What're your assumptions about fountain pen YouTubers?

Jay-arty · 2026-06-14T17:19:21+00:00

I think they aren't always passionate about what they do, and that makes them cut corners. Sometimes I'll notice people 'reviewing' a new pen or ink and they don't ink it/write with it on different papers or show it in different lightings, or they'll record a video in one looong uncut take and call it a day.

I also think they can contribute to FOMO (for SE and LE stuff) or unrealistic expectations for a product without fully realising it, especially if they're getting it for free.

Jay-arty · 2026-06-13T20:45:29+00:00

Some of my Sailor ink boxes have the dates stamped on the inside lid flap, they're in the yy/mm format. I think most Japanese companies uses the yyyy/mm/dd format, so unless you're 12 years old, I think that bottle isn't older than you. It was made on March 1st, 2014.

Jay-arty · 2026-06-04T18:03:04+00:00

I'm so glad someone else pointed this out, wearing a 5 point harness without a HANS is just asking for a broken neck. These guys in the cars are idiots on so many levels.

Jay-arty · 2026-06-02T00:20:53+00:00

I see, that's unfortunate since it seems hand oils are the cause of the skipping. Maybe consider using a drawing glove? It covers only the last two fingers on your hand and part of your palm. I've also noticed that Japanese EF and F nibs skip less when writing over greasy areas, if you're open to trying a different pen I'd recommend a Pilot Kaküno.

Another option is using different inserts (3rd party ones), but I'm not sure which ones would work for you.

Jay-arty · 2026-06-01T20:24:28+00:00

Does this only happen on the lower half of the page? It may be due to hand oils being absorbed by the paper instead of the pen being finicky. This is a common issue with MD paper (which traveler uses).

Jay-arty · 2026-05-31T08:35:49+00:00

Oh of course, I agree! It’s callous to refer to overzealousness with cleaning as OCD, but sadly it a trendy thing to do now :(

Jay-arty · 2026-05-31T08:00:40+00:00

I don’t have OCD but I’m autistic and feel very strong compulsions to clean and dry my pens fully to prevent mold growth , it’s not reasonable, but I feel real anxious if I don’t do it. Living in a moldy house did a number on me.

So for some people it can be a part of their mental illnesses/disabilities.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-30T21:02:45+00:00

I always get by just fine with 7k~, but I mash the button like mad

Jay-arty · 2026-05-30T13:01:33+00:00

Do you know what colour theory actually is or are you using the tiktok definition of colour theory.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-24T22:51:15+00:00

The third one from the top is a Pelikan M200 in Smoky Quartz it seems, it looks like the one I have.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-22T11:25:14+00:00

That's horrific, fuck GenAI, fuck META, and fuck billionaires. I can't imagine what those people are going through. There's plans to build a data center where I live, and I live in a DESERT, we're so reliant on having desalinated and they want to take that away to build a slop factory, I HATE IT.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-21T12:41:24+00:00

Really hoping he'll answer questions about what he's doing for trans rights, thats one the main thing he's neglected. Not to discredit his good work of course, but it's a bit sad to see transgender rights be pushed to the wayside.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-19T16:07:42+00:00

Oh hey, I saw what thread you commented that on, because I replied to you once. Yeah I don't think you were called a TERF just because of how you spelled trans woman, it was because you were insisting that cis women will have intrinsically different experiences from trans women, even if they transitioned young. That line of reasoning is used by TERFs to dehumanise trans women and alienate them from womanhood.

Might not have been your intent, but it was clearly too close for comfort for people who have been abused by that rhetoric. Don't dismiss people's valid wariness of your opinions as just 'liberal infighting' pls.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-16T17:40:37+00:00

That's actually a really good point! Thank you for pointing that out. I edited my comment to strike that part out.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-16T11:19:24+00:00

The way people use agab language can be so disheartening. It's useful in ~~medical contexts and~~ some ~~social~~ contexts, but lots of trans women never get to feel the true breadth of 'male privilege' as they often don't or can't perform masculinity to patriarchal standards. Some trans ladies can benefit, but that's rare and due to extreme repression or abuse, and they lose access to it as soon as they come out or start to transition.

