Pilot V-Pen

[dogpoet]

Not a proper pen, and doubtless an improper review, but it’s a fountain pen after a fashion, so a review is due (besides, I’ve been posting for a while, so I thought I’d better make the effort.) First, a picture:

 

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/d6d1681463cc3877068d189853737c8f283f06c0.jpg

 

This is one of those disposable fountain pens. Unlike the fountain pentel it uses a metal nib (the pentel has a narrow felt tip type tip enclosed in a plastic wedge). If such terms can be applied to such beasts, it feels dryer than the pentel, but the nib feels a lot better and gives something resembling feedback. It also gives a finer line. (I’m told Pilots are noted for this, but I’ve only used a Birdie: this isn’t half as good as that is, of course.)

 

As is the case with many pens, this isn’t as good as the early version. The prior disposable fountain pen Pilot did was fatter and so felt a bit nicer in the hand. THhs is still perfectly comfortable though, and a handsome beast for a disposable. It feels and writes far more like a fountain pen than the pentels do, and I’ve even noticed feathering when writing with it on very absorbent card. (oddly, I didn’t get that with a proper fountain, to wit a Rotring Core.)

 

I like the idea of a disposable fountain pen, so I’m very taken with this little bugger. It won’t leak in your pocket. It won’t break your heart and leave you out of pocket if some twerp swipes it off your desk when you’ve gone for a slash. Of course, a proper pen is preferable, but in situations where that isn’t wise or practical, I’d sooner use one of these than a gel pen or a roller ball. (I would, possibly, rather a decent fineliner, but they’ve stopped making the sort I was most taken with, so I’m not too fussed about that.)

 

For what it is, this is great. I’d like to see more pens like this. Seven out of ten easily (and yes, I have marked it up from the handscrawled review above, which seems a bit too critical), and possibly a bit more. For a couple of quid, this is a really nice pen.

 

[thibaulthalpern]

Not a proper pen, and doubtless an improper review, but it’s a fountain pen after a fashion, so a review is due (besides, I’ve been posting for a while, so I thought I’d better make the effort.)

 

Why is it not proper pen? It's designed for writing, it's a proper pen! :-)

 

I like the idea of a disposable fountain pen, so I’m very taken with this little bugger. It won’t leak in your pocket. It won’t break your heart and leave you out of pocket if some twerp swipes it off your desk when you’ve gone for a slash. Of course, a proper pen is preferable, but in situations where that isn’t wise or practical, I’d sooner use one of these than a gel pen or a roller ball. (I would, possibly, rather a decent fineliner, but they’ve stopped making the sort I was most taken with, so I’m not too fussed about that.)

 

I too would love to use a disposable fountain pen. Unfortunately, all of the ones I've seen produce a line that's way too thick for me. One reason I'd like to use a disposable fountain pen is that I can get them in different colours and not have to commit to a bottle of coloured inks that I will hardly use. For my bottled inks, I only like blue, black, blue-black, and sepia. But once in a while, I need a very different coloured pen (green, violet, etc.) to mark papers. That's where disposable fountain pens can come in, but unfortunately I haven't found one in F nib yet.

Edited September 13, 2008 by thibaulthalpern

[dogpoet]

The first type of disposable fountain pen I saw (and this was at least twenty years ago) had a very fine line (much more so than the pentels) but also had a tendency to skip and stick. Presumably there's some sort of problem getting a fine line out of a disposable, and compromises are made.

[dcwaites]

Not a proper pen, and doubtless an improper review, but it’s a fountain pen after a fashion, so a review is due (besides, I’ve been posting for a while, so I thought I’d better make the effort.)

 

Why is it not proper pen? It's designed for writing, it's a proper pen! :-)

 

I like the idea of a disposable fountain pen, so I’m very taken with this little bugger. It won’t leak in your pocket. It won’t break your heart and leave you out of pocket if some twerp swipes it off your desk when you’ve gone for a slash. Of course, a proper pen is preferable, but in situations where that isn’t wise or practical, I’d sooner use one of these than a gel pen or a roller ball. (I would, possibly, rather a decent fineliner, but they’ve stopped making the sort I was most taken with, so I’m not too fussed about that.)

 

I too would love to use a disposable fountain pen. Unfortunately, all of the ones I've seen produce a line that's way too thick for me. One reason I'd like to use a disposable fountain pen is that I can get them in different colours and not have to commit to a bottle of coloured inks that I will hardly use. For my bottled inks, I only like blue, black, blue-black, and sepia. But once in a while, I need a very different coloured pen (green, violet, etc.) to mark papers. That's where disposable fountain pens can come in, but unfortunately I haven't found one in F nib yet.

Go for a (or several) Platinum Preppy.

1) It writes with a somewhat finer line than the Pilot V-Pen

2) It's available in several different colours

3) It's about the same price as the Pilot V-Pen

4) It's refillable with its own cartridges (which include red, pink, green, violet, as well as light & dark blue and black)

5) It's a tad larger than a V-Pen, and feels more like a 'proper' fountain pen.

