Love the Jinhao 86. I have half a dozen of them in different colours and I use different ink brands and colours with them (Parker Quink, Jinhao cartridges and Tom's Studio ink). All except one have the EF nib which writes so unexpectedly smooth for a pen at this price point. The .8mm bent nib is an absolute delight it is so smooth.
Great review as usual. Interesting that such a big deal was made out of the Parker 51 relaunch that I became obsessed over the possibility of springing for one. But now that Jinhao has a price competitive offering, I’m realizing: 1) Don’t care for a hooded nib. 2) The pen had an old-fashioned aesthetic which I don’t care for. It took me until your review to realize why spend even a small amount of money on a pen I don’t like the look of? Thanks again James. For me, this was a helpful review! 👏👏👏
Another excellent review, James. I have bought both the 85 and 86 in various colors, as you do. I think the quality of the barrel of the 86 leaves much to be desired. The plastic feels a little flimsy, more so than the 51A. Could just be my imagination but that's what it feels like to me. On the other hand: I much prefer this simple cap over the slightly tacky gold colored one of the 85. And here's the kicker: the cap of the 85 fits perfectly on the 86, and vice versa. So I swapped two of them out. That 85 looks like an instant classic now. Have a great weekend!
@@JG3Reviews I like them both. The 51A looks a little more modern, and I am a sucker for the more vintage look of the 86. That's what drew me to Chinese hooded nib pens in the first place.
I use my pens to take short notes in meetings so 3 turns to uncap would get quite frustrating. I love the slip cap on the original Parker 51 type pens.
That definitely factors into what I carry on certain days, too. The turns seen like a funny metric until you are spinning the cap the fifteenth time in a single meeting.
I just love these new # 86 Jinhao pens . I was going to buy the Parker reissue at over $100 but so glad I held off . Mine has a 0.8mm bent nib which is sooo smooth and I have just bought 4 more ( 1 of each colour). The quality is amazing and as I compare it with my vintage Parker 51 there is no discernable difference . Both are fantastic writers but one cost me $200 and the other $4.00 I love them both equally . How does Jinhao do it ?? Knoffie
Nice. I'll add that in Chinese pens, they either use International Standard sizes, or Parker sizes. Usually converter and cartridges with Parker sizes are the most common ones, because historically the first Chinese fountain pens were developed based on Parker fountain pens, for example the legendary Hero 100 (also based on the design of Parker 51).
I just picked up 4 of these for 10 bucks. I had very low expectations, but this pen is amazing. It does not feel cheap, and it writes so well. I'm flabbergasted. I'm not a fan of Jinhao nibs on the 159, 450, etc., but this nib is nice.
Aha, you now have the 86. I don't know if I was one of the commenters signposting you to this one, but I've expanded my 86 collection since my last message. One of the plus points is that the 86 comes in a wider range of colour choices than both the 85 and the 2021 P51, 10 in fact (though some of them are very close to one another). I've tried to find out whether the 86 preceded the 2021 51 standard, as is felt to have happened with the 85, but I couldn't find a definitive answer. I think it wouldn't be much of a stretch if so, which keeps me on the right side of the homage-vs-ripoff argument in my mind. Back to the 86, I prefer this to the 85 and also prefer it to the 2021 P51 standard. It's just a shade longer than the P51 but I can feel the difference. The barrel feels like it should be fairly robust. I'd be wary of doing an ED conversion though, because of the metal threaded connector between the section and barrel. In terms of the threaded cap, while it's not happened yet, I've felt a couple of times like I may have been about to cross-thread it but I spotted in time, backed it off and refitted it without issue. I've found a dab of silicone grease on the connector threads at the barrel end works wonders. I like the inclusion of an O-ring which is felt when tightening the barrel up. The 2021 P51 doesn't have this.
The 86 is slightly thicker, and at least in mine, the nib is better. I think Jinhao has been doing better in general on their nib QC. My 911 is older, and the nib not as smooth (not bad, but not as good). Nicer finish on the cap, band, and clip.
