Three Chinese Extra-Fine Fountain Pens

My exploration of inexpensive Chinese fountain pens is moving along nicely and has proven that there are good choices if you can live with the time it may take to receive your new companion. I found a good selection on eBay and quite a few at Etsy. Amazon has U.S. inventory of some models though others are only available through Chinese retailers. My pens have come from all three sources with a few taking over a month to arrive. Patience is a virtue that I lack so Amazon worked best for me.

To keep it simple, the Delike New Moon 2, marketed under several names including Majohn and Moonman, has the smoothest and widest nib. The Jinhao 82 has earned tons of admirers not only for its nib but for its bargain price and variety of colors. It is smaller, slightly more fine and less substantial than the New Moon. The Wing Sung 659 wrote the finest line of the three and is the same length as the New Moon but a tad more narrow in diameter. Its flow was somewhat inconsistent with Diamine Sepia but it is a shading ink so that may have contributed to that issue.

All of the pens wrote best with a light touch. Extra-fine nibs are sharp and will dig into paper at the slightest invitation. If that isn’t your cuppa, go for a fine nib. I have two due to arrive this week and will write about them soon. JanineScribbles on Instagram has some beautiful writing samples including comparisons of the New Moon and the Jinhao fine and extra-fine nibs.

This won’t be my final remarks on these three pens but I will say that the quality at the price point exceeded my expectations. The New Moon 2 remains my favorite but the Jinhao 82 is a very close second. The Wing Sung 659 lacks the visual style of the other two, and the nib due to its extremely fine tip, required more care in its use. For line drawing, it will do nicely, but would not be my choice for everyday writing. I don’t want to think about how to use the pen in my hand. I just want to write and the other two pens are better at that. Two Jinhao including converters for $15 at Amazon? Dang, I hate it when I enable myself.

It would only be fair to state that these pens can have issues including less than perfect nibs. My New Moon 2 EF came with a damaged nib that the seller replaced with a nib that is perfect. The three bent nibs that I have in that model are excellent as is the build quality for all of them.

A green New Moon bent nib/fude has been in my regular rotation for nearly three years so I am sold on that one. The Jinhao has only been here for a month or so and will require more use to decide whether or not it is a pen I might enjoy daily. A Jinhao medium nib and a New Moon fine nib should arrive this week to round out my nib tests or at least that’s what I told myself when I purchased them. Don’t remind me that there is yet another Jinhao that looks mighty appealing. Collectors gotta collect as if you didn’t know that already.

Jinhao 82 and Delike New Moon 2 Nibs

Jinhao 82 EF on the left and Delike New Moon 2 EF on the right. Working on a comparison post but will make a few comments now. The New Moon is a slightly larger pen and has a smoother nib. The Jinhao 82 EF is sharp and needs a very light touch. The Jinhao 82 F writes more like the New Moon EF but produces a slightly wider line. A Wing Sung 659 double nib EF/F is en route for a third participant in the comparison. Do you have a favorite among the three?

I asked Tessa to write with the Jinhao EF and F as well as the New Moon 2 EF and the bent nib. She has a heavier hand than mine and preferred the Jinhao F and the New Moon bent nib. I would not disagree though I will write with them for a few more weeks before stating a definitive preference.

Thank you @janinescribbles on Instagram for inspiring this comparison. I cannot match your gorgeous writing but I can write about the pens we both use.

If you want to see more photos or price these pens, here are some Amazon links to what they offer. Note that Inkophile is an associate and might earn a tiny commission if you purchase through these links.

Jinhao 82: Mixed Color F, 38 color options pack of two, one EF and one F

New Moon 2: Red Marble EF, Green Marble F

Ink Samples Saved Me A Bundle

Ink samples from Federalist Pens saved me a bundle. Eight of them and not one suited my regular rotation so bottles of these inks would have gone to waste.

 

Edelstein Apatite and Laban Zeus are saturated colors that will please many people. Colorverse Butterfly and NGC 6302 along with Laban Hermes are pale and performed best on absorbent paper like the Strathmore Windpower Sketch used for the swatches. Laban Apollo, Aphrodite, and Poseidon are mid-range colors in terms of saturation. I might give Aphrodite a whirl someday, most likely in a pen with a narrow nib like the burgundy New Moon 2. That one just got a fill so Aphrodite will have to wait her turn.

