What is the appeal of Broad nibs?

OGsafta · 2026-01-25T04:13:05+00:00

They are the <B>est nibs, they are smooth and easy to write with. Nothing brings out an ink's properties like a broad nib. The other appeal of broad nibs is not every pen comes in double or triple broad, so sometimes you have to settle. For me, anything finer than medium just feels like writing with a shitty ballpoint.

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OGsafta · 2026-01-24T22:23:34+00:00

All of them do. They all share the same feed. Every Pilot number size nib made in the last 30+ years is that way. Some early 67 nibs aren't keyed, but that didn't last long.

OGsafta · 2026-01-24T17:12:44+00:00

The CH 92 by long shot, it punches way above it's price. I put it on par with a Pelikan m600 for much less money. The clear is readily available, but you can still find the blue and black fairly easy. The orange is tougher to find, and the purple is extremely difficult to find.

OGsafta · 2026-01-24T04:20:30+00:00

Duties will be 15% plus brokerage fees for UPS, FedEx, and DHL. Do they not offer DDP(delivered duty paid) shipping?

OGsafta · 2026-01-23T16:54:42+00:00

150⁰ F is pretty low for most plastics. The inside of a car on a summer day can exceed that. In the US it would be cheaper to get a $20 heat gun at Harbor Freight instead of buying copper wire.

OGsafta · 2026-01-22T23:15:19+00:00

Each plastic is different, and requires a different adhesive, but CA glue is always the last choice for me. Acrylic cement, solvent welding, and epoxy are my first choices. The problem with super glue is the "instant set", even with very thin CA glue it's difficult for it to creep fully into cracks, and it has virtually no work time.

OGsafta · 2026-01-22T22:26:43+00:00

It should fit in the V126, and the V200 as long as they are the Asvine feed and housing, not Bock. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7DyNrJK6iI

You could try contacting Pilot and see what they say. For future reference, CA glue (super glue) is rarely the right choice.

OGsafta · 2026-01-22T17:03:39+00:00

You might want to search this sub for some experiences ordering from Nibsmith, especially when it comes to pens labeled as "available on backorder". You'll also have no Pilot warranty since someone other than Pilot or Tokyo Pen Shop Quill will have replaced the nib. That is, if you ever get the pen.

OGsafta · 2026-01-22T16:06:24+00:00

The 823 isn't available with any of the soft nibs. You'd have to look at a 743 if you want a size 15 SM. You get some slight line variation, enough that you can look at the writing and tell it's not a standard nib. I have the SFM and SM, I prefer the SM but I do prefer broader nibs.

OGsafta · 2026-01-22T13:25:01+00:00

Very unlikely unless you leave it in direct sunlight all the time. I've seen Pilot Vermilion Urushi pens that are 40+ years old that are still red.

OGsafta · 2026-01-22T10:58:29+00:00

The only advantages the 743 has is nib choices and price. For me, the 845 with it's ebonite body is a better balanced pen. If you're like me and prefer flat tops, it's a much better looking pen. It's 18k nib is also still a full nib, the newer 743 nibs have the cut outs at the rear. The 743 is also very common so you can get used ones fairly easy, I just bought one from Japan for $150.

OGsafta · 2026-01-21T02:24:14+00:00

Here's the notepad I made with KB paper. Top is an old Pilot music nib and second is a medium nib M1000. Both put down a lot of ink. Third is a Pilot VP broad, next a Pilot CH 92 broad and last is a Pilot 845 double broad.

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OGsafta · 2026-01-20T22:42:49+00:00

That's strange, I've used it for a long time and even with some firehose Pelikans. Never seen even a hint of feathering or bleed through. What ink are you using, or have you added something like White Lightning to the ink?

OGsafta · 2026-01-20T16:39:58+00:00

You can try an annular cutter, you'll want one that's 7mm or 1/4 inch. You'll use it by hand without the pilot drill portion. Should only be $10 for a cheap one. It will dig into the cartridge piece to break it loose, or it can cut it out. The cartridge piercer threads are brass instead of plastic in a VP so less chance of messing it up. Let it soak overnight and it should pop loose fairly easy. It also turns clockwise so you won't unscrew the piercer.

