Pilot Custom 74 'fine' Or 'soft-Fine'?

[beak]

Having finally decided on a black Pilot Custom 74 as the thin-line mate to my broad Pelikan, I'm now faced with the choice of fine or soft-fine nib. The pen will be used for annotations and corrections, mostly, and some sketching and ordinary cursive writing.

 

I'd be ever so grateful if anyone could tell me just how they differ in use, so that I can see which may be the one I should get. Is it merely a difference in feel as you write, or is the ink line different in appearance?

 

Also, there seems to be some doubt over whether the Custom 74 accepts the C70 converter - does it?

 

Any help appreciated.

[ExcaliburZ]

If I could get a soft nib I would get a soft nib. Since you want to sketch with this pen, it would help. You should ask in the rising sun sub-forum about the converter.

[Strang]

On a quick check of my 74, it will take the con-70 from my 845.

[hari317]

I have 74s with both these nibs. The F is rigid, the SF is springy and will give a nice flourish on pressured down strokes. but it is also a wet writer, F is a drier writer, suitable for margin notes etc.

 

I confirm that the 74 can easily take the Con70.

[51ISH]

beak

 

Custom 74 definitely takes the Con70 - I have seen somewhere them supplied with the con70 'as standard' But, can't remember where now...

 

Engieka seems to have best prices (e*ay) but seem to be supplied with the con20..might want to ask if she can supply con70 instead......or add one to your order if she stocks them

 

Waiting on delivery of a Custom 74 with a med nib myself...

[beak]

Thanks for all the above - any more input / suggestions still welcome!

[beak]

Well, I got the soft FM through a great deal at EBay.

 

I'm completely torn between two reactions to the pen; the nib is clearly higher grade stuff and works splendidly, but the body is lightweight and generally insubstantial. To me, the pen feels like a larger version of the 78G with a gold nib. This may all just be in contrast to my Pelikan M805 - but I guess that's not fair; the Pel costs five times as much as the Pilot.

 

One thing I have learned, though, is not to judge new kit too quickly; there's no doubt that the nib is a winner, and the other side of things may be less of a problem in time. The nib responds just right to pressure and the ink line is characterful and reliable, and the results look good on paper, so the other matters are secondary, I guess.

 

I'm going to try to find a bit of brass tube just the right size to slip over the converter in order to increase the weight a little, and see if that improves the heft of the pen, which, for me, is just what it needs.

Edited November 1, 2011 by beak

[hari317]

Beak, for a little bit more heft, consider the 823. large 15 size nib and a fancy filling system.

 

the 74/742/743 all feel nearly the same to me.

[beak]

Beak, for a little bit more heft, consider the 823. large 15 size nib and a fancy filling system.

 

the 74/742/743 all feel nearly the same to me.

Yes that does look more like it - though the 823 seems to be over three times the price I paid for the 74. I'll have to wait until another job comes along!

[Bo Bo Olson]

:notworthy1: I'm going to try to find a bit of brass tube just the right size to slip over the converter in order to increase the weight a little, and see if that improves the heft of the pen, which, for me, is just what it needs. :thumbup:

 

That is one great idea.

That gets my vote for Member Idea of the Year award.

If we don't have one we should start one.

 

 

Semi-flex is a 'wetter' nib....mostly. I have one that needs a wet ink.

I have one that is really paint brush wet that defiantly needs a dry ink.

Semi-flex and maxi-semi-flex/'flexi' both are more 'flexible' than springy.

They do often enough write darker and with less shading than some of my vintage regular flex nibs.

 

Some inks I get 'better' shading with regular flex. It is more fun to write with the more flexible nibs.

There is more 'flair' to the script.

 

If one has enough papers, one can with luck find a dancing match.

 

Some times my 'flexi' OF is better with ink tone than my semi-flex F, with a good regular flex better than both.

 

On the whole I still like the more flexible nibs, even if I have to hunt a bit harder for a perfect match of paper and ink.

 

You are going to have to match paper and ink, just like with any nib.

 

I'd not expect it to be as only a 'springy' nib to be as wet as one with more flex.

I only have a modern MB BB as a springy nib, and that don't help much talking Japanese.

[New_Falcon]

I know that it's been posted on the forums before that for pilot pens that are c/c getting a vanishing point cartridge cap is an easy way of increasing the weight of the pen and only costs a couple of bucks.

