I am more attracted to your range of books in the background. Love your description, Sir.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
I wonder if anyone watches just for the library!? Thanks!
@JosephDickson
2 жыл бұрын
I often find myself reaching for a TWSBI Go when I want to fill a pen as quickly as possible. The quick plunger filling mechanism never disappoints.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Great choice!
@JerryBearry
2 жыл бұрын
I prefer the piston twist converter in combination with my TWSBI inkwell with its plastic inner cup. (I removed the snorkel section and just use the upper cap.) I simply dip the converter directly into the cup and get a nearly mess-free fill every time. Plus, it is so easy to give the nib a thorough flush with a bulb syringe. Not as elegant as the piston filler, but for overall ease of pen maintenance, the converter works best for me.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
That requires a certain amount of courage as well. Great system and great suggestion.
@cmac1100
2 жыл бұрын
I prefer screw type converters. They're easiest to clean imo, and because I actually like to change up my ink colors a lot, I think the small ink capacity is an advantage in my case.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
That is a very good point. All the best.
@getmartincarter
Жыл бұрын
Dear Hemingway , Please consider PENBBS range of inexpensive Chinese pens . This company morphed out of a Chinese pen club into an internet chat room and then into an online repair business before settling down with the assistance of venture capital into a leading quality maker of pens . PENbbs seems to delight in engineering different filler systems for each model . If you’ve read Ulysses you will be aware each chapter is written in a distinct style . If Joyce were alive today he might use a different filler system pen for each chapter of his sequel
@HemingwayJones
Жыл бұрын
This sounds wonderful! Thank you, Martin. I will hunt them down.
@adriangaylard9523
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for a very useful video. Most of my pens are cartridge/converters and I generally use the converter option. For me, the ease of cleaning and replacement makes them the more practical choice. I do have a fair few button and lever fillers and they do take more cleaning. I guess they come from an age where people just refilled with the same ink. I di like my Parker vacumatics and my 51 vacumatic. Lovely pens to use, but again, they are a pain to clean. For an awkward filling mechanism that I find endearing, there's the snorkel in my PFM. I just love the engineering and forgive it the extra cleaning effort.
@HemingwayJones
Жыл бұрын
Hello Adrian, You are right about people using the same inks or whatever they could find. I have spoken with some people who used them back in the day and they had their particular inks, but if they were out and about, there was some spontaneous ink mixing going.on. Thanks for the kind words and for watching!
@clarecocophotography454
Жыл бұрын
Just found your channel and enjoyed watching this video. I’m a newbie to fountain pens who has learned fast. I started my obsession 6 months ago, first with cartridges and fully graduated to piston and vac fillers. I agree with you on the piston and vacs, they are my favorites.
@HemingwayJones
Жыл бұрын
Thank you Clare for watching and for the kind words. All the best on your fountain pen journey!
@sandrakuizenga2541
2 жыл бұрын
Would love to hear about your favorite journals, different sizes that you use and how you use them, and the notebook you use for your ink samples. You seem to have some very interesting journals.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
I am filming one this weekend on that very subject.
@justinblanco4002
2 жыл бұрын
@@HemingwayJones please add where to purchase them! Would love a beautiful leather bound journal that is fountain pens friendly
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
@@justinblanco4002 I just filmed a whole KZitem on my favorite journals, Bottega Obscura on Etsy .
@juicylouisey
3 күн бұрын
I’m really getting in to lever fillers. Would also like to try a Conklin crescent filler. Cartridge converters are good for high maintenance inks like sheening, shimmering or gall inks.
@HemingwayJones
3 күн бұрын
Excellent point. I don’t put shimmer in lever fill pens.
@sathishrao7926
2 жыл бұрын
My favorite is a simple ‘screw type’ converter (with the exclusion of horrible Pilot Con-40) Platinum converter which cost me $10 lasted not more than 6 months while the converters on the much cheaper Chinese pens are still going strong ! Capillary filling, Eyedropper, Lever filling, Snorkel filling etc.. are curious to know “when they’re going to get featured in Mr Hemingway’s video” 😉
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Haha! They will. I’m going to do a “Lesser Known” or some sort of wording for the more rare filling mechanisms. I don’t own one currently so I need to get my hands on one as well. Thanks very much.
