite popular so we are following it up with a look at the Hobonichi Techo 2021 lineup.
This year is quite auspicious as it’s the 20th anniversary of the Hobonichi Techo lineup!
Continue reading “Hobonichi Techo 2021: The Information You Need”
There are few writing experiences that are more satisfying than a great gel pen. The right gel pen is buttery smooth, has an ink color that really pops, and is a pleasure to write with on all sorts of different paper. Gel pens are truly one of the best and most versatile ways to write on almost all paper types.
Mobile phones and laptops are great at a lot of things, but they have yet to surpass pen and paper for quick note taking. For that task you’ll want a notebook that is small, light, and readily available. We call those pocket notebooks.
Here at Unsharpen we talk about pen cases fairly regularly, but what about pencil cases? These are their own thing, with unique sizes and needs.
If you are in the market for blue black fountain pen ink then be prepared for a wide, wonderful selection of inks. The issue is that the array of inks you will soon find ahead of you is almost too wide and too wonderful.
This guide will help you narrow down the selection to a manageable number of inks for you to consider and ultimately purchase.
Continue reading “The Best Blue Black Fountain Pen Ink of 2020”
Choosing a fountain pen ink is largely about personal preference, but some inks do stand out from the rest of the pack. In this article we’ll talk through the top brown fountain pen inks sold today.
We talk about the color of ink a lot here at Unsharpen, but it’s not too often that we discuss the total absence of color. It’s time to discuss the best white ink pens.
Fountain pen ink doesn’t have to be expensive. Today fountain pens might seem like a luxury good, but let’s not forget that not too long ago they were the standard writing tool used by millions upon millions of people worldwide. Those people weren’t using luxury inks with delicate undertones, they were using dependable, afford inks.
Well guess what? Those afford inks still exist.
Black fountain pen ink tests to be the workhorse ink of many people. Blues can be for work or fun, same with reds, while the purples and oranges are more expressive and usually saved for personal activities. Black ink, despite its huge varieties, tends to be an ink for getting stuff done.
So what’s the best black fountain pen ink for day-to-day use?
Everyone knows about multi-pens — pens that contains multiple colors and sometimes a pencil — but what about multi-pencils? These are much rarer, but they do exist (and they are quite cool).
Searching for the best paper for one’s fountain pen is a very common quest in the pen world. Like fountain pen ink, paper is relatively affordable and sold in unlimited varieties so this is a hunt that can last for decades.
Let’s cut down on that search time with some suggestions on the best fountain pen paper.
With so much work happening on computers people have less need for desk pads… but we still love them! These large paper pads are simply the best for quick notes, writing down a phone number, or scribbling ideas while on a conference call.
Large desk pads that use top quality paper are hard to find these days, but they still exist. After doing a lot of research and more than a bit of testing, here are our favorites.
Continue reading “The Best Paper Desk Pads For Your Home Office”
Platinum is one of Japan’s “Big Three” pen companies, but it doesn’t seem to get the same level of attention as the other two, at least in the United States. Despite that, Platinum makes some of our favorite fountain pens.
If you are considering buying a Platinum fountain pen which should you lean towards? Which are sure-fire hits that no one can deny is a great pen? Read on to find out.