One thing 86 is lacking is leaving that screw that holds the clip bare. These screws are notorious for rusting, and that rust can easily make your experience very uncomfortable. They already did it with the 82 when they added that plastic cover to at least hold the ink, but they apparently just decided not to for this one. If you're ever buying one, consider buying a different screw that doesn't rust along with it. Edit: Just two months of occasional use after this comment, the plastic part that engages with the threads have already become loose.
Very nice video and review ( I am subscribing ). At 5:05 you mentioned about putting a link where we can get a line-variation-nib but I cannot see the link and could you please provide it so I can purchase one. Also could you please give me a bit of an indication on how to “ carefully” remove the original? Would I have to remove the feed by pushing it back towards the back of the pen? or just carefully pull the original nib out and push the new one in? Would appreciate your advice. Thank you
Welcome aboard! Sorry about that. The link in that video was no longer valid. I've updated it, and here it is: ebay.us/hw0Ia5 . You want to grip the nib and carefully pull it straight out. I use needle nose pliers and a soft material like a rubber or silicone band so I don't mar the nibs, then grip and pull. You can also use nail clippers to pull the nib (just be careful if you intend to use the nib later or keep it as backup).
This pen and the 85 are exceptionally good pens. The only real downside to them is that they only come in EF and bent nibs. The EF nib is actually of a very good quality and as such it only emphasize the absence of F, M and B nibs which the western world would probably prefer over the EF in most cases.
Unfortunately all the good pens coming out from China are all in fine.. seemingly it's mostly the older jinhao's that have medium nibs standard , like the baoer 388, x450+x750. Even the massive x159 is standard fine nib..
@@mikafoxx2717 Medium nibs for the x159 have become available recently, but only as a separate purchase rather than an option when buying the pen itself
The 86 does have a good nib, and there are 3rd party replacements as well. Mine are all EF, so there will be that difference between them. I haven’t used the F in the Parker, only the M, which I really like, even though it did come from the Jotter and Vector.
I've watched both this video and the 85 review and Parker comparison but still not so sure, do the 85 and 86 write the same and the only difference is the body? Because their price is so different and I don't really like gold color so if they write the same I'll just get the 86. I am interested in Jinhao's hooded nib after trying Jinhao sharks. The 0.38 hooded nib feels so much better and wetter compared to the 0.5 but Jinhao shark isn't really suitable to be an everyday carry pen so I hope this pen will be a good substitute.
They use the same nibs. The only difference is material and weight. The material makes the 85 feel like a more substantial pen, and more durable. If you'd prefer metal, you can get an all stainless 85 now, too.
I figured it out late last night. The plastic collar belongs in the cap. It has the threads that the body screws into. Mine was screwed so tightly that the inner cap came out with the body. Now I am having difficulty keeping the inner lining in the cap. It is easily pulled out by the body of the pen. I may consider some glue, but which glue would be safe?
Sorry, I just found a few people’s posts hung up by TH-cam for no obvious reasons. Did you have any luck finding a good glue? I’ve been using a Loctite automotive super glue that has worked quite well.
@@JG3Reviews No, I haven't tried anything yet. I try to remember to unscrew the cap and that works as well as my memory. This is an outstanding value of a pen. I ordered and received 5 additional colors.
Its really smooth and even much more smoother than my Parker IM Blue. Great value for such a cheap 🖊. Its a real hot knife on butter… Writing with this for last 4 days and really amazed. Bought a Parker 51 for about $110 but had to return. It seemed no match even for my Parker IM blue.
@JG3 Review Dear sir , I am from a third world country but had a chance of being introduced with fountain pens in my childhood by my father. He is a doctor ( retired about 2 years ago)who worked in government sector in an unknown ( from rest of the world) government hospital in an Asian country in those days. In my country in those days we were already used to ballpoint pens (at least for 20 years )but government entities still used to purchase ink but not fountain pens. My father used all of those pelican ( science nobody used/ were interested ) black ink bottles with his only Parker jotter in that area to prescribe medicine . My Father is a great admirer of fountain pens and always wanted me and my only brother to use fountain pens. Science then a great love for fountain pens grew in my psyche.
Today I have bought from a store in kolkata. 1st i tested smoothness of 3 pen without ink. Then d best merging in ink. Really excellent. Dont buy Chinese pen online without testing.
