Fountain Pens I Wouldn't Buy Again - My Pen Regrets

[@DaisyDoodles]

Me watching this as a complete fountain pen noobie: “hmm, yes, i know some of these words”

[@CreatingCuteArt]

😂😂

[@AggresivelyBenign]

I concur. 😂😂😂

[@PuttinOnTheSpritz]

😂😂

[@PaladinJSR]

😂 same

[@kookatsoonjan]

ha ha Daisy...good luck...keep going!

[@rooster5572]

As someone who has never touched a fountain pen in my life I agree with your assessments

[@Doodlebud]

😉

[@catbusdecoder]

There's a trick to avoid cross threading I learned from Dave over at EEVBlog: as you press the components to be mated together, first turn them against each other in their *loosening* directions until you hear or feel a click, *then* tighten. The click indicates the threads of both parts are correctly engaged.

[@HannahRosetheVeganNomad]

Isn't how you thread anything?

[@LewisVinyl]

That’s what I’ve been doing for years. Thought everyone did that

[@sammiches6859]

​@@HannahRosetheVeganNomadThere are Canadians involved here. Let them have their moment.

[@TrueReal-de6ee]

Right on man! I'm glad that you figured it out. This is my preferred technique whenever I'm screwing some threads that are tricky 👍

[@doubledrats235]

My dad taught me that in the 1960s when I helped him when fixing our cars. I then taught it to my sons. Pass this mechanical knowledge on down to your children (girls and boys)!

[@jasonnabors1231]

My regrets: Jinhao, Amazon Basics, Wing Sun, Pineider, one brand that had Sword in the name that escapes me. A Lamy or two has been crappy. The only brand that has NEVER let me down, and I mean NEVER, is Pilot.

[@Doodlebud]

Pilot is a petty damn good brand across the spectrum of price points

[@cityluxesingapore]

That is so true

[@jadeleighton3635]

That is making me feel better about my purchase

[@DrSweet1210]

While I wouldn't get another Amazon Basics, it was my first fountain pen and convinced me to try others. My second fountain pen was a Pilot Metropolitan (still my favorite) and I realized how lacking the Amazon Basics pen is.

[@pvman2]

I own a Metro. I LOVE it. Only gripe is, if not used often, the ink reservoir will dry up, requiring a refill or disposable cartridge replacement. I have been VERY impressed with the Pilot Varsity. It writes a little wet, but I have one I've been writing with weekly, for two years, and it isn't empty yet. I have four more in the 5 pack I purchased.

[@chrisdaniels6523]

Hey, I'm the Esterbrook guy! I've been using FPs for about 50 years. I've gone through probably 200 of them. This video reminds me that like any tool, if a pen doesn't feel good in my hand, even if it works perfectly and is beautifully made, it's not for me. Thanks for another interesting, informative, very enjoyable video!

[@kart182]

Like did they break or you just bought 200 for fun? Hoping it’s the latter!

[@jeffwest5244]

I chuckled when you taped your pen to your windshield and drove it through a carwash. It instantly reminded me of the trials that John Cameron Swayze put Timex watches through in his commercials from the 60s, always concluding: "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking!"

[@Doodlebud]

Lol I remember the Columbia jacket ones too.

[@torimccormick948]

I adore my Eco and Kaweco Sport! But I also have small hands so they feel very comfortable to me! But I totally understand they’re not everyone’s bread and butter!

[@johnsmith2896]

I hate piston fountain pen, hence avoiding Pelikans.

[@MitchellJBridges]

​@@johnsmith2896 I'm not a fan of vacuum fillers or piston fillers because they are less durable and hard to clean. Cartridge converters are vastly superior due to the fact that they clean easy and if the converter breaks just replace it for $15 not a major loss.

[@francescomotolese4644]

I can tell that my eco and 580 was not in use for maybe 2 years and when I reuse the pens I find the same level of ink and both pens writing with no problems .........amazed me Sorry for my English but I am Italian ps great video

[@robynjohnson5750]

The Trash Pen section at the end had me laughing out loud! I learned quite a few new pen terms. 😂. My husband was wondering what I found so funny on a pen review video, and when I repeated a few of your phrases he understood. Loved “I can’t remember the model number…don’t care…I hate this pen.” Hadn’t heard the great term “gnarly” for ages! Great video…thank you!

[@Doodlebud]

It was a gnarly ink booger

[@mrcat3493]

The ink-barnacle buildup on the Curidas clone is one for the record book!

[@Doodlebud]

Ink won't flow to the tip to write but instead builds up into that crusty nugget!

[@mdgdm]

I’m not a fountain collector, but a user. I’ve bought 15 fountain pens in the last 6 years, and now I’m down to 6. If I’m not using a pen much I sell it. My two favorites are my Momento Zero stub, an ideal fit for my hand, and Pineider Avatar UR.

[@locaog4mesyoutube612]

I have no idea why this channel was recommended for me, i literally have no interests in writing, pens, pencils, anything like that, and yet, i am enthralled

[@Doodlebud]

😁👍

[@susanweber6861]

Buy a pen…you’ll see

[@jeffowens3372]

The great thing about pens is that one person may not like one brand, another person loves them. Twsbi is loved by many because of the price. Visconti is a brand I love, from lowest to highest. I have 2 Rembrandts, 2 van gogh without any of the problems noted in the video. I do agree with the Montegrappa problems though

[@gcvrsa]

Since I started using TWSBI ECOs over 5 years ago, I've stopped using any other pens. I've never experienced any problems with them in all that time, and I now own at least 7 of them, with plans to buy more. I own a Pelikan M800, and I don't even use it anymore, because I love the ECO so much. They are gorgeous, work well, write well, and are cheap enough that if one gets lost or stolen or accidentally broken, I won't freak out. And I can almost completely coordinate them with the ink colors I use! I'm hoping for a solid red one for my red ink, but in the meantime, red ink goes in my clear ECO.

[@someoneonyoutube1993]

I find them quite expensive. I could by 2 Waterman Garduates for 1 TWSBI ECO. So for the price I wouldn't buy them although they might be very good.

[@nineten-eu4ig]

@@someoneonyoutube1993 I live in asia so prices might be different its about 37 us dollars here is it different where you live?

[@erikw3105]

This is me with Noodler's pens. As long as you give them a good clean before to remove any manufacturing oils, I haven't had problems. I'm very happy with the ability to tinker literally everything with the pen

[@helenmcdonnell2585]

​@@erikw3105Concur, Noodlers fountain pens are great!

[@majajamie]

I think I audibly gasped when I saw the Leonardo in the first case😲 lol. I appreciate your honesty and constructive criticism; because of your engineering background, you're able to point out defects and offer solutions. I hope the pen companies are watching (I'm looking at you, Conklin!) I have a Jinhao 166 (the penultimate pen you showed) and reminds me of a Faber-Castell "Hexo" - - cheap pen but hey, if you lose it, you won't cry about it.

