You seem to be surprised every time one of these companies takes your advice, but from their point of view, they're getting great advice from an engineer for free! They'd be stupid not to take it!
Manufacturers acting on expert advice from users--this is how the world should work. Good for you! Good for them!! Good for all of us!!! Perhaps you can whisper in their ears that many pen enthusiasts on this part of the planet would absolutely love a Broad nib!!!!
Not sure if Asvine will read the comments, but the plating can be kind of fragile. If they made one with polished steel fittings I would love that. I already love my V126 - it's super reliable, but since it's my edc I prefer unplated metal to avoid any super visible scratches.
Thanks for sharing Doodlebud! It's so cool to see your feedback being taken into consideration and applied on newer pens. I hope this trend continues within the pen community.
Congratulations on a penmaking company making the changes you suggested! I've found your observations to be accurate and insightful, and if the makers of lower-priced pens will use your advice, so many more folks could enjoy better-designed and made pens than do now. Happy pen owners, happy pen sellers, more penabled folks....
I'm so glad some companies are graciously accepting your constructive criticism 👏 Thanks for another great review! As for the nib-clip alignment, I have a frosted version of this pen and I didn't even notice it lol.
I was pretty surprised when Asvine emailed me directly thanking me for brining up some points that I did. They have really stepped up their game. The other ones I'm reviewing are all great too.
@@Doodlebud That's so good to hear (and yes, surprising that they would take the time to do that). I think more companies need to listen to constructive criticism lol.
I just got my V126, and I am indeed very happy with it. Matches the review for sure. One thing I noticed with the clip/nib alignment when capped … the way the threads are aligned means that when the pen is sat on the desk, with the clip resting to prevent the pen rolling, the nib is now perfectly level!
Love my v126. Someone on reddit recommended it and have to say that person was right! Got the brown color, filled it with Syrah ink and it is gorgeous to look at, and tremendous to write with.
First time viewer of the channel here. I must say, your attention to tiny details is insane. Asvine would be stupid to not take some of the advice you're giving out for free. Also, your handwriting is lovely.
I am new to the founain pen world, although when i was in grade school i used one. Pretty sure it was a parker. I am learning so much from your videos. Thank you for taking the time to make them. You have already saved me from making a bad purchase with your reviews. Thanks again. Rich
I bought this pen after Stephen_Inks reviewed it a couple of months ago, and I love it. For such a cheap pen it writes really well, and the crystal clear shows inks off (even better than TWSBIs). And you've taken pen analysis to a whole new level with the sunglasses trick. Now I'm going to have to dismantle my wife's sunglasses. I'm sure she'll understand when I mention your name 😆 Edit: I just had a look at the threads on mine and the flat spot looks cleaner than the one you received. I can feel the threads but no burrs. I took a close up photo and zoomed in, and it looks like it's been polished. If they are doing that by hand then it sounds like a QC issue.
Thanks DB, interesting. I have the black version, nib and clip align perfectly, writes great, smooth nib, bit of bounce, nice effect on my writing; one of my favorite pens.
Hi DB!: Thanks for showing this COOL pen! Will have to check them out! Not really into the clear pens, but this design is very nice. Thanks also for showing the super-fill method.
I have this exact same pen with a Fine nib for over a month now. And I really love this pen. That burr and long term usage of vac might be an issue for future.
Thanks for posting this review. Since a couple of weeks I am looking at buying two of these but now I am sure to buy them. Why two you might ask, well one is to hold green ink and the other will hold burgundy ink. Again, thanks for posting this review!
When a modified version of a pen is launched my concern is, if I order one, will I receive old stock? If the changes are significant it would be nice to re-name the pen Asvine V126 mkll. Just a thought...
Aloha, just got my v126 today on 1/27/2024; the threads on the blind cap metal screw have zero burrs. It appears as through the burrs were removed prior to the chrome/white plating. The nib doesn’t line up with the clip; not a problem for me . The nib is really smooth right out of the box. The plastic is also weighty and feels durable. Yeah for turned acrylic! Thank you for your recommendation. Might put a BB oblique nib on this pen and see if that puts it into my top 5 list.
I love these pens! And you can also eyedropper fill them from sample vials or nearly empty ink bottles to a real full fill! All vac fillers should have removable sections for versatility. I'd like to have this model in all colours! Oh btw, would you dare using Baystate Blue in this pen? Cheers, and thanks for your wonderful videos!
Vac fillers (and piston fillers) should have removable sections -yes! This pen sounded very much like the PenBBS 456 I have (same issues). However, the PenBBS does not have a removable section... I went and bought a TWSBI Vac 700R because of this. (Also not super keen on the PenBBS nib)
I use Baystate Blue with my Pilot Custom 823. So you probably could with these too. But be careful, your pen will require more maintenance once you start using BSB
Just to correct myself, the PenBBS456 does have a removable section! Still love my TWSBI Vac 700R though. I have to say that when I got my Diamond 580 I was really disappointed that when I took the (flimsy) section off, there was a really small hole into the body of the pen! I know this allows me to use my TWSBI ink bottle but I’d rather like to be able to flush the pen body easily.
