Chinese Pens: The Final Chapter

Three years ago and after considerable research, I bought my first Chinese fountain pen, a Delike (Majohn/Moonman) New Moon 2 bent nib from Amazon. It was such a pleasure to use that for a time it was the only pen on my desk and for over two years, it was the only pen I used in my daily journal.

The fine and extra-fine that I purchased were not in the same league and only the bent nib arrived in perfect condition. The extra-fine worked well after the nib was replaced and is smooth for such a narrow nib.

I have since purchased several Jinhao 82s and one Jinhao 100 Classic. Not a dud in the bunch though posting changes the balance and makes them slightly smoother especially with light contact.

I have filled thirty pages of notebook paper plus over 400 pages in my journals so these pens have had plenty of use.

The Jinhao 82 would benefit from a metal ball or spring in the converter to keep the ink flowing, but otherwise mine have performed well.

The fude takes practice since it has a very large bent nib in comparison to the New Moon. The latter should work well for anyone interested in just a little line variation. It is reputedly hand tuned which might explain the smooth tip.

By accident I discovered that the finials on the Jinhao 82 can be removed with just a twist. Yep, they can be detached allowing you to mix and match. As if making inks and pens suit each other, now we have finials, too?

Let me know if you buy either a New Moon 2, a Jinhao 82 or 100. Was your experience as good as mine or did I get incredibly lucky?

• Delike New Moon 2 extra-fine Rose Red
• Delike New Moon 2 fine Green Marble
• Delike New Moon 2 bent nib (eBay link since not currently available at Amazon.)
• Jinhao 82 (0.38) extra-fine
• Jinhao 82 (0.5) fine
• Jinhao 82 bent nib/fude
• Jinhao sets

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.

Customize Your Pen By Swapping Parts

Recently on Instagram there have been photos of two-colored pastel pens that caught my eye. Of course I could blink and lose interest so I decided to make a minimal investment and give the trend a try.

This photo from @suzi_scribbles on Instagram was the inspiration for assembling my own version of the Platinum 3776 Kinokuniya “Chamomile Tea”. It is a limited edition and beautiful but no longer available although I did find one on eBay for $770. Attractive but pricey. Time for a little ingenuity.

Jinhao 82 components including both end caps can be swapped making them perfect for an experiment. At Amazon I purchased for under $20, three pens, one yellow and a set of two mint greens, to switch around and reassemble. An unused ivory pen joined the experiment from which four pastel pens emerged. More than I need but they are cute.

My black pens are jealous. The pastels show up very well on my black desk pad even if they do not look professional. However, they are cheerful and offer a charming way to start the day or a change of pace for the weekend.

If swapping pen components around appeals to you, there are Jinhao 82 two pen sets and single pens on Amazon. Note that the Jinhao writes more smoothly when posted. It is a small pen so the balance is improved with the added weight of the cap though it is perfectly serviceable without posting. Amazon also offers single pastel pens in several combinations and nib sizes. This one is especially pretty.

If you make your own colorful combinations, please let me know in the comments. Not that I ought to buy more pens but…

A Cheeky Pilot Kaküno

It was a rainy weekend lacking any charm until a long ignored Pilot Kaküno crept onto my desk where it joined a collage in a Traveler’s Notebook. Someday I will find an ink to match the cap and give it the attention it is due. Honestly, who can resist a nib like this?

Fountain Pen Day 2022

Happy Fountain Pen Day! On my desk to mark the occasion are Delike New Moon 2 pens with Diamine Ink. Two have fude (bent) nibs while the third has a fine nib. The variety of line widths will cover all of my writing needs. The inks aren’t showy but suited to general writing tasks, and of course Diamine is always reliable. Funny how I picked the colors and then realized they were all from Diamine. We are very old friends to be sure.

What’s on your desk today?

Esterbrook Fountain Pens and Journaling

The esterbrook_official account on Instagram has posted some videos of fountain pens used in journals that have been embellished with ephemera. Also known as scrapbooking, this method of decorating a journal employs colors and shapes to make appealing designs using stickers, stamps and seals.

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A post shared by Esterbrook Pen Company (@esterbrook_official)

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A post shared by SCIENCE | ART | JOURNAL | WAX SEAL (@science.notes)

Fountain pen writing is not required when creating a layout. Here are two of mine that didn’t need words.

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A post shared by Margana (@theinkophile)

Although I used a Traveler’s Notebook, any journal will do including those that did not take well to fountain pen ink. You don’t have notebooks with less than stellar paper do you? Ha!

For years my planner has been divided into sections defined by washi tape and often stickers. Full-page layouts are a natural extension of that and are very satisfying to make. If there is interest, I will write a post about a few techniques, tools and products.

Very highly recommended activity if you need/want/crave another hobby.

Are You A Pen Collector?

What prompts you to purchase yet another pen? That’s a legitimate question that I examined recently as my online wanderings took me into learning about a line of pens about which I knew nothing. For a few hours, it seemed that a new pen was in my immediate future. Eventually, it struck me as it has many times before, that I did not need another pen. There are pens in my collection that I love but purchases that have thrilled me have been rare. Hey, I can only write with one at a time so why have a hundred of them and want even more?

I grew up in the home of collectors who loved the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of bagging anything from fine paintings to tchotchkes. With the exception of a dozen art books, I did not own multiples of anything until I discovered the ease with which a collection could be amassed buying stuff on eBay. From then on, I was doomed.

Using a fountain pen daily prompted me to upgrade from an uninspired modern pen to a vintage Parker ’51’ aerometric with a medium-fine nib. After that I was hooked. When at work, an Esterbrook in a pen holder on my desk was my weapon of choice. When writing for pleasure, either the ’51’ or an even older Vacumatic helped me fill page after page in journals. But why acquire a hundred more? I’ve sold at least fifty to get down to that hundred and that is crazy. True, many were gifts or the spoils from writing reviews. Thus my investment is nowhere near what it could have been. However, storage space is at a premium here and yet my collection grows.

Are you a collector? What makes fountain pens such an easy target of affection?

On My Desk 5-2022

On my desk today are two fountain pens, two gel pens, one mechanical pencil and various other tools. It isn’t exactly a lean kit, but neither is it excessive. The A5 journal is one of four currently in use. The others include an A6 loose leaf, a Traveler’s 019, and a Traveler’s 013. A large box of washi tape is always nearby.

Which tools have the honor of gracing your desk at the moment?