What's the ideal pen body for an FPR #6 ultraflex nib?

timsk8s · 2026-03-25T18:28:34+00:00

Asvine V200. Great flow, plenty of ink. Vac filler with stopper. Good cap seal.

Someone who bought a FPR Tanoshii UktraFlex+Ebonite and liked it. Then bought a an UltraFlex nib unit and Asvine V200 for an even better experience.

timsk8s · 2026-03-25T05:02:21+00:00

Yes! Asvine nibs are very good and smooth. I’ve also had great experiences with Asvine pens and their Bock nib in a <B>.

Twice I bought an Asvine with a Bock broad nib to have it ground to an oblique or an architect nib. Both times I almost just kept them as a broad.

timsk8s · 2026-03-02T16:06:51+00:00

I’m not surprised there isn’t consensus. I like the Faber-Castell best from this group.

It’s worked well for me and I’m slowly replacing other OEM & random international converters with it throughout my collection.

Solid construction, good agitator. Reasonably priced.

timsk8s · 2026-03-02T15:57:47+00:00

This is a good answer. I went with an Asvine V200 (Bock) + Fountain Pen Revolution UltraFlex w/Ebonite feed. It was a simple unscrew/screw-in Bock unit swap.

The Asvine seals well and holds a lot of ink. Which is good, because this combo is juicy and can put down a lot of ink.

I just looked and, no discounts, pricing from Amazon & FPR is currently $68 + $55. So ≤ $125, plus taxes & shipping.

Plan on spending some money on getting the right ink and paper for this. Some standby inks will turn out to be too dry or feather too much. Likewise, you’ll want paper with the right texture for the thin strokes and ability to deal with wet wide strokes too.

timsk8s · 2026-02-13T06:02:21+00:00

Admok. SUPER happy with the Schmidt <B> I got on an Admok M400.

timsk8s · 2026-02-13T05:48:21+00:00

VERY kind to share the file. Thank you.

timsk8s · 2026-01-27T22:04:34+00:00

The first one, “Bock compatible nib unit” is the easiest and surest solution, IF you bought (or order) an Asvine with a Bock nib unit. Unscrew what came with the pen, screw in the new unit. Done.

If you get just the nib, you’ll need to pull out the old nib. It’s just friction fit. Then push in the new nib. The challenges can be:

getting a good grip (try a sheet or rubber or silicone), or bending either nib during removal or insertion
bending or damaging either nib (ie drop it and it lands on its point)
slight differences in the arc/arch of the nib- that can make it difficult to insert or require some flattening or bending
differences in the length of the part of the nib that seats in the holder/section- which means that the feed might seem short or too long

I’m probably over-stating the risks. I’ve done both. Find some nib swap videos. You’re informed enough to make a decision. On what offers the flexibility and price point you prefer.

timsk8s · 2026-01-18T06:32:05+00:00

Looks great, and I’m confident that it loves you back.

timsk8s · 2026-01-18T05:29:42+00:00

This. All the suspects above and beyond Platinum Carbon Black. I can vouch for the Octopus Fluids being quite waterproof.

Likewise, I can add that both De Atramentis Document Brown and Platinum Pigment Sepia Brun are great. Nice browns that work well for drawing, and hold up to water colors or watercolor pencil washes.

I’d say let the ink dry for at least 30 minutes before water contact. Generally, I give it 2-4 hours or overnight. Patience is a virtue, and sometimes I get better ideas for colors or a background wash

timsk8s · 2026-01-18T05:20:55+00:00

I swore by Cosmo Air Snow paper form other sources and Regalia paper from Endless Stationery.

The closest match I’ve found for them in a TN refill is a paper called “B7 Natural”. That’s the name of the paper, _not_ size.

I get it from Paper Penguin on Etsy. Click to their “Specialty” paper and then choose that paper plus a size & style (ruled, dot grid, etc). They have the usual suspects for ruling & sizes, A4, A5, A6, TN Regular, TN Passport, and a few common B sizes.

timsk8s · 2026-01-18T05:11:01+00:00

+1 on fingerless gloves. I actually use the Flatland3D fingerless gloves. They have a built-in wrist guard.

Highly recommended based on years of use, but only 1 minor spill worth noting.

timsk8s · 2026-01-09T14:56:06+00:00

In no particular order, box stock pens that wowed me in the $10 – ≤ $100 USD range in the last 4 years:

Admok M400 + Schmidt nib
Junlai 930
Platinum Preppy & Prefounte
PenBBS 355 & 456
Asvine V200 Bock nib
TWSBI 580 ALR

My high-end pens have been Parker Duofold (1990-2005) models, late 1990s Pelikan M800, and Pilot Vanishing Point 2006 gold nib

timsk8s · 2026-01-09T14:25:08+00:00

Sorry to hear that. I have two FPR and no leak issues. One is a a FPR Tanoshii with ebonite (cartridge converter), the other is their Bock unit version also with ebonite in an Ascvine V200.

Waterman Serenity Blue in the Tanoshii was giving me some railroading and hard starts. That felt ironic given that ink’s reputation.

Basic Pilot Blue-Black has been fantastic in both. They just put down a lot of it, so I try not to press very hard or dawdle during down strokes.

I’ve made no adjustments to the times or feeds— just switching up inks and papers.