[@majajamie]

P.S. I got the stainless steel Kaweco 'Sport' from Noteworthy Stationery in Burnaby, BC (online store only) and paid for it in 4 equal, interest-free payments via Sezzle 😁

[@Doodlebud]

LOL, that's why I wasn't overly excited about jumping in on the VPC Leonardo pen again LOL😆 Good pen but just doesn't turn my crank as much as I thought it would. Their larger piston filler pens look amazing, especially the ebonite ones! But damn they're pricey 😬. The 166 is pretty well build but the dry out again seems to happen pretty often. Gave one to my daughter in pink and she loves it but the hard starting creeps up again. But hey, for $2 what can I really expect LOL

[@majajamie]

@@Doodlebud Yeah, the VPC pen will probably be a regular-sized one, not oversized. Prices have gone up (for everything) so we want to keep the pen "affordable". I know it's a lame suggestion, but did you try different inks in the Jinhao 166 pens? You shouldn't /have/ to try >1 ink in a pen to determine if it has flow issues, etc.but I thought I'd ask anyway. But yes, for $2, it's not something to cry over lol.

[@ZadenZane]

I can't stand piston filler pens, or the ones that have a syringe-like filler. Anything where you can't squeeze or screw the ink sack to make a drop of ink almost come out of the pen. The whole point of a fountain pen is to be able to push more ink to the nib two or three times per page. I have never yet found a pen with good enough ink flow, except for an old Parker 51 which used to splurge so much ink it was like writing with an oil slick. My favourite pen is Lamy Safari, definitely not for the design, purely for the cost and writing performance. The caps on Lamy pens lose their grip and start falling off over time so I use the cap from a plastic eternal pencil (looks just like a Lamy Safari and all the body parts screw and click together which is great as these plastic pencils are less than a pound or dollar each, far cheaper than getting a new pen). If anyone can recommend a fountain pen with truly generous ink flow and I do mean generous, I'd love to hear about it, but I've been using fountain pens since the 1980s and haven't found one yet! Also does anyone know of a good broad or better still extra broad nibbed pen, I mean something with a round point nib, not oblique or italic? I was going to get a Kaweco Sport purely for the BB nib, it's the only modern pen I know of available in extra broad.

[@GonzoTheRosarian]

My Montblanc 149 has been a pen I regretted getting. I have $40.00 pens that write better. I have had absolutely no dry out issues with my Diplomat Aero, I have a gold nib in it. I agree with all your other comments.

[@dahak972]

“I’m not going to apologize, I think it’s terrible “. 😂 . Great videos, thanks so much for doing them. I’m new to this at a late age and I’m wondering if I should have all of my pens inked up at the same time. I use them a lot for doodles and writing and I do try to use everyone. I find it therapeutic. Thanks for any advice. Keep up the great work! ❤

[@LittleKikuyu]

I have lots of pens inked up at the same time and I’m enjoying it very much! 😌 you might have noticed by now however that some pens can dry out relatively quickly. Once you know, you know. i just avoid those. Most of my pens are just reliable and awesome 🥰

[@bernardhuneault7805]

I started using nib pens in the 50s when we were learning cursive writing. We had the ink wells in our desks, and using them at that time was a challenge. Overfilling and splatters were common. My funniest memory was when a classmate accidentally sprayed turquoise ink on a girl's white sweater. She sat in front of him and had her sweater on the back of her seat. Part of the problem was that the desks were not attached to the floor, so she had her desk touching the front of the desk behind her. 😂 I decided I would go back to cursive writing as I approach my 75th birthday, so thank you for all your recommendations.

[@PhilFdP]

I know the feeling of WANTING a pen that's way out of your budget and settling for something else and just... it won't work, even if the something else is absolutely fine. The heart is a strange thing! May as well save money instead of spending it on the not quite right... I bought a Petit Prince Montblanc with a medium nib by mistake (I actually wanted a fine), and I love it. It doesn't write, it dances.

[@OwlCat-c4b]

This vid was informative & engaging with sone comedic elements in the delivery that made it great to watch! The “Trash Pens” overdub was really funny and i got a chuckle every time it made the announcement! No objections here, on any of the featured pens. It has to feel right. Some things are just manufactured so poorly they have zero redeeming qualities...which can be shocking given the price point for some of the items.

[@Spenfen]

My biggest regret by far is my TWSBI Eco. I'm a left-handed writer, and I don't have any issues with any of my other pens, but my Eco is scratchy as HELL when I write the way I usually do. I have to contort my hand into a position that mimicks a right-handed writer for it to be smooth, and that's just not acceptable IMO. Every other pen I own, I'm at least moderately happy with, but I've barely used my Eco since I bought it, and it makes me sad because it's such a nice-looking, well-made pen aside from the nib!

[@Doodlebud]

Sounds like the nib just needs a quick 30 second adjustment. I have a playlist on stuff like that showing how to fix the most basic issues like that

[@youtubecensors5419]

Hm, I'm left handed too and write "really" left handed (I push directly left to right, no angled wrist) and found the Eco to be great. Maybe my standards are low, is there a pen you really like for left handed writing?

[@daviebaggins]

Funny that was my first fountain pen as well. It was a piece of junk 😂 I'm also a lefty.

[@donkroh4986]

Thanks for the vid. I don't know the others but love the TWSBI Eco.

[@ichirofakename]

1. Great video, thanks. Similar videos about inks and paper would be fun and if possible even more useful. 2. My opinion of Faber-Castell steel nibs is so high that I am very curious about their gold nibs. Unfortunately I believe they are only available on their super high end GVFC pens, which I can't afford. 3. Biggest lesson from this video: do not by anything on sale, never ever.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Honestly, from someone who uses primarily dip pens... THE ONLY THING you actually gain for using gold in a nib is that it is resistant to rusting, oxidation, corrosion, and won't "react" with most chemistry in whatever you use as "ink"... I do a LOT of design and drawing, sketch to full-color portrait work... SO sometimes what I dip a pen into can be VERY different from the next person... If you get into "invisible" inks there's even more dubious chemistry... SO for some, gold is a benefit so they don't require a chemistry degree to know what and what NOT to use with their nibs... BUT for 99.99% of the population, a dab of jeweler's rouge (or plain black polishing compound from Harbor Freight) and a steel nib can be just as clean, shiny, and free of snags and burs as any softer metal... It can be quickly and easily rendered "to write as smooth as a baby's ass"... usually with a variable speed dremel or similar rotary tool and polishing "bit"... They're not difficult to use and can get you the results you always wanted with about a fifth or less the monetary cost... and a single stick of black compound can last you more than a decade... ;o)

[@user-qi5jw2hg1c]

I've several FCs and several GvonFCs (one in the steel nib, the others in 18k). The FCs write as well as their Graf counterparts. Buttery smooth. There isn't any noticeable flex with the 18ks in comparison to the steels (though I don't ever consciously flex my pens, so I might be wrong). One thing, however, that I'll say about the Graf gold nibs is the scrollwork is beautiful

[@ichirofakename]

@@user-qi5jw2hg1c thanks, you just saved me $600.

