Pilot Varsity

[red zeppelin]

So my boss just purchased a couple of Pilot Varsity pens, the disposable FP (I think my nicer pens are finally getting to him!). He thought the nib was a bit broad for his use, I didn't think they were that bad actually. Is it possible to change the nib on those? I assume not based on how they look, but I thought this would be the place to ask.

thanks,

 

[brianw]

No way to change the nibs

 

[red zeppelin]

Thanks Brian, I figured as much.

 

[Slivovitz]

I know from monkeying around with Varsities that the nib will slide off the feed. Looking at the fine nib on the cheap but not disposable Pilot Petit1, it seems by eyeballing it that you could swap the nibs between the two pens. I have not, however, done this. No reason to do so.

If he would like a finer nib, one obvious inexpensive choice would be to get a Pilot FP-78 G, which I believe you can still get on eBay for around $10. The nibs on these are a different kind which would not fit the Varsity.

 

[fncll]

On topic: I don't *think* the Petit and Varsity will interchange, but I can't swear to it because I might be misremembering trying something like that in one of my many bouts of cheap Frankenpen-ing.

It's fun to play with Varsities and other disposables...at worst, if you yank the nib/feed and can't swap it, you can still put a better ink in there. Or you could grind a couple of varsities down to finer widths yourself. After all, if you ruin them (more than once in my short life of attempted nib grinding I've tried to go from a M to a F and ended up with a stub) it's still fun!

The Pilot 78G F are true fines and they are pretty reliable. Or you can roll the dice with a Hero or the like...some are great some are duds!

 

[Krodor]

It's fun to play with Varsities and other disposables...at worst, if you yank the nib/feed and can't swap it, you can still put a better ink in there. Or you could grind a couple of varsities down to finer widths yourself. After all, if you ruin them (more than once in my short life of attempted nib grinding I've tried to go from a M to a F and ended up with a stub) it's still fun!

Ah....the Gold Dollar 66 of the Fountain Pen world. Do I hear "Customized Varsity Competition" coming soon?

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

Ah....the Gold Dollar 66 of the Fountain Pen world. Do I hear "Customized Varsity Competition" coming soon?

hero or jinhao...

 

[whereisandy]

When I was at Kinokuniya Japanese bookstore in Manhattan a couple of years ago I picked up a fine point Varsity for around $4. Fine points are available but are harder to find than the run-of-the-mill mediums.