What's new

Educate me on fountain pens. Some questions pls

There three different sizes of Chinese cartridges/converters measured by the nipple on the pen. I believe the smallest of the Chinese can use the “standard“ Euro/American cartridges. If you try to put the European made standard converter into the pens with larger nipples you will crack the collar and ink will leak.

If a pen does not come with a converter, my preference is to refill cartridges using a syringe and needle. I can use any bottled ink I choose.

If I were to use cartridges I would buy them from the pen manufacturer being sure that the listing says they work with the particular pen I want them for. Otherwise, you need to do some research to be sure the cartridge would work for you.
 
Got to learn how to use it. Am I starting a new hobby?

2024-12-1921.30.037122859002766679579.jpg
 
Most of my pens are Jinhao or similar. Inks should be easy to find in most countries. The Lamy is a good pen with easily changeable nibs. Esterbrooks also have easily changeable nibs but they can be hard to get and expensive. Jinhao are good pens and fairly inexpensive. The first fountain pen I got was a Jinhao x450 that I got off that E site. Cost me 99 cents and had free shipping from China. So, I wasn't too worried if it was a lemon or if I lost it. That was years ago, and I still have and use it!
 
Most of my pens are Jinhao or similar. Inks should be easy to find in most countries. The Lamy is a good pen with easily changeable nibs. Esterbrooks also have easily changeable nibs but they can be hard to get and expensive. Jinhao are good pens and fairly inexpensive. The first fountain pen I got was a Jinhao x450 that I got off that E site. Cost me 99 cents and had free shipping from China. So, I wasn't too worried if it was a lemon or if I lost it. That was years ago, and I still have and use it!

I know just what you mean.

I am asked from time to time, I want to try a fountain pen, what do you suggest. I chose to forget that some people have a bigger budget and I recommend a low priced pen that I know will perform well and last, Jinhao pens fit the bill, I can imagine that they could still be in use 100 years from now, especially the 450/750/159.

I am also aware that people who are concerned about the environment have taken up converter or piston filled pens, simply because of the minimal plastic waste as compared to Bic ballpoints.
 
The Ef nib was not working. I tried to disable it but I couldn't. I just pushed the nib a bit to the feed and now it works. It works by accident. How do I disassemble the nib? Any video?

I like the Ef much more so far.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20241220_140158676.MP.jpg
    PXL_20241220_140158676.MP.jpg
    1.1 MB · Views: 7
As a general rule, I would leave the nib and feed alone, especially for new pens, Jinhao pens are virtually perfect as they come from the factory.

I would take some warm water 200ml and add one drop of detergent that is using for washing dishes. Flush the water through the pen several times. Repeat using cool clean water and then dry with a paper tissue, perhaps a kitchen towel. Fill the pen with ink using a converter, don't worry about air in the converter, it doesn't matter. Stand the pen nib down on kitchen towel, it should go blue quite quickly.

If you do not see ink on the towel within an hour then check that the converter is seated properly, they sometimes need a firm push.

To be honest, it is unlikely that a new Jinhao will have faults, my advice would be to just have patience and not mess around with it..
 
@Vacumatic

You posted a great tutorial. I cleaned with hot water all my x159 pens and they are perfect now.

My desire is to get some different affordable pens from China. Probably 2 or 3 other models.

Which ones would you recommend friends, beside X159? I want to try a pen thinner and a bit smaller then this model.
 
There is another thread about a pen from Dryden Designs, a pen with a low price and good reviews.

My experience is just with Jinhao in terms of Chinese pens, There is a piston filled pen by Wing Sung a 618 or 698. Low priced and worth trying possibly.
 

gpjoe

Slickness is a sickness
@Vacumatic

You posted a great tutorial. I cleaned with hot water all my x159 pens and they are perfect now.

My desire is to get some different affordable pens from China. Probably 2 or 3 other models.

Which ones would you recommend friends, beside X159? I want to try a pen thinner and a bit smaller then this model.

The Jinhao pens that I've tried, all of which are good writers:

Jinhao 86, a Parker clone with a hooded nib, $13 for three pens on the 'zon. Smaller, thinner.

Jinhao 82, around 9 bucks. Smaller, thinner

Jinhao X450, $9 or four pens for $21, though I'm not sure how this one compares in size to your 159...it seems similar...heavier and thicker than the 82 and 86.

