I bought a 650 at the 2024 DC Pen Show. I struggled with railroading when using Serenity Blue, so I eye dropped it with the same, and while it wrote better, it still had more railroading than I would have liked to see. I put the pen away for a while and then caught your video today. The gentleman who sold the pen to me told me to use only Mont Blanc, Waterman, or maybe Sailor ink. Not sure on the Sailor. I tried it again still had railroading. I changed the Waterman to Pilot Kon-peki and it seems much better. Thank you for your video!
The gentleman that sold the pen was wrong, obviously. I am glad you tried different inks. Good news is that over time the feek gets going...now, I can even use heavy shimmering ink in my Mag600.
Hemingway Jones talked to the guy that made the nibs at the DC pen show and he told him directly that they were all made in one batch at the same time. So the nibs are not “different,” I just think there is a range of consistency in the process used to produce them. Some nibs just happened to turn out more flexible than others.
True, to a degree. Though nibs are "all made in one batch," the way they are assembled, the feed setting, etc, are done at different times. I, too, spoke with the guy. He made me wait until the " new batch of nibs are made" ...Also, they may not fully disclose transparently their processed, and there is that.
@leicaman That is likely true. If course the many other things that go into making a nib can make a big difference. For example, the three nibs I wrote with have 3 different feel. The first difference is in the way tipping is applied. Also, the way they cut each slit, the temp at which they set the nib and feed, all make the big difference. They probably consistently work on improving it. Nonetheless, they have not yet perfected it. I hope they do soon 😀
@@Shak-MD I don't doubt that at all. The point of them being the same is probably what they start with, not what they finish with, right? I played with both the 600 and 650 at the San Fransisco pen show and liked them. I probably would have bought one, but the dealer held up an Ikkaku by Nahvalur (Chinese Azure urushi pen) with a Regalia Writing Labs Crossflex nib, and I bought it on the spot. That tapped me out for the show. And it was only 1pm!
@@Shak-MD The early 600 nib is not marked with gold content, but the later 650 nib (and I presume, later 600 nibs) are make with karat content on the side.
Not sure if you will see this comment, but ive got the gravitas vac filler and have the mag 600 on its way. Id love to use the pen the same way you demonstrated here, have the mag 600 nib on the gravitas demonstrator. But im really worried about unscrewing the mag 600 nib unit. Its probably silly and i am overthinking it but could you maybe once show how to best grip the nib so that the rist of damaging it is minimized? In any case, love your videos. :) very relaxing and informative.
Of course 😀. The feed on Mag600 is robust. So have no fear. Hold the nib in the dominant hand between index finger and thumb. Hold from the top and bottom of the nib. Tuen the pen slowly counterclockwise. It should unscrew very easily. If you find resistance, I just wet it for a couple of minutes. Dont heat it. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.
@@Shak-MD Thank you that you responded to my comment. :) By now I have the Mag 600 for a bit. But unlike you, mine had significant issues which didnt improve. It was non stop hard starting and railroading. No matter if I eyedroppered it or not. So, long story short, I got a refund. Since I got the money back, I had to order a new Feed (an ultra wet or super flow ebonite feed) and had to make a lot of adjustments to the nib myself to make it work. Its not perfect but works now to a degree that I am satisfied with. I wish everyone here who watches your videos a lot more luck than I had with my purchase. Its a lovely nib if it writes. I had to put in a lot of effort to make it work, but at least i got my initial investment returned.
Hey Shak - loved the comparison. Does Magna Carta use Ebonite feeds?? I mentioned it in a comment on another video I'd be interested to see a comparison & hear your thoughts on an Osprey Pens Ultraflex nib.
@@Shak-MD The version of the #6 Osprey Ultra-flex I got was the Fine 2-tone in a Jowo compatible housing at a cost of $28.00. I happened to purchase it through Ebay instead of direct. I like the nib, but it doesn't seem to flex quite as much as the FPR Ultraflex. That opinion may change after I have more writing experience with it.
