Do you use a fountain pen?

[motco]

My Jinhao came without any instructions for the converter. I succeeded in filling the pen (not hard!) but I'm unsure whether I need to screw the plunger down as the ink is consumed, or will it work like a cartridge and simply admit air to replace the ink as it is used up? Thanks in advance.

[Pints]

I note the non-genuine converters don't have the ball bearing. Any experience in using these compared with the usual Parker converters?

[Robbo 27]

motco said:

My Jinhao came without any instructions for the converter. I succeeded in filling the pen (not hard!) but I'm unsure whether I need to screw the plunger down as the ink is consumed, or will it work like a cartridge and simply admit air to replace the ink as it is used up? Thanks in advance.

There is nothing that you need to do as the ink is consumed.

[Robbo 27]

Pints said:

I note the non-genuine converters don't have the ball bearing. Any experience in using these compared with the usual Parker converters?

None of my converters, Parkers or otherwise, have a ball bearing inside them. I think that the slide converters made by Parker have this ball, I dont know why Parker should fit a ball in that type of converter but not in the squeeze bar or piston converter types.

As you may know purpose of this ball is to break any surface tension in the ink and allow it to flow down to the nib. If there was any surface tension problems making the ink stick at the end of the converter it would be an issue on other converters and cartridges. if it is a problem for you a gentle tap on the converter should fix it.

[motco]

Robbo 27 said:

motco said:

My Jinhao came without any instructions for the converter. I succeeded in filling the pen (not hard!) but I'm unsure whether I need to screw the plunger down as the ink is consumed, or will it work like a cartridge and simply admit air to replace the ink as it is used up? Thanks in advance.

There is nothing that you need to do as the ink is consumed.

Thanks, Robbo 27

[Pints]

Robbo 27 said:

None of my converters, Parkers or otherwise, have a ball bearing inside them. I think that the slide converters made by Parker have this ball, I dont know why Parker should fit a ball in that type of converter but not in the squeeze bar or piston converter types.

As you may know purpose of this ball is to break any surface tension in the ink and allow it to flow down to the nib. If there was any surface tension problems making the ink stick at the end of the converter it would be an issue on other converters and cartridges. if it is a problem for you a gentle tap on the converter should fix it.

Thanks. The converters I have all have the ball but I'll give the other type a go if you don't have any issues with them, especially since they're available for about a third of the price.

Edited by Pints on Friday 24th February 06:27

[Prohibiting]

Left-handed by the way. I write from above so that I don't smudge ink.

[Vroom101]

My Jinhao 250 arrived in the post after its three week journey from China on Wednesday. Up until now, I've always used fine nibbed pens, but I thought I'd try a medium nib for once to see how I got on.



Now I don't know if there's something wrong with this particular example, but the 250 doesn't appear to be any different from the fine nibbed 599 and 126. The 250 feels a little reluctant to lay down it's ink, if that makes any sense. In fact the cheapest of the lot, the 599, is probably the nicest to write with.




Oh, and I need a different colour ink, clearly



Edited to add:

Prohibiting said:

Left-handed by the way. I write from above so that I don't smudge ink.

You have lovely handwriting for a left-hander. I am the same as you, a lefty that writes from above, but my writing is nowhere as neat as yours.

Edited by Vroom101 on Friday 24th February 06:19

[Robbo 27]

Vroom101 said:

You have lovely handwriting for a left-hander. I am the same as you, a lefty that writes from above, but my writing is nowhere as neat as yours.

Edited by Vroom101 on Friday 24th February 06:19

I agree, the 250 looks to be the same nib width as the 599, its not impossible that they have send you a Fine instead of a Medium. Try looking at the nibs, point to point, a Fine is 0.3mm, Medium is 0.5mm.

I have a couple of Medium 599s, if you want to trade the 250 I am happy to do so.

If there is a problem in not laying down enough ink, then this may not be an easy fix, but start with a good flush of warm water with a tiny amount of detergent.