[@johnlopez3996]

What we need is s DoodleBud special edition fountain pen. I would love to see your logo on the nib because I would know that every part of the fountain pen has gone through rigorous quality control. Take care.

[@chrisdaniels6523]

I second that!

[@blt1]

Ditto!! 👍👍

[@MrDutchino]

Big YES

[@ibpopp]

Me too!

[@Doodlebud]

Hoping at some point I can make it happen. I have many ideas in the works and am working on a special nib to see if what I'm hoping for is possible. If so, it would be SKOOKUM AS F**K!🤓

[@xlerb2286]

That Esterbrook from the "nothing really wrong with them" box reminds me of my first fountain pen. Don't know what brand it was and it's long gone I'm sure. But it was one of Mom & Dad's old pens, just laying in a desk drawer along with the usual mix of ballpoints, pencils, and such. Probably from the 50's. Celluloid body and I remember that little lever for filling the pen. That fiddly bit, and a general liking for old things, was what got me started.

[@rogerboucher1913]

To avoid the threads to gripe just put some vegetable oil on a rag and gently wipe it on the threads. Makes them very smooth.

[@MrBestBeatlesFan1]

Using silicone on the threads will help with the blind cap or a round of plumbers tape.

[@PERPowns]

I love my TWSBI Ecos! I mainly use them for drawing/sketching and find the EF nib makes just the right sized lines for my sensibilities. They're not perfect but they're reasonably priced so I have a few with my most regularly used ink colors ready to roll.

[@Doodlebud]

The Eco is a solid pen. I just never really connected with them for one reason or another, but I understand why most people do enjoy them

[@cdgarcia]

I couldn’t ever connect with my TWSBI either. The nib is so stiff and abhor the blocky design and feel of the pen.

[@jamesaritchie1]

I think the ECO is as perfect as a thirty-five dollar pen can get.

[@nitina8564]

Your videos are entertaining and fun to watch and pretty well made with a lot of details covered. Keep doing the great work Bud.

[@Ksunshine57]

I learnt a lot about threads and thread stops from this video, I'll be watching more of your videos. Thank you.

[@ilikepens]

Another good one DB! If you want to send that Leonardo MZ my way, I wouldn’t be mad about it! 😝😜😂

[@rodjapavlik5730]

Yes! Finally. I thought I was the only who has the problem with the Twsbi Eco. The nib is "wandering" - but I saw so many positive reviews so I thought, maybe I was wrong. So this seems to be a problem, that happens only to some pens? I have Twsbi Go and Twsbi Swipe too - the last one is the one I prefer.

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

While there are very few pen brands that I regret buying; it's the NUMBER of pens bought that I sometimes regret. But they are a learning curve. Each pen brings with it, a new experience and some new bit of knowledge. I have one Montegrappa Elmo; no dry out and the medium nib is ridiculously smooth.

[@Michelt007]

Very interesting "negative" review. Most reviewers would hesitate to even cast doubts on the well-known, much beloved fountain pens (at the exception of the Pilot Metro!), but here we get a frank discussion about what these pens are not liked. I appreciate when bad points are raised, as these are subjective and may be good points for others. A pen is too small for the reviewer's large hands? Good to know, I have small hands and that is good for me! Thanks to Doodlebud for a great review!

[@alfonsorey9335]

Diplomat Aero: have it for 2 years, never had an issue with hard start or leak travelling by plane. It also has one of the best steel nibs in the market in my opinion, it’s a brilliant pen!

[@lizdelisle1912]

Funny the Eco is on the list because I’m thinking about getting the GLOW IN THE DARK ECO. If I do, it’ll probably be the only Eco!

[@Doodlebud]

Good to hear yours doesnt have any dry up issues. The nibs are great and my dry up is so frustrating as I'd use it more if it didnt have this issue.

[@rebeccac4751]

@@Doodlebud it might be an ink issue, try a few different brands of ink. I have read on a Pen FB group that just by changing the ink completely changed the performance of the pen. I have an Aero and love it. I’ve had Diamine and Van Dieman’s in it without any issues.

[@ZigLara]

Do you recommend it? I was planning gifting it to myself as a graduation gift

[@shawngregory1429]

@@ZigLara go with the Aero. It’s a fantastic pen. I own one and it’s perfect.

[@RoCrown]

I have a Pilot Metropolitan too and while there’s nothing wrong with the pen it just isn’t one of my favourites. But I really like Pilot pens (the light plastic Pilot Kakuno was my first fountain pen) and so for my birthday I got a Pilot Cavalier because I like its slim profile and have been very happy with it.

[@XIIxMysticxIIX]

Same. The metropolitan was my first real pen purchase (found a free jinhao & later got a cheap one on aliexpress) & i was disappointed. In combination with the shape+grip section + metal body i couldnt use it comfortably. It was on the heavy side too. Being that it was my first EF nib it felt scratchy so i gave it away. It didnt put me off completely from fountain pens tho & i have a couple kakunos & kawecos & a now sailor on top of some chinese pens.

[@sozman]

Thank you for taking the time to do this! I'm 6'6" so my hands are huge, pen size matters for long writing sessions. Therefore my Kaweco Brass Sport is my "quick" writer due to how small it is for me.

[@Doodlebud]

I'm 6'6"as well 😁 My favorite pockets pens are the Gravitas pocket and then Ensso Piuma Titanium. They fit my hands better.

[@cynthiarichter792]

My biggest grip with fountain pens is when they dry out. I like to use several at the same time also. I think by this time in the history of fountain pen should be able to write no matter how long since you have written with it.

[@Doodlebud]

Im the same way. Nib dry out should no longer be an issue with a pen. Its very simple to address this issue in the initial design and there are several simple ways to take care of this depending upon material selection and manufacturing methods used.

[@inkyhendershot781]

Nicely done! I never considered fountain pens to be a hobby. But then, I am old enough to be your Grandfather as I have great-grandchildren. However, I do enjoy fountain pens and the satisfaction they bring with ❤writing! I do admit that in my heyday we only had a choice of three ink colors, black, blue, or blue-black. So, cleaning our pens was not a real problem because we used our pens on a daily basis and usually with the same ink. I would like to make a recommendation that I have never seen anyone using nitrile inspection goves, used in the health industry, while cleaning their pens. I buy the gloves, for my health issues, but they'd be great to use while cleaning ones pens. The gloves are reasonable in price and would keep your hands clean and without ink stains so when you film your sessions your hands would be free from ink stains. Also, you might take an old idea from our past and use a drysink to make a great area to devote to cleaning your pens.

