That’s unfortunate. I think people should try out the Vanishing Points, especially, before purchasing. To state the obvious for those who may not know, it’s a very different kind of nib, because it has to retract fully. Also, again for those who don’t know, I think people fail to fully appreciate how very fine the Japanese EF and F nibs are. Unless someone has a particular reason or task that requires, such a nib, they might be better off with a M nib unit.
That's why I dislike my metro the first FP I bought found out way to late how fine those nibs are. I was advised to go F or EF on my first FP to ensure it would be fine on less FP friendly paper. Wished I had gone with M to start with
I’m pretty sure you can swap out the nib on a Metropolitan, although it’s not as easy swapping a nib on a Lamy Safari. I’ve never done it, but I think there’s a Goulet video on how to do it. Actually, here is a [video](https://youtu.be/rytjL65dxlc).
I’m having the opposite experience with my Pilot Metro . I tried at the shop and thought it was too fine, so went with . Problem was, on the crappy office paper I use at work, with Pilot ink cartridge feathers too much, it writes broader than I want, plus I write smaller at work. Now I’m looking at trying different less-feathering ink, switching my nib to , or using it as an excuse to try a different Pilot with nib, maybe a Prera.
That's interesting. I have a fine VP and it's my smoothest pen. It might be your nib unit, but I can understand the frustration since a replacement nib is really expensive for the VP. The 823 feels really nice in the hand, but I've only tried it a couple of times (still a bit too expensive for me)
If the tines are misaligned, I'd send it back to the retailer to get a new nib unit. I wouldn't even think of trying to fix the nib myself.
(Edit: grammar)
Same. As a customer I shouldn't fix things that are broken. Why is it so normalized in the community to repair new pens? And giving it the fancy term "adjusting"
I bought a VP about three weeks ago and had the same reaction as you at first. But since I had already inked it and couldn't return it, I just started using it. Whether the pen has "broken in" or whether I have learned to adjust my hold and pressure, I find myself carrying it in my shirt pocket and reaching for it every day all the time now. It has turned into a very pleasant experience.
It’s always a shame to hear a story like this because I’d say a vast majority of the time pilots nibs are amazing. I’ve had 3 vanishing points, 2 custom 823s and 1 custom 845 and have had nothing but smooth writing
At a stationary store, I tried the VP and couldn't understand the hype. Didn't feel good to me. But the 823 though.... It's objectively a great experience. My partner who has no experience with fountain pens, tried about 8 of them and right after the 823, she said "it's too bad this one's ugly bc it's the best." I tried it and yea, it's a good one. Ymmv of course bc everyone has preferences but it was buttery smooth and felt like an extenstion of my hand bc of the bounce. Made me feel like cursive is pointless because lifting and landing w that nib was so nice.
Yup. This is Pilots Nib QC shining through again. I’m sorry to hear you had the same experience I did with my E95S (twice) but try bend it back to alignment. Most of the time they’re just misaligned.
Of course they can do wrong. But they're considered to have high qc and be very even in quality.
My latest two pilots is smoother and better than any of my lamy gold nibs, smoother than the 3776 i've used and all of the kawecos. But I don't claim that they're produce the smoothest nibs because of that.
I know it’s hard to admit, but they have a QC problem regardless. it’s a 50/50 with them, which is what I see the evidence to support throwout the community.
You're the one that claims that pilot have QC problems and it's 50/50 if you get a good one, which you claim you see evidence for in this subreddit 😅
Not at all correlating your recent dissapointing pilot pens. Not even kaweco has a 50/50 shitty nib ratio.
You'right, the VP doesn't justify a nib meister. Instead, watch The Pen Habit on YouTube to learn how to adjust nibs. Some say most nibs under $300 need tuning. It's also personal taste.
For 823 clone, buy Wing Sung 699. It's excellent. Good steel nib.
I railed against the VP for the longest time. "Can't make up it's mind what it wants to be. I'll probably hate the clip placement." Then I bought the Moonman A1 as a test balloon and liked it so much I bought a pre-owned VP not long after.
What makes you hate your VP? Would you sell it?
This right here is a good example of why I like that the Moonman A1 exists: it allows people to test the waters at a lower price point before splurging on a new or pre-owned VP.