I bought one of these pens a few months ago and I think it's a fine pen that may even be a better pen now that the manufacturer has improved it per your excellent advice. I would order another one if it weren't for the fact that I have a couple of pens on order already. Great review and thanks for sharing!
Free engineering for Asvine…what’s not to like…lol😅! Good that they are listening to their consumers and reviewers. Great video..Cheers from Nova Scotia MikeR.
Excellent as usual. You might hang out your shingle as a consulting engineer for fountain pens...seriously. Wondering how to order one of these V126s and be assured that I'd get the latest and greatest? Or is it going to be waiting until they empty all of the old stock?
You always do such thorough, well thought out reviews. Honestly, I never thought about the nib aligning with the clip. But my only demonstrator is a TWSBI VAC700R. It is a wonderful pen but don't use it as often as I should. use it that much. I have always wondered about the quality of Asivine. I have always hesitated to buy cheap pens. My cheapest pen has been a Kaweco Sport . It's cute and writes well, but I never use it because it just feels cheap in the hand. So it is good to see your review of a good yet inexpensive pen. I always enjoy your reviews.
You really need to try the matte version of this pen. My matte black EF one just arrived today. I put it to good work with 8 pages of notes and I think it might become my daily driver. The matte finish is a game-changer in terms of feel in hand. I wouldn't call it soft, but it doesn't get the slick/sticky feel of a traditional pen when you're furiously writing 8 pages of notes in one go. I actually like it better than my Lamy2000.
I want to buy a pen of them just because they take feedback serious. Making the tiniest change can sometimes cost a lot in mass produced products. So that's really cool.
Some changes can be quite costly to implement. But there are also many that cost next to nothing. Especially for a machined pen. Sometimes it can just be a few changes to the G code and thats all it takes
I got lucky with mine. It aligns really nicely when capped. Only thing that I don't like is if I'm writing with the end cap open and I cap it, it rattles.
Great review and kudos to them for listening to your critique. I’m not much of a fan of pens with this “gold” treatment. It rarely looks like actual gold and in my opinion, when there’s steel, aluminum, titanium, etc., as an option, it tends to always look better. That said, I still went ahead and ordered one of these. I’ll be curious to see if my nib looks tuned or if that was especially done for you.
Good review as always, thank you 🤗 I wonder if you can unscrew the nib and drip ink straight down, if the threads are destroyed over several years of use.? 🤔
I can relate as far as feel goes. Pilot Custom fountain pens has a smoothness, a feeling of quality I can’t say for some other brands… . Namiki too, of course… . Your hands must be larger and stringer than mine, as I always use both hands to fill my Pilot vac filler. I try not to push the nib against the bottom of any ink bottle when filling. That always takes 2 hands for me to keep the nib/pen stationary while filling. I’ve spilled a bottle of ink once, and what an absolute mess it makes! Thanks for the video DB. Best wishes for a Happy, joyful Christmas season. 🎅🧑🎄🌲👍😎
I'm not even a pen person (thanks youtube algorithm) but as far as tipping bottles go, this is a trick I've done for a few other things. Get some cheap air dry clay- you can even find some at grocery stores, and wrap your favorite 3 bottles (if they are different shapes or sizes) in plastic wrap. With this you can mold a holder for the bottles, which will hold them at whatever angle you want so you can have your hands free. It depends on the clay, but you can leave the bottles in while it dries, with the plastic wrap allowing them to be removed after. If you have trouble getting the right shape in the clay you can make a base to work off of using crumpled tin foil. If you need more weight, put something heavy, fishing weights and rocks work great for this, into the bottom of the holder. Overall, this is pretty cheap to make, only really costing as much as a pack of air dry clay- and you might be able to get multiple holders from one pack of clay.
Thank you Kehy 👍, very creative and smart! I learned my lesson (I think). Just don’t be in a hurry to re-ink my fountain pen… . I almost always perform this task at my make shift writing desk (not at the bathroom sink where my incident occurred). A small amount of pre-planning, and not rushing, and a large paper plate underneath helps with small spills. A std size cafeteria tray under that, might just contain a complete tip over. {noodler's ink bottles are pretty much the worst, they have a small footprint, and brand new, they are filled right to the very top}. Thank you for your suggestion. 👍😎🤗
Great video. Thank you. If they do listen to you, then here is one thing. I wish they make nibs one size smaller than EF. The reason being, many Asian pen companies have EF nibs which are already finer than European EFs. The reason being it’s easier to accommodate Chinese characters in a relatively smaller space. Since their EF nibs are not much finer compared to European EFs, I wish they made one more size of nibs: smaller than EF. Call it Ultra or Exrta Extra etc. Otherwise, their pens are really good. But the only reason why I am compelled to buy a Japanese pen instead is because of the options they have for finer nibs. So, I wish they could make one more size, for at least a few pens, if not all. Thanks.
