Benu Skull And Hexagon: Italiced And Eyedropped!

[plumista]

Hello FPNers,

 

I would like to share with you my experience with the Russian brand Benu.

 

1) Both pens (Skull and Hexagon LE) were ordered via La Couronne du Comte and arrived home last friday. Since UPS (the only delivery method available at Benu itself) has NOT taken part in this, the delivery has been free of issues or problems. So finally I have been able to enjoy two of these pens, for a lower price, without delivery issues... strange and sad that Benu pens are cheaper and reliably delivered... when not ordered from maker directly!

 

2) Congratulations for the quality of the work. Nothing to add. In fact the Skull has immediately disappeared from my desk once my wife has seen it. I am afraid I will have to order another Skull asap, as I have already told Mr van de Graaf (LCdC). The low-relief work is flawless all over the entire surface, at least according to my x8, x20 and x40 loupes. Regarding the New Year LE, the green and the silver reminds me exactly of a winter field covered in winter ice crystals.

 

3) Both the Hexagon and the Skull have the same point to be improved (of course from my humble point of view and non-expert opinion): the nib, a standard and generic stock instead of a proud, unique, proprietary design engraved or imprinted on that wonderful performer Schmidt. Why such a difference between a superb pen and such an uninteresting nib? In fact, I have swapped them both for #5 italics, and the performance is a dream. I surely would not have done so, if the pens had come from factory with dedicated Benu brand nibs with at least the usual stub options 0.9 and 1.1. Which leads to the second weak point of this brand: the cap screws on the body via too loose threads, which only become tight in the very last quarter turn, the rest of the screwing is weirdly loose and does not convey high quality thread turning on factory but a certain unreassuring feeling of "these threads are not made to fit the one on the other".

 

4) The construction of the pens allows an eyedropper conversion: at the base of the threads there is a small circular recess where I have fitted a right-size O-ring, and the threads above it are given a dollop of pure silicone grease (heavy version, since the threads between body and section are not quite tight). The result: I have filled the Hexagon New Year with the Diamine Magical Forest (green with silver particles) and the Skull with Diamine Night Sky (black and silver). Simply spectacular. I have also suggested Benu to include this piece of info in their item description, so they can attract many more potential customers, who, like me, want to enjoy these pens in more than one way. Not as a standard procedure perhaps, but an option for "advanced" users, just like TWSBI includes silicone and wrench, although these accessories are not for eveyone.

 

Thank you for reading this!

plumista

 

PS: no photographs due to the weird ways of the computer uploading system chosen by the FPN board, which means many FPNers remain unable to upload anything.

Edited December 31, 2018 by plumista