@laurensjaarsma766
2 жыл бұрын
Youre right; vacuumfillers are the best both for technical reasons as the joy to fill the pen. My Visconti Homo Sapiens is a vacuumfiller and the filling adds an extra bonus to the allready 100% score for this pen, if youre in a brick store; try it, think you fall in love with it. I surely am a kind of snob with pens and all that goes with it but there is one thing i have expierenced with piston and vacuumfillers: Once you have used those, you dont want to use a converter again and as you can not upgrade a converter pen into a piston / vacuum filler there stored forever and slowly get forgotten. Positive to that is that you got a pretty good reason to want yet another pen to replace those. Hope my wife does not read that last sentence.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Yes exactly! I agree that an integrated fill mechanism just has a certain elegance that converter and cartridge pens lack. I’ve never filled the Visconti but I have written with one at a pen show. I’d love to acquire one. Thanks for the interesting comment!
@danielkingsmill5989
2 жыл бұрын
Another great video. As a beginner; you actually got me started on piston filled in a comment on a previous video. But compared to cartridges that is my favorite so far. As you mentioned I am someone who likes the feeling of actually interacting and filling the pen with inks of my choosing. I enjoy the “work” that goes into the hobby as opposed to just popping a new cartridge in.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Daniel, I am so happy to hear that I inspired you in some way. I like your perspective on pen filling and I agree completely.
@yves350
2 жыл бұрын
Pilot 823 Custom is also my favorite indeed. But eyedroppers (Opus 88) need a little mention also I think to be complete 😉
@arlenealennox3136
2 жыл бұрын
Yes, I’m fond of my Opus 88s which I fill with a syringe rather than an eyedropper. They (along with my Pilot 823) are my go-to travel pens because of safety in flying and large ink capacity. Aside from that, I agree completely with Hemingway’s assessment of the various filling mechanisms.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
I need to get in on the Opus 88. I’ve never used it and am a little apprehensive of using an eye dropper.
@michaeldavis9693
6 ай бұрын
I bought a 743 over an 823 because of the full mechanism. I want to change inks a lot and I like that it’s easy to clean and service. I may get and 823 at some point and use it as a dedicate ink pen. I’ll probably get amber, since my 743 is already black / gold.
@ronsteed
2 жыл бұрын
My favorite is eyedropper :) Fewest things to break. Great video and of the ones you covered the converter is the one for me. Have a great week!
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
I suppose I could have covered it. I just haven’t had the courage to do that yet! Maybe in another 30 years.
@ronsteed
2 жыл бұрын
@@HemingwayJones If you are afraid of it just try one of the Opus88 models ... they are made for it. Thanks for the content!
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
@@ronsteed That’s a very good point.
@getmartincarter
Жыл бұрын
For the sake of completeness you could have mentioned the Opus 88 eye dropper system , the Conway - Stewart side lever action and the plunger revised cam system on the PENbbs 355 . PENbbs also make a VAC filler ( the 345 ) . My favorite system is the VAC filler system on my Twsbi 700 R Iris and my just purchased Pilot 823 . The Pilot is not only a terrific pen it is has an audio visual appeal lacking in my Mont Blanc 149 and Twsbi Eco . There is another filler system used in Early Waterman pens . I don’t understand the engineering so cant explain it here .
@HemingwayJones
Жыл бұрын
There is always a part 2, My Friend!
@13noman1
2 жыл бұрын
I'm with you in strongly preferring piston fill but I do like the convenience factor in cartridge/converter.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
I agree completely!
@JosephDickson
2 жыл бұрын
Your B-Roll footage really gives me a ton of ideas for writing on the go. Thank you!
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much! This makes me happy!
@juliafalling4069
2 жыл бұрын
I love my piston filled TWSBI pens as well as the TWSBI Vac700R Iris. These are pens that perform consistently well and are easy to clean & fill. I have couple cartridge pens & do clean out and save empty cartridges for filling from bottled inks - but use mostly the TWSBIs Thanks for this video.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
My Pleasure! Thanks for your insight.