About the nib and cap being misaligned: if the feed is friction-fit, maybe you could turn it to align the nib with the clip ? If it's screwed on, nevermind.
This is a really nice pen! My only issues are 1). The branding on the cap band. It looks cheap and just kind of an after thought. Asvine should have not put any logos on the pen body at all, just like how they did the P20. 2). The nib align with the clip every single time. I’m not sure why almost no one can get this right. With other pens I can fiddle with the nib unit and section and eventually get them to align. My Opus88 demonstrator aligns every single time, I’ve taken it apart and out it back together many times and the nib always lines up perfectly, it’s marvelous! 3). I really wish this demonstrator came with the option of silver hardware. Everything is in gold, and personally I find gold a bit tacky.
Aloha again, maybe you could suggest to your viewers that this type of filling system could also be used like a Japanese eye dropper since it has the shut off feature. If not mistaken, this was less expensive than my Majohn C4.
About the alignment of the cap and nib: I recently bought a V126, and the nib was just as strangely aligned inside the cap as shown. However, after unscrewing and swapping out the nib unit, I screwed the new one in as tightly as I comfortably could and now it's perfectly aligned. My assumption is that they're just overtightening them in the factory. TL;DR: If the nib not being aligned with the clip when capped bothers you, just unscrew the nib and screw it back in and it should be aligned...
So your comment about the nib aligning with the clip is good; it’s about the 1st thing I noticed when you took the pen out. This does beg the question, though, about the Pilot 823 (I don’t have one). Does the nib align with the clip on the Pilot? Thanks for another great detailed and thoughtful review.
Doodlebud, great video! Just thought, but what if the pen maker wants the nib out of alignment to the cap and clip on purpose? This would allow the nib to be seen while the pen is capped.
I think you do an amazing job with your videos! I'm looking for cartridge/ pens so i can take them to work, have you done a comparison on those? Thanks
I have this pen in black. I also have the P30 and P36. Out of the box, the nibs lines up perfectly with the clips. Another TH-cam reviewer admitted the same thing, but after he disassembled it to clean it he could not get the nib to line up. Did you remove the nib unit to clean it? If so, pretend it is a Parker 51 and play hit and miss with the nib placement until it lines up.
The nib & clip were like this when it was out of the box as well. The housing is threaded into the section so that dictates orientation. The housing is keyed for the nib & feed so not adjustment there either. It all depends on the threading operation for the pen if it gets aligned or not. Its not a big deal but I just pointed it out.
Is the "grip barrel" (where the feed is secured) round? ...or does it have a flat spot to guide the feed into a specific orientation? If it is round, it seems adjusting the feed and nib to line up seems like a simpler solution
The frosted black version has been on my list for the longest time. Good to hear that I‘m getting a better quality now that I‘ve waited.jk Something that keeps me from buying it, is that it doesn‘t come with the little wrench to take it apart. (at least I can‘t find a set) To buy it separately will coast around a third of the pen price. I know I know... but that feels just wrong to me. Here is a Mahjohn P136 that is already waiting for it‘s 10 Euro wrench 😌
The Asvine P36 has the same quirk with the nib not aligning with the clip. I'm trying to not let it get the best of me. At least with my pen anyway, it finishes facing right or left. At least it's even.
off topic but does anyone know why the Visconti HS Lava Color - Blu Oltremare is no longer on most pen websites? it doesn't even say out of stock it's just not there anymore. I was planning on buying this pen this week but now I can't find it anywhere
its so satisfying to hear they watched your video! It's like theyre getting a free engineering consult! My husband is an engineer, & I keep trying to get him to care ab fountain pens so we can talk ab them nonstop!.. sadly, he is not a fountain pen lover so he is not amazed by the construction of my pens haha.... but if ever i need a machine the size of our apartment to identify & separate 30000 baby chickens a second based on sex & then vaccinate them, i know he's my guy for sure!
Is there a way we can buff/remove the burrs you mentioned on the vac filler threads? Unfortunate their attention to detail did not extend to the first image of the manual, it shows a pen with a converter
I believe its the same manual used for most of their pens to save on cost. You might be able to clean up the threads with a micro file or sand paper on edge if you know what you're doing
My V126 has ink flow problems. From what I can gather, after it’s filled with ink I get air bubble between the filling mechanism rubber ring and the feed. If I shake it it will fill with ink but sometimes I forget and ink flow stops. Do you think that issues with the ink? I tried Waterman Black and Quink Blue Black and it happens with both.
between this and the Twsbi Eco what would you suggest? I'm on the market for some high capacity pens that won't break the bank and I've narrowed it down to these two but I'm worried about durability, I plan to carry these things around and use them, I already heard of the cracking issues with Twsbi but their customer service seems pretty good, what about Asvine? Do you think the built quality is better?
