So glad you spent so much time putting this pen together & explaining the SECRET SNAP to get the piston going. I just got two clear pens in that I ordered on your recommendation from the "top 10 cheap pens" vid or some such. I was twisting & twisting thinking I got two malfunctioning pens😢😢😢. So I searched for this pen on your channel and got all the answers!!
This has to be the single best video for understanding a piston fountain pen I have ever seen. It really demonstrates the engineering that goes into designing fountain pens. Wow, Doug. I’m glad that pen came to you in pieces if this is the result!
A great video of one of my absolute favorite pens. The 618 consistently comes to mind as a top sub-$20USD pen. I think you're breaking new ground as this is the first fountain pen video I've ever seen which started with the pen disassembled. Perhaps this will be the new trend?
Thanks, Alan! It comes from being a theatre technician. Everything needs to come to pieces to understand its function. I took my Dad's lawnmower to pieces when I was 11. I never got it working again though. :)
Wow, what a presentation. I loved it. I was wondering how these types of fountain pen machanism work. Now I know it because of you. Thanks a lot. BTW, your song is also good with guitar.
Interesting to see this jigsaw piece put back together. I have a couple of 618 with a transparent cap and normal rather than mini Fude hooded nib, otherwise much like your example. I had to take one of them apart and it wasn't too dramatic. Compare this with an Eco which I took apart to clean, foolishly backing the piston off too far and watching the whole thing fly apart into a heap of failure and doom. Eventually found a video on reassembly and I was able to un-catastrophise it back into a working state. Lesson learned - when taking a new Eco apart to grease up, keep the damn thing together.
I have this one in the clear demonstrator model I love it but I too had trouble finding the upright position of the nib/feed that bit about the scoring and marker ill have to look into that when I get home
I’m always afraid to take my 618 apart because I never feel certain of putting it perfectly back together again. This video review was somewhat reassuring on that front. That said, the 618 is a wonderful, inexpensive Chinese pen. Fantastic value for the budget-conscious user. Great all round aesthetics, extremely comfortable in the hand, reliable piston filler with a unique twist, very decent ink capacity, fine build quality etc...I have the clear with golden trim. I prefer the silver trim but couldn’t find it when I bought the pen. The only Wing Sung that I like even more are the 601 & 601A. The complaints that I have with my 618 are that the nib I got often seems to me like an EF. A let-down. And it often hard starts when not used for a few days. Once it gets going, though, the 618 is an unceasing pleasure. As are most of your reviews, Doug.
Thanks, Sajjad! I like the 601a as well - especially with the gold cap. I bought one and reviewed it. My wife loved it so she owns it now. I was going to get myself one, but that seller refuses to ship to Canada anymore.
Douglas Rathbun ...Oh yes, I remember that review of that very special 601A. I have a pair - a burgundy and a turquoise one; gold plated tubular nibs. And what I most love is the very efficient, innovative and fun to use pump draw piston filler. Of course, most importantly the 601 pens are lovely writers. I’m not buying any more Chinese pens this year. Not least because I’m both bored and miffed about having to almost always settle for their default F nibs. I’ve had my fill - bought around 20 throughout 2019 up to last Jan. Pity about that seller declining to ship to Canada anymore.
Hey, Doug! I’ve had one of these 618s sitting in a drawer since 2019 because I couldn’t figure out how to close up the gap between the blind cap and the gold ring. Second time through your video, and I was a little more focused on the pen the second time around, and I finally got it. Thank you so much for posting this! It’s been driving me crazy because I actually really like the pen and I hate seeing it sitting unused. I got mine from the Amazons, and it did not come with the fude nib like the one you have in the video. So I wonder if that was either aftermarket or a special run for that particular retailer. Or perhaps my retailer did not choose to carry the fude nibs. Just an interesting thought, I guess. Thanks again. I’ll have to catch up on your other vids. 😃✌️
Hello Doug, have you tried disassembling the cap? I got a red one and the clip got loose as soon as I pulled on it once. There is a screw that can be reached through the sealing cap but I haven't found the screwdriver of the right size yet. I'd like to see if I can fix it because I love the pen very much.
