I’ve been loving my Pilot Custom 823 Amber filled with Noodler’s Dark Matter. Dromgoole’s in Houston TX installed the nib for me and it has been SO good. The EF line can be influenced with the slightest pressure and has different personalities capped/un-capped. I’ve paired my 823 EF with a Pilot Vanishing Point Matte Black (Dark Matter too) and (Pilot Blue that came with the 823) In White/Black/Storm-Trooper. The quick deployment of the Vanishing Point has made quick note taking and signing receipts a silly fast process vs. twisting the cap off. The 823 EF is like .25mm, V.P. F is .3-.35mm, and V.P. Stub .65-.7mm; all perfect for my smaller handwriting.
@@trevorgerland2254 you’re making me want a Vanishing Point!!! I have the cheaper Capless (I have a video review of it- found it at a thrift shop!)! But I don’t have a gold nib vanishing point. I just recently found out that you can get a stub??!!! Wow!!!🤩 What do you think of the VP stub? Pray tell!!!
@@KitchenCounterCrafts you should absolutely get the Stub. I was between getting the Mustard/yellow Capless pen too just because I liked the color, but a terrible waste of money if we are talking MSRP. Nonetheless, the stub is great on the VP. It’s quite angular and sharp on the left and right edged, but I kind of like that it has a sharp line compared to my rounded feeling Twsbi 1.1 Stub. The VP stub is definitely thinner than 1.0. Mine is like .7 on the down and .3 on the side stroke. So, for me, I like that the stub is much thinner than normal/claimed. If you’re looking for a thick Stub, the VP is not it. It really plays like a M/B, puts down a wet line, and can write from 90degrees to fairly low. 10/10 recommend you getting the Stub for your Capless. Either just the tip, or buy the whole housing so you can switch things around?
@@trevorgerland2254 great! Now I’m gonna have to get both an EF & Stub vanishing point 😬lol! I love the idea of getting a stub- it’s usually my preferred and favorite nib! Thank you for sharing your experience with the sharpness & how angular the nib is for writing- that just makes it even better for me 💗
I have both in the same nib size. The 823 (nib 15 in M size) is smoother on paper and slides like writing on a mirror. The 74 (nib 5 in M size) has more feedback, is a little stiffer and is less wet. Funny you say people feel like the 74 writes like a broad. For me, it's the opposite. The 823 M nib writes broader and wetter than the 74 M nib. The 823 is more than double the price of the 74 but definitely not twice as good. Even though the 823 is a better pen overall, I'd get two of the 74 ones and still save a few dollars. The price of the 823 doesn't truly reflect the value you get from owning one. Much of the cost is due to the high demand and the positive consumer sentiment. I recommend always going for the underdog (74 in this case) and saving money.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this excellent information and experience! I appreciate you comparing the apples to apples nib on both the 823 & 74. That’s helpful! I love hearing that feedback!😍I know that some cannot stand it! For me, it is an old fashioned feeling! The 823 nib really is like writing on glass- so lovely! I’m surprised by your recommendation of getting the 74… I thought you might tell others to save their pennies and get the 823?
@@KitchenCounterCrafts Yes! No regrets for purchasing a B nib on a high end pen. It’s a daily writer for me. Thanks so much for sharing info about my videos. I so enjoy yours and still binge watch since you are a new discovery for me. I appreciate you! Blessed 2023!
@@MarcellHobbs I have not yet bought a B nib for ANY pen! I love the stub for calligraphy but man, I am scared to get a Broad Nib. I feel like it might be like writing with a marker, especially since I love writing smallish. You're making me 2nd guess!
@@KitchenCounterCrafts All my first 2-3 years of fountain pens were F or EF. My TWSBI Diamond Mini Stub 1.1 gave me the courage to try a B nib. Now I have several. I do write small. Always bought .3 Clena pens for my planner. I do still love F nibs in planner, but enjoy the smoothness of B in journal, grocery lists, notes, etc. Try B on an inexpensive pen.
Excellent treatment of this comparison. For me, acquiring a 823 would be an exercise in indulgence as I have two Custom 74's, one in EF and one a stub M via Pendleton Brown, both of which have no faults, only excellence.
