What Chinese Pens Are You Using Today?

[richardandtracy]

Kaigelu 356 with Diamine imperial purple. I'm going to be working on the lathe today and may get time to make a new finial for the cap.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[sebastel23]

best wishes for a quick recovery to JR.

i'd also go for black/blue.

 

just today when developing an APX100 in rodinal, i recalled that colour of the used developer as _the_ colour of permanent ink in my childhood - my grandma used it in her accounting. it was a sort of dark blue with a shade of purple. but i have no idea what it actually was ...

 

using my new jinhao X750 today.

[51ISH]

I use Parker Quink Black in my Charcoal 316 (mostly), but I always test new pens with 50% diluted Pelikan 4001 Turquoise - as it's an ink I've been using regularly since 1992 and know how it should feel in the pen.

 

My amber/grey 316 has been out of use for a while because I prefer the charcoal. Not that the amber/grey is not nice, just that the pearlescence in the charcoal is more obvious and looks even more luxurious than in the amber/grey. I think, though, if my amber/grey looked like the one advertising the YCPENS's K316's, then I'd use it instead.

 

Has anyone tried the black Jinhao Century Mk2 advertised by YCPENS? If you have, could you let us know how dense the colour depth is on the material - basically can you see the c/c through it and is there any pearlesence in the material?

 

 

Today's pen is my Charcoal K316 and it is holding its own against a new Onoto Magna Classic (RRP more than 10x that of the Kaigelu). Both are amazing pens.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

 

I use Parker Quink Black in my Charcoal 316 (mostly), but I always test new pens with 50% diluted Pelikan 4001 Turquoise - as it's an ink I've been using regularly since 1992 and know how it should feel in the pen.

 

My amber/grey 316 has been out of use for a while because I prefer the charcoal. Not that the amber/grey is not nice, just that the pearlescence in the charcoal is more obvious and looks even more luxurious than in the amber/grey. I think, though, if my amber/grey looked like the one advertising the YCPENS's K316's, then I'd use it instead.

 

Has anyone tried the black Jinhao Century Mk2 advertised by YCPENS? If you have, could you let us know how dense the colour depth is on the material - basically can you see the c/c through it and is there any pearlesence in the material?

 

 

Today's pen is my Charcoal K316 and it is holding its own against a new Onoto Magna Classic (RRP more than 10x that of the Kaigelu). Both are amazing pens.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

The charcoal variety looks smarter and more refined. It's just that I covet and will probably (at some stage) buy a Duofold Chequered Amber; I see the purchase of the K 316 as a sort of try-out.

 

Thanks Richard for your well made, useful and very enjoyable reviews, outlining the differences between the original and the "homage".

 

The Century Mk2 isn't on display at YCPENS's ebay.co.uk shop (jewelrymathematics), I'm afraid (at least not for me).

 

What other Chinese higher end pens are there that aren't painted/laquered brass?

 

I was tempted to buy a Picasso 908:

 

http://http//i.ebayimg.com/t/Picasso-908-Century-Pioneer-Fountain-Pen-With-Box-/00/s/MzU0WDQ5Ng==/$%28KGrHqV,!iUE+Qn0NpCQBP6Hcrchog~~60_12.JPG

 

 

kaigelu 316 amber

 

 

Kaigelu 316 in charcoal today and once again I have Richard to thank for that recommendation, I'm liking it so far. I've got Noodlers Air Corps Blue Black in it which it seems to like, what inks are you using in your Kaigelus?

 

 

Kagelu 316 with Sailor Jentle Grenade and a Hero of unknown model number loaded with Iroshizuku Asa-Gao.

 

 

I think I need to get some Sailor ink at some point. My 356 is quite a dry writer whereas the 316 is laying down a much wetter line akin to a Parker medium nib. I have to say the colour of the charcoal 316 is so gorgeous!

 

 

OK...OK....I give up....I'll just order one.....Kaigelu 316 in Charcoal...I may as well....I will have to eventually....

My pen collection sure has grown since I started reading this thread

 

It can keep my Kaigelu 323....356....Beijing Jinxing ....Baoer 79.......Hero 5028.....Jinaho 159.....and Dolce-Vita Naranja company ... :roflmho: :roflmho: :roflmho:

[flugella]

This thread should come with a wallet warning, thank goodness they're not bank breaking pens unless you buy them in huge amounts!

[51ISH]

This thread should come with a wallet warning, thank goodness they're not bank breaking pens unless you buy them in huge amounts!

 

 

Oh......forgot to mention....and my Jinhao Century that I'm still waiting to receive.....

[51ISH]

Kaigelu 356 with Diamine imperial purple. I'm going to be working on the lathe today and may get time to make a new finial for the cap.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

I trust you have heating in that workshop Richard....

 

My garage feels like the Arctic at the moment ...

[sebastel23]

my new jinhao X750, sipping duke black ink.

it writes wet enough to earn the nickname "puddle". i'm happy to have the usual suspects as backup (hero 100, kaigelu 356, both loaded with hero blue-black). the hero 704 is now reserved for red ink.

 

 

Edited February 25, 2013 by sebastel23

[richardandtracy]

...I'm going to be working on the lathe today ...