@@Shak-MD thanks for the quick response. Would there be no real difference in the feed at all from the 650? I still suffer from railroading with the 600 every time I do an ink change. Nib is great. Just frustrating to use, as you’ve experienced before.
@ThePaulfranklee I assume there is some tuning improvement as they go on....not enough to notice much in person...and not enough to justify another 450 dollars..
@@Shak-MD appreciate your perspective Shak. Looks like it’s time for another hunt for another flex pen. Funny, have just gotten the Mag600 and the new Omas Bologna Calligrafia with Crossflex. Both pens have been a disappointment so far. Railroads and just cannot deliver ink.
Thank you for the comparison. I have been very interested in the 650. It is certainly an attractive pen. I would also certainly want the pen to work right out of the box, given the price point. I don't want to have to limit the ink that I would use to satisfy the pen. Given that, I do not do calligraphy but I like line variation which adds character to my writing. My favorite nib is the Pilot #15 Soft Fine nib. The nib on the M600 or M650 I would hope would be the same.
My pleasure! I agree that it should write well out of the box. Many still do. Unfortunately, MC’s QC is not perfect, or near perfect. This nib has so much potential. I am sure they will refine this over time. I think they are working on a smaller flex nib as well.
I bought a 650 at the 2024 DC Pen Show. I struggled with railroading when using Serenity Blue, so I eye dropped it with the same, and while it wrote better, it still had more railroading than I would have liked to see. I put the pen away for a while and then caught your video today. The gentleman who sold the pen to me told me to use only Mont Blanc, Waterman, or maybe Sailor ink. Not sure on the Sailor. I tried it again still had railroading. I changed the Waterman to Pilot Kon-peki and it seems much better. Thank you for your video!
The gentleman that sold the pen was wrong, obviously. I am glad you tried different inks. Good news is that over time the feek gets going...now, I can even use heavy shimmering ink in my Mag600.
Hemingway Jones talked to the guy that made the nibs at the DC pen show and he told him directly that they were all made in one batch at the same time. So the nibs are not “different,” I just think there is a range of consistency in the process used to produce them. Some nibs just happened to turn out more flexible than others.
True, to a degree. Though nibs are "all made in one batch," the way they are assembled, the feed setting, etc, are done at different times. I, too, spoke with the guy. He made me wait until the " new batch of nibs are made" ...Also, they may not fully disclose transparently their processed, and there is that.
At the SF. Pen show the Magna Carta people said, “…the exact same nib.” Interesting point about assembly. I like the look of the 650.
@leicaman That is likely true. If course the many other things that go into making a nib can make a big difference. For example, the three nibs I wrote with have 3 different feel. The first difference is in the way tipping is applied. Also, the way they cut each slit, the temp at which they set the nib and feed, all make the big difference. They probably consistently work on improving it. Nonetheless, they have not yet perfected it. I hope they do soon 😀
@@Shak-MD I don't doubt that at all. The point of them being the same is probably what they start with, not what they finish with, right? I played with both the 600 and 650 at the San Fransisco pen show and liked them. I probably would have bought one, but the dealer held up an Ikkaku by Nahvalur (Chinese Azure urushi pen) with a Regalia Writing Labs Crossflex nib, and I bought it on the spot. That tapped me out for the show. And it was only 1pm!
@leicaman That crossflex is the knockout punch to any flex pen argument.....😀 .
I'll have to compare very carefully my early 600 with my recent 650. Thanks for the video.
Great idea. I think they are a bit different. It could also be variation in production quality/gold content etc.
@@Shak-MD The early 600 nib is not marked with gold content, but the later 650 nib (and I presume, later 600 nibs) are make with karat content on the side.
Not sure if you will see this comment, but ive got the gravitas vac filler and have the mag 600 on its way. Id love to use the pen the same way you demonstrated here, have the mag 600 nib on the gravitas demonstrator. But im really worried about unscrewing the mag 600 nib unit. Its probably silly and i am overthinking it but could you maybe once show how to best grip the nib so that the rist of damaging it is minimized? In any case, love your videos. :) very relaxing and informative.
