Kustom Haus Wax Seal Stamps: First Impressions

Wax seal stamps are one of those stationery trends that fall so far outside of my experience/comfort zone that it took me a while to consider how I might work them into my rotation. Well, actually, it took one of my sponsors, Karl from Kustom Haus, sending me a full set of stamps and supplies to get me to even consider giving this a try. Now that I’ve done it, what do I think? It’s fun. A LOT of fun, and it has the potential to add a new level of awesome to your written correspondence and packaged gifts. While it remains to be seen how often I’ll actually have the occasion to seal things with my personalized insignia, I have been making an effort to write more letters.  If you’d like one, you can write me at my address below, and if Father Kyle would be kind enough to send me his new coordinates, I promise I’ll get around to responding to the letter he wrote me in February.  (To be fair, it took him around 6 months to respond to me, so we should be cool, especially once he gets a letter sealed with a classy wax stamp.) 

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Kustom Haus provided me with two stamps: one with my customized blog logo (which is, of course, my favorite), and another with a moustache symbol, which is a standard design.

I’ve decided to let the pictures “do the talking” in this post. Wax-seal stamping is such a visual and tactile process that there’s really no point trying to accurately describe it (other than it makes you feel like a total badass). Many thanks to Karl at Kustom Haus in Melbourne, Australia for sending over this set. Each stamp comes with a turned wooden handle, and you can also purchase kits that include a cloth storage bag, a candle, and a melting spoon. Please check out what Kustom Haus has to offer - I owe them a solid for introducing me to a side of the stationery community I probably wouldn’t have explored if left to my own, less adventurous devices. 

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Thumbs-up to Kustom Haus for their packaging!

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Kustom Haus's sealing wax kits are well assembled and presented. 

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The turned wooden handles of my stamps are beautiful. 

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Karl sent me flexible wax sticks, which also fit in a standard glue gun if you don't feel like heating your wax in a spoon over a candle. I've not tried the glue gun method.

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The wax melts relatively quickly (around a minute or two). If you don't want to use the candle or the glue gun, Kustom Haus also sells traditional wax sticks with wicks, though that wax is said to be more brittle and may not last very long in the mail. 

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First attempt: I didn't use enough wax.

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Better!

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Eventually I got the hang of it. Some wax seals turned out better than others.  

As I mentioned above, if you write me a letter, I'll do my best to respond (with one of my new wax stamps)! You can send snail mail to: The Gentleman Stationer, P.O. Box 681294, Franklin, Tennessee 37068.  As always, thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: The product featured in this review was sent to me free of charge for review purposes. 

Ink Brand Profile: Discovering Robert Oster Inks

The past few years have seen numerous new ink brands launch or expand successfully. KWZ, Bookbinder's, Blackstone, and Robert Oster - as well as older, "boutique" brands such as Papier Plume, Callifolio, and Akkerman - are now easily available to fountain pen enthusiasts via multiple online retail channels. Just six years ago, when I first got back into this hobby after years away, if you wanted colors other than the standard blue, black, blue-black, green, purple, or red, you were stuck with Noodler's or Private Reserve.

All of these new options are changing the ink market for the better. When Vanness Pens offered to send me some samples of the Robert Oster inks, I jumped at the chance because I was intrigued by the idea of this newer company offering over 40 different colors of ink right out of the gate. Plus I liked what I'd already heard from other reviewers, so I was eager to test some of the Robert Oster inks myself. 

The Company

The Robert Oster website doesn't provide much information on the company itself, only that it's based in "one of the most famous wine producing regions, the Coonawarra District of South Australia." Robert Oster currently lists 10 global retailers that stock its products. The inks themselves are intended to represent "a genuine inventory of the Australian palette." 

The Inks and My Overall Impressions

Robert Oster offers some genuinely unique colors, the names of which pay tribute to various Australian landmarks (i.e., Bondi Blue). The five inks that I've been testing over the past couple of weeks include: Tranquility (a deep turquoise/teal blue); Green Lime (a bright "electric" green); Khaki (what I'd call an "army green"); Direct Sun (a reddish orange, or orangish-red); and Claret (which is self-explanatory; it's the color of red wine). 

