Do you use a fountain pen?

[ClockworkCupcake]

SystemParanoia said:

ClockworkCupcake said:

It's interesting how they have evolved over the years.

The top one in my pic is out of my Parker 25, the middle one is presumably from my original Parker 45 (the one I can't find) and the lower one is probably from my 2000's Parker 45. I'm currently using cartridges in that simply because I had some lying around and decided to use them.

The bottom one is identical to the one in the jinhao 126

Hmmmm..... this gives me an idea.

[Robbo 27]

Celtic Dragon said:

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.

The nib section is prone to cracking, often down the seam, sorry to say that the cost of repair might be more than the pen is worth. If the pen is important to you then you could always look out a donor pen, I think they are all the length in the J series but the thread is different in the fatter J series.




SJ, LJ and J.

The Montblanc Burgundy has been out of production for a few years, still very desirable and big prices.

[ClockworkCupcake]

This looked encouraging...

http://datahamster.com/2017-02-25-16-04-40_cropped...

And so...

http://datahamster.com/2017-02-25-16-10-01/

As ever, apologies for my handwriting.

[Robbo 27]

ClockworkCupcake said:

This looked encouraging...

http://datahamster.com/2017-02-25-16-04-40_cropped...

And so...

http://datahamster.com/2017-02-25-16-10-01/

As ever, apologies for my handwriting.

Thats suprising about the Parker cartridges in the Jinhao, they dont fit mine in the 159 and 559, perhaps there has change in production. Its useful too, the Parker cartridges are amongst the best and if you can get a syringe from the chemist they can be refilled with bottled ink.

[ClockworkCupcake]

Robbo 27 said:

Thats suprising about the Parker cartridges in the Jinhao, they dont fit mine in the 159 and 559, perhaps there has change in production. Its useful too, the Parker cartridges are amongst the best and if you can get a syringe from the chemist they can be refilled with bottled ink.

It was SystemParanoia saying that one of my Parker converters looked identical to the one in his Jinhao 126 that gave me the idea.

I removed the current cartridge from my Parker 45 and tried it in the X750 and it fit, and the barrel went back on too (I was concerned about length. Ooer, missus). Then a few flicks to get the ink flowing, and I was off. So I put a new cartridge in the Parker 45.

Eventually my stock of cartridges will run out, at which point I will have to decide if I want the faff & cheapness of going back to converters, or the convenience & expense of cartridges. I think that for a work environment, cartridges are probably the way to go to be honest. For home use, probably converter.

[Prohibiting]

Does anyone have any experience with a Pelikan M400 or any other comparable high end fountain pen in the £150-250 range? Is it worth the big step up for a gold nib? Is it noticeably smoother and wetter? I read that because gold is soft it can literally adapt to your style of handwriting after a lot of use?

[Pints]

Robbo 27 said:

Thats suprising about the Parker cartridges in the Jinhao, they dont fit mine in the 159 and 559, perhaps there has change in production. Its useful too, the Parker cartridges are amongst the best and if you can get a syringe from the chemist they can be refilled with bottled ink.

Blunt needles available from eBay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Syringe-5ml-14g-Vaping-G...

[Celtic Dragon]

Robbo 27 said:

The nib section is prone to cracking, often down the seam, sorry to say that the cost of repair might be more than the pen is worth. If the pen is important to you then you could always look out a donor pen, I think they are all the length in the J series but the thread is different in the fatter J series.




SJ, LJ and J.

The Montblanc Burgundy has been out of production for a few years, still very desirable and big prices.

I guessed as much, thankfully no sentimental value, just looks nice. So had a thought about trying to fill the crack with the glue I use for fletching. Ok it's a form is super glue with an exothermic reaction, but the bakerlite should hold. I won't be doing it with the nib in place.

[Robbo 27]

Prohibiting said:

Does anyone have any experience with a Pelikan M400 or any other comparable high end fountain pen in the £150-250 range? Is it worth the big step up for a gold nib? Is it noticeably smoother and wetter? I read that because gold is soft it can literally adapt to your style of handwriting after a lot of use?

Peter Twydle an exceptionally knowledgeable man regards the Pelikan 800 as the best modern pen you can buy. The 400 has all the same design features but a little smaller. Current price is around £220 reduced from £295, a company called Penbox has them on current special offer

http://www.penbox.co.uk/souveran.405.htm

There is nothing bad to be said about them, well made, good design and a reasonable choice of nib, other than they dont seem to do an oblique. They make a special edition called the Pelikan White Tortoise, in 400 and 600 sizes, some say that it is the best looking pen ever



Another slightly smaller pen is the Pelikan Cafe Creme, out of production so if you can find one I would buy it, it will go up in price even if it is well used.



If I was spending £150-200 I wouldnt argue with Pelikan 400 although you are very close to be able to buy a second hand Montblanc 146, then spend £60 having it rebuilt by Montblanc and you will have one of the best pens ever made.




