Head to Head : Pilot Custom 823 (FA) vs Pilot Custom Heritage 912 (FA)
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
- I was always going to own both of these pens. They have similar characteristics - great build quality, performance, and ergonomics. Apart from the design and ink-loading mechanism, where they differ fundamentally is the performance of their respective nibs. I like both of their nibs.
To sum up, the 912's FA nib, although temperamental, is softer and when used for generating line variation, is more enjoyable. The larger #15 nib that can fit in the 823 and 743 is smoother for everyday writing, it produces a nice fine line when un-flexed, and is the goldilocks of nibs.
FA or falcon nibs are not for everyone. Some people find them scratchy and unpleasant. I wouldn't recommend them for people who write with a heavy touch. Make sure when attempting to "flex" that you only do so in the same vertical plane where the nib is facing i.e. make sure both tines spread equally. If you really want to do lots of flex writing, my recommendation is a Zebra-G nib + Tachikawa holder (or any oblique holder).
I hope you enjoy the video, and if so, please like, comment and subscribe. - Навчання та стиль
Not sure I mentioned it, but the notebook used was the Kokuyu Century Edition Record Book.
I have a 912 FA. replaced the feed with an ebonite one from Flexible Nib Factory and goodbye skipping!
Should add that swapping the feeds took me all of 5 minutes and didn't require any tools.
Did you go with the 2 or 3 channel feed?
@@echo021 2-channel, works just great!
2 channel for me. Works well-and I am an extreme flexer!
Me too, 2 channel red one model
Like you I prefer the styling of the 912, it looks more premium to me but that feed is a serious problem. It can only be addressed as far as I know, with an ebonite feed. Something to do with Western handwriting and demands for greater ink flow. This is why Pilot are so reluctant to export FA nibs.
Its so crazy to me that people leave those round stickers on the pens.
But yeah I agree, 912 is highly underatted.
I have the Custom Heritage 912 with the Falcon flex nib and love it as my desk pen.
I use a Pilot 78g with a B calligraphy nib as my daily carry pen.
Custom 823 with B nib is excellent very useful for daily writing has a huge ink capacity and it's very smooth. Daily carry and it's a work horse
Thanks for your comment. I have never tried a Pilot with a Broad nib or anything bigger than Medium. Will do so one day.
I have consider taking the o-ring in the 823 just because I don’t think I’ll need it. Maybe if I travel in a plane, but I’d probably wouldn’t take it on board inked. Is the resin the same? Does it feel as sturdy as the 823?
Hi Valentina are you referring to the resin in the 912? It doesn't feel as "dense" (this is probably what makes you refer to it as sturdy) as the 823 however it is not cheap feeling in any way. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the great review. Would you know where I might buy a #10 FA nib alone? Would love to try the flex, but have been unable to find one.
Its not possible as far as I know. You have to buy the whole pen - 742 or 912.
@@WrexelsWorld Oh, okay. Thanks for the info.
Nice one. I think you said that you swapped the 923 nib into the 912 pen, or did I mishear? Do you think the nib issue could be bcos of that? Also, does the 913 have the same skipping problem when you write and flex a bit? Cheers.
Hi Melody, I swapped a Custom 743 FA nib into the Custom 823.
we love this pen:)
The 823 clip style is the only thing that I don't like about Pilot pens. For that reason I gravitated more towards the Falcon, 92, and 912 models, but I wish they made a cigar shape model with the flat clip style, or even better, a Namiki with a flat clip.
Would you replace either one of the pens if you were to lose them?
Good question. I would probably replace either one as I like them both. The 823 especially is a must have pen in most collections in my opinion.
@@WrexelsWorld, thanks for your video and thoughts.
Where did you get the 823 with the FA nib? I'm unable to find it in anything except F-B
I bought a 743 and put that nib into the 823. Theres also a shop in Tokyo who used to sell the 823 with FA preinstalled.
@@WrexelsWorld Can you identify the shop? I want to get a dark red 743 with a Waverly nib, & they only do the oddball nibs in black, so finding a place that might swap out would be great.
@@kshalpern it's Tokyo Pen Shop Quill
The 912 is looking more and more appealing, I really enjoy my 823 F and M but sometimes I want to change inks more often… I also like the style of the 912 a lot! :) wish they could come in more colours tho!
Slightly more expensive but there are Japanese vendors who do custom urushi on Pilot pens like the 912.
Uf no, if you want colors, buy a crayon, I mean a Sailor.
