My $20 Bamboo Pen

[penmanila]

I've always wanted a real bamboo pen--not just the bamboo-styled ebonite ones--but the susutake ones run to over $1,000 and seem too large and unwieldy besides. So a month ago, I ordered this pen from China through eBay, and it finally arrived today.

 

I'm happy to report that it exceeded all my expectations--in size, finish, and general quality. It even writes well! (And did I say it cost just $20, shipped?)

The section has threads, but it's actually just a pull-off cap. (I'm sure they already had these sections for other pens and didn't want to remanufacture unthreaded ones--or maybe the threads provide more grip inside.) The makers wisely put thin plastic rings on both cap and barrel to cushion the contact.

The two-tone steel nib is marked HERO, but the pen itself is, of course, unbranded. What I like the most is that it's real, strong, polished bamboo! I love the nodes and the patterns--you couldn't get these if you wanted to manufacture the pen in ebonite or acrylic. And it's bigger than my Agatha and M900!

It's surprisingly comfortable in the hand, and the Hero nib lays down a decent line (it's friction-fit, so I should have no problem replacing this with one of my flexy 14K vintage nibs--can't wait). The only problem I had was that the pen wouldn't suck in ink if I dipped it into the bottle, so I had to pull out and dip the converter itself instead.

Other than that, it's a fantastic pen at $20--I'd easily have paid three times that--so much so that I went back online immediately to order more, only to find it out of stock I'll certainly be back to look for more.

Here you go:

[hari317]

Nice, thanks for sharing.

[visvamitra]

I love the material

[penmanila]

Thanks! I found the perfect-sized 14K nib and feed to replace the Hero one with--a set from a Montblanc Noblesse. Not flexy, but a very good fit, and smooth, too!

 

Edited January 8, 2018 by penmanila

[SoulSamurai]

That's a nice looking pen. The step looks pretty significant, but it doesn't sound like you had any trouble with it?

 

I hope that the pen not drawing ink in from the nib isn't a sign of a deeper problem. Please let us know if you have any trouble with ink leaking or the pen drying out overnight or anything.

[penmanila]

i actually hold it just below the step (a little lower than pictured above), and it's very comfortable that way. the converter now loads properly from the nib--i guess it just need to be primed

[penmanila]

i decided to play around a bit more with the pen and got a friend who works with furniture to stain and lacquer the bamboo:

 

 

 

 

 

i'm happy was able to order another one of these bamboo pens and may play with that differently.

[SoulSamurai]

It looks good lacquered, but it also looked good "au naturel". Hard to saw which one I prefer.

[Pichak]

Wow, very beautiful.

[james3paris]

Caught my attention---is this the pen on ebay?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/232603315334

[penmanila]

yep, that's the one, and that was my seller. shipping from china takes time, but it's free.

 

Caught my attention---is this the pen on ebay?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/232603315334

[penmanila]

indeed, i might keep the second one as-is.

 

It looks good lacquered, but it also looked good "au naturel". Hard to saw which one I prefer.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

Very nice, and you're certainly having fun upgrading it. Seeing the picture of you gripping the pen, I don't think I'd be comfortable holding it, but that's a very individual thing.

[james3paris]

yep, that's the one, and that was my seller. shipping from china takes time, but it's free.

 

I bought one.

[mhguda]

I tried to buy one, but alas - they don't ship to my country... so I'll content myself with Ranga's excellent bamboo imitations in acrylic and ebonite...

[mitto]

Nice pens. Thanks for sharing.

[Bill P]

Thanks! I found the perfect-sized 14K nib and feed to replace the Hero one with--a set from a Montblanc Noblesse. Not flexy, but a very good fit, and smooth, too!

 

I recently purchased 2 of these, based on your review...actually got to me in the US very quickly, and it was free...

 

Did you replace the Hero nib with a #5? any issues with fit over the original feed?

 

Thanks,

 

Bill

[penmanila]

Hi, Bill--the Noblesse nib had its own feed so I replaced the whole combo for a perfect fit. No issues, writes well. I'm not sure if the Noblesse nib is a #5. It's a very narrow and longish nib.

Edited January 26, 2018 by penmanila

[james3paris]

I got mine in the mail today. Only took 13 days.