Hello and Question About Picasso Nibs

[Faye Slift]

Hello to everyone, I’m new to the forum. {{waves}} I had a quick glance around and hope I don’t become as obsessed with fountain pens as you lot are. 😁 Having said that, after receiving a free JinHao because of a shipping error (I was told to keep it as compensation), and trying it out, I’m now eyeing three other pens with keen interest. ☺️

 

Two Picassos have caught my eye. The 196 Malage which is described as either Golden or Rose Gold depending on the vendor even though it’s the same pen. Here are two pictures. I prefer the Rose Gold pic but I’m quite certain it’s been manipulated going by the reddish background and that it’s really more of a gold colour.

 

 

 

It weighs a mere 28 grams, which is good for me. I have smallish hands and I am apparently a weakling because I found the JinHao (at 43 grams) heavy to write with.

 

The other Picasso I’m looking at is the 933 Avignon in gold. It looks stunning in the photos and I hope it hadn’t been photoshopped, considering the low price. If anyone has one, please let me know if it is true to pic.

 

 

 

My question for these is are the Picasso nibs removable? Is it like the JinHao where you replace just the nib, or is it all one piece with housing? (Excuse my probably improper terminology.) I’m not sure if all pens are the same. Are all nibs removable?

 

Another pen I’d like to try is the Cross Beverly in Pearlescent White. It looks slim enough that it would be easy for me to hold. This one is 30 grams. I like the pearl look to it.

 

 

This is the JinHao I have, an X450 in deep blue. I like the look, but it’s pretty thick and heavy. And the cap doesn’t sit well when writing, it keeps falling off. The nib (a medium) is a bit scratchy, but I don’t have much experience writing with a fountain pen, so that might be normal? I may just be comparing it to a ballpoint. I may try a different nib once I invest in a few. It does write nicely and doesn’t pool up or skip. It started writing almost immediately (after about four tries) the first time and the ink dried quickly (a Wordsworth & Black blue ink cartridge that someone gave me).

 

 

 

I’m from Canada, by the way, so if there are any fellow Canucks on the forum and know of vendors or resources in the country I should know of, please let me know. The Picassos are on eBay coming from China and that works well for me. Shipping is usually free or minimal and delivery believe it or not is quicker than from the U.S.! They are also rarely held up at customs from China whereas some from the U.S. have been, especially since Covid. Not to mention shipping fees from the U.S. can be astronomical. The Goulet Pen Company looks interesting but being in the U.S. could be a problem. Not sure if they have Canadian distributors or outfits here that sell their goods. Their videos on YouTube are informative though. I learned how to remove and replace my JinHao nib!

 

 

Edited March 24, 2021 by Faye Slift

[Lulu Blue]

17 minutes ago, Faye Slift said:

Hello to everyone, I’m new to the forum. {{waves}} I had a quick glance around and hope I don’t become as obsessed with fountain pens as you lot are. 😁 Having said that, after receiving a free JinHao because of a shipping error (I was told to keep it as compensation), and trying it out, I’m now eyeing three other pens with keen interest. ☺️

 

Two Picassos have caught my eye. The 196 Malage which is described as either Golden or Rose Gold depending on the vendor even though it’s the same pen. Here are two pictures. I prefer the Rose Gold pic but I’m quite certain it’s been manipulated going by the reddish background and that it’s really more of a gold colour.

 

 

 

It weighs a mere 28 grams, which is good for me. I have smallish hands and I am apparently a weakling because I found the JinHao (at 43 grams) heavy to write with.

 

The other Picasso I’m looking at is the 933 Avignon in gold. It looks stunning in the photos and I hope it hadn’t been photoshopped, considering the low price. If anyone has one, please let me know if it is true to pic.

 

 

 

My question for these is are the Picasso nibs removable? Is it like the JinHao where you replace just the nib, or is it all one piece with housing? (Excuse my probably improper terminology.) I’m not sure if all pens are the same. Are all nibs removable?

 

Another pen I’d like to try is the Cross Beverly in Pearlescent White. It looks slim enough that it would be easy for me to hold. This one is 30 grams. I like the pearl look to it.

