Cheap Fp's - Sub $5 -- How Are They?

[drjmb]

Jinhao, no doubt. My favorite is the rosewood barrel 8812 that I paid $8 for. I just saw it on e-bay for $1.98 and free shipping. It's the right size and weight. The x450 is a favorite because of the grip, the x750 is larger, and the 159 (a very nice, big, heavy, solid, pen) is a copy of the Montblanc 149. They are so cheap (AND free shipping!!) that anyone can afford to have fun and experiment.

[TheRealMikeDr]

I'm batting 66% with Jinhao - my x450 didn't write well at all - my 159 and 500 both write very well. Very smooth!

[Dragonmaster Lou]

I'm a little wary about Jinhao (the cap band detached from my x750 and, with it, the ability for the cap to stay on the pen), although they're so cheap that they can be viewed as almost disposable.

 

Then again, I guess this is to be expected of any pen in this price range. At least the Jinhaos, being metal, are not likely to shatter when dropped -- just to fall apart with wear and tear.

[JotterAddict62]

Does my Parker 51 Aerometric I bought for $2.50 count?

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I'm batting 66% with Jinhao - my x450 didn't write well at all - my 159 and 500 both write very well. Very smooth!

 

I bought a couple of Jinhao X450s and so far I've only tested one of them. I had to really tweak that nib in order to get it to write. But after I got through with fixing the pen it wrote pretty decently.

 

So you might try doing something to get the pen to write, you have nothing to lose if it won't write at all now.

[setriode]

My red Jinhao 159 is superb. Its nib needed adjustment but a lot less than a Lamy Safari and Lamy abc.

[Maurizio]

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/309610-big-smooth-jinhao-159/

 

I was a bit too effusive in my post about the Jinhao 159 I got about a month ago, but I was so pleasantly surprised by how well it wrote and that it cost me a grand total of $3.93 I just couldn't help myself.

 

I just bought another one, this time it cost me $4.05, as the 2nd pen I'm dedicating to Noodler's Bay State Blue ink.

Edited July 20, 2016 by Maurizio

[setriode]

The Jinhao 159 has a smooth nib with a wet flow, the parts tend to fit well and is surprising in the performance and finish it delivers for the money. Maurizio, you perhaps paid too much: mine was $2.79.

[Maurizio]

☺️

[TSherbs]

Does my Parker 51 Aerometric I bought for $2.50 count?

sure, price-wise, but the OP was interested in cheap pens that he/she would not mind losing or having damaged on trips, etc. If that 51 writes well and looks beautiful, my guess is that this is not the kind of pen he/she means. But, it sounds like a great deal.

 

Of course, some people will travel with anything, so, who knows?

[Sasha Royale]

So, here are the ones that I have an used, with satisfaction.

Jinhao 599 / 159 / x450 / x250 / 500

Hero 616 / 266

[TheRealMikeDr]

 

I bought a couple of Jinhao X450s and so far I've only tested one of them. I had to really tweak that nib in order to get it to write. But after I got through with fixing the pen it wrote pretty decently.

 

So you might try doing something to get the pen to write, you have nothing to lose if it won't write at all now.

 

Thanks!

 

It writes but it tends to have a very fussy sweet spot - so it skips like a school-kid in my hand.

 

I may use it to practice grinding the nib (might have a slight case of babys bottom) to see what happens.