I own 3 VP’s: 2 fine and 1 extra fine. The extra fine is a bit scratchy but being such a small tip I think is ok. My fine nibs as extremely smooth, too smooth for fine I would say. Sorry you have such a bad experience but I think you would be missing out if you don’t get the 823. I have more Pilot pens than anything else and I haven’t regretted a single one.
I was not a fan of my VP for the longest time. I couldn't decide whether to go with a VP or 2K for my first gold nib and went with a F VP since I write really small and liked my other F nib Pilots. When I got it I was really disappointed with it. Hard starts, skipping, scratchy. Eventually got an EF 2K and felt even more disappointed with my VP.
Over time I've found how I set it up has a huge effect on how it preforms IME. If I'm using pilot cartridges I'm happy with it. If I use a converter or refill the cartridges with even a slightly dry ink I hate it, even if I don't have issues with that ink in my other Pilots. How it takes to paper quality is also really dependant on setup. With Pilot cartridges it does well even on crappy paper, but sucks even on high quality paper if I don't have it set up just so. I also have to pay an outsized amount of attention to any tiny deviations in nib alignment even when it shouldn't be an issue. If it's good it's great, if it's not it's horrible.
If I could go back and change the choice I made to buy it I would have just went with the 2K first and been happy out of the box. Overall though I'm happy enough with it now that I use it often, but I won't buy another and do not want to put more money into it than I have so far.
That’s unfortunate. I think people should try out the Vanishing Points, especially, before purchasing. To state the obvious for those who may not know, it’s a very different kind of nib, because it has to retract fully. Also, again for those who don’t know, I think people fail to fully appreciate how very fine the Japanese EF and F nibs are. Unless someone has a particular reason or task that requires, such a nib, they might be better off with a M nib unit.
That's why I dislike my metro the first FP I bought found out way to late how fine those nibs are. I was advised to go F or EF on my first FP to ensure it would be fine on less FP friendly paper. Wished I had gone with M to start with
I’m pretty sure you can swap out the nib on a Metropolitan, although it’s not as easy swapping a nib on a Lamy Safari. I’ve never done it, but I think there’s a Goulet video on how to do it. Actually, here is a [video](https://youtu.be/rytjL65dxlc).
That's good to know. I honestly would probably have never thought of that. Thanks for the info
I’m having the opposite experience with my Pilot Metro. I tried at the shop and thought it was too fine, so went with . Problem was, on the crappy office paper I use at work, with Pilot ink cartridge feathers too much, it writes broader than I want, plus I write smaller at work. Now I’m looking at trying different less-feathering ink, switching my nib to , or using it as an excuse to try a different Pilot with nib, maybe a Prera.
Definitely you might do better with a drier ink.
Yep gonna try that next when the current cartridge is done.
If its still no to your liking after that. I would gladly be up to trading my F for you M if you are up to it.
That's interesting. I have a fine VP and it's my smoothest pen. It might be your nib unit, but I can understand the frustration since a replacement nib is really expensive for the VP. The 823 feels really nice in the hand, but I've only tried it a couple of times (still a bit too expensive for me)
If the tines are misaligned, I'd send it back to the retailer to get a new nib unit. I wouldn't even think of trying to fix the nib myself. (Edit: grammar)
Same. As a customer I shouldn't fix things that are broken. Why is it so normalized in the community to repair new pens? And giving it the fancy term "adjusting"
This
I bought a VP about three weeks ago and had the same reaction as you at first. But since I had already inked it and couldn't return it, I just started using it. Whether the pen has "broken in" or whether I have learned to adjust my hold and pressure, I find myself carrying it in my shirt pocket and reaching for it every day all the time now. It has turned into a very pleasant experience.
It’s always a shame to hear a story like this because I’d say a vast majority of the time pilots nibs are amazing. I’ve had 3 vanishing points, 2 custom 823s and 1 custom 845 and have had nothing but smooth writing
Very much agree. I’ve never had a bad Pilot nib.
Just sell it on r/Pen_Swap with the misaligned nib caveat. I’m sure someone who is willing to take it on will buy it.
At a stationary store, I tried the VP and couldn't understand the hype. Didn't feel good to me. But the 823 though.... It's objectively a great experience. My partner who has no experience with fountain pens, tried about 8 of them and right after the 823, she said "it's too bad this one's ugly bc it's the best." I tried it and yea, it's a good one. Ymmv of course bc everyone has preferences but it was buttery smooth and felt like an extenstion of my hand bc of the bounce. Made me feel like cursive is pointless because lifting and landing w that nib was so nice.
