Which is the Best Fude Fountain Pen?

[@kan-zee]

1:43 ... I love all the Super Affordable Chinese DUPE Fountain / Fude Pens.. I looked around my home, and discovered that over 60% of my cook wear, clothing, foot wear, coats, tools, etc...are all made in China. LOL There is always going to be CHINA-issues...Canadian business's from small lands, agriculture lands, casino's , etc are owned and in debt to china...We are called CHINADA

[@writerlywitterings]

Yup, and the same goes for about every country. I think Covid and the non-availability of masks etc has caused a bit of a shock everywhere. With luck some jobs will be repatriated from China, especially with their current financial woes growing.

[@JBFire97]

Thank you for the video. I agree with your view on the intellectual property rights. Loved the sketches.

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hannukuivalainen4674]

Thanks for the review. Have wanted to try one of those for quite some time. I use a Platinum desk pen myself. Much like the Sailor one, but with traditional nib. Pen itself is made of the cheapest plastic, but the nib lays beautiful thin line without much effort at all. Mine came with carbon ink cartridge, but I like to use a converter with DeAtramentis document black. Works well with watercolors or when using water soluble fountain pen inks with waterbrush.

[@writerlywitterings]

I'm going to have to try some of that Document Black. I have heard good things about it. Thanks, Hannu.

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

Good review as always Mike, I’d never heard of Fude, but I do own a couple of Lamys which I quite like, I bought 4 fat Jindhao pens for £20 off Amazon, a couple write very well but the other two are better served as tea stirrers anyway you sound better now thank goodness, take care

[@writerlywitterings]

Cheers, Michael. All well here, and I hope you're keeping safe too.

[@trlan55]

Thanks for the video. A warning about the Jinhao's. I bought 10 with fine nibs for $10 US. Cheap enough, but I've already broken three at the threads near the nib. There is an Urban Sketcher named Liz Steel from Australia that uses the Sailor.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that, Terry. Sorry to hear that three have gone already. I've Preppies which have lasted for years. Yes, I have to admit I've watched some of Liz's videos. She's very talented!

[@greyareaRK1]

I find slim pens better for sketching as well. I have a Muji, which has a straight X-Acto-like utilitarian body with a knurled metal grip (though the odd section design tends to come loose), and the ultra-inexpensive Jinhao 35 is also handy. I haven't actually used my fude nibs for sketching yet though. There are also 'mini-fude' nibs, which aren't designed for line variation, but use the curvature of the nib in lieu of tipping material. They tend to be very smooth.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that, John. I hadn't heard of the "mini-fude" nibs before. I'll have to keep an eye out for them. I do have Preppies which I've used for sketching for some time, and I'll probably go back to them, but what I like about the Fude pens is the way you can get interesting breaks in thicker lines which are superb for modern urban sketching. I'm really hooked on this Sailor for now!

[@irvintepper5]

thanks for pen comparison, I have a fuse nib in a pen now but the Sailor looks like fun.

[@writerlywitterings]

It really is!

[@pepperpath]

Thanks. I love my green sailor fude and the blue sailor fude nibs for sketching ( I use de atramentis doc ink

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks - I'm loving my green fude

[@susosu6070]

Hi, KZbin recommended your video to me. I don’t like green color too. So I looked for other colors. Luckily I found it. For 40 degree nib, they have white, pink, navy and brown color in a slim model like your green one. For 55 degree, I found they have navy color in different model (cigar design) with a little bit higher price. Sailor is a good quality brand. I glad it. I never tried jinhao brand. But I do like Lamy one 😊

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that! I'll go have a look for them.

[@marcb6444]

Nice drawings, hope you can do a demo using FP’s. I use a Noodler’s Ahab for sketching. Your review made me order a green fude Sailor de mannen.

[@writerlywitterings]

Will do - but it'll probably be a separate video from the usual ones. Thanks for the comments, though. It motivates me to get some recorded!

[@sunnycharacter]

I have the pink 40 degree fude, it is quite nice!

[@writerlywitterings]

Many thanks - haven't used my fuse pens in a while. Must get them out again!

[@sunnycharacter]

@@writerlywitterings Love to see what you do with them!

[@pellier08]

Do you find sometimes the thin part of the nib upside down doesn't work. I find it so frustrating. Any advice?