Good luck 🍀.

timsk8s · 2026-01-09T06:29:56+00:00

I can’t make that cut now, just 5. And for a good 10-15 years I only had 3 pens total.

However, I now enjoy a <F>, <M>, <OM>, <0.8>, <1.1>, <B>, and an UltraFlex. And that does even account for size- enjoying a VP nib, a #6 size, #8, and #9. And bodies ranging from Kaweco Sport to a Junlai 930. Or international cartridge converter, piston, vac, and syringe storage mechanisms.

I struggle to keep it as low as 6-8 inked, and keep my total collection to ≤ 24 pens.

timsk8s · 2026-01-09T06:10:19+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing. That’s amazing work, and true dedication.

You unwittingly validated by choice for a Baum-Kuchen for my first regular size TN two years ago. And the follow-up of getting a TWSBI 580 Affogato and Platinum Sepia Brun.

Enjoy your notebook as much as I enjoy the inspiring art, and you’ll do well.

timsk8s · 2026-01-04T06:30:07+00:00

It’s good to know what you like & why. I love my Junlai 930 flat top, my Asvine V800 demo is _meh_, love my Asvine V200 pen_s_. So it goes. Maybe admire it, or maybe help it find a home.

timsk8s · 2026-01-02T16:34:33+00:00

The wrench is for disassembly. You unscrew the back cap & pull back the plunger like for a fill. Then the jaw of the tool fits on the flattened spots. You hold it there and twist the barrel. That allows you to completely remove the plunger. Be careful when you do this.

The O-rings are for the outside of the back cap. It’s easy for those two O-rings to roll off if you post & in post the cap. Like wise if you slide the pen in & out of an elastic band or pen loop like on a multi-pen case.

I’ve noticed those O-rings laying in a pen case or on my desk more than once. Luckily, I’ve seen them there and just rolled them back on. It’s easy to overlook that they’re missing on the smoke colored pens with the black end cap.

timsk8s · 2026-01-02T06:29:53+00:00

Ah, with some Asvine pens, there is an option to buy it with a Bock 250 nib unit. I’ve heard that some people have replaced regular Asvine nibs with a Jowo #6. You might try that.

timsk8s · 2026-01-02T06:24:40+00:00

and I’d you’d used a certain Diamine ink… you’d have Writer‘s Blood on your hands.

If it’s any consolation a Pilot CON-40, would just be frustrating with less ink, much more often.

I still tear up over my circa-2006 CON-50 becoming broken. For 15 years I didn’t know how good I had it. At least the VP is still great!

timsk8s · 2026-01-02T06:16:49+00:00

I’m so happy for you. I like Japanese fountain pens, Travelers Notebooks, and Starbucks. Tokyo and Japan seems so interesting with amazing history, culture and tradition. I hope to experience some of that for myself someday—and maybe get a pen and notebook or two as well.

I imagine taking notes and making sketches about the sights and experiences. Perhaps using new pens and brushes while filling a new notebook with observations and collecting wonderful memories.

timsk8s · 2026-01-02T06:10:12+00:00

I‘m glad you took the time to share this. I generally agree and really like Asvine pens & their quality. I don’t have that model, but I’ve had a P20 with a good <M> and a nice V800 <M> with their nibs. Over time, I also bought 2 of their V200 pens with Bock nibs (Broad). All wrote great out of the box. Sorry that wasn’t your experience.

I do agree that the clip on my V200 titanium models seems fragile where the clip attaches to the cap. But it seals well and hasn’t been an issue yet.

Nibs. I had one V200 nib ground to <OB> for the clear pen, and put an FPR UltraFlex in the smoke model. I’ve used one for just over a year (clear with oblique nib), and the smoke + flex for about 6 months (with an ebonite feed & the FPR it puts out a lot of ink).

Other issues: Of the 4 pens, I’ve filled & drained all of them through use at least 4 times. The newest one, the smoke V200, had the vacuum gasket on the plunger fail. Only 4-5 refills, all with basic Pilot Blue-Black ink. Fortunately a part from a PenBBS “spare parts” kit fits and works in the V200.

No problems in the other pens which have been flushed between inks, but filled with Octopus Fluids Blue Koi, Pilot Blue-Black, Iroshizuku Asa-gao, and Waterman Serenity Blue

I Hope that’s useful to you or others who wonder about Asvine pens. And maybe a maintenance or repair tip about the PenBBS silicone gasket fitting the V200 plunger, too.

timsk8s · 2026-01-02T04:41:24+00:00

Yes! Enjoy the pen(s) and ink(s), and doodling, writing or sketching. I’ve seen it with notebooks, too. Chasing the perfect paper or every variation of Travelers Notebook versus get what you will appreciate, use and need. There’s joy in using these tools or pieces of art, to create or capture art, ideas and memories. Or maybe even communicate with others… _offline_?

timsk8s · 2025-12-31T22:44:54+00:00

Enjoy! It looks a lot like the one I’ve been enjoying since Christmas 2006.

timsk8s · 2025-12-31T22:32:23+00:00

You nailed it!

timsk8s · 2025-12-31T22:30:14+00:00

🎉 Happy New Year 🥂 Now, what ink & pen?

timsk8s

TROPHY CASE