I would go with the V126 over the Eco. They are both great pens, but the V126 fits my hand better. The Eco section is a bit too narrow for my preference
I feel the V126 is a bit better and would select the Asvine over the WS. Again that is personal preference so could be different for you. Both are well made
12/21/2023: I received my first Asvine FP today, #P20, and it is unlike any FP I own. How to access the converter? I have tried the rear end cap to no avail. I am not able to turn the body either. Can you help? Thank you.
My problem with the 823 and likely this pen is living in humid Florida means it's been weeks since I cleaned the pen and the barrel still has water in it. Is there any way to get it to dry properly without ruining the warranty?
The humidity in Florida has nothing to do with water in the barrel. It is a normal occurance regardless of where you live or go. I don't live in florida and I have the same issue on another vac filler. My vac filler can be disassembled and that's how I clean mine. The rod and gasket hold on to moisture and will continue to leave moisture behind everytime the rod is used.
I have 3 asvines, 1 v126 and 1 p20 both with medium nibs. And to be honest, apart from flossing.. The nibs are well tuned from the factory. And they compare very nicely with my 2 gold nib pens, a custom 92 in medium and a 3776 in broad. My other p20 has a nahvalur stub reground to a cursive italic. All 3 asvines are nice, juicy, wet writers, and are great value purchases.. keep up the nit picking..
You seem to be surprised every time one of these companies takes your advice, but from their point of view, they're getting great advice from an engineer for free! They'd be stupid not to take it!
This will probably be my next pen. Taking feedback is important to me.
Manufacturers acting on expert advice from users--this is how the world should work. Good for you! Good for them!! Good for all of us!!! Perhaps you can whisper in their ears that many pen enthusiasts on this part of the planet would absolutely love a Broad nib!!!!
I agree, these are good pens; but fail because there are no stub nibs.
This is the first video I watch from your channel and I can see why Asvine took your suggestions. I learned so much in 17 minutes.
Not sure if Asvine will read the comments, but the plating can be kind of fragile. If they made one with polished steel fittings I would love that. I already love my V126 - it's super reliable, but since it's my edc I prefer unplated metal to avoid any super visible scratches.
I bought the pen based on Inkquiring Doug's review, so all I can say is thanks for confirming it's a good fountain pen!
It really says a lot to me that they're listening to reviewers like you. Big plus to Asvine
Thanks for sharing Doodlebud! It's so cool to see your feedback being taken into consideration and applied on newer pens. I hope this trend continues within the pen community.
Congratulations on a penmaking company making the changes you suggested! I've found your observations to be accurate and insightful, and if the makers of lower-priced pens will use your advice, so many more folks could enjoy better-designed and made pens than do now. Happy pen owners, happy pen sellers, more penabled folks....
I'm actually impressed that they acted on the feedback because that suggets there is a shift in manufacturing philosophy.
I'm so glad some companies are graciously accepting your constructive criticism 👏 Thanks for another great review! As for the nib-clip alignment, I have a frosted version of this pen and I didn't even notice it lol.
I was pretty surprised when Asvine emailed me directly thanking me for brining up some points that I did. They have really stepped up their game. The other ones I'm reviewing are all great too.
@@Doodlebud That's so good to hear (and yes, surprising that they would take the time to do that). I think more companies need to listen to constructive criticism lol.
I just got the frosted clear, too, with a medium nib. Then I paired it with Diamine glacier ink. OmG that ink sparkles brilliantly & icy
I just got my V126, and I am indeed very happy with it. Matches the review for sure.
One thing I noticed with the clip/nib alignment when capped … the way the threads are aligned means that when the pen is sat on the desk, with the clip resting to prevent the pen rolling, the nib is now perfectly level!
Love my v126. Someone on reddit recommended it and have to say that person was right! Got the brown color, filled it with Syrah ink and it is gorgeous to look at, and tremendous to write with.
First time viewer of the channel here. I must say, your attention to tiny details is insane. Asvine would be stupid to not take some of the advice you're giving out for free. Also, your handwriting is lovely.
Thanks for sharing Doodlebud! Great seeing companies implement feedback from reviewers!
I am new to the founain pen world, although when i was in grade school i used one. Pretty sure it was a parker. I am learning so much from your videos. Thank you for taking the time to make them. You have already saved me from making a bad purchase with your reviews. Thanks again. Rich
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Details matter!
That "Super-Fill" had me on the edge of my seat though! 😅
I bought this pen after Stephen_Inks reviewed it a couple of months ago, and I love it. For such a cheap pen it writes really well, and the crystal clear shows inks off (even better than TWSBIs). And you've taken pen analysis to a whole new level with the sunglasses trick. Now I'm going to have to dismantle my wife's sunglasses. I'm sure she'll understand when I mention your name 😆
Edit: I just had a look at the threads on mine and the flat spot looks cleaner than the one you received. I can feel the threads but no burrs. I took a close up photo and zoomed in, and it looks like it's been polished. If they are doing that by hand then it sounds like a QC issue.