[@xhante_]

I laughed when the first pen you pulled out was the Kaweco Sport. I love it because it’s so small. It’s perfect for my hands. It’s the pen that lives in my purse. It’s a fine point, a tiny bit scritchy, but I like it. To each their own, I guess. 😂 The Metropolitan was my very first fountain pen. I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. I don’t even know where it is now. I have added many more fountain pens to my collection. Of all the fountain pens I’ve owned, it definitely was my least favorite.

[@payambagheri6370]

They look beautiful though ….. if you are having problem with drying issue , you could try wetting your ink ….. I added 2 drops of washing up liquid into the ink bottle and I get a smoother wet writing . Please try it …. Those pens are nice honestly!

[@kevinlandon7578]

I have to thank you for your video on ultrasonic cleaning. I tried it on my Stipula Etruria 1407 which has been a hard starter since I purchased it, no matter how much I cleaned it. I decided to try my ultrasonic cleaner with a little amount of Windex in the water. I left it in much longer than I wanted, but it has not had any trouble writing since its ultrasonic cleaning. Thanks again for the tip!

[@Doodlebud]

Hey thats great to hear!

[@kevinlandon7578]

@@Doodlebud It was amazing thatm it worked!

[@jennypai1776]

Man, that last pen with the ink booger is the worst I've seen in FP

[@Doodlebud]

It was a serious nugget!

[@joeldoxtator9804]

I took two of my 5/10 pens and made a 10/10 pen. I had an Esterbrook Raven Esti and a Platinum Century 3776. I loved the body and section on the Esterbrook, but hated the nib and feed. I loved the nib and feed on the Platinum but hated the body and section. So I took the body and section of the Esterbrook, drilled out the top of the section a hair wider to accept the platinum converter, got a Jowo converter for the platinum nib and feed. Then I installed the platinum nib, feed and converter into the Esterbrook. Total cost of the pen is the combined cost of the two pens together and I can't see anything beating it at that price point. My next step will be checking out Graf Von Faber Castell. Just got a tamitio ballpoint pen for work to test out Graf Von quality of the body and sections. (we have to use ballpoint at work) If it impresses me I will save up for one of the Pen of the Years, really like the looks of the 2023 pen.

[@JoelTurrell]

FWIW: be careful what you wish for. In the '90s, I had a 5 pen grail list. I already owned one (the MB 149), and got a windfall, so I bought my Pelikan M1000 instead of the OMAS 360. I kept buying others and then, oops - OMAS went under. Prices of the 360 went way up, and eventually I found a 360 Midi at a price I liked. Yippee! I found that I could not tolerate that sharply cut grip shape (because I "roll" my pens a bit when I write). I sent the 360 along to someone who appreciates it. Moral of the story is, try one before you buy one, unless you know that shape and the sharp edges won't bother you.

[@Doodlebud]

I got to try one at a pen meet and loved it even more! That sealed the deal for me.... Hopefully one day

[@ironmic9244]

Did you attempt to rotate the nib a little? That could have compensated for you rolling the section. An oblique nib might have just worked wonders for you on the 360. I have a 360, and another on the way. I find the 360 to be the most comfortable pen I have ever used, whereas I can't stand the Safari. It hurts my fingers. I can't figure it out. I also have an ASC Triangolo,, and is as comfortable, but the section tapers from a triangle to a circle. But I would take a 360 over a Triangolo anyday, if I could, mostly due to the clip and the filling system.

[@johnnycash_]

Loved this video. Very fun to watch and appreciate that you highlighted the good qualities of certain pens along with why you didn't get on with them.

[@Doodlebud]

Glad you enjoyed it and were able to differentiate between good pens that aren't for me VS total Trash Pens. Some people didn't get that LOL

[@johnnycash_]

@@Doodlebud Ha, of course. I was actually highly impressed at how structured this was. Pretty solid blend of objective views, engineering intelligence, and a sense of humor!

[@Doodlebud]

If you understood how I do my videos, you'd see there's literally ZERO structure or much planning ahead of time. I get an idea, think about it a bit, get my pens out, and just give'r!

[@shinji6999]

Great review, the thing is about Twsbi I can’t agree, I have 3 Twsbi Eco and about to buy one more, they are incredible, very smooth writing, holds a lot of ink, fun to use, very durable.

[@Doodlebud]

Good to hear you're really enjoying them

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I enjoyed this. I don't have all these pens, but I shared your opinion on the ones I do have. I don't care for the Kaweco Sport. And I like the Esterbrook J, but I have plenty of other vintage pens I like better. I don't ink them up. When you brought up the Ondoro and mentioned the fingerprints I was sure we were on the same wavelength! I was glad to sell mine! We did finally disagree on the Diplomat Aero. That was one of my surprises of the year. I loved it.

[@Doodlebud]

Hey buddy good to hear from you! I wish my Diplomat didn't dry up so quickly! Such a nice pen & a great nib too. Same feeling on the esterbrook J. Great pen but I have several other vintage pens to use I go for those over the J series. I keep it for the rare nib. Maybe if I sell one day I'll make a few bucks on it

[@Rgc571]

I understand your logic on the pens. For me the Kaweco Spoert is my EDC in my shirt pocket for quick note taking during the day. TheMetropolitan is my daily work note taking pen, snap cap, drop it and it is ok and if you loose it is not a financial burden. m nib for notes, F nib to annotate documents with my custom mixed Orange ink. great video, thanks.

[@lukeocasio2784]

Thats crazy ..... a lot of these pens are on The Goulet Pen Companies list for pens you MUST buy. I appreciate your honesty I value it over theirs.

[@theotherlinh]

I absolutely love my Diplomat Aero. I have the Orange with the black section, and I feel like it's a hair more matte maybe? Or it's all in my head; I don't own more than that one to compare side by side. I would love to have a Gravitas section on it. The Momento Zero blind cap... (bought one last year?) still feels very very light and easy to break, lol. More importantly, the convertor end rattles around so much in there that it bothers me. But easily managed with paper shims.

[@mostlyghostie]

I have one no one should ever know or use: it’s a fountain pen I bought at five below on a whim. No brand, just from five below. It had two pens actually, for two different nibs, and 4 ( very small ) non-refillable cartridges that don’t last very long and dry out extremely quickly even when you have the cap on tightly secured. You might get a couple days of writing out of it before it dries out, and you might run out of ink quickly if you write several paragraphs every day, but even then it probably wouldn’t support more than a 3 page essay. ( I used mine to draw, so I wouldn’t know ) It was sooo bad and the ink bled and feathered out a Lot with every stroke, no matter how light. I look forward to investing in an actual fountain pen someday lol

[@Calcprof]

Back in the 90s , I was a gold nib snob. But these days I love a good inexpensive (Jowo or Schmidt) steel nib. I have lots of ECOs, and a bunch of Opus 88s. And I like these, in addition to the wonderful 20 year old Pelicans and Shaeffers. With you, I feel that nib dry out is a deal buster.

