Hakase Order Advice

[como]

@a student No worries.
 

1. Having Urushi lacquer and solid gold fixtures is quite a big uptick in price. Personally I really like the feel of natural wood texture and this uptick is too much for me. Personal preference of course.

 

2. Surely lacquer protects the wood, but what protects the lacquer? Personally I prefer something I can deal with: smooth out, polish or oil it myself than not knowing what to do with chips and scratches on Urushi (I know, wabi sabi... but not anyone likes that). 

 

3. The patina appearance of unlacquered matte surface wood and Urushi will be quite different. Which do you prefer in the long run?

 

Just something to consider.

[a student]

5 minutes ago, como said:

@a student No worries.
 

1. Having Urushi lacquer and solid sold fixtures is quite a big uptick in price. Personally I really like the feel of natural wood texture and this uptick is too much for me. Personal preference of course.

 

2. Surely lacquer protects the wood, but what protects the lacquer? Personally I prefer something I can deal with: smooth out, polish or oil it myself than not knowing what to do with chips and scratches on Urushi (I know, wabi sabi... but not anyone likes that). 

 

3. The patina appearance of unlacquered matte surface wood and Urushi will be quite different. Which do you prefer in the long run?

 

Just something to consider.

 

Thank you for clarifying the pros and cons- you have given me some food for thought there indeed!

[Linger]

Urushi lacquer does protect the wood. It is easier to wipe away any (ink)stains. It also gives the pen luster and shine.

 

There is some science behind it as well. The specific density of the wood plays a part:

 

1.45 for snakewood

1.2 or more for ebony, rosewood and cocobolo

0.75-0.9 for sandalwood

 

So for sandalwood it is recommended due to the density of the wood (softer thus absorbent), but in the case of snakewood, the lacquer is essential as the wood has a high possibility of cracking.

 

In the past, Ryo could only treat the pen with urushi during the more humid summer months - better circumstances for drying/hardening of the lacquer. Now he has a temperature/humidity chamber to control the curing process, so he can process year-round.

 

The pen will take 3 more months to complete, and the extra price is JPY 20.000

[a student]

4 minutes ago, Linger said:

Urushi lacquer does protect the wood. It is easier to wipe away any (ink)stains. It also gives the pen luster and shine.

 

There is some science behind it as well. The specific density of the wood plays a part:

 

1.45 for snakewood

1.2 or more for ebony, rosewood and cocobolo

0.75-0.9 for sandalwood

 

Thank you for that. The website seems to offer only the choice of ebony, rosewood and cocobolo in woods. Among these three woods, cocobolo seems to be of the lightest colour and seems to display its grains most visibly.

 

Where would you state the lacquer requirement though?

[Linger]

In your email correspondence with Ryo-san. He will make a note on the order form of which you get a scanned copy.

[a student]

4 hours ago, Linger said:

In your email correspondence with Ryo-san. He will make a note on the order form of which you get a scanned copy.

Many thanks for clarifying. 

[a student]

On 6/30/2021 at 12:16 PM, como said:

My Hakase Flat-top Rosewood (RW 10B) has arrived! Very well polished finish, not glossy nor coarse, a kind of smooth matte surface that looks natural yet very refined. The craftsmanship is superb. Threads of ebonite and wood fit really well together. There is a pleasant aroma of rosewood. The nib (a Medium juicy stub) was ground and tuned perfectly, exactly as I described in my order form. Packaging is simple and elegant, and delivery very on time (11 months wait exactly as Yamamoto-san said). Couldn't be happier!

 

 

@como I notice that your pen is RW10B but it comes with the Con-70N converter suggesting that the pen's nib is the larger Pilot one. The Hakase spec page though shows a smaller Sailor nib with its rotary converter for smaller pens (presumably that is size 10 pens).

 

Did you make a special request for the larger nib on the form?

[como]

3 hours ago, a student said:

 

@como I notice that your pen is RW10B but it comes with the Con-70N converter suggesting that the pen's nib is the larger Pilot one. The Hakase spec page though shows a smaller Sailor nib with its rotary converter for smaller pens (presumably that is size 10 pens).

 

Did you make a special request for the larger nib on the form?

@a student My Hakase nib is a size 10 Pilot nib (with Hakase nib imprint). Here you see it next to a Pilot Custom 912, with its size 10 nib and of course Con-70 converter. 

I specified a juicy Stub, which is ground from a B with 0.7mm width (he has BB as 0.8mm). Initially I didn’t ask specifically a Pilot or Sailor nib. Later when I inquired, because I preferred a softer nib of the two and I didn’t have much experience with Japanese nibs, Yamamoto-san told me that he already made the pen with Pilot nib and it feels a bit softer than the Sailor. Now I have a Sailor Pro Gear, so I can say that I would have been equally happy with a Sailor nib probably.

[Karmachanic]

4 hours ago, a student said:

I notice that your pen is RW10B but it comes with the Con-70N converter suggesting that the pen's nib is the larger Pilot one.

 

 

My Hakase FB10B, ordered without barrel taper, arrived with a Con-70. So perhaps it depends upon available space, rather than nib size.

[a student]

@como @Karmachanic 

 

Many thanks for clarifying that issue.

 

I would say that the RW10 with the Pilot nib as in the photograph shown in @como post, though a trifle smaller, does compare nicely with the MB in the photograph for heft and size. The barrel and the section also look more substantial that that of Sailor Pro Gear (photograph in @como 's above post).