A friend tested the Laban Hermes and found a normally smooth, fude nib to be scratchy. That was telling. However, The Well-Appointed Desk had a different experience with Colorverse Butterfly and NGC 6302. Unlike Jessica, I saw no sparkle or glisten from the Butterfly ink sample. It is possible the bottle from which the sample was taken could have benefitted from a good shake to distribute any reflective material. I am not a sparkle enthusiast so that is no loss for me.

Sometimes I just want to use familiar inks. This week it’s Diamine Eau de Nil, Raw Sienna and Merlot. But it’s good to try something new and samples are the best and most economical solution for me.

What works for you? Do you dip a toe in and buy samples or jump in with both feet and purchase bottles?

 

 

Wancai Mini Eyedropper With Diamine Aurora Borealis

Eli on Instagram used a combination of pen and ink that looked very appealing to me so I decided to try the same duo, a Moonman (Majohn) Wancai Mini Eyedropper with Diamine Aurora Borealis It would be my first eyedropper filler and was destined for use in my journal. For $20, it was worth a gamble. Note that the color and swirls called Daydream give the pen a happy vibe that encourages use so that is another plus in its favor.

The body is a little odd in that even posted it is short but the body circumference is greater than the pens I usually use. Finding a balanced, comfortable position for it has been tricky especially since the nib is not the smoothest. It isn’t bad but it isn’t as smooth as the Delike New Moon 2 EF used for comparison. Surprisingly, the Wancai Mini F writes finer than the Delike EF. The latter has slightly more flow so that might account for the line difference. Maybe.

In terms of appearance, the New Moon is colorful if traditional. The Wancai Mini is an eye-catching cutie. From the swirls to the size, it looks like a pen that was meant for fun.

Note that the Mini has no clip so it does tend to wander around the desk but a pen rest will keep it anchored.

 

Moonman Wancai Mini Transparent Pocket-Size Eyedropper Fountain Pen with Fine Steel Nib 0.5mm

Dimensions: Length closed is 87mm and posted is 122mm. The diameter is 14mm. Net weight is 11.9g.

Cap screws on. Eye dropper filler or ink cartridges.

Material : Acrylic Resin.

 

Delike New Moon 2 with Extra-Fine 0.38mm (Rose Red)

Dimensions: Length closed is 132mm and posted is 155 mm. The diameter is 12mm. Net weight is 23g.

Cap screws on. Cartridge or converter filled.

Material: Acrylic Resin.

 

What I learned from experimenting with the Wancai is that eyedropper fillers are easy to use and hold a ton of ink which is perfect for journal writing in my favorite Traveler’s Notebook.

A pen with a cap that needs to be screwed on to give it adequate length for writing is frustrating and awkward. My pattern is to write a few sentences, pause, then write a few more. Unscrewing the cap from the back then screwing it on the front then screwing it on the back again just to write another sentence or two was too disruptive. A standard twist cap is interruptive enough. However, an eyedropper would be useful. Attractive as it is, the Mini is headed for the pen drawer though on occasion it might get a peak at daylight just for fun.

Diamine Aurora Borealis is good just like all Diamine inks are though it will have to find another mate. Perhaps one of my Platinum #3776 pens with a clear barrel would be happy to show off an aqua mate. Except when testing ink, I do not fill multiple pens with the same color so the Plat will have to wait until the Wancai Mini is empty. That is taking forever thanks to the bottomless eyedropper. I think the pen fairy must be refilling it when I am not looking. Sigh.

 

Highlighters and Color Gel Pens from Faber-Castell

Faber-Castell sent two packages of Textliner 38 highlighters and a package of RX Gel pens along with the Fast Gel Z reviewed last month. Never has my desk had so much color on it!

The highlighters are divided into fluorescent and pastel sets. They perform as expected and did not cause the Fast Gel Z to smear. They have firm nibs that should last well with typical use. The pastel set is more to my liking, but that is a personal choice. A family member has uses for the fluorescent set and called dibs on that one.