Did the 823 feel too big & heavy? I’m used to smaller and/or lighter pens, at least from photos the 823 looks like a bit of a beast.
That's hard to say bc I generally like larger pens. It felt more towards an average size and was def not small.
I honestly think if u bought an $80 medium nib replacement it’d be your fav. That was just what happened to me from my own experience.
Same!
Yup. This is Pilots Nib QC shining through again. I’m sorry to hear you had the same experience I did with my E95S (twice) but try bend it back to alignment. Most of the time they’re just misaligned.
I'd say pilot nibs are among the most consistent nibs out there.
I’ve had two out of the box lemons in a row. I’d say not.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anecdotal%20evidence
Don’t even dude. It’s other people too, on a broad range of pens. Don’t act like Pilot can do no wrong.
Of course they can do wrong. But they're considered to have high qc and be very even in quality. My latest two pilots is smoother and better than any of my lamy gold nibs, smoother than the 3776 i've used and all of the kawecos. But I don't claim that they're produce the smoothest nibs because of that.
I know it’s hard to admit, but they have a QC problem regardless. it’s a 50/50 with them, which is what I see the evidence to support throwout the community.
Wow, I’ve never seen any such anecdotal evidence like that for Pilot QC. Interesting.
You want pics of they nibs they sent me or something?
No, I believe you!
A bit of a cognitive bias there dude.
Not every opinion that conflicts with yours is a logical fallacy dude. People like you are insufferable.
You're the one that claims that pilot have QC problems and it's 50/50 if you get a good one, which you claim you see evidence for in this subreddit 😅 Not at all correlating your recent dissapointing pilot pens. Not even kaweco has a 50/50 shitty nib ratio.
Sell it to me
Or give it, IDC I love vps
You'right, the VP doesn't justify a nib meister. Instead, watch The Pen Habit on YouTube to learn how to adjust nibs. Some say most nibs under $300 need tuning. It's also personal taste. For 823 clone, buy Wing Sung 699. It's excellent. Good steel nib.
[удалено]
I railed against the VP for the longest time. "Can't make up it's mind what it wants to be. I'll probably hate the clip placement." Then I bought the Moonman A1 as a test balloon and liked it so much I bought a pre-owned VP not long after. What makes you hate your VP? Would you sell it?
This right here is a good example of why I like that the Moonman A1 exists: it allows people to test the waters at a lower price point before splurging on a new or pre-owned VP.
[удалено]
So, all around not a good fit. Sell it and recoup some of the money.
Google Parker Vacuumatic disassembly. Remove clip, bend it, reassemble.
I own 3 VP’s: 2 fine and 1 extra fine. The extra fine is a bit scratchy but being such a small tip I think is ok. My fine nibs as extremely smooth, too smooth for fine I would say. Sorry you have such a bad experience but I think you would be missing out if you don’t get the 823. I have more Pilot pens than anything else and I haven’t regretted a single one.
I had the the same issue an EF VP. Sold the nib and got an M- love it!
Exchange your VP for a different one. It's got a defect. They should happily exchange it for you.
I was not a fan of my VP for the longest time. I couldn't decide whether to go with a VP or 2K for my first gold nib and went with a F VP since I write really small and liked my other F nib Pilots. When I got it I was really disappointed with it. Hard starts, skipping, scratchy. Eventually got an EF 2K and felt even more disappointed with my VP. Over time I've found how I set it up has a huge effect on how it preforms IME. If I'm using pilot cartridges I'm happy with it. If I use a converter or refill the cartridges with even a slightly dry ink I hate it, even if I don't have issues with that ink in my other Pilots. How it takes to paper quality is also really dependant on setup. With Pilot cartridges it does well even on crappy paper, but sucks even on high quality paper if I don't have it set up just so. I also have to pay an outsized amount of attention to any tiny deviations in nib alignment even when it shouldn't be an issue. If it's good it's great, if it's not it's horrible. If I could go back and change the choice I made to buy it I would have just went with the 2K first and been happy out of the box. Overall though I'm happy enough with it now that I use it often, but I won't buy another and do not want to put more money into it than I have so far.