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Thanks for the info! I don’t have very many HongDian pens but I assumed there would be at least 1-2 models that fit this nib.

I haven’t bought a lot from them, but I plan to do a deeper dive in the coming months!

I think you’re right. I also think that some of my favorite art involves the artist using something in a way it’s not supposed to be used to make their art. So… I may come back to this. I’ve got a rebellious streak in me. A tiny one, but it’s there nonetheless.

That’s a good idea. I feel like I have pretty good instinct for what is going to last and what isn’t, and it seems like this one is going to be a solid performer. I have been thinking about doing a series going back to pens I have reviewed and see if my original opinion still holds up. Having reviewed 50+ pens I would certainly have a lot to do.

This is likely true, but I like reviewing things from the lens of making art, even if that’s not their explicit purpose. Otherwise I would always wonder if I was missing out on something great.

I’ve been thinking about doing that, as I have some G nibs and a pen that fits them from Jinhao. The reason I hesitate is because it would be a somewhat negative review for me. There are some glaring issues with longevity for that pen setup and how that particular nib messes with the flow of ink… which I feel that other reviewers ignore. I always feel like when I make negative reviews it attracts people looking for a fight, and my comment section gets really negative. I love pens, but I don’t like arguing about them. I still might do that video though when I’m feeling brave.

@stepheninks that are very fair. I've personally been looking for an honest video on the pen because I have been debating getting one. I know the nib would need to be replaced often. But I am curious about the flex, ink flow, and overall build. I do art on top of my bed with a small lap desk. I dont want to use dip pens and open ink and have it spill everywhere. So, I've been hoping to find a review of these pens. But I understand not wanting the negativity it brings. But if you do choose to, if you have the dip pens, I'd like to see a comparison section. Keep up the great work!

It’s a really great pen!

Yeah, this one turned out strange. I think my microphone wasn’t plugged in all the way or something. I did boost the gain, but it didn’t help much. Since I’m really happy with how this video came out besides the sound issue, I decided to keep it up. Other videos before and since don’t have this issue as much. Of course, there are some levels that aren’t that great when I first started this channel and was filming on my phone… but we’ve all got to start somewhere, right?

Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you love your pens!

It’s not really that it’s bad. They just changed the quality of the paper about 10 or so years ago. Tomoe River and Rhodia are more similar to what they used to be like. Many people in the fountain pen community prefer those brands to what Moleskine puts out now. There’s nothing wrong with what they use now, but it seems overpriced to me for what you get.

Thanks for the reply! I didn't think I would get one from a 3 year old video. I guess it's one of those "whatever works for you" things? I'm hesitant to buy a notebook online that I've never used before because I've been using moleskine for about 15 years, but only just started using fountain pens. Really appreciate your perspective!

@@adamcompton4031 Part of the thing that I enjoy about this channel is the conversations I have, so I like to try and monitor even older videos. If you happen to have an art supply or stationary store near you (or ever travel to an area that has one), you might be able to find something you can check out there before buying. Rhodia books are a bit easier to find than Tomoe River in the US where I’m located, but it varies from region to region. I have also given away sketchbooks that I have be made myself on this channel, and I might do that again sometime, so stay tuned! But I definitely understand when you get a sketchbook filled with paper you don’t like. Those ones take forever to get filled up. I had the same experience with a brand called Rendr, which a ton of people recommended. Just didn’t work for me.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Someday maybe I’ll own one of those… in the meantime, I’ll have to be satisfied with the 50+ lowly serf pens that I own.

@@stepheninks OTOH, you could buy my pen but I cannot buy your skill.

@@ichirofakename I’ll trade you. I’ll get one of those basketballs from Space Jam.

Does it matter if I say that a German product, writtten in Latin but pronounced as French makes perfect sense to me as an English speaker? The real secret is that every pronunciation is a stab in the dark for me. Haha.

