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Hi! I'm planning on buying my first "premium" fountain pen. I'm currently set on getting a Pilot Custom Heritage 91 (or Custom 74, but I suppose it doesn't matter much since the nibs are interchangeable). I'm pretty sure about what model and what finish I want to get, but I just can't decide on the nib size. I don't have any experience with Pilot fountain pens, or any Japanese fountain pen for that matter. I'm used to writing with western fines and mediums, so I thought a Japanese FM would be a good choice. I want to go fine or maybe finer than a western fine, but I don't want a nib that is too fine, because I also like a line thick enough to show some nice ink properties. I also really like the sound of the soft nib options, so I thought I'd get a SFM. I've read that the soft nibs are wetter than the stiffer, regular nibs. Problem is that I'm not sure a very wet nib would be a good choice for me. I'm a college student, and I'll probably be using a lot of cheap paper. So I'm a bit afraid it will be too wet for that purpose. I could always get a SF, but I really think the FM size would suit my writing better. Beside, I'm going to be using it a lot for quick, daily note taking. I mostly use my laptop during lectures, but I still usually write a lot as well. I know the soft nibs are by no means flex nibs, but I don't know if they would be stiff enough for this purpose either. Do any of you have experience with Pilot's soft nibs? Do you have advice for me? Thanks a lot!

Hello! I'm not sure this is the right place to ask this. If it's not, I apologise. I'm very new to FPN. Still figuring things out I suppose! Anyways, I want to get myself a Pilot CH91 or 92 for my birthday this month. I'm not actually looking to buy a 74, but I thought I'd put it in the title as well since it's a more popular pen than the 91 and 92, and it uses the same nib section. Like the title says: I'm looking for a permanent ink that flows well in any of the aforementioned pens. I currently don't have any inks that are even remotely waterproof (mostly Waterman and Pelikan 4001s). I'd like to have some permanent inks for daily carry. I'm currently looking at buying Noodler's Black, KWZ Iron Gall Mandarin and KWZ Iron Gall Turquoise. I'll probably put the Iron Galls in my Parker 45 mostly, and the Noodler's was the permanent ink I was thinking I'd get for the 92. However, I've heard people have had some flow issues with this ink. If anyone has tried the KWZ IGs in their Pilots, I'd also be interested in knowing your experiences. I'll definitely get a bottle of Pilot Blue Black as well, but it's not really permanent. Do you have any suggestions for a permanent ink that will flow well in a Pilot 74/91/92? Preferably a blue black or a black. Also, do you have any experience with KWZ IG and Noodler's Black in a Pilot? Would you say they are a good match? I'd be so grateful if you guys can help me find the right ink. I have no experience with either Pilot pens or permanent inks, and as you know there are so many inks to choose from. I just have no idea what to pick! Initially I just wanted to go with Noodler's, because it's both permanent and I think a wet ink, which I thought would go well with the drier Pilot. Thanks

Hello everyone, I got a few months ago a Pilot CH 91 with an extra fine nib. I have been using the pilot blue ink in cartridge and I want to know if some of you with this nib EF have the same issues as I have. I understand that extra fine nib will be on a scratchy/ toothy side, I dont know exactly how one would define it. But I think may be something wrong. I guess it has a small sweet spot and outside of it it doesn't write very well. And aside when I write the ascending strokes, loops of the l, f, etc (I write in cursive) the line is barely not visible, not consistent, like skipping. Sorry, I dont have the pen with me right now and I can't provide writing samples. Would it improve with a different ink? Which ink have you used with extra fine nibs, getting good results? Would it improve with a nib work? Something not harmful that I could try? How would you describe your pilot extra fine? Thank you very much for taking the time to read it.

Hello all, I decided to swap the Medium nib from Custom 74 & the Fine-medium (FM) nib from Custom Heritage 91. This has been discussed at length before, as many Pilot models use the same size #5 gold nibs. My question is whether the feeds should stay with their original grip sections or go with the original nibs. I understand that in theory the feeds should be identical (and they do look identical), but they do feel a little different when mated to the other nibs & grip sections. Is it possible to generalize on what would be the best approach? Are feeds & grip sections individually mated or are feeds and nibs or does it all depend? Thank you

I ordered a Custom 74 but ended up with a Custom Heritage 91 with an fm nib. I've come to love it and it's my favorite writer at the moment. I'm able to get some nice line variation with it. Not as much as with an Ahab, but a good amount without feeling like I am straining the nib or bending it. Would this be considered a soft nib? Or do gold nibs just give some flex more easily than steel? I've been able to get flex when I push hard out of a TWSBI Vac 700, a Metropolitan, and a Prera, but it's difficult and I don't do it often for fear of bending the nib. But with the 14k nib on the CH91 I don't worry about that. It feels very natural to flex. I've used an Ahab and wouldn't consider flexing it anything like that (I did ended up bending my nib on the Ahab quite badly). I'm just curious because I've got a Falcon coming my way and I'd like to know what to expect.