Fountain Pen Nib Size Overview

Рет қаралды 107,399

7 жыл бұрын

If you’ve gotten into fountain pens even a little bit, you know that one of the best and most confusing things about them is the ability to select different nib sizes. You can personalize your experience which is amazing, but there is an inherent challenge in that just about every company has a different standard, like shopping for women’s dress sizes. It’s different from every brand, and even across pen models within a brand!
So, what are the differences between Japanese and Western nibs? There are a lot of comments online about what the difference actually are, or that Japanese nibs write finer, but this video is here to help clarify.
Timestamps:
Where Nibs Come From - (0:35)
Japanese Companies - (0:48)
Japanese Nibs - (0:59)
Western Companies - (1:29)
Non Specific Brand Nibs - (1:42)
Other Countries That Make Their Own Nibs - (2:09)
Comparing FP Nibs - (2:15)
Nib Nook - (2:43)
Shopping For A Fountain Pen? - (2:57)
Outro - 3:30
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Пікірлер: 92

@theresehoney199 7 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad to learn that you have a chart that compares the nib width! I like a wide nib, but didn't want to make an investment in a nice pen until I could learn more.

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the Nib Nook is really helpful when it comes to purchasing that next pen! You know what you like, just need to find what's similar. - Colin

@bronaghmurphy8157 6 жыл бұрын

I love the editing of this video it makes it much easier to watch then the most recent videos

@davideselmin1912 5 жыл бұрын

With your videos you are doing great. This is one of the most useful.

@yourpalcal1412 7 жыл бұрын

"Finer point questions" - i see what you did there Brian

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

Brian Goulet, Master of Unintentional Puns. - Colin

@CeloCipolla 7 жыл бұрын

Always useful, always very easy to catch! Thanks'lot Brian/ Goulet Team!!

@MsDaem0n 6 жыл бұрын

the nib nook is SO helpful thank you so much for it!!

@TarantulaStore 7 жыл бұрын

one of the best useful video . thanks very much .

@Ken-wz9vy 2 жыл бұрын

The Nib Nook is a great idea, along with being a great reference tool. THANK YOU! Great video.

@Matt_The_Hugenot 7 жыл бұрын

Useful video, thanks.

@DenisJava 2 жыл бұрын

This has been quite helpful. Thanks!

@c.l.7937 7 жыл бұрын

I'd been wondering about that, thank you Brian! I was thinking of getting one of the Goulet nibs for my Jinhao X750... now I know what to get on my next order.

@MarcellHobbs Жыл бұрын

Wonderful information! I find myself owning too many (and still growing) pens as experience different nib sizes in different brands. Currently TWSBI, Lamy, Sailor, Pilot, BENU, Kaweco, etc. 🖋 Thank you!

@ivinbabu 3 жыл бұрын

The nib nook is very helpful. Thank you

@LOVEGODFEARSIN 3 жыл бұрын

Your channel is superb and very informative

@kk5838 7 жыл бұрын

I've been slowly building my collection for about six months now, and I have a total of ten. I have the Pilot Varsity set, a ZenZoi bamboo pen that I got for Christmas, a Pilot Metropolitan (my favorite), and I just got a Lamy Safari gift set for my birthday. I prefer a fine nib for taking notes in class (it doesn't bleed through standard notebook paper as much), but the medium is great for journaling and various art projects.

@francoisbelangerboisclair 7 жыл бұрын

Interesting that explain why I prefer Japanese fine nib. For me Lamy fine is what I consider a medium nib. But it could be better if the company use a standard.

@LV-my2vz 5 жыл бұрын

thank you for sharing the information :D

@maxvanbalgooy Жыл бұрын

Very helpful Brian. How does the other type of nib size (i.e., no 4, no 5, no 6) affect the writing experience? Is bigger better?

@TonyThimble 4 жыл бұрын

"Today, I went to the library." Nice handwriting on that! Not textbook, like my sensei wanted us to write but nice overall.

@roiad876 3 жыл бұрын

Does NIB size affect flow? As in a finer pen makes it "easier" to write or lets you use less pressure?

@kaziiqbal7257 5 жыл бұрын

I find it interesting that German nibs are a bit broader than Japanese nibs. I was doing a writing sample with my X750 (yeah, it’s Chinese but it falls into the general rule) and I was writing the lyrics to Ode to Joy and I was having a lot of trouble writing the umlauts because of the broadness of the line and it weird because that would be a fine in something like a Pelikan or a Lamy. Maybe it’s my writing speed or just how small I write.

