Best Steel Nibs

[the_gasman]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Bock nibs. I have them on my two modern Onoto pens. They are buttery smooth and generous of ink flow. I can't remember which feed Onoto uses (Schmidt creeps into the back of my mind, but I may well be wrong).

 

Cheers,

David.

[Ted A]

The best steel nib is one tuned to your writing standards. The right amount of feedback, the perfect sweet spot, the angle of your writing matching the tipping, and the flow of the ink makes all the difference.

Buzz

The same would be true for the best gold nib as well I think

[ENewton]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Bock nibs. I have them on my two modern Onoto pens. They are buttery smooth and generous of ink flow. I can't remember which feed Onoto uses (Schmidt creeps into the back of my mind, but I may well be wrong).

 

Cheers,

David.

 

I think maybe people are tending to give the names of pen manufacturers, rather than nib manufacturers, because the large nib manufacturers are, sometimes or often, working to specifications provided by the manufacturer. Thus the Bock nib on my Kaweco Sport could be quite different from the Bock nib on your Onoto. A couple of years ago, there was a list posted elsewhere on this forum, indicating which manufacturers get their nibs from Bock, which get their nibs from JoWo, and which make their own nibs:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/247288-who-make-their-own-nibs/page-8

[rosa_m]

 

My own current personal favourite and perhaps best name-brand value for its money is the Pelikan Stola III fountain pen, however. All metal, classy design, nice finish, flawless nib, plastic section nice to hold, if a bit short. All for under 20€. Cap can't be posted, though.

I tried the Stola III .

Unfortunately , it's only available in Medium .

And is a bit short .

And can not be posted .

 

Looking forward to the Stola IV

[Pen Engineer]

Let's take this one step further.

It is the tipping that is in contact with the paper.

If the quality and shape of the tipping is poor, it does not matter gold or stainless steel, the writing experience will be poor.

 

 

Spot on!

 

I don't have many steel nibs such as some Twsbis with both Jowo and Bock nibs plus a Jinhao. There isn't much between them but I'd give the nod to the Jinhao.

not quite so spot on! but pretty much

 

sure, the point of contact with the paper is crucial, however, writing comfort and character depends on the flex of the nib and the subsequent spreading of the tines. And this has to do with the elasticity of the nib, which is effected by both, the material as well as the shape.

 

==>>> https://fountainpendesign.wordpress.com/fountain-pen-nib-function-material-manufacture/

[Pen Engineer]

The same would be true for the best gold nib as well I think

absolutely!

[dcwaites]

As others have said, the tipping is the most important characteristic.

 

With the stiff nibs, it is the shape and execution of the tip that makes all the difference. I have a couple of inexpensive Pilot desk pens (DPN-200) with alloy nibs that have two of the best nibs (1 x Fine, 1 x Medium) in my collection. I also have a number of Jinhao #5 and #6 nibs that have been perfect out of the box, never needing adjustment. I also have a couple of expensive gold nibs (1 x Sailor, 1 x Pilot) that are also excellent, and are just that bit better than the best Jinhaos, but not as much as you would expect by the price difference.

 

With a flex nib, it has to be able to bend a long way, without changing its shape. Steel is best for these, as gold is soft, and is not as 'springy', which means that you bend a gold nib, and it stays bent. However, that depends on the percentage of gold in the nib. Very few nibs (outside of the Sailors) have a high concentration of gold (i.e. above 14k or 59% gold, the rest other metals). I would be surprised if a flex nib could be made with a nib with more than 10K gold, as it needs to be thin to flex, but springy enough to return to its original shape.

[Bluey]

 

not quite so spot on! but pretty much

 

sure, the point of contact with the paper is crucial, however, writing comfort and character depends on the flex of the nib and the subsequent spreading of the tines. And this has to do with the elasticity of the nib, which is effected by both, the material as well as the shape.

 

==>>> https://fountainpendesign.wordpress.com/fountain-pen-nib-function-material-manufacture/

But isn't it well established that steel can be near as flexible as gold. It surely depends upon the alloys than if it's mostly gold or mostly steel.

[MuttonChew]

+1 for Pelikan

[Pen Engineer]

+1 for Pelikan

Thanks for the good belly laugh about your bottom line

[Pen Engineer]

But isn't it well established that steel can be near as flexible as gold. It surely depends upon the alloys than if it's mostly gold or mostly steel.

Ahm...I don't want to appear as a know-it-all, but

 

flexible, in technical terms is an imprecise word. Just a bit of ingeneering technology....

 

we talk about elastic deformation. Elastic means: after the force, which caused the deformation is taken away, the piece of material goes back to its original shape, with no residual deformation.

 

When one increases the force, gradually, at some stage the deformation goes beyond the elasticity of the material and we get plastic deformation... meaning, after the force is released there will remain a residual deformation.

 

if one takes a standard sample of a steel alloy for nibs and one of gold, the range of elasticity of steel is about three to four times higher.

 

In reference to nibs: the elasticity of a well designed nib can be independent of the material.

Parameters are: Thickness, the length and width of the tines and their pre-loading (how much force needs to be applied before they separate.)

 

does this make sense.

 

There is a number called the modulus of elasticity or also called the Young's modulus, which expresses this to some degree.

