Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Juice Dark Red Rollerball Refill

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot G-2 Red Rollerball Refill

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Blue-black Ink

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Ink of Me Fondly

"For months, I had kept my TWSBI Mini (clear), with a fine nib, full of Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun. While a fairly light-colored ink, it provided a great writing experience with plenty of character. It ran empty about a month ago, and that pen sat sadly unused.
With the recent release of the TWSBI Vac Mini, I knew I had a pen, which needed Fuyu-Syogun...or did I have an ink that needed a pen? Either way, Fuyu-Syogun has found a home in my new TWSBI Vac Mini with its fine nib. The combination is great! Fuyu-Syogun works very well with the clear body and metal vac rod, and the color flows nicely from the wet, fine nib."

My review of Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun ink can be found here.

I Ink Therefore I Am

Here on Built from Ink and Tea, we dedicate our time to sharing our thoughts on products, helping you discover new items, and putting offerings to the test. For us, pens and ink are a lifestyle, and we have opinions what we use. The choices we make when refilling our pens, affect how we feel about that pen and how we use it.

You will start to occasionally see posts from us, tagged with "Ink/Think". These will not be regularly scheduled but will be prompted by our refilling and wanting to share that unique feeling of a freshly-filled pen with you! We hope you enjoy them and invite you to leave your thoughts in the comments section, below.

"As described in a post on the Montblanc fineliner body hack, I have been using Montblanc fineliner refills in my Pilot Metropolitan rollerball, and the experience has been great. Recently, my medium Mystery Black refill ran out, and I replaced it with a broad Amethyst Purple refill. Depending on your paper, the broad tip can be really broad and bleeding. On this Rhodia pad, it does just fine and presents a decently large line. The color, I like, but I cannot see myself using on a daily basis. Funny how this page started darker than it is now. Unfortunately, swapping to this refill has actually led me to use this pen much less than before."

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Green Ink

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Varsity Blue Ink

Here is a quick review that I jotted down, when I came across one of the Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens. While they do make great introductory pens, the ink is almost too wet to be usable on most paper.

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-budo Ink

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Varsity Black Ink

The Pilot Varsity serves as a great intro to fountain pens for many folks. The color is solid, and the nib is fairly smooth for a disposable pen.

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-peki Ink

Enjoy this review of another Pilot Iroshizuku offering! For comparison, the reviews of Organics Studio Jules Verne and Noodler's Baystate Blue have been updated to include Kon-peki samples.

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Blue Ink

Never have I seen a more non-water-resistant ink.

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

An Alternate Pen - The Montblanc Fineliner Body Hack

Recently, while at my local Montblanc boutique, I had the opportunity to try their fineliner refill. What an interesting experience! The tip feels a bit like a felt-tipped pen or a rollerball with no pressure needed to make a line. The feeling is almost brush-like. If you have not before had the opportunity to try the fineliner, I definitely recommend that you do so. However, as the refill is proprietary, one cannot simply buy fineliner refills and stick them in any pen body.

While researching the findings of others, it seemed that few folks had pursued alternative pen bodies for the Montblanc fineliner refills. However, a number of internet forums had discussion threads in which the participants spoke about searches for alternative pens to take the Montblanc rollerball refills. One popular option, reported to be successful, was the Waterman Kultur rollerball pen, as well as some Jinhao pens (but not all of them). By far the most popular was a hack in which one cuts some of the plastic from the non-tip end of the refill, shortening it, so that it may fit inside a Pilot G2 body. Inexpensive, mostly comfortable in a utilitarian way, and easy. I loved the idea.

Then, during my last trip to Montblanc, I learned that the rollerball and fineliner refills are interchangeable. This was the breakthrough. While this compatibility may be obvious, if the refills were inspected side-by-side, I had not yet been able to do so. Immediately, I purchased a pack of fineliner refills and sat down (not in the store) to perform the G2 hack on a fineliner refill.

Here you can see a comparison of a G2 refill (top), the modified fineliner refill (middle), and an unmodified fineliner refill (bottom):

All that it took to modify the fineliner refill was cutting some of the plastic from the non-tip end. Simply line up the tip-end of the main body portion of a G2 refill and the fineliner refill and see how much overhang is on the non-tip end of the fineliner refill. That will show you how much to cut.