But its like anything else, spend a little bit more and you will have a much better product.

[ClockworkCupcake]

Robbo 27 said:

But it would be a bit silly to spend £200 on a new pen and then write like a spider.

And yet people spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on a Ferrari even though they can't really drive very well.

I guess it is all down to personal preference how much value someone attaches to style and aesthetics over pure function.

[Robbo 27]

ClockworkCupcake said:

And yet people spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on a Ferrari even though they can't really drive very well.

I guess it is all down to personal preference how much value someone attaches to style and aesthetics over pure function.

Absolutely, and if you have the money, buy whatever makes you happy.

[ClockworkCupcake]

Robbo 27 said:

Absolutely, and if you have the money, buy whatever makes you happy.

[Vroom101]

Robbo 27 said:

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.

Thank you. I was working yesterday, so by the time I got to the Post Office, the counter had closed (only missed it by five minutes!). I will send the 599, first thing tomorrow.

[RizzoTheRat]

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!

Is this a common issue with e-bay suppliers? I've just check my e-bay order was definitely for a medium nib, but it says F on the nib of my 599.

For £1 I'll get a medium one as well and see how they compare, but might be a tad annoyed if I get another Fine, any recommended sellers?
Mine was from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/sag222?_trksid=p2047675.l...

I find the 599 Fine a bit scratchier than 159 or V pen mediums, but that could be down to me not having picked up a better quality notebook yet.

[Robbo 27]

RizzoTheRat said:

Is this a common issue with e-bay suppliers? I've just check my e-bay order was definitely for a medium nib, but it says F on the nib of my 599.

For £1 I'll get a medium one as well and see how they compare, but might be a tad annoyed if I get another Fine, any recommended sellers?
Mine was from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/sag222?_trksid=p2047675.l...

I find the 599 Fine a bit scratchier than 159 or V pen mediums, but that could be down to me not having picked up a better quality notebook yet.

I havent found this to be a problem, I have received what I have ordered, here is a link to a seller with multiple choices in nibs and pen colours, I havent used them myself though:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JINHAO-599-Beautiful-11-...

I have noticed that prices are going up for these Jinhao pens, still cheap but the standard price from many sellers was £1 including postage, not any more.


The popular nib size in China is a Fine or extra fine, their medium sized nib is the same as a European fine. I havent seen any sellers offering a broad nib, let me know if you find one please.

RtR, Your fine nib can be improved by some smoothing, perhaps on a smooth stone or even soft metal but at the end of the day the nib is a shaper point and it will be laying down less ink than a wider nib.

[ClockworkCupcake]

I confess I got a little carried away last night, and fancied a Jinhao with a medium nib to go with my X750 with the fine nib, so bought a 450 with a Sky Blue design. Being a little impatient I elected to buy on Amazon from a seller who is on the Amazon Prime scheme so that I got it today, although I paid for the privilege as it cost £8

It's just arrived and I've filled it with Quink (this time from a bottle which I also just bought) and given it a go. It writes just as smoothly as the X750, which is hardly surprising as the nibs look almost identical apart from the 450's having a gold hue and the X750's a steel hue.


http://datahamster.com/2017-02-27-14-05-36/

The X750 in Lava Red has "8" stamped into the plastic on the underside of the nib whilst the 450 has a "5". The latter does seem marginally more medium than the former, but not by a lot.

[Robbo 27]

These are handsome pens and quite a step up from the 599s, good choice.

10 years ago Chinese pens were thought of as a joke, an industry that could only copy European designs and manufacture them very badly but very cheaply, perhaps similar to the Japanese car, and less so the motorcycle, factories of the early 60s.

Now Chinese pen makers have excellent designers and good quality control and yet they still make pens at very low prices. I think I am correct in saying that your new pens are lacquer over brass and will last longer and with less maintenance than Pelikans and Montblancs, and still look great.

[ClockworkCupcake]

Robbo 27 said:

I think I am correct in saying that your new pens are lacquer over brass and will last longer and with less maintenance than Pelikans and Montblancs, and still look great.

They're certainly weighty and have a metal construction. They don't feel at all cheap and nasty.

I do still like my Parker 45 very much though, but I think it's one of these that I'll be taking to work for everyday use as they are so easily replaced if mislaid. Not that I have ever had a pen go walkies, but since I freelance and move around a lot, you never know.

[Pints]

The shape of the 599's grip is proving excellent for my daughters while they learn to write with a fountain pen. Even my wife - who has never bothered with a fountain pen - has taken to using it.

[Vroom101]

RizzoTheRat said:

I find the 599 Fine a bit scratchier than 159 or V pen mediums, but that could be down to me not having picked up a better quality notebook yet.

Rizzo, how do you find the 159? It looks quite fat in the photos.

I usually prefer a thinner pen, but have been thinking about getting a thicker one. I find my hand and lower arm aches a bit if I've been writing for a while, so I might try a thicker one to see if that makes any difference.