[@writerlywitterings]

I do, but don't use them upside down. However, if you are keen on that, I'd get some really, really fine grit sandpaper for tuning nibs, and just make figures of 8 over the paper. Shouldn't take long, but the effect should smooth out the upper edges and make it smoother and run better. Sorry to take so long to respond - ill health and deadlines!

[@pellier08]

@@writerlywitterings thank you for the advice. I ran hot water and it seems to work a little better

[@MarkNiceyard]

I got only the Hongdian Dude pen. But it is very good, I've drawn incredible pictures with it.

[@writerlywitterings]

I have to admit that the idea of a "dude" pen is very appealing!

[@MarkNiceyard]

@@writerlywitterings lol, I missed the right key. :D Now I got a Dude pen. :D

[@zenandink3531]

Yup…at first wasn’t happy with it…then…i grew to like it a lot😮

[@writerlywitterings]

You and me both. I'm loving this Fude habit!

[@debsmith7050]

Sailor Fude: one of my Favs to sketch with too :)

[@writerlywitterings]

I think it's probably mine too. I really like it for sketching, even more than my pencils and usual tools!

[@larryglatt2548]

Thank you for this review, very well done. I just received my 40 degree Navy Blue model & also use Platinum Carbon ink. You showed a sketch I've never seen before, perhaps you could tell us if it's available in the U.S. & if you've done a video on it (link included with reply please). Thank you

[@writerlywitterings]

I'm not absolutely sure what you mean, Larry. I've scanned the video quickly, and I think I showed a couple of my own sketches - are they the ones you mean?

[@larryglatt2548]

@@writerlywitterings Thank you for replying. 😊My Dyslexia error, I was writing of your sketch book. Is it available in the U.S.? I love your sketches.

[@xjsteve]

Thanks Michael, a great comparative review. I wholeheartedly share your views on China and actively try to avoid supporting the Chinese economy. Their blatant disregard for copyright infringement is a subject all on its own I think. I’ve yet to try a Fude nib but the Sailor pen appeals to me so from your recommendation, this will be my first Fude experience. Love your sketching by the way, I possess zero talent for such things sadly! Oh, and lastly, I purchased a Conway Stewart Churchill Lever Filler following your fairly recent review. It’s lighter than I was expecting but what a beautiful fountain pen. Thank you for the review!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks so much, XJ. It's always really good to hear that people like the reviews - and I have to admit, the CS lever fill Churchill strikes me as a brilliant all-round writing tool. Good weight, balance, and quick filling mechanism. What is not to like! I can happily recommend the Sailor, and if you try to sketch simple shapes - buildings, perhaps - I think you'll be surprised at the results. In any case, best of luck, and I hope you get many years out of all your pens!

[@zvoncicamuskatlic9290]

I have a problem with my Sailor pen as ink dries out much quicker than in my other inexpencive pens.

[@writerlywitterings]

Sorry to take so long to respond - ill health and deadlines! I think it can be a problem sometimes with the setting of the tines of the nib. There are videos about this - if you write to me, I'll see if I can find a good one for you.

[@arlenealennox3136]

There is an inexpensive Sailor Profit fude pen which is regular length and has a clip. I don’t buy Chinese pens either for the same reasons.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that, Arlene. I'll have a search for that. Many thanks!

[@alohm]

Thank you so much for this video. I am looking at fude/bent nibs to use for my I Ching writing. I was wondering about if the sailor could be converted to eye dropper fill? I hear the converters for sailor are bad, and not wanting to fill carts this might be a great option. Also the ink flow is bad? I wonder if some tuning might help? Thanks again.

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad it was helpful. I have to say, I've now got the black and the green versions (because like a twit I lost the cap for my green one while out dancing the other day) and I've had no problems with either of them. The feed seems to work superbly and the nib never suffers from poor ink flow. I've used the convertors for almost all the time I've had them both, and the convertor works brilliantly, even with carbon black from Platinum. I'd not worry about feed issues. These pens are not beautiful, but they are very well designed.

[@baroquer]

"I don't want to support Chinese economy" - while holding purchased JINHAO 😅

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, and I explained all that in the review.

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

Thanks for the recommendation! (And thanks for not overlooking China's egregious human rights abuses! 👍) I have not sketched with a fountain pen for ages (I think I get scared that I cannot erase a mistake). The Fude looks like a great introduction, lightweight enough for easy use. Great video!

