Pilot Vanishing Point in Matte Black - Handwritten Review

[efj3]

Hey FP Geeks, I just posted a review of the Pilot Vanishing Point in Matte Black over on my website.

Here's a brief rundown of the review, the full review and pictures can be seen here.

I really love this pen. Being a college student, the need for taking quick notes comes up pretty frequently. Having a "clicky" fountain pen offers the best of both worlds. I have experienced the dreaded finish wear that other people have had with the matte black finish. Parts of the finish have worn down to the brass, while other parts of the pen have almost polished themselves from being in my pants pocket. Overall, I really like the pen, ESPECIALLY the "Binderized" medium nib. I feel like this pen has an unfair advantage over the rest of the pens in my collection because of this. This pen is by far my smoothest writer. Hope you enjoy the review.

[fountainpenkid]

Nice review! I acutally love your handwriting! If only the vanishing point held a con-70 converter--then I'd buy it...

[efj3]

Nice review! I acutally love your handwriting! If only the vanishing point held a con-70 converter--then I'd buy it...

Thanks! I switched to the CON-20 squeeze converter, I think it holds a little more than the -50. I also don't mind the smaller capacity, just means I get to change inks more haha.

[fountainpenkid]

I don't think it would get me through even a day at school

[KrazyIvan]

It has way more capacity than the monteverde mini converter. I know first hand.

[fountainpenkid]

.9 mililiters o ink. My Pelikan m400 holds 1.8mL. My OMAS Paragon holds 2.5mL. You get the idea. I actually don't like refilling pens that much.

[efj3]

If you know what you like, then that's respectable. I can go for a while without refilling, usually I have 8-10 pens inked up and in my bag.

I used to take notes completely uniformly (same ink, same highlight color, same notebooks) but now I have a different system.

I have 6 Maruman Mnemosyne Notebooks in B6 (perfect size for those tiny desks IMO), each labeled on the side of the pages in pencil. Each class has it's own notebook, so I carry three for Mondays and Wednesdays and three for Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I use a different ink for each class because I think it helps me break the notes down by class session. Something about having a different color separating the class, instead of just the title helps me out. It also makes them less boring when I re-read them.

[KrazyIvan]

Yeah, I have said it before, I am ink ADD and the Monteverde mini converter is actually good for me. I wrote two A6 pages (one side) and three pages of notes in my WebNotebook (small) and the converter was about out of ink. Not counting what was in the section though. Had to refill this morning.

[Bogon07]

Seems like everyone owns a Pilot Vanishing Point or Capless these day.

Good review with great photos, especially the one with the ink on the nib.
Neat writing too.

Interesting notebook system. What no Friday classes ? I'm so glad I don't go to university any more.

Was the original F nib scratchy with all inks ?
I've found that Lamy EF nibs give a vastly different writing experience depending on the ink so maybe your nib is like that too. With a bit of use it may improve over time .... also try a bit of scribbling on a brown paper.

[fountainpenkid]

If you know what you like, then that's respectable. I can go for a while without refilling, usually I have 8-10 pens inked up and in my bag.

I used to take notes completely uniformly (same ink, same highlight color, same notebooks) but now I have a different system.

I have 6 Maruman Mnemosyne Notebooks in B6 (perfect size for those tiny desks IMO), each labeled on the side of the pages in pencil. Each class has it's own notebook, so I carry three for Mondays and Wednesdays and three for Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I use a different ink for each class because I think it helps me break the notes down by class session. Something about having a different color separating the class, instead of just the title helps me out. It also makes them less boring when I re-read them.

I have one pen in each pant pocket--two different colors--a blue and something else. I use 1 binder for paper for school, and then a clairfeontaine XL clothbound notebook for each subject. I don't want to carry around a pen case because I don't have enough space in my bookbag.

[snedwos]

FPK, you need a bigger bookbag

[efj3]

Seems like everyone owns a Pilot Vanishing Point or Capless these day.

Good review with great photos, especially the one with the ink on the nib.
Neat writing too.

Interesting notebook system. What no Friday classes ? I'm so glad I don't go to university any more.

Was the original F nib scratchy with all inks ?
I've found that Lamy EF nibs give a vastly different writing experience depending on the ink so maybe your nib is like that too. With a bit of use it may improve over time .... also try a bit of scribbling on a brown paper.

I know, no Friday classes makes me a slacker, should have went with 21 credits.

The original F nib was dry, skipped, etc. etc. I tried several inks in it and it just wasn't doing it for me. Writing the review inspired me to do some tinkering. I carved out the ink channel on the feed with a razor blade ever so slightly. I also smoothed up the nib a little bit with a sheet of micromesh. It's better, but in comparison to my M nib from Richard Binder, it's no competition. At least it flows now though.

My Lamy EF writes amazingly with Sailor Kiwa Guro, and definitely no so amazingly with some other inks, but the Pilot didn't have the same luck.

[fountainpenkid]

FPK, you need a bigger bookbag

haha! You're right about that one--I've used the same bag since 5th grade.