[beak]

Thanks for that idea - I hadn't come across it before.

[Robert Alan]

I know that it's been posted on the forums before that for pilot pens that are c/c getting a vanishing point cartridge cap is an easy way of increasing the weight of the pen and only costs a couple of bucks.

 

Hello! This sounds like an elegant solution, but, unfortunately, the metal sleeve will not fit over either the CON-70 or CON-50. It does fit over the end of the CON-20, and, when attached, does fit inside the barrel of a Custom 74, but it doesn't increase its weight by much.

 

Personally, I like the weight of my Custom 74 pens and think the nibs are excellent (my favorite is SFM). Pilot markets a pen that is larger than the 74 and it's also a c/c filler, and not as expensive as the 823. It's a Custom 743 (similar shape) with a larger, size 15 nib (size 5 is on the 74, of course).

 

Regards, Robert

[beak]

Thanks for all this input.

 

 

I don't know if it's just me, but I found getting full and reliable information on the complete range, size and weight of Pilot's output surprising difficult - complex at least. And in the end, found myself with something not quite right for me - watch the classifieds for a custom 74 SFM bargain coming up! Not just Pilot, of course; I've been looking for a fine-line companion to my Pel M805 of Japanese manufacture for months, and this is no easy task - the information gathering, I mean!

 

Nothing wrong with the pen, of course - actually it's rather a splendid writer, IMO, but the weight and size not, after all, what I was looking for. The search continues.

 

ETA

The pen is in FPN classifieds now.

Edited November 3, 2011 by beak

[araybanfan]

Hi Beak, have you considered a metal falcon from pilot? It is a full metal jacket of brass weighing at 34grams with a semi flex nib. I am using the extra fine nib. It is surprisingly smooth for the nib size. The only down side for the pen is railroading under max flex. It wasn't an easy pen to handle initially, once you are right at home with it, it does wonders especially with sketching. I drew this in the early days of owning the pen. Good luck with the hunt.

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36/rayshader/falconsmall.jpg

[beak]

Hi Beak, have you considered a metal falcon ...............

Yes I did look at that some time back, but was not struck on it for some reason - since I can't remember why, I'll take another look now. Have you found it at all slippery to hold?

 

Seen that eagle before - damn good IMO. Do you do that sort thing for a living? BTW - I do.

Edited November 3, 2011 by beak

[araybanfan]

The matte texture on the pen does make a big difference given the long hours for holding the pen. It was abit of a tough break for me to enter other brands as most pens these days are glossy departing from a lamy 2000. Someone from the field of steering wheels or fishing rods should enter pen designs. I modded my pen with heat shrink wrap(rubbery grip). It is way more comfortable now. Forgive my cheesy selection of the magenta it is the last surviving strip of shrink wrap off my tool box. Function overrides form, colour in this instance. LOL

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36/rayshader/falconjacket.jpg

Edited November 3, 2011 by araybanfan

[narendran]

I have 74s with both these nibs. The F is rigid, the SF is springy and will give a nice flourish on pressured down strokes. but it is also a wet writer, F is a drier writer, suitable for margin notes etc.

 

I confirm that the 74 can easily take the Con70.

Hi

will the #15 pilot soft fine nib on the pilot custom 823 give more line variation than the #10 soft fine nib on the custom 74 ?

Thank You

[hari317]

Hi

will the #15 pilot soft fine nib on the pilot custom 823 give more line variation than the #10 soft fine nib on the custom 74 ?

Thank You

Can one buy a 823 with a SF nib?

 

The SF is not designed to provide line variation, it gives a nice cushioned feel (feels soft) to the writing, the line variation is only a side effect. Pls do not buy these nibs to get line variation like a flex nib. YMMV.

[Algester]

Can one buy a 823 with a SF nib?

 

The SF is not designed to provide line variation, it gives a nice cushioned feel (feels soft) to the writing, the line variation is only a side effect. Pls do not buy these nibs to get line variation like a flex nib. YMMV.

as far as thats concerned no you are right one can not buy an 823 with a soft nib but one can buy the 743 and 823 and do a nib swap...

indeed I wont suggest about getting a soft nib and expect it to write like a flex

Edited May 25, 2015 by Algester