It almost seems like it would be more fun as a dip pen nib? Haha. As versatile as these nibs are, I almost feel like the limitations of a traditional nib help me make better art, if that makes sense.

I find it interesting the wide range of peoples experience with this pen. I think that a commenter on this video is correct in saying that this pen was probably good at one time, and then the quality fell off. I most definitely got my pen after, if that’s the case. The shape is fine, but the quality of the materials are so poor that I feel like I could crush this pen with my bare hands. I’ve held pens that cost 1/10 of what this one cost me, and I didn’t feel that way. I don’t know. Maybe it’s a good thing that they put this model to rest.

You would think if you have the more expensive one, you wouldn’t use the cheap one at all. But I too use the preppy all the time. Both are a valuable part of my collection.

Yeah, I suspected the angle was at play here, which is why I compared them. To be fair, the Jinhao nib isn’t unusable, just a tad wet for my taste. I don’t feel super qualified to tighten the tines of nibs. Loosening is way easier. I wonder if that’s why a few of my recent Jinhao acquisitions have been a bit tight, so that it’s easier to hone the nib how you like it? Maybe that giving them too much credit, but honestly, among budget fountain pen brands, I feel like Jinhao doesn’t get enough credit a lot of the time.

@@stepheninks I love Jinhao fountain pens - one of the best budget friendly fountain pens that are actually a joy to use. They cut some corners, but at the prices they are selling for is really hard to complain from my point of view. And they have the best nibs for beginners to learn how to modify. If you break it is really cheap to replace. Happy 4th of July Stephen! :)

@@eugenborcan agreed, and thank you! 🇺🇸

If I had a Supra to test it on, I would, but sadly I cannot say. If anyone out there knows, feel free to add a comment below!

Oh and I'll add that I've used larger Jinhao, Majohn/Moonman, and Hongdian fude nibs, and the Jinhao #5 are my least favorite -- Moonman/Majohn pens from a lot of sellers are extra frustrating, because while I quite like the Moonman fude nib (not too wet, and can consistently get lines at widths in between maximum and minimum), a lot of the Moonman/Majohn listings with fude are actually seller swapped in Jinhao nibs that are wet to the point of splotchiness when you get them.

Yeah, I have a video on the Jinhao Shark on this channel, from way back when I was still filming on my phone. I also found it to be impressive for the price, but the nib needed a lot of work. After really going to town on it with brass sheets and micro mesh, I got something that works really well, but I still don’t find myself picking it up all that often. Didn’t know they made a fude nib version.

Glad to know it’s not just me with the Jinhao nibs. That’s why I like putting videos out. Sometimes I genuinely want to know if anyone else is seeing what I see.

Glad it’s not just me (or my inability to properly seat a nib)! To be fair, it is usable, and some people will probably prefer the wet nib. I’m just too much of a control freak to give up my dry feeds!

Yeah, mine do work okay, but it is wetter than the others I own, so I prefer them. I’m always on the dry side with both feeds and comments. But I also prefer to just use a regular nib. I swear if I switch to Fude full time, I’ll have arthritis before I turn 50 with all the angles you’ve got to hold it at. You can also get really nice lines with a brush… but it still think I like nibs.

Yeah, you would think that it would be easier to match a nib to a pen if the size is right, but there are a million other factors at play.

Whenever I take a break from posting, the algorithm buries my next upload. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely do it again!

I don’t know if that would work but it sounds like a great idea. Have you ever refilled one of them? I’m guessing Pilot could make a deluxe version of this pen that would do all those things… but then I would just want it to be a fountain pen. I feel like this thing is reeeallly good for its price. I think I prefer round grips, to be honest.

It’s named “Agate,” after the metamorphic rock. I must admit I don’t know how to pronounce that either though.

Still working just as well as the day I put it in!

@@stepheninks Ok! I'm about to buy two - one for a Prera another for a Kakuno. I'm surprised they're at $6.93, but it comes with a dripper and cartridge so I guess that's ok.

