Opus 88/Pilot Parallel Hack

[dms525]

I recently became aware that one can easily install a Pilot Parallel nib into an Opus 88 Demonstrator pen. I have tried it, and it works. It is super simple. 

 

This provides at once  the virtues of the Pilot Parallel nibs for calligraphy and the advantages of the Opus 88 fountain pen - better ergonomics, portability, huge  ink capacity and economical ink use (compared to cartridges, unless you refill them).

 

 

Here are links to a couple of youtube videos on this hack:

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

David

[A Smug Dill]

If, effectively, the PIlot Parallel pen's nib and feed will fit neatly into where a JoWo #6 nib unit would go, then I don't understand why the seemingly exclusive focus on the Opus 88 Demonstrator, when other Opus 88 models that take Opus 88 #12 nib units, as well the Wancher Crystal (and Crystal II) that takes a JoWo #6 nib unit and can work as an eyedropper-filled pen, Edison Pen Company models that take a JoWo #6 nib unit (which I know the Collier does, but a Menlo or some such with an integrated filling mechanism would probably do as well), etc. should also support the same thing.

 

[dms525]

17 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

If, effectively, the PIlot Parallel pen's nib and feed will fit neatly into where a JoWo #6 nib unit would go, then I don't understand why the seemingly exclusive focus on the Opus 88 Demonstrator, when other Opus 88 models that take Opus 88 #12 nib units, as well the Wancher Crystal (and Crystal II) that takes a JoWo #6 nib unit and can work as an eyedropper-filled pen, Edison Pen Company models that take a JoWo #6 nib unit (which I know the Collier does, but a Menlo or some such with an integrated filling mechanism would probably do as well), etc. should also support the same thing.

 

 

Very logical, but I tried fitting a PP nib in a half dozen or so pens that take JoWo #6 nibs, and none worked. Generally, the PP nib is too small for the opening, so it doesn't stay in. There may be other pens for which this hack would work.  I certainly haven't tried more than a few.

 

David

[amberleadavis]

I Pulled out a pen to try this ... couldn't get the nib out of the collar and then got distracted. Thank you for sharing this!

[A Smug Dill]

4 hours ago, dms525 said:

Generally, the PP nib is too small for the opening, so it doesn't stay in. There may be other pens for which this hack would work.

 

 

49 minutes ago, amberleadavis said:

I Pulled out a pen to try this ... couldn't get the nib out of the collar and then got distracted.

 

The Opus 88 #12 (or generic JoWo #6) nib's collar? No, you screw out and remove the entire nib unit, if you want to ‘replace’ it with the Pilot Parallel pen's nib and feed. Or did you mean you couldn't get the Parallel pen's nib and feed out of its body? I've pulled them out from two Parallel pens — one old, one brand new — just now, and it's really easy. It was harder to get the tiny O-ring out of the gripping section of the Opus 88 Demonstrator I've been using.

 

[amberleadavis]

Once I pulled the parallel nib, I realized that I wouldn't need the collar. I found an old pen and it fits well, but I need an o ring or something.

[A Smug Dill]

3 minutes ago, amberleadavis said:

Once I pulled the parallel nib, I realized that I wouldn't need the collar. I found an old pen and it fits well, but I need an o ring or something.

 

There's already an O-ring on the back-end of the Pilot Parallel pen's feed, and you probably won't need one if you're putting the nib and feed into a pen that isn't c/c-filled, assuming it's not one of those lazy piston-filler designs that take a standard JoWo #6 nib unit wholesale, nipple and all, instead of a more open back-end to allow ink to flow into the feed more readily through a larger opening in the ink reservoir.

 

[dms525]

Re. O rings: First, the videos on this hack say to get the Opus 88 Demonstrator's O ring out with the JoWo nib and just stick the PP nib in. As noted, the PP nib has its own O ring.

 

Second, then I unscrewed and took out the JoWo nib from the Opus 88, the O ring stayed in the section. As an experiment, I left it in and installed the PP nib. Everything worked perfectly. My thought is that this is a good thing. Leaving the Opus 88 O ring in place makes it less likely that I will lose it. And it will be there, if I want to re-install a JoWo nib.

 

David

[amberleadavis]

Hemm... Now I had better find the O ring on the parallel. I didn't see it so I may have dropped it.

[amberleadavis]

So, I was able to hack the Osprey Madison ($18).

 

[dms525]

3 hours ago, amberleadavis said:

So, I was able to hack the Osprey Madison ($18).

 

 

Cool! I don't know Osprey pens. Going searching ...

 

[amberleadavis]

3 minutes ago, dms525 said:

 

Cool! I don't know Osprey pens. Going searching ...