Search the Community

Greetings All, Pardon the sloppiness (and embarrassing typos everywhere, even the first word ), but I wanted to get out this review as soon as possible because I'm so excited about this pen. I've had a lot of bad luck with Chinese pens (Hero's have been anything but my hero), but so far no Jinhao nib has ever failed me and their quality seems to be getting even better. Here are my comments and some writings samples about the new Jinhao 992. It's currently available in all colors on Ebay and probably places like Aliexpress as well. Writing sample on a cheap little notepad: Final Run-down Pros: - Quality construction - Superb converter that holds a good amount of ink - Toothless smooth nib - Flawless flow - Nib and feed easily removable for thorough cleaning (perfect for using those troublesome yet beautiful Noodler's inks) - Lightweight - Cap posts well (no slipping or popping off) - Screw on cap - Great color selection - The price! Cons: - Unbalanced when posted - Might be too small for larger hands when not posted [Addendum: Some pictures from the seller I bought from...]

Any suggestions for a very smooth ergonomic writer at a minimum feedback which can be comfortably used for 3-4 hours at stretch within 50$? (excluding preppy and plaisir).

I am a university student in continental europe on a search for a very wet, very smooth writer. I want to have the feeling of writing on glass, and I don't want to have to worry about the ink flow, while I am feverishly taking notes during class. The paper is not the problem because I use Oxford 90 gsm paper. Does anyone have an idea how to make a feed bleed more? Can anyone recommend a reliable very smooth and very wet pen that I could ask for for my upcoming birthday in April? When I say very wet and very smooth, I think of my grandfather's Montblanc 149 with a F nib. This is however not my pen or a student pen. I also enjoy the writing experience of my mother's Pelikan M200 (1988-1997) with a B nib, however the piston mechanism doesn't work anymore and because it's the Old Style I don't know where to bring it to have it fixed. Last year, I was still able to use a Kaweco Sport with an EF nib, which is a smooth writer, but it didn't have the flow to back it up, i.e. even after an attempt or two to make the nib wetter, I gave up on the pen. This year, I have been using a PenBBS 355 with a Jinhao M/B (0.7mm) nib. This pen writes smooth as well, and I have been able to make the nib much wetter, but twice I have pushed the nib too far, spread the tines, and now sometimes when I put down too much pressure the tines will separate and no ink will flow. Luckily, I have two replacement Jinhao nibs, but for now I'll stick with the wet nib I have. In the first half an hour of use, the pen writes exactly how I want it to, and it exudes ink as freely as what might be considered too wet for the japanese market. However, the feed cannot keep up, and soon afterwards, I have to put down pressure to get the same amount of ink on the paper. This is an endless feedback loop of wetting the nib, spreading the tines, and then fixing the nib to make sure the nibs don't spread too much. Any tips, tricks, and suggestions for a better nib and pen would be greatly appreciated.

My favorite fountain pens are Waterman Carene (medium) and Sailor Pro Gear (broad). I find my Pineider Avatar (medium) and Estie (medium and broad) fountain pens to be pretty/beautiful but not exceptional writers. I enjoy the metal weight/solidity of the Carene and love the lines laid down by my two Watermans (both mediums) and my Sailors (Pro Gear and 1911). Are steel nibs by nature boring (will the Diplomat nib be the same Jowo as my Estie?) or will a Diplomat Excellence nib be both smooth and have character? Would a Diplomat Excellence (Evergreen with broad steel nib) be a good choice for me? Something else? I grew up with Parker but in recent years have expanded and would be grateful for guidance. I joined today because participants are so insightful and generous with their knowledge.

Black ink. Sigh. It's time for me to get a new bottle of black ink. I've narrowed it down to these four: Skrip Black Monteverde Midnight Diamine Onyx Namiki Pilot Which of the above is blackest, laying down a smooth dense line that doesn't feather AND which plays well with many different pens? (Unless there's a MV ink I haven't thought of). Already owned: JH Perle Noire Pelikan Quink Levenger Raven (horribly feathery, apropos I guess) Waterman MV Black Ash Vintage MB that I hesitate to use too often Thanks for your help!

