I love Pilot pens as much as you do. I don’t find the Custom Heritage 92 very difficult to flush. I was also worried about cleaning it but it really wasn’t’ a problem. I had an 823 that I sold because I hated cleaning it. I just ordered the new 743 in Verdigris and it’s a C/C.
That's good to know. I've considered the 823, but when I heard that the 743 was basically a cartridge converter version of the 823, I figured the 743 was probably more my style of pen. At first I wasn't crazy about the Verdigris color, but it's starting to grow on me. Hopefully this means there will be more colors in the future. 😀
For cleaning; Remember to draw up water and shake the pen gently while holding some tissue paper over the nib. This gets to ink in converters and piston fillers one never thought was there. Another thing I do for cleaning is to let it take time. After just filling the pen with water and expelling it two or three times and getting the water pretty much clean I fill it again with water completely and then put it nib down in a cup with tissue in the bottom that over hours then draws out the water in the reservoar through the feed and the nib while giving dried ink in the feed to be liquified and pulled out as well. I let the pen sit like that over night. It only takes a few minutes and then I get it the next morning, empty. For pens that are modern I also fill them up completely with water and let them stand tip down in a glass of water so that the nib and feed both are covered. After a while strings of ink usually appear from around where the feed goes in to the grip section and gently falls to the bottom of the glass. After a couple of nights my pens are usually very clean and can be air dried and stored away until next use while I enjoy some of my other pens. No need to take piston fillers apart. Just don't let ink dry completely in there and don't forget to shake.
Those are very good suggestions. I don't like to take my more valuable pens apart unless absolutely necessary and I really don't want to take my piston fillers apart at all. 😀
Your retail therapy through this pen and this video helped me to realize that I can unscrew the section of my Twsbi Mini Rosegold and clean it thoroughly !
Cathy. I also believe that Pilot makes some wickedly smooth gold nibs. I've played with other makers: Visconti, Kaweco, Sailor, and Lamy. I've come to the conclusion that my Pilot pens consistently write better and are smoother than my other pens.
I have pens from each of the brands that you just listed that are my all-time favorites, but there's something about the Pilot 14k fine nibs that make me say, "Wow!" 😀
Thanks for this video! My favorite pen has been by Custom Heritage 92 (smoke color) since I bought it in I think 2014 (also directly from Japan). So nearly 10 years ago. It's still going strong. I had those same ink concerns as you, but it always cleans up and powers on. I've ignored this pen for long periods of time with ink in it. It's the one pen I can do that, and it will still write flawlessly. It's also the pen that has flawlessly handled the Herbin 1670 inks with gold dust. My only issue is that the top of the cap broke off along with the clip. Doesn't affect the pen or the airtightness. Anyway, I found your video because I was looking to see if this is still considered a great pen, and it appears it is. Thanks!
I had pretty much decided to ink up my Custom 92 with "whatever" ink and not worry about it getting stained, but it's good to hear that the material seems to be resistant to staining. One of my favorite inks is Herbin Vert Atlantide, so it's also good to know that the 92 performs well with Herbin shimmer inks. Pilot pens may not be as flashy as some, but they pay attention to the details that matter to me. Thanks for the info Jeremy! 😀
For cleaning with a different color ink, I pull the nib & feed out of the 92 - straight pull without bending. Then I flush the body with a blunt syringe.
That's good to know, Marsha. And when the time comes, I'm sure I could do the same thing and use a toothpick, or something similar, to apply a little silicone grease to the walls of the reservoir. That gives me a little peace of mind. Thanks! 😀
I'd encourage you to try a 743 if you get the chance. Same great pen size etc as the 823 but in a cartridge/converter version, if that's what you prefer. The new Verdigris color is very attractive.
I wasn't crazy about the color of the Verdigris 743 when it first came out, but it's starting to grow on me. And I really want to try Pilot's #15 fine nib after hearing so many people gush about the fine nib of the 823. 😀
If you're looking for something similar, but with a cartridge/converter filling system, I highly recommend the Pilot Custom SE! It's a similar size, but accepts a CON-70 converter. It's quite a bit pricier, but I think the designs are really special, especially for a Pilot pen!