Impressive pen- I just hope it comes assembled otherwise it never would be by me. Fude nibs are very 'cool'. Oster ink bottles can be tricky to fill from.
Great review. Nice tutorial on the assembly...ink looks a lot like the Noodlers Midway blue to me. I have my Twsbi eco yellow inked up with it right now. Nice pen even though I'm not a huge fan of the hooded nib style.
Solid Gold cap band, you have a very special 618. I prefer the 618 over the 698, it posts! Bobby nib on a 618, not a pen I thought he sold. Need to let viewers know this nib is not what you normally get on a 618. Yes, 51A nib fits on the 618. I have many of these Bobby's nibs, all are smooth. Have you completely disassembled your 616? Glad to see you expanding outside the PenBBS sphere. office_supplies_penoffice_supplies_pen (Bobby) still active on US eBay. Dude if the pen was easy it would be a BIC stick. We don't buy pens from overseas for a few dollars and expect detailed explicit English instructions. At least not reasonable to.
Thanks, Chris. This isn't my pen. It is on loan to me for review. And no, I don't need to take my 616 apart. I might as a project video one day. I know Bobby is still selling to the US. I have to get a US address.
@@chrisrap52 Thanks, but what I meant was, I need to get a US address to I can have things sent to the US instead of Canada and then have them brought across the border. Bobby and esybuy will no longer sell to Canada. There is a service called "Montana Mailbox" that will give you a US address and then there is a shipping company that will bring packages to Calgary from there.
Another great video thanks Douglas. Bobby seems to be still selling/sending to Australia, it may be the COVID thing and he will be shipping again soon. I like the pen it's very pretty. Oh, please don't hate me for the pronunciation of Bondi is ''Bond-eye'' the ''i'' is an ''eye'' sound :), hope this is ok, I don't want to be horrible. Anyway, Bondi isn't that great of a beach, in fact, it is overcrowded with people. There are really pretty beaches further up the coast. Disclaimer I am a Pom living in Australia that really wishes she could go back to merry ole England the grey rainy wet lovely British climate haha.
@@InkquiringMinds I'm not really Australian though, my parents moved here with me from England, I consider myself to be British - bit like a convict haha yet I didn't half-inch a lofe of bread lol
@@InkquiringMinds I really want to go back to live in South London where I was brought up, current climate says no though sadly. I do miss a good pub lunch complete with a pint and packet of crisps.
Well done, notchmaster. Sensei chrisrap52 would be proud. :) Thanks! You really did handle that assembly well, given the number and size of those parts.
Thanks, David! Yeah. Fighting with my 698 (2 of them) last year was a good preparation for this pen. It took me about 15 minutes to assemble it the first time. By the time I was doing the video, I was basic training ready!
I have the distinct impression that only Chinese makers currently manufacture fully hooded nibs. I wonder why. In this day of sealing inner caps (e.g. Platinum), what exactly is the advantage of a hooded nib? Besides the obvious aesthetic uniqueness. I guess they don't dry out as fast when left around uncapped. That sounds like a real improvement, with no downside. Though clearly not enough for the hoods to completely displace the bares...
Thank you, Ichiro! Interesting speculations! They tend to be very utilitarian - much like a ballpoint. And yes, they nib does stay wet when uncapped for a period of time.
I have become a fan of the Parker 51, in my dotage. I have added Chinese and earlier European clones, copies, homages to my P51s. My 618 is the best of my Chinese units (even the vaunted Hero 100) and beats the europeans - with the exception of the Aurora 88. My nib is a straight fine, and there is a seal akin to the Platinum 3776 so the pen starts every time. Lastly, the color is a driop-dead-gorgeous garnet/
I'm wondering if a Hero 100 is worth the extra cost. I assume it has a gold nib. My Hero 616 is the best thing next to my friend's 1950's Parker 51. But, I did really enjoy this Bobby fude nib and the piston filler is a really nice upgrade. Have you looked at the 3776-like Natami Inception? It has the same overall look and "slip 'n seal" cap. Thanks, Joel!