Hello again to all my FP-friends, Allow me to introduce to you the Jinhao 992’s oddly named and somewhat homely younger sister—the 991. This pen comes in both an EF (0.38) hooded nib and F open nib version. Since the nib, feed, housing, and converter on the F nib version are identical to that of the 992, it goes without saying that the 991 writes just as well and has the same smooth nib and flawless flow. All I had to do was put ink in the converter (I don’t like sticking my pens in bottles), put the converter back in the pen, and within just a few seconds the pen was writing a juicy medium-side-of-fine line. I can’t speak for the EF version because the black hooded nib was just too ugly to look at. Nib options: (Taobao) Color options: (Taobao) Appearance & Design There is no question as to where the design came from: The appearance is my least favorite part about the 991. Who would want to own a fountain pen that looks just like a disposable roller-ball?? The only saving factor is that it’s a demonstrator (and, of course, a fountain pen). The coffee brown tint on this model gives it an extra bit of class over the dull black Uni-ball. Looks aside, the matte finish on the cap and barrel adds a nice tactile feel. The whole pen is notably thinner than the 992 and almost as long as the X750. If you wanted a significantly thinner and lighter alternative to the X750, then you’ll probably enjoy using the 991. The section is long and slender and will be comfortable no matter where you grasp it. The design is utilitarian and comfortable, even if boring and unoriginal. I could easily write with this pen for hours on end with no fatigue. Construction I was at first concerned about the durability of the 991. The plastic is noticeably thinner and has just a tad more “give” to it than that of the 992. The thickness and strength of the plastic reminded me a lot of a Platinum Preppy (see below). In fact, I’d say the 991 is Jinhao’s answer to the Preppy (and a more cost-effective answer at that). Despite these initial concerns, after much squeezing of both barrel and cap on the 991 and a Preppy, the 991 is clearly more durable. If you like Preppies and use them regularly without cracking the cap or barrel, then you’ll love this pen! I’m just slightly more apprehensive with this pen than with the 992 about throwing it in my bag unprotected, but I don’t think you’ll have to wrap tape around the joints to prevent cracking the way I always have to with my Preppies. Jinhao 992 and 991: Jinhao 991 and Platinum Preppy barrels: And now the million yuan question, “Does it come cracked like the 992?” After examining the whole pen with a loupe for quite some time over two days, I can assure you that at least my specimen has NO CRACKS whatsoever. [What might appear to be cracks in the photos below are injection molding seams and a few scratches in the plastic.] I’ll give you an update after a few weeks of use, but I don’t foresee cracking as a problem. The end of the barrel does have a plug in it, but it is quite different than that of the 992. The plug takes up the whole end of the barrel, as is also the case with the finial on the cap. If you’re one of those brave souls who likes to eyedropperize pens, then this pen is worth your consideration. The seal on the barrel plug is airtight. I also filled the barrel with water and shook it vigorously for a while and there were no leaks. My only hesitation about using this as an eyedropper filler is that the pen is very slender and will probably heat up quickly from hand warmth and start burping, as might occur with a Preppy. Also note that, unlike the 992, this pen does not come with an O-ring, so you’ll have to supply your own and probably apply some silicone grease to the threads just to be safe. One nice point is that the threading is much finer than on the Preppy and thus provides a tighter seal. Weight & Dimensions Numbers mean little to me when I’m thinking about what is comfortable in my hand, so here are some comparison shots with other common pens to give you an idea of the physical dimensions of the 991. From left to right: Jinhao 992, Jinhao 991, Platinum Preppy 02, Jinhao X750, Parker 45, Parker 51, Lamy Safari The 991 is a very light pen. It has no heft at all when unposted and feels back-heavy and unbalanced when posted (at least for my small hands). Concluding Remarks Although the 991 lacks much of the appeal of the 992, it also lacks its problems. I’m not fond of the shape and general appearance of this pen, but it’s a pleasure to write with and extremely comfortable to hold (unposted, in my case). This pen was designed to write and write and write effortlessly, although some may be uncomfortable with the slender body and light weight. Nib options are limited to EF and F, but you can easily remove the nib on the open nib model and put in another. TWSBI ECO nibs fit well and perhaps a standard #5 would work as well. I’ll have to get back to you on that once my JoWo #5 architect grind arrives. I recommend the Jinhao 991 over the Platinum Preppy for the following reasons: (1) its nib is just as smooth as an 05 Preppy; (2) its material is sturdier; (3) it comes with its own converter that holds a lot of ink; (4) it comes in several colors with no painted on branding to remove; (5) it’s about half the price of a Preppy, depending on where you live. This pen is a perfect choice for your “fountain penvangelism” efforts and is just nice to have around for trying funky inks you may be afraid to put in nicer pens. This pen is so affordable that, if you can tolerate its underwhelming physique, it’s worth at least owning a couple.

