Baoer 517

[Halden]

Baoer 517

 

 

I have just received and inked a Baoer 517 from eBay. I purchased it for a Dollar and figured what I had nothing to lose at that price.

 

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HG7jEElxezQ/TNMie47XWLI/AAAAAAAAAQw/3_KbQdWpgd8/s640/IMG_8928.JPG

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Appearance & Design (7)

 

The 517 is a nice looking pen. It is a deep red with a black marble pattern and black and chrome accents. The most unique aspect of the pen is the interesting Clip design which I think will be love it or hate it for many people. The nib is two toned and is pretty enough.

 

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HG7jEElxezQ/TNMifskg3kI/AAAAAAAAARQ/Jt5AQd8Bgw0/s912/IMG_8916.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HG7jEElxezQ/TNMif30Yo7I/AAAAAAAAARY/pqbHOGdWdWY/s912/IMG_8918.JPG

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Construction & Quality (7)

 

The pen seems to be constructed well enough. Nothing jumped out at me upon inspection as seeming fragile or of poor quality. The only real weak spot is that the converter seems a little poor but functions and holds ink well.

 

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Weight & Dimensions (5)

 

This is a small pen. It is about 2 CM shorter than a Safari unposted and about 4 CM shorter posted. It is very close in size to the Pilot Vpen. The weight is nice and gives the pen a nice feel in the hand. This pen is not for those looking for a large pen.

 

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HG7jEElxezQ/TNMieSIZVxI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/FCNnqH6K3xg/s912/IMG_8923.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HG7jEElxezQ/TNMifXYFcqI/AAAAAAAAARA/dxY8xveIFSk/s912/IMG_8920.JPG

 

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Nib & Performance (5)

 

The nib seems to write fairly dry but smooth none the less. I did have some issues after letting it sit, it took some time to start but once started it flowed nicely. When writing there were a few instances of ink skipping but nothing major.

 

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Filling System & Maintenance (6)

 

The 517 is a C/C pen. The included converter is a little on the cheap side but functional. Seems to hold a decent amount of ink.

 

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Cost & Value (8)

 

This a decent pen for a great price. I cost me a bit more than a Vpen with shipping but offers far more flexibility as it comes with a converter and requires no hacking to refill. The styling and feel is better than I would expect for a Dollar. I am very satistfied with the product I received at this price point.

 

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Conclusion (6.3)

 

I certainly would not tell anyone to rush out and buy this pen but I do not think it will disappoint if you do. It is nice looking and functional little pen that offers a good value.

[penrivers]

Stunning beauty, discret, elegant pen. For 99 cents forget cartridges , fillers etc and make a good eyedroprer with

no cloging inks like watermans.

[Vargouille]

Interesting pen, and the clip looks like a Sheaffer military clip, anyone else think so? Although, for a dollar, I don't think it would go in with my collection/ accumulation.

[Jadedgn]

I've been very impressed with the Baoer pens I've found on ebay, but oddly not the ones branded Jinhao.

 

I have a Baoer 3040 that gives a lovely consistent wet line and the pen has a nice feeling of sturdiness and weight. I think I picked it up for $3 including a converter and free shipping!

 

In contrast I have a Jinhao x750 and an x450 that both have consistency issues but to their nib shapes. Both are very nice pens other than the nibs being ground into too deep a "baby butt" shape which makes then skip and slow to start. The upstroke is particularly bad. They'll make great cheap pens to experiment with nib grinding, but they could easily put a novice off FPs all together.

 

Overall I've had a great time playing with cheap import pens, but I think my next purchases will be the new Noodler's and a few more TWSBIs.

Edited November 7, 2010 by Jadedgn

[Jwolf24601]

My 517 has been a good performer. Removing the "tube" from the feed helped cure it's slight skipping issue for me. Unfortunently it is too small for me personally. I still use it daily, but I can not write with it for very long, the taper at the grip makes it too thin.

[Halden]

My 517 has been a good performer. Removing the "tube" from the feed helped cure it's slight skipping issue for me. Unfortunently it is too small for me personally. I still use it daily, but I can not write with it for very long, the taper at the grip makes it too thin.

 

Any instructions on the tube removal? I feel than the thinness also limits my use of this pen. Still a great deal for the price but not my go to pen.

[Halden]

So I pulled the nib out and removed the tube from the back (which I presume is the breather tube) and the pen is 100% better. Thanks for the heads up.

[John the Monkey]

FWIWI, I've two of these - both have been problematic (one wouldn't write at all, hence the second). They often need a squeeze of the cartridge to begin writing, and thereafter seem to dry up quickly. I'd not buy one again, personally.

[Matthew Lee 1959]

I have been using a 510 with Pelikan ink for about a week. The skipping issue was annoying until I figured out a couple of ways to get the ink flowing again. Usually if I just hold the nib down and allow gravity to work it does the trick. The other option is to lightly press the nib on the page. I paid six bucks for the pen and about fifteen for the ink which I ordered from Amazon. What I notice is that it is very sensitive to how it is held when writing. All in all it has been a good step up from using the Pilot Varsity pens. I like the feel, especially the weight.

 

I ordered it from danrong2008 on ebay. They were listed as a top rated seller, so I figured it was probably safe. It took about four weeks to arrive and came by mail and there was no shipping charge.

[Skeet]

I purchased a Baoer about a month ago, and have yet to ink it. But based on your review, it should be ok. Thanks.

[memarcho]

Recently I get a Baoer 510. Compared with other european and american made FP, performs very nice and smoothly, specially if it use a lubricated ink as Monteverde or some lubricated Noodler's Ink. Only one cons, a little small writing instument.

[savingbirds]

Could someone please explain how removing the breather tube will help prevent skipping?

Another question is: is the pen easily postable? I tend to lose the cap sometimes...

My 517 should be arriving tomorrow! Thanks in advance!

Edited April 29, 2012 by savingbirds

[ianmedium]

Lovely looking pen. One of the most pleasant surprises in all the years I have been writing with fountain pens is these excellent Value Chinese made pens. Get the right ones and they are comparable to the well known makes I feel

[bob_hayden]

They can be had for as little as $1.60 postpaid to the US of A via eBay today. I paid an extra dollar to get one in brown but they sent a black one anyway. I complained and they say they will send another. I have had a lot of trouble with Chinese eBay sellers sending a pen other than the one they listed lately so I have begun to protest.

 

Mine came super smooth and rather dry. I pressed the nib against paper a bit hard to spread the tines and it turned into a real gusher. So I pushed them back a bit and now it's about right. This nib is the most sensitive I have ever encountered to pressure so if you want more flow go easy. I am surprised people thought it small. Capped it is about 3/4" longer than a Sheaffer Dollar Pen, about the same length open and posted. It's heftier. These things are relative but I think it is within the normal range and not a mini purse pen. In fact, I think it is one of the nicest Chinese pens I have tried, and I have tried a lot!

[bob_hayden]

I received the replacement and it was the correct color. Nib is a bit dry but not as much so as the first one was on arrival and I have pretty much left it as is. One big disappointment and an answer to a question above: the first pen posts and the second does not;-( I can see that the cap liners look different but in fact the two caps both post on the first pen while neither posts on the second so it must be something (invisible) with the barrel. But now maybe I can see why people complained the pen is too small -- unposted it is too short for me to write with comfortably.

[bob_hayden]

I just received the blue and orange-black models. Both write wet and smooth. None of my 517s get ink on my fingers or have flow issues and each has a different brand of ink in it. I'm not sure it's the pen I'd suspect in a fight with BSB ;-)