Great review. I prefer the offset of the nib and clip. It's easier to read the nib size when the pen is capped.
I am awaiting delivery as I find your reviews are on the money. It’s been on my wish list but your review brought it up the list.
Nice to hear they're continuing to improve. I have a v126 & have been thinking about another.
I love your quick-cut measurements :)
Thanks DB, interesting. I have the black version, nib and clip align perfectly, writes great, smooth nib, bit of bounce, nice effect on
my writing; one of my favorite pens.
Lovely review as always, maybe try the Hongdian N7-8 next? I've heard great things about them.
Hi DB!: Thanks for showing this COOL pen! Will have to check them out! Not really into the clear pens, but this design is very nice. Thanks also for showing the super-fill method.
I have this exact same pen with a Fine nib for over a month now. And I really love this pen.
That burr and long term usage of vac might be an issue for future.
Thanks for posting this review. Since a couple of weeks I am looking at buying two of these but now I am sure to buy them. Why two you might ask, well one is to hold green ink and the other will hold burgundy ink. Again, thanks for posting this review!
When a modified version of a pen is launched my concern is, if I order one, will I receive old stock? If the changes are significant it would be nice to re-name the pen Asvine V126 mkll. Just a thought...
All depends if changes are made. If you ordered now you'd get the same pen as the one I got
Aloha, just got my v126 today on 1/27/2024; the threads on the blind cap metal screw have zero burrs. It appears as through the burrs were removed prior to the chrome/white plating. The nib doesn’t line up with the clip; not a problem for me . The nib is really smooth right out of the box. The plastic is also weighty and feels durable. Yeah for turned acrylic! Thank you for your recommendation. Might put a BB oblique nib on this pen and see if that puts it into my top 5 list.
I just picked up one of these and I love it so much that I picked up another one!
I actually added this to my list for my first vacuum filling pen.
I love these pens! And you can also eyedropper fill them from sample vials or nearly empty ink bottles to a real full fill! All vac fillers should have removable sections for versatility. I'd like to have this model in all colours! Oh btw, would you dare using Baystate Blue in this pen? Cheers, and thanks for your wonderful videos!
Vac fillers (and piston fillers) should have removable sections -yes!
This pen sounded very much like the PenBBS 456 I have (same issues). However, the PenBBS does not have a removable section... I went and bought a TWSBI Vac 700R because of this. (Also not super keen on the PenBBS nib)
I use Baystate Blue with my Pilot Custom 823. So you probably could with these too. But be careful, your pen will require more maintenance once you start using BSB
Just to correct myself, the PenBBS456 does have a removable section! Still love my TWSBI Vac 700R though. I have to say that when I got my Diamond 580 I was really disappointed that when I took the (flimsy) section off, there was a really small hole into the body of the pen! I know this allows me to use my TWSBI ink bottle but I’d rather like to be able to flush the pen body easily.
I bought one of these pens a few months ago and I think it's a fine pen that may even be a better pen now that the manufacturer has improved it per your excellent advice. I would order another one if it weren't for the fact that I have a couple of pens on order already. Great review and thanks for sharing!
Free engineering for Asvine…what’s not to like…lol😅! Good that they are listening to their consumers and reviewers. Great video..Cheers from Nova Scotia MikeR.
Another nice review. I already have a frosted translucent model before the changes, but now I'm thinking of getting the frosted black model.
Excellent as usual. You might hang out your shingle as a consulting engineer for fountain pens...seriously.
Wondering how to order one of these V126s and be assured that I'd get the latest and greatest? Or is it going to be waiting until they empty all of the old stock?
I ordered one a few days ago, got it yesterday and it's absolutely gorgeous. Works perfectly, writes wonderfully.
I imagine if you order now you'll get the same one as me
Wonderful pens! Thanks to you and Asvine.
Asvine owes you some money , just ordered this and the p20 update: pens came in and love them.
You always do such thorough, well thought out reviews. Honestly, I never thought about the nib aligning with the clip. But my only demonstrator is a TWSBI VAC700R. It is a wonderful pen but don't use it as often as I should. use it that much.
I have always wondered about the quality of Asivine. I have always hesitated to buy cheap pens. My cheapest pen has been a Kaweco Sport
. It's cute and writes well, but I never use it because it just feels cheap in the hand. So it is good to see your review of a good yet inexpensive pen.
I always enjoy your reviews.
Nice pen. The gold colour is not for me though, I wish they had a transparent and/or a frosted one with silver coloured clips.
Good looking pen. And vac-fillers are super cool. I still prefer the look of the V169, but I hope it does well.
Sir Doodlebud.
Good video as usual... your nitpicking is what makes your videos yours.
