I am a science teacher, nerd, and an artist with a love for fountain pens and and pen and ink style drawing. I am on a quest to find the world's greatest fountain pen for art. Join me!
This is a space for talk about art, about pens, and whatever else is in my head when I press play.
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I own a lot of Jinhao 82 pens, which are great for enjoying different ink colors. As for the nibs, I simply swap them out with Hero nibs and they work perfectly.
At the same time, there are a few other pens I would recommend before this one, if you like that shape. The Lamy Joy and the Platinum Carbon Desk pen come to mind off the top of my head. The nib and feed of this pen are really finicky, and the body is such thin plastic, I feel like I could snap it.
That’s very high praise. I love the art direction in that film. I miss the days when it was okay for an effect to look “fake” as long as it looked really cool. That’s my style in a nutshell.
I’m new to the fountain pen scene and would like to know if this pen is compatible with permanent ink that can used in conjunction with watercolor washes?
I have good news and bad news on that front. First, the bad news: fountain pens should not ever be filled with India ink or acrylic ink, which are both perfectly waterproof, because of the binding agent in the inks, usually a shellac for India ink, and some sort of polymer (a liquid form of plastic) for the acrylic ink. Those materials dry inside the pen and can clog it permanently. For fountain pens, you should only use pigment-based or dye-based inks which are made for fountain pens. The good news is that there are several brands of ink that dry about 90% waterproof and are safe to use in any fountain pen. The two brands I use often with fantastic results are De Atramentis Document black (they have other colors too that are also waterproof), and Platinum Carbon Black. I’d recommend either, but the De Atramentis feels a bit smoother to me, if just slightly. A bottle of either of these will easily last you several years.
I have three of these. I love the wood, and you can swap out the nibs easily enough. I now use Zebra G, HongDian and Noodler's Ahab flex. (All of them took some work to get them to function well though.) I also sanded them down a bit, removing the logo on the cap. The black pen I have has a black metal parts, which is much nicer. The other two have cheap-looking and cheesy brass- color metal parts that I am not a fan of, so I took the clip off at least. They're a great deal, have really nice texture, and stay sealed without drying out (a huge plus). My next mission is to get one to work with a Fountain Pen Revolution Ultra Flex nib, but that's been a challenge to keep it from railroading.
I feel like this is a project pen. Love the body and design. I need a new nib for it though. I’m going to look through some more pens I don’t like as much and see if any of their nibs fit.
I have this same Conklin. Very happy with it….nice to see a left handed demonstration! I suggest maybe commenting on your fountain pen journey as a left handed writer/artist
I’ve wanted to find a time to talk about that, and actually, I find that fountain pens are great for left handed people, as ballpoint pens smudge for me more easily. Lamy actually makes a left-handed nib, and if I ever get my hands on one of those, I think that’s when I’ll talk about lefty stuff.
A fake pen would be if it said it was something it`s not, which it doesn`t, it`s not even a clone, it`s a copy and not an exact one, so calling it "fake" is inaccurate. It more closely copies the Wing Sung 698 to be honest, which again, is a closer copy of the Eco, but still not a 1:1, so, not fake, not a clone, but a close copy. I actually HAVE a fake pen, it`s a copy of a WingSung 698, which is a copy of an Eco. So that`s a clone of a copy of a copy, and THAT one IS fake, because it was sold as a WingSung, but it`s not ;) What it is though, is the reason I`ll be purchasing an actual Eco, mostly because I found that I like the shape and size, and because I want it with a broad nib 💪🖋👀
To be fair, “fake pen” is most definitely an exaggeration here, and there is a pretty wide spectrum of pens that fell into this series. This one is more copied, and has a lot of potential to be its own, awesome thing (still pretty awesome, even as a copy IMHO). It’s a shame though, because I like unique pens. But fair point, it isn’t a 1:1 copy and it isn’t claiming to be a pen that it is not. Believe it or not, I actually recommend it.
Yeah, I know. I’ve had some issues with focus from just learning the right settings for my camera. I hav wit mostly sorted now, but there are a few issues like this on this channel. I really only have so much time to film these things with how hectic my day job is. Sometimes I just let the errors be.
I’m just going to assume that by this comment, you mean that you don’t care for the art I make? That’s fine. There are lots of full time artists on this platform. Feel free to enjoy their stuff. I know I do! But for me, I refuse to remove the title of artist from how I describe myself. The world of art is diverse enough to include also people like me; a non-professional artist who likes making things that bring him joy. So… yes. So naive hand… but artist! (! rather than ?)
I converted my Preppy <F> to an eyedropper and use it with Bay State Blue to write checks and address envelopes because it’s waterproof. I think the nib is remarkably smooth, and impressed me right out of the box. I’ve hesitated to buy a more expensive Platinum because there are many complaints about feedback or “tooth” when writing. I’d need to try one before taking the leap.
For me, tooth isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I like it. Except it’s hard to gauge sometimes, because some people use “tooth” as a way to politely call a nib “scratchy.” The 3776 Century is definitely not scratchy though. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anyone say anything bad about it.