[@ironmic9244]

I can agree with the TWSBI Eco. In the 4 years I've had it, my grip section has cracked twice, right at the bottom at the lip, and one cracked cap. I am done with TWSBI. The blind cap on the MZ I have, does not have the dust problem, and the threads don't feel sharp. I also have the Hawaii, but I don't know if it's from the same year, because the number on mine is 1827. The Rembrandt Azure I have closes well, but I have to turn it slightly and then the magnets snap the cap. It's the only way it closes. Not much of a problem, but not as annoying as your seems. Try my way, and see if that works for you. I have a 1.5mm stub on it. It writes well, but it does have it's start up issues, but once it gets going, it goes, and is smooth, wet, and nice. Looks like you really don't like treaded converters. I love them because them I feel the converter is secure, but I don't have any of the issues with the MZ, the Montegrappa Fortuna, or a Conklin Duragraph I have. That is the pity of it all, everyone should have the same quality experience. Either good or bad. It's nuts when two people have two different quality issues. Excellent video. Do one on pens you definitely would buy again.

[@jamesaritchie1]

Done with TWSBI because you ECO cracked? That's very, very extreme. TWSBI makes much better pens than the ECO, but TWSBI solved the cracking problem quite a while ago, and if one cracks now it is almost certainly caused by over tightening the cap. Or you just got an old pen. Something is terribly wrong because the ECO simply does not crack very often at all, even from over tightening, though that will crack or break any pen eventually. Anyway, TWSBI sells a staggering number of ECO pens, and cracks are extremely rare. The numbers are so miniscule they are almost nonexistent on a percentage basis. But buy a GO, a Swipe, or a 580, or a Vac700, or a Precision. They are all excellent pens. and pretty much never crack. Giving up on an entire brand because of one pen really is very extremely. Buy enough pens, and you'll have to give up on every brand out there because they can all have problems. And, really, you either got hold of an old pen made before they figured out what was causing the cracks, or you are simply way to muscular with your pens.

[@ironmic9244]

@@jamesaritchie1 Is TWSBI a personal friend of yours? Look Sir, this should really be light topic. It's supposed to be fun, swapping ideas, and helpful. I find your comments, not just the one you posted to me here , but other videos where I see your comments often sanctimonious. You don't know me. I treat my pens like they are made out of glass, so I can assure there is nothing "muscular" about the way I handle my pens. Second, the section cracked at the lip of the section, so not sure how a "muscular" tightening would have affected that. The crack on my cap was at the top of the cap, not near the band. Finally, the replacement barrel also cracked at the lip section. So I would have had an old barrel and then a year later a new barrel, and now 2 years after that I have a third barrel. The Eco was not supposed to crack according to TWSBI because of the solid piece. May be they have solved it now. May be the third barrel is the charm lol Finally, Eco cracking issues are becoming more and more now. When my barrel cracked a second time, (because I did wonder if I was doing something wrong) I searched around to find if others were experiencing the same issue. Guess what the result was? Same issue, same location. There are now YT videos on the cracking issue, and Doodlebud did a video on the issue as well, and the issue might relate to pulling the nib and feed. I would think if TWSBI wants you to be able to disassemble their pens to clean, then pulling the nib and feed should not be a problem. So extremely rare. Nah. Rare, may be, but not extremely rare. I have many pens from many pen companies. No pen is perfect, but one does come very close in my opinion, and despite certain issues, I won't give up those brands. Again, with that comment you come across as if you know who I am as a pen user. May be you are not intending to come across that way, but you are. Give it some thought, or not. Cheers

[@agabrielhegartygaby9203]

love this video helps me be clear about my own pens....all pens broader than fine feel like a wet sharpie to me....this video makes me want to learn more....Thanks

[@ianallen2]

The last two out of the box are lovely pens. I was given the same Esterbrook but in green. I bought a new nib for it and I like it. The last one (leonardo) is a lovely colour to me.

[@pvman2]

My regret: TWSBI Diamond 580. I like to post. Can't comfortably post the 580; too long. Also, the posted cap can inadvertently turn the piston causing an ink disaster all over one's paper, desk, and/or hands. I really like the look of the pen, the feel of the nib, the ink capacity, and the fact that it seals very well. But having a cap all loose on my desk creating a situation where I could potentially lose it, or drop and damage it, because I can't post it, drives me crazy.

[@amadeusb4]

I like my Esterbrook J-pen. It has the hardest nib ever. Then I found out that they made these nibs really solid to deal with copy paper. Imagine that, a fountain pen for copy paper! Still the nib writes well. The pen needed some care but now it's a solid writer. I often have red ink in it for marking up papers so it doesn't get used that often but I enjoy using it whenever I take it out.

[@warblerab2955]

My Father had an Easterbrook in his desk, looked just like the pen @ 5:42. There is also a matching mechanical pencil.

[@kjmav10135]

I have exactly two pens in my collection. I started two weeks ago, so, one a week. My first pen I LOVE! It’s a Ritmo. I love my Ritmo! Well-made, solid, works great and not expensive. I went back for a second pen because I loved writing with the first one so much. I got a Narwhal Schuylkill. I have been careful putting the cap on and off. I thought I was very careful with the threads and screwing the cap on. Today, I unscrwed the cap and realized a small chunk had cracked off the cap at the threads. So, I learned my lesson. don’t get a resin pen with resin threads. That’s sixty bucks wasted.

[@carloswilson977]

Thanks Doodlebud, Been lovin' your take on fountain pens. Keep up the good work! I've gone down the fountain pen rabbit hole about 4 years ago and could write a novel on some regrets... I'll keep it to a couple of brands. Kaweco Sports; I like the form factor even though the plastic feels cheap and light. What drives me nuts is when my OCD kicks in due to the scratching round the barrel. I get it! Pens are made to be used but the fact that they scratch, For some reason, I can't ink them up. I purchased the stainless steel version a month ago, hoping would be more resistant however, I am now seeing some wear, so in the drawer it goes... Faber Castell; I purchased the Loom and was blown away by the pen so I decided to buy the Ambition in a 3D Croco print. Bad choice. For a $100 (CDN) pen, the cap does not seat well, as though it needs harder surface to but against. As always, it has it great nib, but the plastic print feels flimsy. Probably thinking that FC could have reinforced this with an internal brass sleeve. I could go on but these are a couple that stick out due to recency. Thanks for these videos!! Carlos

[@goodcopbadcop9872]

To prevent stripping threads, always start turning counterclockwise slowly until you feel the threads engage. It will sort of click and drop a bit when the ends align. Then you start turning clockwise to tighten.

[@paulmchugh1430]

Great review. Pity about the Conklin. I have a number of Conklin pens and never had this problem with the threads or the feed. The nib is supposedly made by Jowo but I made had to do some refinement to the nibs. Something I have not had to do with other pens with Jowo nibs.

[@christinearmington]

I have a Duragraph and it skips or gaps all the time. But I’m still trying to use up the original cartridge. I’ll try to tinker with the nib and eventually try a new ink.

