The Haolilai 801F

[isellpens]

These are back in stock at: www.isellpens.com . I have a small supply that will not last too long.

[acolythe]

I received my 801 5 days ago. By the third day i noticed a gold band formning int eh black ?lacquer? on teh finger grip. At first there was only a little gold gleam now I nearly have a complete ring. I assume this is the brass under the lacquer and that the lacquer is being abraided by the part of the pen cap that snaps on in this region.

i am also starting to notice the pen run dry while writing or if left uncapped more than a few seconds.

Is anyone else having these problems?

acolythe

[Jazzbaby]

I received my 801 5 days ago. By the third day i noticed a gold band formning int eh black ?lacquer? on teh finger grip. At first there was only a little gold gleam now I nearly have a complete ring. I assume this is the brass under the lacquer and that the lacquer is being abraided by the part of the pen cap that snaps on in this region.

i am also starting to notice the pen run dry while writing or if left uncapped more than a few seconds.

Is anyone else having these problems?

acolythe

 

 

Haven't noticed any wear on the lacquer, but I haven't used mine a whole lot yet. Also I am very careful how I treat my pens & almost never post. My Haolilai has been inked ever since I got it about 6 weeks ago and have no drying problems. If left uncapped for a while, even 20 min., the ink does look a bit darker for a few words, but that happens with most pens.

 

It was suggested that this pen writes with a bit of flex. Not mine, or at least not with my very light touch. I'm always worried that I will bend the nibs so I just let the pen slide over the paper.

[acolythe]

I do not post my pens either. the brass is showing through the grip area ( the black part) This must be where the cap contacts the pen?

b

[Jazzbaby]

I do not post my pens either. the brass is showing through the grip area ( the black part) This must be where the cap contacts the pen?

b

 

 

Must be. Odd though. I'll take a really good look at mine next time I'm at that desk. as you say, it could be that some part of the cap rubs on the pen. Have you had yours long? Skin is acidic, but I wouldn't think there should be acid wear over a short period of time.

[acolythe]

I do not post my pens either. the brass is showing through the grip area ( the black part) This must be where the cap contacts the pen?

b

 

 

Must be. Odd though. I'll take a really good look at mine next time I'm at that desk. as you say, it could be that some part of the cap rubs on the pen. Have you had yours long? Skin is acidic, but I wouldn't think there should be acid wear over a short period of time.

about 2 weeks now. The black grip area now has a nearly complete ring

Barry

[Jazzbaby]

I do not post my pens either. the brass is showing through the grip area ( the black part) This must be where the cap contacts the pen?

b

 

 

Must be. Odd though. I'll take a really good look at mine next time I'm at that desk. as you say, it could be that some part of the cap rubs on the pen. Have you had yours long? Skin is acidic, but I wouldn't think there should be acid wear over a short period of time.

about 2 weeks now. The black grip area now has a nearly complete ring

Barry

 

 

Hi Barry. I just checked mine & there is no wear showing at all on the grip, or any other part for that matter. However, as I already mentioned, I have not used it a whole lot yet - total of maybe 15 - 20 hours of writing so far. I'll keep an eye on it and see what develops over the next month or twp.

[acolythe]

I do not post my pens either. the brass is showing through the grip area ( the black part) This must be where the cap contacts the pen?

b

 

 

Must be. Odd though. I'll take a really good look at mine next time I'm at that desk. as you say, it could be that some part of the cap rubs on the pen. Have you had yours long? Skin is acidic, but I wouldn't think there should be acid wear over a short period of time.

about 2 weeks now. The black grip area now has a nearly complete ring

Barry

 

 

Hi Barry. I just checked mine & there is no wear showing at all on the grip, or any other part for that matter. However, as I already mentioned, I have not used it a whole lot yet - total of maybe 15 - 20 hours of writing so far. I'll keep an eye on it and see what develops over the next month or twp.

 

It is a brass ring very thin. Not acid from fingers. I have had mine about 3 weeks and the ring gets more pronounced every few days. I am certain this si where the pen cap grips the body now. If it is happeneing to otheres there is no snese in me getting another. But if its a fluke, perhaps I will get another. Currently i have on order a Danitrio densho raw ebonite, a Sailor Sapporo, a cross verve and a Schaeffer legacy. The latter two were demosntrators. Feeling a little tapped out at the moment and as though I may have to go to a meeting and stand up and say My name is Barry and i am a fountainpenaholic.

 

[Maja]

Hi Barry (acolythe),

I checked my Haolilai 801F last night and I noticed some wearing away of the colour of my pen's grip section, too!

 

I looked inside the cap and I saw some small particles of black material stuck on the inner cap liner. I have only used the pen a few times, but I suspect it is definitely due to the inner cap liner coming in contact with the grip section. I got the pen on eBay for less than retail, and the nib is really great so I am not complaining...but it will be interesting to see what happens to the section coating in the future. If it's just aesthetics, I don't think it will bother me all that much. If capping problems ensue, then it's a whole different ballgame!