@johntaylor8817
2 жыл бұрын
Hi. Really love your channel. I have all of the filling mechanisms you mentioned. My greatest love is my Opus88s and Eyedropper fillers.🤗 All the best.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much! I really appreciate it!
@patrickblindeman5847
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the instructive video about filling mechanisms of a fountain pen. I personally prefer the piston filling mechanism, it's kind of a ritual every time you fill them. I also have in my collection the "Bulkfiller from the company conid" also worth a look. I also appreciate the vac fillers, such as my Visconti Homo Sapien Lava Bronze Age and of course the 823 and the TWSBI
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Patrick. Always great to hear from you.
@knitsistah2312
2 жыл бұрын
I recently purchased the pilot 823, and I love it. The feel in my hands, the buttery smooth medium nib and the large ink supply make it my go-to pen. I prefer it to the Twsbi vac because I prefer a posted pen. Another great review.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much! You can technically post the Vac, it just becomes monstrously long! Lol. Anyway, I love both pens, but the 823 is in a separate and elevated class all its own. It is an amazing pen and as good as anything out there. Thanks for chiming in and please stop by again soon.
@robertcalkjr.8325
6 ай бұрын
Thanks for the video! I would think that brass tweezers would be better for repairing the nib splines. You can also speed up using a cartridge by squeezing it a little bit. I prefer the converter myself. I was thinking that the internal piston would probably be my favorite, but I have changed my mind to a converter. I have done a lot of writing with my Safari and my converter is still nearly full. The ink lasts a long time.
@kimberly3706s
2 жыл бұрын
I have the TWSBI Draco, which is expensive for a TWSBI. The acrylic is beautiful but the nib is still steel (although rose gold plated). It’s certainly my prettiest TWSBI. I might be a lone wolf in that I actually dislike vacuum fill pens - so much so that I gave away my TWSBI Vac; although I kept my Visconti. My favourite filling mechanism is a converter, which I prefer slightly more than the piston filler, because I have a healthy supply of ink bottles and like to change colours frequently…even if I want to refill with the same ink, there’s that sense of satisfaction which comes with writing a pen dry - this satisfying feeling is greatly delayed when the entire pen body is full of ink - which leads to the filling mechanism that you didn’t mention: no mechanism at all. I have a few transparent body Franklin-Christoph pens which I enjoy using as eye dropper pens. Although an eye dropper filled pen takes the longest time/writing volume to write dry, it does share one of my favourite qualities about the converter pens: it’s the easiest and quickest to clean.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
You make excellent points. Thank you. I agree that it is very satisfying to write a pen dry. It’s also then so easy to clean. I haven’t used an eye dropper yet. I certainly should. It’s the undiscovered country for me. All the best.
@simonkrupa9524
2 жыл бұрын
Great video. I have a suggestion for your next ‘Fountain Pen Misconceptions’ video: you cannot write with a fountain pen on an airplane. That seems to be a popular one!
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
That is a great one. Thanks!
@nedleonard3440
2 жыл бұрын
I give good quality converters the highest marks for the reasons you elaborated. Dramatic plunger-type vac-fillers due to their relative unserviceability get lower marks, in part, because they wed me to a particular ink. Worst mistake I’ve ever made was to disassemble a Pilot 823 so I could deeply-clean it and lube the mechanism. Even after a visit to Pilot for servicing, it just isn’t the high-capacity pen it was out-of-the-box before I messed with it. And, of course, my rash confidence that I could educate myself with a few KZitem videos and perform the task voided my warranty. Since then, I’ve been thoroughly intimidated. Even a TWSBI Eco’s dis- and re-assembly can be daunting (at least for me), hence my preference for converters. They afford me just-enough control.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Hello Ned, I agree completely. I would also feel as if I broke something and it would never feel right again, if I tried to fix it. Plungers have to be just right. They are fun and dramatic, but have a lot of variables that can go wrong. You are so right! All the best.