[@johneveritt1462]

The Eco is a good pen and I have no problems with it, so the following observations should be tempered by that. It's smooth but because of the smaller, number 4, nib character comes from the ink. Obviously a lot of pens share slightly modded rebranded German nibs (like Schmidt, Jowo, Bock ...) so there is a certain amount of convergence but, and I think the Kaweco Sport has the same issue, I can usually tell which of my pens I've written with regardless of ink but not so much the Twsbi Eco because it could be a host of other pens with similar nibs. It's also a positive because like a good general purpose badminton racquet it has quite a large sweet spot. I find the T version better to write with, my hands are big but not especially big and I generally hold the pen that way. The ink capacity is, simultaneously, useful for its duration and annoying for duration, if a person wants to change ink but hates waste. I think it is a safe daily carry because of cost, build and capacity. With intermittent use a full ink chamber can be a slog.

[@Doodlebud]

I'm on board with the Eco being a great pen. I don't have any beef with the pen but just have so many other options now I don't end up using the Eco a while lot anymore. I think it's great for the price and works quite well.

[@pbpickett7210]

Darn, you are so good. My sentiments exactly, on the Leonardo especially.

[@MikiCab1]

My 16 old daughter is looking for a pen. We got her a Dryden last year for Christmas but she is having problems with it. Don't know if it is her or the pen. It keeps stopping and starting when she writes with it? We have cleaned it with warm water and I can get it to work but she keeps having problems. I am thinking it is the way she holds it. Maybe there is a pen that is more forgiving for her to use? Any suggestions welcome. Good Video. Put some Teflon tape on the threads on the pen that is cutting the cap. That will fix it and you will only see it when you take the cap off.

[@Doodlebud]

I recently reviewed this pen which I thought as a great beginner pen. Can't go wrong for the $7 or whatever it costs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqKWiGpqiJyVqrM

[@mattsadventureswithart5764]

Jinhao 100. I've bought 3, now. I'm sure that many will deride me just for mentioning the brand, but I'm a happy user of them. First one was a treat for myself based on positive reviews and it is an extremely smooth writer. Second was for my youngest who is a tomboy who loves pink, and it was the first pink fountain pen that showed up on Amazon when she was sat with me looking for one; this, also, writes beautifully smoothly. Third has just arrived, and is a christmas gift for my Mum who writes with a fountain pen. Of course I tried it, and it too writes beautifully smoothly. Very comfortable to hold and write with, very smooth nib, and the only snag is that the thread on the cap doesnt have a proper stop and takes multiple turns to put on or take off.

[@Doodlebud]

Yup it's one of their better pens it seems. I haven't used one personally but have heard great things. Of course they have some really bad ones, but there are also many really good ones especially factoring in the price

[@ac5aa]

Had two. Pretty, writes ok, but super dry out with nibs dry by day 2. No surprise as there is no seal in the cap. No more Jinhao’s (or any Ch#%@) pens for me. Not worth the time & effort.

[@muskndusk]

I'm a fan of Jinhao pens too, with a little work on the nibs they can be really nice.

[@jamesaritchie1]

@@ac5aa I stopped buying any pens from China a long time ago, but the x750 pens I had would stay wet for several weeks, minimum. Some stayed wet for three months.

[@jamesaritchie1]

@@muskndusk Not really. If you want a good nib you have to buy a new one. Jinhao nibs may be smooth, but that doesn't make them good. The tipping is pure crap, and the metal of the nib itself is no better. I wore flat spot in the tipping of a Jinhao nib in six months using it part time. The "brass" barrel and cap are made from Chinese "brass" which doesn't even quality as brass by western standards. It dents easily, and probably has dents in it when you receive it, but the coating that gives the pens their colors hides the dents. That coating is usually extremely think plastic shrink wrap, and if it gets scratched, it can flake off. The grip section is also "brass, and if you use the pen heavily, you can easily wear through the coating in a year or less. I have a number of friends in China, some in knife manufacturing, and some doing the same with fountain pens. Both tell me that Chinese manufacturers specialize in making children's toys that outsiders believe are adult tools.

[@user-mq4hx6tp3t]

From your "nothing really wrong, just not for me" list of pens I agree 100% about Kaweco Sport, TWSBI Eco and Pilot Metro. I gave away the only Pilot Metro I ever bought and cringe a little when they're recommended for beginners...I have some Kaweco AL-Sports which are okay. The heavier aluminum body makes them feel less cheesy that the regular Sport. I have a Conklin Duragraph garbage pen that's beautiful to look at, but the nib was garbage. I sent it to a nibmeister to have the nib replaced and I still don't ever use the Conklin...

[@samtansleyphotography]

My regrets: Parker Frontier, IM and Parker maybe an Urban? The IM performed solidly, until two months later until it started scratching like crazy! Never dropped any of them. The Frontier nib section started falling apart on me from week two during my exams. The IM... oh my good lord the IM... So the nib died on me for no reason, but the cap started getting loose, the feed was either super dry or super wet, and also fell apart, but in a far more spectacular fashion. The nib section had three partitions, the nib and feed inside the pen itself, a chrome/shiny metal pieceholding the feed and a barrel around the chrome piece. The barrel part was held onto the chrome piece by some sort of elastimer/epoxy that held it in place on the pen as it was too short to touch the end of the section, but that disintegrated into the cap and left crud all over the barrel that was impossible to see. With the barrel now unsupported, it rattled, span and made it incredibly difficult to write with. The maybe an Urban's feed is awful, being dry and draggy and in general a pain to use. This might be a function of it being second hand and mistreated, so I need to do another full clean. I am currently looking into that Majohn A1 mentioned after seeing the engineering breakdown that you posted, as my Nahvalur Original Plus was taken out of my jacket pocket while I wasn't looking.

[@iamaraindog385]

Oh man, that blue Esterbrook reminds me of vintage drum wraps and it definitely speaks to me!

[@samanthareimerart4627]

Great video. It was interesting to see the issues with design flaws on some models. Nice to have some knowledge when trying to diagnose what it is exactly that makes one pen great and another a polished turd 🙃

[@BFedie518]

I don't own very many pens, and half of them were in that first box lol. I'm also not too fond of the Pilot Metropolitan. Love my TWSBI Eco though. My first "fancy" pen is the TWSBI Precision because the ECO hooked me on the brand.

