Recommendations for cartooning/sketching FP

[badicecream]

Greetings, all—

 

I’ve been poking around here for a bit. Wonderful forum.

 

I’m seeking recommendations for a good cartooning/sketching fountain pen, but haven’t been able to dig up too much on the subject.

 

I usually use the traditional combination of Hunt dip pens (usually 102 crowquills) and India ink, but of course that set-up isn’t particularly practical for using anywhere other than my drawing table. I’m aware there probably aren’t any FP nibs that tiny, but I’m hoping to get something capable of fairly fine line work w/decent variation in line quality.

 

I’m guessing I would be looking for something w/an extra fine italic, or stub, type nib? Flexi?

 

I’m open to vintage and new pens. Hoping to not spend much more than $50-$60, but I’m almost certain that I probably will.

 

Thanks in advance.

--Zack

[umenohana]

You should get a vintage flex with XF point, or have a nibmeister regrind it into a sharper point for you. I had my F vintage flex re-ground to a super-needlepoint by Nibmeister Richard Binder, and it writes just as fine as a dip pen (but better! )

 

-Hana

 

P.S. I'm not exaggerating here-- I look for the finest points available to draw the thinnest copperplate hairlines possible.

[badicecream]

Hello Hana--

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Any particular pen that you recommend/use, or do you think just searching on eBay under "fountain pen flex," and picking up something older in good writing condition would be safe enough?

 

Getting one customized does sound like the ticket, but I can't imagine it's cheap.

 

Some beautiful work on your site, by the way.

 

--Zack

[umenohana]

Hello Hana--

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Any particular pen that you recommend/use, or do you think just searching on eBay under "fountain pen flex," and picking up something older in good writing condition would be safe enough?

 

Getting one customized does sound like the ticket, but I can't imagine it's cheap.

 

Some beautiful work on your site, by the way.

 

--Zack

Thank you.

 

I'm not too much of an expert on what brand is good, since I've only two FPs in my collection.

 

It would also depend on what kind of flex you are looking for (semi-flex, flex, super-flex). Here is a great article on flex nibs.

 

-Hana

[*david*]

Many people on ebay with pens for sale won't know what you are talking about. They will say it's flexible when it isn't, for example. I'm not saying they're dishonest, just that they are often clueless.

[umenohana]

Oh, yes. Ebay can be a little risky, unless you can tell by looking at the nib how flexible it is. I got my beautiful vintage pen from vintagepens.com, but flex pens are a bit more pricey than regular pens.

 

But it maybe worth investing more money in one (or two) perfect pen(s) than getting a whole bunch of almost-there pens.

 

-Hana

[krz]

My current favs for drawing are the vintage 30's & 40's Waterman's Ideal pens. They almost never have as much flex as the older pen that Hana described but some are very nice.

 

I've got a very flexi XF Waterman's Ideal for detail and fine lines. A big Waterman's Commando for thicker but still flexi lines. A Sheaffer's Admiral Feather Touch nib with a VERY broad stub for thick lines. And a Sheaffer's Balance Jr. XXXF for hairlines.

 

I do want to get a seriously flexi 20's pen like Hana described as well.

 

I don't know what to recommend in a modern pen.

 

Let us know what you get! /:)

 

Edited to add: I have to agree that most vendors will say flex as a buzzword to sell the pen.

Edited December 7, 2006 by krz

[badicecream]

Yes, I see what you're saying.

 

The "flex" I'm looking for might almost qualify as "super flex."

 

Looks like Richard Binder can make just about any kind of nib you'd want for a Pelikan M200. What a remarkable site he has! A bit more than I want to spend, but like you said it might be worth it just to get it done right the first time.

 

Fine looking pen. Being able to switch out nibs is kind of neat as well. Pelikan appears to be one of the more respected brands. Hmmmm.

--Zack

[*david*]

There has been a rash of complaints recently about Pelikan nibs coming from the factory scratchy or not writing very nicely.

 

There have not been complaints about the pen bodies, the pistons, or anything else, however. If you wrote to Richard Binder saying "I would like a flexible extra-fine pen for drawing and sketching", and discuss a bit with him about exactly how fine and how flexible you want it, and maybe what kind of drawing you like to do, you will get exactly what you wanted from the start. What you miss is the possibility of a low price, and the thrill of the hunt.

 

(But note that you might also buy an older pen and then find that it needs work to get it going.)

[badicecream]

I hear you on the thrill of the hunt.

 

So many of these things on eBay. Learning a bit, narrowing it down, etc. Could look at these tiny machines all day.

 

I have a feeling that after I get one it won't be the last.

 

If I can actually ink "out and about" with a line quality even approaching what I can get out of cheapie dip pens at home . . . well, there's a world of thrills about to be opened up.