 

What do you think? Should I add this to my page on nib materials? ==> https://fountainpendesign.wordpress.com/fountain-pen-nib-function-material-manufacture/nib-material-selection-criteria/

[Pen Engineer]

As others have said, the tipping is the most important characteristic.

 

With the stiff nibs, it is the shape and execution of the tip that makes all the difference. I have a couple of inexpensive Pilot desk pens (DPN-200) with alloy nibs that have two of the best nibs (1 x Fine, 1 x Medium) in my collection. I also have a number of Jinhao #5 and #6 nibs that have been perfect out of the box, never needing adjustment. I also have a couple of expensive gold nibs (1 x Sailor, 1 x Pilot) that are also excellent, and are just that bit better than the best Jinhaos, but not as much as you would expect by the price difference.

 

With a flex nib, it has to be able to bend a long way, without changing its shape. Steel is best for these, as gold is soft, and is not as 'springy', which means that you bend a gold nib, and it stays bent. However, that depends on the percentage of gold in the nib. Very few nibs (outside of the Sailors) have a high concentration of gold (i.e. above 14k or 59% gold, the rest other metals). I would be surprised if a flex nib could be made with a nib with more than 10K gold, as it needs to be thin to flex, but springy enough to return to its original shape.

what is a good nib? this is a very individual characterisation. As ingeneer, I like to see numbers, measurable quantities, then we can talk.

 

Perhaps, the above post can shed some light on this topic.

[dcwaites]

What makes a good nib? Smoothness, consistency of performance, feel.

 

It's like what's the difference between a good British car and a Falcon? The first sign is the feel of the doors closing. With a Humber Super Snipe, a Bentley or a Jag, you get a quiet, solid 'thunk'. With a Falcon you get a 'clonk'.

[Bluey]

Ahm...I don't want to appear as a know-it-all, but

 

flexible, in technical terms is an imprecise word. Just a bit of ingeneering technology....

 

we talk about elastic deformation. Elastic means: after the force, which caused the deformation is taken away, the piece of material goes back to its original shape, with no residual deformation.

 

When one increases the force, gradually, at some stage the deformation goes beyond the elasticity of the material and we get plastic deformation... meaning, after the force is released there will remain a residual deformation.

 

if one takes a standard sample of a steel alloy for nibs and one of gold, the range of elasticity of steel is about three to four times higher.

 

In reference to nibs: the elasticity of a well designed nib can be independent of the material.

Parameters are: Thickness, the length and width of the tines and their pre-loading (how much force needs to be applied before they separate.)

 

does this make sense.

 

There is a number called the modulus of elasticity or also called the Young's modulus, which expresses this to some degree.

 

What do you think? Should I add this to my page on nib materials? ==> https://fountainpendesign.wordpress.com/fountain-pen-nib-function-material-manufacture/nib-material-selection-criteria/p

Well yeah kind of. I think as far as writing comfort and comfort is concerned that you speak of in post 45 it likely won't make a difference.

[lsmith42]

Scanned this thread quickly and didn't notice one mention of what are (and, yes, I'm quite aware of the declarative nature of what comes next) the. best. steel. nibs. ever.

 

Find and buy yourself an inexpensive WWII-era Montblanc steel-nibbed pen, and nothing else will ever compare. They must have worked hard at recreating the experience of their gold-nibbed pens in steel, and did an admirable job.

[rwilsonedn]

I'm kind of surprised that ST Dupont hasn't been mentioned more often. Reviewers usually lapse into free verse over their nibs. But then I guess ST Dupont pens are not widely owned by FPN members. Or maybe owners have mostly opted for the gold nibs.

ron

[Pen Engineer]

What makes a good nib? Smoothness, consistency of performance, feel.

 

It's like what's the difference between a good British car and a Falcon? The first sign is the feel of the doors closing. With a Humber Super Snipe, a Bentley or a Jag, you get a quiet, solid 'thunk'. With a Falcon you get a 'clonk'.

tell me, in technical terms, what is smoothness? feel?

 

for example: consistency of performance = equal line width? Or ... a 100 mm long line must not vary in width more than 10%

[Pen Engineer]

Hello Fountain Pen Friends

I like to tell you, that for now at least, the final chapter on nibs has been completed. Here, I talk about, how all the technicalities we discussed before, are applied to the design of nibs.

I hope, you will have many questions, so I can answer them and be sure that you got the idea. But first, I would like to invite you to visit this page

How to... for Nibs

and as always

[jimrie]

I think TWSBI steel nibs can be quite smooth with a bit of diy tuning and the right width. All around great value pens.

[Pen Engineer]

Scanned this thread quickly and didn't notice one mention of what are (and, yes, I'm quite aware of the declarative nature of what comes next) the. best. steel. nibs. ever.

 

Find and buy yourself an inexpensive WWII-era Montblanc steel-nibbed pen, and nothing else will ever compare. They must have worked hard at recreating the experience of their gold-nibbed pens in steel, and did an admirable job.

What measurable criteria define the best nib? Once we have established that, we can set up a table with test results, add it all together and: voila!

 

it's that easy.

 

If you would like to have some suggestions of those measurable criteria could be, have look in my blog