My New Faber Castell (Carbon Fiber) Basic W/ F Nib :p

[KBeezie]

Received this pen today.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/fabercastell_basic/capped.jpg

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/fabercastell_basic/uncapped.jpg

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/fabercastell_basic/nibsection.jpg

 

Got it with the Fine Nib (seems pretty close to medium on my Sheaffer Snorkel, and just a hair larger than a Goulet Extra Fine Nib, which makes some sense as both nibs [Goulet/Jowo and Faber-Castell] are German if I am not mistaken). Also in the Carbon Fiber Finish which is under a clear shiny coat.

 

Using a waterman intense black cartridge in it currently since none of my standard international converters work in it (too thick for the barrel of the pen). Feels nice, not too heavy, cap is a little odd though (and not something would want to post).

 

If I didn't get this one, it was going to be the leather one.

 

That nib is smoooooooooth though, with a good flow to it, will have to see if it starts right back up tomorrow or not, this one might be my carry-everywhere pen.

 

Quick write sample comparing the nib's width next to my other inked pens. http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/rhodia_april_2_2014.jpg

Edited April 3, 2014 by KBeezie

[KBeezie]

I wish I could just rip the nib and feed off this pen and stick it on my Monteverde Invincia Deluxe Nighthawk pen.

[shawndp]

Sweet pen! Where did you get it, if you don't mind me asking?

[KBeezie]

Sweet pen! Where did you get it, if you don't mind me asking?

 

From Faber-Castell

 

http://www.fabercastell.com/design/products/basic

 

$45 for either the carbon fiber or leather model, $38 for the rest. (seems to be about $5-6 for shipping, and they ship from whatever authorized retailer is closest to you, mine was shipped from some Business Stationary Store called The Appointment in Ohio).

 

The only thing they won't tell you though, is that a converter does not come with the pen. Does come with a empty cartridge (Without a bottom) which is good for cleaning, as well as a spare cartridge sitting at the bottom of the barrel.

 

Also most standard international converters won't fit, the barrel is too narrow (I heard from some others this happened later on, to make it where converters can't fit if it's not as thin as a cartridge), and the option to buy a converter with the pen wasn't available.

 

After voicing my complaint about this, since I like to use bottled inks (I'm currently using a large waterman intense black cartridge), I got this response back from Faber-Castell:

Dear Mr. Blessing:

 

Thank you for your interest in Faber-Castell and the Design Brand.

 

I'm sorry to hear of the difficulty you experienced. Our Design Brand pens only accept Item #148785, $5.00 - this item is available for direct purchase at this time as it is not currently listed on the website. We are currently working to correct this. Additionally, Faber-Castell ink can be purchased in bottles or cartridges directly from our website at the following direct link:

http://www.graf-von-faber-castell.us/accessories/refills.

 

In the meantime, I have posted a converter to your attention at no charge for the inconvenience. Thank you again for your interest in Faber-Castell and the Design Brand. Please let me know if I can assist any further as I will surely do my best to help.

 

Sincerely,

Michelle O'Meara

Faber-Castell USA

Consumer Relations

www.fabercastell.com<http://www.fabercastell.com/>

800-311-8684

 

 

So least there's the part number, but not sure how most other people would be able to order it other than call them up and ask for the part number directly. I still think that they should include a converter if they're not going to give an option to buy it directly along with the pen.

 

But yes I knew the pen wasn't going to come with a converter because of reviews I've seen on it, but I didn't know that all my spare converters weren't going to fit into the barrel of it unless it was a really skinny one like my Yiren or Jinhao 611 has, but my Yiren won't work with cartridges, so the converter must stay with it [the coiled wire inside the barrel prevents the bottom of the cartridges from fitting in]).

 

Still quite a smooth writer though.

[Gump]

Nice looking pen, I may be interested in one of their leather wrapped models in the future. I was also browsing some of their pen cases, while on the hunt for a nice formal 3-pen case, a bit out of my price range though.

 

Did you demo this before purchasing, and if so did you have a chance to handle the leather model?

[KBeezie]

Nice looking pen, I may be interested in one of their leather wrapped models in the future. I was also browsing some of their pen cases, while on the hunt for a nice formal 3-pen case, a bit out of my price range though.

 

Did you demo this before purchasing, and if so did you have a chance to handle the leather model?

 

There's no where local for me to demo them, I mainly did searches online and youtube reviews and such.

 

I was initially going to go for the leather model, but because I wasn't sure how it was made, such as thin leather on plastic or metal barrel I wouldn't want it to start peeling off or something. But maybe eventually I'll grab one anyways. (I tried looking up retailers that carried them but their site isn't exactly non-IE friendly).

[h.farmawi]

nice pen. might look for one.

[KBeezie]

nice pen. might look for one.

 

The review that helped sell me on just giving it a go (I got some feedback comments below if you visit the youtube page), the carbon fiber one isn't nearly as heavy as the weight he described in the video of the cheaper metal ones.

 

[h.farmawi]

 

The review that helped sell me on just giving it a go (I got some feedback comments below if you visit the youtube page), the carbon fiber one isn't nearly as heavy as the weight he described in the video of the cheaper metal ones.

 

Thanks for the video was really useful.

[h.farmawi]

im wondering...it looks like a wet pen.. is it ?

[KBeezie]

im wondering...it looks like a wet pen.. is it ?

