Platinum 3776 Uef

[holtzmann]

Hi all!

 

I purchased a Platinum 3776 UEF about a year ago. I like very fine nibs (I own one medium and one broad and I barely use those), but this one was unusable. It ripped my paper when I tried to write with it. I sold it the same day I got it. Has anyone else had this experience? For those who have had good experiences with this pen/nib, tell me about it. Im looking into trying again.

 

Edit: these posts keep removing my apostrophes! They work for me in comments, but not in posts.

Edited June 17, 2020 by -CW-

[BaronWulfraed]

Edit: these posts keep removing my apostrophes! They work for me in comments, but not in posts.

 

Are you using an Apple product for posting?

 

They are infamous for trying to use "smart quotes" on plain text forums.

 

[aimi]

This doesn't answer your question about the UEF, but if you like really fine nibs, you could also try Pilot's PO nib on the 912/742/743. I've never had a problem with this nib ripping paper or anything like that. I was between the UEF and PO before I ultimately went with Pilot's pen.

[holtzmann]

Are you using an Apple product for posting?

 

They are infamous for trying to use "smart quotes" on plain text forums.

 

I’m posting from my iPhone. Thanks for figuring it out. I was so confused!

[holtzmann]

This doesn't answer your question about the UEF, but if you like really fine nibs, you could also try Pilot's PO nib on the 912/742/743. I've never had a problem with this nib ripping paper or anything like that. I was between the UEF and PO before I ultimately went with Pilot's pen.

I just found out about this nib today while searching for super fine nibs! Pilot is my favorite brand, so I’m really considering this over the Platinum now. Thanks for your help!

[eciton]

I've had two Platinum UEF nibs and found both surprisingly smooth — certainly smoother than needlepoints from Masuyama and FPnibs. I never experienced any cutting into the paper, or any other problems with the nibs, and under a loupe they were astonishingly consistent and well finished.

 

I'm lefthanded so I push nibs across the page, but I also write with a very light touch on the paper, so your mileage may vary!

[aimi]

I just found out about this nib today while searching for super fine nibs! Pilot is my favorite brand, so I’m really considering this over the Platinum now. Thanks for your help!

 

I totally recommend this pen! It's a lovely size and weight posted or not, and I've never had an issue with mine.

[AmandaW]

I have one and find it smooth to use. Did you try a different ink? (Mine is always loaded with one of the Platinum pigmented inks, usually Carbon black. ) And did you have a look at the tines with a loupe?

 

My favourite pen in the hunt for a very fine EF is still a Platinum Carbon Desk Pen. An early purchase and great value.

[Bounce792]

Hi all!

 

I purchased a Platinum 3776 UEF about a year ago. I like very fine nibs (I own one medium and one broad and I barely use those), but this one was unusable. It ripped my paper when I tried to write with it. I sold it the same day I got it. Has anyone else had this experience? For those who have had good experiences with this pen/nib, tell me about it. Im looking into trying again.

 

Edit: these posts keep removing my apostrophes! They work for me in comments, but not in posts.

Which paper brands are you using? Which inks are you using? Those influence the nib's tactile feel and how well it can perform.

 

I will say that I was not terribly impressed by the nib when I bought it. Then, I sent it off to be tuned by Mike Masuyama and it is smooth, consistent, and reliable. My guess is that it needs to be tuned by a good nibmeister like Linda Kennedy or Mike Masuyama. It could be that there is a slight misalignment which is causing your paper to tear. That particular nib is a delicate writing instrument, so even the most minor of imperfections of alignment can harm the writing experience.

 

 

I just found out about this nib today while searching for super fine nibs! Pilot is my favorite brand, so I’m really considering this over the Platinum now. Thanks for your help!

The PO is a more forgiving nib than the UEF but it is still an EF. So, the UEF will still produce a thinner line, if that's what you're looking for.

 

What's more, the nib is slightly bent as it is meant for Chinese/Japanese characters. You will get ZERO (0) line variation and will bend the nib if you apply force to it. The main bar to the PO nib is that it is very uncommon and can only be found on certain models. The 743 and 912 are the only two which come to mind and neither can be described as inexpensive, even if you purchase from Japan at their non-marked up prices.

Edited June 18, 2020 by Bounce792

[Qoan]

I also write with a very light touch on the paper, so your mileage may vary!

 

In my opinion this would be the main point with this nib.

 

I have light hand generally but I tend naturally to put more pressure on the donwstrokes and here I can hear the friction. Mine never cut into the paper but I can imagine it doing so if you applied enough pressure. That said, I can obtain some line variation with this nib but I need to be very careful with the level of pressure I apply, it's not a particularly user friendly nib. The EF is much easier to use, but the line width, even though slight, is noticeable to the naked eye.

[holtzmann]

I have one and find it smooth to use. Did you try a different ink? (Mine is always loaded with one of the Platinum pigmented inks, usually Carbon black. ) And did you have a look at the tines with a loupe?

I only tried it with the included Platinum cartridge. It was so scratchy and sharp that I didn’t even think to try it with another ink. I did look at the tines through a loupe and they appeared aligned.

[holtzmann]

In my opinion this would be the main point with this nib.

 

I have light hand generally but I tend naturally to put more pressure on the donwstrokes and here I can hear the friction. Mine never cut into the paper but I can imagine it doing so if you applied enough pressure. That said, I can obtain some line variation with this nib but I need to be very careful with the level of pressure I apply, it's not a particularly user friendly nib. The EF is much easier to use, but the line width, even though slight, is noticeable to the naked eye.