Hi Doug - another outstanding pen for the money - I also have one with fude nib and its been writing daily for almost a year without any issues. The piston filler cap does take a bit of getting used to for it to lock correctly. This is the first I heard that Bobby doesn't ship to Canada, Covid issue?
Thank you, pete! Yeah it is. Some of the ebay and Etsy sellers have jettisoned Canadian (and other countries) from their list of shipping destinations due to the back-log for shipping. I'm waiting for a pen I ordered March 23. People who paid with PayPal are getting refunds for shipments not yet arrived. Of course, they will eventually arrive and those people will get a free product. The seller takes the hit on it. So, they've decided to limit their losses - hopefully, temporarily.
Let me know if you need a middleman/middlewoman to forward your orders to Canada. I’d be happy to do something for you. You do so much for us. I do like these WS 618s, I’ve not had a single issue with the 2 I have. Very reliable and attractive pens.
Awesome thank you, KA for being my "middlewoman". :) Things are starting ease up a bit as the Etsy shop (Sally) has just started shipping to Canada again. But I'll call on you if I need to get something through the US.
I must say I was disappointed in this pen. The plastic cracked when I tried to disassemble and it didn't work quite right after that. Felt cheap compared to the 601 imo. Might give it another go though.
There is no doubt this is cheap plastic and I'm not surprised it broke. But, still, you have to admire the precise engineering of the injection molded plastic parts.
@@InkquiringMinds I didn't take that from your review. Why is it crappy? Because the piston operation is unintuitive. I can see that as a big knock which would turn many off but I wouldn't say that's poor quality. Is there a better quality hero 51 copy out there?
@@StarKnightZ My bad. The thumbnail was so small, that I thought it was another pen review. No, this WingSung 618 is a very nice pen. Again, I do believe WingSung has moved past this particular piston mechanism. It works okay, but getting it apart and back together requires patience.
Sadly, this model no longer comes in this style, and now is completely transparent, which I'm not a fan of. In this style, the pen is far more interesting to look at, and doesn't look cheaper than it is.
@@InkquiringMinds You're right but the TWISBI clones are piston fillers too, come in a range of colors, finishes, and styles that include hooded nibs. And they're quite a bit cheaper too. I bought one at the same time with the Jinhao 80. It's a bit more feedback on a similar nib that's on the Jinhao, but it clips on to my notebook very securely, and a large capacity. Moreover, its cheap to replace if I lose it. Wing Sung and Lanbitou make these, and for under £5, I don't object. This I do object to: because of Brexit, anything over £15 off aliexpress might end up attracting a customs charge, plus an £8 handling fee from Royal Mail. 😒 And there is one in pink on eBay, at £22 from China. Life is imperfect, so I focus on the flowers I can pick and not the fallen leaves. Lol.
People really depend upon Internet these days. Where else will they see the mysteries of a pen like this being explained? The engineering of that piston knob is lousy. It works. At least for awhile. 😒 But that's all. Two problems: You can get the knob in your fingers when you pull it. You can get the ring unscrewed and then you have the entire mechanism, ink and all in your hands. Not supposed to happen, but the threads lock poorly and plastic snaps get loose over time. Factory nib is,.. well not nice anyway. Decently made pen otherwise. I'm a far bigger fan of the 699. Both versions.