 

 

This is the JinHao I have, an X450 in deep blue. I like the look, but it’s pretty thick and heavy. And the cap doesn’t sit well when writing, it keeps falling off. The nib (a medium) is a bit scratchy, but I don’t have much experience writing with a fountain pen, so that might be normal? I may just be comparing it to a ballpoint. I may try a different nib once I invest in a few. It does write nicely and doesn’t pool up or skip. It started writing almost immediately (after about four tries) the first time and the ink dried quickly (a Wordsworth & Black blue ink cartridge that someone gave me).

 

 

 

I’m from Canada, by the way so if there are any fellow Canucks on the forum and know of vendors or resources in the country I should know of, please let me know. The Picassos are on eBay coming from China and that works well for me. Shipping is usually free or minimal and delivery believe it or not is quicker than from the U.S.! They are also rarely held up at customs from China whereas some from the U.S. have been, especially since Covid. Not to mention shipping fees from the U.S. can be astronomical. The Goulet Pen Company looks interesting but being in the U.S. could be a problem. Not sure if they have Canadian distributors or outfits here that sell their goods. Their videos on YouTube are informative though. I learned how to remove and replace my JinHao nib!

 

 

I'm not from Canada. Please forgive me. 

 

I have two Picasso's and LOVE the nibs so much (Medium) that I have bought 2 more - with the idea they'll be gifts, although I don't know I know anyone who is worthy. I have both the black/gold and the gold version of the pen. Both have a Picasso sketch in gold on the cap which is beyond cool. I like the gold on gold and the gold on black. I refuse to pick a winner.   I have not tried to change the nibs on these pens because they're fabulous.  Smooth and great ink flow. A delight to write with. And as you  mention, not heavy.  

 

You have great taste in pens. The white Cross is very pretty.   

[A Smug Dill]

Welcome to FPN!

 

16 minutes ago, Faye Slift said:

I’m not sure if all pens are the same. Are all nibs removable?

 

Open nibs, as opposed to hooded and inlaid nibs, are all ultimately ‘friction-fit’ and pushed (along with the feed supporting it underneath) into a hole, and can be removed by pulling them out in the opposite direction, irrespective of whether there's a removable, threaded collar sitting inside the pen's gripping section. That doesn't mean removal of the nib is always as easy; and sometimes (e.g. on PenBBS pens) the feed is apt to be damaged and/or ruined in the process.

 

I don't know about the specific Picasso models you mentioned, but on the/my Picasso Pimio 916 pens, as far as I can tell there is no removable housing unit in the gripping section. At a glance, the front-end of the Picasso models shown in your images look like that on the Pimio 916, so I expect them to be constructed in a similar fashion.

[taimdala]

Hi there! Welcome to our forum! 😃

To start with what I know:
If you're looking for Canadian fountain pen vendors, I can recommend The House of Fine Writing, Toronto. I have actually shopped here in person but they've also got a website for online shopping. (See: https://houseoffinewriting.com/) Andrew Walti runs the store and in person, he's really nice AND knowledgeable about his stock. I bought a Lamy AL-Star fountain pen and Monteverde ink on that visit. I still have them and they work just fine.

Another Canadian vendor I've heard good things about but haven't yet shopped with is Wonderpens (https://wonderpens.ca/). They are also in Toronto if you prefer shopping in a physical store.

On the matter of your JinHao x450 and how its cap won't stay on when you post it, some pen designs aren't made to post. Perhaps this model is one of those. I don't have this model so I can't say from experience if this is true or not.

For the Cross Beverly, that pearlescent white is so pretty!  I've no experience with this model, though.

 

What I do have experience in, however, is sampling a lot of pens across a large number of models/makers that I had access to (at the time) in the beginning of finding the hobby, which led me to discover through trial and error which pens worked best with my grip and writing pressure and aesthetic preferences. I found my Goldilocks Zone relatively quickly and am comfortable with Extra Fine to Fine nibs, prefer a large ink capacity/reservoir, and about half my pens are demonstrators which allows me to see all the pieces and parts (and how much ink I have left).  I tend to jump feet first into things and the resulting trial and error meant I have quite a few pens that I have put aside, which I'll eventually give to a good home. Your outcome may be different.

