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Choosing Between Sf And Sfm (Pilot)


Omnicloud0321

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Hello FPN!

 

I just signed up but I have been lurking and reading all over and agonizing over nib choice as this is my first "step up" pen. I have decided on a Custom Heritage 912 (or maybe a 91 since I'm not getting the more esoteric WA, FA, SU, MS, but I like the larger nib) but as the title states, I can't decide between SF and SFM for a daily writer. I have Metros in F & M, a Safari in EF, and Preppy's in F & M. The Preppy F is too thin and dry for me, while the Preppy M is too bold and wet. The Safari is actually near to my ideal, which would be a bit thinner. Similarly, I like something a hair thicker than the Metro F. The Metro F I find gives a little too much feedback while the Metro M writes like a dream, has a great line on Rhodia but too thick on Moleskine, for example. I think a rigid steel FM would have been a good Goldilocks nib for me with in between line width and smoothness, but I've read and seen examples that soft and 14K nibs from Pilot are wetter so I am leaning towards soft fine at the moment. The Goulet nib nook (screenshot) examples of 14k fines and 912 soft fine seem almost like the Metro medium though... My only concern after line width is smoothness.

 

Also, on another note, are the stars on the rhodium cap band only on the North American version? I probably will be getting my pen from j-subculture and the pictures of Japanese market pens show empty space where the stars would be (I prefer this). I also have noticed that it's "Custom Heritage 912" in Japan and simply "Custom 912" in America.

Edited by Omnicloud0321
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Welcome to FPN.

 

The 912 is a great pen. I have the SFM and I would rate it a bit thinner than a Metro M but you are correct that the soft in S adds some width particularly if you apply some pressure when writing. For me the SFM is about perfect.

 

I ordered my pen from Japan and have no stars in the cap band.

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Welcome to FPN.

 

The 912 is a great pen. I have the SFM and I would rate it a bit thinner than a Metro M but you are correct that the soft in S adds some width particularly if you apply some pressure when writing. For me the SFM is about perfect.

 

I ordered my pen from Japan and have no stars in the cap band.

 

Thank you very much! I see you are a fellow Canadian :D. May I ask who did you order from, how fast shipping was and how were the customs/duty? Also do you have any writing samples lying around between the Metro M and SFM?

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The Soft-Fine sounds like what you're looking for in terms of line width; although the SFM is really just a little thicker. Just got Soft-Fine a few weeks back and it is plenty smooth; with very slight pressure, I find it similar to my Metro M. I had the Safari EF as well, and found it too thick for my liking as well. Can't help with writing samples, as I have already taken the nib down to an EF (I prefer really fine lines)

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Thank you very much! I see you are a fellow Canadian :D. May I ask who did you order from, how fast shipping was and how were the customs/duty? Also do you have any writing samples lying around between the Metro M and SFM?

I think it was penpal-avenue and as I recall, I did have to pay duties. I suggest trying pisuke2005. Reliable and no duties with purchases from him. Shipping has always been very fast, about a week.

I don't have any writing samples of the Metro. Once you get a Pilot Custom the Metro never gets used again! I've given mine to my son.

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https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/287940-the-pilot-metropolitan-gateway-pen-to-the-custom-74/

 

I bought a Custom 74 earlier this year with the SFM nib. As you suspected, it was really wet -- with J. Herbin Perle Noir ink. I love that ink but it was just too wet.

 

I switched to Pelikan Brilliant Black which is a drier ink and it has been a fabulous combination. I couldn't be happier. The dryness of the ink also makes a difference on the line width. The unflexed line width is about .3mm I'd guess, about as thin as I want for easily legible letters for these eyes that are over 50 years old ;)

 

I use this pen every day at work on a nice quality notebook paper, not clairefountaine or rhodia but few steps up from copy paper.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi guys,

 

Thank you all for your feedback. I was travelling at the beginning of the week. I have taken all your comments into consideration and I have pulled the trigger on a 912 SF. I do like wet inks (Iroshizuku :wub:) and there seems to be a general trend that the soft gold nibs are slightly wider/wetter than the steel ones so a fine with these attributes seems to fit my preferred line width. If I do not like the feedback, how receptive are the soft nibs to smoothing/adjusting by a nibmeister? And how easy is it to remove the nib and feed; is it a pressure fit or twist in unit? Worst case scenario, a SF 912 might be easier to sell than a SFM.

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Hi Omnicloud0321 !

 

Give us some feedback when you receive the pen ! I am in the exact same situation of indecision you were !

 

Nicolas

Edited by Aramis
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Nib/feed is friction fit. Smoothing wise, its as receptive as any other nib.

 

Adjustment wise, depends on what types of adjustments you're looking at.

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Hello,

 

I received my 912 yesterday and here are my findings. Below you will find my review (2 scans) and my video review (less concise and with unboxing/physical comparisons). Aramis, I hope my nib comparison scan helps you decide. I find the SF to be a tiny (very) bit wider than F and it is in fact, essentially my perfect line width! I don't have any experience with FM though but I imagine this SF is a teensy bit thinner than the standard FM. This is my first review and video so try not to be too harsh on me! :D

 

Video:

 

Click for 600 dpi scans (BIG).

http://i.imgur.com/tSrqOAb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/JdeXSmp.jpg

Edited by Omnicloud0321
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Congradulations! Sounds like you got the perfect pen for your needs. I enjoyed your reviews (both video and written).

 

I'm envious you can use the Perle Noire, I do like that ink a lot.

 

Enjoy that new pen!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thank you very much Omnicloud !

 

Your video was really informative and I appreciate the comparison with the Lamy!

From your writing sample, the soft-fine is a bit too fine for me, but I was unable to pull the trigger for a sfm...

So I ordered one with the Falcon nib as I already have a good daily carry/school pen. (Platinum 3776 Century in broad) and the Falcon intrigue me a lot. :rolleyes:

Your review was really helpfull !

 

Have fun with your new pen !

 

p.s. I just used an old computer connected with an old account that I had long time ago forgot the password.... and have seen this only after posting :roller1:

 

Aramis

Edited by Siegfried__
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