Frindling

eBay adventures

2009-08-02T22:50:00.003-04:00

So, the itch to buy even more pens from eBay has bit me again. I've bought several this past week from Chinese sellers:

Hero green demonstrator pen

Hero 5020

Pilot 2A (I chose pink)

I'll be sure to review these pens as soon as I can ink them. My only bottled ink is Waterman purple though... I don't have any Noodler's or J. Herbin or Private Reserve yet, though I (still) do have a JetPens order forthcoming. I may add a couple bottles of ink to it.

Yafa Ink Cartridge Fountain Pen

2009-06-11T13:00:00.005-04:00

When I got this pen, I was expecting quite a bit. It's about $13 (which includes 7 cartridges), and if the $8 Parker Vector fountain pen can manage an enjoyable writing experience with good fit and finish, then a $13 fountain pen (even from some unknown quantity as Yafa) can certainly do that. Right?
The packaging also claimed, "Invitations and letters look more formal...", "Writes like an expensive fountain pen!", "6 Luxury Color Cartridges!", "Ergonomic Rubber Grip!", and "Medium nib". Normally when I see so many exclamation marks and so much marketing-ese (and even an ellipsis...) on packaging, I start to get a little suspicious, you know? And I'd never heard of the Yafa brand before. So I was vacillating, in the Office Depot aisle: Should I try this pen out, or should I wait it out for a Pelikano? I decided, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained," and bought it.
I don't regret this purchase. When I took the pen out of its package, I could feel that it was pretty substantial. Heavier, in fact, than my Parker 45 or Vector. Thicker as well - considering my 45 as medium, this is definitely a large-size pen.
Writing with it is a pleasant though utilitarian experience. It's definitely a practical daily writer nib, as befits a starter fountain pen. Not too wet, and it lays down a pretty fine line - more a fine than a medium, I'd say. Certainly finer than my 45 or Vector which are both medium nibs. Despite this minor quibble with the nib size, I think beginner fountain pen writers will enjoy it. I certainly do.
Overall, I think this pen is pretty nice, especially at the price point. It would definitely be a great gateway drug. (:

Pros:

Price

Writes well

Substantial

Cons:

Nib labelling (F v. M)

Name recognition

Packaging

Handwriting size: Medium. Large handwriting would look anaemic with this fine nib.

Price: $12.99

Available at: Office Depot

Fujitsu Stylistic LT C500

2009-06-11T12:57:00.000-04:00

I got two of these off ebay last week. Don't have a purpose for the working one yet, but I'm thinking to fresh install either Win2k or debian.

The photos

How not to store a fountain pen...

2009-05-29T22:38:00.003-04:00

If you're going to put a red cartridge into a fountain pen that's been stored for the past few months with a half-full black cartridge, it's going to come out crap brown until you actually clean the pen. After two rinses now (I don't have an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner), it's a rather pleasing rust colour. But it's still not the bright red I want it to be.

Formulating a JetPens order...

2009-05-21T20:19:00.002-04:00

I've been lusting over various JetPens products for some time now, but I haven't had the money to buy anything. Now with the divestment of several old tchotchkes that comes with our annual spring cleaning, I may have sufficient cashular resources. So this is what I've been thinking about:

Dong-A Comssa 12-pack

Pentel Tradio Stylo

Pelikan Pelikano Junior left-handed

Nomadic Easy Classification pencil case, yellow

Uni-ball colour pencil lead variety pack 0,7mm

Pilot Frixion Colour-Pencil-Like Tea Brown

That's all I can really think of right now. I'd also like recommendations for inexpensive fountain pens that take short international cartridges, and black paper filler paper or notebooks.

Thanks in advance!

Green Pilot VBall review

2009-05-21T19:39:00.000-04:00

I really like this pen. Too bad it is not always appropriate to write in green.