If I might offer some advice, it is this:

Explore pens at your own pace and as your finances permit, and keep it fun and pleasurable. Resist FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) when you can, but remain open to exploration and discovery. As you grow into the hobby, you will develop favorites and gain the knowledge you need to make the purchases you'll enjoy instead of regret.

Lastly, never be afraid to ask questions about anything or seeking answers. The pen community is a friendly and supportive bunch. We LOVE our hobby and would love sharing what we love and what we know with others. If someone you ask doesn't know the answer, they probably know someone else who may know what you're looking for. Keep asking questions, keep interested, keep learning, keep sharing what you love. 

[Faye Slift]

20 hours ago, Lulu Blue said:

I'm not from Canada. Please forgive me. 

 

I have two Picasso's and LOVE the nibs so much (Medium) that I have bought 2 more - with the idea they'll be gifts, although I don't know I know anyone who is worthy. I have both the black/gold and the gold version of the pen. Both have a Picasso sketch in gold on the cap which is beyond cool. I like the gold on gold and the gold on black. I refuse to pick a winner.   I have not tried to change the nibs on these pens because they're fabulous.  Smooth and great ink flow. A delight to write with. And as you  mention, not heavy.  

 

You have great taste in pens. The white Cross is very pretty.   

 

Oh I didn’t mean only Canadians can reply! Sorry if it came across that way. I just thought they’d have more experience with Canadian resources. 

 

Thank you for the information on your Picassos. Good to hear they have decent nibs. I was thinking more in case they ever became damaged I’d like to know how to replace the nib. I’ll look into it any some point. I’ve read several other good reviews now, sounds like they’re a go then.

 

[Faye Slift]

20 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

Welcome to FPN!

 

 

Open nibs, as opposed to hooded and inlaid nibs, are all ultimately ‘friction-fit’ and pushed (along with the feed supporting it underneath) into a hole, and can be removed by pulling them out in the opposite direction, irrespective of whether there's a removable, threaded collar sitting inside the pen's gripping section. That doesn't mean removal of the nib is always as easy; and sometimes (e.g. on PenBBS pens) the feed is apt to be damaged and/or ruined in the process.

 

I don't know about the specific Picasso models you mentioned, but on the/my Picasso Pimio 916 pens, as far as I can tell there is no removable housing unit in the gripping section. At a glance, the front-end of the Picasso models shown in your images look like that on the Pimio 916, so I expect them to be constructed in a similar fashion.

 

Thanks for the reply and information. Yes, my Jinhao has the open nib and was fairly easy to pull out, align and reinsert with the feed. The nib on my friend’s Wordsworth & Black Erudite doesn’t seem to come out. We didn’t want to use too much pressure and risk breaking it, so not sure about that one. May have to do some research. That started me wondering about the Picasso pens. I was hoping all nibs would be as easy to replace as the Jinhao!

 

I’m unclear about the Picasso pens. On your Pimio 916, do you mean that only the nib itself comes out for replacement (without the feed)? Or are you saying the nibs are not replaceable at all? Sorry, I will eventually learn more about this. 

 

[Karmachanic]

Hiya Faye,

 

This place is a treasure trove of pen lore. I encourage you to dig in and take advantage. As, at this point, as your interest is in Chinese pens, go the China section and read at your leisure. And don't be afraid to use the search bar at the top right, but to be honest, I get better results using a net search engine.

 

Of course, as you have discovered, the lovely people here are always happy to help.

[Faye Slift]

20 hours ago, taimdala said:

Hi there! Welcome to our forum! 😃

To start with what I know:
If you're looking for Canadian fountain pen vendors, I can recommend The House of Fine Writing, Toronto. I have actually shopped here in person but they've also got a website for online shopping. (See: https://houseoffinewriting.com/) Andrew Walti runs the store and in person, he's really nice AND knowledgeable about his stock. I bought a Lamy AL-Star fountain pen and Monteverde ink on that visit. I still have them and they work just fine.

Another Canadian vendor I've heard good things about but haven't yet shopped with is Wonderpens (https://wonderpens.ca/). They are also in Toronto if you prefer shopping in a physical store.

On the matter of your JinHao x450 and how its cap won't stay on when you post it, some pen designs aren't made to post. Perhaps this model is one of those. I don't have this model so I can't say from experience if this is true or not.

For the Cross Beverly, that pearlescent white is so pretty!  I've no experience with this model, though.

