It could be argued that Ben Walsh has taken the fountain pen environment by storm with his can take on resources, finishes, engineering and experimentation. How several of us would typically eschew the shiny and the bling yet now possess a skittles completed pen. His experiments with concrete failed, nonetheless this has not stopped him and we have now have his acquire on the bulk and vac fillers. It is the latter I evaluation here.
Now it need to be remembered, in advance of any one screams Visconti, Pilot, or TWSBI, the vac filler is just one of the oldest surviving fountain pen filling mechanisms out there. Even when ONOTO utilized it with their The Pen at the commence of the 20th century (as the plunger filler) it was not unique.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
A single of the complications that has been viewed with demonstrator vac fillers is cracking at crucial stress factors. Now I ought to caveat that for the Pilot 823 every scenario I have seen has been just after the pen has been disassembled for cleansing, something that Pilot states voids the guarantee. Thing is nevertheless that with demonstrator pens there could be a have to have to do a thorough cleanse, particularly if a saturated or significant sheen ink has been used. This was a challenge Ben could not overlook and thus came about this structure with titanium strengthened areas.
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The metal elements at the pressure details are not the only design function as Ben has incorporated a substantial secondary reservoir among the plunger seal and feed (the fore-chamber). This is not clear at to start with and if you do not examine the pen description or inquire Ben (mea cuple …) you will miss out on it as considerably of this chamber is hidden within just the titanium band.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823551_617_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
At the time of writing the Gravitas Vac is readily available in two major components, colourless acrylic for €180 and polished Ultem® at €200. It is the latter I bought, with its naming getting a play on the product. The Gravitas Best Vac. Now Ultem® is becoming well-known for fountain pens with more and extra little makers making use of it, however with those I’ve seen, these kinds of as with the Kasama 1 I was leant and beforehand reviewed, their end typically is imperfect as this materials is very really hard and difficult with the final result it can be a whole lot of do the job to completely polish out the turning marks. Not so right here wherever there is not a scratch in sight.
Now for me the color of Ultem® can be strike or miss out on. It can count on the complete, the thickness of the product, and even the type of Ultem® utilised as there are a number of variants. I do dislike the cloudy, pasty, lighter yellow you occasionally see, on the other hand right here you have a shiny amber. The kind that can make you feel of amulet jewels made up of unfortunate historic bugs.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823555_393_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
Appears to be and measurement wise this matches in neatly with the Gravitas style and design language and I assume was heavily affected by the Sentry model with which is shares proportions. The peaked cap finials are typical across significantly of the Gravitas selection with the exceptions currently being the authentic torpedo condition, the Torque and the Quark.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823557_809_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
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The cap eliminates in just above two turns and you can see an inner move/seal which does work properly. You will also discover the ink splatter as it was this pen that was the resource/influence powering my new submit on uncapping pens. The precise point in time when I seen I was spinning the entire body of this pen in and out of the cap was although chatting with Ben over the Vac model on Instagram …..
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823560_604_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
All I will say is if we see a Gravitas fidget spinner pen I will claim responsibility for a tiny little bit of the inspiration….
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823567_148_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
The cap does publish securely and rather deeply. Due to just currently being Ultem® it does not move the stability place back specially significantly, so if you do have very huge fingers or want putting up the cap it ought to not be an difficulty.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823569_379_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
The section angles downwards in a pleasant curve in the direction of the nib just before speedily mounting out once more to maintain the fingers away from the inky bits. It is of a sensible size and I have no issues getting a comfy grip. The titanium threads are part of the barrel and really feel as if they are a slight phase up from the area, however they are not, it is the initially thread itself. These are angled a little absent from the nib so you do not truly feel them though keeping the pen or moving your finger throughout them from entrance to back again, on the other hand in the other course they are slightly recognizable. Moot as you are unlikely to shuffle your fingers forwards to discover a extra snug grip. It is one particular issue to be conscious of even though. Moving rearwards and the threads turn into a barrel ring, vital to this style as this is the place you mostly see cracks on other makes of vac filler. The band then merges in close proximity to seamlessly with most important component of the barrel. Nice trick as the two titanium and Ultem® can be challenging to operate with.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823570_844_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
Width intelligent I would take into account the area and barrel of the Vac to be ‘regular’ for a modern-day pen, absolutely not as extensive as an outsized so I believe it will work very well for most people.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823571_283_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
In the vicinity of the rear of the barrel you have a different piece of titanium, as a mix of a ring, the threads for the blind cap, and the information for the piston rod. Another classic cracking point for vac fillers that Ben has seemed to strengthened. As with the cap threads section there is a around seamless transition involving the Ultem® and the titanium. The blind cap itself is also the plunger knob and held securely in put by the plunger rod.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823571_340_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
I have verified with Ben that the #6 steel nib the pen takes advantage of is ‘off brand’ but employs a JoWo collar. This points out why it feels additional like a most current generation unbranded Bock with an unusual feed. The only markings on it are the Gravitas image and the nib dimensions. Size clever I went with a fine steel nib and it was sweet out of the box. I did check with Ben if he tuned all people. He does not even so he does inspect just about every nib underneath a microscope and corrects any troubles. I experience this is something he really should place on his web page as I know he can be gradual with turning round orders and factors like this do mitigate the client view if they come to feel they are waiting much too very long (primarily soon after a large gross sales these kinds of as Fountain Pen Working day or Black Friday resulting in heaps of orders).
