Wow, I was just looking for a little advice and help on finding a nib for a pen we're working on. I didn't expect to get dumped on because my skill level isn't on par with people who have complete disdain for kit pens and the people who use them. We can't all be out there creating Montegrappa pens from scratch. I don't have a problem with most "kit" pens personally and the people I make pens for apparently dont have a problem with them either.
Edit: Sorry if that sounded like a rant. It just seems that when people make an effort to make something and seek specific advice or help, someone is never happy and it seems the jist is to put the person down who is asking. If that is not your intent, my apologies if you were offended.
Uhm what I said was not dumping on you at all. Quite the reverse actually. I have taken the liberty to divulge some information to Seamus (before this posting mind you) that I am unwilling to share here as of yet.
As for the skill comment, what I said has nothing to do with skill levels, cliche groups or the like. What I said has to do with product availability, selection and value. Each one seems to be in short supply and in many aspects appears to be diminishing.
Realize that I have yet to see a single positive post from edstreet regardless if the pen is a kit pen, a kitless pen or a pen made by the hand of God so it's just easier to skip his posts and move on to posts that are constructive and helpful.
Just my opinion,
Mike
Hmm, well then how about this one?
http://www.penturners.org/forum/f13/steamkpunk-collection-expands-124650/#post1688108
Don't like to click and see? Let me fix that.
Amazing work, a TRUE steampunk pen by all rights.
Posted at [Today, 07:44 AM] now lets look see at the post I made on this thread ... [Today 08:08 AM].
See it? Anyone with any moderate intelligence level, i.e. room temp IQ, should clearly see "a single positive post" is grossly unfounded.
Here is a link at the Fountain Pen Network talking about plastic feed vs ebonite and there seems to be a consensus that there is little to no difference:
Question. Comparison Of Mb Ebonite And Plastic Feeds. - The Montblanc Forum - The Fountain Pen Network
But Ed always has to muddy the waters.
Oh boy, where to start.
1) I was crystal clear in what I said and never once did I mention ebonite.
2) That link was referencing Montblanc pens, not kit pens with a 0.003" - 0.005" ink channel. I will even bet you money that if you took a Montblanc feed and did a side by side compare on a technical level you would find the Montblanc far superior in design and implementation. Also, *GASP* both plastic.
3) In the FPN link it was all opinion based, nothing factual concrete or any type of assertive testing. Would also be interesting to ask on that same forum which is better a $20 factory pen or any of the pen kits on the market today. You likely know the answer already, that would be the factory $20 trumps out at the end of the day.
4) From your link can you show me *ONE* pen kit that exhibits this trait?
The plastic feeds on 149s are much easier to remove for at-home surgery. They have excellent seal & flow. On quite a few occasions, I've watched residual ink actually flow uphill to the top of the nib slit when a first-generation plastic feed was re-set with its nib in the section. Saw this happen with several different 149s. Amazing! These pens had such a tight seal that the ink was actually drawn up into the feed & nib. The fact that a tiny amount of residual ink was drawn against gravity from the ink chamber, through the feed, and into the nib without any shaking attests to the quality of the plastic feeds. You can also hear a "phfft" of air expelled as the nib & feed are set into place.
Yet this is exactly what they are comparing in that thread.