 

Not very exciting as a pen, but is anyone familiar with those Rotring Artpens? Looks like they do a sort of "desk style" fountain pen that is meant for sketching. F and EF tips available.

 

--Zack

[amh210]

Zack, where in San Diego are you?

 

I keep about 150 FP's in my office in La Jolla and while I don't have super flex nib pens (except one and it is really my wife's) I have had many FPN membes stop by to look at my pens and ink and play a bit. You would be most welcome if that idea interests you.

 

But...................

 

badicecream?

 

I've only had OK ice cream, good ice cream, terrific ice cream, and "my oh my, this is incredible" ice cream.

 

Bad ice cream?

[*david*]

Rotring Art Pens are not flexible at all. A standard, not super fine, hard-as-a-nail fountain pen nib. Reliable, but maybe not what you were looking for.

[JimStrutton]

Hi badicecream,

 

You could do worse than talk to Mike McConnell, he uses Parker "51"s as they can have a range of nibs and the finer ones are easier to find. Flex is going to be a challenge though.

 

Anyway, his web site is at Wet Inc

 

Jim

[badicecream]

Yes, some of the Parker's look very nice. It sounds like old 45's appeal to some cartoonists.

 

Mike has some incredible work up. Wow. All w/51's, eh? Great stuff.

 

On the Rotrings: Hmmm. Sounds pretty limiting. I do like a very hard nib every once in a while, for very fine, straight work where no line variation is desired, but they are pretty rough to try to use all the time. You can use a Hunt 102 for just about anything though. Love those little things.

 

But hey, I also occasionally like to dip twigs I find in the park in India ink and draw with those.

 

Andy: 150 pens? Cripes! That's amazing.

 

I'm in Golden Hills, a few blocks away from the famous Turf Club, if you know that place.

 

I'm very tempted to take you up on your offer, even if just to see all those pens in one place. Thank you. Don't get up to La Jolla very often, but might be worth the trip one of these days. Wow.

 

Badicecream is sort of an old joke/design I use to "sign" some things. And no, don't find it much in the "real world," but try letting a carton get a bit freezer burned;)

 

Not yummy.

--Zack

[mmoncur]

I've been trying out an Esterbrook 9128 (flexible extra fine) nib for a few days and it's my favorite substitute for a dip pen so far.

 

Esterbrook flex isn't as dramatic as some of the really flexible ones, but I just compared mine to a Hunt 102 nib I have here and the Estie seems about as flexible. Of course, #102 isn't the most flexible Hunt pen - the 9128 isn't nearly as flexible as a Hunt #100 or #103, if that helps.

 

The downside is that the fine end isn't quite as fine as a #102, but I've found that I can get near-hairlines out of it if I use very light pressure - roughly equivalent to a #000 Rapidograph.

 

The nice thing about Esterbrook is that you can order a #9128 nib and a pen to screw it into separately, so it's a bit less difficult to find than other brands. A NOS nib is about $20 and a pen is $10-$40 depending on condition, but be warned most eBay Esterbrooks need minor repairs (new sac) before they're useful.

 

I'm using Platinum Carbon ink, which is almost as black as a good India ink and reasonably waterproof. I haven't played with a dip pen since I got the 9128 nib - I think it's a very good light-flex nib.

 

(I give Russ Stutler credit for suggesting this nib and ink combination, in a comic forum I ran across.)

 

Disclaimer: I'm not a cartoonist, just a rank beginner pen & ink artist with way too many pens and way too few finished drawings.

[jsonewald]

Have a look at this one. I've had two of these. They are EEF nibs by European measure. They feel a bit scratchy, but I can't say for sure that nibs have a problem.

 

http://www.animebooks.com/tacnewmanpen.html

 

I have no experience with this supplier at all.

[krz]

I've been trying out an Esterbrook 9128 (flexible extra fine) nib for a few days and it's my favorite substitute for a dip pen so far.

The Esty 9128 has been reccomended to me as well. I don't have that nib, but I will sooner or later.

 

I do have the 9048 which worked well for me until I found the flexier Watermans.

 

I also have an Eversharp with a wet noodle flex nib, It was mangeled when I got it but works nicely now.

Edited December 7, 2006 by krz

[mholve]

How about a Rotring Art Pen? Ideal for drawing and sketching, and available in a nice assortment of different nibs. Someone is selling a nice collection of same in the "Marketplace" forum...

[Bill]

Oh, yes. Ebay can be a little risky, unless you can tell by looking at the nib how flexible it is...

I like stubs and italic nibs but have little experience with flexible nibs. What are the best ways I can identify a flexible nib by looking at it?

 

Bill

[mholve]

FWIW, here's a link to the aforementioned Rotring collection...

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...topic=20586&hl=