A while back, I purchased a fountain pen called the Indus from Fountain Pen Revolution. With that pen, you get an integrated, piston-filler (capable of full disassembly) with a very smooth steel nib with ebonite feed. However, that pen had some quirks (like a wiggly clip, a weird smell, and a very skinny grip) that made it less than perfect, even at that price point. I still like and use my Indus, mainly because of its most excellent nib, but I don't love it as much as I could. For those who don't know, Fountain Pen Revolution (hereafter FPR) is a brand dedicated to low-cost fountain pens, all of which are manufactured in India. India produces some excellent pens--evidenced by the fact that some well-known brands (Stipula and Esterbrook come to mind) rebrand and price-up lesser-known Indian brands for the US fountain pen market. FPR is run by Kevin Theimann, a wonderfully friendly chap who is likely to send you a personal email thanking you for making an order. He's good people, and I'm hoping he succeeds with this business model. After getting my Indus, and perusing some other models on the FPR site, I was intrigued enough to try again. This time, I went for the "Himalaya" model: A thicker pen than the Indus, with a push-pull piston converter (think Noodler's Neponset), and the same #5.5 steel nib and a larger ebonite feed. I chose the Indigo Blue acrylic finish. When I opened the pen, all I could say was "Wow." The blue acrylic is simply stunning, with deep chatoyance and multiple swirls of color. I have two other pens with similar finish: a Levenger True Writer Classic and a Retro 1951 Tornado, and the Himalaya is more beautiful than either of those. The pen is of medium length and width, I’d say; almost the perfect size. I have large hands, and it fits me perfectly. I’d wager smaller hands would find it just as comfortable. The screw cap can be removed in one full rotation, and posts securely with an almost undetectable click. Posted, the pen measures just about 6 inches, which to my mind is just about the perfect length for writing. The grip section is nicely tapered with a flare at the nib end to keep your fingers from sliding off onto the nib. I’d almost wish the nib were larger, but the way this nib writes I can’t complain about that. The pen’s converter works perfectly. It screws into the section and there was already some silicone grease on the threads to ensure a good seal. I’ll make a note to replenish that from time to time. I inked it with Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-Peki to match the pen’s aesthetic, and did a quick writing test. Again, wow. This pen writes. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 meaning the nib slips across the paper as if it were made of ice, I give it a solid 8.5. My Waterman Expert 3 medium is a 9, and my TWSBI Diamond 580 broad is a 9.5. The Himalaya is a very smooth writer, and it’s already destined for my regular EDC rotation. I keep coming back to the price of this thing, but I can’t ignore it. I can’t think of another pen under $30 that looks and writes as well as this one. And don’t give me Lamy Safari and Pilot Metropolitan, those pens are good and all, but *yawn*. This is a beautiful pen with character, one that you won’t be afraid to take to the boardroom, and also one you won’t be too afraid of losing. If you haven’t yet checked out FPR, I recommend you do so today: the site is www.fountainpenrevolution.com.

Hello again to all my FPN friends, I know anytime you use the word "best" for something as subjective as a fountain pen you'll get varied responses, but that's what I'm hoping for. Here's my question for you all: In your opinion, what is the best gold-nibbed Chinese pen (a Chinese branded pen, not just a pen made in China) available on the market today? Along with your recommendation, please explain why the nib feels great to you and what you like about both the pen and nib. What does the nib feel like on the paper? How much feedback? Including that information will help others decide whether the pen is a good choice for them. Thanks in advance for your contributions!

I am on the market for a new fountain pen and I have shortlisted these 2 brands: Sailor and Pelikan. My budget is around USD 500. I like the form factor of the models under both the Sailor and the Pelikan. My deciding factor would be the nib smoothness. I understand that nib smoothness depends on several factors, like paper type and so on. Assuming paper type is the same, which brand has the smoothest nib in my price range? There are mixed feelings about nib smoothness of each brand in the reviews I've read. This is why I am asking this question here. People who own both brands (or have tried each brand) may be of some help. In some reviews, the Sailors are claimed as having "buttery smooth" nibs! How far is that claim true?

I love Pilot Elite E95S Fountain Pen, but I wish it was a bit longer since I have long fingers. Its the right weight, right balance, classic look of a fountain pen, and I love how the cap slips off and on easily, no screws, which makes it a pen to go to immediately in order to jot a note or plunge into writing. Are there other pens that have that classic design, long enough for my hand, and the cap slips off easily in order to get down to writing? Pens are tools for me and I wish for a pen to have it all so I can write and write and write. And yes, Im familiar with Lamy 2000 as a good workhorse pen. What are some other recommendations, please? No screw caps please.

