Dollar demonstrators!

November 8, 2010

Dollar demonstrator - one of the worst pens that I have ever owned. Perhaps I got a dud but there was so much about it that was disappointing, cheap and just plain awful. Many of the sub £1 pens from the local supermarkets are much better.

I don't have a Dollar Demonstrator, but I do have two Noodler's Flexible Nib Creapers which have the same body. They are definitely hit and miss. I have one that I love and that I...well don't have much love for. It might be worth trying out another one. Sometimes they even turn up in the marketplace.

I don't have any desire now, there are a lot of other pens to try instead.

November 8, 2010

I have 2 Dollar Demo but both have benn leaking around the feeder all the time, which is quite annoying. Two friends of mine have been experienced the same problem. Is there any solution for that, except stop using them?

Does this only happen when the ink level is less than 1/2? If so, it could be due to air expansion.

You're right. If air warms, it expands and the ink can leak, but that problem has been happening all the time - even nearly full or almost empty. I have many piston fillers and I've never had such a problem. After I fill the pen with ink, I always give back 5 drops before use it.

Today, I was chating with a friend, who told me to use a thin tape to seal the feeder, where the leak has been happening (leaky teflon tape). He said that his Dollar hasn't leaked anymore. I'll try it!

June 13, 2014

Dollar 717i: I bought one of these due to the buzz it had generated... (I was looking for another cheap pen) . I received it today and it came wrapped in... Bubble wrap plastic. Very welll wrapped. When I tried removing the bubble wrap the clip of the pen came off or almos all staying bent at a 50-60 degrees angle. I panicked! What is this? It took me a few strokes to bend it back into place... It is made of very weak material, junk. Other $10 pens are strdy and clips don't bend. The most I can say is... the inking system is fun to use and it is nice to see the ink thru. On the other hand, given my experience with the materials it is made off, I do not dare put it in 1) a good case, my pockets or purse fearing it make brake and spill all its guts. This is a pen $8.50 too expensive for what it is. My advice? If you want to know how to use the piston system, buy it. It is an experience. Then store it away from your good stuff.

Photo: Dollar 717i with Hero ink, Burgundy color.

Edited June 13, 2014 by Lamyrada

June 14, 2014

I've got a non-transparent dollar pen, your same model, I think. It's served me well from day one, although I will admit I did not like the nib it came with, and have replaced it with a smoother FPR stub nib.

I don't think there is any danger of the pen falling apart, certainly not spontaneously, as you imply. You made a mistake when unwrapping, got the clip tangled up in the bubble wrap and nearly broke it... so, that will break a flimsy clip. But other than that, just normal use, will not find this pen falling apart. And for the price you paid, you got an inexpensive piston filler, and a demonstrator, to boot. There are similar pens on the market, many from India, and they all work nicely. No danger of sudden failure...

August 12, 2014

I have two DOLLAR pens. I like that the FINE is consistent in both, that it never fails to start and holds more ink than usual and that i can see when it is getting close to empty. It looks good in clear and colored sections. I needed two with two different inks.it has all teh characteristics of a good pen. Why deride it because it is cheap? It is a very nice pen which i would use over some brand names.

August 21, 2014

These are available on Ebay.co.uk. I took a chance and bought one for the princely sum of £2.95 including postage and it arrived earlier today. Unfortunately it isn't writing well at all (barely makes a mark) so I'll need to fiddle with it. I wasn't expecting much given the price so I'm not disappointed, and it may help me learn about faffing with nibs. I did flush it and leave it to soak for several hours but it will be sitting in a pot of water with a bit of washing-up liquid overnight too.

August 22, 2014

Feeling quite proud of myself - after sitting it in washing-up liquid all night, flushing carefully then faffing with a razor blade to open the tines slightly, this pen now writes beautifully. This is the first time I've tried to tweak a nib so I'm very pleased

August 23, 2014

Ooh! I had another Dollar Demonstrator turn up and this time it works perfectly after an initial flush, no tweaking needed. I'm very pleased I guess as with any cheapies you are more likely to get ones that don't work so well, so I was unlucky with the first one. This second one is definitely great value though!

February 12, 2015

I just got one of these from His Nibs and it's surprisingly good. I'll probably add a few to any future orders.

Perhaps you paid $15 (quoted in hisnibs.com) for this pen that sells for $10 elsewhere in USA and for $6 in India, Pakistan's neighbour. But I believe buying for $15 from hisnibs.com is a wise thing to do as they will take care that the nib is adjusted properly so that it is nether scratchy, nor too wet or too dry and no burping. Although I am in India, I buy from Mr Mottishaw and Mr Binder to get troublefee pens.

February 12, 2015

Feeling quite proud of myself - after sitting it in washing-up liquid all night, flushing carefully then faffing with a razor blade to open the tines slightly, this pen now writes beautifully. This is the first time I've tried to tweak a nib so I'm very pleased

I congratulate you on your first success in setting a pen right. And you got it cheaper than in USA (where it sells for $10 to $15); so once more congrats! Even in India this pen sells for equivalent of 4 pound sterling.

February 23, 2015

WOW. I paid 5$ for it and I sas skeptical about it....that is until I used it. Smoooth... the nib is good and the piston is awesome. Hard to beat it the performance even at the 15$ range.