Bear in mind if you want to eye dropper this pen, it has a metal bits inside so it's prone to corrosion. Not sure if anyone's tried it for long periods.
I think that Parker’s reissue of the Parker 51 was disappointing. A very under par performance compared with the original . I’m not that knowledgeable about the Parker 51 but own a mark 1 circa 1949. Fabulous. It’s disappointing that Parker have decided to redo the original in the way that they have. It is pure sacrilege for these cheap copies to so blatantly copy the original. Sacrilege pure and simple. Cheap pens are brilliant but not when they so blatantly copy such an icon.
Watched this *after* I ordered it. Glad the review is positive 😆
Love the Jinhao 86. I have half a dozen of them in different colours and I use different ink brands and colours with them (Parker Quink, Jinhao cartridges and Tom's Studio ink). All except one have the EF nib which writes so unexpectedly smooth for a pen at this price point. The .8mm bent nib is an absolute delight it is so smooth.
What's the difference between the 85 and the 86?
Great review as usual.
Interesting that such a big deal was made out of the Parker 51 relaunch that I became obsessed over the possibility of springing for one.
But now that Jinhao has a price competitive offering, I’m realizing:
1) Don’t care for a hooded nib.
2) The pen had an old-fashioned aesthetic which I don’t care for.
It took me until your review to realize why spend even a small amount of money on a pen I don’t like the look of? Thanks again James. For me, this was a helpful review! 👏👏👏
Another excellent review, James.
I have bought both the 85 and 86 in various colors, as you do. I think the quality of the barrel of the 86 leaves much to be desired. The plastic feels a little flimsy, more so than the 51A. Could just be my imagination but that's what it feels like to me. On the other hand: I much prefer this simple cap over the slightly tacky gold colored one of the 85. And here's the kicker: the cap of the 85 fits perfectly on the 86, and vice versa. So I swapped two of them out. That 85 looks like an instant classic now.
Have a great weekend!
I can see what you mean about the plastic vs the 51a, and I have a soft spot for the translucent versions more than the solid colors anyway.
@@JG3Reviews I like them both. The 51A looks a little more modern, and I am a sucker for the more vintage look of the 86. That's what drew me to Chinese hooded nib pens in the first place.
the plastic feels better than the clear 51as to me
1:54, "If it doesn't write, it's a total waste of time..."
Visconti has left the chat.
😌😌😌
to say nothing of money
😆
I use my pens to take short notes in meetings so 3 turns to uncap would get quite frustrating. I love the slip cap on the original Parker 51 type pens.
That definitely factors into what I carry on certain days, too. The turns seen like a funny metric until you are spinning the cap the fifteenth time in a single meeting.
Then try Jinhao 51A, it has the same nib and feed.
@@banyanleaf thanks. I just ordered a 51a
I just love these new # 86 Jinhao pens . I was going to buy the Parker reissue at over $100 but so glad I held off . Mine has a 0.8mm bent nib which is sooo smooth and I have just bought 4 more ( 1 of each colour). The quality is amazing and as I compare it with my vintage Parker 51 there is no discernable difference . Both are fantastic writers but one cost me $200 and the other $4.00 I love them both equally . How does Jinhao do it ??
Knoffie
Would it be possible to show how to disassemble a Jinhao #86 I have disassembled one myself and have a small plastic piece over !
Richard
Good review.
Suggestion, can you zoom into the sample writings so that we can see better how the strokes are in closer view as much as possible
Nice. I'll add that in Chinese pens, they either use International Standard sizes, or Parker sizes. Usually converter and cartridges with Parker sizes are the most common ones, because historically the first Chinese fountain pens were developed based on Parker fountain pens, for example the legendary Hero 100 (also based on the design of Parker 51).
I just picked up 4 of these for 10 bucks. I had very low expectations, but this pen is amazing. It does not feel cheap, and it writes so well. I'm flabbergasted. I'm not a fan of Jinhao nibs on the 159, 450, etc., but this nib is nice.