I’m trying to decide on another Pilot, with a medium nib, and the feel of the 823 is definitely nicer than the lighter weight and flimsier resin of the lower priced Pilot pens. I also like the larger nib on the 823.
I think the Pilot 823 is hard to beat. If you don't like the lighter resin Pilots, AND you don't have one already, I would say try the Vanishing Point/Capless Medium in a shop.
@@WrexelsWorld I have two Decimos. They are my work pens. Love them! I also love that when I drop one, which I do approx every 3 months, I can buy a replacement nib. I just got the Custom 742 with a M nib this week. I really like the 742. The nib is a size 10, so a little smaller than the 823, but still a nice size nib. It’s just a little smaller than the 823, looks to be the same nicer quality resin, but it’s lighter weight because it doesn’t have the inside mechanics of the 823. Very smooth writer.
@@geslinam9703 thats a good choice. Looking forward to getting a 742 myself soon.
@@WrexelsWorld I was trying to decide between a Custom 74 in med or a custom 742 medium. They can both be found for around $170. I don’t really care for the Custom 74 fine I have, I don’t like the small nib and it’s kind of sharp and scratchy. I’m glad I went with the 742. And will probably get one in a fine as well eventually. I love the way my 823 writes, but don’t care for the filling system. Too hard to clean, so I keep the same ink in it, mostly, and that gets boring.
@@geslinam9703 the 74 can be had for much cheaper than the 742 where I am at. For you the 742 is the obvious choice if both pens are the same price.
Very well explained. I think the number of horizontal fins in size 15 must be higher than the size 10 in 912. That's the difference.
Hi Dash it could be one of the factors. The ink flows from the feed in tiny channels perpendicular to the fins. The channels in the larger nib are more numerous or larger. That would be the main reason is my guess.
@@WrexelsWorld thank you. Please keep sharing your thoughts through the videos. They are excellent and educative.
Thanks for this video. Was looking for videos comparing these 2 FA nibs. Informative.
I’m not worried about finer points like the styling of the pen- just the heft of the pen and the writing performance of the nib. The 823 is a piston filler that offers mess free filling,holds a lot of ink and is available with a lovely medium nib. The 912 has the FA nib with enough line variation to make my writing interesting. I’d keep a bottle of ink uncapped for hard starts.
Excellent review! Thank you for sharing. I'm surprised that the smaller nib is softer. Given other factors stay the same, I would have expected the bigger nib to bend more easily.
Your observations are correct, I think the bigger nib is made stronger for that reason.
Please, I need a reliable affordable F. pen, that doesn't skip. Kaweco Sport that I got,skips and hard starts all the time. Please, is there any reliable similar F.pen?
There are lots of affordable pens that don't skip. Make sure you clean out your Kaweco properly, make sure the converter or cartridge us installed properly and use a wetter/safe ink like Waterman.
Kaweco is cheap entry level pen. Get anything with jowo6 size nib or any japanese medium/fine nib and you will not be dissapointed.
Why would you not be comfortable flexing? I flex the heck out of both of mine without issue.
big fan of Pilot custom 742:) this looks just right to me:) 742 has Pilot no10 sized nib:)
Custom 743...
I was planning to buy a custom 912. Now I won’t. Thank you
It really depends on your use case. The 823 has some limitations - particularly how hard it is to clean and to keep 100% clean. If you always use the same ink, its less of an issue.
Not head-to-head for me, as per your demonstration, Sir.
The skipping problem you encountered, was also very pronounced in other UA-cam videos I have seen for 912. It definitely has an excellent “softness” (or even “flex”) edge, but the inconsistency in writing for me renders it as “not an everyday carry”, and not a workhorse.
In parallel, in the UK, for example, the time I am writing this comment, 912 is not available for purchase in any major retailer. For me, the later speaks tones.
So, if you combine “writing inconsistent” and lack of availability, despite the fact I am a huge fan of the line variation it provides, one should be skeptical in purchasing it! It is - indeed - a bit of a disappointment.
Update of 19 March 2024: I have purchased the pen a few time ago. After trying to train myself to use 912 for many days, I ended up to the conclusion that this CANNOT be used by myself as a workhorse by any means. Even with exerting 1/4 of the pressure I exert on ALL of my other pens (when writing), I cannot write a single sentence with 912 without avoiding railroading and skipping! Thus, it's been a couple of days that -- in fact -- I have decided to un-ink the pen.
I strongly believe that this is pen ONLY for calligraphy.
I love my PC 823, though.