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As a newbie to this world, how is it bad?
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Jan 21, 2020 19:42
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| # ? Apr 23, 2024 21:15 |
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iospace posted:As a newbie to this world, how is it bad? So here's the CON-40:  This is now the Pilot standard converter. The Metro comes with a different one, but any higher end Pilot pen will have this by default, and it fits most Pilot pens, Metro included. The idea with a converter is that it has a knob that you can turn to lower and raise the plunger inside the tube. You insert the converter and lower the plunger fully to expel the air and create a vacuum so that when you submerge the nib in your ink bottle and twist the knob to raise the plunger, the ink will displace into the converter and fill the pen. This also fills the feed with ink so that your pen will be ready to write with immediately (in other words, you won't have to prime it. A cartridge will have to drip down into the feed before it can start writing and that can be a pain.) You see those little metal beads inside the tube? Those are ostensibly there to jostle the ink around and keep it from clinging to the side of the tube, so you can get the most use out of it before you refill. The problem is that those beads also keep the plunger from descending entirely and end up trapping air inside the tube, which prevents the ink from displacing. So no matter what, using the intended fill method, you will almost never get the tube more than half full, which is not much ink at all. The only way to do it is to either just fill the dumb thing with a syringe (at which point why the gently caress even bother with it?) or to fill it halfway, flip the pen over and very very slowly twist the knob to push more air out (and make a mess in the process) and try to fill the pen again. In comparison, the CON-50 has a single large bead, the shape of the tube with a tapered tip that fits perfectly into the bottom of the converter and gets a full fill every time. For some arcane reason, they discontinued that one. Edit: for what it's worth, the 50 used to sell for like 8 bucks. The 40 is so bad that the 50 now sells for $40 because nobody wants the 40. Heath fucked around with this message at 20:12 on Jan 21, 2020 |
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Jan 21, 2020 19:56
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Also for some reason I can't explain (someone else in here probably can) all my Pilot pens write better with a cartridge than they do with either of the currently-stock Pilot converters.
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Jan 21, 2020 20:05
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How long ago did that switch happen?
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Jan 21, 2020 20:07
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I feel like the carts allow the ink to flow more freely than the cons do. I also get better writing from them. The switch happened probably 2 years ago? It was after I started using FPs which was 2016 or so.
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Jan 21, 2020 20:09
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Heath posted:So here's the CON-50: You've got the con-40 and con-50 mixed up. The 40 is the new one that sucks, the 50 is the old one that sucks slightly less. Also, all (*)their high-end cartridge/converter pens ship with the Con-70, which holds more ink, is easier to fill, but has other...charms. (*) excluding pens that the con-70 doesn't fit in like the resin Falcon, Decimo, and Vanishing Point.
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Jan 21, 2020 20:10
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Whoops, I fixed it. Their naming conventions are also poo poo. You would think the newer model would have a higher number.  Everything else about Pilot pens is top notch though. I own two Vanishing Points and they're excellent pens. Their Iroshizuku inks are some of the most beautiful on the market.
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Jan 21, 2020 20:15
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I would love a vanishing point, but that price point is a bit too high at the moment.
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Jan 21, 2020 20:26
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As much as I'm horny for the Vanishing Point, stick to your Metro for a while and make sure you're actually going to use FPs before dropping that much money on a high end pen. That said, keep an eye out on Amazon, because certain colors will go on discount frequently. The matte black one in particular seems to get $20-30 bucks knocked off of it every so often, and it's a slick looking pen with a black nib. Also you may search for the "Capless" variety as well. It's the same pen body but includes a steel nib rather than a gold one (it is still gold colored, or at least mine was.) It's the finest nib I've ever used and they can be imported for around $90 if you look at eBay.
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Jan 21, 2020 20:34
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Yet another question, because I end up having a lot: how good is the included converter with the metro?
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Jan 21, 2020 21:15
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It's fine. I'm not a fan of squeeze fillers but it's perfectly functional. I think it's really intended for cleaning more than writing.
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Jan 21, 2020 21:31
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So if I’m buying a pilot metropolitan, what’s best? 1. Squeeze converter? 2. Cartridges? 3. Con-40 (this seems like poop from the above discussion)?