Note that a good shopper, which I am not, can probably find these pens (and others) for less.

Beyond that, you're approaching the price of pens like the Pilot Metropolitan and Lamy Safari, which are both very nice. I prefer the Metro, slightly, due to it being metal (brass, I think) and an exceptionally smooth writer...and consider it a steal at 20 bucks. Compared to many of the Jinhao pens, the Metro is a bit smaller but very substantial in hand.

Hopefully others can offer some more/better suggestions. There seems to be a LARGE selection of Jinhao pens.
 
So, I have read and watched a lot of YouTube videos about pens these last weeks. Like I. Wow what a fantastic world it is around the pen. I think I am starting to learn day by day.

My poor man's collection is based around Jinhoa X159. My best cartridge so far has been Pelikan 4001.

Regarding my nib, I enjoy F and M for writing but the M hasn't been consistent at all. Scratchy and inconsistent ink flow. EF doesn't get any attention from me.

As a beginner I thought of many things. Fist thought of mine was that the nib was wrong. Yeah right the master talked.. 😂 I got a nail grind brush thing plus a gem razor to adjust the nib. My intention was to smooth it. As I was applying my imagination I was hearing a video in background about pen repair where the speaker said that 80% of the issues come from pen unclean. Well I have cleaned it a couple of times.

But I stopped and had the crazy thought to disassemble completely and clean the feed and nib again. I discovered that the hole where the cartridges connect was dirty inside. Oh boy. So glad. I cleaned it and assembled the pen again. It started to write very nice and wet and then stopped. It did it 2 or 3 times. On man? Did I destroy it by trying to smooth or open somehow with the blade?!

I disassembled again and found out that I needed to push further the feed and the nib in the cap. I assembled again and the pen is writing beautifully (according to my standard). I wrote 4 or 5 pages.

Now after assembling this pen, I am thinking if I can put a quality unit nib and converter in this body. Something like a Jowo 6 plus Schmidt converter. I know that the housing of this pen is not adaptable but I am sure I could fit it with some tape or silicon in the cap. Just need to see an example online but very few people spent time modding a Jinhoa X159 at it seem by my research.

It was a long description but I just felt to share it. I need to improve my handwriting. 😂 😂 😂 😂
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20250120_180523780~3.jpg
    PXL_20250120_180523780~3.jpg
    531.9 KB · Views: 5
  • PXL_20250120_192423696.jpg
    PXL_20250120_192423696.jpg
    1,003.3 KB · Views: 5
  • PXL_20250120_174412546.jpg
    PXL_20250120_174412546.jpg
    679.5 KB · Views: 5
Did the Jinhao not come with a converter? Any that I’ve ever seen has one. If you got one use it. Until a converter leaks switching converters gains you very little, if anything.

I think the Schmidt would fit but you have to be careful. Chinese pens have 3 different sizes of nipples. One is just slightly larger in diameter than the Schmidt/European converters and will crack the converter. I think that the Schmidt will fit the 159. I think

The size and curvature of a non-Jinhao nib is going to be different. You might be able to get a Jowo nib to fit. It would be tight. It would be the nib only. The housing will be different sized and threaded differently between a Jowo or Bock unit and the Jinhao.

You are lucky you didn’t destroy the nib or feed using a razor blade on it. Use a brass shim. They are available at a hobby store or from a pen seller online.
 
As @Ted A wrote, converters and feeds are often brand specific, or even model specific. So, you probably can't use a Schmidt converter, or a Jowo nib unit.

A quick search tells me that the Jinhao X159 takes a #8 nib. That's bigger than the #6 Jowo nib you're looking at.

I tried doing some radical nib work; I wasn't happy with the results. I suspect you've seriously damaged the nib, and won't be able to put it right. Looking at prices at AliExpress, a new Jinhao #8 nib unit costs almost a much as a complete Jinhao x159 pen.

The only nib work I feel competent to perform are: tine alignment; adjusting the slit (using a brass sheet), and (depending on the pen) how deep the nib sits in the pen.
 
@Ted A and @InkStainedWretch

Thank you very much for your feedback. As a beginner I am very glad to understand all the terminology used by you.

