Hey all! Since my description for this video is kind of long, I thought I'd also include some of the links I mention here: Editing Services on Fiverr: www.fiverr.com/bbrianwallace My poem used in this video: thebookendsreview.com/2023/02/03/tornado-watch/
Correct. The nibs on the Pilot Metropolitan, Prera, Kakuno, and Explorer are interchangeable. This also includes the Plumix. I'm not sure how clearly that came across in my video, so thanks for clarifying.
That doesn't mean they're equal quality. Just making nibs on different machines, or even on the same machines with different setting, can change the quality. I find the Kakuno nibs are usually smoother and wetter than the Metro or Explorer nibs. So much so that I put Kakuno nibs on several of my Metros.
That doesn't mean they're equal quality. Just making nibs on different machines, or even on the same machines with different setting, can change the quality. I find the Kakuno nibs are usually smoother and wetter than the Metro or Explorer nibs. So much so that I put Kakuno nibs on several of my Metros.
@@DowntheBreatherHole oh good to know! I only have one metro and I don't use it because I don't like the step from the section to the body. I have to say, I have WAY fancier pens, but a Pilot Prera with a smiley kakuno nib makes my heart sing!
I just got the Explorer in the last week. It's my first fountain pen. I don't have anything against it, but I'm also not moved by it. Then again I'm unfamiliar with both the floor and the ceiling regarding fountain pens. I have no intention of pursuing a pen that rivals the price of a used car, but I am intrigued by the craftsmanship. I just want something that's a joy to use, something I don't want to put down.
Well, take it from someone who used to own a $2000 pen, a pen is just a pen. I haven't found anything perfect. I won that $2000 pen in a giveaway, and I sold it because I liked writing with my $30 pens more. When I struggle to find joy writing with a good pen, I usually find that it's my fault, not the pen's. There's nothing magic about them. That said, there's a lot of fun to be had exploring the fountain pen world, but like you said, you don't have to spend a lot.
My Pilot Explorer snap cap broke very early! After just a few months the cap was no longer secure. The cap would slide off or the pen body would fall out of my pocket. Very disappointing. Loved the pen before that failure though. Bought a Con-70 converter for it and now have nothing to use it in.
Ugh, I'm sorry that happened. Yeah, my wife's lasted for about a year, and it's not usable anymore. If you get a Kakuno (much cheaper than an Explorer), it fits the Con-70 converter and is very durable for the price point.
I did like it, but it mostly just sat there. I don't find the Pineider grip section to be that comfortable for me. I found myself reaching for my Lamy Safaris more often.
@@DowntheBreatherHole I've never met a Pineider I didn't love, grip section and all, but, oddly, I've found those in the four hundred dollar range seem to be better writers, and are more comfortable to hold, than the much more expensive ones.
Well, cheap plastic pens can crack, and often do. Even the Pilot 823 cab have cracking issues, even if you don't drop it. High quality, high impact resin is another story, but I'll take metal over cheap plastic every time. I lobe the sleeve on a Metro that has designs and paw prints or whatever on it. I'm not fond of plain, one color, classical look pens, which is why I don't like most Montblanc pens. I want fancy colors or something to break up the blandness. For me, the Explorer has just one advantage over the Metro, and that's the converter. The Explorer will take the Con-70 converter, and the Metro won't. If you get it from the right market, the Explorer will also take international standard cartridges, but so will some models of the Metro. The Con-70, though, is a big deal for many users. I don't like snap caps on any pen, if I can avoid it, but I have a very few. Just from my personal taste, I'll take the Metro over the Explorer.
I agree. Also, I believe it's the UK where some Pilot pens are standard international, but I could be wrong. I wish they were more widely available, as I'm not a fan of Pilot converters. I'd love to stick a Schmidt converter in a Metropolitan or my Pilot Knight.
@@DowntheBreatherHole It's funny, but Pilot makes some of the best pens in the world, and the Pilot Namiki pens are pure luxury, but they can't make a good converter at all. The Con-70 certainly works and I have a couple of very expensive pens that use it, but even it has problems. Jinhao makes very good, if cheap, converters, but Pilot can't? It's really strange.
