Which modern pen has the finest nib?

[helius]

By that I mean narrowest, and from the factory assembly line?

 

Specifically, I'm looking for something that's narrower than my Hero 329 and Sailor's XF nibs (which look really close to my eyes).

[rroossinck]

Holy moley...can you get any skinnier than a Sailor XF? Have you tried a Cross Solo XF?

 

Wait...scratch that. Solos are no longer in production. They're still available on eBay in large numbers, though.

[JimStrutton]

I can only think of one real answer for you

 

A custom Pelikan Nib from Mr Binder, go here and take a look at the custom nibs.

 

No connection Blah de Blah http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales.htm

 

Jim

[Phthalo]

I have a couple of Hero 329's, and my Pilot 78G's have finer nibs than them. My XF 14K Sailor is about the same as a F Pilot 78G. (The Sailor is marginally wetter.)

 

My Nakaya 14K EF is actually the thinnest of the lot, and only a little thicker than my 0.2/XXXF Needlepoint from Richard B.

 

I have four Pilot 78G's with F nibs (which are really more like a XF), and they are superb little writers which produce very fine lines.

[helius]

rroossinck/Ryan: Are the Solo XFs narrower than the ATX XFs? I don't seem to recall their XF ATX nibs being all that narrow.

 

JimStrutton: I knew someone was going to suggest that! And I am going to get a custom needlepoint some day. Call it curiosity, but I want to get a factory nib to compare with one from the esteemed Mr. Binder.

 

Phthalo: I'll definitely look into getting a Pilot 78G. Now if only Nakaya offered a reasonably priced pen... Incidentally, what do you use these needlepoints for? Writing on grains of rice?

[Phthalo]

I have *tiny* handwriting - Richard actually used the word "miniscule". My cursive letters are about 1mm high, with capitals that are about 2.5mm high.

 

So, all my pens have tiny points, and I can easily use a Needlepoint for daily writing, notes, letters etc.

[kissing]

what do you use these needlepoints for? Writing on grains of rice?

Precisely

 

http://www.shopping-headquarters.com/images/vendors/v6/ancientartofwritingonrice.jpg

 

:roflmho: /:)

[Taki]

I am eagerly awaiting for my Pilot 78G with F nib, but I don't think it's currently in production. Grab it while you can

 

Often if you buy relatively inexpensive Japanese pens (like Platinum Riviere) their F or EF nibs are pretty thin but I'm not sure if it's thinner than Sailor EF.

[wspohn]

You can buy needlepoint nibs for a few pens. I have a stock needlepoint on a Duofold Centennial and it is a nice detailed nib.

 

Obviously they do not flow a lot of ink and as they are on the dry side, they wouldn't be first choice in a speed writing competition, but assuming you can write at a normal speed, they present a great option for those writing figures, or who just like a very fine line.

 

I think there is one pen people tend to ignore - the Parker 180. It had two different tip sizes on it and the common XF writes rather finely. I expect you could have that fined down a tad by a nib modifier and have an XXF with an M on the other side - a good combo for real life writing.

[Taki]

I just rememberd that Sailor now sells XXX(?)F nibs. I posted a thread about it in this forum a few months ago but my Palm crashes when I try to do search. I will try to foind that thread later today when I can use a computer.

[Richard]

You can buy needlepoint nibs for a few pens. I have a stock needlepoint on a Duofold Centennial and it is a nice detailed nib.

I started making needlepoints after someone sent me a Duofold Centennial with a stock "needle" nib for regrinding. The stock nib was scratchy, it didn't flow well, and its strokes were not the same width sidewise as they were up and down -- oh, and neither stroke was as narrow as the stroke my standard needlepoint makes (0.2 mm). I'll leave it to clients who have used my needlepoints to say whether they're smooth and flow well.

 

For them as have really tiny handwriting, my super needlepoints make a 0.1-mm stroke. /:)

 

Oh, and Laura, a thwack on the wrist for misspelling minuscule.

[Richard]

Double post, pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Edited February 1, 2007 by Richard

[*david*]

Oh, and Laura, a thwack on the wrist for misspelling minuscule.

She meant to say her scules are really small, and that's why she writes this way.

[umenohana]

I'm a Binder super-needlepoint user! (I don't think I write nearly as small as Phthalo, though!) I just appreciate the great hairlines.. And yes; it is somehow very smooth, even though it's so fine! (I don't know how it works, lol) The inkflow is great, too: I can write lecture notes in haste and it never skips.

 

I think I've already said it many times, but I love it.. :)9

 

-Hana

[Taki]

Found the thread here. I guess at that point it was put on limited edition pens. But they are thinking about adding to their regular nib lineup.

[rroossinck]

The Solo nib is a Japanese XF, I believe. The contract was awarded to Namiki for the nib on these pens. Terrific writers!

 

As for the difference between that one and an ATX nib...the ATX nib is ground at the Cross factory in Rhode Island, so my guess is that it's a more typical American XF. Never done a head to head comparo.

Edited February 1, 2007 by rroossinck

[Phthalo]

Ack, spelling errors... how shameful!

 

However, I do have an excuse, I posted that note at 12:20AM.

[His Nibs]

I now have the Hero 237-1 Accountant pens, which are XXF, back in stock. Some of them actually tend toward XXXF .

 

Accountant pens

[wspohn]

I started making needlepoints after someone sent me a Duofold Centennial with a stock "needle" nib for regrinding. The stock nib was scratchy, it didn't flow well, and its strokes were not the same width sidewise as they were up and down -- oh, and neither stroke was as narrow as the stroke my standard needlepoint makes (0.2 mm).

Richard, you arwe quite right that the needlepoint is slightly scratchy. Perhaps I should send it to you to be smoothed. I'll get in touch about cost and turnaround time unless you want to post it here to give anyone else interested an idea of what it takes to 'optimise' a Parker needlepoint.

 

I don't really need it any thinner in line - the stock width is about right, but better flow should = better skip free fast note taking and losing scratchiness is always a pleasure.

[helius]

Well, I got me a Pilot 78G with a fine nib - amazingly smooth for such a fine point. It appears to be about the same stroke width as my Hero 330. With a sample size of one for both pens, I'm not going to make any generalizations about either pen... but just so I have a point of reference, has anyone measured the stroke width of their Hero 329 or Pilot 78G?