As for the misaligned cap and nib, it’s easy to unscrew the clip and align it. No need to mess with the nib and feed at all.
You really need to try the matte version of this pen. My matte black EF one just arrived today. I put it to good work with 8 pages of notes and I think it might become my daily driver. The matte finish is a game-changer in terms of feel in hand. I wouldn't call it soft, but it doesn't get the slick/sticky feel of a traditional pen when you're furiously writing 8 pages of notes in one go. I actually like it better than my Lamy2000.
I want to buy a pen of them just because they take feedback serious.
Making the tiniest change can sometimes cost a lot in mass produced products. So that's really cool.
Some changes can be quite costly to implement. But there are also many that cost next to nothing. Especially for a machined pen. Sometimes it can just be a few changes to the G code and thats all it takes
curious how it compares to the twsbi vac 700 since they're much closer in price than the 823. also whether the vac 700 has the stress lines
I got lucky with mine. It aligns really nicely when capped. Only thing that I don't like is if I'm writing with the end cap open and I cap it, it rattles.
Thank you all your reviews. I was curious if this vac seals the section. It'd be cool if you do the simulation of flying with the V126.
Great review and kudos to them for listening to your critique. I’m not much of a fan of pens with this “gold” treatment. It rarely looks like actual gold and in my opinion, when there’s steel, aluminum, titanium, etc., as an option, it tends to always look better. That said, I still went ahead and ordered one of these. I’ll be curious to see if my nib looks tuned or if that was especially done for you.
Good review as always, thank you 🤗
I wonder if you can unscrew the nib and drip ink straight down, if the threads are destroyed over several years of use.? 🤔
@Doodlebud 9:40 This is polished on the 2 pens I got and the thread is smooth.
Oh nice thats good to know
I don't know doodlebud..if they correct the OCD issue to get the nib and clip to line up then you need to add a 1 in front of the price tag!
I can relate as far as feel goes. Pilot Custom fountain pens has a smoothness, a feeling of quality I can’t say for some other brands… . Namiki too, of course… . Your hands must be larger and stringer than mine, as I always use both hands to fill my Pilot vac filler. I try not to push the nib against the bottom of any ink bottle when filling. That always takes 2 hands for me to keep the nib/pen stationary while filling. I’ve spilled a bottle of ink once, and what an absolute mess it makes! Thanks for the video DB. Best wishes for a Happy, joyful Christmas season. 🎅🧑🎄🌲👍😎
I'm not even a pen person (thanks youtube algorithm) but as far as tipping bottles go, this is a trick I've done for a few other things. Get some cheap air dry clay- you can even find some at grocery stores, and wrap your favorite 3 bottles (if they are different shapes or sizes) in plastic wrap. With this you can mold a holder for the bottles, which will hold them at whatever angle you want so you can have your hands free. It depends on the clay, but you can leave the bottles in while it dries, with the plastic wrap allowing them to be removed after.
If you have trouble getting the right shape in the clay you can make a base to work off of using crumpled tin foil. If you need more weight, put something heavy, fishing weights and rocks work great for this, into the bottom of the holder. Overall, this is pretty cheap to make, only really costing as much as a pack of air dry clay- and you might be able to get multiple holders from one pack of clay.
Thank you Kehy 👍, very creative and smart! I learned my lesson (I think). Just don’t be in a hurry to re-ink my fountain pen… . I almost always perform this task at my make shift writing desk (not at the bathroom sink where my incident occurred). A small amount of pre-planning, and not rushing, and a large paper plate underneath helps with small spills. A std size cafeteria tray under that, might just contain a complete tip over. {noodler's ink bottles are pretty much the worst, they have a small footprint, and brand new, they are filled right to the very top}. Thank you for your suggestion. 👍😎🤗
Great video. Thank you.
If they do listen to you, then here is one thing.
I wish they make nibs one size smaller than EF. The reason being, many Asian pen companies have EF nibs which are already finer than European EFs. The reason being it’s easier to accommodate Chinese characters in a relatively smaller space. Since their EF nibs are not much finer compared to European EFs, I wish they made one more size of nibs: smaller than EF. Call it Ultra or Exrta Extra etc.
Otherwise, their pens are really good. But the only reason why I am compelled to buy a Japanese pen instead is because of the options they have for finer nibs. So, I wish they could make one more size, for at least a few pens, if not all. Thanks.
About the nib and cap being misaligned: if the feed is friction-fit, maybe you could turn it to align the nib with the clip ?
If it's screwed on, nevermind.
This is a really nice pen! My only issues are 1). The branding on the cap band. It looks cheap and just kind of an after thought. Asvine should have not put any logos on the pen body at all, just like how they did the P20. 2). The nib align with the clip every single time. I’m not sure why almost no one can get this right. With other pens I can fiddle with the nib unit and section and eventually get them to align. My Opus88 demonstrator aligns every single time, I’ve taken it apart and out it back together many times and the nib always lines up perfectly, it’s marvelous! 3). I really wish this demonstrator came with the option of silver hardware. Everything is in gold, and personally I find gold a bit tacky.
