technique

hand

Right.

grip

Adaptive tripod grip.

• Assume the "standard" tripod with the fingertips, but let the pen's body rest where the index and middle fingers meet.
• To avoid middle-finger-callusing, grip with the fleshier part of the middle fingertip rather than with the DIP joint.
• Canting the pen sideways (outwards), and letting the palm face across rather than down, can help expose more of the middle finger flesh. This slight turn also reduces stress on the wrist.

tools

(bold=favorite)

lead holder

• Koh-i-Noor Versatil 5608, 2mm
• Parafernalia Diamante, 5.6mm, aluminum, black

mechanical pencil

• Kaweco Special S, 0.7mm, aluminum
• Modern Fuel Click, 0.7mm, bronze
• TWSBI Precision Fix, 0.7mm, aluminum

fountain pen

• Apis, brass?, black
• Aurora Hastil, steel, polished
• BIGiDESIGN Fountain EDC, titanium, stonewashed
• Ensso XS, titanium, stonewashed
• Franklin-Christoph 20p, plastic, black
• Gravitas Pocket, aluminum, black
• Jinhao 82, plastic, light blue
• Kaweco Liliput, steel
• Koh-i-Noor Student 2069, plastic, red
• Lamy CP1, brass?, black
• Monami Rein, plastic, transparent
• Montblanc 12, plastic, black
• Namisu N1, titanium, darkgray
• Pelikan M215, rings
• Pilot Elite, '80s, black
• Spoke Axle S, titanium + aluminum, black

nib

• Apis: M
• Aurora Hastil: F/M
• Bock: (060) EF, F, (180) EF
• Faber-Castell #5: EF
• Jinhao #5: EF
• Jowo #6: F, F, B; (Franklin-Christoph) EF, EF flex, EF S.I.G.
• Koh-i-Noor Student: M
• Lamy: EF, M, 1.1
• Monami Rein: EF
• Montblanc 12: EF
• Pelikan M200: EF, M
• Pilot Elite: EF

other pen (ballpoint, felt-tip, etc.)

• BigIdeaDesign Pocket Pro, titanium, black
• BlankForces EDC Pocket Bolt, steel
• KeySmart Nano, steel
• Mitsubishi UniPin Fine Line, 0.3mm
• rOtring 600, brass, black
• Sharpie, "fine point", black
• TEC PicoPen, titanium
• Victorinox Midnite Manager, blue

ink

• fountain:
  • deAtramentis Document, black
  • Rohrer & Klingner SketchINK Carmen, orange
  • Rohrer & Klingner SketchINK Emma, green
  • Rohrer & Klingner SketchINK Marlene, blue
  • Rohrer & Klingner SketchINK Vroni, pink
• ballpoint:
  • Schmidt 9000M EasyFlow, black
• gel:
  • Schneider Gelion, black

paper

• Leuchtturm1917, 80g

peripheral

• A straightedge that maximally fits the carry case
• A good eraser
• 2B or softer lead

maintenance

• Tiny syringe with blunt tip
• Spare ink container
• Silicone grease
• Pipe cleaning brush

carry

• in house: RoverEDC Micro Pouch, Maxpedition Pocket Organizer mini
• in backpack: Nock+Rickshaw Sinclair

content

journal

• philosophy: Getting Things Done.
• medium: pen + notebook.
• colorway (3): primary black, secondary blue, attention-grabbing red.
• task visualisation: Alastair method variation.

notes & sketches

• Don't fuss over the surface medium, and let it decide the pen to be used. But prefer, as far as possible, permanent fountain pen ink, then gel ink.
• Prefer small & regular handwriting for notes (ie. for recording and reading back), large & free for sketches (ie. for brain lubrication only).

handwriting

• Print, with slight connectivity.
• Vertically centered x-height, about half of uppercase.
• Vertically fit grid/line maximally.