What Chinese Pens Are You Using Today?

[richardandtracy]

Ho hum.

Still waiting for my Huashilai something or other with a tiger eye barrel.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[flugella]

My Jinhao 159 arrived today. Holy cow it's BIG! I wasn't expecting it to be quite so big, yet it feels really comfy in my hand. My nurse looked at it and said, "OK, we get the message, it's a fountain pen!". Not quite sure that's the right response... Haven't inked it up yet though...

[silverfish]

I got one of 'em TWSBI pens from Taiwan today, a Diamond 540.

 

So far very good, writes well straight out of the box. Hope it makes a good workhorse, and dosen't buck the trend ... (Sorry about the humour [note spelling!] - but I can't be too serious about pens - Ha, Ha!!)

[51ISH]

I'm still waiting on my Kaigelu 356

 

But making do with my K323 ...Dolce-vita Naranja....and Jinaho 159

[richardandtracy]

While I was bemoaning the fact I hadn't got my Huashilai, it was at home waiting for me.

 

I have it with me today, along with a Kaigelu 316. The two pens are similar, ver similar, but the Huashilai is distinctly lower quality throughout and doesn't have the solidity and class of the Kaigelu.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Jennings]

Oh man...I opened this thread just to mention that I was updating addresses in my Filofax with my Hero 329 fine nib pen (which I'm very impressed with for the price), and on reading what some of what you folks have written I've just hit BIN on a Jinhao 159 auction!!! Look what you lot do to me!!! Oh well...sit back and wait a few weeks for that one to pop up in the post!

[Jennings]

Damn...and now a Kaigelu 316 is on the way too!!!

[flugella]

I've just ordered a Kaigelu 316 too... Well, daughter (with help from me) has bought me a 48 pen leather holder for my birthday on Saturday and it would be rude not to fill it.... My hubby says you lot are definitely a bad influence, but what does he know eh??! ;-)

[richardandtracy]

:roflmho:

 

The K316 is a really nice pen - one of mine is with me at the moment and it ouzes quality. I wish the Huashilai was as good, but at £3.56 inc postage, you cannot complain.

 

Finally I have found a model number for the Huashilai, it's referred to as the A-053 on the Huashilai manufacturer's page on Alibaba ( http://huashilai.en....Exhibition.html ). The other printed 'celluloid' one I have is the 774. Must do reviews of these.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

Edited October 3, 2012 by richardandtracy

[robofkent]

I now have a Duke 209 thanks to Richard lol

[Jennings]

Oh dear...it's getting serious! Where can I find a Haolilai 601F? I googled it and found a pic of a drool-worthy amber marble jobbie which I think might be an 801. But I can't see one for sale like that anywhere.

Edited October 3, 2012 by Jennings

[richardandtracy]

That's probably just as well!

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[robofkent]

Sorry but today has been exclusively a German pen day as I have used a Diplomat and a Faber-Castell!

[51ISH]

Oh dear...it's getting serious! Where can I find a Haolilai 601F? I googled it and found a pic of a drool-worthy amber marble jobbie which I think might be an 801. But I can't see one for sale like that anywhere.

 

 

Is this the pen? Well one of them should be as the 601F and 801F are both here :roflmho:

 

 

http://www.isellpens.com/haolilai.html

 

 

If it is I haven't seen them for sale anywhere else but here...which may or may not be a problem with extra postage, at least for the 801 ....601 should be OK

and additional charges as it is from the US

 

Oh, and if you was the OP .....you 'caused' me to buy at least 4 Chinese pens....and I am still looking at 2 others and saying ....."I don't 'need' another pen"

Edited October 4, 2012 by 51ISH

[Jennings]

Ah yes...that's the pen I started to drool over when I was googling! I've managed to hold off the trigger though for now...I'm supposed to be down rather than up-sizing! Mind you, I'm starting to be hypnotized by those amber swirls...not sure how much longer I can hold out. Wish it had a screw-on cap though.

[richardandtracy]

The Huashilai A053 and still comparing it with my Kaigelu 316. The two are as below:

http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx356/richardandtracy/Reviews/HuashilaiA053Picture1.jpg

http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx356/richardandtracy/Reviews/HuashilaiA053Picture2.jpg

 

The Huashilai cap is a painted brass tube, but seems to share the same finial, clip and cap rings as the Kaigelu. The cap is a snap cap, with a huge plastic liner, but the pen doesn't orient itself well when capping. The cap lip is metal.

The barrel is a bit too transparent for my liking in the orange areas, and has none of the pearlescence of the K316 in the black areas.

The barrel finial & top ring seem very similar to the K316, but the edge is quite sharp on the finial & the paint on the corner won't take long to wear off the base metal.

The section shape isn't quite as comfortable as the K316.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Jennings]

So the 316 is certainly a league up, in your opinion, than the A053? Can't wait for mine to arrive!

[richardandtracy]

Definitely a league up.

It feels a quality pen and I'm happy to use it interchangably with my Duofold Centennial. It isn't quite as comfortable as the centennial because the balance isn't quite right (due to the metal barrel finial), but it is very nice. I only wish the plating on the cap rings and clip was thicker, because if it was, then it would compete directly on every level with the centennial.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[51ISH]

Definitely a league up.

It feels a quality pen and I'm happy to use it interchangably with my Duofold Centennial. It isn't quite as comfortable as the centennial because the balance isn't quite right (due to the metal barrel finial), but it is very nice. I only wish the plating on the cap rings and clip was thicker, because if it was, then it would compete directly on every level with the centennial.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

Richard

 

I notice my Kaigelu 323 drys up if left for a few days.....wet the nib, or twist the converter a little and it's fine...have you noticed this problem with any of your Keigelu's? I don't really want to do any 'adjustments' as the pen is just about perfect when writing as it is ....

 

Oh forgot to say I am using Diamine Evergreen....and I haven't tried anything else in it yet...so that may be a culprit

Edited October 7, 2012 by 51ISH

[richardandtracy]

No, I've never had the problem of any of mine drying up, least of all the K323. That Diamine is a colour I've never used, but I have used Diamine Turqoise in mine & never had a problem.

Just wondering if the cap is fully sealed. Does air escape if you blow into it? Doesn't on mine, so if it does on yours there may be an air leak somewhere.

 

Today I have my Huashilai A-053 with me. I'm trying to love it.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.