@@stepheninks I know what you mean. I have pens with "tooth" that I don't consider scratchy, but without actually trying this pen, I just can't know that I'd like it. I guess, since I don't have a pen store anywhere nearby and live a couple thousand miles from the nearest pen show, I'll have to order one from a seller that takes returns if I don't like it.
This is the worst nib I have gotten from them by a mile. I can usually smooth and floss the nib into a gem, but this one isn’t save able. I might swap out this nib though. That would bring it 100% around for me.
I purchased an ebony Jinhao 9056 three years ago. It is still in action. In fact, I finally ordered a redwood cousin. So far, it has held up well and writes like a dream. Sorry you had two duds.
Some months ago, I ordered a pink Hongdian 525 with a mini-fude nib, and the store marked it as sent but then told me it was out of stock. They said they'd get it soon and would send me an extra pen if I didn't cancel the order. They sent me one of these with a huge heavy metal cap, with an engraved tiger and a fine nib. It's nothing like the pen I wanted and I would never choose it myself, but the nib is a delight. I ended up getting a refund after 4 months, but they didn't want me to send the pen back.
@@stepheninks I also ordered Diamine Golden Brown and got Chocolate Brown instead. Then they sent me a bottle of Soft Mint to apologize for the mistake!
I usually don’t post the art of other artists on this channel, but it might be an interesting idea to do something inspired by. I loved that game when I was in college!
Thanks! I really feel like anyone can do what I do. It’s really about learning how to draw simple shapes in 3d, and visualize the thing you want to make as those shapes. I would love for more people to pick up a pen and paper without hesitation and make something they love :)
I have had good experience with my Jinhao 51a. I will probably come back to this pen if it gets better or worse over time. That’s something I really need to do for a few of my pens that i have reviewed before.
I have three 9056 pens, in different woods, and they all needed some tuning and sanding, but I love them. Finding a wooden pen with a plastic liner so the ink doesn't dry out is rare, especially at this price. The woods are completely mislabeled (the ebony is actually mpingo, the tiger wood is bocote, the green sandalwood is Argentine lignum vitae, etc), and one of mine had a crack also, but a little superglue and sanding fixed it. Sand them with 2000+ grit sandpaper, and they become amazingly smooth and tactile.
Thanks for this info. I’m pinning this comment so anyone looking at wood pens can benefit from your advice. I must admit I don’t know that much about the different woods used to make pens.
@@stepheninks Thank you! It's no fun to get stuff that doesn't work well... or is the wrong size! That's definitely no good. As a woodworker, I've come to expect that even expensive wood products need some sanding, but there's a limit. Love your channel, by the way!
@@totallylegit2068 I'm not sure. I didn't know what my 9056s were until I had them in hand: the feel, smell and weight are as important as the look. I wish companies would use Latin names, but they may avoid it for export reasons. My guess is that it's an Asian rosewood. Apparently it's used in sushi knife handles, so it's probably pretty dense and water resistant.
This pen is way too big for me as I am not a fan of the chonkers. On your recommendation I finally did order and receive the Jinhao 65's in 3 different nib sizes. Love the fine nib which wrote great out of the box. I rinsed it out before I used it and found it had been inked up with blue ink ( sealed in the plastic when it came so must be from the factory) nice to see they are doing QC on something this inexpensive, sorry they did not do it for the 9056, or they did it but it cracked in shipping. Loved the size of the 65 ( I like the small and slender). The fine nib even reverse writes very well for that extra fine line. Hope you enjoy this one as much as I am enjoying the 65.
It’s an acquired taste for sure. The 65 and this one pretty much run the entire range of thickness of pens I own. Ironically, the 9056 is more expensive than the 65, but the 65 had a nicer nib… Oh well, I’m just the very specific type of weird that I like them both.
@@stepheninks well you called it on the Jinhao 65's. Even the extra fine writes well. Definitely going to order more of them. Can't miss with that price, and they all came with converters and were factory tested. I am daily driving the fine nib. Really impressed with them. Thanks again for the hook up.
I too have obtain the 9056 quite recently, genuinely surprised by the weight compared to its bigger brother 9058. Not sure why yours came cracked, it may be the weather in your country, mine did not do that at all. Try using beeswax+almond oil mix to to the wood and see if it can cover them up (or any natural no rancid going wax oil, I have this diy mix for leather care) and they usually fill in uneven spaces but makes things a bit more waxy. Imo, I like the jinhao x850's shape more for drawing, it is thinner than the 9056 but same nib. The 9013 (a different pen) is perhaps a much better sketch pen if you prefer a light but small sized pen. Still, jinhao nibs are servicable, not pilot level but it works, one ought to fit nibs from penbbs or bock into them to make them truly great pens.
I also have had a lot of good luck with Jinhao pens. And I’m glad others have had a better experience with it. You con tell I’m conflicted even with the bad nib, I almost still want to like it. I actually have a few other Jinhao pens with better nibs, and I might swap one out for this body. It’s a very pretty pen nonetheless.