@@InkquiringMinds Oh, if one knows how it works, which you demonstrated, and is careful, one should be okay. I didn't knew any of that, when I got mine. And it was assembled, so I had no idea how it looked inside. Pretty much the first thing I did was unscrewing the ring by mistake and having it all fall out. It came loose very easily, those threads being so steep and few. I was tempted to glue it for awhile, but I have calmed down. And when pulling the knob, it came off, all the way. It seemed much harder to push on again. Now, the flush position is more loose, so I can pull more carefully and with less force, which helps not pulling it all the way off. But I don't like that design. It has one advantage over the screw type knobs though. You can follow the ink consumption with the piston, just like a converter. Having minimum air inside, eliminates burping, blobs and leaks.
So glad you spent so much time putting this pen together & explaining the SECRET SNAP to get the piston going. I just got two clear pens in that I ordered on your recommendation from the "top 10 cheap pens" vid or some such. I was twisting & twisting thinking I got two malfunctioning pens😢😢😢. So I searched for this pen on your channel and got all the answers!!
Thank you so much, NameLikeNobodyElse!
Morning Doug.
Outstanding musical intro.
I always enjoy your fountain pen reviews.
Enjoy the day.
Thank you, seaboss17! Much appreciated!
Thank you for the video, Doug, I have more than one of them and feared disassembling them to clean them until I saw your post! Thanks again
Glad I could help Once you've done it a couple of times, you get the hang of it and it isn't so difficult. Nothing like a Parker 51!
This has to be the single best video for understanding a piston fountain pen I have ever seen. It really demonstrates the engineering that goes into designing fountain pens. Wow, Doug. I’m glad that pen came to you in pieces if this is the result!
Thank you, March22012! That's really nice of you to say!
Another excellent video! The 618 continues to be one of my favorite Chinese offerings. It's hard to beat for it's price point.
Thank you, David!
Thanks for the education regarding this pen. I am intrigued enough that I may get one just to take it apart and reassemble! :-)
Go for it, Bill! :)
A great video of one of my absolute favorite pens. The 618 consistently comes to mind as a top sub-$20USD pen. I think you're breaking new ground as this is the first fountain pen video I've ever seen which started with the pen disassembled. Perhaps this will be the new trend?
Thanks, Alan! It comes from being a theatre technician. Everything needs to come to pieces to understand its function. I took my Dad's lawnmower to pieces when I was 11. I never got it working again though. :)
@@InkquiringMinds One winter, I disassembled a Suzuki 250 X6 Hustler. Was a two-cycle engine. Got my mechanics wings.
Excellent video Doug with the addition of the build making a new interesting twist. It's an interesting system wish it was used more often
Thanks, Eric! You do see a lot of piston fillers, just not in this kind of P51 style pen.
Wow, what a presentation. I loved it. I was wondering how these types of fountain pen machanism work. Now I know it because of you. Thanks a lot. BTW, your song is also good with guitar.
Thank you so much, Apurva!
thanks for the review
No problem!
Hi Doug, Thanks for another enjoyable and informative review.
My pleasure! Thank you, barry!
Very enjoyable video presentation Doug ! Love the Vivaldi intro's by the way. ✌❤ Peace n love to you and yours
Thanks, Robert! :)
Interesting to see this jigsaw piece put back together. I have a couple of 618 with a transparent cap and normal rather than mini Fude hooded nib, otherwise much like your example. I had to take one of them apart and it wasn't too dramatic. Compare this with an Eco which I took apart to clean, foolishly backing the piston off too far and watching the whole thing fly apart into a heap of failure and doom. Eventually found a video on reassembly and I was able to un-catastrophise it back into a working state. Lesson learned - when taking a new Eco apart to grease up, keep the damn thing together.
These things can be a little tricky. The one I hate is the Penbbs 309!
@@InkquiringMinds I don't have one of those. Maybe I should keep it that way.
I have this one in the clear demonstrator model I love it but I too had trouble finding the upright position of the nib/feed that bit about the scoring and marker ill have to look into that when I get home
Yeah. Fiddle with it until you get it lined up and mark the position. Done. Finito. You never have to deal with it again.
I’m always afraid to take my 618 apart because I never feel certain of putting it perfectly back together again. This video review was somewhat reassuring on that front.