I also prefer the solid color Metropolitans that have no patterns, and wish they would make the more colorful ones without patterns. I agree that the patterns make the pens look cheaper and the patterns don’t appeal to me. I would like the Metropolitan even more if it had no middle band at all. The plastic band on the metal pen looks bad to me, but I know some people like it. Thanks for the video! I hope you got a letter from me a while back and that you are doing well.
Good insight! I'd love to see a Pilot Metropolitan without the center band. By the way, your letter has been sitting on my desk for months! Sorry I'm so slow! It's been a BIG year.
@@DowntheBreatherHole A purple Pilot Metropolitan with no plastic center band would be something I would buy. I am the slowest at writing back, so no worries. I’ve had several lost letters in the past, so I just always worry that my letter never arrived. I hope you have a great summer!
Some of the designs I kinda like, others have straight up deterred me from purchasing. In all I would say they should have the option to not have those designed in each color.
May the ONLY triune, infallible, omniscient God (Isaiah 43:10) bless you with faith in Him, not fallible man’s limited knowledge of theories & cults (Ephesians 2:8 & Merriam-Webster, "belief , trust in & loyalty to God”)!
@@DowntheBreatherHole I'm sorry you won't listen to objective reason or facts, instead holding to your subjective, fallible feelings. As long as your alive, the only triune God still has patience for you to repent & trust in Jesus alone for your salvation (Ephesians 2:8+9/Titus 3:5), not your cult of works? Eternity is a long time to be wrong, sir!
My favorite entry level Pilot is actually the 78G. It looks and feels like Pilot's more high end pens, and is very reliable. I picked up 4 different colors in different the nib sizes for a very affordable price
Hey all! Since my description for this video is kind of long, I thought I'd also include some of the links I mention here:
Editing Services on Fiverr: www.fiverr.com/bbrianwallace
My poem used in this video: thebookendsreview.com/2023/02/03/tornado-watch/
The nibs for the kakuno, metropolitan, explorer and prera all use the same nibs. They are interchangeable. They’re just “branded” differently💜
Correct. The nibs on the Pilot Metropolitan, Prera, Kakuno, and Explorer are interchangeable. This also includes the Plumix. I'm not sure how clearly that came across in my video, so thanks for clarifying.
That doesn't mean they're equal quality. Just making nibs on different machines, or even on the same machines with different setting, can change the quality. I find the Kakuno nibs are usually smoother and wetter than the Metro or Explorer nibs. So much so that I put Kakuno nibs on several of my Metros.
That doesn't mean they're equal quality. Just making nibs on different machines, or even on the same machines with different setting, can change the quality. I find the Kakuno nibs are usually smoother and wetter than the Metro or Explorer nibs. So much so that I put Kakuno nibs on several of my Metros.
I swap those nibs all the time! Prera, kakuno, metro, plumix, Explorer. I love putting smiley kakuno nibs on other pens.
Just be careful not to damage the grip sections. Most of my Metropolitans are cracked now, and I think it's because of all the nib swapping.
@@DowntheBreatherHole oh good to know! I only have one metro and I don't use it because I don't like the step from the section to the body.
I have to say, I have WAY fancier pens, but a Pilot Prera with a smiley kakuno nib makes my heart sing!
@@FountainPenNews that is fun!
I normally like metal pens more so than plastic but I agree with you about the metropolitan's unusual patterns on the bands.
I just got the Explorer in the last week. It's my first fountain pen. I don't have anything against it, but I'm also not moved by it. Then again I'm unfamiliar with both the floor and the ceiling regarding fountain pens. I have no intention of pursuing a pen that rivals the price of a used car, but I am intrigued by the craftsmanship. I just want something that's a joy to use, something I don't want to put down.
Well, take it from someone who used to own a $2000 pen, a pen is just a pen. I haven't found anything perfect. I won that $2000 pen in a giveaway, and I sold it because I liked writing with my $30 pens more. When I struggle to find joy writing with a good pen, I usually find that it's my fault, not the pen's. There's nothing magic about them. That said, there's a lot of fun to be had exploring the fountain pen world, but like you said, you don't have to spend a lot.
My Pilot Explorer snap cap broke very early! After just a few months the cap was no longer secure. The cap would slide off or the pen body would fall out of my pocket. Very disappointing. Loved the pen before that failure though. Bought a Con-70 converter for it and now have nothing to use it in.