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Another shot of all five ink samples in my Hobonichi Techo journal. From the top, Direct Sun, Tranquility, Khaki, Lime Green, and Claret. This shot really shows off the depth of the Tranquility; I wasn't as big of a fan of the Claret on the Hobonichi paper. I thought it looked too brown. 

All of these inks are excellent, and I tested them in a wide variety of pens, with both gold and steel nibs. The two inks that I've used the most are Tranquility and Direct Sun, but that's only because things at work have been absolutely nuts this week and blues and reds get the most "official" use. What strikes me the most is the combination of vibrancy of the colors and good behavior (i.e., quick dry time, lack of feathering and bleed-through). If I had to pick favorites and purchase two bottles out of these samples, I'd go with Tranquility and Green Lime. Tranquility is a deep Turquoise color that shades beautifully and has darker teal undertones, depending on the light. Green Lime simply because I've got a thing for bright green inks now, and this ink looks great in my Franklin-Christoph fine italic.  

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A close-up shot of Tranquility, this time on Calepino pocket notebook paper. The pen is a Diplomat Aero with a medium nib.

Companies like Robert Oster and KWZ have figured out how to offer an expansive color palette without oversaturating their inks and running into the same smearing and bleeding problems as brands like Noodler's and Private Reserve. If you're a fountain pen user looking to expand your color horizon, I'd go directly to brands like Robert Oster and save yourself the aggravation. I can't wait to try out another round of these inks. Right now, I'm looking at Astorquiza Rot, Gold Antiqua, and Verde de Rio, among others. 

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Here's another "action shot" of Robert Oster Tranquility, Khaki, and Claret on Calepino notebook paper. This picture shows off the shading a bit better than some of the other writing samples, especially in the Tranquility and Khaki. 

Where to Buy

Robert Oster's website lists its global resellers, so where you buy may depend on where you are located. Personally, I received these ink samples from Vanness Pens in the United States, and I purchase a large amount of ink from them every year (either online or at pen shows). Last time I checked, Vanness Pens had 48 different colors of Robert Oster Ink in stock! You can purchase ink in 50ml bottles or 4ml samples, at $16 and $2 respectively. 

If you really, really like a certain color, you can buy 100ml bottles directly from the company itself. Unless you're located in Australia, I'm not sure how that would work out with international shipping. You're likely better off purchasing two 50ml bottles from a retailer like Vanness.  

Further Reading

Many bloggers have reviewed other colors of Robert Oster inks, and the reaction has been mostly positive. I'd check out the following reviews: Susan Pigott reviews Tranquility for the Pen Addict; Ana at the Well-Appointed Desk reviews Aqua; and Macchiato Man reviews Summer Storm Blue-Grey.

Disclaimer: These ink samples were graciously provided to me free of charge by Vanness Pens. There's been some discussion recently about reviewer bias. Please be aware that I will ALWAYS disclose when something has been provided to me by a sponsor for review purposes. It goes without saying that everything you read on this blog is my own opinion (which I try to keep as objective as possible), and you should certainly take that into account when making your own purchasing decisions.  

Kickstarter Update: Nock Co. Lanier Briefcase

Last I checked, the Kickstarter for the Nock Co. Lanier briefcase was only about $1500 short of unlocking the first stretch goal: new Nock side-stapled notebooks! If you haven't yet backed this project, I'd strongly recommend checking it out, and definitely don't miss Matthew Morse's review over at Nib and Ink.   

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I'm currently leaning towards the black and aqua colorway, but probably won't make up my mind until I get the backer survey. 

Other Projects and New Products to Keep an Eye on: 

Pen Vise Kickstarter. An interesting concept out of Japan, but it looks like too much of a specialty drafting tool as opposed to a writing implement that I would get much use out of. The project is about 30% backed with 24 days to go. 

