Pilot Vanishing Point Q's That Need Some A's

[LeakyInk]

Hello all a long time lurker, rare poster. I have some cashish I plan on using on myself and decided it's about time I get back into the world of fountain pens. I am not a writer or artist, I wish I was but for my needs, writing orders and filling out stuff at work I thought the Pilot Vanishing Point would be perfect. The click mechanism makes it handy to do what I need. I also cannot have a desk style pen as it would be gone the second I turn my back, and that's not only because of customers.

I am wondering though, those that have this pen or have used one, does it take long for the ink to start flowing so you can write? Pens I had in the past would take a bit of time and some coaxing to start writing. I need to take down orders pretty quickly at work so I would need something that can be ready quickly. It's a metal bodied pen, does it show wear quickly? It will be in and out of my shirt pocket all day long. Any other quirks of these pens I need to know about?

So my plan is to buy from Goulet Pens or one of the other fountain pen stores. Also get a few ink samples, I know I will get bored with just one colour and it would be nice to try different inks. Plus the pen is at my high limit so there will not be much left for a bottle of ink.

Maybe some of you have other options for pens for me to consider?

[Uncial]

I never quite understood the VP until i held one and started using it. They are quite amazing little pens...well, actually, its quite a big pen. I use it to jot quick notes at my desk, especially when on the phone. For that and as a quick use desk pen its perfect. The downside is the small ink capacity.

[ceebert]

My EF and F start right up. Diamine Macassar can sit for a day and go, Noodlers Black is ready after a weekend off. In use, theyre as instant as a ball point. Instant-er than that. Best luck.

[LeakyInk]

Thank you both for the info. The ink capacity thing I heard about in a review but it's not a deal breaker. I would just get to change inks more often. I wish I could try the pen out since I'm not sure if I want a fine or extra fine. I was thinking ef because of the ink capacity. Wish they had a pink colour or one with pink in it.

[ceebert]

I use Con-Bs, the squeeze converters. They hold more ink, and are easy fills.

[ceebert]

...oops

An EF will give you something near an 0.3mm (ink and paper aside). Fine is about a .04. My Vanishing Point nibs reverse-write well, a quick and dirty way to reduce your line by a size.

[JulieParadise]

My VP Décimo (the slimmer version, but with the exact same nib unit as the regular VP) is used as an Every Day Carry in my wallet/notebook-combo. I do use it for small notes on the go and also longer writing when outside. Sometimes I do not leave the house for some time (over the weekend, when I am sick, etc.) so it does not get used then. I never had problems with hard starts besides when using extremely dry inks. So: I would recommend it for short notes at work, definitely!

[moonrainbow]

I've recently bought a Decimo (the slimmer version of the Vanishing Point) and it's been one of the happiest pen purchases I've made. For its size and gadgetry, I did not expect the nib to be as smooth and cushioned as it turned out to be. Likewise with what people have said above, I've never had trouble with hard starts after leaving it for a few days. The metal body is lacquered, so it doesn't change colour with hand oils as some metal finishes might, and I've dropped it a few times from standing height onto hard floor without any obvious marks to the body. I just always make sure I retract the nib as soon as I finish writing.

[rutherfordr]

Wish they had a pink colour or one with pink in it.

 

Here you go:

 

https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/pilot-decimo-fountain-pens/products/pilot-vanishing-point-decimo-fountain-pen-champagne?variant=11884881084459

 

It comes with an extra-fine nib, too.

[BaronWulfraed]

...oops

An EF will give you something near an 0.3mm (ink and paper aside). Fine is about a .04. My Vanishing Point nibs reverse-write well, a quick and dirty way to reduce your line by a size.

 

Ignoring the misplaced decimal -- your pens seem on the wide side. My tests on Levenger 3x5 note cards, with "dipped" nib units (I wasn't going to fully ink a pen just to make a few cross-hatches for measuring), and measured with an Edmund optical comparator (apologies to those who have seen this table before)...

 

14K F 0.2mm/0.2mm (reporting vertical/horizontal or pull/transverse stroke)

18K M 0.4mm/0.4mm

14K B 0.6mm/0.4mm (small "stub" effect)

18K Stub 0.6mm/0.2mm

 

Note: the 14K nib units are the older ones in my collection (one being the previous generation faceted simple black plastic Vanishing Point, that would be a match to a Scripto mechanical pencil, and is the closer in barrel size to the current Decimo).

[DonM]

 

Ignoring the misplaced decimal -- your pens seem on the wide side. My tests on Levenger 3x5 note cards, with "dipped" nib units (I wasn't going to fully ink a pen just to make a few cross-hatches for measuring), and measured with an Edmund optical comparator (apologies to those who have seen this table before)...