@@kayak63red34 Thank you for your encouragement and for watching! I love both of them… but I find myself reaching for my Custom 74 more often! The 823 is more of an indulgent purchase but … it’s kinda worth it if you’re a Pilot fan😍
Thank you so much for the encouraging words. I appreciate you watching AND Subscribing! Please stay tuned for more long-term usage videos. I have one of my favorites that went bad on me :(
You have some pretty wet writers there. I have a PC74 with an FM nib that writes like a medium and a PCH823 with a F nib that resembles an EF. I adjusted the nib on it just a bit to allow more flow and now it writes more like what I would consider to be a fine. Yours though maybe writes a bit wetter. My 74 was my everyday carry pen for years. Pilot nibs are smooth and so they write great on cheap paper, and so I wrote on a lot of cheap copy paper at work so it worked great for that. I prefer my 823 for long writing sessions but I wouldn’t recommend it as an only pen because to me with a vac-filled pen, there comes this level of commitment when it comes to choosing an ink color being they’re a bit harder to clean. With the 74 if you use it enough you can easily change ink colors weekly if that’s your thing. I also have a PC912 with the FA nib and while it does flex, you can only flex it on straight down strokes so it takes some getting used to and it railroads quite a bit on apaca paper but I sort of like it just as a soft fine, it seems to help with shade inks and it’s just pleasant to hold. My metro was my first pilot and I still use it! I keep it on my desk for quick notes, but yeah the M nib writes a bit like a fine so their steel nibs and gold nibs vary, and apparently the 74 writes a little wider side but I didn’t know that was a problem really, but my FM is not on the fine side, more medium, so that claim would make sense to me.
I wish I could just pick up the phone and talk pens with ya! I love that you love Pilots!🥰I would love to take a look at that CH912 of yours. I am gun shy on buying one - mainly because I have a Namiki Falcon (do I really need another Pilot? Just ignore that question). I love my Metro. My first fountain pen was a Sheaffer (vintage). The Metropolitan CAN'T be beat for the value, the looks, the metal body, the way it writes... just a great overall pen. Still - I just feel like my collection is missing something! I think that's called "addiction?" 🤗 I appreciate you sharing on the nibs - that is a part of the trial and error. I was big on mechanical pencils in high school - I just like a super fine line, so of course, most of my videos show my inclination for EF and F nibs. These two are on the wetter side for sure! I have seen Pilot F nibs that put down a pretty dry line, but not these. Also, I think it's due to writing with them for over a year. There is definitely a breaking in period and the type of ink you use. THANK YOU AGAIN for your valuable comments, insights and experience!
The paper pad wasn't stable, and that showed even more when you reached the middle part of it, where you tried the Pilot 823. I bet both pens especially the 823 would perform way better, if the pad was stable. I always use my free hand to hold the paper down stable when I 'm writing and a piece of plastic when drawing. Thanks for this comparison, I save money to get my first "good" fountain pen. I only own a Kaweco Sport Classic in Burgundy/Gold which is very comfortable, way more beautiful in person but not so reliable in the same time. As also a Parker Vector, that I own since 1997. The Parker is way more reliable, never skips, never had a hard start, however, the grip is so thin, that I can't hold the pen properly, which leads to bad looking hand writing. That's why I need one, that must be both reliable and comfortable to use.Waterman Expert 3 and a couple of Pilots are cheaper options and the ones I was saving for, however, my research, leads to save a bit more, to get either the Lamy 2000, or a Pilot at that price point. Thanks again for the demonstration!
I bet that Parker pen is wonderful!!! I love seeing older pens and I am always on the lookout for people who have been long time collectors! I agree that there needs to be a good, dependable workhorse in the collection. If you are saving up, I would say you will not lose with either the LAMY 2000 (did you see my video on that lovely gem?) or the 823. They are both winners in my book. These are definitely pens you can pass on to generations. They are built to last. Please let me know what you end up with. I am excited for you!
How would you compare the Fine nib on the 823 and Metropolitan in terms of line width? Is it about the same? Or is the Fine on the 823 finer/broader than the Metro?
