Pilot Custom 823: The Ultimate Writer’s Pen?

[@PalashBackup]

Sir, smoke or nothing else. Plus the way Pilot grinds their tip to be as smooth as possible is just a chef's kiss.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

100%

[@richardsimms251]

Terrific demonstration and video especially the part on filling the pen with ink. Thank you. RS. Canada

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

@@richardsimms251 thank you, glad you found it useful!

[@tanvirahmad5893]

This one is "THE Best Fountain Pen" ever made.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

@@tanvirahmad5893 it is a great pen, and worthy of being a grail pen for many!

[@DogStar84]

My 823 arrived today. This is a fantastic video overview. Thanks

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Congrats, and thank you!

[@scottfraser9271]

Thanks for this. The 823 is on my short list, and I found the video both informative and useful. One day ...

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Thank you!

[@senior_ranger]

Not often, but you can sometimes find used ones at almost reasonable prices. They do, however, hold good value overall --- so the market agrees it's a good pen. Personally, I love mine and have for many years.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

They do really hold their value well!

[@luigig6256]

Excellent presentation especially the close ups

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Thank you!

[@hifromlily]

Thanks for the video! What a lovely pen!! 😀

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Thank you!

[@eleanor.shadow]

I had to laugh. I filled mine a few days ago with Yama Budo as well 😅 It’s a weird feeling to see the exact same pen, same nib, being filled with one’s same ink choice by someone in another country!

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

That is a wild coincidence!

[@eleanor.shadow]

@@ForTheLoveOfPensright?! 😆

[@johnhebert3855]

The nib sizes of the Pilot 823 are similar to European nibs. So, if you prefer Fine nibs on your European fountain pens, get the Fine nib on your Pilot 823. I made the mistake of believing the standard saying, "Japanese nibs are finer than their European counterparts". Not true in this case.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

I’ve found the mediums to be comparable but the fines to be a bit thinner than ones from brands like Lamy. This is because Japanese brands have an additional size called a “fine medium” that sits between. I highly recommend checking out the “nib nook” section on the Goulet website, it’s a very useful resource for comparing different nibs across brands and models

[@TantraHill]

44 4th NG

[@luigig6256]

I agree that this is similar to my western nib, closest to my steel nib Aurora. However, my 823 medium writes exactly a wide as my Lamy 2000 xf (and I don’t push my nibs) the Lamy is an exception.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

@@luigig6256 I agree, Lamy 2000 nibs are an exception. Also their EF nibs specifically are not very consistent. If you watch my stainless steel vs makrolon video I do a side by side of 2 EFs.

[@johnhebert3855]

@@luigig6256 For every rule, there are a thousand exceptions. Pay your money and take your chance.

[@MrAndrew1953]

A good but risky tip for getting a full ink fill, if you have a broad nib,as it goes through the ink more rapidly.

[@Afromite]

Yup, none of my 823s have the shutoff valve seal. It's the first thing I remove from the pen when I get it.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

I've been tempted to remove that extra seal myself.

[@Afromite]

@@ForTheLoveOfPens yep. I've never had an issue with my pens after I've done it. And one of my pens had BSB in it.

[@Volkmannx]

Thank you!

[@NicholasPaulFranks]

Thank you for this video. Would you be able to comment on the difference between Fine and Medium nibs? I have a Lamy 2000 (medium) that I sometimes find too thick. Thanks again

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Thanks! The Lamy 2000’s medium is notorious for being wider than most. I find Pilot Mediums to be pretty similar to mediums from western companies. Their fine is closer to a Western extra fine. This is because they have an in between size called a “fine medium.” I highly recommend checking out the “nib nook” on the Goulet website, it’s a great reference for comparing nibs from various brands and models

[@paulmchugh1430]

I never knew you could do this! I would have kept my oen if I knew you could do this. I wonder if this a recent modification. Great review.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Are you talking about the disassembly?

[@paulmchugh1430]

@@ForTheLoveOfPens yes. How old is you pen? I could not twist the section off my version.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

@@paulmchugh1430 it’s from this year. My section was pretty tight the first time I got it unscrewed. A little rubber gripping material helped.

