Pilot Custom 823 Nib - M Or B?

[rdh]

The 823 takes the largest Pilot nib, the #15. The big size gives the nib some springiness, which is quite pleasant. This also means that you can get a greater ink flow, too as the nib moves away from the feed as you write. So, depending on the ink and paper, it can give you a wetter, heavier line as you write. I believe some Japanese dealers will sell you a #15 nib, but it is almost as expensive as an entire pen. Pilot makes many specialty nibs available in this size, but I think they are only available on the 743 although I think some dealers in Japan will sell an 823 with one of these nibs (see www.asahiyakami.co.jp/shop/pilot_custom823/pilot_custom823.htm .

 

 

Dave

Edited June 1, 2018 by rdh

[Fatalpotato]

To my knowledge, although only 743 is available with full gamut of #15 nibs (10+), 845,custom and few other models come with stock 15# nibs as well

[Honeybadgers]

I know of at least one retailer in the US that will provide an 823 with any of the specialty nibs.

[TheDutchGuy]

The big size gives the nib some springiness, which is quite pleasant.

My 823 F arrived from Japan this week and I was hoping for some springiness, but it's a nail. Zero bounce, give, cushioning, springiness or however one wants to call it.

[Fatalpotato]

My 823 F arrived from Japan this week and I was hoping for some springiness, but it's a nail. Zero bounce, give, cushioning, springiness or however one wants to call it.

Time to swap it with a cool fa nib. Wonderful how much spring only a single letter can make

[rdh]

My 823 F arrived from Japan this week and I was hoping for some springiness, but it's a nail. Zero bounce, give, cushioning, springiness or however one wants to call it.

 

Sorry to hear that. You might want to try and re-seat the nib and feed. Mine has an M and not an F nib, but I would expect the F to be slightly more springy.

 

Dave

Edited June 7, 2018 by rdh

[TheDutchGuy]

There's nothing wrong with the nib, except a very slight tine misalignment that I had to fix. I wrote with the pen while watching through a stereo microscope (don't ask, I need that thing for another hobby ) and there was plenty of cushioning going on; the tines were clearly moving to and from the feed. I could see it, but not feel it. Since this is clearly and by far the finest (as in: narrowest) nib I have, my theory is that the very small contact area with the paper leads to more pressure (as in force per unit area) as compared to my other pens. This translates into the perception that the nib is stiff, even though it isn't.

[rdh]

I suspect that as you write with it and compare it to other smaller, steel nibs that you use, you will pick up on the different feel of writing with the nib.

 

Dave

Edited June 7, 2018 by rdh

[Cassotto]

The 823 arrived today with its M nib. Though I wouldn't have minded a B nib, this M is good enough for me. I've filled the pen with Diamine Autumn Oak (for the only reason that I hadn't used it for some time and I felt like using it), and I must say the pen writes wonderfully. The nib feels more rigid than I had been led to expect, but it's pleasant to write with. The pen is big, but comfortable and not too heavy, not even posted (I always post my pens when writing).

 

What has surprised me is that it writes extremely wet. I do like wet pens, but I've found this one bleeds a lot. Not that I've used especially good paper, though. But it's as wet as my other extra-wet pen (a Pilot Custom 74 with a music nib).

 

Shading (with this ink and paper, at least) is excellent as I write, though it gets duller when the ink dries. I must definitely try some good paper.

 

Anyway, I already believe it's a great pen I'll be using a lot. Thanks a lot for your help on deciding which nib to pick!

 

Two unexpected things:

 

1) I thought the barrell would fill to a higher extent when you push the plunger. It only filled up to about 60%. I've found a video explaining how to fill it further, but I haven't tried it yet.

 

2) When I filled the pen, I saw that the ink didn't move inside the barrel, so I shaked it GENTLY, and got a splash of ink all over the place. I hadn't screwed the cap at the end of the barrel, but anyway I think it shouldn't have behaved like that.

[TheDutchGuy]

The nib feels more rigid than I had been led to expect, but it's pleasant to write with. The pen is big, but comfortable and not too heavy

Same here. Pretty rigid. But I'm a full week into my F now, and it's growing on me. I keep picking it up, which is a good sign.

 

 

 

What has surprised me is that it writes extremely wet.

 

Immediately after filling the pen, or continuously? Filling the pen saturates the feed, so unless you use tissue paper to absorb the excess ink in the feed, the first page of writing after a refill will be very wet. The pen is only wet if it stays (too) wet. If it stays wet, then a drier ink might be a good choice. I've had great results with Pelikan 4001 in very wet pens.

 

 

 

I shaked it GENTLY, and got a splash of ink all over the place

 

If you shook it just after the refill, you probably shook off the excess ink between the feed fins. A lot of piston filler and vac filler pens will do that. After cleaning the feed with a tissue (or writing a page or two), the pen should not splash when you shake it gently. If it does, then there might be an issue with the positioning of the nib and feed in the section. This *might* also explain the wetness.

 

Anyway, congrats on your new 823! As I said, I'm a full week into mine now and once I tuned the nib to my tastes, it's growing on me every day. I'm still not jumping up and down with joy about it, but I might get there :-) .

Edited June 13, 2018 by TheDutchGuy

[Cassotto]

Immediately after filling the pen, or continuously? Filling the pen saturates the feed, so unless you use tissue paper to absorb the excess ink in the feed, the first page of writing after a refill will be very wet.

 

 

 

If you shook it just after the refill, you probably shook off the excess ink between the feed fins.

 

This might be it. The splash came just after refilling the pen, and as I've been extremely busy since the pen arrived I haven't been able to write more than one page or so. I'll see whether the wetness decreases from now on. Anyway, I prefer wet pens to dry pens, so I'm not too concerned about this issue. I'll try to use tissue paper next time. I just dried the outer part of the pen and nib with a cloth, as I always do, and only if that doesn't work I'll try something else.

 

I'm looking forwards to my holidays (on 1st July) to start writing more and more. I have several letters that I must write then, and I'll be using this pen. I already like it, and I think it can only get better and better.

[Gloucesterman]

Recently got an 823 as part of a multi-pen deal. previously I had thought this would be one of my "grail" pens. Oh yes, in the add it was listed as a <F>. It turned out to be a <M>, Tghe seller offered to return part of my payment for the error and I accepted the offered. Initially I kind of liked it even though the line was wider that I usually like. I had a skilled friend grind it down a bit to make it more of a "F-M". Now I find that I would really rather have a fine or extra fine nib. I like the size and feel of the pen so I will either look for a trade or sell it and buy another.

 

I expect to post it here on FPN in the next week or so unless I sell it at a pen club meeting (Boston Pen People) on June 23rd.

[Honeybadgers]

Recently got an 823 as part of a multi-pen deal. previously I had thought this would be one of my "grail" pens. Oh yes, in the add it was listed as a <F>. It turned out to be a <M>, Tghe seller offered to return part of my payment for the error and I accepted the offered. Initially I kind of liked it even though the line was wider that I usually like. I had a skilled friend grind it down a bit to make it more of a "F-M". Now I find that I would really rather have a fine or extra fine nib. I like the size and feel of the pen so I will either look for a trade or sell it and buy another.

 

I expect to post it here on FPN in the next week or so unless I sell it at a pen club meeting (Boston Pen People) on June 23rd.

 

I've got a like-new lamy 2000 with an F nib that needs a new home

[Gloucesterman]

Thank you, PM sent. Will be probably looking for a Japanese pen with an SF or SEF nib.

Your offer is appreciated. Oh yes and, correct me if I am wrong, I suspect that a Lamy 2000 with a fine nib would write much like my current 823 with the medium nib - without any softness.

-S-