Hello everyone. I'm new to this. Is there a permanent ink that does not clog or dry in the pen (nib?) if the pen is not used for a week or more? And, a permanent ink that flows well, is "wet", and easy to clean out of the pen? If I only use the pen several times a month for check writing, etc, is that enough? I have several Pelicans, a Sailor 1911, and a couple cheapies. Thanks so much for your help. Newbie here. Aloha jim

Aloha Everyone, Newbie here. I am starting to find out that I like an ink that flows well when writing. I guess that is called "wet"? because the ink is lubricated? I have the following inks, which ones are the "wettest". Aurora Black Aurora Blue Waterman Paris Black Diamine Majestic Blue I have 2 pelicans and a sailor. Any suggestions for an ink that flows better than what I have? Thanks so much for your help. mahalo jim

Hello again to all my FP friends, I've got two English-made Parker Duofold Juniors from the 1950s, both bought from different sellers in different countries. One has a medium nib and the other a broad oblique stub nib and both are the smoothest nibs imaginable. I mean, ridiculously butter smooth with some nice softness to boot. However, they both have are extremely dry writers that won't write at all unless some pressure is applied. I've tried improving flow by using a brass shim to open up the tines a little and it has helped some, but I'm just wondering if this is a common trait of UK Duofolds. Could the smoothness be related to a baby's bottom issue? Has anyone had similar experiences? If so, what did you do to solve the issue? Thanks!

I currently have two pens I use very consistently: a Pelikan M800 with cursive ital. nib that I ground and a PFM III, also with a cursive italic that I ground. Both pens are very smooth, wonderful writers. This is the perfect size for me, and I tend to like the M800 better in terms of weight. OK, so what might be a 3rd large pen to add to these two? I have a modern, very slightly used Aurora 88 that I plan to sell—can't go with the play of the nib on the paper. I can, of course, get another Pelikan, and I am open to a vintage pen. So what might be next? Thanks in advance for the help. George

I'm looking to buy a second fountain pen that is a smooth as possible, and under $50. I currently have a Metropolitan with a fine nib and have considered the Pilot 78G, but I have heard the nib on the 78G is about the same as the Metro. I'm hoping to find a very smooth pen with minimal feedback that writes about as thick as a .5 mm rollerball. I've researched some pens, and I'm considering purchasing a Faber Castell Loom with a fine nib since I've heard its the smoothest writer at this price point. Other options I have thought about were buying some micro mesh or mylar paper and smoothing out my current pen, or purchasing another metropolitan with a medium nib. I know paper affects the smoothness of a pen, but the paper I have available is usually pretty low quality. I have also heard good things about the Twisbi Eco, but I'm not a fan of demonstrators, and the Eco looks too fragile to be an everyday pen. Thank you for any suggestions.

Hey Guys, I am currently a Junior at high school and a big fan of fountain pens, as a student I only use fountain pens with the exception of a Rotring 500 for math. My experience with some fountain pens has been great, others not so much. I started out with a Lamy Safari in Medium, accidentally dropped it after a couple of months and broke the nib. I then got a Lamy AL Star (M), which had an incredibly smooth nib, at the same time I got a new Safari (M) to put another ink in, and it had a very bad nib, straight out of the box the tines were very uneven, and the bead at the end was beyond fixing, and there was absolutely nothing that can be done to fix that nib. I received a Parker IM for Christmas, which was a complete disappointment, very scratchy, and generally low quality nib same with another Parker Jotter I got. I take very good care of my pens and frequently wash them and clean them and my ink of choice is the Pelikan 4001. I want to invest in a new pen, one that I can keep for years as a daily pen, price is not the biggest issue, since I intend to save for it. I want something that has consistent quality, ruggedness, and smoothness, basically an everyday pen. I want it to be a step up from my Lamys and Parkers. Tl:Dr A Student looking for a reliable, high quality, rugged, smooth, and utility pen. Price is no issue. Through trials on lower end pens: Lamy Steel nibs, Can be very smooth, but can also be terrible. Generally non consistent quality. Parker IM and Jotter: Complete and utter disaster, even when changing inks, papers, and frequent washes. I want a pen to invest in, what are my options? Thanks in advance.

This one has often been puzzled by those who seek to increase the wetness of a given nib. If a nib lays down a consistent and even line, what then is the purpose behind this desire for more flow? More understandable is the reduction of an overly wet nib to one that is usable. One initial thought was to make the nib to page interface smoother, but beyond there is only so much ink that can fit between these two surfaces. It’s all a bit of a mystery, so could someone please explain the reasoning behind personal flow preferences please?