The fluorescent colors were most uncooperative about being photographed so keep that in mind if you try to assess the colors from the image. The pastels are more accurate except Vanilla which is more pale than in the image. It is unobtrusive and handy for certain uses.

The RX Gel pens have a 0.7mm nib width that lays down a strong line. The colors are bright and the selection a bit out of the ordinary including blue, green, purple, pink and gold. No sparkle or iridescence to any of them, but on white Exacompta paper, they really stand out. Considering the amount of color, the ink dries quickly.

Thank you Faber-Castell for sending so many products to review. Family and friends are now outfitted with gel pens and highlighters with positive responses from all.

Available from Amazon: Pastel Highlighters, Fluorescent Highlighters, RX Gel Pens.

Faber-Castell Fast Gel Z Is My New Fave

Faber-Castell, a venerable name in the art world, sent a number of pens to review, but the standout is the Fast Gel Z.

This pen easily beats the Uni-ball Signo that I have used for years. The ink flows better, is more black than the Signo, and dries faster. The nib is slightly smoother and has less feedback. The Fast Gel Z is 5mm longer but otherwise the dimensions are virtually identical. The Z’s clicker is larger and more easily depressed, both advantages for me. The balance on the Z is dead center but slightly closer to the nib on the Signo.

I tried to get the ink to smear but was unsuccessful. Such a fast drying ink isn’t a requirement for me but it does have its advantages. I asked a leftie to try it out and she liked it. Then I passed out a few more to good results.

Under running water on the back of a cheap envelope, the Fast Gel Z lost a tiny amount of ink which the Signo 307 did not. However, the latter decided to migrate through to the back of the paper so it produced an unacceptable result.

Often I just want to write a few words and only have one hand free to do it. Uncapping a fountain pen doesn’t fit that work flow so a mechanical pencil has filled the gap. However, the Fast Gel Z is the better choice when ink is preferable to lead.

Am I a convert? Yep. If you like gel pens, get your hands on a Faber-Castell Fast Gel Z. You won’t be disappointed. It comes in 0.5 and 0.7 line widths with black, red or blue ink. I like the 0.5 black for general writing especially in my 5mm lined notebook. The pens aren’t available everywhere yet, but Amazon does carry them so I’ve included links to the current offerings.

Faber-Castell Fast Gel Z 0.5 Black

Faber-Castell Fast Gel Z 0.5 Blue

Faber-Castell Fast Gel Z 0.5 Red

Faber-Castell Fast Gel Z 0.7 Black

Faber-Castell Fast Gel Z 0.7 Blue

Faber-Castell Fast Gel Z 0.7 Red

Review: Anderillium Inks

Federalist Pens and Paper sent samples of all sixteen inks offered by Anderillium. That’s a lot of ink!

Swatches on Tomoe River paper made with a cotton swab and the name written with a dip style fountain pen reveal clear, bright colors and a well-rounded selection. I did not see any sheen though other reviewers have. The paper and pen combination can make such a difference.

All of the inks were well-behaved with average to slightly dry flow though I do not have a pen that would properly test their abilities to tame a truly excessive flow. In the past, some inks have been inclined to release a tad too much ink from the pen used for the writing samples. Not the case with any of the Anderillium inks. I could also write at least a half page with one dip making the inks especially useful.

For my own uses, Pompadour Cotinga Burgundy, Colossal Squid Dark and Cuttlefish Brown are likely prospects. The Cotinga and my burgundy Delike New Moon F ought to get along very well while the Colossal Squid should be right for the Lamy Studio F. Cuttlefish Brown could be destined for the Platinum #3776 Music Nib but the Platinum Century Nice M might also make a good mate. So many choices. So many pens clamoring for attention. What’s an inkophile to do?

Caveat: In all my years of writing reviews, I have never had so much trouble getting ink swatch photos to accurately reflect colors. We tried two cameras with a lightbox as well as sunlight in addition to scanning them, something I haven’t done in ages. I will post some of the results, but for the true colors check the manufacturer’s website. Or order ink samples from Federalist Pens. That’s the best way to know what you are getting before making an investment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review: Anderillium Inks Cephalopod Series by KraftyChloé.