I wonder if manufacturers watch your channel and when they see your name they’re like “oh! That’s the guy who always has some kind of issue. He’s a riot to watch! Be sure to send him the factory defect for his content!” 😁
You know, it’s weird, because I’ve had a real string of bad luck lately… I really have found a bunch of lovely pens that I really enjoy over the years. This just isn’t one of them.
Stephen, good review. Try a little thread-lock or glue on the screw holding the blind cap. To test for ability to fill, hold the pen over the ink bottle and operate the plunger. If the sac is filling, ink will squirt out of the feed. Your leak can be sealed with a little silicone caulk in the gap where the sac protector and the section join together. This caulk is easily removed if it ever becomes necessary.
I am familiar with silicone caulk, but if I am going to use something in it, I feel like silicone grease (a fountain pen essential) will probably do the same job. I’m annoyed that I need it though.
It looks like your pen is leaking rather than burping. And with ink leaking around the section nozzle, that would be where the air is getting in. Mine had nothing similar to this. Plus, my nib being wet was a result of me opening the tines. Initially, it was typically dry.
Thank you for clarifying that Doug. I see what you’re saying about the ink sac sealing. I have always used the term “burping” to describe ink blobbing out of the front of the nib, which I usually attribute to a poor seal, or sometimes a heat/pressure differential that pushes ink out. I have not doubt that the sealing around the section is to blame. I don’t know how much better it can get, since I pushed the darn thing in there as solidly as I could. It’s so tight in there, it almost feels like the mechanism isn’t the right size. I hope that more attention to the seal will fix my problem. Like I said to another commenter, if I just got a lemon, this is the first PenBBS lemon I have ever received. I hope I can figure out how to make peace with this pen. It is a really beautiful pen, despite the issues I am having. Still prefer the 456 though :)
@@stepheninks I prefer my 456 as well. Check the o-rings on the nib unit and the section for possible fraying. If everything is sealed properly, it shouldn't be burping ink, especially when it is full.
A visually attractive pen, but it seems to have several issues (filling, flow, seal). Bummer. At least the NIB appears to work as good as it looks. Hadn't seen it before, but that Noodler's 'Nightshade' is a neat color. Interesting thoughts on 'style', too. Thanks for the demo and the opinions! 😎
Good news is, according to the review I saw on Inkqiring Minds, you can put a Parker Cartridge in this pen and use it like a C/C pen. I’m might do that because I love the look, feel and finish of this pen. I think that some of the problems I have are inherent to the touchdown filling mechanism (which I should have thought of before I bought it). Oh well, it was a valuable experiment anyways.
I have three of their pens of different makes. All of their pen bodies are niiice and solid. They really do feel more expensive than they cost. My issues are with their regular nibs. I have 2 fine nibs, a medium, a mini fude, and their calligraphy #2 nibs. Their regular nibs feel much too scratchy for my taste. They also have this weird “sweet spot” that’s almost too vertical for a normal writing style to maintain. At some point maybe I’ll get some micro mesh and try to smooth them out a bit. I’ve never done that before, but these cheap to replace nibs are a good place to start with that. The fude and the #2 nibs are stellar. At the moment I swiped one with a regular Noodler’s nib I already know is a champ. I wish the fude came in a #6 size. My understanding is that use to be what their ready to buy Fine nib use to be. My advice: if you get a pen bbs pen (haha that sounds funny) also get their parts pack. It’s only $8 and you get tons of good pieces to help you tinker with their products without messing up something proprietary. I didn’t get one and I wish I had. Now I’m not really sure that’s all I want to get for just one purchase and I have all that I need at the moment in the pens department.
@@MummyBrown yeah, I have that parts pack. It’s a good investment to be sure. Bummer that you have had issues with the PenBBS nibs. They’re actually my favorite nibs of all time (even more than my $100+ gold nibs). I have heard that their particular nib grind is great for left-handed people (which includes me), so maybe I’m biased? Anyway, the diversity of pen collectors and what works for them is one of the reasons that I love having these comments discussions. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Yeah, I think I’ll figure It out eventually. I still think this pen isn’t a great introduction to PenBBS. I highly recommend their 456 and 308. There’s always something about the other designs they put out that makes it not as good as those two.
