Japanese Pocket Pens

March 3, 2020

After reading a bit more about the Platinum Carbon inks, perhaps that was a poor choice in this pen. I'll look for another cartridge and shelve this particular ink. It's likely not well suited for this pen.

Ugh!

March 4, 2020

Regarding types of ink, it has been theorized that Japanese pens were designed to use the same makers ink. Start there and work towards something more favored. Why make pens unless you can peddle your own ink. I've found this to largely be true.

It really comes down to trial and error. My Izumo loves Athena and Kobe inks. Hates Platinum Classic Ink. My Sailor Inden-ya likes Pelikan blue. Does not like Parker, for sure.

If I were to make a generalization Japanese pens favor inks with less viscosity. Considering most letting is detailed and often small, this make sense and explains why Japanese pens are thought to write dry.

March 4, 2020

Maybe I'm doing something wrong here. I want to love the Japanese pocket pens, due to their sleek designs and obviously pocketable size, but they all write stiff and scratchy (to me) and need an insane amount of pressure to be able to get ink to flow!!!

I just bought a Platinum PK-2000 on eBay recently. 18k fine nib. I flushed it with a syringe until it ran clear. Installed a Carbon cartridge but I cant write anything without heavy-handed pressure. After one night, it stopped writing entirely.

Two inexpensive Elite steel tips, NOS, filled with Shikiori Yonaga. Theyre both sitting because I cannot get any ink to flow.

One Elite with an 18k nib: same results. TBH, that one wrote the most. I flushed it and it sits clean and empty at the moment.

I feel as if I have read so much about these pens, but after 4 different models, I guess my touch isn't made for these models and I should quit trying.

They've all been flushed, and I have experimented with different inks, except for the Platinum. From what I've read about the Carbon ink, maybe that was a poor choice to begin with.

All of the pocket pens I own are best with a very light hand, the fine and EF nibs will feel sharp and scratchy if written with too much pressure... don't expect wet flow though, even wet inks are likely to be laid down with only moderate saturation from fine or extra-fine nibs like these. A few *are* wet writers, but IME they are a minority, more common are medium flow, but since they're so fine it may seem like they're somewhat dry.

All of my 1980s and newer Plats have had good ink flow, no really stingy ones so far, though I have a couple medium nibs from the mid 70s that are hard starters and need a bit of pressure to spread the tines enough for wet flow. I blame tine gap and baby's bottom in combination.

March 4, 2020

Maybe I'm doing something wrong here. I want to love the Japanese pocket pens, due to their sleek designs and obviously pocketable size, but they all write stiff and scratchy (to me) and need an insane amount of pressure to be able to get ink to flow!!!
_...‹snip›...
One Elite with an 18k nib: same results. TBH, that one wrote the most. I flushed it and it sits clean and empty at the moment.

I — or we, being my wife and I — have two of the modern Pilot Elite 95S pens. It's one of two pen models that I personally couldn't bear to part with, such that when my wife relieved me of my first, I immediately replaced it by ordering a second one that is of the same colour and finish; in the case of the Elite 95S, the one with the deep red coloured barrel. I originally had one with an EF nib, which turns out to be one of my favourite Pilot pens/nibs, and I don't find it dry or scratchy at all. The new one I ordered has an F nib, which I think was better suited for my wife, so I swapped the shiny new one with her and got my trusty and well-loved EF-nibbed Elite 95S back.

I use a Pilot CON-40 in mine these days, and the pen has been continually inked with Diamine Oxblood for at least the past 18 months, with no drying out, hard starts or ink flow problems.

March 6, 2020

Pilot or Platinum short pens are both excellent. I have no issues with Diamine November Rain, Bilberry, Asa Blue. Manggis color is too weird, but flows fine. Sailor Doyou and Yama-dori are perfect. Taccia Saibimidori is lovely. Athena Sepia flow is fine, though I don't like the red leaning brown, except in a Medium. (I did manage to find a medium Platinum short.) J. Herbin is beautiful, not dry, no hard starts, though some colors are a little light...sometimes that's what one wants.

Parker permanent blue or blue-black, not so much. Diamine Registrar's is dry.
Sometimes if left for a week or two they need a drop of water on the nib to get going, then no issues.

In sum, try a variety of inks. And don't press too hard. Good paper is more fun - Clairefontaine, Mio, TR.

Finally, if not for you, then there are many fans who will be glad to have another nice pen.

March 6, 2020

Carbon ink was a poor choice! It is better suited to larger pens with larger nibs and feeds.

Have you tried Pilot ink in the Pilot pens?

March 6, 2020

Thank you all for your suggestions. I am awaiting a Platinum cartridge for the Platinum pen. If I don't get it today, I'll try to get something at the LI Pen show this weekend. The Elites have all been tested with Pilot inks, in addition to other brands.

If it needs adjusting, which would be odd considering that they were advertised as NOS, that's above my pay grade. I might have to release them as I don't have the skill nor the time to do adjustments.

Again, thanks for the suggestions! Apologies if the post was hijacked with my own issue.

July 15, 2020

I ordered what I thought was a NOS Swan pocket pen and ended up with 20 of them. No converters or cartridges. Any idea what fits? I have heard Platinum cartridges fit, but I haven't tried, as I think the pens are too short.

July 16, 2020

If they are of similar design to the ones I have seen, they will take Platinum cartridges. The cartridge fits far up into the section so there should be room for it.

July 16, 2020

If they are of similar design to the ones I have seen, they will take Platinum cartridges. The cartridge fits far up into the section so there should be room for it.

Thanks. Looks like I will order some more cartridges then.