Of course 😀. The feed on Mag600 is robust. So have no fear. Hold the nib in the dominant hand between index finger and thumb. Hold from the top and bottom of the nib. Tuen the pen slowly counterclockwise. It should unscrew very easily. If you find resistance, I just wet it for a couple of minutes. Dont heat it. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.
@@Shak-MD Thank you that you responded to my comment. :) By now I have the Mag 600 for a bit. But unlike you, mine had significant issues which didnt improve. It was non stop hard starting and railroading. No matter if I eyedroppered it or not.
So, long story short, I got a refund. Since I got the money back, I had to order a new Feed (an ultra wet or super flow ebonite feed) and had to make a lot of adjustments to the nib myself to make it work. Its not perfect but works now to a degree that I am satisfied with.
I wish everyone here who watches your videos a lot more luck than I had with my purchase. Its a lovely nib if it writes. I had to put in a lot of effort to make it work, but at least i got my initial investment returned.
Hi. What pen body is your original mag 600 nib in? Which pen bodies would you recommend for swapping?
Hey Shak - loved the comparison. Does Magna Carta use Ebonite feeds?? I mentioned it in a comment on another video I'd be interested to see a comparison & hear your thoughts on an Osprey Pens Ultraflex nib.
Yes. The feed is ebonite. I wiuld love to try osprey nib.
@@Shak-MD The version of the #6 Osprey Ultra-flex I got was the Fine 2-tone in a Jowo compatible housing at a cost of $28.00. I happened to purchase it through Ebay instead of direct. I like the nib, but it doesn't seem to flex quite as much as the FPR Ultraflex. That opinion may change after I have more writing experience with it.
@zeus52452 I'll check out..Ospray may enter the race.
Many reviews show in order of most flex to least: FPR, Magna Carta, SCRIBO, Osprey
Hey Shak,
Nice review vid there.
For someone who already owns one of the older non stamped Mag600, would you recommend getting the M650 at all?
Thanks. No, don'tneed the new one. And I don'tthink all "new ones" are stamped.
Same nib...different package.
@@Shak-MD thanks for the quick response. Would there be no real difference in the feed at all from the 650?
I still suffer from railroading with the 600 every time I do an ink change.
Nib is great. Just frustrating to use, as you’ve experienced before.
@ThePaulfranklee I assume there is some tuning improvement as they go on....not enough to notice much in person...and not enough to justify another 450 dollars..
@@Shak-MD appreciate your perspective Shak.
Looks like it’s time for another hunt for another flex pen.
Funny, have just gotten the Mag600 and the new Omas Bologna Calligrafia with Crossflex. Both pens have been a disappointment so far. Railroads and just cannot deliver ink.
AS ALWAYS IT'S A PLEASURE TO WATCH UR VIDEOS
Thank you for the comparison. I have been very interested in the 650. It is certainly an attractive pen. I would also certainly want the pen to work right out of the box, given the price point.
I don't want to have to limit the ink that I would use to satisfy the pen. Given that, I do not do calligraphy but I like line variation which adds character to my writing. My favorite nib is the Pilot #15 Soft Fine nib. The nib on the M600 or M650 I would hope would be the same.
My pleasure! I agree that it should write well out of the box. Many still do. Unfortunately, MC’s QC is not perfect, or near perfect. This nib has so much potential. I am sure they will refine this over time. I think they are working on a smaller flex nib as well.
@@Shak-MD the larger nib is one of the reasons the 650 was attractive to me, besides the resin and it can be eyedropper filled.
@@paulmchugh1430 you won't go wrong. By the way. I eyedropper mag600 all the time.... just don't fly with it.
I would love to have a mag 650 but on the ropes about price😊
It is a beautiful pen. I also wish it was it would be better priced.
Found that my 600 works great with Lamy inks for some reason and not so well with others. I haven't tried Watermans ink with yet.
They start out quite fussy. Over time it gets better flow.