 

Much the same applies to the Sailor Ink-Bar (fine nib, multiple colours, cheap) except that they are not refillable (easily).

 

 

[calvin82]

Im using one now. Its only available in medium. Thats why it produces thicker line. However, I like the nib very much. Its quite smooth... Some member even able to refill this pen by pulling out the nib section but I havent tried it yet.

[Whippet]

I have a number of these pens,and find them to be reliable writers, which is more than can be said for some more expensive purchases of mine.With the added bonus of not being so attractive to the opportunist office thief.

 

 

I liked this review, it was both informative and entertaining, made me smile anyway.

[dogpoet]

Thanks, Whippet.

[calliej]

I have a handful of these too and really like them - as everyone suggests reliable writers. but i certainly DONT see them as a cheepskate option but the lazy option!!

 

It is much more frugal to buy a handful of chinese pens and some big bottles of ink in your fav colours that will last you a good few years than have to keep replacing these disposables every month. The cost soon mounts up especially if you use them for work/classes rather than just for fun or a few letters.

 

The pilot preppy or the pilot petit1 are much more 'cheepskate' yet still exceptional writers - especially if you convert them to eyedroppers.

 

good review though thanks

 

 

[Inkapable]

If this is the same as the Pilot Varsity, then it can be refilled.

[solitaire]

I'm delighted to read this exchange.

I think Pilot V pens are miraculous.

They write beautifully in different nib sizes.

I abandon them for months and pick them up to find that they write perfectly and without hesitation. Not many other pens I own can do as well.

 

I shall certainly seek out a Platinum Preppy (Platinum owns Nakaya doesn't it?).

 

And the Pentel pens I've seen have a plastic nib with a tiny feed channel INSIDE the nib. And write very well.

I only wish one of these companies would do a crisp italic nib.

 

I have found in the past that few pen collectors are ready to hear praise of these cheap pens - so its good to hear that there are other pen people of a like mind

 

Solitaire

[dogpoet]

I have a handful of these too and really like them - as everyone suggests reliable writers. but i certainly DONT see them as a cheepskate option but the lazy option!!

 

It is much more frugal to buy a handful of chinese pens and some big bottles of ink in your fav colours that will last you a good few years than have to keep replacing these disposables every month. The cost soon mounts up especially if you use them for work/classes rather than just for fun or a few letters.

 

The pilot preppy or the pilot petit1 are much more 'cheepskate' yet still exceptional writers - especially if you convert them to eyedroppers.

 

good review though thanks

A very good point, well made. You're dead right about that, of course. (Though I'd argue that the initial outlay for even the cheapest half decent pen, a converter and bottle of ink is going to be more than a disposable costs. False economy is a big part of cheapskatery.)

 

Inkapable: I don't think it's quite the same as the Varsity (have a look at the disposable pens thread in Writing Instruments, where people who have more of a clue about this than I do discuss the matter).

 

Solitaire: please don't get me wrong, I like those Pentels a lot, I just prefer these things. Looking at the review, it probably looks like I'm putting down the Pentels, which isn't the case at all. (I was delighted to find a stationers that still stocks the things a while ago after not seeing them anywhere for years.)

That's interesting about the nib as well: I'd always thought there was a fibre running through the middle of it, rather than a hollow channel.

(And thank you.)

Edited September 15, 2008 by dogpoet

[Inkapable]

Inkapable: I don't think it's quite the same as the Varsity (have a look at the disposable pens thread in Writing Instruments, where people who have more of a clue about this than I do discuss the matter).

 

My reading of the thread is that although the Varsity and the V-pen are slightly different, they're essentially the same. The nib width seems to be a differentiator. A couple of vendors say that the Varsity is for sale in the U.S., and the V-pens are not.

 

From jetpens.com: "If you like the Pilot Varsity pen available in America, you will love the V pen from Pilot’s Japan line. Both pens have the same functional design, but the V pen comes in a more stylish silver color body and a fine point nib. 6 ink colors available".

 

This still doesn't address the issue of V-pens' "refillability". I apologize if anyone got their hopes up.

[solitaire]

There is a rumour that Pilot are planning to make their V FPs really attractive.

 

They are going to make replicas of famous LE pens.

No news which they have chosen but its likely they will make them look exactly like striped green Pelikans and/or the shiny black MB 149.

 

It is quite easy and cheap to do using acrylic, which is what many expensive pens are made from.

 

Don't shudder - you might get to like them.

 

Solitaire

Only kidding!

[calliej]

I only wish one of these companies would do a crisp italic nib.

 

 

Solitaire

 

they do.... the pilot pluminix

I have 4 in different semi-transparent colours and apart from one dry writer they are fabulous!! they take international cartridges.........there is a review in the index I believe.

 

http://www.fredaldous.co.uk/product_432780015.htm

Edited September 16, 2008 by calliej