 

14K F 0.2mm/0.2mm (reporting vertical/horizontal or pull/transverse stroke)

18K M 0.4mm/0.4mm

14K B 0.6mm/0.4mm (small "stub" effect)

18K Stub 0.6mm/0.2mm

 

Note: the 14K nib units are the older ones in my collection (one being the previous generation faceted simple black plastic Vanishing Point, that would be a match to a Scripto mechanical pencil, and is the closer in barrel size to the current Decimo).

 

My experience has shown that there is a difference in line width between a fully inked pen and simply dipping it to test. Fully inked seems to yield a wider line. I have no particular explanation for this, except maybe that a fully inked pen has more pressure behind the flow.

[BaronWulfraed]

Interesting -- I'd have expected the mass of ink covering the lower feed to induce a fatter line...

 

Scrolling through my samples... A Pilot Falcon SB is showing 0.9x0.8mm

Edited July 21, 2019 by BaronWulfraed

[inkstainedruth]

My first Decimo I had problems with dryout -- I had swapped the nib assembly for one from a used Vanishing Point, and it wasn't *quite* a perfect match. The door on the end of the pen didn't close completely. Had the shoulders of the assembly ground down a bit, and then it was fine -- but I promptly lost the pen.

The new Decimo (as of last winter) I ordered directly with the nib size I wanted, and have had no issues whatsoever with the pen (other than I'm not overly keen on the Con-40 converter that came with the pen, and have to make sure that the nib and feed are fully submersed if the ink bottle (currently a partial bottle of Take-sumi someone gave me) isn't 100% full (those nibs are quite long, compared to many brands' nibs). I have an F nib on mine, which writes narrower than a European F, but is not too narrow a line for me.

As for DonM's comment about dipping vs. filling, I've actually found it to be the opposite, unless I don't wipe the nib down (regardless of fill system) -- just dipping the nib is wetter

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Pensei]

OP, I know nib size is a very subjective matter, but if it's a toss-up, I would get the F. I have the EF in a 74 and love it, but the EF in the Vanishing Point I find a bit scratchy. It's OK, but if I had it to do over, I would get the F. I would not made the decision on the basis of ink usage. I think that concern is perhaps overstated. A Pilot F is still by no means a firehose. Just my opinion.

[A Smug Dill]

I am wondering though, those that have this pen or have used one, does it take long for the ink to start flowing so you can write?

After a fresh fill? That depends on whether you're filling the converter through the nib-feed assembly, or trying to be "neat" and filling the converter from the ink bottle independently of the nib-feed assembly.

 

After last use of the pen for writing? That depends on how long you've left the pen unused (with nib retracted), and to some extent the ink you've chosen. I used Sailor kiwa-guro pigment ink in my F-nibbed Pilot Capless matte black Vanishing Point pen for several years as my 'Every Day Carry' for work, and it has very rarely had hard starts when I pushed the nib out to jot down notes and such. On the other hand, Pilot Capless pens aren't really known for sealing the nibs well, so if you leave your pen sitting there unused and undisturbed (with nib retracted) for a couple of weeks, you may need some effort to get the ink flowing again, depending on the choice of ink, the ambient temperature and humidity in which your pen rested in the meantime, etc.

[Tas]

Wears beautifully (see here)

It's a brilliant pen with a fabulous nib and one that I would replace immediately if lost. Highly recommended.

Full discolsure: in the past, mine has had a few diva moments with some inks (I forget which though) but all is forgiven.

[LeakyInk]

Wow, thanks for all the responses all. Sorry I haven't responded earlier, I have had a lot of stuff going on including being sick from what I don't know. Nice to see the love of the pen. I think I am going to go with an f nib and I like that champagne colour, almost with it had gold trim but not a deal breaker.

Almost ready to pull the trigger on the pen. Looks like I'll miss the inkapolooza sale unfortunately.

[mamajones]

The champagne decimo is absolutely gorgeous -- as a fellow lover or pink, I was going to recommend it as well. The color is a beautifully subtle shade, as are all those of all the decimo pens. I think you will love it!

 

As for ink, I encourage you to sample widely because no matter how well-tuned your monitor, the colors will be different in "real life.". BUT: when you price them, be sure to check the size of the samples: some dealers' samples are 2 ml, some are 3 or 4 ml. If you don't take that into account (as I did NOT at first), you might not be getting the best prices.

 

If you want ideas for various colors, post on the Inky Thoughts forum asking for suggestions: you'll get more ideas than you can handle! (Just be sure to specify as much as you can: color range, wet or dry, waterproof or not, etc.)

Edited July 24, 2019 by mamajones

[rlb]

My everyday work horse is the pilot decimo. I highly recommend it. I like the thinner and lighter profile. I've never had an issue with mine and it has survived drops and uses by non fountain pen users!

 

I recommend trying some grays. It's good for work bc it still professional and doesn't scream, look at me I'm a FP user trying a new color. However, you can tell it didn't come from a bic!

[LeakyInk]

Great advice again. I am into colours since I am not a professional so the colour doesn't matter in what I do. I like grey and I will sample them along with other brands and colours I have been wanting to try.