OK, if I recall correctly, I believe I told you that you should give this pen a try. I did so knowing you weren't a fan of piston fillers, but I also knew that we both love our "Pilots"! Anyway, love this pen, especially when posted. And, that ink IS my favorite purple ink, hands down! Oh yeah ... I take mine apart with no problems what so ever. Nib and feed are friction fit and a TWSBI wrench fits nicely on the "flats" of that piston mechanism, making disassembly a breeze. Enjoy!
Now that you mention it I do remember you recommending this pen...good call! This was my favorite pen for the past 3 months, but it was bumped to #2 a couple weeks ago when I got another pen that I thought I would never get...a Vanishing Point with an EF nib. All I can say is wow! I carry both of these pens with me everywhere now. 😀
I eventually bought one of these, but I had resisted for a long time because there's only one piston ring. I can't think of any other piston fillers in my collection that don't have two (for instance the Eco). They feel more reassuring, such that if ink were to find its way past the first seal, the second would still be there. With only one piston ring in my CH92, if that ever fails then I could be looking at ink leaking from the back of the barrel. It is so well engineered though, with such good tolerances, that I'm not so worried any more about the piston seal failing. Regardless, it will always have a bit of a question mark in my mind, and it seems a strange design choice.
Yeah, the one piston ring concerns me a bit as well. But like you mentioned, the pen does seem to be well built and I haven't heard of anyone experiencing a failure of the seal. The main complaint I hear about this pen is that the nib is too dry, but mine is perfect. 😀
@@gadgetstop321 Mine seems flawless. I had it inked up for over 6 months with Murasaki-shikibu, not flushed/cleaned/refilled in all that time and only occasionally used. Never once did I experience the slightest skipping, drying out or hard starting. It's an excellent pen.
Both the TWSBI Diamond Mini and the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 both can be disassembled with a wrench (provided with TWSBI, and you can use the plastic wrench from TWSBI for the Pilot apparently). When the piston is depressed, the gab between the knob and the body is where the wrench fits. You can find tutorials on it as well.
Thanks, Oshan! that's good to know. I've heard that the CH 92 does pretty well at resisting staining, but it's nice to know that I can get in there and deep clean if I need to. 😀
I like the look of the pen, but I also am uncertain about how easy it is to clean and/or disassemble. If you happen to do that, perhaps you could make a follow-up video? Anyway, I appreciate this review, thank you!
Thanks, Michael...will do! I'm getting feedback from other people who own a Custom Heritage 92 that they clean up fairly easily, and that it's not difficult to disassemble with a TWSBI wrench.
do like the look of your Pilot ch92 but wish it was available in my preferred EF nib; like my Pilot pens but prefer the feedback I get with my Sailor pro gear EF:)
I like the feedback of the Sailor medium nibs, but when it comes to the F and EF nibs, I prefer Pilot. I find it interesting that you prefer a little feedback in your EF nibs. I was just talking to someone about different people's preferences and how there is something for everyone in this hobby. 😀
Hi Cathy, do you mean that between the custom 74 and heritage 92 you can swab the nib sections and thus interchange different nib sizes (if you have them) between these 2 pens?
The nib sections are interchangeable between the Custom 74 and the Custom Heritage 91. I don't know if the section is removable on the Custom Heritage 92, but you can just pull the nib and feed out of the 92 and swap them with the other two pens. 😀
If you keep it always inked the piston will be always lubricated by the ink. I don't see why you should need to disassemble it. No worries for the smokey section: it is the same with CH91, but you just can't see it because it is opaque!
I actually have 3 piston filling pens. I forgot about my Penbbs 494. I haven't used it in a while because there are some small cracks in the section. I haven't experienced any problems due to the cracks, but I'm afraid that it will eventually start leaking.
I love Pilot pens as much as you do. I don’t find the Custom Heritage 92 very difficult to flush. I was also worried about cleaning it but it really wasn’t’ a problem. I had an 823 that I sold because I hated cleaning it. I just ordered the new 743 in Verdigris and it’s a C/C.