[@arkanabar]

Bear in mind that my benchmark pen is a Pelikan M200. My first M200 was my first Pen of a Lifetime. I will never give it up. My wife later got me an aqua M205, and it is perpetually inked with Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku ink, which she also gave me. That's just about the only pen I always have inked. There are a few I would never bother to replace if lost. Jinhao X450. Too doggone heavy. And I don't like faceted sections. Jinhao X750. Not as heavy as the X450, and doesn't have the section facets. But it's still just a bit too heavy. And I've never had a Jinhao that I could call durable. Esterbrook SJ. I really like my medium manifold nib, which is kind of stubby. But this pen is too slim, and it's a bit of a pain to rinse, and I fret about sac failure when it comes to some inks. Platinum Plaisir. The first pen I ever bought two of for myself. These never dry out. They have the right weight and the right section profile for me -- about 10mm diameter +- 0.5mm, relatively straight. I recommend them as a good starter pen for people who think they might not like the slimness of the Metropolitan and Safari. But they're hard to flush, and a bit toothy. But I now have a better pen for jotting, the Jinhao 51A. Pilot Capless. Too heavy, and I don't like the clip where I hold the pen. Pilot Decimo. I got a stub for it, and it's nicely bouncy. It's not too big, and it's not too heavy, but I still can't stand that clip under my fingers. Parker 25. Probably the most affordable c/c Parker from before the company was ruined. I think Parker's FP cartridge is quite possibly one of the best ever designed. But I still find myself using the Jinhao 51A XF for jotting. Pilot 78G. Just a bit too slim. Pilot Metropolitan. I think it actually has the same section as the 78G. And the brass body makes it heavier. Lamy Safari. The section is too narrow, and then the facets take away even more girth. Between this, the X450, the Capless, the Decimo, and a triangular brass ballpoint that I've loaded with a Fisher Space Pen refill, I've concluded that there's no pen with section facets that I'm ever going to like. Noodler's Ahab. The section is just a little too small, and the barrel quite a bit too big. And some of them just dry out. Noodler's Konrad (resin). I would LOVE this pen if it didn't dry out in four hours. FPR Indus. It's a fairly close match to the M200 in form factor, just a little bit longer. But I've bought four or so, and they all dry out overnight. FPR Jaipur. These are hit or miss. I had a red Jaipur that was my favorite EDC pen ever, until one of my puppies got hold of it. I have a yellow caps demo Jaipur that's unusable, because the pen has to be pulled out of the cap after you unscrew it. I have two others that are largely serviceable, but nowhere near as nice as my emerald Himalaya, now my favorite EDC pen. Jinhao 992. Mine cracked at the end of the barrel, but never failed the way my Jinhao 599 did. I gave it away anyway. Jinhao 599. A Safari "homage" with all the problems that copying the Safari's section gives it. I lent it out to people for days or weeks at a time to get them to try and maybe like fountain pens. It broke into pieces. Beiluner BL-06, brushed stainless and chrome trim. Dried out worse than the Konrad. AND it's heavy, and the chrome plated section is slick and hard to hold. Dryden Designs. The clip has a 1mm ball welded to its underside. It's too slim. It dries out. The overall aesthetics are weird.

[@arkanabar]

And how could I forget the worst of them -- a flex Stipula Splash. There was a 3mm gap between the tip of the feed and the nib when it was fully inserted. No heat setting, either, because the feed is injection-molded plastic.

[@acrophobe]

I find the TWSBI Eco a very appealing pen mostly because of the elevated quality of the clear acrylic. It looks great, the weight is nice, and after buying up and trying a pretty big horde of Jinhaos and dozens of other pens from cheap Chinese manufacturers mostly cloning popular designs, the plastic of TWSBI pens is definitely way above the cut in a way that's hard to describe without personally holding and looking at it. It gives you the feeling of a $100+ pen at a much more affordable price point. Maybe it was just my pen with the fine nib, but I found it particularly scratchy and unpleasant to write with. That's my beef with it but maybe a little nib tuning is in order.

[@singer3188]

My first fountain pen was the one I ended up being disappointed with. A Noodler's Ahab. It worked well for a couple days but after that I have had endless problems with hard starts and ink flow problems. I have tried everything I can think of short of buying a new nib/feed. I have since bought the Muji aluminum and then later a brass Kaweco Sport both of which have never given me any problems, so I never gave much thought to buying a new feed/nib for the Ahab. Maybe I should do that one of these days

[@Doodlebud]

The Ahab isnt the pen I would recommend for a great out of the box experience. They typically need some tinkering to get them running well. Even doing some modifications can really spice things up! LOL Here's a video I did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZKWdKF6aZx0rtU

[@richardsimms251]

I may be wrong but almost ALL of my cheaper pens don’t last nearly as long as my premium pens. I have given up on cheap pens less than $100-$200. Great video. RS. Canada

[@Cam-001]

Not going to lie brother that first one broke my heart 😂😂 the kaweco sport is one of my favorites! I carry it daily, but I understand how someone might not like the weight ,

[@Doodlebud]

They have grown on me since I did this video. I can use one now and enjoy it, but still prefer my other pocket style pens. They need a "fat boy" version of the sport LOL. Give it just a little more length and some "chonk" and it would be perfect for larger hands

[@dutchscrapper2317]

Thank you very much for this review. Only for one pen I can not agree with you. That blue / grey blue Jinhao 166 is one of my favourite Jinhao pens. This pen (anyway my one) writes great. It is a perfect pen for me. I have no issues with drying out. I was amazed what a great pen it is for almost nothing.

[@Doodlebud]

I got one for my daughter as well and she has the same dry up issue. It's really too bad as it's pretty damn good for the $2 😕

[@hw7504]

Kaweco sport: try the brass! Similar heft to the stainless steel and will patina. I think you'd like it Wood Ondoro: this goes below trash tier for me. Even its excellently smooth nib cannot save it for me. I had the smoked oak version and the facets are hilariously uneven such that the way it seats the cap means it dries out within half a day. Faber Castell's Canadian branch was supremely unhelpful, to the point that I'll never buy a pen from them again though, the GvFC higher end ones I may consider second hand.

[@lpanades]

I lost my Jl Esterbrook . still have the swapable nibs for it. Schneider black ink is a good option for pens that drie out. It stays quite oily and work quite normally when you begin using and after a word or two the pen works normally. A fantastic and super dark black ink. Man, that Omas is quite wonderfull.

[@Jason-L-Ledford]

The Ink Bugger comment made me laugh. LOL!!! I didn't know that a fountain pen or ink could form an ink bugger.

[@gristlevonraben]

My cheap wingsung 3008's used to dry out. I make my own leather polish, so I had some beeswax on hand. I rubbed it into my threads just a bit, enough for it to seal, and they stay wet for weeks. Some inks will crystalize, mine molded. I have some pilot metros, they last about one week, I haven't waxed them. Pilot has some slip and seal pens, some a little girthy. Like you, I have bigger hands and I'm tired of tiny sections. I'm sorry your pens are crapping out on you. Big companies, these days, think it's okay to cheat us. Well, it was only just a matter of time before it caught up with them. Thank you for showing us the pros and cons of these pens. 👍

[@Doodlebud]

I might have to try the beeswax trick. We just finished taking the kids to a bee place where they give tours all about bees and picked up honey, soap, candles, etc. So have some top notch stuff to rub in :)

[@joelsittler6997]

Ahahaha, I'm writing with a plastic Sport right now. I've also tried a metal Sport and it was great. If it wasn't over a hundred bucks I'd already have one. Maybe I'll see you at one of those meetups some day.

