Pilot V-Pen Disposable Fountain Pen

[torstar]

torstar has confirmed it refills just like a pilot hi-tecpoint. Pull the nib forward and the entire feed section is removed with it. This removes literally every functional part in the pen, there's nothing left but an empty space with an ink reservoir beneath it.

 

I would've suggested using the same ink Pilot sells for their hi-tecpoints, but there appear to be no more cartridge-taking hi-tecpoints. Not even their "recycled pens". For shame. Whatever it is, is extremely fast-drying. Does anyone know a super-fast-drying black which might be similar?

 

you can also put a hole in the back of the pen and fill from the other end and plug the hole

[EBUCKTHORN]

As of this morning Jet Pens still lists cartridge Hi-Tec models. I purchased and received some from them a couple of weeks ago. For example:

 

https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-V7-Hi-Tecpoint-Cartridge-System-Rollerball-Pen-Medium-Point-Black/pd/12290

 

Jet (or Pilot) says the pens are good for about ten cartridges full of writing. Can anyone elaborate on that based on experience?

 

No afiliation with Jet other than being a satisfied repeat customer.

[Feanaaro]

 

you can also put a hole in the back of the pen and fill from the other end and plug the hole

 

Not really, if you do that the ink will just pour out of the pen on the nib end. To be able to fill the pen from a hole in the back you should make the front (nib) airtight in some way, otherwise the ink will just flush straight through the pen.

[Jason Oliver]

One of the best values out there.... just wish the ink shaded (it's pretty opaque)

[torstar]

 

Not really, if you do that the ink will just pour out of the pen on the nib end. To be able to fill the pen from a hole in the back you should make the front (nib) airtight in some way, otherwise the ink will just flush straight through the pen.

 

our nation of geeks/dorks/nerds/weasels can overcome those limits...

 

best to wrap the nib part in paper towel and pull it out, be more careful putting it back in place once you've filled the barrel with ink.....

[wallylynn]

 

 

Not really, if you do that the ink will just pour out of the pen on the nib end. To be able to fill the pen from a hole in the back you should make the front (nib) airtight in some way, otherwise the ink will just flush straight through the pen.

 

If I remember correctly, it won't. But for a different reason. Because the ink resevoir is only a fraction of the barrel. There's a wall between the back end and the nib.

 

After you drill out that wall...

 

The feed isn't a typical feed that lets ink just run through. It's a wick feed. Yes some ink will probably drip in the time it takes to fill and seal, but it's not like the ink will just run out the other end.

[Feanaaro]

 

 

If I remember correctly, it won't. But for a different reason. Because the ink resevoir is only a fraction of the barrel. There's a wall between the back end and the nib.

 

After you drill out that wall...

 

The feed isn't a typical feed that lets ink just run through. It's a wick feed. Yes some ink will probably drip in the time it takes to fill and seal, but it's not like the ink will just run out the other end.

 

The feed doesn't look like that to me, from the disassembly video, but it may be...

[graystranger]

The feed has a large groove along its top and a wick sits inside that groove with the nib sitting above it. So, it is a wick feed sitting inside a plastic ribbed feed.

 

I remove the nib before I pull the feed out. The nib comes out easily like a Lamy Safari nib. I was concerned that I might damage the nib while worrying the feed out of the barrel if I did not do this.

 

By the way, I was able to get one feed out of a barrel out without pliers, just by gripping it with a piece of grippy rubber, twisting and pulling on it. But the other 3 pens I filled required pliers to worry the feed out. I also found a tube that fits just inside the barrel with the feed inside the tube. I can press the feed back in with this.

 

Once you get the feed back in the barrel you can just slip the nib onto the feed and you are ready to go.

 

Just got the set of 7 Varsity pens in today, will fill some of them with my ink preferences and may give some away at a pen club meeting next month. A lot of pen for the money. Every one of the 13 I have bought so far have been very smooth writers, nicely wet, never hesitates, and the caps seal air tight. They can sit for months capped and start up instantly.

Edited February 22, 2018 by graystranger

[Corona688]

I remove the nib before I pull the feed out. The nib comes out easily like a Lamy Safari nib. I was concerned that I might damage the nib while worrying the feed out of the barrel if I did not do this.

How do you remove the nib? Does it just slide off or do you have to uncrimp it?

[TSherbs]

How do you remove the nib? Does it just slide off or do you have to uncrimp it?

It slides off. Don't mess with its shape.

[GeneralSynopsis]

Thanks, updated with those details. Having used them a long time, would you say the point wears noticeably by the time the ink runs out?

They are tipped, so should last a long time, I have a fine re-ground to an edged nib that is on its third or fourth refill.

[Corona688]

They are tipped

With what though? I refuse to believe Pilot tips disposable pens with two of the most expensive and difficult materials known to man.

[graystranger]

With what though? I refuse to believe Pilot tips disposable pens with two of the most expensive and difficult materials known to man.

 

My understanding (from numerous postings on FPN and other sources) is that the "iridium" tipping material is an alloy of iridium and contains a very small amount of iridium, like 2% and less. Never anywhere near 100% iridium. The exact alloy used varies from one nib manufacturer to another.

 

The cost of the tipping material is not so much in the iridium content but in the process of welding or metallurgically bonding the alloy to the tip of a nib.