 

Just my tuppence worth

[como]

1 hour ago, a student said:

@como @Karmachanic 

 

Many thanks for clarifying that issue.

 

I would say that the RW10 with the Pilot nib as in the photograph shown in @como post, though a trifle smaller, does compare nicely with the MB in the photograph for heft and size. The barrel and the section also look more substantial that that of Sailor Pro Gear (photograph in @como 's above post).

 

Just my tuppence worth

@a student The black pen with the Pilot size 10 above is a Pilot Custom 912. My Sailor Pro Gear is even a smaller pen (not the KOP nor the Slim version, I have the regular), with shorter body but a similar size nib. This Pilot size 10 nib is similar to MB 146 size nib. I modeled the barrel of my Hakase pen from my modern Onoto Magna, whose look and balance I like the most for a flat top pen. So I provided the dimensions of that pen to Yamamoto-San. As for the cap, I left it to his discretion to complete the optimal proportion, because I believe in leaving artist room for their creation. He was very appreciative that I respected his original design.

[a student]

6 minutes ago, como said:

@a student The black pen with the Pilot size 10 above is a Pilot Custom 912. My Sailor Pro Gear is even a smaller pen (not the KOP nor the Slim version, I have the regular), with shorter body but a similar size nib. This Pilot size 10 nib is similar to MB 146 size nib. I modeled the barrel of my Hakase pen from my modern Onoto Magna, whose look and balance I like the most for a flat top pen. So I provided the dimensions of that pen to Yamamoto-San. As for the cap, I left it to his discretion to complete the optimal proportion, because I believe in leaving artist room for their creation. He was very appreciative that I respected his original design.

 

@como Thank you. I wonder if you can conveniently recall the measurements of your Onoto Magna that were applied to your CW10A? (Two flat top pens that I have with relatively large nibs exhibit entirely different proportions between cap and barrel and each in its own way looks fine, as indeed does your CW10A- photograph below- please excuse my poor photography)

[Karmachanic]

Folowing on @como's comment.  I gave Ryo-san the length of the section and barrel, and left the rest to him.  Result?  Beautiful and well proportioned pen!

[a student]

55 minutes ago, Karmachanic said:

Folowing on @como's comment.  I gave Ryo-san the length of the section and barrel, and left the rest to him.  Result?  Beautiful and well proportioned pen!

 

@Karmachanic Thank you. What model/s was/were yours, and do you by any chance recall the measurements?

[Karmachanic]

14 minutes ago, a student said:

 

@Karmachanic Thank you. What model/s was/were yours, and do you by any chance recall the measurements?

 

As mentioned above, FB10B.

I think it would be more helpful for you to focus on what works for you, rather than what works for others.  I ordered a pen based upon an existing pen of mine, and made adjustments to suit my needs.

[a student]

33 minutes ago, Karmachanic said:

 

As mentioned above, FB10B.

I think it would be more helpful for you to focus on what works for you, rather than what works for others.  I ordered a pen based upon an existing pen of mine, and made adjustments to suit my needs.

 

Excellent idea. Thank you. 

 

Actually, most of the questions on the Hakase Order Form have obvious answers, whilst others (such as precise barrel and cap sizes) are in a category to which at least I had not given mush thought earlier. In working out these parameters, I find that how more experienced FPN friends approached the issue does help develop understanding.

[como]

@a student Some measurements for your reference:

 

- My modern Onoto Magna

capped 141mm

barrel w/o nib 101mm

barrel w nib 123mm

cap 69mm

a photo comparison between Onoto Magna, my Hakase RW10B and MB 146

 

Here are my RW10B measurements written by Yamamoto-san after he translated my measurements for his production. Note that I had abandoned the Onoto cap measurement in favor of Hakase’s own discretion, nor did I specify dimensions of barrel, section, and cap. The end result looks quite nice to me.

 

 

I imagine that to accommodate your cigar shaped pen, you will probably need to add 3mm give and take on each end to look size wise similar to the flat top model. Good luck and have fun!

 

[a student]

3 minutes ago, como said:

@a student Some measurements for your reference:

 

- My modern Onoto Magna

capped 141mm

barrel w/o nib 101mm

barrel w nib 123mm

cap 69mm

a photo comparison between Onoto Magna, my Hakase RW10B and MB 146

 

Here are my RW10B measurements written by Yamamoto-san after he translated my measurements for his production. Note that I had abandoned the Onoto cap measurement in favor of Hakase’s own discretion, nor did I specify dimensions of barrel, section, and cap. The end result looks quite nice to me.

 

 

I imagine that to accommodate your cigar shaped pen, you will probably need to add 3mm give and take on each end to look size wise similar to the flat top model. Good luck and have fun!

 

 

@como Many thank. I beginning to get some clarity on this aspect

[como]

I am considering of selling my Hakase RW10B (flat-top, rosewood, with Pilot 10 size Hakase nib, juicy Stub ground from B, 0.7mm, con-70 converter). I look to get back what I paid for (938 Swiss francs) plus shipping (priority tracked and signed) 24 francs. Payment by Paypal FF (add 5% if you prefer goods and services, to cover the fees). I recently bought my two grail pens so I usually sell a few pieces in my collection to recover. Pls PM if interested (ship to EU, UK, US and Canada only). Thank you!

[Mew]

Red sandalwood pen should be with me in 15-20 days, And my snakewood pen cracked post urushi process.