@chemikalfluffy 4 жыл бұрын

For anyone curious about what he write at 1:17- "きょう、としょかんにいきました。” = "kyou, toshokan ni ikimashita" = "today, I went to the library"

@artugert 4 жыл бұрын

It's interesting that he used hiragana as an example of why Japanese prefer finer nibs. I think it's actually when writing kanji that a finer nib is more convenient, because some characters have a lot of strokes. For kana, it shouldn't make a difference. The number of strokes doesn't exceed Roman letters by much. For example, the above sentence could have been written with a broad nib with no problems.

@Myrslokstok 4 жыл бұрын

Dont they write with pensel 🖌

@chemikalfluffy 4 жыл бұрын

@@artugert I actually prefer a more broad tipped pen/nib when writing kana, I definitely agree haha

@chemikalfluffy 4 жыл бұрын

@@Myrslokstok who is "they"? if you mean native Japanese, then "they", as with most countries, have a wide variety of writing utensils at their disposal and don't confine themselves to a single one.

@tylersterling1786 2 жыл бұрын

Is that the Visconti Rembrandt Fountain Pen-Blue that appears in the video at 3:14?

@CarthagoMike 7 жыл бұрын

a nice informative video

@bobkeller8383 4 жыл бұрын

I'm not interested so much in sizes but which one is smooth and quiet. What is the brands or models within a brand to look at. Material that they are made of etc... help. My pen is the monteverde regatta limited edition northern lights

@Julian-bq9qv 7 жыл бұрын

WOW - have never visited the Nib Nook but sure will in future!!!

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

It's a must! I use it on a daily basis to see how different nibs stack up, especially before purchasing. :) - Colin

@LOVEGODFEARSIN 3 жыл бұрын

Can you please guide me as to where can I buy a spare extra nibs. I am from India and a new fountain pen enthusiast

@ProactiveYellow 7 жыл бұрын

as a lefty I've felt rather restricted to finer nibs. I love the feel and look of them, but I also want to be able to branch out into more variable nibs like soft/flex styles and broader nibs for their beautiful downstroke/crossstroke variation. are there any pen/ink/nib combos that work for those of us who are so disadvantaged? I've already learned to mostly avoid smearing on ball pens, but I don't know if the techniques I use transfer very well beyond my pilot EF pen.

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

Our Fountain Pen 101 video on Lefties (blog.gouletpens.com/2015/08/fp101-fountain-pens-for-lefties.html) might be helpful! Obviously, finer nibs are the way to go, but if you want to branch out a bit with nibs, trying different ink & paper might be the way to make it work. A fast drying ink like the Noodler's Bernanke series & absorbent paper (Apica/Leuchtturm) could be good options. - Colin

@baegcikny 3 жыл бұрын

Not addressed here, but I would also like to know about nib size numbering systems. For example, I see discussion about #5, #5.5 or #6 nibs (and Noodler's makes a pen that takes a #2 nib). I'm guessing this is a measure of diameter of the curve, and you can't put a #6 nib into a pen that takes a #5 nib, but I can't find info on this with my google searches so far.

@kentvun 7 жыл бұрын

What are the wet-est pen and ink available for fast writing that wount break our piggy bank? thx Btw very informative video

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

I think the TWSBI stub nib is a pretty wet writer, especially for the cost. Pair that with a well-behaved ink like Pilot Iroshizuku and you have a great combo. - Colin

@hungryboy424 7 жыл бұрын

Very useful, but can i ask ,in your opinion what would you say which is the best make and model fountain pen ?

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

I mean, that's pretty subjective. It really comes down to what you want in your fountain pen. For the money, I think TWSBI Vac700R is a really unique pen. - Colin

@blackbusiness7 3 жыл бұрын

I understand that the Jinhao nibs aren't the best out there when compared to their German counterparts, perhaps due to quality control inherent in mass production. What post processing of these nibs would need to be done to take them to the next level (or two), and can that be on the cheap? Would you be able to comment on this, and also reach out to your contacts to see what they think? Thanks, and keep up the good work.

@IshikaShanai 6 жыл бұрын

I wish I saw this video sooner before I made my order of a fine nib twsbi 580. It turns out I should've bought an extra-fine nib because I write smaller than I used to. Oh well, it will be my next purchase soon.

@madeliner1682 Жыл бұрын

What ink is being written with at 2:28? It has some lovely shading

@Azuscha Жыл бұрын

I suppose it's the iroshuzuku kon-peki

@RajveerSingh-bc4hb 7 жыл бұрын

I am going to purchase a lamy Al star as my first fountain pen and I will be using it on cheap paper. I was going to get an extra fine nib to prevent feathering but I am wondering if it will be scratchy. is the Al star scratchy?

