Compatibility Of Fitting A Dip Pen Nib Onto A Fountain Pen

[Lunoxmos]

After using both fountain pens and dip pens over the past few years, I would now like to delve into the world of frankenpens, and try to put a dip pen nib into a fountain pen unit. I have seen things online which talk about this, but they usually mention methods that either require shaving down of the feed, or a deformation of the nib to get it to conform to the same of the feed, as the dip pen is usually narrower than the feed. This was mentioned in the articles where there was a No.6 sized original feed and nib, such as some Ranga fountain pens, and the Noodler's Ahab, and the usual nib used was the Zebra G.

I have recently acquired a Zebra G nib (I normally use vintage dip pen nibs), and I would like to find a fountain pen which will be able to take it without me having to save down the feed, in case I for some reason want to use the stock nib again, or me bending the nib with pliers, as that is tedious and some what time consuming. Ideally it is a pen where one can swap/take out the dip pen nib, for cleaning or for replacement, and just as easily put in another dip pen nib.

I am fine with heat setting, as that is a reversible process.

 

Can anyone suggest a pen which can do that? I was thinking something along the lines of the Noodler's Creaper, as it has a smaller feed diameter than the Ahab, and it has an ebonite feed which can be heat set and carved for enhanced ink flow, though I am not 100% sure whether the feed and the nib will really fit.

[Sailor Kenshin]

People frequently put the Z- nibs in a Jinhao 450. At least I think that's the model number. Someone will correct me if not.

[txomsy]

I've done it on both Jinhao 450 and 750.

 

The curvature of the nib is slightly different, but I never worried about it or trying to adapt it with pliers, simply placed it on the feed aligning the Zebra G slit with the first feed slit and then slid it back.

 

Two cautions: it will be tight, you may need pliers to get it out later (I use a folded cloth to avoid applying them directly to the nib) and the feed section is NOT circular (it is flat on one side, so that it can only be inserted in one way, look out for the correct orientation when placing it back.

 

Other than that, there are plenty of tutorials.

 

There are other models that may be more or less easy to use with a Zebra G. I think the Baoer 459 can also take one, at least it takes FPR #6 nibs, but I can't remember if I have tried it with a Zebra G. The oddity of this one is that it has a screw cap, which may (or may not) be a problem with the long tines of the G nib).

 

These are cheap pens, so trying them won't break the bank. On the minus side, with the current state of affairs in China, they may take a long time to arrive if ordered In principle, any pen that takes a #6 nib should be valid..

[BaronWulfraed]

Two cautions: it will be tight, you may need pliers to get it out later (I use a folded cloth to avoid applying them directly to the nib) and the feed section is NOT circular (it is flat on one side, so that it can only be inserted in one way, look out for the correct orientation when placing it back.

Reminds me... I really should spend the money for a parallel pliers some day

https://www.amazon.com/Mazbot-Smooth-Flat-Parallel-Pliers-125mm/dp/B07T3PS7W3/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=parallel+pliers&qid=1582309796&s=automotive&sr=1-10 or (for pens?) https://www.amazon.com/Mazbot-Nylon-Jaw-Parallel-Pliers/dp/B079R664FR/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=parallel+pliers&qid=1582309856&s=automotive&sr=1-9 (they also make a brass jaw version)

 

Ack! I want one of each: regular for toolbox, nylon for pens, and brass for firearm work

[Dr.X]

I've done this with many sizes and brands of gold and steel dip nibs. My favorite body and feed is the Noodler's Konrad, though I have dip nibs in all manner of other pens (mostly Noodlers and FPN).

 

Couple of suggestions if you use Zebra G nib: heat set the feed to the nib (easy to do with hot water) and use alkaline inks to reduce corrosion. I like Pilot Iroshizuku inks because they're also very free-flowing, but they're expensive. An alternative that's more affordable (at least for red ink) is Noodler's Black Swan in English Roses.

 

I happen to have three of these pens with me at work:

 

 

The Top right is an Ahab with a Brause 323 nib (my favorite nib of all time)

Middle is a Jinhao 750 (I believe) with a Zebra nib

Bottom is a Soenneken nib in a FPR Himalaya body (my second favorite steel dip nib)

 

Let us know if you need any help.

 

Best,

 

Nick

 

[Dr.X]

Here is a link to some (poor) writing by me with the bottom pen:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/331106-dont-just-tell-us-about-the-pen-youre-using-show-us-2018-2019-2020/?p=4288511

[KBeezie]

Jinhao X450 and X750 been pretty popular hosts to the Zebra-G or Nikko-G nibs, but can sometimes take a little bit of elbow grease to get it in just right, and also to get the flow going good.

 

Some of the Noodler's and FPR pens with ebonite feeds (that come with their own firmer stainless steel flex nib), can also accept them to some degree, but you get the added bonus of being able to heat set the ebonite feed to the nib for a better sitting and flow.

 

The main downside is that the dip nibs are not stainless steel, and will eventually corrode especially being exposed to ink constantly. So you will expect to have to re-do the whole process with a new nib a few months down the road as the nib gets scratchier from the corrosion.

[Bibliophage]

Jinhao X450 and X750 been pretty popular hosts to the Zebra-G or Nikko-G nibs, but can sometimes take a little bit of elbow grease to get it in just right, and also to get the flow going good.