I didn't modify the nib, I tried to polish a bit and put the blade. But I didn't push any force and it was a weak attempt. I don't know if I caused any damage. The pen writes nice and smooth now. The only issue that I find is that the ink t flow is not constant, so that is maybe due to my touching the nib.

Anyway no big deal. Disassembling the pen and watching YouTube videos from some pros, I am finding out that there are some nice Chinese pens that even accept famous nibs. Someone one even put a Pelican m1000 nib, which I don't have a budget for the moment. There are some titanium ones that are stuck in my mind under 80 usd.

I haven't sourced any good fountain pen ink locally so I am stuck with an unknown Turkish one. So this is why I am using international cartridges.

So much pens from China and India that can accept a Bock or Jowo. Tempting.
 
Ok playing with FPs is a fun thing to do. I have enjoyed polishing/smoothing out a nib or 2 in my life.

And a convertor is not needed. So if you have or get a FP that doesn't have a convertor the FP is still usable.

A few ways to convert or fix up an FP to be filled with ink and usually not leak. But for me the laziest way is to use an ink cartridge. Once it's empty just fill it with your choice of ink and jam the cartridge back into the FP or turn the FP upside down and slide it over the cartridge, your choice.

And learning about FPs is all over the internet but The Nib B&Bers are good people and know a lot about FPs so you shouldn't need the internet much for FP info.

And try to ignore nibs and what metal they are made out of. Because i had used steel nibs on every FP i used to have and every one wrote good a couple after "polishing" the writing part of the nib wrote smooth and great for me.

And an expensive nib on a cheap pen makes no sense to me. Why not save your money and get a FP you want the nib from?

I hope for you, you figure out what you need and get what you want. And ink is similar to nibs (to me) a cheap ink if it doesn't perform to your standards usually be modified to your liking.

Enjoy your fountain pens...
 
Ok playing with FPs is a fun thing to do. I have enjoyed polishing/smoothing out a nib or 2 in my life.

And a convertor is not needed. So if you have or get a FP that doesn't have a convertor the FP is still usable.

A few ways to convert or fix up an FP to be filled with ink and usually not leak. But for me the laziest way is to use an ink cartridge. Once it's empty just fill it with your choice of ink and jam the cartridge back into the FP or turn the FP upside down and slide it over the cartridge, your choice.

And learning about FPs is all over the internet but The Nib B&Bers are good people and know a lot about FPs so you shouldn't need the internet much for FP info.

And try to ignore nibs and what metal they are made out of. Because i had used steel nibs on every FP i used to have and every one wrote good a couple after "polishing" the writing part of the nib wrote smooth and great for me.

And an expensive nib on a cheap pen makes no sense to me. Why not save your money and get a FP you want the nib from?

I hope for you, you figure out what you need and get what you want. And ink is similar to nibs (to me) a cheap ink if it doesn't perform to your standards usually be modified to your liking.

Enjoy your fountain pens...
Excellent feedback. You see when a beginner is focused on a new hobby and posts in the forum, like I do, he needs opinion and confirmation. Usually some of the post create "noise"". There are a lot of good people in this forum, it is the only reason that I keep posting here.

I wish there was a table of nib compatibility between chinese producers. The best would be to have them use one standard so swapping would be easy. This way they could really threaten the western world.
 
I wish there was a table of nib compatibility between chinese producers. The best would be to have them use one standard so swapping would be easy. This way they could really threaten the western world.
i will try to keep my reply not about politics...

But chinese producers aren't in control of what they can do with the products they produce. But is there a list or standard nib sizing for well known/popular fountain pen producers?

I have seen 2 different models from the same producer had nibs that couldn't be switched between the FPs.
 

blethenstrom

Born to häckla
Excellent feedback. You see when a beginner is focused on a new hobby and posts in the forum, like I do, he needs opinion and confirmation. Usually some of the post create "noise"". There are a lot of good people in this forum, it is the only reason that I keep posting here.

I wish there was a table of nib compatibility between chinese producers. The best would be to have them use one standard so swapping would be easy. This way they could really threaten the western world.
Mostly you see #5, #6 and Lamy compatible nibs from them it seems. There are some oddball ones like the Jinhao x159 and the like that use a #8 nib! Sometimes they list on there the nib type. The Lamy type nibs are pretty easy to spot. Now if it is a hooded nibbed pen I am not sure what they use.
 
Top Bottom