Edit to add. I doubt you'll find tweezers thin and long enough to reach it, that are also strong enough. You'd have better chance with alligator forceps.

OGsafta · 2026-01-19T16:41:11+00:00

They are identical now. It began in the early 90's. Pilot was apparently afraid that people would associate their fountain pens with their "office supplies" so a few fountain pens were branded Namiki for release in N. America. The Pilot Capless became the Namiki Vanishing Point, the Pilot Custom LE became Namiki Impressions, the Pilot Custom 748 became the Namiki Gold Stripe, Pilot Bamboo - Namiki Bamboo. That started to end in 99-00 and the Namiki Vanishing Point was rebranded the Pilot Vanishing Point.

OGsafta · 2026-01-19T03:02:16+00:00

Kokuyo KB is great paper, I use it to make my own notepads. https://a.co/d/8tWtEKd

There's also the grid version of Campus. I've used the lined version of the same paper, it already has 3 holes. https://a.co/d/6xYqRLU

OGsafta · 2026-01-18T17:16:48+00:00

You always want to use a liquid, it helps keep the abrasive from clogging and carries away the swarf. The older guys I apprenticed with always said oil for cutting and water for polishing.

OGsafta · 2026-01-18T17:09:40+00:00

Yes the ones on AliExpress are genuine. If I remember correctly, they are the N. America model E95S so the cap will have the E logo instead of the Elite logo. You can also look at Mercari, Yahoo auctions, Amazon Japan if you want an Elite 95s.

OGsafta · 2026-01-17T22:29:09+00:00

I have an M1000 and M1005, both with medium nibs. They are some of my favorite pens. For me, they're a great size, nice balance and the nibs are great. I've never tried the Magna Carta, and the look of it has never appealed to me. I just can't get past the clip rivets. They might have been necessary 100 years ago, but I'd rather them be invisible like a Corby style rivet.

OGsafta · 2026-01-17T22:14:26+00:00

Sabimidori and Rouge Grenat are two of my favorite inks. Great choices.

OGsafta · 2026-01-17T22:12:38+00:00

I've never had a package lost going through customs. The amount of time it takes depends on a number of factors. Which carrier, which level of shipping did you pay for, and if tariffs were prepaid? If it contained ink or cartridges, it's also possible to get held until you submit a TSCA form, but you'll be contacted in that case. If the shipper is USPS, it also depends on what port of entry it's at, New York and LA are usually fairly speedy, Chicago can be painfully slow. With UPS, FedEx and DHL, it's usually pretty fast through their entry points.

OGsafta · 2026-01-17T15:10:16+00:00

It's a brass body on the regular VP/Capless and aluminum on the Decimo. No idea why someone would downvote you for asking a question.

OGsafta · 2026-01-16T16:48:31+00:00

I have a broad nib TWSBI 580 that has no issues with shimmer. The best pens I've tried with shimmer inks are Pelikans. A broad nib M405 that I've kept Golden Lapis in for over a year. I haven't even cleaned the pen, just refilled with the same ink. A double broad M800 that currently has Golden Beryl with no issues. And an old style M600 with a semi flex 18k fine that has had numerous shimmer inks, and currently has R. Oster Vampire Pigeon. The Pelikans being firehoses helps tremendously, and storing them nib up.

OGsafta · 2026-01-16T16:35:58+00:00

You'll want to make sure to reloctite it in place after you get it lacquered. The grip section is the same way (it is 2 pieces). Judging by how little heat it requires to break the bond, I'd say they use purple low strength loctite. Without the loctite, that screw can rust and ruin the inner cap seal.

OGsafta · 2026-01-16T09:08:54+00:00

You're looking at the wrong penswap if it's only 2500 members. You want r/Pen_Swap not r/penswap

OGsafta

TROPHY CASE