Brush Pens (Noodler's Konrad Vs Pentel)

[majolo]

A while ago I asked here if anyone had any experience with the brush pen model of the Noodler's Konrad. There weren't any replies, so I finally decided to get one and see how it works and I'll report that here (I hope this is an appropriate forum for this topic--I'm interested in this mainly for sketching, but one could write with it in some scripts I'm sure, and since it shares a body with a familiar pen, I thought it might be of interest).

 

One caveat: brush pen has multiple meanings to manufacturers, unfortunately. Some use it for what are essentially high-quality conical felt tips, but I am only considering implements with an actual paintbrush-style tip (synthetic in the examples I've used, though there are some with natural fibers).

 

I've previously used two Pentel brand brush pens, the Pentel Pocket brush pen and the larger Pentel pigment ink brush pen. These both have behaved extremely well for me so they are my baseline for comparison. Both refill via cartridges (in the larger pen, the "cartridge" is actually the entire barrel!).

 

The Konrad interested me since it was a piston filler, so I would be able to use different inks without fussing with syringing a cartridge. But I remain a bit wary about how various fountain pen inks will behave in a brush tip, and also the mess of trying to clean it (fortunately I'm mainly interested in sketching in blacks or greys, so I don't expect to need to get every bit of ink out ever).

 

Here is the pen pre-inking:

 

And here a size comparison after putting a little Noodler's Black in it (top to bottom: Pentel pigment brushpen, Pentel Pocket brushpen, and Noodler's Konrad):

 

Finally some comparisons of how they work, on Fabriano Ecoqua dotpad:

(Excuse my hand being shaky and out of practice.) So far I'd say they are pretty even in performance, the Konrad tip being slightly less supple at first in going around curves. I'm really interested to see if the tip dries or stiffens up over the days, so I plan to do a little doodling with them and post updates, if there's any interest. (The Pentels are excellent about not drying out--I hadn't used the large one in months before this probably.)

[RMN]

Just as a reminder: Sailor also has a brushpen. Price here in the Netherlands is EUR 29.

I have one, but never used it, so far.

 

 

D.ick

[majolo]

Ah, the Sailor Profit brush pen? It looks nice! I'd love to hear about others also. Apparently Kuretake has some models that are compatible with a Platinum converter, but I haven't tried any of them.

Edited February 23, 2016 by majolo

[Moynihan]

Ah, the Sailor Profit brush pen? It looks nice! I'd love to hear about others also. Apparently Kuretake has some models that are compatible with a Platinum converter, but I haven't tried any of them.

I have an Akashiya bamboo body one that i love, uses a platinum converter (i think that is the right converter brand ?) and a couple Kuretakes (Platinum converters). Can recommend both. JetPens has a pretty good selection and a good article or two on brush pens.

Edited February 26, 2016 by Moynihan

[Polanova]

One question, which recently occured to me:

 

Can Kuretake pens be filled with plain water and used as "water-brushes" for water-color?

[Moynihan]

One question, which recently occured to me:

 

Can Kuretake pens be filled with plain water and used as "water-brushes" for water-color?

Have not tried, but cannot see why not.....?

[Tritanx]

I have been looking at getting a brush pen. Which one would you say would be best for under say $30?

[amberleadavis]

Now that you have used them for a while, what do you like best?

[majolo]

I think the Pentel Pocket model is still my favorite. I'm going to try to see how syringe filling its cartridge works next time it need a refill (to be honest I haven't had much time with them lately).

[amberleadavis]

I hope you follow up with this thread after using them for a while. I would be interested in knowing how they hold up.

[PaganArcher]

I have both the Konrad and Ahab brush pens. I must say, the Ahab is a better brush pen between the two.

[Algester]

I have Platinum brush pens with the Weasel hair it's cousin the Kuretake number 40-50 not in sight...

while I still have problems writing with brushpens as well as Italics because lefty problems :X I'm still trying how to write with one much to my consternation :X

I would suggest that if you have water brushes don't be quite overly frugal in keeping them clean the sponge may give out in the end and may need some replacing

you can turn most brush pens into water brushes provided they can be refilled and their tip is made of natural hair or nylon, not the "stiff" single piece of felt

Edited April 1, 2016 by Algester

[Cyber6]

Hi Majolo, any updates?

 

 

C.

[majolo]

Hi Majolo, any updates?

 

 

C.

 

Unfortunately the Konrad brushpen had a tendency to dry out a lot... so I'm probably going to put a nib in it instead and stick with the reliable Pentel Pocket for a brushpen.

[amberleadavis]

Interesting to know.

[Goudy]

One question, which recently occured to me:

 

Can Kuretake pens be filled with plain water and used as "water-brushes" for water-color?

 

You can also do the opposite: fill a water brush such as the Pentel Aquash (about £3 at Amazon) with ink or diluted ink and use it as an eyedropper brush pen.

[HollyGolightly]

 

You can also do the opposite: fill a water brush such as the Pentel Aquash (about £3 at Amazon) with ink or diluted ink and use it as an eyedropper brush pen.

I've done this with a Kuretake Water Brush (small) with Noodler's Lexington Gray in it. I may dilute it a bit but I do enjoy it a lot. I prefer not using black for my sketching but need to locate a bulletproof brown or sepia color for this purpose.

 

I am curious to hear what inks people use in their brush pens, however. I like to watercolor often so waterproof ink is important to me, though I know it's not a big deal for some.

 

I read that Dr. Ph. Martin's Black Star Matte India Ink won't clog a brush pen but I'm not sure how accurate that is. Though one can only hope. I'd like to find an alternative for my Pentel Pocket Brush pen once the cartridge runs out.