I have 12,000 grit micro-mesh, and 1.0 and 0.3 micron mylar paper. I find that the micro-mesh gives me a smoother nib...I thought it was meant to be the opposite? What are your experiences?

Greetings everybody. I am a new friend here and I really need your help and advice. I have been in search for the perfect pen. I have Lamy 2000 fine nib but I am not highly impressed. It is not as smooth I would love liked. There is a bit of a tooth that I don't want. Grip is okay but I don't like the tabs on the side that cause the cap to fit in. I have Faber Castel Loom and I was really disappointed and I could not sell it. It is a bit bulky for one thing and it does give some feedback, which I hate. I I want to hold the pen and it would feel comfortable in my hand, as if it's part of my own body and I can write for hours and never feel a bit of discomfort. Pens already gave me a writer's bump and I tried to cure them and I still have a bit of a bump on my middle finger from writing. I am being protective of my fingers here as I want to eliminate those bumps. Generally I am not picky with pens and I write with any pen that writes, but since I saw the bump on my middle finger and how it doesn't go away; it is still there, I decided to do something in the interest of my health. Believe me it isn't a question of vanity. I am not a collector and I don't want to as I cherish simplicity in life. But I simply want a good fountain pen that glides across the page, that gives no feedback, that is butter smooth, that is a joy to hold in my hand and it is ergonomic and a perfect fit for me. Could you please advise me? Thanks form the bottom of my heart. Ibrahim NC, US

I have a fountain pen with xxxxxf needlepoint nib that writes very well on very smooth papers, given that I use zero pressure on the nib (a.k.a. the pen Zen technique), which I have trained myself to do with all my fountain pens. I have a sample of Tomoe River paper here and like it a lot. But I can`t get TR in Germany, so I`m looking for an alternative in shape of loose sheets - some fountain pen friendly copier/printer paper would be ideal for me for I write and draw on a daily basis and using up 50 sheets of paper is nothing. I am through HP, Soennecken and Papyrus papers already and they all don`t do it for me, especially not with such a fine nib. What I want from a good paper is that the surface is smooth and the lines I`m drawing on it don`t bleed through or get narrower or wider in any way. And that`s why the aforementioned papers aren`t my cup of tea. Are there any other brands of printer or copier paper out there that fulfill my recommendations plus are available in Europe?

Hi, I just got this pen off fleabay. It is a very pretty pen, but it was a bit scratchy and balky unless the nib was wet. However, the line is smooth and very juicy! Under the loupe I could see the tines were misaligned, and a bit of baby's bottom However, the it is just possible to see above that the slit on the nib was twisted and the edges of the top of the nib were also out of whack; this could have been if one side had been dropped, or a repair job. I am puzzled. There is no damage evident anywhere else. Anyhow, I got at the overlap with some 1200 grit wet and dry, followed by orange mylar and lastly a couple of passes of micromesh it is smooth as a babys bottom, butter smooth, a fat line and still lovely juicy feed. By the way, although I have a very nice camera with a macro bellows, these were taken with a modified fisheye adapter for my old iphone 3. It works pretty well Oh, and for looking down pen barrels and into pen caps, this helps: It is a white LED wired to a little torch and heat shrinked to a copper wire. I can bite the battery to switch the light on with both hands free. Its it very handy!

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

I recently found my grandpa's old sheaffer 550 F nib fountain pen sitting in his basement. I inked it up and tried it out and absolutely LOVED it. It wrote super fine and dry, but it was buttery smooth. Additionally, it appears to be a pretty springy, soft nib, as I can squeeze some fun line variation. However, it is my grandpa's pen and I intend to return it soon. I was wondering if anyone had tried a sheaffer 550 F nib and knew another pen that was similarly fine and dry, yet buttery smooth and has similar flex AND is hopefully cheaper than a normal sheaffer 550. I would like <$30 and prefer a metal body, but the metal body isn't as important.

Since I'm going to university after this summer, I thought it would be a nice idea to buy myself a new fountain pen. I've always been extremely fond of my Sheaffer Sentinel which I got from my dad, but I'd just like to have a second pen in the price range from €0 to €60. I've been looking at Sheaffer of course and I like the Agio. But the Diplomat Traveller also drew my attention as a nice looking pen. I don't like thick pens, or complete plastic (read: Lamy) ones. But what's more important to me is the weight (light), feedback (real smooth) and writing (fine). When I was younger I owned a Waterman Kultur which I think was rather scratchy and an even scratchier Schneider. Any advise would be appreciated!