Been using mine for a little bit and not being able to see the in levels really is pretty impracticable. I did the filling twice just to be sure there's something in there. I guess over time you just need to learn to trust that it works? I think i'm going to do an experiment where I do a fill and then see how much ink was pulled in by using a needle converter thing to pull out all the ink. And repeat this 10x to see what the results are.
@@ichirofakename For sure, but the exercise is to see how well the filling system actually works. And to maybe trust that it will pull up ink just fine and there isn't that much to worry about. Though never knowing when you might run out of ink is also pretty annoying.
I watched the Inkquiring Minds review over the weekend. He had no issues with his leaking/burping. Maybe you got a lemon, unfortunately. Penbbs sells a grab bag of seals and various parts maybe some DIY could help. Still disappointing for a pen right out of the box.
Yes, I considered that might be the case. If so, it’s my first lemon from them. I have the PenBBS spare part set, but I’m not entirely sure how much I can do with this particular design. Certainly not much of the specialized ink sac is the problem. I noticed when I was watching Doug’s video, I noticed he mentioned how wet it was, and I was really wondering if his would burp too. Mine didn’t start burping until about the end of the 1 hour drawing I was doing, if that means anything.
I feel the same about the lack of visibility. But I also don’t like eyedroppers. So I’ll probably have to find a converter that fits and work from there.
I wonder if manufacturers watch your channel and when they see your name they’re like “oh! That’s the guy who always has some kind of issue. He’s a riot to watch! Be sure to send him the factory defect for his content!” 😁
You know, it’s weird, because I’ve had a real string of bad luck lately… I really have found a bunch of lovely pens that I really enjoy over the years. This just isn’t one of them.
Stephen, good review.
Try a little thread-lock or glue on the screw holding the blind cap. To test for ability to fill, hold the pen over the ink bottle and operate the plunger. If the sac is filling, ink will squirt out of the feed. Your leak can be sealed with a little silicone caulk in the gap where the sac protector and the section join together. This caulk is easily removed if it ever becomes necessary.
I am familiar with silicone caulk, but if I am going to use something in it, I feel like silicone grease (a fountain pen essential) will probably do the same job. I’m annoyed that I need it though.
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It looks like your pen is leaking rather than burping. And with ink leaking around the section nozzle, that would be where the air is getting in. Mine had nothing similar to this. Plus, my nib being wet was a result of me opening the tines. Initially, it was typically dry.
Thank you for clarifying that Doug. I see what you’re saying about the ink sac sealing. I have always used the term “burping” to describe ink blobbing out of the front of the nib, which I usually attribute to a poor seal, or sometimes a heat/pressure differential that pushes ink out. I have not doubt that the sealing around the section is to blame. I don’t know how much better it can get, since I pushed the darn thing in there as solidly as I could. It’s so tight in there, it almost feels like the mechanism isn’t the right size.
I hope that more attention to the seal will fix my problem. Like I said to another commenter, if I just got a lemon, this is the first PenBBS lemon I have ever received. I hope I can figure out how to make peace with this pen. It is a really beautiful pen, despite the issues I am having.
Still prefer the 456 though :)
@@stepheninks I prefer my 456 as well. Check the o-rings on the nib unit and the section for possible fraying. If everything is sealed properly, it shouldn't be burping ink, especially when it is full.
I’ll do that. Thanks for the idea!