I have a couple Asvine pens, they do not dissapoint.
Aloha again, maybe you could suggest to your viewers that this type of filling system could also be used like a Japanese eye dropper since it has the shut off feature. If not mistaken, this was less expensive than my Majohn C4.
Bought the pen and the alignment with the cap and the nib is already fixed. Had to buy another one. This is a good pen! Thanks for the review.
About the alignment of the cap and nib: I recently bought a V126, and the nib was just as strangely aligned inside the cap as shown. However, after unscrewing and swapping out the nib unit, I screwed the new one in as tightly as I comfortably could and now it's perfectly aligned. My assumption is that they're just overtightening them in the factory.
TL;DR: If the nib not being aligned with the clip when capped bothers you, just unscrew the nib and screw it back in and it should be aligned...
So your comment about the nib aligning with the clip is good; it’s about the 1st thing I noticed when you took the pen out. This does beg the question, though, about the Pilot 823 (I don’t have one). Does the nib align with the clip on the Pilot? Thanks for another great detailed and thoughtful review.
Doodlebud, great video! Just thought, but what if the pen maker wants the nib out of alignment to the cap and clip on purpose? This would allow the nib to be seen while the pen is capped.
Yup they may want to do that as well. I just point out details that I see
you have a good speaking voice bro
Thanks buddy
I think you do an amazing job with your videos! I'm looking for cartridge/ pens so i can take them to work, have you done a comparison on those? Thanks
I have this pen in black. I also have the P30 and P36. Out of the box, the nibs lines up perfectly with the clips. Another TH-cam reviewer admitted the same thing, but after he disassembled it to clean it he could not get the nib to line up. Did you remove the nib unit to clean it? If so, pretend it is a Parker 51 and play hit and miss with the nib placement until it lines up.
The nib & clip were like this when it was out of the box as well. The housing is threaded into the section so that dictates orientation. The housing is keyed for the nib & feed so not adjustment there either. It all depends on the threading operation for the pen if it gets aligned or not. Its not a big deal but I just pointed it out.
Is the "grip barrel" (where the feed is secured) round? ...or does it have a flat spot to guide the feed into a specific orientation?
If it is round, it seems adjusting the feed and nib to line up seems like a simpler solution
Nice review. I have the original V126. Usually works well. My one comment is that it occasionally burps ink onto the paper. How do you stop that?
Very nice job!
Frank in Colorado
Nice technical review! Is the end cap supposed to be flimsy and have some play when unscrewed?
Well anytime you unscrew a fastener there will be play. Even on the Pilot 823 the same thing happens
@@Doodlebud You're right! I haven't though like that! Thanks
Well that’s cool! Very cool!
The frosted black version has been on my list for the longest time. Good to hear that I‘m getting a better quality now that I‘ve waited.jk
Something that keeps me from buying it, is that it doesn‘t come with the little wrench to take it apart. (at least I can‘t find a set)
To buy it separately will coast around a third of the pen price.
I know I know... but that feels just wrong to me. Here is a Mahjohn P136 that is already waiting for it‘s 10 Euro wrench 😌
The Asvine P36 has the same quirk with the nib not aligning with the clip. I'm trying to not let it get the best of me. At least with my pen anyway, it finishes facing right or left. At least it's even.
well if it were to line up, the clip would block the sight of the nib.
I did think of that, too. However, my preference is still to have the nib aligned with the clip. Certainly not a deal breaker.@@Cortesevasive
You can loosen the clip and rotate it to align with the nib of you like it like that. Can't do it on this pen though
If you don't like seeing inside the pen, consider getting a non-demo.
@@Doodlebud all japanese pens have inner caps though. Makes u wonder
...
off topic but does anyone know why the Visconti HS Lava Color - Blu Oltremare is no longer on most pen websites? it doesn't even say out of stock it's just not there anymore. I was planning on buying this pen this week but now I can't find it anywhere
its so satisfying to hear they watched your video! It's like theyre getting a free engineering consult! My husband is an engineer, & I keep trying to get him to care ab fountain pens so we can talk ab them nonstop!.. sadly, he is not a fountain pen lover so he is not amazed by the construction of my pens haha.... but if ever i need a machine the size of our apartment to identify & separate 30000 baby chickens a second based on sex & then vaccinate them, i know he's my guy for sure!
Is there a way we can buff/remove the burrs you mentioned on the vac filler threads?
