Asa Pens: "galactic" - A Review

[majolo]

I would have thought that the type and thickness of the barrel material would make a big difference, based on how fast heat is transmitted to the ink cavity. I'd assume ebonite is a relatively good insulator? I sometimes wondered if anyone ever tried making a thermos-style eyedropper, with a real vacuum gap between the exterior and the ink cavity.

[Feanaaro]

I would have thought that the type and thickness of the barrel material would make a big difference, based on how fast heat is transmitted to the ink cavity. I'd assume ebonite is a relatively good insulator? I sometimes wondered if anyone ever tried making a thermos-style eyedropper, with a real vacuum gap between the exterior and the ink cavity.

 

I would really like the "thermos" idea to be realized. Somebody should do a kickstarter about that.

Regarding ebonite, from my limited experience the advantage it has, at least in this kind of handmade pen, is that it is often "tighter" than plastic/acrilyc, so the threads may give a better seal, and additionally maybe the process of heat setting the feed may also affect the way in which the section fit around the feed+nib, creating again a better fit than what can be obtained with acrylic/plastic.

My Galactic burps like crazy, while the Gama Raja (completely made of ebonite) does not at all, even though they have the same feed and very similar nibs.

[aswinsainarain]

this is a really nice pen. Have two of these, with B nibs. Write beautifully, and seem to flow well even after a few days of disuse.

 

And a super nice review and lovely pics too! I have to write my little review, which is long overdue; this may be a good thing because when I do write it I will be doing so after using the pens for a while

[IrishEyes]

Oh my gosh, what a beautiful pen! I am DEFINITELY going to have to add one to my collection. Pleas just tell me that it won't "act up" like the damn Indian Wality I own, which leaks blobs of ink at unexpected times, despite trying all suggestions for preventing/stopping it. I've grown to hate that thing....

[aswinsainarain]

Oh my gosh, what a beautiful pen! I am DEFINITELY going to have to add one to my collection. Pleas just tell me that it won't "act up" like the damn Indian Wality I own, which leaks blobs of ink at unexpected times, despite trying all suggestions for preventing/stopping it. I've grown to hate that thing....

my two galactics have not done any of these horrible things, and have gone through a couple of fills.

[Prithwijit]

I would have thought that the type and thickness of the barrel material would make a big difference, based on how fast heat is transmitted to the ink cavity. I'd assume ebonite is a relatively good insulator? I sometimes wondered if anyone ever tried making a thermos-style eyedropper, with a real vacuum gap between the exterior and the ink cavity.

 

If you want a thermos style piston pen, just buy a standard converter system pen. Its exactly the concept you mentioned.

[Feanaaro]

 

If you want a thermos style piston pen, just buy a standard converter system pen. Its exactly the concept you mentioned.

 

No, that's not what he mentioned. What he mentioned is an eye-dropper pen with a double-wall to insulate the ink reservoir from changes in temperature.

[Prithwijit]

 

No, that's not what he mentioned. What he mentioned is an eye-dropper pen with a double-wall to insulate the ink reservoir from changes in temperature.

 

Agreed. But of you think of the concept of a converter pen, it is essentially an ink holder which is insulated from the outer surface via a layer of air. This is similar in concept to a thermos though the partial vacuum element is not there. While not an ED, this layout when combined with the smaller ink volume is probably the reason why CC pens are usually never heard to burp.

 

Regards,

 

Prithwijit

[Feanaaro]

 

Agreed. But of you think of the concept of a converter pen, it is essentially an ink holder which is insulated from the outer surface via a layer of air. This is similar in concept to a thermos though the partial vacuum element is not there. While not an ED, this layout when combined with the smaller ink volume is probably the reason why CC pens are usually never heard to burp.

 

Regards,

 

Prithwijit

 

Sure it is, but an eyedropper, especially a demonstrator, is fun, and, with the size of most indian pens, it would still have a much larger ink capacity than a converter or a cartridge, even factoring in the reduction in volume due to the double wall.

[Prithwijit]

 

Sure it is, but an eyedropper, especially a demonstrator, is fun, and, with the size of most indian pens, it would still have a much larger ink capacity than a converter or a cartridge, even factoring in the reduction in volume due to the double wall.

 

Vaibhav had actually done a design on similar lines. To the best of my knowledge, an early prototype was also developed. Not sure if there has been much progress on that concept hence.

 

Regards,

 

Prithwijit

[Arbit]

Good review. I'm going straight to the ASA pens website to place my order for the Galactic. Thank you so much.

[WLSpec]

Apologies for reviving an old thread, but what a beautiful pen! I might have to get one of these.