Wing Sung Vacuum Filler Pens - Guess At What Price?

[dowlf]

Got mine today, writes like a dream.

[goodpens]

This is my first vac pen and I must be misunderstanding something. Could someone explain or post pics of a shutoff valve?

 

This pen definitely burps with altitude changes. So either I dont have a shutoff valve or am not doing something correctly or a seal isnt tight enough. I dont understand what to look for or adjust. Thanks for any guidance!

[JollyCynic]

If you look into the barrel, you can see the plunger at the end of the piston rod. It fulfils three purposes. When the rod is pulled back, it allows air to flow past it toward the front of the pen. When it's pushed forward, its shape does not allow air to flow past it, so it builds a partial vacuum, which is released when the plunger reaches the bulge just behind the section, allowing ink to be drawn into the reservoir. Then, when you screw the end cap down completely, it appears as though the plunger is supposed to press up against the back of the section, shutting off ink flow from the reservoir to the feed.

 

The problem is that there's a wide variance reported in the positioning of that plunger and/or the length of the piston rod. Mine does not seal, leading to me to incorrectly tell many people that it doesn't seal. But many people have reported that theirs does seal. It just seems to be luck of the draw.

 

I have yet to see anybody report if they were able to fix a non-sealing 3013. Mine's still on its first fill of ink, despite nearly daily use for a month or so.

[goodpens]

If you look into the barrel, you can see the plunger at the end of the piston rod. It fulfils three purposes. When the rod is pulled back, it allows air to flow past it toward the front of the pen. When it's pushed forward, its shape does not allow air to flow past it, so it builds a partial vacuum, which is released when the plunger reaches the bulge just behind the section, allowing ink to be drawn into the reservoir. Then, when you screw the end cap down completely, it appears as though the plunger is supposed to press up against the back of the section, shutting off ink flow from the reservoir to the feed.

 

The problem is that there's a wide variance reported in the positioning of that plunger and/or the length of the piston rod. Mine does not seal, leading to me to incorrectly tell many people that it doesn't seal. But many people have reported that theirs does seal. It just seems to be luck of the draw.

 

I have yet to see anybody report if they were able to fix a non-sealing 3013. Mine's still on its first fill of ink, despite nearly daily use for a month or so.

Thank you! Very helpful! I think I have one ... that doesnt seal. Will monitor more closely.

[Ted A]

One way you can check is to close the seal and write 6 pages. If the ink flow decreases noticeably or goes dry, your seal works. If the flow is still going strong, you probably don’t have a good seal

[garyc]

I bought 3 of the Paili 013 variation and the 2 I have inked so far exhibit the same problem - erratic flow. Generally it is the first letter or stroke of a word fails to draw any ink. The is not a total drying up per se, because once ink flows a whole word can be written, but then dries up completely for the first stroke/character of the next word. It's an all or nothing thing.

 

I have tried slackening off the blind cap so a gap is visible between the piston and the end of the section so the feed is not sealed off and that makes no difference. I've also replaced one of the nibs with a Pilot Plumix M nib and that is just the same. I also took one apart and flushed/soaked in water with a couple of drops of washing up liquid and that made precisely no difference.

 

Taking the section off and looking at where the feed end 'dips' into the ink, it's clear the feed fits into a narrow cylindrical piece of the section. It differs entirely from a Wing Sung 698 where the feed end is in 'free air'. The nib end and the rest of the feed are completely visible inside the 698, but in the 3013/013 is sits inside an enclosing tube, which has about a 2mm open diameter.

 

I'll give the 3rd one a go but I am beginning to wonder if there isn't an inherent feed/flow problem in the design.

[pomps]

My first impression on the Wingsung 3013 was good, no skipping, smooth. But after leaving it for a few days, I would not start. It seems the cap doesn't seal well despite the oring, and the ink dried up in the nib, so I had to run it through water before it could start again.

I love using pens that can start immediately even after a month or more, so this Wingsung will be flushed and boxed.

[TSherbs]

My first impression on the Wingsung 3013 was good, no skipping, smooth. But after leaving it for a few days, I would not start. It seems the cap doesn't seal well despite the oring, and the ink dried up in the nib, so I had to run it through water before it could start again.

I love using pens that can start immediately even after a month or more, so this Wingsung will be flushed and boxed.

I have not had this problem with mine. YRMV.

[Nyanzilla]

I've got the blue and the purple version. My blue one is dysfunctional. There is no ink flow at all. When I shake the pen frantically it will drop some ink and write some lines and then starve again.

The purple one has a constant and medium to wet ink flow.

What I dislike is the sharp step between the grip section and the barrel. And the nibs are made of poor material. Although they feel smooth in writing, they are too soft and will bend easily.

So I won't buy it again. I my opinion the Penbbs vac filler is much better and more comfortable to hold.

[madrigal]

I just got mine today, and I quite like it. I am hesitant, though, about the reports of the 3013's piston rod becoming rusty after a short period of time. Has anyone here experienced that?

[Nyanzilla]

Recently I bought the new Wing Sung 699 which is a copy of the well-known Pilot Custom 823.

This Pen is more expensive (17-25 $), looks and feels much better. The nib is a two-tone n°6.

I like this pen. It hasn't got that step between grip section and barrel. There is a brown and a colourless version with either transparent or opaque grip.

[WarrenB]

I stumbled across this on the fleabay and to be honest, the colours that Wing Sung/Paili offer it in grabbed me more than any TWSBI ever did. (Actually took me a while to notice the similarities.) So much so that I ordered one the same day, in brown, and hoping for a good roll of the dice after reading reviews on FPN.

After sitting on my hands for ten days it's here, and with a quick flush and a few drops of PP Flower of Scotland, I'm pretty satisfied. The fine nib, with no adjustment, feels a wee tad dry, but not skippy or scratchy. The pen itself is unexpectedly but pleasantly weighty, even with the slight back-weight. (My first vac filler, with all the metal innards) The step doesn't bother me too much, though the pen's only got a few lines under it's belt.

I could go for a green one next. Pity they don't want to sell that with an M nib.