A visually attractive pen, but it seems to have several issues (filling, flow, seal). Bummer. At least the NIB appears to work as good as it looks. Hadn't seen it before, but that Noodler's 'Nightshade' is a neat color. Interesting thoughts on 'style', too. Thanks for the demo and the opinions! 😎
Good news is, according to the review I saw on Inkqiring Minds, you can put a Parker Cartridge in this pen and use it like a C/C pen. I’m might do that because I love the look, feel and finish of this pen. I think that some of the problems I have are inherent to the touchdown filling mechanism (which I should have thought of before I bought it). Oh well, it was a valuable experiment anyways.
I have three of their pens of different makes. All of their pen bodies are niiice and solid. They really do feel more expensive than they cost.
My issues are with their regular nibs. I have 2 fine nibs, a medium, a mini fude, and their calligraphy #2 nibs. Their regular nibs feel much too scratchy for my taste. They also have this weird “sweet spot” that’s almost too vertical for a normal writing style to maintain. At some point maybe I’ll get some micro mesh and try to smooth them out a bit. I’ve never done that before, but these cheap to replace nibs are a good place to start with that.
The fude and the #2 nibs are stellar. At the moment I swiped one with a regular Noodler’s nib I already know is a champ. I wish the fude came in a #6 size. My understanding is that use to be what their ready to buy Fine nib use to be.
My advice: if you get a pen bbs pen (haha that sounds funny) also get their parts pack. It’s only $8 and you get tons of good pieces to help you tinker with their products without messing up something proprietary. I didn’t get one and I wish I had. Now I’m not really sure that’s all I want to get for just one purchase and I have all that I need at the moment in the pens department.
@@MummyBrown yeah, I have that parts pack. It’s a good investment to be sure.
Bummer that you have had issues with the PenBBS nibs. They’re actually my favorite nibs of all time (even more than my $100+ gold nibs). I have heard that their particular nib grind is great for left-handed people (which includes me), so maybe I’m biased? Anyway, the diversity of pen collectors and what works for them is one of the reasons that I love having these comments discussions. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Cute cat drawing!
Sorry to hear that your pen was burping. Hope you can get it fixed!
Yeah, I think I’ll figure It out eventually. I still think this pen isn’t a great introduction to PenBBS. I highly recommend their 456 and 308. There’s always something about the other designs they put out that makes it not as good as those two.
Been using mine for a little bit and not being able to see the in levels really is pretty impracticable. I did the filling twice just to be sure there's something in there. I guess over time you just need to learn to trust that it works?
I think i'm going to do an experiment where I do a fill and then see how much ink was pulled in by using a needle converter thing to pull out all the ink. And repeat this 10x to see what the results are.
Or you could just use a syringe to fill it.
@@ichirofakename For sure, but the exercise is to see how well the filling system actually works. And to maybe trust that it will pull up ink just fine and there isn't that much to worry about. Though never knowing when you might run out of ink is also pretty annoying.
@@AlphaSphere To each one's own.
Let us know what happens! It’s weird the disconnect when you can’t see the ink. I don’t know why I don’t trust it, but I don’t.
Yay new review
I watched the Inkquiring Minds review over the weekend. He had no issues with his leaking/burping. Maybe you got a lemon, unfortunately. Penbbs sells a grab bag of seals and various parts maybe some DIY could help. Still disappointing for a pen right out of the box.
Yes, I considered that might be the case. If so, it’s my first lemon from them. I have the PenBBS spare part set, but I’m not entirely sure how much I can do with this particular design. Certainly not much of the specialized ink sac is the problem.
I noticed when I was watching Doug’s video, I noticed he mentioned how wet it was, and I was really wondering if his would burp too. Mine didn’t start burping until about the end of the 1 hour drawing I was doing, if that means anything.
Hmm it feels like it’s not going to be easy to clean, innit 🤔
Another good point.
Sad to see but it Looks as if this pen has a fault in the design .
Yeah, my experience with it has not gotten better each time I’ve tried to use it.
What a stupid filling system. I would chuck the insides and eyedrop it. Also, no pens without ink level visibility, ever.
I feel the same about the lack of visibility. But I also don’t like eyedroppers. So I’ll probably have to find a converter that fits and work from there.