My new, inexpensive fineliner was fantastic. I quickly determined, over several days of use, that the fineliner was second only to fountain pens in my mind. However, the G2 body quickly became unsatisfactory to me. I wanted something nicer in which to case a fineliner refill, hacked or un-hacked, without spending a large amount of money.

Knowing that the hacked refill fit a Pilot G2, I began to investigate what other pens took a Pilot G2 refill. Then, I remembered one of the recent, inexpensive entries to the fountain pen world: the Pilot Metropolitan. Since the Metropolitan was available in a rollerball variant, I ventured a guess that it might take a Pilot G2 rollerball refill.

I was right.

Swapping my hacked fineliner refill for the refill from the Metropolitan, I was left with something awesome: the great writing experience of the fineliner refill combined with the comfortable - and affordable - Pilot Metropolitan body.

If you are looking for an alternate body for using the Montblance fineliner refill (or even the Montblanc rollerball refills), look no farther than the Pilot Metropolitan and this easy hack.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-syogun Ink

Well, here we have it - one of my new favorite inks! What do you think?

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Purple Ink

And now for something different! This purple in particular is not available (literally) outside the Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens. 

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Black (Cartridge) Ink

Eventually, I will be posting a review that I did of the Pilot Black ink that is within Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens. This is not that ink, and I think the inks actually look different.

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Rollerball Cartridge Swapping - the Pilot G2 and the Baoer Skywalker Rollerball Pens

This morning, one of the readers of this blog, hsmchoi, asked a question of which I had not thought before.

Have you tried putting a G2 refill into the pen - will it fit? Thank you in advance.

Of course, once the question had been raised, I had to test this!

Here we have the three test subjects. From top to bottom, the pens are a Pilot G2 0.38; a Pilot G2 07; and the Baoer Skywalker rollerball, containing its generic, unmarked rollerball cartridge. As the cartridges in the G2 0.38 and the G2 07 are the same, except for the tip width, I experimented with only switching the cartridges from the Skywalker and the G2 07.

Referencing the review that I wrote of the Baoer Skywalker Rollerball, it can be seen that the tip width of the Skywalker's generic cartridge is between that of the G2 0.38 and the G2 07. However, the important question of whether they are interchangeable still remains.

Here are two of the cartridges, side by side. The generic cartridge from the Baoer Skywalker is on top, and the cartridge from the Pilot G2 07 is on the bottom. They appear to be very close in size.

However, upon inserting the G2's cartridge into the Skywalker, I found that the width of the silver tip was too great to fit through the hole in the end of the Skywalker. Thus, I am afraid that the answer to hsmchoi's question is no, refills for the Pilot G2 will not fit in the Baoer Skywalker.


Thank you, hsmchoi, for your excellent question! I enjoyed investigating an answer. Questions like these are always appreciated. Thus, feel free to post comments or questions, below. 

A Review of the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen

First Impressions (8)
This pen looks very nice for such a low price. I use the word classy to describe pens a lot, but classy certainly fits this pen. A formal-looking pen at a low cost is typically something found with Chinese pens (Baoer, Hero, etc.), so, coming from Pilot, this is surprising (in a good way).

Appearance (9)
Inspecting the pen closer, I am impressed further by some things and not as impressed by other things. Capped, the whole pen looks solid, slick, and subdued. Even on the gold-bodied pen, the black center band contributes to the look, rather than appearing to break up the design. Additionally, the option for nine different looks is very impressive. (There are three, matte body colors: black, silver, and gold; and there are three center-band designs: plain, zig-zag, and dots.) I can only speak to the zig-zag center-band design, but it looks cool and slightly art deco (which is exactly why I chose it).

