Pilot Metropolitan - First impressions and questions

[Nick Cheeks]

So I took the advice of several members and picked up a Pilot Metropolitan as my first fountain pen. I've been using it for about a week now and, so far, I have been pretty impressed. It's a smooth writer and I find that I don't need to use nearly as much pressure to get a good line. (What is it about the hobbies on this site and using no pressure?) It has a good heft, but it's not so bulky that it's uncomfortable in the hand. Overall, a great first pen and a great recommendation from B&B.

Now the questions:

1. I think I got a converter with this pen. The box had a cartridge-sized insert that has a rubber bladder. How do I use this?

2. The pen has a medium nib, which is pretty good but slightly too thick for my writing. I have heard that Pilot doesn't make fine nibs for this pen. How do I get a finer nib and how do I change it?

Thanks again to all who steered me toward the Metro and thanks in advance for help with the questions.

 

[Rockminer]

1. Push the converter into the section just like a cartridge. Then submerge the Nib in the ink and squeeze the bladder and let the ink enter the converter. Do this a couple of times without removing the pen from the ink so that the ink will enter the converter. The ink takes a little while to suck up into the converter.

2. You can buy a Pilot 78g which comes in fine, med, broad and double broad. You can usually get these on the bay for around $10 a piece. If you buy the black 78g, you can just unscrew the barrel and switch it with the metro. ( the sections are interchangeable ) the only thing that separates the metro from the 78g is the cap and barrel.

 

[Mr5x5]

....2. You can buy a Pilot 78g which comes in fine, med, broad and double broad. You can usually get these on the bay for around $10 a piece. If you buy the black 78g, you can just unscrew the barrel and switch it with the metro. ( the sections are interchangeable ) the only thing that separates the metro from the 78g is the cap and barrel.

I've heard the Plumix nib is interchangeable as well if you want an italic nib. I plan on trying it when I can get a black Metropolitan. Seems as though it was extremely popular and everyone is out of stock.

 

[syngent]

one thing, when you submerge the ink into the bottle to fill with the converter, you have to dunk the entire nib right up to the section (the area where the nib meats the pen), there is a breather hole there that needs to be covered to suck up ink

At the 1.20 mark of that video will show you how to fill with a converter twist converters work the same, you just squeeze yours rather then twist a piston style knob