That said, the 618 is a wonderful, inexpensive Chinese pen. Fantastic value for the budget-conscious user. Great all round aesthetics, extremely comfortable in the hand, reliable piston filler with a unique twist, very decent ink capacity, fine build quality etc...I have the clear with golden trim. I prefer the silver trim but couldn’t find it when I bought the pen. The only Wing Sung that I like even more are the 601 & 601A.
The complaints that I have with my 618 are that the nib I got often seems to me like an EF. A let-down. And it often hard starts when not used for a few days. Once it gets going, though, the 618 is an unceasing pleasure. As are most of your reviews, Doug.
Thanks, Sajjad! I like the 601a as well - especially with the gold cap. I bought one and reviewed it. My wife loved it so she owns it now. I was going to get myself one, but that seller refuses to ship to Canada anymore.
Douglas Rathbun ...Oh yes, I remember that review of that very special 601A. I have a pair - a burgundy and a turquoise one; gold plated tubular nibs. And what I most love is the very efficient, innovative and fun to use pump draw piston filler. Of course, most importantly the 601 pens are lovely writers. I’m not buying any more Chinese pens this year. Not least because I’m both bored and miffed about having to almost always settle for their default F nibs. I’ve had my fill - bought around 20 throughout 2019 up to last Jan. Pity about that seller declining to ship to Canada anymore.
Hey, Doug! I’ve had one of these 618s sitting in a drawer since 2019 because I couldn’t figure out how to close up the gap between the blind cap and the gold ring. Second time through your video, and I was a little more focused on the pen the second time around, and I finally got it. Thank you so much for posting this! It’s been driving me crazy because I actually really like the pen and I hate seeing it sitting unused.
I got mine from the Amazons, and it did not come with the fude nib like the one you have in the video. So I wonder if that was either aftermarket or a special run for that particular retailer. Or perhaps my retailer did not choose to carry the fude nibs. Just an interesting thought, I guess.
Thanks again. I’ll have to catch up on your other vids. 😃✌️
They are easy to replace so it might be aftermarket.
Hello Doug, have you tried disassembling the cap? I got a red one and the clip got loose as soon as I pulled on it once. There is a screw that can be reached through the sealing cap but I haven't found the screwdriver of the right size yet. I'd like to see if I can fix it because I love the pen very much.
I've never had the need to. It seems to have a slotted brass bolt that holds the finial and the cap liner together.
Impressive pen- I just hope it comes assembled otherwise it never would be by me. Fude nibs are very 'cool'. Oster ink bottles can be tricky to fill from.
LOL! Thanks, Andrew. Yeah I believe no assembly is required! :)
Great review. Nice tutorial on the assembly...ink looks a lot like the Noodlers Midway blue to me. I have my Twsbi eco yellow inked up with it right now. Nice pen even though I'm not a huge fan of the hooded nib style.
Yeah, I was surprised how much I liked that nib as well!
Solid Gold cap band, you have a very special 618. I prefer the 618 over the 698, it posts! Bobby nib on a 618, not a pen I thought he sold. Need to let viewers know this nib is not what you normally get on a 618. Yes, 51A nib fits on the 618. I have many of these Bobby's nibs, all are smooth. Have you completely disassembled your 616? Glad to see you expanding outside the PenBBS sphere.
office_supplies_penoffice_supplies_pen (Bobby) still active on US eBay.
Dude if the pen was easy it would be a BIC stick. We don't buy pens from overseas for a few dollars and expect detailed explicit English instructions. At least not reasonable to.
Thanks, Chris. This isn't my pen. It is on loan to me for review. And no, I don't need to take my 616 apart. I might as a project video one day. I know Bobby is still selling to the US. I have to get a US address.