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823574_69_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
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For people to whom a vac or plunger filler is new, the system functions by a seal remaining at the finish of a rod, these times rubber, back again in the 1920s, cork. When closed the seal securely blocks the main reservoir from the fore-chamber and feed. To fill the pen, the knob at the again of the pen is unscrewed and pulled backwards as significantly as it will go (generally the conclusion of the chamber), drawing the seal up. The piston is then pushed forwards with the nib dipped in the ink. As the seal is pushed down it generates a vacuum behind it. Towards the entrance of the chamber there is a widening and when the seal reaches this the vacuum is released and the ink pulled into the barrel. Normally this will not thoroughly fill the barrel, but repeating the system normally will. There are guides on-line on how to absolutely fill a vac filler (Google for filling a Pilot Personalized 823 or Visconti Electric power Vac).
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823579_111_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
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One particular of the essential advantages to a vac filler is the sheer ink capability, right here about 2.5 ml, and when there is a fore/pre chamber, even much more. This latter part is so massive on this pen (over to .5ml apparently) that the a person draw back is not an concern. The need to open the back each so frequently to let much more ink get to the feed and nib. In point it is so large that at first I considered the plunger seal was leaking as I could not see the ink degree fall. Of system staying a muppet I discovered out the really hard way by eradicating the segment with the plunger shut and observing as a load of ink dropped in to the sink (I was not a whole muppet).
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823584_821_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
In the hand the pen is really comfortable to use. It is really straightforward to find a cozy grip and the pen is quite well well balanced. The precise stability place is in the direction of the rear irrespective of the huge piece of titanium center entrance, even so when held for composing this transitions to just on the fingers (for me anyhow). I don’t know if this was by design or by accident but for me it operates quite perfectly.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823586_594_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823587_734_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
Packaging wise I’m guilty of forgetting what the outer element was, as within the pen was contained in just a leather-based Gravitas pen circumstance with a fastener.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823589_260_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
Am I pleased I purchased this pen. Yes. This to date is the very best pen I imagine Ben has created and made. OK I’ve only had a limited enjoy with a Kakari bulk filler, purely a swift scribble as it belonged to some one else, and that also arrives with a gold nib as standard and considerably extra engineering advanced filling system, having said that my initial reaction was I most popular the Vac (furthermore it is substantially less expensive).
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712715904_312_Ultem®-Fountain-Pens-–-Hype-or-Here-to-Stay.jpg)
At €200 would I endorse this pen and is the Ultem® truly worth the extra €20 more than the obvious colourless acrylic? To the first section, yes. If you want the capability and can afford to pay for the value, then this is a excellent pen and the large fore-chamber signifies you do not have the a lot more standard concern of only getting equipped to produce a little quantity prior to opening the seal. On the latter, private desire really. I have blended sights on Ultem® thanks to the finish you typically see, but below it is spot on and individually I feel it appears to be like greater than the clear acrylic variation.
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823594_517_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
Is there anything at all I come to feel is improper with the pen. No is the uncomplicated answer on the other hand I do would like there was a clip, and I need to caveat that. At present (I do not know if Ben has anything at all planned) no Gravitas pen comes with a clip and to put into action one is not a uncomplicated make a difference, in particular if the great cap seal all Gravitas pens appear to have is to be preserved. Additionally Ben would need to have different measurement and styles of clips for each individual design, which probably would be expense prohibitive. We do see numerous modest pen makers who use a generic clip across their ranges and these are likely to search affordable and detract from the rest of the pen. Additionally most pen collectors seem to just use pen cases to carry their operating selection around that means the vast the vast majority of Gravitas prospects would not be intrigued in just one. I am definitely in the minority getting another person who needs to clip a pen to the inside pocket of a jacket.
Execs:
- Desirable design and style.
- In good shape and complete.
- Wrote effectively out of the box.
- Significant ink capacity.
- Significant fore-chamber ink potential.
- Built with cleaning in brain.
- Best stability position for me when creating.
Neutral:
- Would be nice if there was a clip possibility, but that likely is just me.
Negatives:
- Very little I can consider of.
Creating Sample:
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823598_974_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
Comparison Photographs:
Below not only with the ubiquitous Lamy Safari/Al-Star, but with 3 of the Vac’s rivals, a TWSBI VAC 700R (Iris), a Pilot Personalized 823 (Amber), and a Visconti Homo Sapiens Power Filler (Caput Mundi).
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823602_103_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823610_616_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)
![](https://peachtreeoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712823614_633_Gravitas-Ultimate-Vac.jpg)