 

Not really, but he is using a broad point on there. And my "fine" on the Basic is *almost* as large as the medium on my '53 Sheaffer Snorkel (which is pretty wet by comparison to the Basic). Basic(ally) it's slightly on the higher end of fine, not too dry, not too wet. So can imagine what his broad feels like.

 

On normal loose leaf notebook paper (not absorbent enough to feather) and Waterman Intense Black, if I scribble pretty broadly and wait 5 seconds, it's already dry to smear. On Rhodia 80g paper it smears pretty easily at 5 seconds, but no smear at all at 10 seconds.

[h.farmawi]

 

Not really, but he is using a broad point on there. And my "fine" on the Basic is *almost* as large as the medium on my '53 Sheaffer Snorkel (which is pretty wet by comparison to the Basic). Basic(ally) it's slightly on the higher end of fine, not too dry, not too wet. So can imagine what his broad feels like.

 

On normal loose leaf notebook paper (not absorbent enough to feather) and Waterman Intense Black, if I scribble pretty broadly and wait 5 seconds, it's already dry to smear. On Rhodia 80g paper it smears pretty easily at 5 seconds, but no smear at all at 10 seconds.

well im using a Sheaffer Targa with M Nib now and as everybody know its a wet pen and i really like it, i can imagine that the B Nib on this pen is much like the M Nib on the Targa that im using in terms of wet writing.

Edited April 6, 2014 by h.farmawi

[KBeezie]

In terms of carbon fiber 'feels', I like the body/cap/etc of my Monteverde Invincia Deluxe Nighthawk (a matte finish carbon fiber body and cap) much more than the Faber-Castell Basic, but we are talking bout a $100 difference in price, however the Faber-Castell writes smoother than the identical size black-coated fine the nighthawk came with.

 

Edit: Pic of the nighthawk for comparison.

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/nighthawk/posted.jpg

Edited April 6, 2014 by KBeezie

[shawndp]

Thanks for the insights on the pen - your subsequent posts answered just about every question I had - including the convertor dilemma (I'm on a Noodler Bad Heron trip at the moment). I am quite fond of the designs from Faber-Castell and Caran d'Ache. Carbon Fiber seems apparopriate to have as a work pen for me and I am going to swing by Hyatt's in Buffalo today and see if I can snag this or order it. The F-C website lists them as an authorized dealer - so hopefully I can see it in person - the big decision is M or B on the nib.

[h.farmawi]

In terms of carbon fiber 'feels', I like the body/cap/etc of my Monteverde Invincia Deluxe Nighthawk (a matte finish carbon fiber body and cap) much more than the Faber-Castell Basic, but we are talking bout a $100 difference in price, however the Faber-Castell writes smoother than the identical size black-coated fine the nighthawk came with.

 

Edit: Pic of the nighthawk for comparison.

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/nighthawk/posted.jpg

such a nice pen you got here, and yes i noticed the gap between the prices of bot of them and yeah i think the Faber-Castell looks more basic but still a fantastic pen compared to the price and the reveiws i saw.

[KBeezie]

Thanks for the insights on the pen - your subsequent posts answered just about every question I had - including the convertor dilemma (I'm on a Noodler Bad Heron trip at the moment). I am quite fond of the designs from Faber-Castell and Caran d'Ache. Carbon Fiber seems apparopriate to have as a work pen for me and I am going to swing by Hyatt's in Buffalo today and see if I can snag this or order it. The F-C website lists them as an authorized dealer - so hopefully I can see it in person - the big decision is M or B on the nib.

 

When in doubt I try to lean more towards what I don't have a lot of, like for me, depending on whose broad it is, it may be a tad too big for normal writing with me so I like to go kind of middle of the road, that what I did when I got another Goulet Nib, grabbed a medium because I already have a EF and a 1.5mm of the same brand of nibs.

 

And honestly if it were possible I would have stuck that faber-castell nib onto my Monteverde. But the faber-castell's body isn't too bad, the rubberized section is decent, and I don't feel like I'm going to snap the pen in half.

[KBeezie]

im wondering...it looks like a wet pen.. is it ?

 

Came accross this useful PDF by Richard Binder which I printed and verified the scale was spot on against a ruler.

 

I have the Faber Castell's Fine on there if you want to see.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/inkjet_binder_apr7.jpg

 

600DPI if you want to zoom in on the feathering. http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/inkjet_binder_600dpi_apr7.jpg

 

Original PDF : http://www.richardspens.com/pdf/strokewidths.pdf (printed on inkjet, with 'fine' setting, and borderless, and verfied scale on bottom measured spot on against a ruler).

[h.farmawi]

 

Came accross this useful PDF by Richard Binder which I printed and verified the scale was spot on against a ruler.

 

I have the Faber Castell's Fine on there if you want to see.

 

 

 

600DPI if you want to zoom in on the feathering. http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/inkjet_binder_600dpi_apr7.jpg

 

Original PDF : http://www.richardspens.com/pdf/strokewidths.pdf (printed on inkjet, with 'fine' setting, and borderless, and verfied scale on bottom measured spot on against a ruler).

Thank you for the PDF was useful

[KBeezie]

Thank you for the PDF was useful

 

Did the same on Rhodia 80g and scanned it on top, to factor out feathering.

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/inkjet_rhodia_stroke.jpg

[h.farmawi]

 

Did the same on Rhodia 80g and scanned it on top, to factor out feathering.

 

well that pen is really nice.