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Jan 21, 2020 23:26
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Refilling cartridges with a blunt syringe is the best solution for ease and capacity. The CON-40 sucks, but it will get ink into your pen.
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Jan 21, 2020 23:35
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Yeah, don't get me wrong, the CON-40 works, it just doesn't work well. It bugs me to fill up a pen and only have half the ink it could hold. The easiest method is just straight carts. If you're just rolling with black ink and don't want anything fancy, a box of carts will do you good.
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Jan 21, 2020 23:40
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TURGID TOMFOOLERY posted:So if I’m buying a pilot metropolitan, what’s best? Just go with cartridges. Get a twsbi eco if you want to dive into the world of ink.
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Jan 21, 2020 23:48
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The con-40 is so bad that the 30 year career Pilot USA marketing guy who shows up on Goulet videos every so often just tells people to fill the converter up with a syringe rather than fill it normally.
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Jan 22, 2020 00:19
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Heath posted:Also you may search for the "Capless" variety as well. It's the same pen body but includes a steel nib rather than a gold one (it is still gold colored, or at least mine was.) It's the finest nib I've ever used and they can be imported for around $90 if you look at eBay. "Capless" is the name for the whole VP series in Japan and outside of the US. There are 14k and steel nib Caplesses. What you're thinking of is that the steel nib ones are Japan only.
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Jan 22, 2020 00:52
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Also if you're interested in a steel nibbed clicky FP, Platinum is re-entering the market after like 60 years with the Curidas, which should go on sale February 10 for 7000 yen. I tried one out and it seems like a decent writer, if a bit chunky in the hand. It feels like one of those big retractable highlighters. http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/351321-new-platinum-curidas-capless-type-fountain-pen/
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Jan 22, 2020 00:57
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Dad Hominem posted:"Capless" is the name for the whole VP series in Japan and outside of the US. There are 14k and steel nib Caplesses. What you're thinking of is that the steel nib ones are Japan only. I think the steel ones are called "special alloy" or something? Look for those.
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Jan 22, 2020 01:10
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Lowness 72 posted:Get a twsbi eco if you want to dive into the world of ink. Which you should, it's super fun. A TWSBI Eco is my daily work pen, and it's great.
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Jan 22, 2020 01:19
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Rudeboy Detective posted:Refilling cartridges with a blunt syringe is the best solution for ease and capacity. I do this, it rocks, blunt syringes are cheap as hell, and work great getting the last few drops out of a sample vial.
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Jan 22, 2020 01:50
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I find it interesting that the Metro is pretty much universally the "hey, start with this". Usually everyone and their mother has an opinion on "hey, this is the best starting point" for people dipping into new things.
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Jan 22, 2020 01:50
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Well actually the Kakuno is the best starter pen. (Sorry.)
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Jan 22, 2020 01:59
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I mean, it's cheap, consistent, durable, reliable, has a clip, multiple converter options including babby's first introduction to blunt-tipped syringes, and you can get it in a quite fine Fine, a general-purpose Medium, or a swooshy and quite acceptable 1mm Stub. The Safari loses to it on price and consistency (Lamy nib QC is a shitshow), the Preppy loses to it on quality and nib variety, the Jinhao/Hero/etc options there lose to it on the point of "what do you mean, I try all ten of these pens off ebay and two or three of them will be okay?", and Noodlers lose to it on the grounds of "what do you mean, I *have* to tinker with it or it's poo poo? it doesn't just write out of the box?" What other option even is there? I like my little sharky Jinhao but it's not a Metro killer by any means. Edit: \/\/\/ I forgot how many finishes the little shits come in, but that is ALSO a huge selling point. Remora fucked around with this message at 02:13 on Jan 22, 2020 |
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Jan 22, 2020 02:01
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The Metro fits the perfect cross section of being high quality, sleek or colorful to your taste (compare the plain silver one with the polka dot green one for example), is expensive enough to feel super fancy to someone who is used to Bic ballpoints but cheap enough to feel like a good value, and has consistently good quality. It is The starter pen.
