﻿Somewhere out there… in the dark recesses of stationery collections there are… Frankenpens!
Chimerical writing abominations!
Just kidding!
In this video we’ll discuss what makes a Frankenpen and how you can bring your own to life.
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Let’s get started~!
What is a Frankenpen?
A play on the name Frankenstein, Frankenpens are writing instruments that have been modified.
While there isn’t an exact definition as to what a Frankenpen is,
it can range from a pen that uses a refill that it did not originally come with,
to a pen with swapped nibs, or to a pen that is assembled by using components from different pen bodies.
While it may seem daunting at first,
you can start making Frankenpens by determining if you have spare pens or pen parts that you’re not using in your collection.
You can revive them by seeing if they could work together.
We recommend experimenting with less expensive pens if this is your first foray into Frankenpenning,
as they are more easily replaced and, in turn, you can buy more to experiment with.
As a word of caution, if you are going to start modifying your pens you are doing so at your own risk.
But with a little bit of curiosity, patience, and elbow grease, you can enhance your writing experience and bring new life to your pens!
Beginner Level Frankenpens
The easiest way to create a Frankenpen is by swapping components of pen bodies.
Collectors who have many pens from the same product line, such as the LAMY Safari Fountain Pen or Kaweco Sport Gel Rollerball Pen,
can make a pen with a custom color palette by mixing and matching the barrel, grip section, and cap.
It’s a simple yet effective way to create a Frankenpen that’s all your own.
Make a pen that matches the season you’re in or one that’s composed of your favorite colors.
Swapping refills is another straightforward way to Frankenpen if you have ballpoint, gel, or rollerball pens.
On a pen’s product page you can check out the Recommended Refills and Parts,
which shows you all of the refills that we’ve tested and know will work with that specific pen;
and the opposite can be done by looking at a refill’s Compatible Products.
While a lot of refills are compatible within a single brand, there are some that can fit into pens you wouldn’t think to try them in.
We’ve mentioned our CEO, Shu, liking the Fisher Space Pen Refill in the Ohto Rays Flash Dry Pen.
It provides her pressurized ink that can write upside down, underwater, and in extreme temperatures in a convenient, retractable pen body.
Another easily made Frankenpen that we enjoy is a Uni-ball Signo 207 Premier Gel Pen with a Pentel EnerGel refill installed.
By switching the refills you get a quick-drying ink in an ergonomic pen body with a comfy, squishy grip.
Advanced Level Frankenpens
Trying your hand at physically modifying your pens and refills is another way you can make Frankenpens.
If you want a refill in a pen that’s not listed as a compatible product, you may need to alter it for the pen body to accommodate it,
such as trimming the excess length of a Pentel EnerGel refill with scissors so it can fit into a Zebra Kado2 Ballpoint Pen body.
Keep in mind, modifications like this can be precarious – remember to measure twice and cut once!
If your refill is smaller than the original, you may need to wrap washi tape around it.
This will enlarge its diameter and enable it to catch on the pen’s spring for seamless extending and retracting.
We found this technique worked with the Zebra Sarasa Multi Pen Refill in the Zebra bLen Ballpoint Pen.
Now you can use gel ink in the bLen's specially designed stress-free body!
You can even experiment by swapping parts from different pen lines to come up with unorthodox combinations that seemingly work.
Kuretake Karappo Empty Brush Pens are great for lettering,
but if you want to take them on the go their length may prevent you from carrying them in a pen case.
Substitute in the barrel of the Platinum Procyon Fountain Pen so it goes from 18 mm long to 14.5 mm
and it can slip into a pen case without issue.
If you’re still hesitant to start Frankenpenning, we recommend checking out our Ultimate Guide to Pen Refills linked in the card above
to learn more about different refill styles and seeing which may work for pens in your current collection.
Have you ever made a Frankenpen? Tell us about your creations in the comments!
You can shop all of the products mentioned in the description below and at JetPens.com, the place for pen and stationery lovers.
Thanks for watching~!
﻿Somewhere out there… in the dark recesses of station-ition-- (Laughs)
Just kidding! Just kidding~! (Laughs) Okay. (More sinister) Just kidding! Just kidding! Sike! (Laughs)
(Spooky voice) What is a Franken~? [Do the spooky voice] for the whole thing? We're gonna be here all day.
How am I supposed to say Karappo in that--? (Laughs) In that accent?
You can even experiment by swapping parts from-- (Breaks) ~Experiment!~
If you’re still hesitant to start Frankenpenning, we recommend checking out our Ultimate Guide to Pen Refills linked in the card "belove". (Laughs)
The card /above/. Linked in the card above to learn more about different refill styles and seeing which may--
This is one-- this is one whole sentence! My word!