Pilot VP Nibs - Fine vs Medium

[marcosv]

I would strongly suggest you purchase a VP with whatever nib it comes with . . . then contact Richard Binder and purchase a Binderized Cursive Italic nib for your pen. You can discuss the merits of each type of Italic nib with Richard and, along with completing a brief online nib questionnaire, arrive at an ideal configuration that will much better accommodate your style of writing. Just as importantly, a Cursive Italic will enable you to lay down some beautiful script . . . much better looking (IMHO) than any "stock" VP nib would permit. Furthermore, a Binderized nib has been optimized, which means that you can be reasonably certain that it'll write - each and every time - the instant it touches the paper ... and smoothly.

 

My $0.02.

 

Cheers!

 

-Clive[/color]

 

Oh, no! You've stated what I was privately contemplating since I've been playing with a Lamy Joy with 1.1mm italic nib and a cheap Pilot pen with a B nib (which turned out to be more of an italic or stub than a rounded broad)...

 

My current fear is that I don't know enough of what I want in an itallic nib to have one custom made for me --- yet. Figured I should write with my current pens for a few weeks longer before actively pursuing this further. Or maybe tie my purchase of a custom nib with when the state of California mails my tax refund check to me... On second thought I can't wait for June for that.

 

 

- Marcos

[Clive Merrick Morel]

I would strongly suggest you purchase a VP with whatever nib it comes with . . . then contact Richard Binder and purchase a Binderized Cursive Italic nib for your pen.

 

-Clive

Oh, no! You've stated what I was privately contemplating since I've been playing with a Lamy Joy with 1.1mm italic nib and a cheap Pilot pen with a B nib (which turned out to be more of an italic or stub than a rounded broad)...

 

My current fear is that I don't know enough of what I want in an itallic nib to have one custom made for me --- yet. Figured I should write with my current pens for a few weeks longer before actively pursuing this further. Or maybe tie my purchase of a custom nib with when the state of California mails my tax refund check to me... On second thought I can't wait for June for that.

 

- Marcos

Marcos,

 

It sounds to me like you DO know what you're doing, to be perfectly honest.

 

The subtle nuances that differentiate each style/size of Italic nib are detailed in small Acrobat (PDF) files that can be viewed and/or downloaded here. For even further clarification, I'd simply give Richard Binder a telephone call.

 

If you can stand the wait (there's currently a 13-week queue), the cheapest way to go would be to submit your 'cheap' Pilot's B nib for cosmetic surgery (er regrinding... ), that is, if it can be used in your VP. Otherwise, you will need to purchase a previously-reground VP nib, which can vary between $91 and $111, depending upon the make/model. Click here then scroll-down to the Specialty Nibs for Namiki (Pilot) Vanishing Point Pens section.

 

You can't go too terribly wrong with a 0.9mm Cursive Italic (okay, IMHO). Ditto for a Stub Italic, except the latter can sometimes be just a tad 'scratchier.'

 

Please let us know which nib you ultimately decide to go with. In the meantime, enjoy your Lamy Joy and your 'cheap' Pilot fountain pens!!!

 

Cheers!

 

-Clive

[Rob G]

You can't go too terribly wrong with a 0.9mm Cursive Italic (okay, IMHO). Ditto for a Stub Italic, except the latter can sometimes be just a tad 'scratchier.'

The Cursive would be the scratchier one, but I don't think that would apply here. I found the 0.9 to be a little too wide and wet for my smallish handwriting - probably an 0.7 is better. I ground a Medium down to a cursive italic with a bit of reverse oblique and it's perfect.

[Clive Merrick Morel]

You can't go too terribly wrong with a 0.9mm Cursive Italic (okay, IMHO). Ditto for a Stub Italic, except the latter can sometimes be just a tad 'scratchier.'

The Cursive would be the scratchier one, but I don't think that would apply here. I found the 0.9 to be a little too wide and wet for my smallish handwriting - probably an 0.7 is better. I ground a Medium down to a cursive italic with a bit of reverse oblique and it's perfect.

Hi Rob,

 

Thanks for your response! Hmmm... It has been my personal experience that Stub Italics tend to be just a wee bit scratchier than their Cursive brethren. Perhaps the variations in scratchiness can be attributed to the nibs' differing geometries, however another factor might very well be skills of the nibmeister who created and/or refined them. I don't pretend to know the answer to this one... :embarrassed_smile:

 

I'm happy to hear that you successfully determined which nib size better accommodated your style of handwriting. Precision in this particular arena has been kind of a hit-and-miss thing for me. What the heck ... half the fun is in the chase, no?

 

Congratulations on grinding down a Medium to a Cursive Italic with a bit of reverse-oblique - and achieving perfection! That must have been a very rewarding experience in of itself.

 

It's been a pleasure to hear from you.

 

Very Best Regards,

 

-Clive

Edited February 7, 2009 by Clive Merrick Morel

[blackranger63]

Ditto, get both and have twice the fun. The medium was just a tad wide for me, the Fine is perfect. But keeping the medium. I may be a "cursive" grind candidate if possible.