That's good to know. I've considered the 823, but when I heard that the 743 was basically a cartridge converter version of the 823, I figured the 743 was probably more my style of pen. At first I wasn't crazy about the Verdigris color, but it's starting to grow on me. Hopefully this means there will be more colors in the future. 😀
For cleaning; Remember to draw up water and shake the pen gently while holding some tissue paper over the nib. This gets to ink in converters and piston fillers one never thought was there.
Another thing I do for cleaning is to let it take time. After just filling the pen with water and expelling it two or three times and getting the water pretty much clean I fill it again with water completely and then put it nib down in a cup with tissue in the bottom that over hours then draws out the water in the reservoar through the feed and the nib while giving dried ink in the feed to be liquified and pulled out as well. I let the pen sit like that over night. It only takes a few minutes and then I get it the next morning, empty. For pens that are modern I also fill them up completely with water and let them stand tip down in a glass of water so that the nib and feed both are covered. After a while strings of ink usually appear from around where the feed goes in to the grip section and gently falls to the bottom of the glass. After a couple of nights my pens are usually very clean and can be air dried and stored away until next use while I enjoy some of my other pens.
No need to take piston fillers apart. Just don't let ink dry completely in there and don't forget to shake.
Those are very good suggestions. I don't like to take my more valuable pens apart unless absolutely necessary and I really don't want to take my piston fillers apart at all. 😀
Your retail therapy through this pen and this video helped me to realize that I can unscrew the section of my Twsbi Mini Rosegold and clean it thoroughly !
I'm glad I could help! 😂
Cathy. I also believe that Pilot makes some wickedly smooth gold nibs. I've played with other makers: Visconti, Kaweco, Sailor, and Lamy. I've come to the conclusion that my Pilot pens consistently write better and are smoother than my other pens.
I have pens from each of the brands that you just listed that are my all-time favorites, but there's something about the Pilot 14k fine nibs that make me say, "Wow!" 😀
Great pens. And you have such a pleasant voice and dialect.🙂
Thank you! 😀
Thanks for this video! My favorite pen has been by Custom Heritage 92 (smoke color) since I bought it in I think 2014 (also directly from Japan). So nearly 10 years ago. It's still going strong. I had those same ink concerns as you, but it always cleans up and powers on. I've ignored this pen for long periods of time with ink in it. It's the one pen I can do that, and it will still write flawlessly. It's also the pen that has flawlessly handled the Herbin 1670 inks with gold dust.
My only issue is that the top of the cap broke off along with the clip. Doesn't affect the pen or the airtightness.
Anyway, I found your video because I was looking to see if this is still considered a great pen, and it appears it is. Thanks!
I had pretty much decided to ink up my Custom 92 with "whatever" ink and not worry about it getting stained, but it's good to hear that the material seems to be resistant to staining. One of my favorite inks is Herbin Vert Atlantide, so it's also good to know that the 92 performs well with Herbin shimmer inks. Pilot pens may not be as flashy as some, but they pay attention to the details that matter to me. Thanks for the info Jeremy! 😀
For cleaning with a different color ink, I pull the nib & feed out of the 92 - straight pull without bending. Then I flush the body with a blunt syringe.
That's good to know, Marsha. And when the time comes, I'm sure I could do the same thing and use a toothpick, or something similar, to apply a little silicone grease to the walls of the reservoir. That gives me a little peace of mind. Thanks! 😀
I'd encourage you to try a 743 if you get the chance. Same great pen size etc as the 823 but in a cartridge/converter version, if that's what you prefer. The new Verdigris color is very attractive.
I wasn't crazy about the color of the Verdigris 743 when it first came out, but it's starting to grow on me. And I really want to try Pilot's #15 fine nib after hearing so many people gush about the fine nib of the 823. 😀
If you're looking for something similar, but with a cartridge/converter filling system, I highly recommend the Pilot Custom SE! It's a similar size, but accepts a CON-70 converter. It's quite a bit pricier, but I think the designs are really special, especially for a Pilot pen!
I've had my eyes on the Custom SE for a while, but if I ever do get one, I don't know what color I would choose. They all look so good! 😍
OK, if I recall correctly, I believe I told you that you should give this pen a try. I did so knowing you weren't a fan of piston fillers, but I also knew that we both love our "Pilots"! Anyway, love this pen, especially when posted. And, that ink IS my favorite purple ink, hands down! Oh yeah ... I take mine apart with no problems what so ever. Nib and feed are friction fit and a TWSBI wrench fits nicely on the "flats" of that piston mechanism, making disassembly a breeze. Enjoy!
