I Spent A Week Using Only Starter Fountain Pens: Here Is What I Found

Ever wondered what it’s like to use just entry-level fountain pens for an entire week? I took on the challenge, spending 7 days with only the Pilot Kakuno and Platinum Preppy—two of the most popular starter pens—both loaded with cartridges. 📅✒️

Throughout the week, I filmed clips of my daily writing sessions, from jotting down quick notes to tackling longer journaling stretches. No fancy pens, no upgrades—just these affordable workhorses. You’ll see how they handled different types of paper, how comfortable they were for extended use, and how convenient (or not) the cartridge system really is.

What’s Inside:
Daily footage of the pens in action
Honest feedback on comfort, flow, and reliability
Thoughts on cartridge-only use for 7 days straight
Reflections on whether entry-level pens can truly satisfy pen enthusiasts

While I don’t pit the Kakuno against the Preppy in a head-to-head battle, I wrap up the video with my overall impressions—and I was genuinely surprised by how well these budget pens performed! Sometimes, the basics really do shine when you give them a fair shot.

Join the Discussion!
What’s your favorite entry-level fountain pen? Have you ever limited yourself to just one or two pens for a week? Drop your stories and recommendations in the comments—I love hearing from fellow pen lovers!

Subscribe and hit the bell to join our pen community and never miss a new writing adventure! 🖋️✨

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#FountainPens #PilotKakuno #PlatinumPreppy #PenReview #WritingChallenge #EntryLevelPens #FountainPenCommunity

Swatching Ink Samples from Birmingham Pen Co, The Wet Pen, Van Dieman’s and More

Join me as I swatch new ink samples from Birmingham Pen Co, The Wet Pen, Van Dieman’s and more.

I will be swatching onto Col-O-Dex cards and time dependent might also be continuing to swatch for my A5 Ink Plotter which has 6 different swatching papers including Tomoe River 52, Iroful, Yu-Sari, Life Bank Paper, Mnemosyne and Plotter Paper.

Be sure to follow along as I continue this process and I will be glad to answer questions along the way.

Also, don’t forget to leave answers on this post for a future QA answering stream.
http://youtube.com/post/UgkxOffwFNiQKFrn1F0zVTFW8LeOq2pd5EN_?si=gRNjLSvBYIpb9u7A

If you are interested in becoming a channel member, you can sign up here.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8f3UwW0iTebo52QOQIYUcA/join

Ink Swatching Montblanc and Pelikan Inks

Join me as I continue to build out my A5 Plotter swatch book where I am using 6 different papers for my variety of inks.

Today I am going through my Montblanc inks and a couple of new Lamy Crystal inks and will be swatching on Tomoe River 52, Iroful, Yu-Sari, Life Bank Paper and Plotter Paper.

Be sure to follow along as I continue this process and I will be glad to answer questions along the way.

If you are interested in becoming a channel member, you can sign up here.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8f3UwW0iTebo52QOQIYUcA/join

I Tested The Yamamoto Bullet Jotter System

Get ready for a deep dive into the new Yamamoto Paper Bullet Jotter system! In this video, we put not only the included Soliste and Sheep Cloud Bond papers to the test, but also bring in the highly requested Meringue and Canopus papers for a truly comprehensive comparison.

I will be using my set of now standard pens and inks for great side by side comparison across different papers which has fountain pens that go from extra-fine to broad, as well as some other pens including ballpoint, rollerball and even a Sharpie. I am also adding in a swatch of the Teranishi Guitar Gentle Green to see if the papers allow for the ink to change colors at it drys.

After the tests, all sample pages are carefully added to my A5 ink and paper testing Plotter. This ongoing archive not only helps in future reviews but also builds a permanent reference.

What paper or ink should I test next? Let me know in the comments!

I purchased this from Gentleman Stationer. Here are some links to the products shown in the video.
https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/curated-paper/yamamoto-paper-bullet-jotter
https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/curated-paper/yamamoto-paper-bullet-paper-pads

Gentleman Stationer has offered a discount code for viewers of the channel. Use the code DWRDNET to save 10% on your purchase. Some exclusions apply.

