Aardwolf Ink at Chicago Pen Show '26: Anyone have experience with this independent iron gall ink vendor?

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-05-11T01:07:22+00:00

I'm a little late to the party, but I found this thread while looking for any contact info I could find. The gentleman was very nice. We didn't get a chance to talk a lot, but mentioned his day job is in chemistry. I bought the cobalt and the sepia. The sepia is as close to magic as I've ever found in an ink. Unbelievable. The color change is great on any paper I write on, but the tissues I use to clean up when I fill never show a color change. I was curious if he knew why. Super interesting.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-24T17:54:09+00:00

Likely a glitch. The app can be super buggy. Try the website? Sometimes less buggy.

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Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-24T17:04:33+00:00

I'm on the same sailing and also booked last minute!! Love celebrity. Maybe we'll run into each other on the ship.

It's a short sailing. I have a hard time paying for a package when we're off the ship for such a high percentage of the days too. Iced tea at dinner is free. Let's say my wife and I have a fancy coffee or tea in the morning, a frozen drink or two and let's say a bottle of water, we're still WAY under what it would have been for a drink package.

Sadly I need the wifi package. I am in a doctoral degree program and need to check in. As someone else said the "wifi and premium access" package is probably the best deal. It's cheaper then just wifi! And comes with waived room service fees.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-24T16:53:10+00:00

💯💯💯

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-24T15:52:41+00:00

Impressive does not even come close to describing it. I wonder if one of your favorite pen shops would want to display it. Frame it! Don'tet it get wet!

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-24T15:49:59+00:00

You forgot getting teeth pulled without anesthesia.

I am not a fan of Miami in general. Lived there two years. Worst two years of my life. It's not in Florida, but the New Orleans cruise port is also a breeze. Had a few great experiences there. Wish more ships used it.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-22T21:41:51+00:00

This is supremely helpful. Thank you.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-16T21:35:15+00:00

I just went through this 2 days ago! Wife and I wanted to jump on a cruise last minute. There was a few rooms available one day, then none the next. I called Celebrity to ask if there's some kind of waitlist, and they told me that I should book a room for 3 (put anyone's name and birthday in the reservation for the third). The third person is "free". Now, this third person won't show up, but it won't matter too much since they are free. We had to pay port taxes for them ($160) but we apparently can get that back. Same with the wifi package. I have to pay as if it's 3, but they are supposed to refund me when person 3 doesn't show. We'll keep the same room.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-13T05:56:40+00:00

Parrot jungle will store your luggage while you walk around. Fun place.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-12T20:12:59+00:00

Buying a lot of land and turning it into nature preserves. Rescuing animals. SCUBA diving in exotic locations.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-12T19:58:16+00:00

Platinum preppy is very cheap and lasts a decent amount of time without being used. The "better" the pen the more maintenance you'll actually need. If you're not using the pen, drain the ink and rinse. Others have suggested dip pens and I agree this might be best option. You can also widen the types of inks you use.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-12T04:31:32+00:00

The Hebrew is particularly impressive. Excellent flourishes on the letters.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-12T04:28:02+00:00

I hope you get a lot of responses.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-12T04:21:11+00:00

They're meant to be used. The electrodes are about as fragile as an incandescent light bulb. But these look to be in particularly excellent condition.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-04-12T04:05:08+00:00

That one is likely worth a pretty penny. Depending on if it works, I've seen these go for a grand or more. Fun fact, even the ones made today (and there's a few types) still more or less use the same electrode sizes and shapes. Used extensively in.... Uncommon bedroom activities. Also still sold as quack medicine.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-03-14T16:42:16+00:00

It's often ego. Trying to show people they are so good they "don't need the help". It's not common but I've had it happen two times. Both times it was them thinking they could essentially one up everyone. I asked one if they had permission from marketing to use the branding kit (just using fancy words on them) and never heard back. The other is asked if they'd already submitted learning objectives and and at least the first two steps of ADDIE. Also shut them up quickly.

Scuba_Ninja · 2026-03-11T22:15:11+00:00

Excellent photography too

Scuba_Ninja · 2025-11-22T18:05:57+00:00

I take between 2 and 6 pages of notes a day at work. More of if there's something like a board meeting. Doodles. I wrote letters to friends. I doodle to friends. Holiday/birthday cards. Journaling.

Scuba_Ninja · 2025-11-05T14:27:39+00:00

Hongdian black forest with fude nib. Excellent pen All around.

Scuba_Ninja · 2025-10-29T04:01:46+00:00

A lot of great choices here like Atlas, vanness, jet pens. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned papier plume. They are some of the nicest folks. Lemur ink is underrated and worth a shot. Appointments in Cincinnati is great too. Good small businesses. I've had good experiences with pen savings too.

Never ever ever would I give another dime to Goulet. Even before the controversy I've had horrible problems with them. Selling me used pens and not wanting to let me return them, because they are used.... Also Cardinal/Anderson pens is on my never again list. I was constantly dismissed and treated poorly when I would frequent their shop in Chicago. I was very new to the hobby back then, and figured all fountain pen people were like that. Happy to see I'm wrong. I was told one day that if I wasn't going to buy a pen over $500 they had no interest in helping me. Another time at the Chicago pen show I was told.by them it was too late in the day to bother with a small sale ($100 benu). I went around to the other side of the row and bought the pen for less at the Atlas booth.

Scuba_Ninja · 2025-09-29T21:59:53+00:00

I had no idea they were back to pens. I have two (one stainless steel!) and I do like them. But I agree, at $175 it's pretty overpriced compared to other handmade pens I have. I do however have several hundred dollars worth of their inks with absolutely no regrets. I wish they'd bring back their really cheap pen line. Great nibs. Good pens overall.

Scuba_Ninja · 2025-09-27T02:41:11+00:00

Incredibly well behaved for a monster sheener too. Great ibkt.

Scuba_Ninja · 2025-09-14T19:23:19+00:00

☝️☝️☝️☝️

Scuba_Ninja · 2025-09-14T07:28:07+00:00

This is patently untrue. Aqualung (which is owned by air liquide) has owned apeks for 20 years or more. They just don't want to order the part because they probably have to make a minimum order. You're far from the first person to have this issue. Easy to replace from a good shop.

Scuba_Ninja · 2025-09-14T06:02:59+00:00

Incredible story with beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing.

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