@FabioBarahona
2 жыл бұрын
Excellent video Mr. Jones. I have always preferred piston fillers and vacuum fillers. Not only are they more attractive to me, but they fit my lifestyle and writing needs better than anything else. - Like you, I am also hoping for a higher-end TWSBI.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
The dream of a higher end TWSBI. It would be extraordinary! All the best!
@paulmchugh1430
2 жыл бұрын
I have and use most of the filling mechanisms. I like ink cartridges but the variety of inks is limited. They are great when you are away from home. All others will need to be filled from a bottle. Vacuum fillers are great to fill a large amount of ink into the pen. But, cleaning the pen can be troublesome. I like the bottle fill / eyedropper pen a lot, especially with ones that fill the pen and seal the barrel to avoid the pen from accidentally spilling or burping the ink while travelling. Opus 88 pens are great.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Hello Paul, I need to try an Opus 88. I never have. I have heard good things, from you and others. I need to get on that. All the best.
@paulmchugh1430
2 жыл бұрын
@@HemingwayJones they are reasonably priced and the nib works well. The pens hold an enormous amount of ink.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
@@paulmchugh1430 No downside there. Sounds great.
@pdtrubber
2 жыл бұрын
Great information. Now for one on feedback.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you and excellent suggestion!
@ChrisGVE
2 жыл бұрын
Did you show the TWSBI Vac Iris in the piston section as well as the vac section ;) seriously I agree with you on the piston and the vac. I'm not so sure I fully agree with the comparison cartridge or converter, at the end you have to unscrew the pen in both case and you end up with the same number of pieces. The only meaningful difference imho is the dip of the pen in the ink bottle and subsequent need to clean it, like for piston and vac. But that's a minor point. Thanks again for a meaningful video.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
All good points. I cannot argue. So much is perception. I don’t mind slowing down and filling a pen. It’s almost ritualistic. Thanks for the kind words.
@Wolverine3660
2 жыл бұрын
HJ- Bravo!!!! A wonderful and a most informative video!!!!! Well, I agreed with everything you said. My first preference in the piston-fill mechanism, followed b the convertor mechanism.. All my pens are either piston-fillers or convertor-fillers. Unfortunately, i dont own any vac-fill pens. But, this video is great cuz it will educate a lot of people who are new to the hobby, and they can have good, credible information of various pen fill mechanisms. Thank you, and have a great weekend with your family. -Sid
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Sid! I appreciate it very much. I am so glad that you enjoyed the video. Vac filled are interesting pens. I’d go on, but I said enough in the video… for now.
@sajjadhusain4146
2 жыл бұрын
I realise that I actually like all kinds of filling mechanisms. And I own pens that encompass them ALL, except the capillary system. However, I don’t like cartridges and normally avoid them when I can. If forced to choose my firm favorites, I guess I’d pick the piston filler, pump draw filler and Vac-filler systems. Honorable mention must be Sheaffer’s Snorkel filler. Utterly unique and enjoyable.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Great point. I wanted to mention the snorkel. I’ll cover it in the future with lesser known filling mechanisms. That one is so interesting.
@sajjadhusain4146
2 жыл бұрын
@@HemingwayJones ..It really is. Fiendishly tricky to repair and restore. But when in working order, the snorkel is just an ingenious invention and extremely fun to use. I have five snorkel filling Sheaffers. Sheaffer’s Touchdown system (basically the same thing without the snorkel) is just as nice.