@@InkquiringMinds www.ebay.com/usr/office_supplies_pen
@@chrisrap52 Thanks, but what I meant was, I need to get a US address to I can have things sent to the US instead of Canada and then have them brought across the border. Bobby and esybuy will no longer sell to Canada. There is a service called "Montana Mailbox" that will give you a US address and then there is a shipping company that will bring packages to Calgary from there.
Another great video thanks Douglas.
Bobby seems to be still selling/sending to Australia, it may be the COVID thing and he will be shipping again soon. I like the pen it's very pretty.
Oh, please don't hate me for the pronunciation of Bondi is ''Bond-eye'' the ''i'' is an ''eye'' sound :), hope this is ok, I don't want to be horrible. Anyway, Bondi isn't that great of a beach, in fact, it is overcrowded with people. There are really pretty beaches further up the coast. Disclaimer I am a Pom living in Australia that really wishes she could go back to merry ole England the grey rainy wet lovely British climate haha.
Named by an Aussie, so it should be pronounced like an Ausse! Bond-eye! Good on ya mate! :)
@@InkquiringMinds I'm not really Australian though, my parents moved here with me from England, I consider myself to be British - bit like a convict haha yet I didn't half-inch a lofe of bread lol
@@misswoodhouse5720 I figured you were British from the POME reference! Prisoner of Mother England?
@@InkquiringMinds I really want to go back to live in South London where I was brought up, current climate says no though sadly. I do miss a good pub lunch complete with a pint and packet of crisps.
Well done, notchmaster. Sensei chrisrap52 would be proud. :) Thanks! You really did handle that assembly well, given the number and size of those parts.
Thanks, David! Yeah. Fighting with my 698 (2 of them) last year was a good preparation for this pen. It took me about 15 minutes to assemble it the first time. By the time I was doing the video, I was basic training ready!
I have the distinct impression that only Chinese makers currently manufacture fully hooded nibs. I wonder why. In this day of sealing inner caps (e.g. Platinum), what exactly is the advantage of a hooded nib? Besides the obvious aesthetic uniqueness. I guess they don't dry out as fast when left around uncapped. That sounds like a real improvement, with no downside. Though clearly not enough for the hoods to completely displace the bares...
Thank you, Ichiro! Interesting speculations! They tend to be very utilitarian - much like a ballpoint. And yes, they nib does stay wet when uncapped for a period of time.
I have become a fan of the Parker 51, in my dotage. I have added Chinese and earlier European clones, copies, homages to my P51s. My 618 is the best of my Chinese units (even the vaunted Hero 100) and beats the europeans - with the exception of the Aurora 88. My nib is a straight fine, and there is a seal akin to the Platinum 3776 so the pen starts every time. Lastly, the color is a driop-dead-gorgeous garnet/
I'm wondering if a Hero 100 is worth the extra cost. I assume it has a gold nib. My Hero 616 is the best thing next to my friend's 1950's Parker 51. But, I did really enjoy this Bobby fude nib and the piston filler is a really nice upgrade. Have you looked at the 3776-like Natami Inception? It has the same overall look and "slip 'n seal" cap. Thanks, Joel!
I have not looked at the Natami, but I will take your advice.
@@JoelTurrell I did a review here. My wife claimed the pen and loves it.
th-cam.com/video/1SMMnsaz0sM/w-d-xo.html
Hi Doug - another outstanding pen for the money - I also have one with fude nib and its been writing daily for almost a year without any issues. The piston filler cap does take a bit of getting used to for it to lock correctly. This is the first I heard that Bobby doesn't ship to Canada, Covid issue?
Thank you, pete! Yeah it is. Some of the ebay and Etsy sellers have jettisoned Canadian (and other countries) from their list of shipping destinations due to the back-log for shipping. I'm waiting for a pen I ordered March 23. People who paid with PayPal are getting refunds for shipments not yet arrived. Of course, they will eventually arrive and those people will get a free product. The seller takes the hit on it. So, they've decided to limit their losses - hopefully, temporarily.
