Kaigelu 316 Amber

[drathbun]

I just received my Kaigelu 316 this morning and spent the day doing an unboxing and review YouTube video. I had a little difficulty writing with it the first time as it skipped significantly. However, after looking at it carefully, I realigned one of the tines and now it writes like a champ. It is a very wide line for a Medium nib; almost broad. And it is now a very wet writer. I can't say enough about the shimmering look of this pen.

 

Here are a few photos I snapped:

 

Here is my YouTube review:

 

[Paul80]

These are a very underrated fountain pen, I have a couple and realy enjoy using them.

 

Some people object to the weight of the barrel end, but it's not an issue for me.

 

Paul

[Karmachanic]

+1. Replaced the housing/feed/nib so that it accepts #6 nibs.

Edited February 26, 2019 by Karmachanic

[drathbun]

+1. Replaced the housing/feed/nib so that it accepts #6 nibs.

 

Thanks, Karmachanic. I'm very happy with the nib and feed on this 316 now that I've solved the skipping issue. It is a gusher now.

 

I assume when you did the replacement on your 316, that you did it using this process?

 

Kaigelu 316 Modification (250 #6 Bock Nib / Beaufort Ink Converter)

[Karmachanic]

 

Thanks, Karmachanic. I'm very happy with the nib and feed on this 316 now that I've solved the skipping issue. It is a gusher now.

 

I assume when you did the replacement on your 316, that you did it using this process?

 

Kaigelu 316 Modification (250 #6 Bock Nib / Beaufort Ink Converter)

 

That and titbits gleaned from:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/232530-kaigelu-316-accidental-disassembly-photos/?do=findComment&comment=2522445

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/311497-joining-the-custom-kaigelu-club/?do=findComment&comment=3674413

 

Quite simple in the end. Main benefit being able to easily change nibs should one desire to do so. Mine's been happy with a Jowo 1.1 for over a year.

[OCArt]

I have several of these, most I fitted with Knox #5 nibs but one took a #6. My suspicion is that Kaigelu changed the nib/feed/housing a bit over the months/years that I acquired them.

[Panos_S]

The nib in my 316 is nery good but too many turns to capp and uncapp makes the pen unusable for me.

Does anyone knows an easy way to fix this?

[drathbun]

The nib in my 316 is nery good but too many turns to capp and uncapp makes the pen unusable for me.

Does anyone knows an easy way to fix this?

 

I don't know how to solve the problem but it does take a full three turns to get the cap off. Plus, it doesn't seem to have a stopping point when you tighten it. It seems like you could tighten it so much that it might split the cap.

[drathbun]

I purchased some Montblanc Toffee Brown today to pair with the "Kanga" 316. It is okay. I thought it would shade more. It looks plain when dried on copier paper. The shading is slightly more evident on a Rhodia dot pad. It has no water resistance at all but flows well and makes the writing very smooth. I also picked up some Montblanc Oyster Grey that I'm going to try in my Kaco Edge. These are nice inks for a very reasonable price. The bottles are terrific and you get a whopping 60ml!

 

Here is my ink report card:

 

Edited February 28, 2019 by drathbun

[Karmachanic]

I purchased some Montblanc Toffee Brown today to pair with the "Kanga" 316. It is okay. I thought it would shade more. It looks plain when dried on copier paper. The shading is slightly more evident on a Rhodia dot pad. It has no water resistance at all but flows well and makes the writing very smooth. I also picked up some Montblanc Oyster Grey that I'm going to try in my Kaco Edge. These are nice inks for a very reasonable price. The bottles are terrific and you get a whopping 60ml!

 

 

As you have noticed shading is paper dependent, and, in my experience, also nib dependent. I get more shading out of a Ti or semiflex nib.

[drathbun]

After writing with this pen for a week, I just HAD to have another. As you see above, I've inked "Kanga" with Toffee Brown and it is a nice match with the pen and I like the ink. But, I normally want to write in blue. I'm writing with my Van Gogh in Asa-Gao blue and that's a lovely pen but it doesn't lay down nearly as much ink as Kanga does. So Kanga is getting a brother "Roo". I purchased this one from the same eBay seller "jewelrymathematics" who has such excellent packaging and swift delivery". This one won't come with a box, but there are two elastic tie-downs in the box I have and it is big enough to accommodate both.

 

I hope Roo is as iridescent and chatoyant as Kanga and perhaps has lovely as this one:

 

[sansenri]

well yes, the Kaigelu 316 is a very nice pen.

The back weight does bother me a little, but I get used to it a I write and all in all it's a great pen vs so many other Chinese attempts that have not achieved the overall same result.

I did not need to change my nib either, it's smooth, wet and reliable with no skipping and hard starts.

The charcoal look is great (I also have the tiger eye)

It's not easy to capture the shimmer in the material but it's there

oh, and I agree on the seller, very dependable

Edited March 2, 2019 by sansenri