Black Robin Pens Skate Pen Review: A Fountain Pen Made from Recycled Skateboards

Introduction

Some pens are just tools. Others come with a story you actually enjoy retelling. The Black Robin Pens Skate Pen falls firmly into the second camp: a limited-batch fountain pen made from recycled skateboards, layered and shaped by hand into something nobody else will own an exact copy of.

It is one of those pens that draws reactions the moment you hand it over. The layered wood of old decks creates colors and stripes that mass-produced acrylics simply cannot imitate, and the fact that it was once someone’s skateboard gives it a personality that goes well beyond materials.

What Makes the Skate Pen Different

Black Robin Pens is a small workshop based in Yorkshire in the UK, run by maker Meg Blackburn, who began making pens in 2019. Her regular lineup uses Shakespeare-inspired model names like Juliet, King Lear and Hamlet, but the Skate Pen is her annual project: once a year she produces a single limited batch of pens made from recycled skateboards.

Because each blank only covers one area of the layered deck material, virtually every pen is slightly unique in color and pattern. Getting one means contacting the maker, joining a waiting list, and then working through customization once you make the cut. She makes just one batch per summer and does not take commissions for these at any other time of year.

Design and Materials

The barrel shows those individual layers of skateboard wood, and the coloring is genuinely striking. You also choose an accent resin, and the review pen paired the deck layers with Diamond Cast Radiance in Topaz from McKenzie Penworks, a sparkly blue resin that incorporates some actual diamond dust.

The pen has a full resin liner and a hard gloss finish, so it is very waterproof and durable. The finial and cap flow smoothly into the straight barrel, which tapers gently toward the rounded end, and the whole silhouette looks clean from any angle. The cap, which angles up slightly before coming back down, tends to look best when aligned so the layered slices face upward.

It uncaps with about a turn and a half thanks to triple-entry threads. That is fast, but it also means only one of the three cap positions will align the pattern perfectly, which is a small nitpick for anyone particular about how a capped pen sits. The pen is not designed to post; the cap really does not fit on the end, though the unposted length feels well balanced.

Nib Options and Comfort

The review pen shipped with a Yoo number six stainless steel nib in broad, with a plastic feed. Buyers choose between a number six nib from Yoo or Boach in a wide range of finishes, and 14 karat gold nibs are available as well.

The section is one of the stronger points of the ergonomics. It starts with a slight flare, then dips and rises into the resin threads, with a small to medium step up to the barrel. The length and transitions never get in the way during writing, and the pen is comfortable in the hand for extended sessions.

Writing Sample and Performance

Tested with a stainless steel broad nib and Robert Oster Fire and Ice ink, the pen put down a clean, fairly smooth line. Line variation is minimal with stainless steel, as expected, but ink flow sits on the high side of medium and the feed kept up easily during fast writing.

Reverse writing skipped a little at first before settling into an extra-fine line. The nib was tuned nicely overall, and the ink choices paired well with the resin: Private Reserve Naples Blue leaned bluer, while Leonardo’s Smiraldo leaned greener.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is a limited, made-to-order pen, not a shelf item. There may be a wait of a year or two after joining the list, so patience is part of the deal. The one-batch-per-summer process is time consuming, which is precisely why each pen feels special.

The triple-entry threads mean the cap alignment will not always match the pattern, and there is no posting option. Neither is a dealbreaker, but worth knowing upfront.

Buying Advice

The review pen cost approximately 275 British pounds, which works out to roughly $370. If the layered skateboard look and the story behind it appeal to you, email the maker through her website to ask about the next list opening.

This is a pen for people who value uniqueness over convenience: a one-of-a-kind material, a personal customization process, and a genuine conversation piece. For the right buyer, the wait is worthwhile.

Conclusion

The Black Robin Pens Skate Pen succeeds because it pairs an eye-catching, genuinely unique material with solid everyday ergonomics and reliable writing performance. If you want a fountain pen with a story attached, this one is hard to beat.