 

What I do have experience in, however, is sampling a lot of pens across a large number of models/makers that I had access to (at the time) in the beginning of finding the hobby, which led me to discover through trial and error which pens worked best with my grip and writing pressure and aesthetic preferences. I found my Goldilocks Zone relatively quickly and am comfortable with Extra Fine to Fine nibs, prefer a large ink capacity/reservoir, and about half my pens are demonstrators which allows me to see all the pieces and parts (and how much ink I have left).  I tend to jump feet first into things and the resulting trial and error meant I have quite a few pens that I have put aside, which I'll eventually give to a good home. Your outcome may be different.

If I might offer some advice, it is this:

Explore pens at your own pace and as your finances permit, and keep it fun and pleasurable. Resist FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) when you can, but remain open to exploration and discovery. As you grow into the hobby, you will develop favorites and gain the knowledge you need to make the purchases you'll enjoy instead of regret.

Lastly, never be afraid to ask questions about anything or seeking answers. The pen community is a friendly and supportive bunch. We LOVE our hobby and would love sharing what we love and what we know with others. If someone you ask doesn't know the answer, they probably know someone else who may know what you're looking for. Keep asking questions, keep interested, keep learning, keep sharing what you love. 

 

Thanks for the links. Yes, online resources is more what I was looking for but it’s good to know about the shops as well. 

 

I looked into the Jinhao X 450 a bit and apparently the loose cap is a common complaint. It has a plastic insert so I think it’s meant to post. I didn’t know that some aren’t, so thanks for that information. 

 

And thanks for the advice. 🙂

 

[Faye Slift]

11 minutes ago, Karmachanic said:

Hiya Faye,

 

This place is a treasure trove of pen lore. I encourage you to dig in and take advantage. As, at this point, as your interest is in Chinese pens, go the China section and read at your leisure. And don't be afraid to use the search bar at the top right, but to be honest, I get better results using a net search engine.

 

Of course, as you have discovered, the lovely people here are always happy to help.

 

I will check out the China section, thanks for the suggestion. And I’ll get into others as I have time. I wanted to start with lower priced pens and the pens from China are very reasonably priced. I will look into other brands as I learn more about them. There certainly is a wealth of information here and very helpful people. 

Edited March 25, 2021 by Faye Slift
Font went wonky!

[mizgeorge]

I have nothing useful to add, not least because my knowledge of Chinese pens could be written on a grain of rice, but wanted to just say hello and welcome

[A Smug Dill]

1 hour ago, Faye Slift said:

That started me wondering about the Picasso pens. I was hoping all nibs would be as easy to replace as the Jinhao!

 

But why would you want to, or plan on, replacing the nib on a (Picasso) pen? Are you expecting to drop the pen on its business end uncapped and wreck the nib; or just that you would want to tune or regrind the nib right at the start? Do you expect to acquire compatible standalone nibs of different width grades to use in the same pen for variety or versatility?

 

1 hour ago, Faye Slift said:

On your Pimio 916, do you mean that only the nib itself comes out for replacement (without the feed)? Or are you saying the nibs are not replaceable at all?

 

I meant the Pimio 916's gripping section does not appear to be modular, such that the nib and feed can be easily removed by unscrewing the threaded collar as a single unit combining those three parts, and replaced with another unit. Fountain pens are generally not designed or marketed as being user-serviceable to remove/change/replace the nib willy-nilly, but some would say that it makes nib replacement (or nib-swapping) easier and less risky for most amateur tinkerers.

 

 

I haven't tried pulling out the nib on the Pimio 916, and see no need to do so. I don't recall seeing many listings for replacement Picasso nibs on eBay, AliExpress, etc. and can't imagine why I'd particularly want to replace that nib. If I wanted to play around with nib-swapping on pens with similarly small nibs, I'd pick a Delike or HongDian pen.

 

1 hour ago, Faye Slift said:

It has a plastic insert so I think it’s meant to post.

 

The Jinhao X450 has a snap-cap (as opposed to a threaded screw-cap or a slip-cap), if I recall correctly, and the inner cap provides the ‘snap’ that holds the cap in place. A plastic insert usually has nothing to do with whether a pen is designed to be used with its cap posted on the end of the barrel when writing.

