Everyday Writing Dip Nibs?

[KellyMcJ]

I'm wanting to experiment with dip pens and there are so many options for nibs I don't know where to start! (I have a glass pen on the way). I'm not looking for flex (I don't object to flex, that's just not my aim right now). I want to write with a dip pen like people used to write with dip pens when dip pens were what was used. What kind of nib do I need? (preferably readily available).

[jabberwock11]

That is how I started with dip pens, and how I still use my pens. I do some calligraphy and flex stuff, but mostly I like to use them for everyday writing. There are some great nibs for general use. Any of the larger bowl type nibs or Falcon nibs would be the best place to start.

 

Some of my favorites for every day use are:

 

--Esterbrook Falcon 048 (great writer, super smooth, some flex)

--Brause 29 (very smooth, consistent fine lines, some flex when broken in)

--Esterbrook 788 (large ink volume, medium lines, smooth)

--Leonardt 300 (fine to medium lines, readily available, inexpensive)

 

 

Now, if you are interested in italic cursive writing, that opens up a whole new can of worms...

[Buzz_130]

I have an Esterbrook Dip-less desk pen (which is a dip pen that you need to dip less often, not that you don't need to dip at all). What I enjoy the most is I can use all of my Esterbrook fountain pen nibs. All of the renew series nibs simply screw in and write after a quick swap. Testing shading in a broader nib? No problem as I can just swap out and go. Perfect for everyday writing because Esterbrook made so many great nibs for exert day writing!

 

Buzz

[KellyMcJ]

I have an Esterbrook Dip-less desk pen (which is a dip pen that you need to dip less often, not that you don't need to dip at all). What I enjoy the most is I can use all of my Esterbrook fountain pen nibs. All of the renew series nibs simply screw in and write after a quick swap. Testing shading in a broader nib? No problem as I can just swap out and go. Perfect for everyday writing because Esterbrook made so many great nibs for exert day writing!

 

Buzz

Interesting! Do other nibs (like Goulet for instance) fit it as well?

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

I do not use dip pens for every day writing, so I hope to learn from other Members.

 

When I depart from FPs, for the most part I use the Brause Ornament series, usually due to the specific ink in use, which is often not an FP ink or is considered 'high maintenance'.

 

I am intrigued by other Members' mention of the Estie Dip-Less series. (Another vector of exploration was just added to my bottomless To Do List.)

 

Bye,

S1

Edited January 26, 2016 by Sandy1

[ac12]

I would get a G nib (Nikko, Zebra or Tachikawa). That is an easy to find (current production) pointed nib that can be used to do flex writing. And it is a good starter and general purpose nib. It is my standard GP nib. But like all pointed nibs, you will need to learn to write with a light hand. Though the G is more forgiving than most other pointed nibs.

 

The Esterbrook 'dip-less' can only use Esterbrook nib assemblies.

Now one could do surgery on the nib assembly to swap in a different nib. But the nib still has to fit the Esterbrook nib assembly, which I am pretty sure is not a #6. BTW, this surgery on the nib assembly can be tricky to do, without damaging/destroying the collar.

Edited January 26, 2016 by ac12

[KellyMcJ]

I would get a G nib (Nikko, Zebra or Tachikawa). That is an easy to find (current production) pointed nib that can be used to do flex writing. And it is a good starter and general purpose nib. It is my standard GP nib. But like all pointed nibs, you will need to learn to write with a light hand. Though the G is more forgiving than most other pointed nibs.

 

The Esterbrook 'dip-less' can only use Esterbrook nib assemblies.

Now one could do surgery on the nib assembly to swap in a different nib. But the nib still has to fit the Esterbrook nib assembly, which I am pretty sure is not a #6. BTW, this surgery on the nib assembly can be tricky to do, without damaging/destroying the collar.

Thanks! I wouldn't want to attempt a modification and risk damaging an out of production antique pen!

[dcwaites]

The Hunt 512 can be found in many art supply shops, along with appropriate dip pen holders. It's sort of the Toyota Corolla of dip pens, not exciting, but it just works. It also will work with a lot of fountain pen inks that other dip pens find are too wet.

 

As for ink, stay away from exciting inks, and just use plain ordinary Sheaffer Skrip Blue or Black, or Parker Blue or Black. Waterman is too wet, as are all the Noodler's, Diamine and Private Reserve inks. They are all great in FPs, but just too wet in simple dip pens.

And yes, there are some dip pens that will work with those inks, like the Perry Iridinoid nibs, or the One-Dip nibs, but they are hard to find.

 

I tend to use M. Myer & Son Post Office nibs, but only because I have a box with a gross of them.

[Buzz_130]

Thanks! I wouldn't want to attempt a modification and risk damaging an out of production antique pen!

ac12 nailed it! Just buy the assembly and screw it into the pen. It's a nice multi-purpose tool (but use the right tool for the job). For true dip pens, you are getting some great advice here.

 

Buzz

[KellyMcJ]

The Hunt 512 can be found in many art supply shops, along with appropriate dip pen holders. It's sort of the Toyota Corolla of dip pens, not exciting, but it just works. It also will work with a lot of fountain pen inks that other dip pens find are too wet.

 

As for ink, stay away from exciting inks, and just use plain ordinary Sheaffer Skrip Blue or Black, or Parker Blue or Black. Waterman is too wet, as are all the Noodler's, Diamine and Private Reserve inks. They are all great in FPs, but just too wet in simple dip pens.

And yes, there are some dip pens that will work with those inks, like the Perry Iridinoid nibs, or the One-Dip nibs, but they are hard to find.

 

I tend to use M. Myer & Son Post Office nibs, but only because I have a box with a gross of them.

Good tip about the hunt! I'll have to try that out as I'm betting I can get them locally and I will want to at least try other inks, I know!