Great question! I am looking at the nibs now. The main thing I can say is that Pilot offers so many nib sizes It's a Japanese nib, so the Fine is very Fine (like a EF European). The main things I note in the 2 pens is the size of the nib and most definitely the feed. The feed and the larger nib size is what gives that dependability of the Pilot 823 (and it should because the price difference is huge!!!). The 823 is also an amazing writing experience - it glides over the page and it doesn't matter if it's just cheapo copy paper. Gold nibs tend to be softer and wetter writers than steel, so there will be some variation in line thickness due to that. The Metropolitan has a wonderful writing experience and is smooth, BUT it has given me hard starts. I think it's due to the feed. But that can easily be fixed by dipping the pen into the ink or even pushing more ink into the feed by the converter. If interested, check out my Metro review here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-B52HWWJPPG0.html I hope that answers the question? Just keep in mind that the kind of ink you use (wet/dry) and the type of paper also impact line width.
@@KitchenCounterCrafts thank you! that's a shame that your Metro is hard starting. I have a Kakuno, which uses the same nib, and it hasn't hard started or skipped on me yet. Mine is a medium nib, though, and it's actually too wet and broad for my writing style, so I tried ordering a fine and extra fine to see which nib size I prefer. That's why I was curious about the differences in line width between the Metro and 823, so that if I ever upgrade, I know which nib size to order.
@@radiofreealbemuth I would say that if your M in the Metro is too wet, then go with a F for the 823. I am hoping to go to a Pen Show this Fall so I can actually try out some of the nibs on my grail pens so that I can be confident when ordering! It's too scary for me to plop down a couple hundred dollars and not like what I end up with! Also, if you have a Pen Club where you live, that might be a good option to try out pens. We have a Pen Club in OKC that I started! :) A woman brought her collection of over 50 pens to the first meeting!!! WOW!
@@KitchenCounterCrafts wow, that sounds exciting! Unfortunately, there aren't any fountain pen stores or clubs where I live. I think I'll play around with starter pens and continue watching videos for now, because I'm just a newbie.
I have a Pilot Custom 74 with a medium nib. The size of the pen is ideal for my hand, but the nib often has hard starts. I would like to get a finer nib and have been considering the Custom 823 even though it just went up in price, but I wonder if the grip section would be too large for me. It's helpful to see your review of them side by side. Thanks!
Thank you so much for watching and for sharing your experience. I would encourage you to look at the specs for the 823 and decide. For me, I have a petite build and tiny hands. I have no issues with the grip on the 823 and find it comfortable. I think it's a wonderful writer and the fine nib is a true Japanese fine (if that makes any sense! lol). The negatives can be that people don't like to change out the ink due to the vac fill. That's actually a positive for me since I tend to keep it filled with the same ink for consistency.
@@KobieK That’s a great observation! I always tend to blame the pen, but the ink can definitely be the culprit! I found that out with Diamine Earl Grey - super dry, making me insane with my pen. Now, I dump out whatever ink I have in there and put in Iroshizuku to see what happens! Thanks so much for watching and sharing your thoughts!!!💕
My terrific amber Pilot Custom 823 (M) is sadly broken for the past year and a half. I haven’t replaced it yet. I bought even nicer pens in the meantime. For example, I like the Pilot Justus 95 more than the 823. I never bought the Custom 74, despite the near-universal praise from proud and happy owners of the pen, all over YT. I just chose and loved other Pilot pens instead (Falcon, E95s, PC 92 etc..). I also much prefer Platinum’s 3776 to the C74. Both the pens’s aesthetics and the way the 3776 nib writes. I’m not a big fan of Pilot’s steel nibs (though I’ll never part with my Prera). But Pilot’s gold nibs are quite splendid and satisfaction guaranteed. The Falcon, particularly, is quite close to my heart. I’m not crazy about the Con-70 converter. It’s fun to use with that button-filling pump system. And it’s got nice ink capacity. But there’s always bubbles when filling and it’s awfully annoying. These days, I syringe-fill the Con-70; no bubbles and a maxed out fill. I’m sort of binge-watching your videos right now. Really fun. And can’t help commenting either. 🙂