Edited September 8, 2007 by Maja

[OldTasty]

I have this pen, and am having exactly the same problem -- I'm starting to see a ring around the black lacquer on the section, and when I look inside the pen, I see some black "smudges" that line up with the scuffed areas (I always cap my pen with the clip aligned with the top of the nib, so it's easy to match the abrasions with the inside of the cap).

 

I'd say this is a design flaw, which is a shame as I like the pen just fine otherwise. I've also only used this pen a few times, but am surprised to see the problem showing up so quickly. I'm going to use it as my primary for a few days and see what things look like next week.

 

OT

 

Hi Barry (acolythe),

I checked my Haolilai 801F last night and I noticed some wearing away of the colour of my pen's grip section, too!

 

I looked inside the cap and I saw some small particles of black material stuck on the inner cap liner. I have only used the pen a few times, but I suspect it is definitely due to the inner cap liner coming in contact with the grip section. I got the pen on eBay for less than retail, and the nib is really great so I am not complaining...but it will be interesting to see what happens to the section coating in the future. If it's just aesthetics, I don't think it will bother me all that much. If capping problems ensue, then it's a whole different ballgame!

Edited October 11, 2007 by OldTasty

[OldTasty]

One more strike against the pen -- the converter exploded, producing what you see in the image below: a black mess. I'll clean it out and see what happens, but I'm starting to think this pen has too many design/quality flaws to be a regular user.

 

 

I have this pen, and am having exactly the same problem -- I'm starting to see a black ring around the black lacquer on the section, and when I look inside the pen, I see some black "smudges" that line up with the scuffed areas (I always cap my pen with the clip aligned with the top of the nib, so it's easy to match the abrasions with the inside of the cap).

 

I'd say this is a design flaw, which is a shame as I like the pen just fine otherwise. I've also only used this pen a few times, but am surprised to see the problem showing up so quickly. I'm going to use it as my primary for a few days and see what things look like next week.

 

OT

Edited October 12, 2007 by OldTasty

[sam]

ouch!

[MYU]

The converter exploded? Didn't the owner's manual say you shouldn't use Noodler's Gunpowder Gray ink?

[Renzhe]

How do converters explode?

[OldTasty]

Explode may be a bit of hyperbole. but it appears the ink leaked out of the piston converter near area where the plastic section you twist meets the end of the reservoir. I'm guessing it's based on poor machining/manufacture. Frustrating because I like the way the pen writes, but when you combine the problem with the converter and the abrasion on the section caused by the cap that others mentioned above, you have a pen that's hard to recommend.

 

How do converters explode?

 

[lawdog2000]

I got this pen on ebay for such a low price I won't taunt you with it. I love it. Everything the review says is true, especially the part about catching yourself staring into the resin highlights. It is a truly beautiful example of the best of Chinese pens.

 

That being said, however, there is one little thing for the picky owner to beware of. The section will become scratched after just a little use, allowing what appears to be brass to show through. The result is long thin scratches running up and down the section all the way around. They in no way interfere with writing, but it's an unfortunate flaw in an otherwise exceptional pen.

[Agricola2301]

Hello,

 

similar to Old Tasty's experience the converter of my Haolilai was leaking making a mess in the rear piston, too... . Fortunately, the converter was only filled up to a 3rd of it's capacity and I could clean it up by putting it in my ultrasonic cleaning unit for 3 times using warm water with a small amount of dish liquid, now it looks like brandnew. After that, I'm using it with standard cartridges, maybe I'll buy a standard converter for it someday (a big "maybe").

 

But I haven't got that problem with the lacquer on the front shaft up to now, and I hope, that I'll be untroubled with it in future, because this fountain pen is a beautiful eye candy to look at .

Edited February 3, 2008 by Agricola2301

[Ondina]

Hello,

 

similar to Old Tasty's experience the converter of my Haolilai was leaking making a mess in the rear piston, too... . Fortunately, the converter was only filled up to a 3rd of it's capacity and I could clean it up by putting it in my ultrasonic cleaning unit for 3 times using warm water with a small amount of dish liquid, now it looks like brandnew. After that, I'm using it with standard cartridges, maybe I'll buy a standard converter for it someday (a big "maybe").

 

But I haven't got that problem with the lacquer on the front shaft up to now, and I hope, that I'll be untroubled with it in future, because this fountain pen is a beautiful eye candy to look at .

 

 

Hello. Can I ask, when you guys speak about a gold nib, do you mean Plated or Massive?. I've been looking to get one, just for the looks, but I can't find them any more on ebay or internet. A pity.

Edited February 4, 2008 by Ondina

[kadymae]

Hello. Can I ask, when you guys speak about a gold nib, do you mean Plated or Massive?.

 

No, they mean that the nib it self is fashioned out of 12, 14, or 18k gold.

 

In the case of the Haolilai 801 it's a piece of 14k gold.

[isellpens]

This model is back in stock at: www.isellpens.com .