Nibs

[Tas]

http://www.taskyprianou.com/fpn_pen_rambling_aurora_archivi_storici_012_nib.jpeg

Aurora Archivi Storici 012 - no idea what size it is. Writes like a F-M.

[pomperopero]

Sailor Ocean, music nib.

 

[Croma]

Parker 180 on a mesosiderite from Chile.

Regards.

 

[GMCustompens]

Nib Images are very Nice!!! love all images.

 

Nibs

The first and the most critical thing that you should consider when selecting a fountain pen is the metal writing tip of the pen known as the nib. More then anything else it’s the nib that determines how a fountain pen will write.

Early fountain pen nibs were made from gold due to it’s flexibility and resistance to corrosion features. However, today most of the nibs are crafted with stainless steel or gold alloys for there great strength and durability. If a nib is made from pure gold, they are usually tipped with metal like iridium or some metal from the platinum family.

The nib has a small slit at the center that helps bring ink down to the tip by the way of capillary action. Additionally, you will also find a tiny “breather hole” on top of the nib that will help bring air back into the reservoir to prevent vacuum formation. It farther acts as a stress-relieving point that prevents the nib from cracking due to the repeated flexing that occurs during its use.

Nibs come in varying tip shapes, materials and sizes. There are three basic shapes of nibs which include round, stub, and italic. Round is the most common shape and provides a fairly uniform-looking line on the paper. Stub and italic shape nibs are typically used for calligraphy.

Tip Size

The tip size of a nib determines the width of the line it makes. It is the nib grade that designates the size of the tip. Nibs of fountain pen typically vary from extra fine, fine, medium, to even broad size.

In total there five basic grades of nib which includes extra fine (XF), fine (F), medium (M), broad (, and double broad (BB). Among these nib grades, the most common nib grades are fine and extra fine nibs.

In fact, Japanese fountain pens are typically said to have a size finer then it’s equivalent pen from a non-Japanese brand. Ideally, people with smaller handwriting should choose a fine or extra fine nib, while those with larger handwriting should go for a medium or broad sized nib.

Tip Shape

Nib tips of a fountain pen can either be round or shaped. Round shaped nib tips are quite similar to the regular ballpoint pen tips. They create the same line width in any direction just like any regular ballpoint pen.

While shaped nib tips are either stub or italic which when used creates different line widths, depending on the direction of the stroke. The most common type of shaped nib used is the italic one which makes wide vertical strokes and a thin horizontal stroke.

This type of nib is often used in calligraphy. Other then these shapes, ballpoint, oblique and calligraphy nibs are just a slight variation of the round and italic shapes.

[SchaumburgSwan]

Hi,

the #4 flex nib came with a late 1940s Mabie Todd Swan 1041.

 

Best

Jens

[GlenV]

John Holland dip pen

[Dip n Scratch]

I have just discovered this thread. The enormous image, the first in post #14 made me think I was looking at Starfleet's latest vessel or perhaps a blinged-up Empire Star Destroyer.

[Intensity]

Sailor MS / EF

 

 

 

Older photo of Pelikan IB nib:

Edited August 10, 2019 by Intensity

[Estycollector]

Rare find on an Esterbrook Dollar. It is now attached to a '38 Dollar. I should add that it was unclogged using a mandolin e string.

Edited December 29, 2019 by Estycollector

[WLSpec]

Diplomat Aero Factory on Rhodia 5x5 paper - EF nib

[Andrew_L]

Hello everybody!

 

This is my work:

 

1. Zoom nib (Naginata-togi / Goccia)

 

 

2. Architect nib

 

 

3. Italic Crisp

 

 

4. UEF (Needlepoint)

 

[SchaumburgSwan]

Hello everybody!

 

This is my work:

 

 

(...)

 

4. UEF (Needlepoint)

 

https://images.vfl.ru/ii/1529402265/9cace377/22170507.jpg

 

Hi Andrew,

 

that one looks very good! :-)

How wide is it's line on paper, 0.15mm I guess?

I love my needlepoints...

 

Best wishes

Jens

[Andrew_L]

Thanks. Width depends on ink and paper. This is my main drawing tool now. Montblanc Permanent Black and Watercolor paper have a line of 0.15mm by right side and 0.1mm by reverse, Platinum Carbon Black and office paper A+ have a line of 0.2-0.25mm.

[WLSpec]

Hello everybody!

 

This is my work:

 

1. Zoom nib (Naginata-togi / Goccia)

 

https://images.vfl.ru/ii/1585313131/672ff2d8/30017131.jpg

 

2. Architect nib

 

https://images.vfl.ru/ii/1565617848/345cecc2/27519313.jpg

 

3. Italic Crisp

 

https://images.vfl.ru/ii/1579878726/337d00f4/29310612.jpg

 

4. UEF (Needlepoint)

 

https://images.vfl.ru/ii/1529402265/9cace377/22170507.jpg

Wonderful!

[SchaumburgSwan]

Thanks. Width depends on ink and paper. This is my main drawing tool now. Montblanc Permanent Black and Watercolor paper have a line of 0.15mm by right side and 0.1mm by reverse, Platinum Carbon Black and office paper A+ have a line of 0.2-0.25mm.

 

Hi again,

 

sounds very good. Thanks for the reply.

Yes, paper, ink, wetness and fine adjustment of the nib are decisive to get best results.

Mine like Clairefountaine paper and ESSRI or Diamine Registrar's iron gall ink best...

 

Best wishes and gratulations

Jens

[Andrew_L]

Thanks to all!

So far I have tried not so many of ink. From the permanent ink I used only Montblanc Permanent Black, DeAtramentis Document Black, Platinum Carbon Black and Pelikan Fonut India - this is ones of the best in the opinion of many. The thinnest for me is Montblanc, but they dries on my Capless, the most liquid is Platinum Carbon(don't dry in Capless) - but I don't like a dot at the beginning of each stroke, DeAtramentis in the middle, but they are washed off a little with water (I'm often draw with water). But I really very liked and satisfyed this nib which I made only for drawing. I like writing more with a vintage flex nib or a crisp Italic, if it's a modern nib .

[Namo]

[mana]

Hmmm, thought that I had posted this but nope, well, here goes...

 

[WLSpec]

Hmmm, thought that I had posted this but nope, well, here goes...

 

Very nice.

[WLSpec]

Carter Pearltex Pearl Ringtop - Semi Flex (F?)

 

Leonardo Furore - Steel B

 

Sailor 14k Zoom