Conid Bulkfiller Kingsize Review

[alaskazimm]

Thank you for your review. I come from collecting vintage pens as well as a core of modern fountain pens, all of which see use, and my Minimalistica is one of my favorite pens. I keep it constantly loaded with Diamine Sargasso Sea, a saturated ink that leaves a coat of blue on inside surfaces, but the bulkfiller enables easy disassembly for cleaning. The Bock stainless steel M nib is such a joy to write with that I've yet to fit the F nib that came with the pen.

 

I find that ink in the small lower chamber readily drains back into the main large chamber when the Conid is inverted in my pen rack. Does anyone else find this to be the case?

 

Fred

 

For me that only happens if the piston rod isn't fully seated. I typically use mine with the small chamber sealed off and refill as needed, so even being stored nib up the small ink chamber doesn't drain back.

[alaskazimm]

Thank you for your review. I come from collecting vintage pens as well as a core of modern fountain pens, all of which see use, and my Minimalistica is one of my favorite pens. I keep it constantly loaded with Diamine Sargasso Sea, a saturated ink that leaves a coat of blue on inside surfaces, but the bulkfiller enables easy disassembly for cleaning. The Bock stainless steel M nib is such a joy to write with that I've yet to fit the F nib that came with the pen.

 

I find that ink in the small lower chamber readily drains back into the main large chamber when the Conid is inverted in my pen rack. Does anyone else find this to be the case?

 

Fred

 

Just had another thought on this - the rod may not be seating the shut off o-ring properly and might need to be adjusted. I came across the instructions on the Conid site a couple of days ago.

 

http://conidblog.com/how-to-replace-a-minimalistica-rod/

[Honeybadgers]

 

Well except for that whole cracking problem . . .

 

 

TWSBI's haven't cracked for at least a year now. They figured out that the molds were being cooled too quickly and caused stress. You can inspect yours with a bright light and polarizing filter to see the stresses on the plastics are solved.

 

And I really don't hold higher end pens to any higher quality standards than the mid range stuff anymore. Visconti and Pelikan taught me that. Exceptions being ultra high end japanese stuff.

[alaskazimm]

 

 

TWSBI's haven't cracked for at least a year now. They figured out that the molds were being cooled too quickly and caused stress. You can inspect yours with a bright light and polarizing filter to see the stresses on the plastics are solved.

 

And I really don't hold higher end pens to any higher quality standards than the mid range stuff anymore. Visconti and Pelikan taught me that. Exceptions being ultra high end japanese stuff.

 

Fair enough. It's probably been that long since I've looked into TWSBI.

[MrSwissCheese]

I am still intrigued by the idea behind Conid, but just wish that their designs woud be a bit more innovative. They are... engineers pems. BMW, rather than Alfa Romeo or Audi, rather than Maserati.

[Chi Town]

After going thru all these reviews, I’ve made up my mind to start saving my money for a Conid Monarch Kingsize Bulkfiller in that fantastic Orange! The only thing I’m up in the air on is the Nib? I flat don’t know which way too go? I started out writing with mediums, but as of late have been buying Fines. But I really like Stubs. However, the ultimate nib to me is a Left hand oblique, even thou I’m right handed. I have about 3 of those. Gosh,,.....decisions, decisions, decisions!

[half_inked_one]

Medium Stub? I am expecting my M-Stub any day soon from Conid.

Remember, Monarch model is made out of ebonite and is prone to staining - as someone already reported here as the main disadvantage.

[georges zaslavsky]

Very good pen however I am not much fond of bone stock Bock nibs which are lacking character and which aren't flex

[Mew]

After going thru all these reviews, Ive made up my mind to start saving my money for a Conid Monarch Kingsize Bulkfiller in that fantastic Orange! The only thing Im up in the air on is the Nib? I flat dont know which way too go? I started out writing with mediums, but as of late have been buying Fines. But I really like Stubs. However, the ultimate nib to me is a Left hand oblique, even thou Im right handed. I have about 3 of those. Gosh,,.....decisions, decisions, decisions!

Nibs are swappable, so why not all 3?

[fountainbel]

Medium Stub? I am expecting my M-Stub any day soon from Conid.

Remember, Monarch model is made out of ebonite and is prone to staining - as someone already reported here as the main disadvantage.

 

Being immersed in the ink during filling, the front of the orange section of the Monarch may get some staining after time.

Avoiding this potential risk one can always ask to install a black hard rubber section;

Francis

[fountainbel]

Very good pen however I am not much fond of bone stock Bock nibs which are lacking character and which aren't flex

Please note all the nibs are individually fine-tuned by Conid's nib specialist.

And a test report for each individual nib is included.

Francis

[fountainbel]

I am still intrigued by the idea behind Conid, but just wish that their designs woud be a bit more innovative. They are... engineers pems. BMW, rather than Alfa Romeo or Audi, rather than Maserati.

Could you please explain what you mean when stating " they should be a bit more innovative" ?

Technically the patented Bulkfiller system proved to be a real breakthrough, and then there is also the CAISO*, which will be re-launched during the second quarter of 2018. (*Cap Actuated Ink Shut Off )

I expect you mean more innovative esthetically, in the shape of the pen, or the materials in which the pens are offered ?

Thanks for your feedback !

Francis

[half_inked_one]

Could you please explain what you mean when stating " they should be a bit more innovative" ?

If I understood agent_orange correctly, he meant design wise - something more than just clear/black barrels + chrome/gold furniture. That was my case, as I liked the Bulkfiller system as an idea - I have been waiting for more in the materials (till recently -> AntwerpPen).

Another model I would like to see is Minimalistica in matte (brushed?) tobacco material (macrolon?), or dark translucent amber (that would sell in thousands).

[Mew]

I hope he knows that changing the barrel and making it from a non-black/clear material is not innovation. It's essentially the same pen.

[Athas]

Could you please explain what you mean when stating " they should be a bit more innovative" ?

Technically the patented Bulkfiller system proved to be a real breakthrough, and then there is also the CAISO*, which will be re-launched during the second quarter of 2018. (*Cap Actuated Ink Shut Off )

 

Good to hear that CAISO is coming back! I've been waiting on that before buying my first Bulkfiller. Might as well get the most interesting pen.

 

For what it's worth, I really like the industrial/raw design of the pen. However, I can understand why people with more classical preferences might not like it.

[Joe124013]

Add me to the people who like the functional design of the pen. I received a bulkfiller last month (regular, not kingsize) and really enjoy the look. It seems well suited for a demonstrator especially.

 

I've also had no issues whatsoever with the nib's performance. As was mentioned they do have someone in-house to both customize and test before sending them out (I have a titanium medium stub as well as a titanium EF). The only thing I kinda wish that they had the Conid pattern that I noticed on some on the website rather than the Bock label, but that's a minor thing.

[zepp]

Is that blue Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue? It looks quite nice to me