Pens Not Drying Out

[hlib]

I am looking for a pen that will not dry out for a long time, to be used with the red ink for writing comments on drafts from time to time. As the usage will be limited, something up to USD100, with a juicy extra fine nib.

 

Any ideas?

[scully012]

Platinum tends to have a very good seal on their caps to prevent drying. I don't have personal experience with their pens but they have a solid reputation.

[AmandaW]

A TWSBI Eco is reliable at not drying out. The nib may need to be adjusted for juicy flow.

 

Another reliable pen for holding onto it's ink is a Jinhao 992, but that nib would definitely need encouragement.

Edited September 16, 2020 by AmandaW

[corniche]

Hi Hlib,

 

I'd suggest a Platinum 3776 Century straight from Japan; or a Parker 51 Aerometric.

 

 

- Sean

[Daosus]

Why not a red Platinum Preppy?

[corniche]

Why not a red Platinum Preppy?

That's actually a great idea, Daosus. 👍

 

 

- Sean

[A Smug Dill]

I am looking for a pen that will not dry out for a long time, to be used with the red ink for writing comments on drafts from time to time. As the usage will be limited, something up to USD100, with a juicy extra fine nib.

 

 

Dunno about "juicy" out-of-the-box, but Platinum's gold nibs can be trusted to write precisely for the nib width grades as marked, and of course Platinum #3776 Century pens with the Slip and Seal Mechanism are very effective in preventing ink evaporation; the ones I last inked well over a year ago still writes immediately when uncapped.

 

Whether you can still get one (new in box) for US$100 or less depends on your ability to find bargains and discount codes, I suppose. Quite recently it was available for £80.32 ex VAT.

 

Otherwise, Pilot and Sailor gold-nibbed pens, even at entry-level, are very good at resisting ink evaporation when capped. Even the Pilot Elite 95S, which has a slip-cap instead of a screw-cap, is excellent; I love mine with the wine-red barrel (and a EF nib)! Sailor's steel-nibbed Procolor (including but not limited to the Shikiori Hisakata models) and even Lecoule and Profit Junior models are pretty good, too, but I don't think they come with EF nibs; although one could say a Sailor 1911 F nib is what Westerners would likely consider Extra Fine.

 

I can't say the same about the Platinum Balance, Pilot MR, etc.

[AoKiu]

Pelikan M800! Mine are filled for months and when the nib touches the paper - NO skipping. It just writes always!

[A Smug Dill]

Pelikan M800! Mine are filled for months and when the nib touches the paper - NO skipping. It just writes always!

 

I think you forgot the extra fine bit. I'm sure the EF nib on the Pelikan M800 is "juicy", but is unlikely put down "extra fine" lines like to satisfy anyone who wants "extra fine".

 

And that's before we even consider whether a Pelikan M800 can be had for "up to USD100".

Edited September 16, 2020 by A Smug Dill

[Freddy]

I am looking for a pen that will not dry out for a long time, to be used with the red ink for writing comments on drafts from time to time. As the usage will be limited, something up to USD100, with a juicy extra fine nib.

 

Any ideas?

In '07 went away and forgot the Lamy Vista which was filled with Legal Lapis...however upon

my return....discovered the Vista...pulled the cap off......And it wrote without any hesitation....

Magical...........................Re..Juicy xf...What is juicy for me ...may be too wet or perhaps dry for you...

 

Good luck on your quest......Redactin' Op you should note I like the Vista ...I have 4 of 'em

 

Fred

 

Love means never having to leave money on the pillow.....

~ Anonymous Audience Member on the Tonight Show...c.1980ish

 

Say good night Gracie

Edited September 16, 2020 by Freddy

[pajaro]

Red and extra fine to stay wet and juicy for very long without some intervention like a fill or a nib wetting, considering it's red ink you are planning on using seems an unlikely story. I have been using red ink for some months in pens with medium and broad nibs, and the occasional nib wetting seems necessary at about weekly intervals. Montblanc burgundy red or Noodlers black swan in English roses in MB 144 medium or broad or Parker 51 broad or medium. It's the red color ink.

