Description Limited Quantities As we tested machining techniques for the launch of the Everyday Karas line of pens, we also tested some of those techniques on some resin and thermoplastics. Most of them were not usable, BUT the ridged profile that we added to a few of the pens on Everyday Karas looked great on our Ultem Vertexes. This is similar to the ridged Ultem Modal pens, with slightly larger ridges. We added these to the tapers on the caps and bodies to provide uniformity and a cool look. This was a test batch of less than 25 pens total, and some were taken to Pen Shows. We’ve added the remainder to the site with special pricing through 3/7/26. The Ridged Ultem Vertex is currently a Limited Release pen fully machined from natural polyetherimide (Ultem). Natural Ultem is a nearly transparent amber (more on the yellow-amber side). It is slightly lighter than our Delrin pens, weighing 16.3 grams (0.57 ounces) without a nib or converter as opposed to 18.1 grams (0.63 ounces) for Delrin without a nib or converter. Ultem is a “hard” plastic closer in composition to polycarbonate whereas Delrin is a “softer” plastic that has self-lubricating properties and somewhat of tackiness to its surface. Our Ultem Vertex is machined from solid PEI rod stock; bodies, caps, and grips. We’ve utilized several new machining techniques and custom tooling during the machining process to better ensure the transparency of the material is on display while minimizing tool marks. While Ultem can be polished to a high shine, we’ve opted for leaving the parts unpolished by taking them through a progression sanding from 200 grit down to 2000 grit and not conducting any finish polishing. This process leaves the parts with a nice subtle texture that is easier to grip. During our testing, the polished pens were quite slippery and didn’t feel as comfortable especially during long writing sessions. We have maintained the standard Vertex form and functionality including the Vertex box, though we’ve curated a custom graphic for this release. Thanks again to Ishmael, one of our collaborators, we have laser-etched graphics on the lid that feature the molecular model of polyetherimide along with a “breaking bad” type branding. On the reverse are our standard instructions laser-etched for quick reference. When purchasing you will be prompted to select your preferred grip and nib option. Ships with a Schmidt K5 converter, two Monteverde black cartridges, and a plastic pipette if you prefer to eyedropper your pen. The #6 nibs units are manufactured by Peter Bock in Germany. Also included with each pen is a 2 ml soft pipette and 2 black Monteverde ink cartridges. Each pen is designed and machined, by us, in the USA. Limited Availability