🔔 Subscribe and join our pen-loving community for more unboxings, reviews, and side-by-side comparisons:

#YamamotoPaper #PaperTesting #FountainPenCommunity #StationeryAddict #InkSwatch

What’s your favorite paper for fountain pens? Any wild ink combinations you want to see tested? Drop your ideas below! 👇

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Keep Your Plotter Slim: Storage Binder Solutions & Iroful Paper Additions 📒✨

Tired of your Plotter planner getting chunky with old pages? In this video, I show you exactly how I use storage binders to archive used pages and keep my planners sleek and functional. You’ll see my step-by-step process for both the A5 and Bible size Plotters—so whether you’re team big or compact, there’s something here for you!

I also dive into adding some gorgeous new Iroful paper to my Bible size and Mini5 Plotters. If you’ve been curious about upgrading your paper or optimizing your planner setup, you’ll get a close look at how I integrate these fresh sheets for a smoother, more vibrant writing experience.

What’s Inside:
🗂️ Storage Binders How I archive used Plotter pages for both A5 & Bible sizes
📏 Planner Slimming Tips to avoid planner bulk and keep only what you need
📝 Iroful Paper Adding new Iroful paper to Bible size & Mini5 Plotters
🛠️ Organization Tricks Practical ideas to streamline your planning routine

Whether you’re just starting with Plotter or looking to fine-tune your current system, these tips will help you stay organized and stylish. Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss out on the latest pen and planner content!
Let’s chat in the comments: How do you store your used planner pages? Have you tried Iroful paper yet?

Curious about other planner organization hacks or want to see a deep dive on Iroful paper performance? Let me know what you want to see next!

Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Continuing To Build Out My Multi Paper A5 Plotter Swatch Book

Join me as I continue to build out my A5 Plotter swatch book where I am using 6 different papers for my variety of inks.

Today I am going through my Montblanc inks and a couple of new Lamy Crystal inks and will be swatching on Tomoe River 52, Iroful, Yu-Sari, Life Bank Paper and Plotter Paper.

Be sure to follow along as I continue this process and I will be glad to answer questions along the way.

If you are interested in becoming a channel member, you can sign up here.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8f3UwW0iTebo52QOQIYUcA/join

Testing Bible Size Yamamoto Papers

Join me as I do some video prep writing on some new to me Yamamoto Bible size papers including Canopus, Meringue, Soloist and Sheep Cloud Bond. I will be using my normal testing pens, as these sheets will be used in a future video release, so follow along with real time using the papers for the first time and a little behind the scenes type look at what is involved in some of my paper sampling videos.

If you are interested in becoming a channel member, you can sign up here.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8f3UwW0iTebo52QOQIYUcA/join

Testing the Kakimori Stainless and Colorverse Shuttle Brass Dip Nibs

Join me as I do some ink swatching with my newish Kakimori Stainless and my Colorverse Shuttle in brass dip nibs. I want to see how these work across a few papers and see what kind of line variation and color properties each of them show.

I will be using my nib holder from @_erickgama_ and Amarillo Stationery as well as my Ink thrower from @ThePenAddictChannel

I am swatching on a few papers yet to be determined with 2 or 3 different inks.

If you are interested in becoming a channel member, you can sign up here.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8f3UwW0iTebo52QOQIYUcA/join

Episode 20 The Evolution of a Stationery Podcast

In this final episode of Season One, Derek Deweese reflects on the journey of the podcast, discussing the evolution of the show, the guests featured, and the insights gained from each episode. He shares his personal experiences with stationery, including his favorite pens, inks, and papers, and highlights the importance of community engagement in the stationery world. As he looks forward to Season Two, Derek invites feedback and suggestions from listeners to enhance future episodes.