Design/Size/Weight (8)
The part that impressed me less, when I inspected the pen, definitely had to do with the design of the grip section, foremost. Compared to the rest of the pen, it looks and feels a bit cheap, though I know it is a solid plastic, probably the same material from which the Pilot Penmanship, Plumix, and Pluminix pens are made. The cap posts nicely, though loosely, but it snaps onto the body quite firmly. I have never been concerned about it coming off. On the gold Metropolitan, there was one point at which I went to remove the cap and the barrel came detached from the center-band, but this may have been on account of a lack of adhesive, as my black Metropolitan has not had this issue. I suppose this shows how firmly the cap attaches to the body, though removing the cap is not difficult by any means. I would think that other metal objects (like keys) could scratch the body, but I have not tested this (intentionally or otherwise). That being said, scratching is a potential problem for nearly every fountain pen that I own, so it is not a major factor for this review.

Nib (10)
Thank you, Pilot, for using your standard feed design and nib size, thus making it easy for us to have other nib options, even when you do not offer them for this pen! In terms of the medium round nib that came with the Metropolitan, it is very reminiscent of my Lamy fine nib, in terms of width and smoothness. The nib also has an engraved design, which is something lacking on the Pilot nibs of less expensive Pilot pens, such as the Penmanship, Plumix, and Pluminix. The engraving is not so prominent as that on the nibs of the Pilot Custom series, but its existence is surprising, considering the lack of engraving on Pilot Prera nibs (that I have seen). Having use the medium round for a while and then swapped it for the medium stub from a Plumix, I love the versatility. Along these same lines, I also wanted to mention how easy it is to perform this swap, even for those, who are not very familiar with pen assembly, thanks to there being only one way/position in which the nib can be seated on the feed.

Filling System (9)
While I cannot speak to the use of the Pilot CON-20, CON-50, or CON-70 converters in the Metropolitan, this pen does come with a converter and can accept Pilot proprietary cartridges. I think that the cartridges may hold slightly more ink than the converter, and, considering the sturdiness of the Pilot cartridges, washing them out and reusing them is an easy task. The converter that comes with the Metropolitan is less than impressive from an aesthetic viewpoint, but, since this pen is not a demonstrator, the look of such a converter is hardly important. I, personally, like to be able to see how much ink I have remaining, even if it requires unscrewing the body. My use of the converter was easy and had no problems; it was simply a matter of personal preference that led me to reuse cartridges, instead.

Cost and Value (10)
The cost for the Pilot Metropolitan is one of its greatest selling points. A pen like this could easily be priced at 20 USD or higher, yet the retail price of 15 USD “seals the deal,” so to speak. Performance of this pen has never been an issue for me, it looks very nice, and the construction is quite admirable for the cost.

Conclusion (9)
After using this pen for some time, I think that it absolutely stands, as a contender, for one of the best, quality starter, fountain pens on the market right now. Lamy Safaris have always been a very solid choice, and I do not believe that the Pilot Metropolitan will replace the Safari. Rather, I think that both pen styles will continue to thrive, appealing to different individuals, based on their personal preference for look and feel. I highly recommend the Pilot Metropolitan.

This review was neither solicited or compensated. Please feel free to post questions or comments!


Related links:

• A guide to swapping nibs between Pilot pens, part 1 and part 2.
• The Pilot Metropolitan for sale from The Goulet Pen Company and iSellPens.com.

Coming soon...the Pilot Metropolitan and new tea content

Now that I finally have had a good long chance to try out my Pilot Metropolitan, I will be posting my review very soon, as well as my thoughts on the use of a medium stub nib with the Metropolitan. (The original nib is a medium round.) As a teaser...using this pen has almost convinced me that it should be the de facto "starter fountain pen," rather than the Lamy Safari. (This is saying something big, since I loved the Lamy Safari. My review is here.) Look for my review of the Metropolitan in the next several days!

On another note, I think that my guide to getting started with tea needs to be expanded and updated. For those who have read the guide (parts one and two are posted here and here, respectively), what would you like to see included or improved? Pictures, specific examples, or comparisons, perhaps? Maybe even a discussion on health benefits? For those who have not yet read it, whether beginner or advanced tea drinkers, what questions come to your minds that you would like to see answered? (Of course, I also recommend giving the guide a read!)

I have a great deal of fountain pens and other related paraphernalia to review, and I look forward to providing more content for all of you in the days to come. Suggestions for posts that you would like to see are always appreciated! This blog is for you, the reader.