 

Cheers,

 

Tony

 

From what I've read, the Fine VP nib follows the rule that Fine = Western Extra Fine. But the Medium = Medium. Not sure why that is but I've found it to be true. My VP Medium is actually a bit thicker than the Medium point Lamy Safari I have.

 

Don't know if that helps but I know I bought my VP in Medium hoping it would be fine and it was not. Luckily the beautiful smoothness distracted me from the nib size.

 

[flodoc]

I recently purchase my first VP. Because I already had Japanese pens with medium nibs that were very close to the fine nibs I prefer in European pens, I opted for a medium in the VP. I have been very pleased with the line width and the pen in general. I had read all the raves about the VP here on FPN and finally took the plunge. I was amazed at the comfort of the pen despite the positioning of the clip on the "wrong" end.

[Rob G]

Thanks for your response! Hmmm... It has been my personal experience that Stub Italics tend to be just a wee bit scratchier than their Cursive brethren. Perhaps the variations in scratchiness can be attributed to the nibs' differing geometries, however another factor might very well be skills of the nibmeister who created and/or refined them.

Stub italics are the roundest, smoothest italics. (Or, at least, they should be.) Crisp italics are the sharpest. Cursives fall somewhere in between.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_info...imer.htm#shapes

 

[Clive Merrick Morel]

Thanks for your response! Hmmm... It has been my personal experience that Stub Italics tend to be just a wee bit scratchier than their Cursive brethren. Perhaps the variations in scratchiness can be attributed to the nibs' differing geometries, however another factor might very well be skills of the nibmeister who created and/or refined them.

Stub italics are the roundest, smoothest italics. (Or, at least, they should be.) Crisp italics are the sharpest. Cursives fall somewhere in between.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_info...imer.htm#shapes

 

Hello Rob,

 

Thanks again for your response. Looks like the operative word in this case is should . . . as in they should be. That's what I thought when I purchased one a year ago. It was not a product of Mr. Binder's nor Mr. Mottishaw's handiwork (which is likely the predominant reason for its uncharacteristic scratchiness).

 

I stand corrected.

 

Cheers!

 

-Clive

Edited February 8, 2009 by Clive Merrick Morel

[Clive Merrick Morel]

I recently purchase my first VP. Because I already had Japanese pens with medium nibs that were very close to the fine nibs I prefer in European pens, I opted for a medium in the VP. I have been very pleased with the line width and the pen in general. I had read all the raves about the VP here on FPN and finally took the plunge. I was amazed at the comfort of the pen despite the positioning of the clip on the "wrong" end.

Flodoc,

 

Congratulations on acquiring your new VP! They really are easy on the eyes and manufactured with great precision. The Japanese are absolutely superb artisans and it really shows in this fine FP!

 

Okay ... I've just got to say this ... there have been times when I wanted to take a pair of pliers and tear-off that *^%$! clip altogether! Its awkward location makes using my Decimo an ergonomic nightmare to tell you the truth. I wish Pilot would makes two VP models: one with and another without a pocket clip. Fat chance.

 

Pocket clip issues aside, the VP is one outstanding fountain pen - one that never ceases to attract the curious stares from (disbelieving) onlookers when they see a nib appear rather than the familiar (and boring) ballpoint. I bought a Binderized Fine nib shortly after I purchased mine and it has continued to write magnificently ever since.

 

I wish you many years of continued enjoyment with your VP!!!

 

Cheers!

 

-Clive

[Clive Merrick Morel]

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_info...imer.htm#shapes

Here's the magic sentence: "When properly ground and finished, a cursive_italic can produce stroke variation almost as strong as an italic while writing nearly as smoothly as a stub of similar width."

 

BTW - I'll be shipping a Pelikan Souverän M800 B nib to Richard this week to have it ground into a 0.9mm Cursive Italic. I can't wait to see how well it writes once it's back in my pen!

 

Rob - Thanks again for the clarification.

 

-Clive

[Souldrifter]

Are the VP nibs as easy to change as the nibs on a Lamy Safari/Al-Star? I just got my first VP today, and opened it up... and it LOOKS very similar, but I thought I'd ask someone with more experience first.

 

This F is really really fine... so I am thinking of picking up a special M from Mr. Binder. I like F points, but I also love to see the color of the ink on my paper.

 

Any recommendations on stub italic vs cursive italic? Occasionally I find myself rotating a pen toward me, but not always... so I am hesitant to get an oblique (I am right handed).

[I am not a number]

With the VP you swap out the whole nib unit.

[mtraug11]

I, too, just bought the M nib for my VP. I had the fine nib previously. The fine was just a tad too fine for a lot of writing, but was great for notes in the margins, etc. The M is remarkably smooth, but I also found it to be a bit too wide for my tastes as well. All of my e's and o's are closed in now. Darn, I was hoping the M nib would be equivalent to my F nib on my Lamy Al-Star, but it's not.

[Souldrifter]

Oh!

 

Ok, I understand now. See, this is why I ask questions. So I can LEARN something. So it's not just the nib, it's the entire unit. Well, alrighty then. So it IS easy. Easier than a Lamy by far.