[Vroom101]

Robbo 27 said:

I agree, the 250 looks to be the same nib width as the 599, its not impossible that they have send you a Fine instead of a Medium. Try looking at the nibs, point to point, a Fine is 0.3mm, Medium is 0.5mm.

I have a couple of Medium 599s, if you want to trade the 250 I am happy to do so.

If there is a problem in not laying down enough ink, then this may not be an easy fix, but start with a good flush of warm water with a tiny amount of detergent.

Thanks Robbo. I'm at work at the moment, and the pens are at home, but when I get in I'll compare the 250 with the 599. Also, I'll give the warm water a go. If that makes no difference, I'd be happy to swap for one of your 599s.

[Vroom101]

Right, I'm home now. I've just given the Jinhao 599 a closer look and it has an 'F' on the nib! Pretty conclusive really!
No point in returning it all the way to China, so I'll do that swap if you don't mind Robbo.

[Robbo 27]

Vroom101 said:

Right, I'm home now. I've just given the Jinhao 599 a closer look and it has an 'F' on the nib! Pretty conclusive really!
No point in returning it all the way to China, so I'll do that swap if you don't mind Robbo.

Thanks for the email, pen is on its way.

[exelero]

I do now, thanks to this thread. Bought a Parker from the bay with fine nib and black ink. I forgot how good it actually was to write with one of these

[AlexC1981]

Prohibiting said:

Left-handed by the way. I write from above so that I don't smudge ink.

Very nice style of handwriting. Nice colour ink too.

[ClockworkCupcake]

exelero said:

I do now, thanks to this thread. Bought a Parker from the bay with fine nib and black ink. I forgot how good it actually was to write with one of these

[ClockworkCupcake]

My Jinhao X750 in Lava Red arrived today. Unfortunately, I can't find my bottle of Parker Quink anywhere right now so I can't fill it and test drive (unless Parker cartridges fit?).

First impressions are that the Lava Red design is rather pleasing, and it has a nice weight to it without being unwieldy, but I won't know how it writes until I get some ink in it.


http://datahamster.com/2017-02-25-14-13-43-1/

[Robbo 27]

ClockworkCupcake said:

My Jinhao X750 in Lava Red arrived today. Unfortunately, I can't find my bottle of Parker Quink anywhere right now so I can't fill it and test drive (unless Parker cartridges fit?).

First impressions are that the Lava Red design is rather pleasing, and it has a nice weight to it without being unwieldy, but I won't know how it writes until I get some ink in it.


http://datahamster.com/2017-02-25-14-13-43-1/

Looks a lovely finish on that pen CC, and very well made. I am still amazex at how these pens can be made to this quality and shipped from China for what you would pay for a cup of coffee.

I havent tried Parker cartridges in that pen, but they dont fit in any other Jinhao. It might be worth buying in some cartridges for use whilst you are away from home, these Visconti cartridges look ideal.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/VISCONTI-Ink-Cartridge-Se...

[glenrobbo]

I never used a fountain pen at work.

If I wanted to write a report, I would use the typing pool.

[Celtic Dragon]

Just been on a bit of a shopping spree thanks to this thread! So I now have 3 Jinhao's on there way to me and a bottle of MontBlanc Burgundy red, Purple, and a piston converter for my Safari.

What were we saying about this thread crossing over to the frivolous purchases one?

I have a feeling I will be retiring one of my Esterbrooks after discovering the Bakerlite finger barrel is cracked.

[motco]

ClockworkCupcake said:

My Jinhao X750 in Lava Red arrived today. Unfortunately, I can't find my bottle of Parker Quink anywhere right now so I can't fill it and test drive (unless Parker cartridges fit?).

First impressions are that the Lava Red design is rather pleasing, and it has a nice weight to it without being unwieldy, but I won't know how it writes until I get some ink in it.


http://datahamster.com/2017-02-25-14-13-43-1/

My Jinhao X450 came with a cartridge...