Now that you mention it I do remember you recommending this pen...good call! This was my favorite pen for the past 3 months, but it was bumped to #2 a couple weeks ago when I got another pen that I thought I would never get...a Vanishing Point with an EF nib. All I can say is wow! I carry both of these pens with me everywhere now. 😀
...and I'm relieved to hear that the 92 can be disassembled.
My CH92 (FM) was my first gold nib pen and I utterly adore it! But I use it slightly less than I would like as I am in a B nib phase atm
Well, if you start to get bored with the broad nibs, the CH92 will be there for you. 😀
I eventually bought one of these, but I had resisted for a long time because there's only one piston ring. I can't think of any other piston fillers in my collection that don't have two (for instance the Eco). They feel more reassuring, such that if ink were to find its way past the first seal, the second would still be there. With only one piston ring in my CH92, if that ever fails then I could be looking at ink leaking from the back of the barrel.
It is so well engineered though, with such good tolerances, that I'm not so worried any more about the piston seal failing. Regardless, it will always have a bit of a question mark in my mind, and it seems a strange design choice.
Yeah, the one piston ring concerns me a bit as well. But like you mentioned, the pen does seem to be well built and I haven't heard of anyone experiencing a failure of the seal. The main complaint I hear about this pen is that the nib is too dry, but mine is perfect. 😀
@@gadgetstop321 Mine seems flawless. I had it inked up for over 6 months with Murasaki-shikibu, not flushed/cleaned/refilled in all that time and only occasionally used. Never once did I experience the slightest skipping, drying out or hard starting. It's an excellent pen.
Both the TWSBI Diamond Mini and the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 both can be disassembled with a wrench (provided with TWSBI, and you can use the plastic wrench from TWSBI for the Pilot apparently). When the piston is depressed, the gab between the knob and the body is where the wrench fits. You can find tutorials on it as well.
Thanks, Oshan! that's good to know. I've heard that the CH 92 does pretty well at resisting staining, but it's nice to know that I can get in there and deep clean if I need to. 😀
I like the look of the pen, but I also am uncertain about how easy it is to clean and/or disassemble. If you happen to do that, perhaps you could make a follow-up video? Anyway, I appreciate this review, thank you!
Thanks, Michael...will do! I'm getting feedback from other people who own a Custom Heritage 92 that they clean up fairly easily, and that it's not difficult to disassemble with a TWSBI wrench.
@@gadgetstop321Which TWSBI wrench? One from an ECO or a 580 (or are they the same size)? Thanks!
do like the look of your Pilot ch92 but wish it was available in my preferred EF nib; like my Pilot pens but prefer the feedback I get with my Sailor pro gear EF:)
I like the feedback of the Sailor medium nibs, but when it comes to the F and EF nibs, I prefer Pilot. I find it interesting that you prefer a little feedback in your EF nibs. I was just talking to someone about different people's preferences and how there is something for everyone in this hobby. 😀
Hi Cathy, do you mean that between the custom 74 and heritage 92 you can swab the nib sections and thus interchange different nib sizes (if you have them) between these 2 pens?
The nib sections are interchangeable between the Custom 74 and the Custom Heritage 91. I don't know if the section is removable on the Custom Heritage 92, but you can just pull the nib and feed out of the 92 and swap them with the other two pens. 😀
If you keep it always inked the piston will be always lubricated by the ink. I don't see why you should need to disassemble it. No worries for the smokey section: it is the same with CH91, but you just can't see it because it is opaque!
That's a good Point! I don't anticipate the CH 92 ever coming out of the inked up rotation, so it should be in good shape. 😀
I am Surprised to hear that you have
Only Two Piston Filler Fountain Pens.
I actually have 3 piston filling pens. I forgot about my Penbbs 494. I haven't used it in a while because there are some small cracks in the section. I haven't experienced any problems due to the cracks, but I'm afraid that it will eventually start leaking.