Unfortunate their attention to detail did not extend to the first image of the manual, it shows a pen with a converter
I believe its the same manual used for most of their pens to save on cost. You might be able to clean up the threads with a micro file or sand paper on edge if you know what you're doing
My V126 has ink flow problems. From what I can gather, after it’s filled with ink I get air bubble between the filling mechanism rubber ring and the feed. If I shake it it will fill with ink but sometimes I forget and ink flow stops. Do you think that issues with the ink? I tried Waterman Black and Quink Blue Black and it happens with both.
between this and the Twsbi Eco what would you suggest? I'm on the market for some high capacity pens that won't break the bank and I've narrowed it down to these two but I'm worried about durability, I plan to carry these things around and use them, I already heard of the cracking issues with Twsbi but their customer service seems pretty good, what about Asvine? Do you think the built quality is better?
I would go with the V126 over the Eco. They are both great pens, but the V126 fits my hand better. The Eco section is a bit too narrow for my preference
Asked them to change the feeds. That would be great.
I am curious, can one use a small wire brush (brass or steel) and remove the majority of the burrs on the vac filter threads?
I tried that on another pen with no success.
Tiny little burs could come off that way but don't do the trick on this one. Micro file work or sand paper on edge could possibly do it
How about using a leather strop with a little metal polishing compound? Like you were sharpening a fine plane or chisel.
Can you remove the burrs by running an appropriate thread cutting die over the existing thread? Just by hand turning.
You'll of course need to have the exact same thread for your die. Could possibly use a mini file or sandpaper on edge to clean it up
I hope the one I got Amazon has these changes.
How does it compare to a Wing Sung 699 in terms of build quality and comfort?
I feel the V126 is a bit better and would select the Asvine over the WS. Again that is personal preference so could be different for you. Both are well made
how's it compare to the 823 or the Wing Sung 699?
I prefer this to the WS699
What does a turned pen mean? What is the manufacturing process?
is there any leakage problem after barrel is more than half empty ?
12/21/2023: I received my first Asvine FP today, #P20, and it is unlike any FP I own. How to access the converter? I have tried the rear end cap to no avail. I am not able to turn the body either. Can you help? Thank you.
It's a piston filler pen. Heres the review:
th-cam.com/video/ZVFv06zfQ5Y/w-d-xo.html
My problem with the 823 and likely this pen is living in humid Florida means it's been weeks since I cleaned the pen and the barrel still has water in it. Is there any way to get it to dry properly without ruining the warranty?
The humidity in Florida has nothing to do with water in the barrel. It is a normal occurance regardless of where you live or go. I don't live in florida and I have the same issue on another vac filler. My vac filler can be disassembled and that's how I clean mine. The rod and gasket hold on to moisture and will continue to leave moisture behind everytime the rod is used.
@@jerrycarter8210
Thank you for the explanation. Unfortunately taking the 823 apart not only voids the warranty, it often destroys the pen.
The 823 is still a great pen. I'd live with the moisture. Even taking my vac filler apart still leaves moisture sometimes. Maybe its impossible! Lol.
Is it possible to use other nibs in this pen? Like penbbs nibs.
Is the nib able to be turned left or right to match up to the clip or does it slide into a "slot".
The housing is threaded into the section and the housing is keyed for the nib & feed. So can't turn the nib & feed to line up
Who makes Asvine's nibs? just curious
Its not sure if its in house or they have them manufactured elsewhere to their specification
I purchased the SVN v126 I would like to know which names are interchangeable I would like to find a calligraphy 1.9 mm native to insert
I have 3 asvines, 1 v126 and 1 p20 both with medium nibs. And to be honest, apart from flossing.. The nibs are well tuned from the factory. And they compare very nicely with my 2 gold nib pens, a custom 92 in medium and a 3776 in broad. My other p20 has a nahvalur stub reground to a cursive italic. All 3 asvines are nice, juicy, wet writers, and are great value purchases.. keep up the nit picking..
How do these pens compare to Lamy and Twsbi fountain pens?
Is this better or worse then a TWSBI Vac700r?
Both are great pens. Comes down to personal preference I think. Dimensions & profiles are different in the section and the V126 posts much better
can the nib unit not be twisted to align with the clip?
The nib housing is threaded and there is a keyway in the house so the nib & feed can't be twisted
mine absolutely destroyed the threads on the back cap; now its impossible to close and it rattles all the time
Oh damn! Guess if the threads are chewy enough.... they will most definitely chew
You said 169 multiple times but the title says 126. Did I miss something?
I referenced the V169 as that was the first pen I reviewed from them. This pen is the V126
Anyone know what the thread size/diameter of the real screw cap? Looking for a thread die cutter to clean up the treads on my V126 and Original Plus.
How does it compare to a twsbi?
Well there are many twsbi pens to compare it against. I find the Twsbi and Asvine pens are well made
Find an investor to put up some capital and get you overseeing a DB name brand pen manufacturing operation. Id buy into it.
Is that a Gamers Nexus copper mug?
I don't know what the Gamers Nexus copper mug is so I would say its not one of those LOL
No worries. Love that Asvine v126 and your review is so granular! Love it
¿Cuáles son esas mejoras?