Fountain Pen: Opus 88 Mini
- whimsicaleccentric
- Jul 2, 2024
- 2 min read
VISUAL
The Opus88 mini is a fairly small pen, but it's also decently chonky. As I listen to neighbors set off fireworks, I figured this would be a fun pen to grab and ink up! This short cigar-shaped pen has a resin barrel and a metal cap. The cap is laquered in the red, white, and blue American flag. There is a wide silver 'cap band' that is actually fixed to the top of the barrel rather than the cap.
The red translucent barrel features a large ink reservoir. Most inks will make this ink zone look fairly dark, but there is a large threaded zone at the base that lets the color of the resin really show.
A small silver band separates the ink control nob from the rest of the barrel. The finials and section are black.
TACTILE
For being a small pen, the resin used in this model is pretty thick, giving the pen a surprising amount of weight. There is a bit of a ridge from the clip band where it isn't a perfect fit against the finial, but overall construction on this pen feels decent.
The section is pretty wide, but also pretty short. I find that my fingers rest on the threads and the step-up to the barrel quite a bit, but fortunately they're not sharp so it's not too uncomfortable.
PRACTICAL
I find it fun to use shimmer inks in eyedropper pens, so I selected a broad nib on this pen. When it flows, this nib is very smooth and satisfying. However, I've been having some flow issues with a few different shimmer inks lately, so I may need to do some tweaking with either the feed or nib alignment.
The cap technically posts, but not incredibly securely. It is firm enough that I trust it to stay on when writing, but I wouldn't do any crazy hand gestures. Uncapped, the Mini is just barely long enough to be useable - I much prefer its length posted.
STATISTICAL
Pen Measurements:
Weight: 25.64g
Weight of Cap: 10.19g
Length Capped: 118 mm
Length Uncapped: 108 mm
Length Posted: 139 mm
Nib: 5mm 'Bold' Steel
Body Style: Cigar
Fill Method: Eyedropper
Fill Volume: 1.5 ml
Comparison Pens: Pilot Metropolitan, LAMY LX
OVERALL
Pros:
Large ink capacity
Easy cleaning, woo!
Cons:
Doesn't post great but its size makes posting almost necessary.
Short section is a bit of a challenge for gripping
I don't feel it's fair to judge this pen just based on my recent experience with one ink. I'll have to give it a try with a different ink soon! Either way, it makes for a fun ink with which to celebrate the Fourth of July.
DISCLAIMER: Pens and inks purchased by myself. Photos and opinions are my own.
Comments