@Vermiliontea
2 жыл бұрын
The best mechanism is eye-dropper with valve (two chamber). (If it doesn't have a valve, then eye-dropper is one of the very worst mechanisms, an endless mess and disaster). A very rare and exotic mechanism. You almost have to buy custom, handmade pens to get it (though there is Opus88 pens now). Me wonders why, since it's awesome in every sense. Extremely practical and doesn't have any drawbacks at all (with valve, remember). The second best is the very common cartridge/converter. Hands down. Both cartridges and converters are easy to replace as spare parts. Piston style converter allows you to expel air as ink is consumed, making blurp accidents impossible. Easy to refill easily with syringe, even as the ink bottle is almost empty. Third best is vacuum filler with valve (two chamber). The disadvantages this has, is that you need a deep enough ink source to dip the entire nib. It's also fuzzy to wash out, clean. Fourth best, piston filler. Also need a deep enough ink source to fill from. How good it actually is, depends on the pen technology and quality itself (much the same as vac fillers without valve, if it's good enough, you'll have no problem). If the pen is good, it's a draw with vac-filler w. valve. Montblanc and Pelikan have never let me down. I have been unlucky with TWSB. Two of them have broken without much reason. Fixable, but still. I think I have had a blurp accident too, though that may have been with one of the faulty pens. There are some six other mechanisms, something that prove that fountain pen users like exotica. I'll only mention one of the worst, the bulk filler, which I strongly suspect will fail you eventually, given how complicated and delicate it is. Though I have to say that mine hasn't, to be honest. I keep expecting it to fail, but it keeps working, so it may be all in my head. I'll give it that.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
I agree with all of this. Thank you! I will certainly be filming a part two sometime soon. Wishing you all the best.
@richardsimms251
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for a wonderful review And S Canada
@HemingwayJones
Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@user-qi5jw2hg1c
2 жыл бұрын
I had a pelikan m400, and it was a lovely pen. But it was a bit too toothy a nib for me and i found myself rarely reaching for it. I cannot help but feel sorry for an inanimate object here, but I did 😅 it was a great writer, just not my style... My ultimate point I guess is it was a small pen in the pelikan range, yet it incorporated a piston filler, which I greatly appreciated. To my knowledge, montblanc have yet to come out with a comparably sized pen with a piston, and that is a real shame. Great video as always!
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much. It sounds as if you are I the quest for the perfect pen and drawing from different sources. I do that too. I do love piston fillers and especially from both of these companies because they flush so efficiently. Thanks very much!
@loveisall5520
2 жыл бұрын
Interesting! Part of the mania today to rank everything, regardless of relevance. Honestly, though I've been using fp's since before you were born, I've never given much thought at all about what is the 'best' way to fill one. Why would I? Too busy writing and using my pens to ponder that. Haven't ever found a system that didn't work for me. Oh, some systems hold more, some systems may take sixty seconds more than another one, but I guess I'm lucky that I've had that sixty seconds. No doubt that cartridges are the most convenient, and probably the great TWSBI GO with its spring loaded filler is the second. But again, using a dozen different brands of converters, etc., I haven't been really conscious of any 'ranking' with them. Best wishes from the guy in the Houston/Galveston area and happy fourth !
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
All the best and happy Fourth! Rankings are mostly for fun and they are really popular on this app. I’m glad it got us together. As to you writing with FPs before I was born, that is possible, but I was born in ‘67, so I imagine you were very young when you started, My Friend. Stop by and see me again.
@loveisall5520
2 жыл бұрын
@@HemingwayJones You're right! In our school district in Texas, we transitioned to cartridge fp's in second grade from those big, fat, round red pencils. Other than math we were required to use fp's. Ballpoints were the privilege of the teachers and we weren't allowed to use them until I was nearly out of high school in the early 70's. In fact, my desks in elementary school still had a built-in round recess made to hold an ink bottle! I am so grateful that, unlike the minimal schooling provided today, we learned cursive; it was printing that was difficult for most of us. And you'd better believe, illegible writing cost us grades back then...
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
@@loveisall5520 Nice! I had mean nuns in the early 70s teaching me Palmer method. The wooden desks we used still had the built in ink wells as well, but we were using ballpoints by then. My mother had been in the same classroom and then they used lever fill pens that they used to squirt at each other. She doesn’t remember the brand, but only that she used a peacock blue ink.
@journalersketcher
2 жыл бұрын
I actually kind of agree with you. I love piston fill pens. Both my dad and I have piston fillers as our only fountain pens. I haven't tried a vac fill pen yet, but if I try a vac TWSBI, it'll be the mini (the step on the Vac 700R reminds me of the Metro, which was uncomfortable for me). I personally don't see the point of using a fountain pen if you're just using cartridges.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the interesting comment. All the best.