[Corona688]

The pilot varsity apparently is filled with "Iroshizuku", whatever that is, perhaps the V-Pen is also.

 

[edit] Perhaps this is its normal ink. It's supposed to have shading properties and is cheap.

Edited February 23, 2018 by Corona688

[EBUCKTHORN]

I'm gratified that this and the other thread (about single-use plastics) have been generating some very thoughtful and potentially helpful responses. Here's an excerpt from an email from a Jet Pens employee with reference to using other than replaceable cartridges to refill the V5 & V7 Hi-Tecpoint Cartridge system pens:

 

"Unfortunately, I haven't heard of anyone testing how many refills the Hi-Tecpoint pens can last through before the tip wears out.
You can also use bottled fountain pen ink to refill the Hi-Tecpoint cartridges, and you can even use a Pilot Con-40 fountain pen converter instead.
https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-CON-40-Fountain-Pen-Converter/pd/16562
The only trouble with refilling a Hi-Tecpoint with bottled ink is that the pen comes with the original cartridge already installed. Because of this, you would need to very thoroughly clean out the original ink from the grip section before installing the bottled ink. Otherwise, the two inks could interact inside the grip section, causing sludge or sediment to form inside the pen and clog it.
Additionally, because the Hi-Tecpoint lays down a thinner layer of ink than a fountain pen, any fountain pen ink you put in it will appear less saturated from the Hi-Tecpoint than it does from a fountain pen. So make sure to keep this in mind when choosing a bottled ink and pick one that looks a bit more saturated than you would like it to look like when using it in the Hi-Tecpoint."

 

This was part of a series of very thorough responses from this employee-messages that were much more substantial than I'd ever hoped to receive. As I've said I have no connection with Jet and I know there are other helpful online sellers (Goulet, for example-again no connection) but I've been extremely satisfied with communication from Jet.

 

I've been encountering new articles about plastic pollution almost daily and agree with the comment in the other thread that recycling is not a panacea. I also want to assure everyone that our concern about discarded plastic from pens and pen refills is far from the largest part of the problem but it certainly is at least symbolic.

 

I believe we can agree that fountain pens and mechanical pencils are the best solutions in terms of minimum discards but that does leave out the whole spectrum of ball tip writing instruments. We can also agree that fewer is better, but that runs counter to the acquisitiveness that has become ingrained in our minds being that we're immersed in a culture based on consumption. I will post this in the other thread too.

[SteveID]

Pilot's Varsity/V-Pen is a great starter FP and a fine EDC, but no matter how the percentages of the nib alloy work out, it remains that this is $3 disposable pen, and no amount of enthusiasm for refilling it will change the fact that the nib is cheap, stamped metal and excessive handling will deform the nib ( which is admittedly very tough). I was able to remove the nib and feed by hand on the Varsity several times (each time with a satisfying POP) but there are several Varsity carcasses in a bin in my home that succumbed to simple overhandling.

Edited March 17, 2018 by SteveID

[inkstainedruth]

The pilot varsity apparently is filled with "Iroshizuku", whatever that is, perhaps the V-Pen is also.

 

[edit] Perhaps this is its normal ink. It's supposed to have shading properties and is cheap.

 

My understanding is that the original ink in Varsities is not necessarily fountain pen ink, but something designed to work well in those pens. Which is too bad, because the blue was stellar, and I wish I could find its equivalent.

And no, it's probably not Pilot Iroshizuku ink -- I've tried a bunch of the Iroshizuku blues, and it's definitely a different color and consistency. (Also, I doubt that they would put expensive ink like that into a disposable pen -- from an economic standpoint, it doesn't seem to be a good business model.

Oh, just for giggles I did a Google Translate for "iroshizuku" and it's just Japanese for "color drop", which is not all that surprising, given that some other Japanese brands (I'm thinking of the Kyoto TAG inks in particular) use "iro" as part of the names for their different inks.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Corona688]

My understanding is that the original ink in Varsities is not necessarily fountain pen ink, but something designed to work well in those pens. Which is too bad, because the blue was stellar, and I wish I could find its equivalent.

The Varsity is a fountain pen, we've got a whole thread on things you can refill them with, it doesn't seem to need anything too special. Permanents, iron galls, and pigments are right out though, because of the unusual fiber-wick it has in its feed.

 

I was referring to Namiki black specifically, not the entire Iroshizuku line. Namiki's extra-cheap, and artists say the same nice things about it and black V-pens - that it shades to an excellent grey.

 

You're probably right about the blue. We actually have a recipe for that though, believe it or not!

• 0.4% Direct Blue 86
• 0.1-1.5% Triethanolamine flow-agent
• 0.3% Phenol preservative
• (Inferred) Approx 97% water

You could get yourself a kilogram of Direct Blue 86 off Alibaba or something and be set for life. Edited March 17, 2018 by Corona688

[Honeybadgers]

Seriously? They put an iridium point on a disposable pen? What on earth for?

 

Like I said, I extremely doubt it's iridium. probably an osmium alloy, which is MUCH cheaper than iridium. And it's going to last damn near as long. Iridium is RARELY used in FP nibs anymore.

Edited March 18, 2018 by Honeybadgers

[Corona688]

My 717i's claim to be tipped with "Ridium"