Aha, you now have the 86. I don't know if I was one of the commenters signposting you to this one, but I've expanded my 86 collection since my last message. One of the plus points is that the 86 comes in a wider range of colour choices than both the 85 and the 2021 P51, 10 in fact (though some of them are very close to one another). I've tried to find out whether the 86 preceded the 2021 51 standard, as is felt to have happened with the 85, but I couldn't find a definitive answer. I think it wouldn't be much of a stretch if so, which keeps me on the right side of the homage-vs-ripoff argument in my mind. Back to the 86, I prefer this to the 85 and also prefer it to the 2021 P51 standard. It's just a shade longer than the P51 but I can feel the difference. The barrel feels like it should be fairly robust. I'd be wary of doing an ED conversion though, because of the metal threaded connector between the section and barrel. In terms of the threaded cap, while it's not happened yet, I've felt a couple of times like I may have been about to cross-thread it but I spotted in time, backed it off and refitted it without issue. I've found a dab of silicone grease on the connector threads at the barrel end works wonders. I like the inclusion of an O-ring which is felt when tightening the barrel up. The 2021 P51 doesn't have this.
Very timely, because I have been contemplating about a move on this pen. Now I shall buy another 675 instead.
How does the 86 compare to the Jinhao 911?
The 86 is slightly thicker, and at least in mine, the nib is better. I think Jinhao has been doing better in general on their nib QC. My 911 is older, and the nib not as smooth (not bad, but not as good). Nicer finish on the cap, band, and clip.
One thing 86 is lacking is leaving that screw that holds the clip bare. These screws are notorious for rusting, and that rust can easily make your experience very uncomfortable. They already did it with the 82 when they added that plastic cover to at least hold the ink, but they apparently just decided not to for this one. If you're ever buying one, consider buying a different screw that doesn't rust along with it.
Edit: Just two months of occasional use after this comment, the plastic part that engages with the threads have already become loose.
Very nice video and review ( I am subscribing ). At 5:05 you mentioned about putting a link where we can get a line-variation-nib but I cannot see the link and could you please provide it so I can purchase one. Also could you please give me a bit of an indication on how to “ carefully” remove the original? Would I have to remove the feed by pushing it back towards the back of the pen? or just carefully pull the original nib out and push the new one in?
Would appreciate your advice.
Thank you
Welcome aboard! Sorry about that. The link in that video was no longer valid. I've updated it, and here it is: ebay.us/hw0Ia5 .
You want to grip the nib and carefully pull it straight out. I use needle nose pliers and a soft material like a rubber or silicone band so I don't mar the nibs, then grip and pull. You can also use nail clippers to pull the nib (just be careful if you intend to use the nib later or keep it as backup).
Thanks for the fountain pen reviews. I watch you with pleasure! / Спасибо за обзоры перьевых ручек. Смотрю Вас с удовольствием!
This pen and the 85 are exceptionally good pens. The only real downside to them is that they only come in EF and bent nibs. The EF nib is actually of a very good quality and as such it only emphasize the absence of F, M and B nibs which the western world would probably prefer over the EF in most cases.
Unfortunately all the good pens coming out from China are all in fine.. seemingly it's mostly the older jinhao's that have medium nibs standard , like the baoer 388, x450+x750. Even the massive x159 is standard fine nib..
@@mikafoxx2717 Medium nibs for the x159 have become available recently, but only as a separate purchase rather than an option when buying the pen itself
Thanks for the review! I think I prefer the slip cap on the Jinhao 51A over the screw cap used here.
I just bought 2 for $1.99 each. Shipping was $1.88 but free shipping for orders over $3.00, so the second pen was effectively 10 cents. Crazy.
Thank you for Very useful video!
I love parker 51 (F nib) and the writing feeling of Jinhao 86's is very smooth like parker 51?
Thanks in advance.
The 86 does have a good nib, and there are 3rd party replacements as well. Mine are all EF, so there will be that difference between them. I haven’t used the F in the Parker, only the M, which I really like, even though it did come from the Jotter and Vector.
I've watched both this video and the 85 review and Parker comparison but still not so sure, do the 85 and 86 write the same and the only difference is the body?
Because their price is so different and I don't really like gold color so if they write the same I'll just get the 86.