[@peteacher52]

I'm no longer teaching but between 1968 and 2008 I used mostly fountain pens for every day classroom use as well as dabbling in a little calligraphy. Best pen? Parker 75 then a hooded nib Sheaffer both using Parker's deluxe black or Diamine red or green inks. I found the Chinese Hero, knock-offs of Parker 51, to be surprisingly good at cheap price. Conway Stewart? Gorgeous writing tip but prone to leakage. Parker 45? Marketed as an ideal student's pen in the 60s and 70s, but they too were leaking monsters. For many years, Stephens Blue-Black and Radiant Blue inks were the default inks in NZ, very few people other than graphic artists knew of other brands. The cheap Stephens inks likely contributed to much of the leaking episodes. Cheers, Col, NZ

[@ibpopp]

Well done, Doodlebud. I do enjoy your more critical approach. FWIW there's an Omas 556 desk pen in front of me and I love it but, like you, they are soooo expensive. Cheers from Australia.

[@brucecash3939]

Great video. I went to the SF Pen Show yesterday and I saw some of those pens there. Thanks for your opinions on the build and functionality of these pens. It is very helpful. Pen mistakes can be costly

[@misswoodhouse5720]

Dear Mr Doodlebud, I really enjoyed this video, I liked how you gave good as well as bad points to these pens. I agree the Moonman M8 is a terrible pen, I had two and sold both of them for next to nothing. However, I kinda like the Moonman P135 (the little Prince inspired by), it's got a little mini fude nib, and it feels better made in the hand. I enjoy that Moonman. Great video, thanks Chelsea

[@FPFriendlyMomma]

You are the first person I’ve heard say that the grip section on the Diplomat Aero is slick; thank you!!!! I am so disappointed in mine because of that. I also agree with you on the Esterbrook J AND the TWSBI Eco! Great review! Oh…all my Conklin pens are trash pens. I won’t purchase another.

[@ShaneFielder]

I too have the Goulet Montegrappa, but mine is the next iteration. I had the same nib and drying out experience. I tuned the nib no problem. I solved the dry nib by loading it with Private Reserve Infinity Turquiose. The ink claims to never run dry. So far, I can leave the Elmo stored vertical, nib up for a week, and it writes. The ink is worth a try as it has improved a few other pens with poor flow or dry nib.

[@Doodlebud]

Thanks for the tip on the ink. I'm not a fan much of Turquoise ink, but maybe I can find another ink that will help with the dry out

[@ShaneFielder]

@@Doodlebud Yes, check out the Private Reserve Infinity line as they have a limited selection of basic colors to suit any preference.

[@jls3220]

I love your reviews and I hate your reviews 😂. Really I appreciate your engineering perspective. You’ve made me look at fountain pens in many ways and yes some are OK-Good-enough but I don’t always want to use. Thank you for your perspective.

[@zacheryanderson7363]

I bought a Stylograph during a pen chalet fountain pen day sale in 2020... Sound familiar? I also bought the Monteverde 20th anniversary Innova. My package was stolen by the neighbors and then they through it in the dumpster which i said, found, cleaned up and figured out why. Yafa owns both Monteverde and Conklin so they're not the great companies they once were. They use the same Chinese feeds as Jinhao and a few dozen others, they're China parts screwed together in California with a "made in the USA" sticker and price tag slapped on them. Aaannnddd... I know I'll have to hand over my own club membership for saying this but if Jowo is really making their nibs now I'd be embarrassed for Jowo. All of their other minds have a certain profile... Even the heavily modified ones... But these Monteverde branded "Jowo" nibs feel stamped and you can't even use with s standard Jowo feed housing like most all other Jowo nibs... Again... They feel more like Jinhao nibs...i bought a total of six yafa band pens over two years to see if they improved at all...3 we're broken out of the box, 2 broke while trying to clean/fix them out of the box, and the Inova does work but hard starts within an hour of being capped. But so of the spare parts they gave me made a while bunch of 5-10 Jinhao pens write real nice lol Thank you for all the vids and technical stuff...i look forward to every new one!

[@Doodlebud]

Got my Stylograph longer ago but doesnt surprise me you've those issues too. The design is just bad and that wont fix itself over time. I'm just staying clear of Yafa brand pens for now.

[@zacheryanderson7363]

@@Doodlebud agreed... Besides... For one yafa pen you can get several Jinhao x159s. I got one with a really super nib out of the bag but the threading is pretty thin and weak so I got several more for "replacement barrels" lol

[@kevinu.k.7042]

Yes, the Diplomat Aero just doesn't do it for me. I have the black version and don't have a problem with the section being slippy. FWIW - mine doesn't suffer hard starts, but I have the Fine nib. My worst pen is the Platinum Century 3776 "KOSUKE". It's got a seriously clunky clip on cap which let's the nib dry out and it has nothing of the feel of the other Centuries. Thanks for this very well done and enjoyable video.

[@ccahua]

Props on the straight talk and honest review. As for trash, I have 2 of these atrocities: Moonman M8: "I just keep it to talk about how bad a pen can get". I can hear Hervé Villechaize call out, "The nib, the nib" but not in a good way. Had to swap in a Nemosine stub to salvage the poor taste of pen.

[@Doodlebud]

M8 is so bad!

[@prycenewberg3976]

So... about dry nibs. I own a few Retro 51 Tornadoes (I collect their warbird-scheme pens). The only ink I've ever used in them (I use one, the rest are kept in their boxes, displayed on my desk) is Noodler's Air Corps Blue Black. When I got a Tornado for my dad, he complained that the nib would dry out. I suggested he try my ink, and it solved the problem. If you have a pen you want to use but find that the nib dries out, try the Noodler's ink, but be warned, it takes minutes for it to dry on good paper (like clair fontain or similar).

[@pabloperez2661]

Dont know if it would help, but whenever going plastic to metal or the other way, spin backwards until you feel start of thread and then screw it in. Worked on copiers for a long time and that worked well for me...Enjoy your videos.

[@13noman1]

A surprising update on the Montegrappa Chrysocolla. I inked it up with Diamine Eau de Nil about 6 months ago and haven't had ANY hard starts/ drying out while actually using it about once a week.

[@johnjoyner8172]

Nice little video , where did you purchase t house colorful cloth pen bags/cases ?

[@Doodlebud]

Review and details are in the description kzbin.info/www/bejne/jofFaYmYr7Gkjqc

[@writergrrl11]

I just bought a Kaweco Sport in Fox and love her! I have small hands so it fits me perfectly!

[@CaptainWumbo]

You inspired me to ink up my metropolitan. First pen I ever bought and the one that convinced me I might like this kind of pen :). Still such a fantastic pen, maybe better than my Sailor 1911. I do recall the stepdown being rough for long writing sessions though.