Thank you so much for testing the Black Forest nib! I am waiting for my M2 to be delivered today (also EF) and apparently can’t wait 😅 So I took out my Black Forest with Fude nib and was wondering if it will fit
I have the Kaweco and DeLike and have written with the HongDian. I would rate the Kaweco 1 point higher with a 4 on ease of posting putting it in the same spot as you concluded, so I agree with your ranking for whatever that is worth. One question, can the clip on the HongDian be removed? I did not notice on the one I wrote with. Thanks for the video.
Your hand might not need a new pen, but your heart surely does. I have since corrected the way I say “fude” based on feedback. Adonizing was a slip of the tongue. Apologies.
I have a 13, and it’s literally the same brush tip in a different body. I recommend either, just get the style you prefer. As far as the 14, it looks like it’s a disposable pen with a felt brush tip. Not refillable and the tip may wear out over time. From the reviews it seems like a lot of people like that one, so it might be good, but I feel like the 8 or the 13 might be a better experience.
@@stepheninks thanks. 8 or 13 sound better than. I have a Pentel brush pen. I love its style but hard to use and control the thickness of lines. Not sure the 8 or 13 are that much better.
The minute I saw that Hongdian, I wanted it! What a gorgeous little pen. I would have given the Jinhao fewer points for posting. If it’s a jiggly post, it’s a loser, as far as I’m concerned. Every bit of real estate on a pocket pen matters-how it feels against the back of your hand and the feel of it in the crook between the bottom of your forefinger and thumb (Is there an anatomical name for that?). If it’s jiggling and feels like it’s going to fall off, it’s a nope. I have a Kaweco Bronze Sport that is a very solid poster. I know the cap isn’t going anywhere when it’s posted. Maybe Kaweco Sports in plastic, aluminum or brass models are a different story. Anyhoo, I’m looking forward to getting my M2 from Amazon tomorrow! Thanks for a great introduction to a new brand for me.
HongDian has been super impressive for me so far. I have an N8, a Black Forest and this M2, and they are all lovely, reliable, and sturdy. I really want to get a few more things from them just to try everything out.
Had my Konrad since 2017. Still smells to this day. My wife complains about it whenever I open my pen box. lol I'm really just waiting for her to ask me to get rid of it. I want to, but I'm kind of attached to it because it just works.
You know it smells when you’re using it and someone else complains. Haha. I think the thing about this pen is, if you really like it, there’s nothing like it and you’ve just got to have it. It’s not for me but I’m glad it has a dedicated fan base.
Decent list. I would have swapped the Jinhao 80 for the 62 as it has a similar feed but a wider grip. Both have nibs that can be swapped with Lamy nibs or Chinese equivalents. This means that you can easily swap in broad nibs or colored nibs for under $10 USD.
I literally had the 80 on my list. The 62 beat it out by just a bit because I liked the nib better. The 80 I got needed brass sheets and a lot of smoothing. Works fantastic now, but it took some work getting there.
I've never seen this kind of Preppy, it must be the very first version. I had one that was between yours and the current one, so there were at least 2 design updates.
Yes, it’s a design from about 2015. I also bought it when I lived in South Korea, so I don’t know if there is a regional difference in the design also.
Great drawing! I agree except for the Jinhao 65 that is too thin for my taste. But let me add two more, Kaweko Perkeo and Jinhao 992. The first is similar to the Kakuno but more scratchy, the second very similar to the 82.
I do think the 65 is the most “acquired taste” pen on this list. I don’t have a Perkeo, but it looks like something I would like. The 992 also looks pretty good. Someday, if it’s not too much of a bother, I would really like Jinhao to come up with actual names for their pens.
I do not use shimmer inks, but from what I’ve heard, you want a wider nib to avoid clogging, because shimmer inks tend to do that. I would guess a medium, but a fine might be okay. From what I can tell, the Platinum, Pilot, and the Jinhao 82 are pens you can get with a medium nib, so I would start there.
A good fountain pen i tried and has a very good potential to be a demonstrator and eyedropper pen is Tramol F10 F nib. It is 3 dollars and comes with a cartridge converter and the body can be eyedropped anx it writes and draws quite wet. I have bought 5 of them and gave away one to a friend. It is possibly a good starter as a demonstator and eyedropper. Also it comes with an eyedropper
I had to Google that one. Woah! Looks really cool. Almost like the preppy with a cleaner design. I don’t love eyedroppers myself, but I might pick up one of the c/c versions and give it a spin. Thanks for the recommend!
I feel like that’s the most controversial inclusion. That pen is so minimalist it almost doesn’t exist! Haha. But since it’s my personal opinion, I put it in there. I didn’t think I would like it until I actually bought one.
It's really a shame that Platinum discontinued the older desk pen model. That was an absolutely fantastic and cheap pen. I'm glad I was able to pick up a couple for a reasonable price.
It almost seems insult to injury that they re-released a pen under that name which is basically the preppy with. A long body. I was mailed one of the old designs by a viewer of this channel, and I’m really grateful. The crazy thing is, they were so common when I started getting into fountain pens that I didn’t even have that pen on my radar. You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone, I guess.
