PenBBS 456 Vacuum Filler Fountain Pen Unboxing and First Look

[@edcscrivinor2280]

Congratulations! For me, the 456 proven itself to be one of the best pens PenBBS makes. I wound up with a Jowo M nib and that suits me very well. I'll be interested to see how the Schmidt nib goes!

[@InkquiringMinds]

I just swapped the nib for the Schmidt fine this afternoon. I made a video doing it and will have it up later today. SPOILER ALERT: I'm happy.

[@RyanAlexander87]

@@InkquiringMinds What nib are you running on it now? Was considering ordering a Jowo F but for $28 CAD but wasn't certain if it would fit. I'm using the F that it came with and with the Monteverde ink in it it's skipping here and there. I do like the pen but it's not being used right now because of that - even after working on it a bit to give a slight gap which made it wetter..

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@RyanAlexander87 I use the F nibs in all my Penbbs 456 pens. But, they are very dry when they are new and designed that way. Try a wetter ink AND try opening the tines a little by pressing down making vertical top to bottom short strokes on paper six or seven times. Do not over-press the nib. Just use firm pressure. This is how I open up my Penbbs Fine nibs. If you wish to switch out for a Jowo nib, you can. Just make sure to use the PenBBS nib collar and feed. There is enough cap clearance for a Jowo #6.

[@rymelo2405]

@@InkquiringMinds thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I tuned it with Waterman Serenity blue in it and it worked well enough with that. I’ll give it a try with Kon Peki after a good cleaning and see what happens before ordering the JoWo. Thanks for your input!

[@rymelo2405]

@@InkquiringMinds An update: inked it with Kon-Peki and its now glorious.

[@Dionysor]

Thank you for the in depth assembly. My 456 just arrived and i just hit the gold mine with that. Being my first vac it's a straight forward system except the 2 reservoir thing had me confused when i dried out, so i figured you need to lift the plunger and shake it a bit to 'reload'. Being a fidgety kiddo i do dig that. Your assembly helped me explain this. The stock nib is apparently smooth and wet, slightly too broad for a fine for me. So i took the charm that i ordered too and fitted it with a Bock extra fine nib so that i can hot swap units whenever i feel like. You should give that a go when you got a few charms yourself. Best regards

[@InkquiringMinds]

Although I continue to say that my PenBBS 480 Galaxy is the finest fountain pen I own, the 456 is my go-to pen. If I need to grab a pen and go, the 456 will go in my shirt, jacket or pen sleeve. Because of the shut-off valve, I have no fear of having it outside and then against the warmth of my body and then out again. The valve keeps the pen from burping, spitting or leaking. Total confidence.

[@LesterBeasley]

You can certainly hear the feedback in the audio.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Indeed!

[@ichirofakename]

Dang that boy looks like a TWSBI. With a fab (looking) nib.

[@InkquiringMinds]

It is better than the TWSBI. The 456 is turned acrylic and the TWSBI is much cheaper injection molded plastic.

[@ichirofakename]

@@InkquiringMinds Well, well.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@ichirofakename I should clarify before I get lambasted by TWSBI fans. Here is a quote from TWSBI "We actually use polycarbonate with a protective coating heat treated onto the pen. This allows for the plastic to have a hard shell, scratch resistant, and clear crystal look." Heat treated, polycarbonate or not. The TWSBI Diamond 580 feels like inexpensive plastic in the hand compared to the Penbbs 456 which feels like glass by comparison. I know, I've had both in my hands. And the 580 is twice the price of a 456.

[@ichirofakename]

@@InkquiringMinds Ok, ok, ok. I was trying to give the thing a compliment. I like the way TWSBIs look, and I like the way this PenBBS looks. But, now that you mention it, I've always thought a fountain pen with an actual glass body could be cool.

[@fountainpencollection]

Anybody had any problem with the filling system on this pen? On mine it's like the rubber part that creates the vacuum has increased in volume and it's not fitting well anymore and it's sticking on the walls of the pen, even with silicon grease.

[@InkquiringMinds]

That's odd FPC! I've had mine since July and refilled it numerous times with no problems (other than dropping it and breaking the barrel - a new barrel is on its way). How old is your 456?

[@fountainpencollection]

@@InkquiringMinds I got the pen in august . Were did you find replacement parts for the 456 ?

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@fountainpencollection Since I bought it from Beini on Etsy (PenBBSOfficialStore), I wrote to her and asked if I could buy the barrel alone. She said yes and it was $8US and she waived the shipping if I added it to my next order. So I bought a clear glass 323 and she's sending the new barrel with it. :)

[@fountainpencollection]

@@InkquiringMinds Thanks i will try to buy the entire filling sistem that would be the best solution .

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@fountainpencollection Let me know if you are successful with just getting the filling system. It would be interesting to know that she will sell pen parts.