Show Links

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFAC_8KRdr4AnR1IhPION7BN-fQvIF7E

https://youtu.be/PRGOvPd-m4w

https://youtu.be/UNym0r0hzU4

https://youtu.be/vK1cLWwEF2o

https://youtu.be/dwKfK8bFx6o

https://youtu.be/LzR-5SwfXgw

https://youtu.be/iXo0DN1MkBs

https://youtu.be/QUNFyzVwWXQ

https://youtu.be/AH5MKweOrfw

https://youtu.be/9abdQsq4SQg

https://youtu.be/7xs00EB5dPk

https://youtu.be/9yHn8p5Fats

https://youtu.be/7QeiA5dluuc

https://youtu.be/KRu7jiy87KA

https://youtu.be/5ibyTw-hdP4

https://youtu.be/ysbZ8iLDv3I

https://youtu.be/QSxJQCEjOKY

https://youtu.be/RAmB5EvsdJI

https://youtu.be/cZQJLEFgjyo

https://youtu.be/aSuII-8lttw

Takeaways

This is the last episode of season one.

Plans to continue the show for a long time.

Dabbling with various inks has been enjoyable.

Developing a better paper palette is essential.

Favorite stationery item is a book weight.

Showcasing guests has been a rewarding experience.

Community engagement is vital in the stationery world.

Personal journey in stationery has evolved significantly.

Looking forward to more pen shows and recordings.

Encouraging feedback for future episodes is important.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the DWRD NetStationary Feed

00:00 Introduction to the DWRD Net Stationery Feed

00:09 Reflecting on Season One

07:29 Guest Highlights and Episode Recaps

23:44 Personal Journey and Future Plans

26:16 What’s Next for the DWRDNET Stationery Feed

The DWRDNET Stationery Feed Episode 20: The Evolution of a Stationery Podcast

In this final episode of Season One, Derek Deweese reflects on the journey of the podcast, discussing the evolution of the show, the guests featured, and the insights gained from each episode. He shares his personal experiences with stationery, including his favorite pens, inks, and papers, and highlights the importance of community engagement in the stationery world. As he looks forward to Season Two, Derek invites feedback and suggestions from listeners to enhance future episodes.

Show Links
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFAC_8KRdr4AnR1IhPION7BN-fQvIF7E
https://youtu.be/PRGOvPd-m4w
https://youtu.be/UNym0r0hzU4
https://youtu.be/vK1cLWwEF2o
https://youtu.be/dwKfK8bFx6o
https://youtu.be/LzR-5SwfXgw
https://youtu.be/iXo0DN1MkBs
https://youtu.be/QUNFyzVwWXQ
https://youtu.be/AH5MKweOrfw
https://youtu.be/9abdQsq4SQg
https://youtu.be/7xs00EB5dPk
https://youtu.be/9yHn8p5Fats
https://youtu.be/7QeiA5dluuc
https://youtu.be/KRu7jiy87KA
https://youtu.be/5ibyTw-hdP4
https://youtu.be/ysbZ8iLDv3I
https://youtu.be/QSxJQCEjOKY
https://youtu.be/RAmB5EvsdJI
https://youtu.be/cZQJLEFgjyo
https://youtu.be/aSuII-8lttw

Takeaways

This is the last episode of season one.
Plans to continue the show for a long time.
Dabbling with various inks has been enjoyable.
Developing a better paper palette is essential.
Favorite stationery item is a book weight.
Showcasing guests has been a rewarding experience.
Community engagement is vital in the stationery world.
Personal journey in stationery has evolved significantly.
Looking forward to more pen shows and recordings.
Encouraging feedback for future episodes is important.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the DWRD NetStationary Feed
00:00 Introduction to the DWRD Net Stationery Feed
00:09 Reflecting on Season One
07:29 Guest Highlights and Episode Recaps
23:44 Personal Journey and Future Plans
26:16 What’s Next for the DWRDNET Stationery Feed

Listen on Apple Podcasts here.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dwrdnet-stationery-feed/id1805639149

Listen on Spotify here.
https://open.spotify.com/show/7KlOjBio6WHLS5Ll5d0HeS?si=Nhjki-b3RySCPa9wYkQ9Cw

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8f3UwW0iTebo52QOQIYUcA/join