@prasantasaikia2192
2 жыл бұрын
Exactly you stole my words bro. I am using an eye dropper. Because I think an eye dropper gives you the most vintage feel and the joy of writing with a fp.
@philnaunton7181
2 жыл бұрын
A little surprised you didn't mention the Crescent Fillers like the Conklin Mark Twain. My personal favorite is the Eye Dropper Filled Pens. These hold more in than all the others, and just keep going and going. A couple of mine I filled last year and are still 70% full. Of course one still needs an eye dropper or syringe to fill them, but I find them less messy than Vacs or Piston types. Easier to clean too.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Great points. There are always a part 2
@philnaunton7181
2 жыл бұрын
Enough said, and I DID consider that, alas, too late. I had already sent the response. Apologies...
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
@@philnaunton7181 no apologies necessary. I appreciate the comment and inspiration for new videos.
@thebraxtonater8466
2 жыл бұрын
I personally love the crescent fill, button fill, vacuum vacuummatic, and piston (both on the converter side and built in piston filler)
@johnnyragadoo2414
2 жыл бұрын
Crescent fill is on my list even though I have an aversion to ink sacs. I also realize I'm not much of a wordsmith compared to Mr. Clemens. If crescent fill worked for him, it's not my place to disagree.
@thebraxtonater8466
2 жыл бұрын
@@johnnyragadoo2414 they sell a modern crescent filler, but vintage is a lot of fun
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
My only issue is I find the crescent to be so asymmetrical. I don’t currently own one, but will do some content on it once I do.
@PenFriends
2 жыл бұрын
I don’t think there is such thing as a perfect pen as a statement. But there are pens that people lean towards. The 823 is an okay pen at best. The filling system is great and better than the con 70, but the nib lacks expression and the finishes are pretty bland. Piston filled pens are great if you a have a nib unit you can easily remove. Pelikans and Auroras are great for that ease. But to be honest cartridge converters are perhaps the easiest to use and maintain in a broad sense.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Always great to read a different perspective. I believe in a perfect pen though customized for me. It would be derivative of the pens I love. All the best.
@keithwhitney7491
2 жыл бұрын
GOOD JOB! I I also like the OPUS 88 Eyedropper pens, especially as an educator who tired of running out of RED ink in a Bic or similar pen., While I hate the idea of repairing a piston (my Montblanc Writer’s Edition seems to have a very poor’y designed (all plastic) piston. I don’t think it will last long.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Very good points.
@williamhughes1067
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for another great video. Like you, my favorite pens are my piston fillers, including Pelikan, Montblanc, Leonardo, TWSBI, et al. My second preferred filling system is the vac fillers, such as Visconti, TWSBI Vac 700r, and others. I much prefer converters over cartridges because I find cartridges have a relatively short shelf life (they dry out) and ink variety compared to bottled inks. However, I can overlook a less desirable filling system if the nib and overall feel of the pen are superior, as is the case with many fountain pens; e,g, high-end Pilot Custom Urushi, Sailor King Of Pen, and Yard-O-Led Viceroy Grand fountain pens.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much, William. That is a great list of pens. Vac fills are also so much fun.
@sajjadhusain4146
2 жыл бұрын
I’d add here that unlike some people, I don’t subscribe to the ostensible snobbery of expecting a pen at or above a certain price point to require being a piston filler, no less. So yes, I don’t mind my very high-end Japanese pens, for example, being cartridge-converter types. It’s alright.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
@@sajjadhusain4146 That’s a good point. I’m not sure how I feel about it. I think it’s a great discussion topic. My Cartier Diabolo is cartridge/converter and I always thought that was a bit odd at about a grand. The MB 149 is Piston, but then the Cartier is Chinese Lacquer. I guess you have to weigh value in the confines of where you find it.