Build, write, and drink well!

Swapping Nibs Between Pilot Pens - Part 2!

A month ago, I posted a guide, here, showing how to swap nibs between Pilot pens, as well as discussing the possible arrangements for certain nibs in certain pens. However, I only showed swaps between Pluminix/Plumix pens and Penmanships, as I did not have a Pilot Metropolitan at that time. My Metropolitan has how arrived, and I am pleased to show you a pictorial guide on using a medium italic or extra-fine nib in your Metropolitan. (If you care to see nib swapping with the Pilot Prera, check out Brian Goulet's post and videos, here.) Remember, the medium nib from the Metropolitan can also be used in the Pilot Pluminix, Plumix, and Penmanship.

From left to right (bottom to top), the Pilot Pluminix, Plumix, Penmanship, and Metropolitan - all with swappable nibs!

Begin by removing the caps of the pens.

Next, get a good grip on the nib and feed, together, and pull them straight out. If they are tight, some gentle twisting back and forth, as though you were trying to unscrew the nib and feed from the section, should help.

Remove the nib from the feed, place it on the feed of the desired pen, reinsert the nib and feed, and there you have it: A Metropolitan with a different nib (or any one of the other combinations).

Metropolitan with a Plumix's medium italic nib

Metropolitan with a Penmanship's extra-fine nib

For more information, I highly recommend reading my previously posted guide on swapping Pilot nibs. The steps with the Metropolitan are identical to those with the Pluminix, Plumix, and Metropolitan.

Enjoy! Please, feel free to post comments or questions below. Would anyone be interested in some writing samples and possible comparisons for the Metropolitan with varying nibs? Also, forgive any washout and strangeness of the pictures...I am using a different camera, and it is quite finicky with certain lighting.



Important links related to this post:

• Pilot Prera fountain pens, available here from JetPens.com, here from iSellPens.com, and here from the Goulet Pen Company.
• Pilot Metropolitan fountain pens, available here from the Goulet Pen Company, and here from iSellPens.com.
• Pilot Penmanship fountain pens, available here from JetPens.com. General Pilot information site, here.
• Pilot Plumix fountain pens, available here from JetPens.com, here from iSellPens.com, and here from the Goulet Pen Company. General Pilot information site, here.
• Pilot Plumix Neon, general Pilot information site, here.
• Pilot Pluminix, available here from Amazon.co.uk. General Pilot information site, here. (Note, pictures on the Pilot website are actually of the Plumix Neon, not the Pluminix.)

I bear no affiliation to any of the aforementioned companies, and I was not compensated in any way for this post.

Crafting a Pilot Plumix Neon "Franken-pen"

Yesterday, while browsing the Pilot Pen site for the EU, I discovered a product of which I had never heard before: the Pilot Plumix Neon. The general information site is here. The version of the Plumix available in the USA utilizes Pilot proprietary cartridges. The Plumix Neon from the EU takes standard international cartridges. From what I could deduce, this Pilot Plumix Neon is nothing more than the section from a Pilot Pluminix, which takes standard international cartridges, combined with the cap and body from a Pilot Plumix. Admittedly, the Plumix Neon also appears to be available in just as many colors as the Pluminix, as compared to the mere three colors in which the Plumix is offered (Blue, Purple, and Black).

As I was unable to find any Plumix Neon pens available on English-language websites, I decided to take matters into my own hands and craft my own Pilot Plumix Neon "Franken-pen!" My color options are limited to the three colors of the Plumix, so I chose purple.

Here is a close-up picture with focus on the sections of my Pluminix pen and one of my Plumix pens, side-by-side.

I proceeded to disassemble both pens, removing caps and bodies and leaving the nibs and feeds in their respective sections.

And then I swapped them! The Pluminix now can take proprietary cartridges from Pilot, and the Plumix can now take standard international cartridges, effectively turning it into a Pilot Plumix Neon.

Note: The threads on the Pilot Penmanship are different and do not accommodate such swapping. See this post, here, for information about swapping nibs between various Pilot pens!