Spare Nibs: How Do You Store Them?

[sketchstack]

I'm at the point in my fountain pen hobby that I have a collection of nibs that exceeds the number of pens I own. This is due to exploring different widths, brands and so-on. (I call it the "goldilocks effect" --I keep looking for the one that's just right.)

 

I recently decided I should catalogue the nibs I've amassed and in doing so I realize that I don't really have a sophisticated way to store them. Some of my nicer nibs, especially those purchased as a complete unit, came with a case or rigid container. However I do have a bunch of German steel nibs that are basically floating around in a plastic baggy.

 

So I figured I'd ask around for ideas. I'm not interested in presentation quality per se. More like an organizational tool. Maybe a tackle box?

 

Thanks for any insight.

 

 

[watch_art]

I use something similar to a tackle box. It's a walmart thing that has 30 little drawers. Some hold clips, others hold feeds, nibs, silver rings, and the rest are empty.

 

For my customer nibs I store them how I get them - in little baggies and plastic tubes.

 

 

 

 

[Bookman]

I use spent large Altoids tins lined on the inside with felt. Fused nib-feed units are individually bagged in little ziplock bags (e.g., the ones that come attached to dress garments that hold spare buttons or collar stays).

Edited February 20, 2017 by Bookman

[pajaro]

I use a parts box bought in Ace Hardware. It has compartments to sort them out and keep the magnifying glass so I can read the nomenclature on the nibs.

[Randal6393]

Ehhh ... just throw them in a baby-food jar and sort through them when you need one. Works for me.

 

Enjoy,

[NinthSphere]

The couple of loose nib units I have are stored in short tubes that they, or the unit they replaced were sold to me in. I also have a few Sheaffer inlaid nib sections that are just stored loose alongside uninked pens in pen boxes.

[sketchstack]

Thanks for posting those pictures as one of them appears to have a small ink vial being used. And of course I have a ton of those lying around, so maybe I'll repurpose them to hold some of the nicer individual nibs.

 

Part of the problem is the loose #6 steel in particular all blend together visually so I'd like a way to separate them without resorting to tons of tiny baggies.

 

 

 

 

I use something similar to a tackle box. It's a walmart thing that has 30 little drawers. Some hold clips, others hold feeds, nibs, silver rings, and the rest are empty.

 

For my customer nibs I store them how I get them - in little baggies and plastic tubes.

 

20170219_202748.jpg

 

20170219_202801.jpg

 

20170219_202813.jpg

 

20170219_202852.jpg

[Le Vieux]

I am not that organized when it comes to cheap steel nibs; however, I store them things in those pill dispensers (the ones with 4 or 5 compartments per box, with sliding clear plastic lids). The good thing is that they can be stacked in a vertical fashion, in their own stacking "thingy". The other good thing is that one can write the nib type and what not onto the respective box (see pic).

 

 

http://www.lapastilla.com/upload/BLP-3100_Weekly_pill_dispenser_with_7_removable_dispensers_2.jpg

 

 

The gold ones are stored in their own plastic containers in which they came. I only modify them by lining both ends (the container's and bottom of lid) with foam.

[Bill P]

I am looking for something to hold my spare nibs/feeds too...

 

Some good ideas here, but nothing that has really caught my attention yet...

 

Great topic for a forum.

[Bluey]

In a plastic bag

[Astronymus]

My dip nibs are in a special box, the spare Lamy nibs a in a little card box, my spare Kaweco nib is in it's special container and my two Manuscript nibs are in a small paper bag.

[Wolverine1]

I dont have too many extra nibs and feeds for fountain pens, however, I have a lot of dip-pen nibs. I got the nibs when a neighbor went to an assisted-living facility, and I bought about 150 nibs for $5.00 at the garage sale organised by his children.

I went and got a box from the University's Property Disposition Office. It is a plastic box with seperate compartments, must have come from one of the many Engineering Labs of the University. It is nothing special, but I have adapted the box by lining each compartment with some felt-like material, so that the nibs dont rust or get tarnished too bad.

[sketchstack]

Ah, this is a great idea as well. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

 

I am not that organized when it comes to cheap steel nibs; however, I store them things in those pill dispensers (the ones with 4 or 5 compartments per box, with sliding clear plastic lids). The good thing is that they can be stacked in a vertical fashion, in their own stacking "thingy". The other good thing is that one can write the nib type and what not onto the respective box (see pic).

 

 

http://www.lapastilla.com/upload/BLP-3100_Weekly_pill_dispenser_with_7_removable_dispensers_2.jpg

 

 

The gold ones are stored in their own plastic containers in which they came. I only modify them by lining both ends (the container's and bottom of lid) with foam.

[sidthecat]

Those little 10 ml ink-sample vials are virtually the perfect size for storing nibs and feeds.

[JonB55198]

The OP brought my attention to this post. I actually started another thread here that displays my solution for anyone interested:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/319027-heres-how-i-organize-my-nibs/

[JonB55198]

I figured I'd ask around for ideas. Thanks for any insight.

 

PM me if you'd like to know where I got my box and inserts. I wasn't sure if I could post that here because I didn't want it to feel so commercial. I have no vested interest in the seller from whom I purchased my inexpensive case. Just trying to help. :-)

[Pendimonium]

I'm also interested in this topic. I'd like something as simple as a test tube rack

 

http://i.imgur.com/4m6q8CA.jpg

 

but I have yet to find a source for the actual nib/feed tubes.

 

 

[JonB55198]

I saw some inexpensive tubes with fiction-fit caps that would work perfectly on aliexpress. However, I'm not sure the diameter is compatible with any sort of test tube or sample tube rack. They could be. You'd just have to check the outer diameter and find a rack of similar dimension (doesn't have to be exact). Tho you'll want a solid lower tier since these tubes do not taper.

[mhm802]

Those little 10 ml ink-sample vials are virtually the perfect size for storing nibs and feeds.

+1

[ac12]

I went to Joanne Fabrics and bought a plastic divided box. I think it was in the crafts section.

I use it to organize and store my Esterbrook nibs.

These boxes stack.