Vac fill suggestions?

[essayfaire]

So I have wanted a vacuum filler for quite some time. I bought some Chinese one from AliExpress last year to try them out- the filling mechanism is fabulous but they don't post, which is a deal-breaker for me in any pen that isn't retractable.  PenBBS says their Vac fillers don't post. The  TWSBI pens have pretty large step-downs, which is something I avoid.  I'm trying to find a vac that sits well in hand, posts, doesn't suffer from the step-down issue and is not multiple hundreds of dollars.  Vintage or new is fine- these days vintage pens often seem to be better values.

 

 

 

The  Pilot Custom seems to fit the bill, but I was hoping to pay less.  Plus, a family member is going to Japan in October, so any Japanese pens of significant price should wait 'til then...

[Ron Z]

I like the Wing Sung 699.  Similar to a Pilot 823, but a steel nib. 

 

There's always a vintage Sheaffer. Restored properly with the right materials, they'll work for a long time.  

[ruby.monkey]

Asvine V126 is a very nice pen, especially in one of the frosted finishes. Doesn't have the brittle feeling of the Wing Sung 699, and posts more easily (my 699 sometimes needs a little fiddling to get the cap securely posted). The TWSBI Vac Mini avoids the unfortunate proportions of its larger sibling, and posts securely - the cap screws on so it's probably the most securely fixed of any of the pens you'll encounter. The Nahvalur Original+ also feels fine in the hand, with the advantage over the Asvine or Wing Sung of offering a wider selection of nib sizes.

 

I like Onoto plunger fillers too, but with these you're either paying extra for a restored pen or having to cut cork seals to mend 'em yourself. Sheaffers are similar but I never seem to get along with their seal packs.

[Paul-in-SF]

48 minutes ago, ruby.monkey said:

Asvine V126 is a very nice pen, especially in one of the frosted finishes.

 

Ditto on this one. I have the white frosted pen, and it writes very well, and looks good too. I don't post it because I don't need to, because it would make the pen bigger than I like to write with, and because of the need to unscrew the back a little to let the ink get to the nib. But it does post quite securely. 

[sandy101]

Parker Grey Pearl

[HobbitLife]

The PenBBS 456 posts well and is a great pen - not sure why they would say it doesn’t?

[essayfaire]

3 hours ago, HobbitLife said:

The PenBBS 456 posts well and is a great pen - not sure why they would say it doesn’t?

Not sure; I asked the company!

 

@Ron ZWhich model? Sounds intriguing.  

18 hours ago, ruby.monkey said:

The Nahvalur Original+ also feels fine in the hand, with the advantage over the Asvine or Wing Sung of offering a wider selection of nib sizes.

I didn't realize they were making a vac fill now.  I have a Narwhal that I like very much, and had ground to a fude.  I actually bought one that I returned because it wouldn't post, but the model I have now does.  I just checked the website and it doesn't give a length posted, which means I may have to double-check that it does post.  If it does that may be my best best.

 

There seems to be a fairly substantial debate on an old threat about whether the Wing Sung or the Asvine is the better pen!

 

@sandy101Nice pen.  Wasn't on my radar.

[ruby.monkey]

4 hours ago, essayfaire said:

 I just checked the website and it doesn't give a length posted, which means I may have to double-check that it does post.  If it does that may be my best best.

It posts, and securely at that, but the cap just covers the plunger knob.

 

Just for fun I tried swapping my Nahvalur and Asvine nib units. They look pretty much identical and fit perfectly, so that adds some extra nib options for the Asvine.

[Runnin_Ute]

Parker Vacumatic or 51 Vacumatic. 

[InesF]

On 4/29/2023 at 7:56 PM, essayfaire said:

The  TWSBI pens have pretty large step-downs, which is something I avoid.  I'm trying to find a vac that sits well in hand, posts, doesn't suffer from the step-down issue and is not multiple hundreds of dollars.

Yes, that's right for the Vac 700. I gave mine away for that reason.

The TWSBI Vac min does not have this step down, posts nicely and is in the 70 € range.

[TSherbs]

On 4/29/2023 at 6:03 PM, ruby.monkey said:

Asvine V126 is a very nice pen, especially in one of the frosted finishes. Doesn't have the brittle feeling of the Wing Sung 699, and posts more easily (my 699 sometimes needs a little fiddling to get the cap securely posted). The TWSBI Vac Mini avoids the unfortunate proportions of its larger sibling, and posts securely - the cap screws on so it's probably the most securely fixed of any of the pens you'll encounter. The Nahvalur Original+ also feels fine in the hand, with the advantage over the Asvine or Wing Sung of offering a wider selection of nib sizes.

 

I like Onoto plunger fillers too, but with these you're either paying extra for a restored pen or having to cut cork seals to mend 'em yourself. Sheaffers are similar but I never seem to get along with their seal packs.

 

This is a very helpful post.

[ruby.monkey]

7 hours ago, InesF said:

Yes, that's right for the Vac 700. I gave mine away for that reason.

The TWSBI Vac min does not have this step down, posts nicely and is in the 70 € range.

Sod's Law struck me - my 700R has the unfortunate proportions but is perfectly intact after 5 years or so; my same-age Mini feels great in the hand but has multiple cracks to both cap and barrel.

[PAKMAN]

Asvine V169 is a nice choice.

[essayfaire]

On 4/30/2023 at 5:07 PM, ruby.monkey said:

It posts, and securely at that, but the cap just covers the plunger knob

Any chance you could show me a photo?

On 5/1/2023 at 11:37 PM, Runnin_Ute said:

Parker Vacumatic or 51 Vacumatic

Thank you.

 

On 5/2/2023 at 9:51 AM, ruby.monkey said:

On 5/2/2023 at 2:44 AM, InesF said:

Yes, that's right for the Vac 700. I gave mine away for that reason.

The TWSBI Vac min does not have this step down, posts nicely and is in the 70 € range.

Sod's Law struck me - my 700R has the unfortunate proportions but is perfectly intact after 5 years or so; my same-age Mini feels great in the hand but has multiple cracks to both cap and barrel.

I was trying to remember why I was hesitant to get a Mini- this may be why.

 

Leaning towards Parker or Nahvalur.

[lamder]

Build quality wise, Asvine V126 is noticeably better than the WingSung 699 for me. But this is the third Asvine medium nib I tried my hands on and all three times the nibs have underwhelmed.

[ruby.monkey]

On 5/4/2023 at 9:15 PM, essayfaire said:

Any chance you could show me a photo?

Here you go:

 

Note that the cap only reaches to the barrel's trim ring, but it does wedge on securely.

[essayfaire]

@ruby.monkeyThank you.  It makes it look long but I don't think that would bother me as long as it is well-weighted, and since it isn't a metal pen I think the weight should be okay.

 

I like that it doesn't seem to have a step down.