Non-Caligraphy Dip Nibs

[Corona688]

I'm looking for a flexible dip pen point to use for art and coloring highlights, not so much linework and caligraphy. The ability to do ultra-fine lines is not required. If I can trade sharpness for smoothness, all the better. I've been using Hunt 99 points, which have a good amount of flexibility but are way sharper than I need and not very robust. What might be a better fit?

 

I see a few things which look nice but am just wild guessing at this point. Everything looks like a 99 and a 512 to my limited experience.

• Hunt 22 - how robust is this?
• N81 - Hiro / Leonardt #40: "blue pumpkin"? Very popular and looks like a compromise between a 512 and 99.
• Brause 361 - supposed to be a tougher version of above?
• Hiro Crown #41 - I'm not entirely sure what its for but it looks robust.
• Hiro Roundhand - do these flex or do they not?
• Hiro 111EF - looks robust, maybe not flexible enough?
• Vintage nibs? - The combination of features I want doesn't seem that popular, Hunt has a huge gap in their products between x-acto and barn-door. Maybe there used to be things like that?
• Other - very open to suggestions

Edited February 14, 2018 by Corona688

[sidthecat]

Perhaps there's something in the Speedball line that might work for you.

[Inkling13]

Is there such a thing? A nib/pen is just a tool. Calligraphy is what you make with it. Having a stack of oil paints doesnt make art, having a kitchen knife doesnt make a meal, or a murder scene.

[Corona688]

A nib/pen is just a tool. Calligraphy is what you make with it.

Sorry, I thought I made it clear what I was looking for: A wider nib with a lot of flex/variation. Points are mostly made for calligraphy now, which seems to demand either a sharp flexible nib or a wide fixed one. Whatever modern exceptions to the rule there are, I've yet to discover, the closest I found was an ancient Brause music tip, which combined the functions of narrow, wide, and huge with a combination of inclination and flex.

 

Perhaps there's something in the Speedball line that might work for you.

I see rigid and semi-rigid writing nibs, hyper-sharp flex nibs, and rigid italics/brush nibs. I don't see a blunt flex nib.

 

Something I discovered last night, the "folded ruling pen", actually seems like a possible solution! It's a pretty wild instrument, but has a huge amount of variation.

Edited February 15, 2018 by Corona688

[Feanaaro]

The infamous Brause "Rose" has a relatively wide hairline, it is extremely flexible, and, because of the wider point, relatively smooth. It is very difficult to make it start properly though, so I don't know whether it would work for your purposes.

[Inkling13]

You could just blunt a flex nib. They are sharp for the reason of getting hairline to fat lines. Aka, you want a flex nib that has leas variation?

[Corona688]

You could just blunt a flex nib. They are sharp for the reason of getting hairline to fat lines. Aka, you want a flex nib that has leas variation?

I want the variation, just not the hairlines.

 

The infamous Brause "Rose" has a relatively wide hairline, it is extremely flexible, and, because of the wider point, relatively smooth. It is very difficult to make it start properly though, so I don't know whether it would work for your purposes.

That looks interesting.

[ReadyFireAim]

I think these people are the ones who can answer your question.

 

http://theflourishforum.com/forum/

[Corona688]

Getting samples of a few nibs, including the brause rose, we'll see what works.

[Inkling13]

I want the variation, just not the hairlines.

Like I said, blunt a regular flex nib. They dull either way, just make it go faster with a little elbow grease.

[dcwaites]

You could have a look at Post Office / Clerical / School nibs or Falcon nibs. These have some degree of flexibility, and not so sharp a point. They were/are made by a number of different manufacturers, including, but not limited to, Esterbrook, D.Leonardt and M. Myer.

 

 

Post Office nib is on the left and Falcon nib is on the right. A Waverley nib is second from the left

The others are all fairly stiff nibs with little to no flexibility for general writing with a soft hand.

 

As you say, you will need to try a few different ones till you find what you want.

Edited February 17, 2018 by dcwaites

[Corona688]

Thanks, those look similar to what I'm getting a sampling of. Just "a degree" of flex is unfortunate, though. Dulling a hunt 99 is beginning to look like a serious option instead of a desperation move...

Edited February 17, 2018 by Corona688

[ReadyFireAim]

Getting samples of a few nibs, including the brause rose, we'll see what works.

Edison Beaumont / Brause Rose w/ Desiderata nib holder & custom feed.

Edited February 17, 2018 by Nail-Bender

[Corona688]

You made a feed for it? Interesting. I know some people put little coil springs on them to hold more ink.

[Honeybadgers]

I use a length of motorcycle safety wire (super flexible but work hardens when bent) spun tight and wound into a button on top of the nib.

 

I also have another dip pen with wire spun on both sides of the nib, it holds a BOATLOAD of ink.

[corgicoupe]

Consider the Esterbrook 314 and 284 stubs.

[Corona688]

I also have another dip pen with wire spun on both sides of the nib, it holds a BOATLOAD of ink.

Thanks for the inspiration. I dug up a coil spring which fits Hunt 99 nibs snugly. It ends up cupping a huge droplet of ink underneath.

[Corona688]

I think these people are the ones who can answer your question.

Alas, I failed their registration gauntlet of illegible captchas and skill-testing questions. I am not cool enough for that forum.

[ReadyFireAim]

...gauntlet of illegible captchas...

I know how you feel.

I've been lurking there for awhile but never had the guts to post anything.

 

A bunch of them are real deal calligraphers that actually get paid to do that sort of thing.

You have to climb the mountain before you get to ask the guy with the long beard anything.

[Inky.Fingers]

I don't have long beard and am a member of TFF ...and I am not a calligrapher. Most of them are also members here.

 

I've learn the hard way...that is not to burn bridges you have not used.