Jinhao 599A Fountain Pen (via PenChalet). Despite a somewhat spotty history with Jinhao in the past, I've been very impressed with this $4 pen that Ron is now stocking at Pen Chalet. I have one of the clear demonstrator models, and while I have no idea how durable it will actually be over the long term, it's a more than serviceable knockaround pen that writes well. I've been using it on and off this week for editing and testing inks. (Affiliate Link). 

All photos in this review are courtesy of Nock Co.

Pen Review: Otto Hutt Design 06

Germany has several high-end pen companies whose products rarely make it to this side of the Atlantic, and if they do, they are imported in such small quantities that they are difficult to find and rarely reviewed online. Retailers who stock some of these brands don't promote them heavily. I'm talking about brands like Otto Hutt, Cleo Skribent, Diplomat, and - until recent years - Kaweco, Faber-Castell and Graf von Faber-Castell. I was contacted a couple months ago by representatives of Pen Heaven, a UK-based online retailer, asking whether I would be interested in collaborating with them on a review. The design of the Otto Hutt pens intrigued me, and they agreed to send me one of the pens for review. 

Background and Brief History

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Otto Hutt packaging is very functional, and somewhat similar to Lamy (though not as minimalist). There are no flashy wood or metal boxes, just cardboard/foam packaging that is sturdy enough to protect the pen while looking nice. 

As I mentioned, Otto Hutt is a German pen manufacturer based in Pforzheim, a town known for its jewelry. According to the Company's website, Otto Hutt has been in business since the 1920s, and originally specialized in writing implements made from silver. The current Otto Hutt lineup features seven fountain pens ("Design 01" through "Design 07"), along with ballpoint and rollerball offerings. The pen I'm reviewing here is "Design 06", which is one step below the "flagship" of the Otto Hutt line, the "Design 07."   

Nib

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I found the detailing on this nib really attractive. I like the understated Otto Hutt logo. 

The nib is the star of the show here. Otto Hutt uses nibs said to be manufactured by Peter Bock AG, which are stamped with the Otto Hutt logo. The nib on my pen is exceptionally smooth, and even has a bit of softness to it. Normally, there's no mistaking a steel nib for a gold nib, but this one could easily pass for a two-toned rhodium-plated gold nib. Even better, the alignment on the nib was perfect, and there were no variations in ink flow during multiple all-day writing sessions. The nib writes what I'd consider to be a "true medium" line.  

Build

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The pen's compact design and good balance helps offset the weight of the metal construction. 

The Design 06 sports a compact, Bauhaus-inspired design (per the Otto Hutt website), and I've enjoyed the classic matte black / chrome color scheme. The pen also comes in red and pink, with the pink pen featuring rose gold trim. The latter color combination is especially pretty.

The finish and tolerances on this pen are top notch. The cap and body line up perfectly flush with each other, the pen has no rough edges, and the lacquer finish is flawless. All of these place my Otto Hutt a notch above pens I've used from Diplomat (or even Lamy). Perhaps my favorite thing about this pen is that the threads are cut so that it takes only a single turn to screw or unscrew the cap, which closes securely. The pen also has a spring-loaded clip, which easily attaches to a shirt pocket. 

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Otto Hutt has its roots in metalworking, so this is a metal pen. The section is polished stainless steel, and has an hourglass-shape to prevent slippage. The body of the pen is also metal (probably brass or steel), and is coated in a thick matte lacquer. Unlike other metal pen bodies I've reviewed in the past - the Lamy Studio is the one that comes to mind - the matte black coating is thickly and evenly applied, so there appears to be little risk of it chipping or flaking off. I can't find a single flaw in the finish on the Design 06. I consider it a step up from pens like the Studio and the Diplomat Aero. While I like those models, I'm often able to find flaws (chips, flaking, scratches, etc.) in the finish of otherwise brand-new pens. 