@@ab-zg8pt ​​⁠yeah it’s more of a kit than a converter. Still cheaper than the the con-70, and might be just a liiiitle more expensive than the con-40 depending on where you buy it.

@@stepheninks I ordered from eBay, at $4.45 each with free shipping <3

Glad you liked it!

Thanks! There are many not a couple of pens that I don’t recommend on my channel. Most of the time if something is bland or not that great, I just ignore it.

That would actually be a great idea for a new video, as I don’t have any new pens to review at this time. What I would get if I had to start over… or maybe what I would recommend as a minimalist setup. I’m sure most people don’t necessarily want to have 50+ pens and want to know what’s good/reliable. I do have a top 10 pen video from about 2 years ago. Although some of my newer pens might make it into the ranking if I redid that video (and maybe I should), everything on that list is still a solid recommend.

I want to get a few more of these. there are a lot of fun colors and designs worth collecting

Not only will you (and I) ruin hundreds of pages, but it is our right, and sacred duty to do so!

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I love that style of art! I think I really wanted to do something like that here, actually. It’s a bit outside of my usual style, but I love to step outside myself whenever I can.

I absolutely think that anyone who works in design/manufacturing is an artist of some flavor. Drawing is the shorthand for so many types of output. I’m not surprised that sketching is a part of your flow. I’m actually known in my school district for making really detailed and easy to follow Google Slideshows, and my secret is that I do thumbnail sketches before I start making them. It’s so silly, but it works.

I’ve got to say I’ve felt the way that you feel before. And I think most artists do from time to time. One of the best artists I personally know was going through that to an intense degree a few years ago, and my advice to him was the same I’ll give to you, and it’s the only thing that worked for me (and it also worked for him): Let it go for a while. Make a new identity for yourself. Find something you really like (reading, knitting, video games, writing, comic books, volunteering, board games?) and see what might fit. Force yourself to take a break, and see if that passion comes back, or if it evolves into something new. I think for those of us who have our identities tied up in art, we feel the need to build our artistic bodies up lest they wither away, but sometimes what we need is rest. I haven’t always been a fountain pen artist. I have been a painter, poet, (bad) musician, filmmaker, and lately I have been playing around with computer programming. Maybe doing something new will help you discover a new passion. Maybe it will help you re-discover your old one. Your identity defines your art, not the other way around.

It’s all about what enjoyment you get out of it!

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I absolutely hate explaining what my art is about. I once had an argument that lasted days because I refused to explain the “meaning” behind one of my silly little cartoons.(not my fault, spotted a persistent douche in the wild) I would actually much rather hear what other people think my art is about. I once wrote a children’s book about a bear talking to the moon, and my dad thought it was a metaphor for death… not my intended message, but I have made sure that no children read that book… just to be safe.

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I think the best artists bull from unusual (or at least unexpected) backgrounds. Thanks for sharing yours!

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Thank! I’m only joking about the Metric system. I’m a science/engineering teacher, so I use it all the time. I love it. I feel like the Metric system is more useful, while the Imperial system is more poetic (miles to go before I sleep, pound of flesh, an ounce of prevention, etc.)

@@stepheninks Hehehe...you got me. You're probably Canadian too which would make me even more ridiculous. Cheers!

@@escargotomy Naw, I’m American. I definitely feigned sincerity on my disdain for logical measurement systems, so you’re probably not the only one who fell for my trickery. I learned the joys of the metric system when I lived in South Korea after college.

I need to get into vintage pens soon. I’ve bought most of the things I want in the modern space.

Hopefully that gives you a better experience. I cannot for the life of me figure out why a company that makes such stellar pens cannot invest the same effort into converters.

The number of finishes available for this pen is surprisingly similar to the Sailor offerings, while not outright copying them (or costing 300USD+)

If that works for you, awesome. It certainly would look just as sleek. I haven’t really gotten that much out of high end rollerballs myself. I always want to reach for my fountain pens at the end of the day.