I am interested in Jinhao's hooded nib after trying Jinhao sharks. The 0.38 hooded nib feels so much better and wetter compared to the 0.5 but Jinhao shark isn't really suitable to be an everyday carry pen so I hope this pen will be a good substitute.
They use the same nibs. The only difference is material and weight. The material makes the 85 feel like a more substantial pen, and more durable. If you'd prefer metal, you can get an all stainless 85 now, too.
@@JG3Reviews thank you!
I ordered and just received a jinhao 86. Mine is a pull cap but the cap looks the same. The body looks the same. I wonder what I got.
I figured it out late last night. The plastic collar belongs in the cap. It has the threads that the body screws into. Mine was screwed so tightly that the inner cap came out with the body. Now I am having difficulty keeping the inner lining in the cap. It is easily pulled out by the body of the pen. I may consider some glue, but which glue would be safe?
Sorry, I just found a few people’s posts hung up by TH-cam for no obvious reasons. Did you have any luck finding a good glue? I’ve been using a Loctite automotive super glue that has worked quite well.
@@JG3Reviews No, I haven't tried anything yet. I try to remember to unscrew the cap and that works as well as my memory. This is an outstanding value of a pen. I ordered and received 5 additional colors.
Can the nib and the feed be separated? and the screw section below the gripping area made of metal or silver coloured plastic?
Do the cartridges work on them?
Yes, they do. They'll take both the 2.6mm Chinese Standard and the 2.4mm International Standard used in Europe and the US.
between jinhao 85 and 86 which one you think is better ? ty
I have both and personally I prefer the 85.
@@omeryehezkely3096 yes. I think metal pens are more reliable than plastic
Hinhao 86 accept international standard cartridges?
Its really smooth and even much more smoother than my Parker IM Blue. Great value for such a cheap 🖊. Its a real hot knife on butter… Writing with this for last 4 days and really amazed. Bought a Parker 51 for about $110 but had to return. It seemed no match even for my Parker IM blue.
@JG3 Review Dear sir , I am from a third world country but had a chance of being introduced with fountain pens in my childhood by my father. He is a doctor ( retired about 2 years ago)who worked in government sector in an unknown ( from rest of the world) government hospital in an Asian country in those days. In my country in those days we were already used to ballpoint pens (at least for 20 years )but government entities still used to purchase ink but not fountain pens. My father used all of those pelican ( science nobody used/ were interested ) black ink bottles with his only Parker jotter in that area to prescribe medicine . My Father is a great admirer of fountain pens and always wanted me and my only brother to use fountain pens. Science then a great love for fountain pens grew in my psyche.
Today I have bought from a store in kolkata. 1st i tested smoothness of 3 pen without ink. Then d best merging in ink. Really excellent. Dont buy Chinese pen online without testing.
But shop don't allow to do sample with ink?
A kolkata store allowed me. Name- college pen forum. location college street, kolkata
@@amitray9965bro any other affordable fountain pen shops in Kolkata?
Very subtle but paradoxically clear "EF" stroke in your hand.
Can we use simple ink to refill it or we need to buy specialized cartridges?
It can take international standard cartridges, Jinhao cartridges, *and* it comes with a converter for bottled ink.
@@JG3Reviews
Thank you very much for the reply. I really appreciate it.
At the first glance of the nib, The Hero 3 series popped into my mind haha.
For me it's the Jinhao 51a.
It's just such a great little pen. I have the Bobby Waverly nib in the translucent blue 51a in this video.
Oh, missed the 86... Have the 85 in walnut.
Have the stainless. Does not post like the walnut.
Bear in mind if you want to eye dropper this pen, it has a metal bits inside so it's prone to corrosion. Not sure if anyone's tried it for long periods.
I bought one today from flipkart at Rs 360.
well out of all my .Jinhao one was a crap, was not able to tune it. it was dry and still dry
I think that Parker’s reissue of the Parker 51 was disappointing. A very under par performance compared with the original . I’m not that knowledgeable about the Parker 51 but own a mark 1 circa 1949. Fabulous. It’s disappointing that Parker have decided to redo the original in the way that they have. It is pure sacrilege for these cheap copies to so blatantly copy the original. Sacrilege pure and simple. Cheap pens are brilliant but not when they so blatantly copy such an icon.