 

I trust you have heating in that workshop Richard....

 

My garage feels like the Arctic at the moment ...

Erm no.

I don't have heating. I managed to stand it for just over an hour and had to give up.

I did succeed in making the metal parts I wanted to make - I have a customer who wants a kit pen, but the shape he wants only comes in a rollerball and he wants it as a pencil. This involves a bit of metalworking to adapt the rollerball to fit a pencil innards and then modify the top of the kit to advance the pencil with a twist mechanism (the button for most pencils is quite ugly). Whan I have finished it'll look exactly like the rollerball, but may be a little different in length, by a couple of mm. I may have to change the length of the matching fountain pen to suit too.

 

 

Todays pen, that charcoal K316 again.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[richardandtracy]

This thread should come with a wallet warning, ...

Your wish is my command...

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[flugella]

This thread should come with a wallet warning, ...

Your wish is my command...

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

LOVE it!

[zenephi001]

A white Picasso 916 Ultra Fine Accountancy pen - the reverse of this nib is even finer!

A black Picasso 907 Monmatre medium and very smooth - the back of the nib is nice as well, fine and smooth

Edited February 25, 2013 by zenephi001

[51ISH]

A white Picasso 916 Ultra Fine Accountancy pen - the reverse of this nib is even finer!

A black Picasso 907 Monmatre medium and very smooth - the back of the nib is nice as well, fine and smooth

 

Don't get me started on Picasso's.....

 

I keep looking at the Picasso 902 Gentlemans Platinum....

 

Anyone any experience of this pen?

[WetWetWet]

A lovely amber Kaigelu 316 arrived today and I've used it all day at work. A Wing Sung 2007 also arrived in the same package, but I must say it was a disappointment. The few Chinese pens I've bought (mostly on a whim), like Baoer 338, Jinhao 159 and now the Kaigelu 316 have all been very pleasant surprises, but the Wing Sung has the appearance, feel and writes like a very cheap pen. It's actually expensive at 5 USD (or whatever it cost).

 

The kaigelu 316 on the other hand

[zenephi001]

A white Picasso 916 Ultra Fine Accountancy pen - the reverse of this nib is even finer!

A black Picasso 907 Monmatre medium and very smooth - the back of the nib is nice as well, fine and smooth

 

Don't get me started on Picasso's.....

 

I keep looking at the Picasso 902 Gentlemans Platinum....

 

Anyone any experience of this pen?

 

Snap ... I like the look of this pen but I was originally put off because the nib was a medium ( I prefer fine Extra Fine or Italic ) ... Now I'm thinking I might attempt a reshaping / grinding / smoothing to make it a fine ' ish Italic .... perhaps in a little while ......

[doggonecarl]

Though I have had it a couple months, I just inked my Jinhao 159 with Visconti Brown. The pen is everything I read it would be, smooth and comfortable in the hand. Produces nice shading with the Visconti. The right ink for a good impression.

 

So, I've been using my Jinhao for a week. Still impressed. However, it's a hard starter if it sits more than a day. Is that just an inherent characteristic of the 159?

Edited February 26, 2013 by doggonecarl

[michaelggraham]

Just arrived today. I am liking this for the $. Time will tell.

Jinhao 159.

[richardandtracy]

My pen of the day is the Jinhao Century Mk2. The chrome is looking a bit tired on the cap rings, but it writes well.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Voormas]

KAIGELU 356 with MB Alfred Hitchcock ink.

 

The pen came with a modified crisp italic from an ebay seller in Singapore.

 

In connection with the MB ink a nice team :-)

[51ISH]

My pen of the day is the Jinhao Century Mk2. The chrome is looking a bit tired on the cap rings, but it writes well.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

 

Mine arrived in today's post ... :bunny01:

 

Nice deep blue that sort of creates a 'shimmer'/ 3D effect depending on how the light catches it...

 

The Chrome looks a little iffy on mine too...it has a little more heft than I envisaged, but that's OK....can't say as I am too keen on the clips they use either...but hey....for $16.....who's complaining....now which it to lob in there....Diamine Denim would fit the bill I reckon....although I haven't a pen with Oxblood in at the minute...

Decisions...Decisions....

Edited February 26, 2013 by 51ISH

[richardandtracy]

I accidentally discovered yesterday that the cap finial on the Mk2 Century unscrews and has a thread not too dissimilar to an M4 - I will check next time I'm in the workshop as I have a tap & die for that size. Once I get 7 pens finished, I may end up making a lighter finial for the Jinhao, as the cap finial doubles the weight of the cap. It's quite remarkable how heavy such a small lump of metal is.

 

Once the finial is off, it's possible to see the clip attachment, and possibly fit an alternative clip if you have one:

http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx356/richardandtracy/Jinhao%20Pens/JinhaoCentury12_zpsa8c26193.jpg

 

There was a smear of glue on mine, may have more on yours.

 

Anyway I'm using the pen again today. The pearlescence of the barrel material is really quite amazing. My one small wish is that they'd used the same material as they did for the Mk1, that was even richer in colour - however on its own without the Mk1 comparison the Mk2 is quite lovely.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.