I write with a fairly light hand as well. The tines were aligned. I don’t know what the problem was.

[holtzmann]

Which paper brands are you using? Which inks are you using? Those influence the nib's tactile feel and how well it can perform.

 

I will say that I was not terribly impressed by the nib when I bought it. Then, I sent it off to be tuned by Mike Masuyama and it is smooth, consistent, and reliable. My guess is that it needs to be tuned by a good nibmeister like Linda Kennedy or Mike Masuyama. It could be that there is a slight misalignment which is causing your paper to tear. That particular nib is a delicate writing instrument, so even the most minor of imperfections of alignment can harm the writing experience.

 

 

 

The PO is a more forgiving nib than the UEF but it is still an EF. So, the UEF will still produce a thinner line, if that's what you're looking for.

 

What's more, the nib is slightly bent as it is meant for Chinese/Japanese characters. You will get ZERO (0) line variation and will bend the nib if you apply force to it. The main bar to the PO nib is that it is very uncommon and can only be found on certain models. The 743 and 912 are the only two which come to mind and neither can be described as inexpensive, even if you purchase from Japan at their non-marked up prices.

 

I used the included Platinum cartridge when I first tried the pen and it was so sharp and scratchy that I didn’t even think to try it with another ink. My inks vary, but I typically use Iroshizuku inks because I like the colors and the wet flow. I was using a Rhodiarama dot grid journal at the time. My current notebook is a Nanami Seven Seas 52 gsm Tomoe River dot grid notebook. If there was a misalignment, I didn’t see it, but it might have been so slight that I was unable to. Getting the nib tuned sounds like a good idea since I really do want a smooth, crisp fine line.

 

If the PO is the same width as a true Japanese EF, I may not be interested in it after all. I am looking for a very fine line. I don’t care all that much about line variation, but I do want the finest line possible.

 

Thank you for your help!

[aimi]

I'm pretty sure the Posting nib exists on other non-Japanese pens as well (though I'm not sure if there's a downturned beak? I know the Esterbrook J has come with posting nibs). I think the downturn is there to prevent any line variation to give a thin stroke.

 

The nib was apparently used to write on postcards where ink could feather more easily. Thus, the PO nib is supposed to be a dry-writing EF. I have not tried this myself, but I'd be curious what would happen if you were to put a dry ink like a Pelikan 4001 series into the pen.

 

OP- I once posted these writing samples for someone else, but I'll link them here:

https://imgur.com/a/Qjuiydo

 

They compare the Pilot Kakuno EF and Pilot CH912 PO. Both are written with Pilot Iroshizuku Kon Peki. The "f" on the top row in "for" is about 3.5mm tall for reference.

 

Again, I haven't tried the UEF, and I would be interested in one day testing it out. The UEF can also clock in at ~80-100$ cheaper than the Pilot CH912, so that may be another thing to consider.

Edited June 18, 2020 by aimi

[BaronWulfraed]

I’m posting from my iPhone. Thanks for figuring it out. I was so confused!

See if the information at https://www.howtogeek.com/344310/how-to-turn-off-smart-punctuation-on-your-iphone-and-ipad/ improves things for you.

[holtzmann]

I'm pretty sure the Posting nib exists on other non-Japanese pens as well (though I'm not sure if there's a downturned beak? I know the Esterbrook J has come with posting nibs). I think the downturn is there to prevent any line variation to give a thin stroke.

 

The nib was apparently used to write on postcards where ink could feather more easily. Thus, the PO nib is supposed to be a dry-writing EF. I have not tried this myself, but I'd be curious what would happen if you were to put a dry ink like a Pelikan 4001 series into the pen.

 

OP- I once posted these writing samples for someone else, but I'll link them here:

https://imgur.com/a/Qjuiydo

 

They compare the Pilot Kakuno EF and Pilot CH912 PO. Both are written with Pilot Iroshizuku Kon Peki. The "f" on the top row in "for" is about 3.5mm tall for reference.

 

Again, I haven't tried the UEF, and I would be interested in one day testing it out. The UEF can also clock in at ~80-100$ cheaper than the Pilot CH912, so that may be another thing to consider.

Thank you for posting a writing sample! This is very helpful. I think I want an even finer line than that. I appreciate your help! Your handwriting is so nice.

[aimi]

Yes, no worries! Happy to help. If you end up finding a very fine-nibbed pen, I'd love to see some writing samples. Fine nibs are my favourite for writing and notetaking- the finer the better!

[Bounce792]

I will do a PO vs. UEF picture comparison later. Need to use both pens anyway.

[XYZZY]

The nib was apparently used to write on postcards where ink could feather more easily. Thus, the PO nib is supposed to be a dry-writing EF. I have not tried this myself, but I'd be curious what would happen if you were to put a dry ink like a Pelikan 4001 series into the pen.

 

 

My understanding of posting nibs is their target audience was bookkeepers, accountants and such who need to regularly post numbers to a ledger. Small print, needs to be legible not artistic. Flex nibs need not apply, and +1 for nails that can press down through multiple layers of carbon paper when filling out forms (without flexing). Those attributes might also make them useful for writing on feather-prone paper, as you said.

[Olya]

 

My understanding of posting nibs is their target audience was bookkeepers, accountants and such who need to regularly post numbers to a ledger. Small print, needs to be legible not artistic. Flex nibs need not apply, and +1 for nails that can press down through multiple layers of carbon paper when filling out forms (without flexing). Those attributes might also make them useful for writing on feather-prone paper, as you said.

The Japanese posting nib was definitely invented for postcards and their crappy paper, at least that's the story I've come across countless times from various sources.