Let me know if you need a middleman/middlewoman to forward your orders to Canada. I’d be happy to do something for you. You do so much for us. I do like these WS 618s, I’ve not had a single issue with the 2 I have. Very reliable and attractive pens.
Awesome thank you, KA for being my "middlewoman". :) Things are starting ease up a bit as the Etsy shop (Sally) has just started shipping to Canada again. But I'll call on you if I need to get something through the US.
As a Sydneysider, I would say Bondi is pronounced "bon-die".
Good on ya mate! I was corrected almost immediately by my wife who spent some considerable time in Wollongong.
I must say I was disappointed in this pen. The plastic cracked when I tried to disassemble and it didn't work quite right after that. Felt cheap compared to the 601 imo. Might give it another go though.
There is no doubt this is cheap plastic and I'm not surprised it broke. But, still, you have to admire the precise engineering of the injection molded plastic parts.
This pen has really fallen in popularity, no one talks about it anymore. Why?
Because it is crappy and has been replaced by better models (630)
@@InkquiringMinds I didn't take that from your review. Why is it crappy? Because the piston operation is unintuitive. I can see that as a big knock which would turn many off but I wouldn't say that's poor quality. Is there a better quality hero 51 copy out there?
@@StarKnightZ My bad. The thumbnail was so small, that I thought it was another pen review. No, this WingSung 618 is a very nice pen. Again, I do believe WingSung has moved past this particular piston mechanism. It works okay, but getting it apart and back together requires patience.
NO! I will be singing Dark Side Of The Moon all day now.
Not all that bad I think! :)
@@InkquiringMinds Yep all way round my six mile walk, great pen review.
@@chriscairns7915 Thanks, Chris! :)
Sadly, this model no longer comes in this style, and now is completely transparent, which I'm not a fan of. In this style, the pen is far more interesting to look at, and doesn't look cheaper than it is.
The transparent dark blue looks fairly solid when full of ink.
@@InkquiringMinds You're right but the TWISBI clones are piston fillers too, come in a range of colors, finishes, and styles that include hooded nibs. And they're quite a bit cheaper too. I bought one at the same time with the Jinhao 80. It's a bit more feedback on a similar nib that's on the Jinhao, but it clips on to my notebook very securely, and a large capacity. Moreover, its cheap to replace if I lose it. Wing Sung and Lanbitou make these, and for under £5, I don't object. This I do object to: because of Brexit, anything over £15 off aliexpress might end up attracting a customs charge, plus an £8 handling fee from Royal Mail. 😒 And there is one in pink on eBay, at £22 from China. Life is imperfect, so I focus on the flowers I can pick and not the fallen leaves. Lol.
People really depend upon Internet these days. Where else will they see the mysteries of a pen like this being explained?
The engineering of that piston knob is lousy. It works. At least for awhile. 😒 But that's all. Two problems: You can get the knob in your fingers when you pull it. You can get the ring unscrewed and then you have the entire mechanism, ink and all in your hands. Not supposed to happen, but the threads lock poorly and plastic snaps get loose over time.
Factory nib is,.. well not nice anyway. Decently made pen otherwise.
I'm a far bigger fan of the 699. Both versions.
I haven't had my 618s long enough to find out but the 699 is definitely a more substantial pen.
@@InkquiringMinds Oh, if one knows how it works, which you demonstrated, and is careful, one should be okay. I didn't knew any of that, when I got mine. And it was assembled, so I had no idea how it looked inside. Pretty much the first thing I did was unscrewing the ring by mistake and having it all fall out. It came loose very easily, those threads being so steep and few. I was tempted to glue it for awhile, but I have calmed down.
And when pulling the knob, it came off, all the way. It seemed much harder to push on again.
Now, the flush position is more loose, so I can pull more carefully and with less force, which helps not pulling it all the way off.
But I don't like that design.
It has one advantage over the screw type knobs though. You can follow the ink consumption with the piston, just like a converter. Having minimum air inside, eliminates burping, blobs and leaks.