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't consider the Lamy EF nib to be scratchy, but does have some feedback. It's not glossy smooth like a broader nib might be, you definitely feel it on the paper. It's a really nice nib though that gives you great writing control & definitely a good option on cheaper paper. - Colin

@RajveerSingh-bc4hb 7 жыл бұрын

The Goulet Pen Company thanks helped a lot! 😀

@10418 4 жыл бұрын

The Goulet Pen Company can I use it for drawing? :)

@langobard808 7 жыл бұрын

Dear Goulet, what's that fascinating violet ink in safari Ef on 0:19?

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

That is De Atramentis Aubergine (www.gouletpens.com/de-atramentis-aubergine-35ml-bottled-fountain-pen-ink/p/DA1039), which was one of our Top Work Appropriate inks as well: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j5pym8l-t6_IdGQ.html&lc=z13xj5b4em3gg5uek22pixkrfxewijsmh - Colin

@GazmendCeno 6 жыл бұрын

How about montblanc?

@alextaplin7354 3 жыл бұрын

My opus 88 Koloro takes a Jowo size 5 nib, it came with a steel nib but I want to find a gold nib for it but gold Jowo nibs arn't sold in the UK as far as I can find, does anyone know of any other gold nib units which will screw in and fit my pen?

@narayana8249 7 жыл бұрын

I have a question. If you get a disposable fountain pen like the pilot varsity do you have to clean it? If so, how?

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

If you're planning on using it as an eyedropper after the ink has run out, a cleaning is necessary. Taking out the nib/feed and running it under water is probably the easiest way to go about it. - Colin

@huyked 7 жыл бұрын

Very useful video, especially for what brands to buy for the EF and F lines. 0:49 I'm going to go with the Japanese brands: Pilot, Platinum, and Sailor (note to self :) ).

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

If you love a finer line, those Japanese brands are totally the way to go. Brian has said before the Platinum 3776 Ultra-Extra-Fine nib is the finest he's tried. - Colin

@huyked 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the reply, Colin! I appreciate the suggestion and feedback. The pen you suggested is a "tad" over my price range. :) But I like the SF (Soft Fine?) tip, as it seems to have more flex than the UEF. I would love visible line variation in my everyday cursive, and have been look for such a pen in EF or thinner. If you have suggestions in the sub-$60 category, I'm all ears. Thank you!

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

The sub $60 is where it gets tricky. The Pilot Falcon does have a wonderful soft fine nib but it's over the $100 threshold. A Noodler's Flex pen is probably your best bet if you're really wanting the line variation at an affordable cost: www.gouletpens.com/noodlers-writing-instruments/c/130. - Colin

@robertschwarz9372 7 жыл бұрын

Because of your videos I got into the fountain pen world :) THANKS! I am always looking for new ink and would like to know the purple one ("flow" 2:38) In a lot of videos I find interestin inks and it would be nice if you could make a note in the video ;) that would help a lot some times. I am sorry for my english, hope there are not to many misstakes:/ A big fan from germany!

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

That was De Atramentis Aubergine (www.gouletpens.com/de-atramentis-aubergine-35ml-bottled-fountain-pen-ink/p/DA1039), a really great purple! I'll look to add the inks in the description going forward. :) - Colin

@robertschwarz9372 7 жыл бұрын

thanks :)

@johnwhite4070 4 жыл бұрын

I am left handed and I have big handwriting and I really want to try a broad nib but how well would that work with copy paper ? I work in a office

@Gouletpens 4 жыл бұрын

Generally, broad nibs with copy paper isn't the best idea even as a right handed writer. Definitely check out our Leftie series (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/f9-grcqIzrSVd40.html ) as rotating the paper might be your best option depending on your hand placement. - Colin

@jessesmoot1285 3 жыл бұрын

Hey what's the pen in the middle at 1:32 ? I tried reading the word on the nib but was unsuccessful

@Alsry1 3 жыл бұрын

Montegrappa

@artugert 4 жыл бұрын

I'm looking to purchase my first fountain pen and would like to keep it under $50. I have a question: if you use the exact same nib and ink on 2 different pens, is there any difference at all in terms of writing performance? I don't care about the look of the pen, so is the only difference between pens the way it feels in your hand? I'm leaning toward a twsbi, because it looks like you can use various kinds of nibs, it's easy to change out nibs and clean, it is piston-filling (which I guess makes it convenient to use any ink you want), and you can see when the ink is going to run out. I've never used a fountain yet, so I don't know what I prefer in terms of size, weight and grip of a pen, but I think probably medium range. I'm not sure I would like the grip of the Lamy Safari, and I don't like that the Pilot Metropolitan can only use fine and medium nibs (as far as I understand) and you can't see when the ink will run out. Also, piston filling just looks way more convenient to me than using a converter (am I right?), if you don't want to be limited to proprietary cartridges. Can anyone help me make a decision? Are there any downsides to a twsbi that I should know about or anything else I should consider? Thanks! (Sorry this is so long.)