[@ginopagnani7286]

I thought I heard you shouldn't remove the section from the barrel. I haven't for some irrational fear of voiding the warranty but it would help in cleaning the pen.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

I’ve heard people say that about the section and the piston rod, but both can easily be removed. I recommend using caution since everything is plastic on plastic. Also I believe the warranty is only valid for a year.

[@kattz753]

Who says clones are a bad thing? Every single time that I use my Wing Sung 699, I think about how much I want to own this pen. The WS 699 is a very nice Chinese pen but no substitute for the real thing. It's on the list.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

@@kattz753 I think the WS is a great value and a good introduction to the Custom 823. Certainly not a substitute though.

[@italianstuddmuffin]

I've spoken to Pilot customer support, and they specifically said not to unscrew the barrel, it is slightly glued in (which is why it is hard to unscrew the first time) and Pilot believes it can weaken the barrel which leads to a higher chance of it cracking. Whether that is true I don't know, but they can tell when you have done this by examining the threads. Pilot does say it WILL void your warranty if you unscrew it. But when I sent mine in for a problem they were kind enough to replace some parts because I had a manufacturer defect (despite me voiding my warranty).

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

@@italianstuddmuffin good to know, thanks for sharing! It was a bit harder to unscrew the first time, which the glue would explain. I think this pen would be extremely difficult to maintain without unscrewing the barrel, but I can understand pilot being concerned of people over tightening/cross threading

[@drnimish333]

Nice video

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Thank you!

[@gastonolguinortega2591]

Hi. I just bought this pen, and as in yours, the nib have to square cuts at the bottom. But I have seen others videos where the pen is disassembled and in there is no square cuts in the nibs. Do you know why is this difference? I thinks is because your (and mine) are nibs recently made it (mine have the date code 823), but maybe I’m wrong. What do you think?

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

I’m not sure about the other videos, but I’m pretty confident the cut outs are there to save cost since there really isn’t a need for material there. Perhaps Pilot introduced this as a cost saving measure recently, but that’s just a guess.

[@weirdoku]

I just got an 823, I also have a Wing Sung 699. There’s no comparison between the two, the 699 is not even close to fit and finish, not the nib, not the vac system. The 823 is superior in every way. The 699 is a defective copy and has one major ‘design’ fault and nobody talks about. I wouldn’t even recommend someone the 699 as a pre 823 experience, there’s better vac fill Chinese pens like the Asvine V126. I find it astounding that the 699 is recommended so much as a cheaper 823 alternative.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

I’m glad you’re enjoying it! To me the Wing Sung 699 is a decent way to determine if you like the general style and feel of the pen in the hand. But I agree it is far from a substitute for the real thing. Now in days there are many great vacuum fillers for under $100

[@thomasmorrison675]

Do you have to unscrew then piston knob every time you want to use the pen?

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

You don't have to, but you may find it will start to run dry. The piston knobs acts as a shut-off valve to prevent burping and spills from pressure/temperature changes (i.e. air travel). I find if ink is in the section and the knob is tightened down, I can write for about a paragraph without issue.

[@thomasmorrison675]

@@ForTheLoveOfPens Thank you for your quick response, I appreciate it. Take care.

[@manifunk1]

You can remove the inner cap with a pencil and rubber band

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

I’ve heard people doing that, but when I tried it didn’t budge. I was a bit nervous to use too much pressure.

[@manifunk1]

@@ForTheLoveOfPens it worked for me Brian Goulet even has a video on KZbin teaching you how to do it

[@santauxia]

The Amber model is my Grail pen.Out of reach for me.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

That is a stunning finish

[@brucegeddes208]

i find the 823 a bit ungraceful. Much prefer my Custom 74 and 743.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

The 823 has a bit of a ritual around using it. I agree, the 74 series is a more straightforward process. If you don’t prioritize ink capacity, the 74s is the way to go.

[@GiaPaccione]

Sometimes the M looks so Broad and at other times, the M looks like a Western Fine.

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

A lot of it depends on the ink and paper that’s being used. In general, I find this medium writes a little bit broader than typical western mediums. Also Pilot fines tend to write a bit thinner than western fines. This is because Pilot, as well as other Japanese pen makers, have an additional size in between called fine-medium.

[@fsgamer1495]

Can you gift me a pen

[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

🤣If you gift me one too😆

[@fsgamer1495]

Haha I am not joking bro