Napkin 4.EVER Pininfarina Cambiano Discussions | Drop

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Napkin 4.EVER Pininfarina Cambiano

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DeathWatch

380

Feb 25, 2015

Question,what is Ethergraf ?Does it contain lead like the Beta Inkless Pen?Why so expensive?And is it filled with Ethergraf inside or just the nib?If it is Just the nib I would imagine it would be used up too soon.

Feb 25, 2015

AlexGk

143

Feb 25, 2015

DeathWatchA) Ethergraf is a patented alloy developed by Napkin, that oxidizes paper to a silverish gray. B) The composition isn't known, likely to avoid knockoffs from being made. C) Etergraf per se isn't cheap, but this particular version of the 4.EVER is particularly expensive because it's a special edition designed by Pininfarina. There's also a standard version of this pen(cil), with the same tip and a full anodized aluminum body, with a different design. About the prices, consider that the Pininfarina version (the one of this drop) can be found in Italy for around 80€, and as low as 74€, while the standard (non-Pininfarina) version retails for 34€. D) Only the nib itself is made of Etergraf. E) Yes, unfortunately the tip does wear off, depending on how hard it is pressed on the paper. Oh, by the way, as long as you don't press too hard on the paper, and being a chemical process (not mechanical) pressure is almost unrequired at all, you can erase what you wrote with a simple rubber.

Feb 25, 2015

bryant

242

Feb 25, 2015

AlexGk"you can erase what you wrote with a simple rubber."
This would go in the face of what's implied by how the alloy works. I'd be surprised if the-- wait, yeah, even the site says it's permanent:
"So the mark left is very particular, it seems like a pencil but it cannot be erased like a pen, and this makes our writing tool unique in the world."
I'd be surprised if it could been erased as that would imply that the oxidation is significantly degrading the integrity of the paper itself.

Feb 25, 2015

AlexGk

143

Feb 25, 2015

bryantI never talk about writing related stuff without personal experience about the product I talk about. I owned a 4.EVER standard, before giving it to a friend as a gift, as I simply stopped using all kind of pencils. I can assure you that, as long as you apply a very little pressure on the tip and you don't wait too long after having written, the lines traced with this pen/pencil can indeed be erased. I don't know if it is supposed to happen or not, nor I know if Napkin tried to correct this changing the composition of the Ethergraf alloy (being an industrial secret). Then, if you don't believe me, you can still find a local store that allows you to try it out. p.s.: BTW, if you visit Cultepens.com, one of the largest writing related online stores in Europe, you'll see that they too assert that the 4.EVER is indeed eraseable.

Feb 25, 2015