@sajjadhusain4146
2 жыл бұрын
@@HemingwayJones …I get that. I’ve myself commented how my beloved and pricey Sailor King of Pen pens would be great with a piston mechanism, for a change. But they are still just great pens with the C/C, though again a larger converter with a greater fill would be a lot more appropriate and nicer. Very expensive European pens are almost always piston fillers. But the Chinese (and Taiwan’s TWSBI) have made piston fillers seem quite ordinary by having them in sundry of their inexpensive, very affordable pens. Ultimately, I still think it’s the nib that is paramount in any fountain pen, at any price point, anywhere in the world. When the nib is on song, I reckon I can forgive and accept anything else.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
@@sajjadhusain4146 That is an excellent point. It’s all where you place value and focus. Converters can be swapped and that makes maintenance really easy. Piston and other internal pens have to be sent off. You can read value either way. Great points!
@johnmanuel2980
2 жыл бұрын
Hemingway Jones can you discuss the lever fill
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Sure! Love it on vintage pens.
@johnnyragadoo2414
2 жыл бұрын
Hard to disagree. Piston and vac fillers are great. Eye dropper, too.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
I need to cover eye dropper at some point. Thanks!
@ericpeppe3740
2 жыл бұрын
How many times can you refill a cartridge before it becomes loose and leaks? The plastic seems pretty soft; softer than the plastic of a converter. I love my pilot 823's, but I can only get them about 2/3 full. Do you have tips for filling a vac filler completely? Thank you for your videos!
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
I do have a tip but it’s very dangerous! I did it on TikTok. You fill. Then you carefully point the nib up and draw back the plunger and do it again. Plunging it in as you go down. There is a lot of room for mess though!
@gunsmokeandghouls
2 жыл бұрын
I use my pens mainly for drawing so I prefer piston fillers mainly for their larger ink capacity. Vac fillers are ok, but the novelty of the filling method wears off quickly for me. I have a couple converters, they're ok for daily writers since I change colors more than when drawing.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Excellent points!
@56phil020244
Жыл бұрын
I understand why you didn't mention eye dropping in this video. Another time, perhaps?
@HemingwayJones
Жыл бұрын
Hi Philip! I am not super comfortable with eye dropping yet. I haven’t done it. Once I do, I am sure to do a video on it. Thanks!
@danmenzel7229
Жыл бұрын
My TWSBI 580 would be the perfect pen with a gold nib. I looked up a vendor that has one, but it's $180! Oh, well.
@HemingwayJones
Жыл бұрын
Gold nibs are pricey. It would be nice. All the best and thanks for watching.
@wlbrockman
2 жыл бұрын
Great topic, IMHO. After about a year as a fountain pen enthusiast, I began experimenting with different filling systems. Now, a few years later, I have one or more of each type you mention, plus three others: an Opus 88 eyedropper (I have also used a Kaweco Sport as an eyedropper pen), a Parker 51 Vacuumatic and a Sheaffer's lever filler from around 1935. It seems to me that none is perfect; each has one or more drawbacks. Overall, I suppose my first choice is also the Pilot 823, but it is a bit of a pain to clean. One I haven't tried is the Pilot Con 70 converter. It now seems to me that it could offer the best combination of plusses and minuses so that, overall, it might become my favorite. What, if anything, do you know about it? I understand it holds almost as much ink as a vacuum or piston filled pen. True?
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
You are acquiring some excellent pens! So the Pilot Con has a capacity of 1.1 and the TWSBI 1.5ml. So it’s large but not quite that large.
@wlbrockman
2 жыл бұрын
Yep. Been very fortunate, especially with the vintage pens on which I've taken a chance. As a recent example, I bought a Caran d'Ache gold plated Ecridor fountain pen/ballpoint set circa 1980 for $150.00. The fountain pen has an 18k gold nib by CA. It was denominated a "fine," but it is a bit wider than what I think of as a typical Western fine and flows as smoothly as the smoothest "mediums." Anderson Pens listed the set for several weeks at $175 with no takers. So when I offered $150 for just the FP, they sold both for that price. They are both in very good condition. Not NOS but only the slightest wear. As slender as the FP is, I suspect many passed it by because it seems to me the trend today is to FPs with larger diameters. But I find it very comfortable, especially since the section is a good length and is made of resin rather than a slick metal, like the current Ecridor. It came with a CA converter, which is quite substantial and very smooth. It is my first Swiss made FP. Now I know what enthusiasts mean when they speak of Swiss engineering quality. It really is well designed and constructed. Thanks for the info on the Con 70. I also heard it is a pump operated converter. What is that all about and is it as "cool" as I've heard some say it is?