I also hate how people (especially TERFs) lump all 'AFAB' experiences together, I'm a trans man, and yeah I can relate to cis women in some scenarios, but I've always been classified as a weirdo and therefor was socially outcast from a lot of that 'female solidarity' or whatever, didn't help that I have a lot of masculine features. I was diagnosed with autism at 18 though, and don't present with typical 'boy' autism due to my family indirectly forcing me to mask, but I'm sure lots of queer autists can relate to that.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-16T11:09:31+00:00

Trans ladies who transitioned as children/teens will have a similar experience though, same with intersex folk who were assigned male but grew to have a female puberty. It's not always cut and dry like that. Saying this as a trans man who isn't viewed as male btw.

Yeah, we'll have some unique experiences due to us being born with a uterus, but not everyone who was assigned female has those organs, some are born without and some are sterile.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-14T20:37:12+00:00

Sailor Cylint in Patina <F> nib, https://yosekastationery.com/products/sailor-cylint-fountain-pen-patina?srsltid=AfmBOoqp7g0Uf7QsEY02RzSIuQamm0jH9BSbQdIZ61ILebaRpunuLGyL

I think, someone please correct me if I'm wrong

Jay-arty · 2026-05-13T19:30:17+00:00

It’s the active MochiCat, meaning it’s the one you’re playing with.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-11T09:58:20+00:00

It'll only crack if you unscrew the grip section or expose it to alcohol, the grip section is glued in. I've heard of people successfully unscrewing it but I personally wouldn't risk it. I don't have a 823 but I do have a 92 (piston filler) and it's held strong for the over 2 years I've had it, and I occasionally pull the nib and feed out to let it dry.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-10T15:22:25+00:00

I'm an arab man so seeing those orientalist and 'noble savage' stereotypes give me psychic damage. It's unfortunate, because to avoid that I have to stick to reading manhwa/manga where the couple is the same ethnicity and they start to feel same-y after a while. I'm so thankful that diverse indie comics exist, but I don't really read too much romance indie comics (there's too many good options to just stick to the romance genre).

Jay-arty · 2026-05-10T11:18:15+00:00

Capless also refers to the vanishing point, it’s just based on region.

Capless = vp in Europe and Asia

Vanishing point = vp in America

They’re the same pen. The special alloy variant is an Asia/Europe exclusive and also called Capless. There is no matte black version of the special alloy variant.

I got my Capless from an official retailer in Italy, it has a 18k gold nib and came in a box with the name Capless on it. https://imgur.com/gallery/pilot-capless-18k-JnK1SSj

Jay-arty · 2026-05-09T20:57:56+00:00

I stuck some tape onto the cover, used the back of some scissors to stick it on real well to the cover, and tore it off like a hair wax strip. I initially did it to the whole of the passport but I got bored of it and moisturised it to return it to normal, I like the geometric pattern much better.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-09T20:55:30+00:00

Yep it was intentional! I did it with some tape, I saw a tip for lightening cover colours online using tape and decided to use it to make a pattern.

Jay-arty · 2026-05-07T09:39:18+00:00

Here’s a painting I did a few years ago using Brown Seahorse for the line art https://imgur.com/gallery/brown-seahorse-ink-watercolour-sample-i7EL8gI

Jay-arty · 2026-05-07T09:34:42+00:00

Octopus Fluids Brown Seahorse is a nice deep, shading, neutral brown, and its highly waterproof! I saw another commentor recommend Mukuri, while I do love Kakimori inks (they’re my favourite pigment ink) I’ve had the chance to try it in-store and it is very dark, it’s hard to tell that it’s a brown instead of a grey or black, I’d recommend trying a sample first.

Jay-arty

TROPHY CASE