 

Some of the Noodler's and FPR pens with ebonite feeds (that come with their own firmer stainless steel flex nib), can also accept them to some degree, but you get the added bonus of being able to heat set the ebonite feed to the nib for a better sitting and flow.

 

The main downside is that the dip nibs are not stainless steel, and will eventually corrode especially being exposed to ink constantly. So you will expect to have to re-do the whole process with a new nib a few months down the road as the nib gets scratchier from the corrosion.

 

I've seen stainless nibs (vintage and new) for dip pens, as well as silver plated. I'd be tempted to copper plate a few of the steel nibs - anyone can do basic copper electroplating with vinegar, salt, a 9 volt battery, and copper wire. (and the iron to be plated upon)

[hh1990]

I've been pretty happy using one of these:

 

https://www.ospreypens.com/collections/scholar/products/scholar-black-with-standard-and-flex-nib-options

[KBeezie]

 

I've seen stainless nibs (vintage and new) for dip pens, as well as silver plated. I'd be tempted to copper plate a few of the steel nibs - anyone can do basic copper electroplating with vinegar, salt, a 9 volt battery, and copper wire. (and the iron to be plated upon)

 

But are those variations typically 'easy flex' like the targeted use the OP seems to want it for?

 

Like yes there are even gold dip nibs, but for those wanting to venture into easy (and affordable) flex compared to what's available in a stainless steel nib, you have to go without the stainless for the best price to performance.

Edited February 21, 2020 by KBeezie

[inkstainedruth]

Another brand that nobody has mentioned yet is Desiderata. I got to beta test one of Pierre's first models (which was supposed to be a blow filler, IIRC, but worked better as an eyedropper). The feed was specifically designed to work with dip pen nibs, to give the added flex. I didn't like the Zebra G on mine, because it tore into nearly every paper I used the pen on; but I tried a couple that Pierre had at his table the last time I went to DCSS, and those pens had nibs which were much better. And the nib on mine DID have a tremendous amount of flex which made both Bay State Blue and various iron gall inks look great. So someday I'll see about getting a replacement nib for the pen and give it another shot.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[sidthecat]

I'm rather an outlier in this thread, but I'm a fan both of flex and little tiny ringtop pens. My nibs are old gold ones from the mid-to-late 19th century that I can get for cheap (harder than it used to be) and through some experiment I've found that the #3 nibs tend to fit pens with #2 nibs. The trick is getting a cap long enough not to squash that exquisite Victorian antique. One of my pens contained pieces from four different pens...authenticity goes out the window first.

Mr. Minuskin has done several of these for me, with very pleasant results, and he has kept his opinions re. my sanity to himself.

[Lunoxmos]

 

The Top right is an Ahab with a Brause 323 nib (my favorite nib of all time)

Middle is a Jinhao 750 (I believe) with a Zebra nib

Bottom is a Soenneken nib in a FPR Himalaya body (my second favorite steel dip nib)

 

Let us know if you need any help.

 

Best,

 

Nick

 

Hi Nick,

 

What size is the FPR Himalaya? As in, is the feed unit No 5.5 or No 6?

In addition how is the situation with capping the pens? Do any of the nibs end up touching the end of the cap when you try to screw the caps back on?

Edited February 22, 2020 by Lunoxmos

[cunim]

https://flexiblenib.com/store/product-category/zebra-g/

[hh1990]

https://flexiblenib.com/store/product-category/zebra-g/

 

Very cool. Thank you for sharing this.

[Dr.X]

Hi Nick,

 

What size is the FPR Himalaya? As in, is the feed unit No 5.5 or No 6?

In addition how is the situation with capping the pens? Do any of the nibs end up touching the end of the cap when you try to screw the caps back on?

 

Great questions Lunoxmos. This particular nib fit best (perfectly, if I recall correctly) in a 5.5 Himalaya.

 

The top of the cap (cabochon, if you will) screws off in this particular pen and I can watch the tip as I screw the cap. I don't remember if I had to make any accommodations to the cap, but if I did it was minor dremel or small file work.

 

I do prefer to install the pens into demonstrators if I can so I can see the nib tip. A very valid concern.

 

Nick

[trmsw]

I've been pretty happy using one of these:

 

https://www.ospreypens.com/collections/scholar/products/scholar-black-with-standard-and-flex-nib-options

Me too! It's miles better than the Jinhao. It does railroad if flexed beyond about 1mm (using the converter) but it always recovers quickly. It's reliable to use at work and it's easy to change the nibs.

[Dr.X]

Hushmi,

 

Thanks for pointing out a company I did not know existed. I just ordered an Osprey with a Zebra G. It's about as expensive as a FPR Himalaya and comes with a collared (likely 5.5) screw-in nib unit (I think). Clever!

 

I have no illusions about the quality - this is very likely an Indian pen (which is not an indication of poor quality, just that quality may be variable). I'll let you know when I receive it.

 

For giggles, here is much of my collection of Dip Nibs in (Fountain) Pens, or DINIPs. The 11 to the left are vintage gold nibs.

 

 

I think Honeybadgers has done an awful lot of this. I'm surprised he hasn't commented.

 

Nick

[A Smug Dill]

Desiderata.