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Jan 22, 2020 02:12
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Dad Hominem posted:Also if you're interested in a steel nibbed clicky FP, Platinum is re-entering the market after like 60 years with the Curidas, which should go on sale February 10 for 7000 yen. I tried one out and it seems like a decent writer, if a bit chunky in the hand. It feels like one of those big retractable highlighters. That is one horrendously ugly pen, but the (easily) removable clip is a big plus.
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Jan 22, 2020 02:26
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I just don't trust a refilled ink cartridge. I know I know. You've all done it and I'm a big dummy. But nuh uh I don't trust it not to spill ink everywhere. e: Holy poo poo a new platinum pen! I really like the platinum 3776 nib. This weird feedback like I'm using a pencil. It's quite nice - at least on the broad.
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Jan 22, 2020 02:33
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Lowness 72 posted:I just don't trust a refilled ink cartridge. I know I know. You've all done it and I'm a big dummy. But nuh uh I don't trust it not to spill ink everywhere. Cartridges are a single piece of plastic sealed by a separate disc or ball. Once you break the seal, it’s just plastic that’s kind of disproportionately thick compared to its volume. If you’re careful reloading and reinstalling it, nothing spills. They seem a lot easier to handle cleanly than a converter.
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Jan 22, 2020 02:35
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iospace posted:I find it interesting that the Metro is pretty much universally the "hey, start with this". Usually everyone and their mother has an opinion on "hey, this is the best starting point" for people dipping into new things. It's a pen that should sell for double its msrp, and actually does in Japan and maybe other regions. It's a high quality pen, especially for the price and by one of the major brands. It's hard to beat $15 for a metro when the stuff below it is generally worse quality and equivalent pens from other brands start at about 30 bucks
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Jan 22, 2020 03:48
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I'm starting to see, without actually having my pen, why this is habit forming. So many pretty inks!
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Jan 22, 2020 04:57
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Newest sort of Delta Leonardo Momento Zero in the Sand acrylic finish. Custom made for my local pen club. Lovely, lovely pen.
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Jan 22, 2020 05:28
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That's a beautiful little implement there
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Jan 22, 2020 05:31
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Those Leonardo's are very tempting pens. Love the acrylics they use.
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Jan 22, 2020 06:42
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I bought a fountain pen revolution himalaya v2 a couple weeks ago and have been really liking it. However, I notice that sometimes on a flexed downstroke my pen will just dump a ton of ink. Anyone know what causes this and how to fix it? Does it just need to be heat set or something?
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Jan 22, 2020 08:13
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If you've got the scratch, get a VP.
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Jan 22, 2020 09:30
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cowboy
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FFT posted:If you've got the scratch, get a VP. My VP with an F nib is the smoothest writing pen I have by far, it's really nice. Shame about the converter, otherwise it would basically be a perfect pen.
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Jan 22, 2020 17:42
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Whoa, Retro51 is shutting down (maybe for good). Guess I should pick up Tornado for my desk at work sooner rather than later.
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Jan 22, 2020 18:06
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Curiosity, more than anything, how much writing do you get out of a pilot cartridge vs a traditional ball point pen?
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Jan 22, 2020 20:26
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 Hi pen thread! Recently got back into the fountain pen game with a new TWSBI ECO-T in this lovely coral color. Went with the fine nib, as I used to sketch with the Platinum Plasir pens I had about a year ago and the thinner nibs are so much nicer to draw with. Behind it is the other joy of my (tiny) collection: a Conklin Duragraph ballpoint pen. It was a gift from my mom after she found out I was getting back into pens and it is seriously ugly. The photo doesn't do justice to it's bizarrely thick iridescent silver streaks. I know it's not fancy or well built, but drat if it isn't amusing. How long can you leave a bottle of ink sitting around before using it again? I have a some Iroshizuku Yama-guri and Platinum Carbon Black that are about a year or more old now that I'd like to use again, but I don't want to put it in my pens if they're going to gunk up the works. Chip McFuck fucked around with this message at 20:43 on Jan 22, 2020 |
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Jan 22, 2020 20:40
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| # ? Apr 23, 2024 21:15 |
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I have a bunch of bottles of Diamine and Noodlers that are 3+ years old and seem fine. I do make sure to shake them up real good every few months to fight settling. The only brand I'd be concerned about molding crazy early would be Private Reserve, unless they've gotten a lot better.
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Jan 22, 2020 20:44
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