Ugh, I'm sorry that happened. Yeah, my wife's lasted for about a year, and it's not usable anymore. If you get a Kakuno (much cheaper than an Explorer), it fits the Con-70 converter and is very durable for the price point.
Excellent video. Very thorough comparison. 👍
Thank you! I hope it helps people choose the right pen.
Very cool video. You didn't like that $2000 Pinieder fountain pen?
I did like it, but it mostly just sat there. I don't find the Pineider grip section to be that comfortable for me. I found myself reaching for my Lamy Safaris more often.
@@DowntheBreatherHole I've never met a Pineider I didn't love, grip section and all, but, oddly, I've found those in the four hundred dollar range seem to be better writers, and are more comfortable to hold, than the much more expensive ones.
Well, cheap plastic pens can crack, and often do. Even the Pilot 823 cab have cracking issues, even if you don't drop it. High quality, high impact resin is another story, but I'll take metal over cheap plastic every time.
I lobe the sleeve on a Metro that has designs and paw prints or whatever on it. I'm not fond of plain, one color, classical look pens, which is why I don't like most Montblanc pens. I want fancy colors or something to break up the blandness.
For me, the Explorer has just one advantage over the Metro, and that's the converter. The Explorer will take the Con-70 converter, and the Metro won't. If you get it from the right market, the Explorer will also take international standard cartridges, but so will some models of the Metro. The Con-70, though, is a big deal for many users. I don't like snap caps on any pen, if I can avoid it, but I have a very few.
Just from my personal taste, I'll take the Metro over the Explorer.
I agree. Also, I believe it's the UK where some Pilot pens are standard international, but I could be wrong. I wish they were more widely available, as I'm not a fan of Pilot converters. I'd love to stick a Schmidt converter in a Metropolitan or my Pilot Knight.
@@DowntheBreatherHole It's funny, but Pilot makes some of the best pens in the world, and the Pilot Namiki pens are pure luxury, but they can't make a good converter at all. The Con-70 certainly works and I have a couple of very expensive pens that use it, but even it has problems. Jinhao makes very good, if cheap, converters, but Pilot can't? It's really strange.
Damn that's a lucky win! I won a 400$ montblanc rollerball but nobody wants it and I don't like rollerballs ;-;
Darn! That's a nice pen though!
I also prefer the solid color Metropolitans that have no patterns, and wish they would make the more colorful ones without patterns. I agree that the patterns make the pens look cheaper and the patterns don’t appeal to me. I would like the Metropolitan even more if it had no middle band at all. The plastic band on the metal pen looks bad to me, but I know some people like it. Thanks for the video! I hope you got a letter from me a while back and that you are doing well.
Good insight! I'd love to see a Pilot Metropolitan without the center band. By the way, your letter has been sitting on my desk for months! Sorry I'm so slow! It's been a BIG year.
@@DowntheBreatherHole A purple Pilot Metropolitan with no plastic center band would be something I would buy.
I am the slowest at writing back, so no worries. I’ve had several lost letters in the past, so I just always worry that my letter never arrived. I hope you have a great summer!
Some of the designs I kinda like, others have straight up deterred me from purchasing. In all I would say they should have the option to not have those designed in each color.
May the ONLY triune, infallible, omniscient God (Isaiah 43:10) bless you with faith in Him, not fallible man’s limited knowledge of theories & cults (Ephesians 2:8 & Merriam-Webster, "belief , trust in & loyalty to God”)!
Hey Rob. I'm sorry our last conversation about faith didn't go super well. God bless!
@@DowntheBreatherHole I'm sorry you won't listen to objective reason or facts, instead holding to your subjective, fallible feelings.
As long as your alive, the only triune God still has patience for you to repent & trust in Jesus alone for your salvation (Ephesians 2:8+9/Titus 3:5), not your cult of works? Eternity is a long time to be wrong, sir!
Yes, I am so grateful for God and his loving patience with me. And with all of us.
My favorite entry level Pilot is actually the 78G. It looks and feels like Pilot's more high end pens, and is very reliable. I picked up 4 different colors in different the nib sizes for a very affordable price
They do look really nice. Unfortunately, I can't find them from any reputable retailers. I think they might be discontinued.