Because it's metal, the Design 06 is a relatively heavy pen. But despite its heft, the pen is still very comfortable to use. My review notes and initial draft of this post took me over an hour and spanned three handwritten pages (Clairefontaine French-ruled paper), yet I had no hand fatigue. I found the pen to be exceptionally well-balanced, even when posted.    

Pricing and Value

Otto Hutt pens featuring a steel nib are generally priced anywhere from $100-200, while gold-nibbed pens run in the $400-800 range. The pricing is fairly standard for German pens of this quality, and I would say that it's comparable to the pricing on Graf von Faber-Castell pens. Caran d'Ache is another pen company with a similar pricing structure, though CdA is based in Switzerland and not Germany.  

Takeaways

This pen is a big winner for me. Normally, I'm not a fan of steel-nibbed pens making their way north of the $130 mark, BUT I will make exceptions where the manufacturer clearly has put a significant amount of effort into making a nib both write exceptionally well and look good. That is certainly the case here, and this pen is as nice a writer as any gold nib pen that I own - out of the box and without any modifications, I might add. Otto Hutt pens are not cheap, but I'd be willing to pay the premium for quality. Given how good of an experience I had with the Design 06, I'm already looking to add another Otto Hutt pen to my collection. 

There is a bit of a "step-down" from the barrel to the section, but since I tend to grip my pen towards the front (i.e., at the nib-end of the section), the step didn't bother me. 

As a side note, I think I may be the first pen blogger to review an Otto Hutt pen! In case you haven't noticed, I was excited to write this review. As fountain pens experience a bit of a "renaissance," and more and more people pay attention to pens online through blogs, forums, etc., it's increasingly rare to find lesser-known high-quality brands.  

Where to Buy

Very few, if any, U.S.-based retailers carry the full Otto Hutt line. As I mentioned above, Pen Heaven, a UK-based retailer, graciously sent me this pen for review purposes. Pen Heaven stocks all of the various Otto Hutt models, along with pens from Faber-Castell, Graf von Faber-Castell, Lamy, Kaweco, Diplomat, and more. The pen arrived beautifully wrapped and packed, along with a personalized note, which is a touch that I always appreciate.  

If you're interested in ordering the same pen featured in this review (Otto Hutt Design 06), the link can be found here.

Disclaimer: Pen Heaven provided me with this pen free of charge, for review purposes. 

My Five Favorite Pencil Posts

I use pencils every day. In fact, if I think about it, the pencil is probably my most-used writing implement after the fountain pen, but for some reason I've struggled to fit pencil-related content into the rotation here at TGS. I hope to change that soon, but in the meantime, I've pulled some of my favorite pencil posts from the archive for your enjoyment. 

1. Pencils! Pick Five. Where I take a look at the Palomino HB, the Palomino Blackwing 602, the Dixon Ticonderoga HB, the vintage Faber-Castell American, and the Field Notes Pencil. Of these five, the Palomino HB and the Blackwing 602 see weekly, if not daily, use.  

2. Pencils! Five More. A brief review of the Dixon Ticonderoga Laddie, the Staedtler Wopex, the General's Semi-Hex #2, the General's Cedar Pointe #2, and a vintage Dixon Oriole #2.5. Of these five, the Dixon Ticonderoga Laddie and the Cedar Pointe get the most love. 

3. Palomino Golden Bear. Still my favorite budget pencil. I have these stashed in the pencil cup on my desk at work as "loaners." At $3 per dozen, they're a steal (and yes, they get "stolen" all the time).

4. Ticonderoga Laddie. I eventually did a longer review of the Laddie, which is still my favorite "mini-Jumbo" Pencil. I've also heard good things about the Laddie Tri-Write, if you're into triangular pencils, but I have such a large stash of the original there's no need for me to buy more.   

5. The Mongol Reborn. Papermate makes a version of the classic Mongol pencil for the Venezuelan market. They aren't exceptional pencils, but the nostalgia factor makes them kinda cool. 

I'm back from vacation as of tomorrow, so look for things to get back to normal this week. Thanks for reading, and I hope you've enjoyed some of these posts you may have missed the first time around!