I Get Mail: Does the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Slims refill fit in the Zebra Sharbo X?

I am always happy to answer reader mail and over the years I have answered a lot. I'm not exactly the fastest responder, but I do my best to answer them all. On occasion, I get repeats of the same question so I thought it would be good to answer some of those publicly to help out other readers who may be wondering the same thing.

So, here is the first one, from Mike: Does the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Slims refill fit in the Zebra Sharbo X?

Both of these pens use what is called a D1 size refill, so yes, the Slims refill fits fine in the Sharbo X. Most D1 refills are interchangeable between brands, although the small tolerances might make the fit tighter or looser depending on the pen. For example, the Slims refill fits in the Sharbo X like a glove, but I had to force the Sharbo X refill into the Slims barrel. In the end it fit and worked fine, but some force was required to seat it properly.

Mike also wondered if the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Slim Knock or the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto refills would work, and the answer in no. Those refills are much to long to fit in the Sharbo X.

I hope this helps you out Mike, and hopefully this helps other readers who had the same question.

Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen Video

I mentioned in my Pilot Vanishing Point review last week that I made a short video to share with you. I’m no Scorsese, but I at least tried to capture a few of the high points of the pen.

There is a quick shot of the door that keeps the nib from drying out and a good look at the clip in case you were questioning how your fingers might land on the barrel. I also point out the little hole that you need to get all the way in the ink bottle to fill the converter properly.

I have moved over to the standard Pilot Namiki Black Ink Cartridges which I plan on trying for a while and then testing out syringe refilling to see how that goes. So far so good with the black ink cartridges in the few days I have used them.

This is a heavy rotation pen for me and really the only pen I am using right now. The next thing I want to do is several nib and line width comparisons so look for that in the near future.

Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Smart 3 Multi Pen Review

I have reviewed many Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto multi pen barrels over the years. It is the first multi pen I fell in love with and is still the best in my mind. While the ink cartridges haven’t changed, new barrel designs hit the market frequently. The Coleto Smart 3 is the most recent I have tested out.

Compared to the older Coleto barrel designs the Smart 3 is an excellent visual upgrade. The clear plastic grip area is the biggest change, allowing you to see a large section of the ink cartridges. It is eerily similar to the original Uni Style Fit.

The updated look is great but that change comes with a slightly wider barrel diameter. I don’t have the exact measurements, but this barrel looks and feels wider than the standard 4 Color Coleto barrel. That, to me, makes it less desirable. If I can fit four cartridges in a narrower barrel I am going to take that more often than not.

In the end it is only $2.50, so you don’t have to break the bank to try it out. If you have a few spare Coleto refills laying around it is worth a shot.