[@writerlywitterings]

I've been responsible for three friends buying the Sailor. I'm using it almost daily now. Yes, you have to be careful with it, but it's such a rewarding tool to use, I can really recommend you buy and try!

[@greekveteran2715]

Does anybody own both Sakura/Talens sketchbook and a Moleskine Artbook 165gr?? Please, Which one has the better paper quality? Also, is the paper on the Moleskine closer to white?

[@writerlywitterings]

Sorry, Greek Veteran, but I don't have any of them. My own favourites just now are the Seawhite travel journals. 200gsm paper, and very well produced. I carry an A5 or A6 with me wherever I go. www.jacksonsart.com/seawhite-watercolour-travel-journal-200gsm-a5-not

[@gautamnevatia7659]

If possible do review the sailor 1911 special nibs …

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Gautam, I will see what I can arrange. It tends to rely on the generosity of the firms involved. I'm not sure, but I believe that my Cross pen may well have a Sailor nib, but whether it's a 1911 or not, I do not know.

[@eileengoldenberg270]

You can shave down a little of the feed with a nail file and get the corner off the feed. Then it wont hit the paper..

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, and I know I should have done already ... but time seems so short! Still, I will get round to it! Many thanks, Eileen!

[@Mmmyess]

I appreciate your reticence when it comes to supporting the Chinese economy. Carry on.

[@writerlywitterings]

Cheers! I think there are plenty of more deserving economies!

[@fab006]

Sailor also makes a “fude de mannen” pen in a more traditional form factor.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that - I will have to look out for one.

[@misswoodhouse5720]

Hi, fun look at the fude's :) Not sure how I feel about the Chinese copying everything, however, it does bring me to the point I have a Conklin duragraph copy of the Parker centennial.Also, Jinhao copied the Parker too, both are Chinese, but Conklin is sold through US at a higher price. Which one is ok, I often ask myself, one is four times the price, the other is an eBay cheapie. Both companies stole the intellectual property of Parker, however, I own a few of the Conklin's because I love the size and shape. But I question this myself. But anyway, back to the topic, great video, I love your quick sketches there so good. ps, I got my COVID shot of AstraZeneca the other day, how are you feeling now? Chelsea

[@writerlywitterings]

HI - and yes, it's really difficult. I personally try to avoid anything that smacks of intellectual property theft. It's tough especially in the case of the Parker, though, because that pen is way out of patent now, and theoretically can be copied by anyone, I imagine. When it comes to the Lamy copies, though - and pretty much anything else - I prefer to avoid Chinese manufacture. Their annexation of Tibet, their treatment of the Uighurs, the suppression of freedoms in Hong Kong even after their agreement to allow Hong Kong to operate separately - these all make it distasteful for me to support the CCP regime, I'm afraid.

[@misswoodhouse5720]

@@writerlywitterings I agree, the way China is acting towards Hong Kong and Tibet is outrageous. I had a look on Ali-express and there's down and outright copies of Mont-blanc even down to the snow flake. There's so many other pens around that are better made than the copies, like Twsbi, Fine Writing International, Opus 88 all these make fab pens for the price. There is one Chinese maker I don't mind supporting that's Penbbs, it seems they are a small outfit that makes small quantity of unique pens and I have always thought of them to be honest company. Currently, in oz I'm buying local international shipping times are crazy but when it's relaxed I want to look at the Visconti Breeze from Cult Pens, I like the look of the Breeze and it's in my budget. :)

[@sunnycharacter]

I totally agree with you about not supporting China. I do love the Jinhaos I already have. But I’m pretty much done supporting China products. I’d rather support Sailor!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks - I'm with you there!

[@thuntz29]

I accidentally forgot my sailor Fude in a drawer with sketch ink from roher und klinger and I think I ruined it… :(

[@writerlywitterings]

I doubt that Rohrer and Klingner would do it much damage, Valentina. I'd take the nib and section and put them into a glass of water, perhaps with a small amount (tiny amount) of washing up soap. Leave it to soak for a day, then try to use a cartridge convertor to pull water in and out through the nib. You will very likely find that it'll start working again. Flush it with clean water a few times, and it should work. Good luck!

[@thuntz29]

@@writerlywitterings I had to pull the nib out and scrub the feed. I haven’t tried testing it again…

[@zvoncicamuskatlic9290]

Happened to me too but I was able to clean it quite easily.