It’s so kind of you to not only watch but to also comment. I’m 💯 certain that I still need to learn and use and practice with these lovely works of art. Each pen ends up being special in its own way. I think the only one I’ve been disappointed with is my Kaweco- both the little sport (more novelty than long term workhorse) and the cool looking student that started flaking at the grip, causing me to be 😭 . Pilot is hands down winner in my book. However, my husband agrees with you. He doesn’t use his Custom 74 and has given it to me, stating that he should’ve saved that money. It’s not that it’s a bad writer, but it’s just not what he reaches for. His 823 is his everyday writer & he writes pages upon pages with it! I’ve never even looked into the Justus. I’ve been looking at the Lucian after watching a YT review! Do you know anything about those? I also don’t have any Platinum pens. Again, my list is long on other pens! Thanks also for the suggestion on the CON 70. I don’t mind bubbles because I get bored with inks and don’t mind the zen process of cleaning, filling, etc. 😊 Thank you again for being so kind and helpful
..I just always preferred more the Custom Heritage 92, which has the identical nib to the 74, but is flat topped and piston-filling. I think the pens are very similarly priced. So, I bought the 92 instead. And we’ve already talked about the PCH 912 FA. Just go for that one, whenever you’re ready. The Lucina is truly lovely. Also the best steel nib by Pilot. I know that occasionally a gold nib is also available for the pen. I’d have liked a 14k nib even more. My pen is the solid yellow with black section and finials. A broad steel nib that writes just great. I’m pretty certain the Lucina is still very much being made and sold. Not in the U.S., though. I bought mine from Japan a few years ago. For $60. That makes the Lucina an especially appealing alternative to the very similarly priced (at least in the U.S) Prera. The Lucina is, arguably, also an upgrade of sorts to the Prera, both in the feel in hand, build quality and, of course, the nib. I hope you find and buy one for yourself. Worth having in the collection, esp. for a big Pilot fan like yourself. A Pilot that I sorely rue missing out on is the (long discontinued) Stargazer (Stella 90s in Japan). Maybe it’s to be found on eBay (a place I’ve always avoided, after two sour experiences). The Stargazer is even nicer than the Lucina.
@@KitchenCounterCrafts ..Oh, a freak tragedy, really. After using the 823 with countless empty/clean/refill cycles, I decided one day to disassemble the pen for a thorough cleaning (as many 823 owners seem to do). I realize that I must have somehow slightly over-tightened the piston rod while putting the pen back together. To my horror, I later saw a very visible one cm-long crack in the barrel where the rear turning knob meets the barrel. As a result, the Vac-filler failed and doesn’t work anymore making my pen basically unusable. I didn’t bother to deal with Pilot by sending my pen to them seeking a replacement barrel at extra cost, of course. No warranty applied anyway because my pen was 3 years old at the time. It saddens me no end. I bought 2-3 other premium Pilot pens instead of buying another 823. So, I advise all owners of the 823 to be very careful and just avoid disassembling the pen in any way. Better to stick to just one ink (or at least the same color family) and flush/clean normally by filling with and expelling water. I’m hardly alone in suffering this fate with this pen. Many others have reported the same thing about their pens. And it’s an expensive pen, too.
@@sajjadhusain4146 That's sad that you had 2 bad deals on eBay... but dont' give up! I have bought several things (inks mostly) on there - you can check out the seller's bio and see that there are Japanese stationery sellers. Those are the ones I look for. WOW... you went to Japan and got a Lucina! How amazing is that??? I appreciate the comparison to the Prera. That makes sense to me about the Lucina! Maybe I will get another Elite in black, then. I looked up the 90s. They have some on eBay. Just sayin'. 😊 It's fun to look and think about the other types of pens to add to the collection. At least these are smallish things and don't take up too much room in the house (I guess that also depends upon how many inks you might have)!
@@KitchenCounterCrafts Custom 74. And I love Custom 74, Vanishing Point, Pilot Decimo, Pilot Metropolitan & Pilot Tank (EDC), all with FINE Nibs. But presently i own only Pilot Tank & Metropolitan. Wish to buy Pilot FPs in Japan or USA, as they are cheaper than India.
@@anil4nature oh Yaay!!! Another Pilot Fan!!! Glad to meet you!😊 I’ve never heard of the Pilot Tank! Now I’m going to have to check it out! The Japanese market offers so much variety! I hope I will get a chance to visit there someday. Have you been there or are you planning to order online?