 

 

[Lulu Blue]

On 3/25/2021 at 3:11 PM, Faye Slift said:

 

Oh I didn’t mean only Canadians can reply! Sorry if it came across that way. I just thought they’d have more experience with Canadian resources. 

 

Thank you for the information on your Picassos. Good to hear they have decent nibs. I was thinking more in case they ever became damaged I’d like to know how to replace the nib. I’ll look into it any some point. I’ve read several other good reviews now, sounds like they’re a go then.

 

I was just being CHEEKY about not being Canadian.  Look at you going all Canada nice on me!! 

 

Yes, the Picasso is a pen that proves you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a really enjoyable writing experience.  THat being said, I need to leave the basement where it's cold, go upstairs, sit by the fire, drink tea and continue writing my letter.  Who knows what pen I'll use..... 

[Faye Slift]

On 3/25/2021 at 6:55 PM, A Smug Dill said:

But why would you want to, or plan on, replacing the nib on a (Picasso) pen? Are you expecting to drop the pen on its business end uncapped and wreck the nib; or just that you would want to tune or regrind the nib right at the start? Do you expect to acquire compatible standalone nibs of different width grades to use in the same pen for variety or versatility?

 

Well... Nibs have been known to break, haven’t they? Or it may have a medium nib and I decide down the line that I prefer writing with a fine. So it would be a factor in purchasing the pen if I know the nib cannot be replaced. I am still learning, however, and may realize that it’s a better idea to have several pens rather than bother with replacing nibs. Right now I’m just finding out as much as I can. 

[Faye Slift]

1 hour ago, Lulu Blue said:

I was just being CHEEKY about not being Canadian.  Look at you going all Canada nice on me!! 

 

Yes, the Picasso is a pen that proves you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a really enjoyable writing experience.  THat being said, I need to leave the basement where it's cold, go upstairs, sit by the fire, drink tea and continue writing my letter.  Who knows what pen I'll use..... 

 

Ha, I thought you might be, but better to err on the side of caution. You do know Canadians are the most polite people in the world? When someone bumps into us, WE apologize to them. (This actually happened to me. A man jostled me with his cart in the grocery store and I instantly reacted with an “Oh, I’m Sorry”.  My daughter’s response was “You know he bumped into you, right?” I just shrugged and reminded her I was Canadian.) 

 

Ah, you’ve inspired me, I think I’ll do the same. I have my cup of tea ready, and starting a fire might not be the best idea as we have no fireplace, but I think I’ll write a letter to my daughter (with my new fountain pen, of course!) and mail it instead of sending the usual texts. I’d love to see her reaction when she receives it. She’ll probably have me put away.

 

 

[A Smug Dill]

15 minutes ago, Faye Slift said:

Nibs have been known to break, haven’t they?

 

Through normal use, wear and tear? No, not without being mistreated or abused by the user intentionally or accidentally. Dropping the pen nib first on a hard surface? Sure, that could well bend one of both tines. Pressing too hard on the nib trying to produce an unreasonable degree of line variation on the page, and ‘springing’ (i.e. inelastically deforming) the tines in the process? Yes, that could happen.

 

20 minutes ago, Faye Slift said:

Or it may have a medium nib and I decide down the line that I prefer writing with a fine. So it would be a factor in purchasing the pen if I know the nib cannot be replaced.

 

I think you should decide upfront whether you think of a particular fountain pen — or alternatively, all the fountain pens you'd want to obtain, as a single homogenous class of objects — is a self-contained writing instrument with certain characteristics (e.g. ink flow, nib/line width), or a glorified nib holder/handle with an ink reservoir and feed, just waiting for your to put the right nib on it to suit the occasion or application from time to time. Flexibility to allow yourself to change your mind later about a pen, and your choice of nib for it, is not inherent in the manufacturer's design intent of most fountain pen models; and — with the odd exception  (e.g. the FPR Himalaya) — those that are designed to accommodate nib replacement by self-service will have (typically but not necessarily threaded) removable nib-and-feed units, e.g. Pelikan M2xx, any number of Delike models, Pilot Capless models. Allowing the user to acquire and replace the absolute minimum, i.e. just that metal nib, to get different writing outcomes as a retail offering by design is rare and unusual.