[Karmachanic]

Pelikan M800! Mine are filled for months and when the nib touches the paper - NO skipping. It just writes always!

 

Please let me know where I can find one for $100, and I'll order right away! An M200 EF perhaps?

Edited September 16, 2020 by Karmachanic

[jchch1950]

Platinum Procyon , not with red ink but purple ink. No problem to start writing after six months of no use.

[Estycollector]

Both my Lamy Al Star and Vista are wet and don't go dry.

[A Smug Dill]

Red and extra fine to stay wet and juicy for very long without some intervention like a fill or a nib wetting, considering it's red ink you are planning on using seems an unlikely story.

 

 

I've left my EF-nibbed Pilot Elite 95S inked with Diamine Oxblood for months on end, and it was ready to write every time it was uncapped, no hard starts, no ink crud, no problems. That's astoundingly good for a pen with a slip cap and no spring-loaded inner cap. I love that pen, and one of the reasons is exactly because it performs so reliably. When my wife "accepted" mine into her fleet of pens (briefly!), it took me less than 24 hours to decide that would not do, and ordered for her a new one of her own to keep, just so I can get mine back.

[Karmachanic]

Wing Sung 698

[pajaro]

 

 

I've left my EF-nibbed Pilot Elite 95S inked with Diamine Oxblood for months on end, and it was ready to write every time it was uncapped, no hard starts, no ink crud, no problems. That's astoundingly good for a pen with a slip cap and no spring-loaded inner cap. I love that pen, and one of the reasons is exactly because it performs so reliably. When my wife "accepted" mine into her fleet of pens (briefly!), it took me less than 24 hours to decide that would not do, and ordered for her a new one of her own to keep, just so I can get mine back.

 

The only C/C pen I have had that kind of luck with is a Sheaffer translucent red cartridge pen EF with one of those Sheaffer red tip converters with a PVC sac (so the red ink wouldn't eat the sac). Most of the good pens choked up with red ink crud, drying aided and abetted by the red ink. I think that the red ink stipulation is unfortunate, and generally is going to make this effort more difficult that it might have been with another color. Of course, you or I could find some pen that would be the exception and stay moist and writable and not be eaten by the red ink. Some have said that purple is worse. Crud, the good ones have issues. An imperfect world.

[langere]

I think a used Vanishing Point would be perfect as well. Should be able to get one under $100.

 

Click it open and click it shut!

 

Erick

[bemon]

Platinum tends to have a very good seal on their caps to prevent drying. I don't have personal experience with their pens but they have a solid reputation.

+1. I bought a Platinum Prefounte for my daughter. She goes through phases where she doesn't use her for two or three months and it just sits there with orange ink it it. For the last month I just noticed it's been sitting in direct sunlight too. But it writes no problem! It doesn't even skip or hard start. I've put Diamine Pumpkin and Waterman Inspired Blue in it for her.

 

And I think it was $10! As she grows if she wants to start using her pens more I'm definitively buying her more Platinum pens.

 

She's also got two Safaris, an ABC and Jinhao. One of the Safaris is good for a few weeks, the other dries up in days. But I think it's a dud because it's also a very dry writer. The ABC is good for a few weeks too. The Jinhao is a Jinhao and it dries up in about 10 minutes. No surprises there, and I don't expect quality from them.

[hlib]

+1. I bought a Platinum Prefounte for my daughter. She goes through phases where she doesn't use her for two or three months and it just sits there with orange ink it it. For the last month I just noticed it's been sitting in direct sunlight too. But it writes no problem! It doesn't even skip or hard start. I've put Diamine Pumpkin and Waterman Inspired Blue in it for her.

 

And I think it was $10! As she grows if she wants to start using her pens more I'm definitively buying her more Platinum pens.

 

She's also got two Safaris, an ABC and Jinhao. One of the Safaris is good for a few weeks, the other dries up in days. But I think it's a dud because it's also a very dry writer. The ABC is good for a few weeks too. The Jinhao is a Jinhao and it dries up in about 10 minutes. No surprises there, and I don't expect quality from them.

 

Do you use a converter with Prefounte or put ink into old cartridges?