@herrsteppenwolf
2 жыл бұрын
What nothing on eyedropper pens? Burp!
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
I have to save room for a part 2! Lever fill as well. All the best!
@adwnpinoy
Жыл бұрын
Nice video. Bit of feedback: I think your intro is too long
@HemingwayJones
Жыл бұрын
Thanks! I am glad you enjoyed it. If you watch a newer one, I really do intros anymore. I did save that one for the Live Show though. Thanks!
@niradnam13e
2 жыл бұрын
I've subscribed to your channel for half a month but haven't had a chance to comment yet. So here I am. Honestly, I see no point in using the cartridges. One of the reasons why I started using fountain pens is because it contributes to reducing waste for our environment and ink cartridges are almost the opposite of that. However I still use the cartridge for my Kaweco Sport because its cartridge contains more ink than the converter. But since it's made of plastic, I'm quite worried about its durability over time. I haven't had a chance to experience the piston and vacuum system yet. I assume both would be great. But what if the ink in your bottle is running low? You know, not all ink bottles are as well designed as Pilot Iroshizuku. To my knowledge you cannot use a syringe to refill a pen with a piston or vacuum system (?) 🤔. I'm not talking about you just simply switching to a new ink bottle. There must be a way to solve this problem, right? To think about it, I still prefer the converter. It can do its job wherever your ink bottle is full or low to the point where the ink can't travel through the feed. I don't mind twisting the barrel every time I refill, it's always been part of the joy of using a fountain pen 😁. Anyway, your handwriting is awesome ✨. Any ideas on making a video about your handwriting journey to where you are now? I'd love to see if there is, I haven't been able to write in cursive. And I find myself using a fountain pen to write down lines that look no different from a san-serif font, which is quite funny and wasteful 😂.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for joining our Merry Little Band! You cannot use a syringe for Piston or Vac and Vac need, in my experience, a rather full bottle to fill correctly, so there is that. My solution has always been to just combine it with the next bottle. I am warming up even more to converters because they are great when there is an issue. A Piston needs to go to a repair person, but a converter can be swapped out. That is a huge plus. You are very kind about my handwriting. Thank you! It is a struggle for me. Maybe I will bust something out quickly,. I am going to post something more laid back for the week of July 4th, I think. It's all a journey for us that takes many turns. My opinion on so many things have evolved over time. If you live long enough, you start contradicting yourself on everything! Thanks for following and for contributing to the conversation.
@getmartincarter
Жыл бұрын
Dear Hemingway , Those of us who consider the disposable plastic cartridge system to be avoided as wasteful of mother earths resources plastic might care to look inside their trash next time it is full . I’m appalled on a daily basis by the huge amount of plastic I throw out so the disposable cartridge complaint pales into insignificance Carter
@HemingwayJones
Жыл бұрын
Agreed that there is too much plastic and packaging. It’s good to cut down wherever you can.
@ichirofakename
2 жыл бұрын
All I care about is cleanliness and speed. For max speed, you can't beat a squeeze converter, except for their rarity, and their difficulty cleaning. Perfect for a pen in constant use with one ink. For cleanliness, I refill cartridges. Any fill requiring immersing the nib in a bottle is an opportunity for me to make a mess. Similarly eyedroppers. Actually I would just use new cartridges, if they came in my colors and weren't ridiculously overpriced per mm.
@HemingwayJones
2 жыл бұрын
Squeeze converters are low tech that just works. I have mixed feelings about them but then many vintage pens are similar with just a lever pushing into the sac for you. They are a bit dodgy to clean. The Pilot Metro has one. Great insights as always, My Friend. Great to hear from you.
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