@Gouletpens 4 жыл бұрын

Paper does play a part as well, but generally it should be a similar writing experience. The Metropolitan does have a stub nib option now, and is more affordable. TWSBI is a great option, especially the 580, but that's more of an investment as a 1st fountain pen. Not a lot of downsides for the 580, the TWSBI ECO can be a bit tricky to clean without disassembly, but the removeable nib unit on the 580 makes it a lot easier. - Colin

@artugert 4 жыл бұрын

@@Gouletpens Thanks, that's really helpful! Maybe I'll go for the Metropolitan then, and I'll think about the 580 as a second pen in the future. I think I do want to try the stub nib, as I would like to have some line variation. Is the Metropolitan easy to change nibs and to clean? Sorry I'm asking so many questions. Just one more: how long can a pen sit without using it? Does this vary from pen to pen? Thanks so much for your help!

@Gouletpens 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that's a good stepping stone plan. Metropolitan is extremely easy to clean and change nibs. I'd opt for the Con-40 converter though, so you can see how much ink you have and its easier to clean. It does vary from pen to pen, most pens are ready to write even after a week or two. - Colin

@artugert 4 жыл бұрын

@@Gouletpens Great, thanks again! I think I'll go with your suggestion. I'll head over to your website sometime soon to get my first FT! :)

@LOVEGODFEARSIN 3 жыл бұрын

Also keen to buy a Lamy Aion and lamy studio. Where can I get a good deal? Pl guide

@Gouletpens 3 жыл бұрын

We sell them! www.gouletpens.com/collections/lamy

@kalfreezy0785 7 жыл бұрын

What do you think about the sailor promenade. Is it good?

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

While not having any experience with Sailor pens, from what I read, the Promenade is a smaller version of their Flagship 1911 which is very highly rated. Should be a good option! - Colin

@lisa8220 4 жыл бұрын

I bought a Pilot pen in 82 fro. FAHRNEYS IN DC. Could never use it, now I know why. Still have it. Need to swap it out.

@bappyrahman685 6 жыл бұрын

What is the name of the ink at 2:29?

@Gouletpens 6 жыл бұрын

That's Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-Peki: www.gouletpens.com/pilot-iroshizuku-kon-peki-50ml-bottled-fountain-pen-ink/p/PN69212 - Colin

@bappyrahman685 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Looks really good, might give it a try!

@MichaelHarto 6 жыл бұрын

which nib size is the best for signature?

@Gouletpens 6 жыл бұрын

I think the finer the better. Lays down less ink, wouldn't want any bleed-through or feathering on important documents. - Colin

@MichaelHarto 6 жыл бұрын

i find it a little bit hard to sign quickly with finer nibs, it tends to jab or drag the paper, even on medium i can feel the drag. i was wondering if people uses broad nib instead.

@okinawapunter 3 жыл бұрын

Nib Nook is excellent!!!

@periclase 4 жыл бұрын

Hello, I wanted to ask how does Pelikan M200 medium nib size do on a regular cheap school paper? Does it stain the other side of the page or does it bleed? In that case, should I replace it with the fine size? Thanks.

@stusantos9504 7 жыл бұрын

I didn't know you can write kanji, Brian. Nice. What does it mean btw? 🙂

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

That's actually Jessica from our Customer Care team. She knows a little bit! It says 'Today, I went to the Library'. - Colin

@palashchoudhury5565 11 ай бұрын

These days Fountain Pen r mostly used in Writing Cards & Diary Medium Tip bcz SmallR Tip can feel Scratchy @ 1st

@mohammedshoeb4636 Ай бұрын

Fine nib is never my liking. I have pilot Metropolitan,Hero 347 , Waterman Phileas,Mohi Aura ,Wing sung 3008 . I always wish if these were medium.

@1ove1e55 7 жыл бұрын

Do you speak japanese?

@Gouletpens 7 жыл бұрын

Jessica, on our Customer Care team, knows a little bit of Japanese. She helped out with those Japanese characters! - Colin

@robertandersson1128 7 жыл бұрын

+The Goulet Pen Company Interesting. I saw that, apparently, Jessica is an underwriter. Interesting! Although, she did write one line from the right side.