[ac12]

I have used all of my opened FP inks with my dip pens, not had a problem with any so far.

You do have to prepare the nib, to clean off the manufacturing oils, so that the ink will stick to the nib. I simply wipe the nib with a tissue dampened with rubbing alcohol (inert ingredient = water).

Some of the inks will write WET. Much wetter than from a fountain pen.

 

ps, anyone finding my OLD posts, ignore the comment about FP inks not working with a dip pen, they do work.

Edited January 27, 2016 by ac12

[ENewton]

I use a glass pen quite regularly, always with fountain pen inks. Ironically, the only fountain pen inks that have not worked well with my J Herbin pen are J Herbin inks, because they are too wet. For best results:

 

• Wash the pen before first use. I use undiluted dishwashing liquid. This wash carries away any oils left from machining, so the ink will adhere to the nib.
• Dip the nib only about halfway into the ink, and gently stroke the nib against the lip of the bottle so excess ink will drop off. I think most of the trouble people have with glass pens is due to putting too much ink on the nib in the first place.
• Rotate the nib a little bit clockwise every few seconds as you write, to keep the ink flowing in the helical channels on the nib.

If you are anxious for the lines to be as uniform as possible, you will need to dip more often; if you like variation in how much ink the pen lays down, you can dip less often. I personally like the variation.

[KellyMcJ]

I use a glass pen quite regularly, always with fountain pen inks. Ironically, the only fountain pen inks that have not worked well with my J Herbin pen are J Herbin inks, because they are too wet. For best results:

 

• Wash the pen before first use. I use undiluted dishwashing liquid. This wash carries away any oils left from machining, so the ink will adhere to the nib.
• Dip the nib only about halfway into the ink, and gently stroke the nib against the lip of the bottle so excess ink will drop off. I think most of the trouble people have with glass pens is due to putting too much ink on the nib in the first place.
• Rotate the nib a little bit clockwise every few seconds as you write, to keep the ink flowing in the helical channels on the nib.

If you are anxious for the lines to be as uniform as possible, you will need to dip more often; if you like variation in how much ink the pen lays down, you can dip less often. I personally like the variation.

That is ironic! (J Heroin) lol!

 

I'm really excited for my glass pen. I figure my brightest inks may not work with the steel pen but will probably work with that.

[akustyk]

I have used all of my opened FP inks with my dip pens, not had a problem with any so far.

You do have to prepare the nib, to clean off the manufacturing oils, so that the ink will stick to the nib. I simply wipe the nib with a tissue dampened with rubbing alcohol (inert ingredient = water).

Some of the inks will write WET. Much wetter than from a fountain pen.

 

ps, anyone finding my OLD posts, ignore the comment about FP inks not working with a dip pen, they do work.

 

Yes, they do work, but not as well as dedicated dip pen ink. After quite a bit of trial and error, I add a bit of powder gum arabic to a sample vial (about a 1/10 ratio), and that improves performance dramatically for me.

[ac12]

 

 

Yes, they do work, but not as well as dedicated dip pen ink. After quite a bit of trial and error, I add a bit of powder gum arabic to a sample vial (about a 1/10 ratio), and that improves performance dramatically for me.

 

 

Yes the thicker inks work better, but there are thin dip pens inks that are very similar in viscosity/liquidy? to FP inks. One of these is walnut inks. The one I have (Daniel Smith) is just like writing with water. And I think Higgins Eternal is rather liquidy, but it has been a while since I wrote with Higgins Eternal. I have not tried to thicken the FP inks for my dip pen, but I might try your idea. And thanks for the mix ratio.

[coinlvr]

For me Esterbrook 788 is the nib.

[AAAndrew]

Sorry I didn't see this originally. Everyday writing dip nibs are the focus of my collection.

 

Others have given some good advice. If you want to write with what the regular person wrote with than it's a good idea to focus on the top sellers.

 

Falcon pens are always good. The spoon pens, like the Esterbrook 788 were quite popular as they held a great deal of ink, as others have pointed out above.

 

I'm particularly fond of Turner & Harrison pens, myself. Esterbrooks are great, and I have a great many of them, but Turner & Harrison are often over-looked and may come more cheaply. Most of what they made were for general writing. I've only encountered a couple of styles that I might classify as more for decorative writing or were terribly flexible.

 

Other things to look for are the words "firm," "vertical writing," "slant (vertical, natural...)" or "school." Almost all of these will get you a non-flexible, or at most semi-flexible nib that was used for regular writing.

 

Of course, those who wrote a great deal would often turn to the stub nibs. These are smoother and were advertised as easy writing for long correspondence. My favorites are the shorter stubs, like the Esterbrook 239 Chancellor, Spencerian 18 Society Stub (more of a medium length stub), or the Hunt 62 Vasser (or X62 which is just he silver coated version of the 62). The Esterbrook 442 Jackson stub (a stub falcon) is also a great every day writer.

 

Check eBay and you can often find these pens, especially the stubs, which are less sought-after, fairly cheaply. Or get one of the occasional big lots of 40 pens for $20 or something and try out a bunch of different ones.

 

If you see something of interest, feel free to drop me a PM and I can tell you my impressions of what kind of writer it may turn out to be. I'm now up to almost 500 different types of dip pens in my collection. I've probably seen it or have an idea of what it may turn out to be.

[sidthecat]

I purchased a collection of nibs some months back, and one of the nibs was a huge gold Mabie Todd calligrapher's tool. I sold that one, but later bought a couple to use. They're great writers and because they're gold, they work brilliantly with iron-gall inks. They have more body than dye-based inks, and resist feathering on absorbent papers.

I wouldn't suggest an immediate jump down the rabbit hole, but if you're already going that way I'd try one out.