Best Way To Start With Stub/italic Nibs?

[TimLawNYC]

In all my years of using fountain pens, I have never written with a stub/italic nib. I'd like to try them out to see if I'd like them, but I'm unsure what the best way to introduce myself to these nibs would be.

 

Looking for recommendations for an inexpensive but solid pen (or even separate nib that I could place into a pen I already have) that would be a good introduction to italic/stub nibs, to see if I like them. I'm not looking to make a huge investment until I'm sure of my preferences.

 

Thanks in advance!

[FriedIceCream]

1.1 or 1.5 mm Lamy replacement nib if you have a Safari/Al-Star/Vista. Cost ya like $10.

[SujiCorp12345]

I'd second the recommendation for getting a stub nib from either Lamy or TWSBI for the Safari/Vista/Al-star or 580, respectively. Both companies sell 1.1mm, 1.5mm, and one more ( I forgot if it was 1.3mm or 1.7mm).

[ac12]

Also Pilot 78G. The Broad is a 1.1 stub. Anywhere from $10+ depending on where you find it.

 

Lamy Safari/Al Star/Vista/joy/ etc. stub italic nibs are: 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9mm

 

BTW, I have Lamy joy and cp1, both with 1.1 nibs. I like using the joy the best, just like writing with a desk pen.

Edited August 21, 2014 by ac12

[Hooker56]

In all my years of using fountain pens, I have never written with a stub/italic nib. I'd like to try them out to see if I'd like them, but I'm unsure what the best way to introduce myself to these nibs would be.

 

Looking for recommendations for an inexpensive but solid pen (or even separate nib that I could place into a pen I already have) that would be a good introduction to italic/stub nibs, to see if I like them. I'm not looking to make a huge investment until I'm sure of my preferences.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

Tim,

 

As a lefty I was amazed at how much better my script looked with a stub. From the moment I tried my first one at a pen show I fell in love with stubs and CI's. I now have several...both modern and vintage, and really enjoy writing with them so much better than stock nibs. If you try a cheapie pen and like it, you can always send one of your favorites off to Greg Minuskin or John Mottoshaw and have it customized (approx. $100-125). Also you can watch Greg's website (gregminuskin.com) He sell's many vintage pen's that he's modified the nibs on for a reasonable retail.

[gerigo]

TimlawNYC, if you're in NYC, maybe you can attend the pen meet that happens every first Thursday of the month? I have never gone myself, but I am sure people there will be happy to lend you one.

 

I myself would be happy to let you try some from my collection too if you're curious. I have stubs and italics galore.

 

Otherwise the people at Fountainpenhospital are really nice too and would be happy to oblige. There are a few inexpensive pens such as Conklins, Monteverdes and Lamys you could try.

[Randal6393]

Inexpensive stubs/italic nibs covers a lot of ground. In the $20 or less category are Sheaffer Viewpoints, Pilot Parallels, Plummix Pens, and a variety of dip pen nibs. Between $20 and $50, Lamy Safaris/Al-Stars, Monteverdes, Manuscript pens (a highly-recommended inexpensive pen), and many more. Over $50, Rotring, TWSBI, Conklin, Aurora, and a host of other fountain pens with italic nibs.

 

My normal cursive hand is an italic hand and almost all of my nibs are italics. My favorite all-around pen is the Noodler Ahab or Konrad with a Goulet Pens 1.1 mm JoWo nib. A bit tricky but videos are available to teach everything you need to know about working with Noodler pens.

 

Learning curve with italic nibs requires patience and willingness to learn. Should at least look at how to write italic (and other broad-nibbed hands). A good micromesh pad or fingernail file (the cheap foam ones with varying grits) and some practice on smoothing and grinding one's nibs is also valuable. But not truly needed.

 

Best of luck,

Edited August 21, 2014 by Randal6393

[Blue_Moon]

Any Italix pen, but especially the Parson's Essential or Churchman's Prescriptor - http://mrpen.co.uk/ You choose your nib. These pens are buttery smooth and write wonderfully. Franklin Christoph pens are incredible, as well.

Edited August 21, 2014 by Blue_Moon

[Jumpmonkey]

Got a TWSBI Mini with 1.5mm and a VAC-700 with a 1.1mm and love them both.

 

+1 to, you might could get a cheap stub for a pen you already own.

[Scootz]

Another recommendation for the Pilot 78G. The Broad is an inexpensive way to see if you like stubs.

[chas0039]

Any Italix pen, but especially the Parson's Essential or Churchman's Prescriptor - http://mrpen.co.uk/ You choose your nib. These pens are buttery smooth and write wonderfully. Franklin Christoph pens are incredible, as well.

Italix pens are interesting, although I had to do the finishing work myself on one of his nibs after I got it.

 

If you are not in the UK, the shipping can really set you back and because of this, the return policy becomes costly. Fortunately, these are very reasonably priced. I would not recommend to a first time purchaser. It is a pretty big expense if you get the wrong nib.

[TimLawNYC]

Thanks to all for the advice. Pilot 78G seems like a good way to go (I already have one in a M nib that I really like). Barring that, maybe it's time for me to add a Lamy Safari/Al-Star to my collection. Thanks again!

[Green Ink]

Great thread. I have a Vac 700 in EF that I love. My writing is small but I thought I'd like to try something new and fun.

 

So I ordered the 1.1mm Stub Italic nib for my Vac 700 (both are from Goulet). I got it yesterday and it's all kinds of fun. Smooth too. I put Diamine Oxblood in my Vac. I can see the color and the nuances of the ink so much better.

 

It's a riot! I hope you post what you got and how you like it!

[Andyroo]

I like the Kaweco italic nibs, I've fitted a 1.1mm to my Dia 2 and it writes very nicely.

 

The Lamy and Rotring Artpen italics mentioned are also very good but I like the Kaweco best personally, you can get them on the Kaweco Sport as whole pens or just replacement units.

[bitterwonder]

TimlawNYC, if you're in NYC, maybe you can attend the pen meet that happens every first Thursday of the month? I have never gone myself, but I am sure people there will be happy to lend you one.

 

I myself would be happy to let you try some from my collection too if you're curious. I have stubs and italics galore.

 

Otherwise the people at Fountainpenhospital are really nice too and would be happy to oblige. There are a few inexpensive pens such as Conklins, Monteverdes and Lamys you could try.

Do try The Big Apple Pen Club. The people are lovelyand love fountain pens.

[Sasha Royale]

Scan Ebay for a Scheaffer No Nonsense "calligraphy" set.

[pajaro]

I used fountain pens for about forty-five years before trying a stub. Now I think I would not want to part with them.

 

One of the best for writing with line variation is a Sheaffer Cadet Touchdown filler model with an S-1 steel stub.

[Coop]

If you have a pen that takes the #6 nibs, you can just order a 1.1 or 1.5 stub from Goulet, if you prefer a finer stub, you can get a Nemosine 0.6 or 0.8 from xfountainpens.

[xwingrox]

Ah! Try the Nemosine Singularity on Amazon - I have the 0.6 stub and I love it for the price. All the other suggestions are valid but I don't think any of them offer a 0.6mm stub. I can actually write close to normal cursive with the 0.6 stub, whereas I have to write much bigger with a >1mm Safari stub. Just be prepared to do a little bit of nibwork with micromesh out of the box. There is no quality control for Nemosine

[Kansas Pen]

Ah! Try the Nemosine Singularity on Amazon - I have the 0.6 stub and I love it for the price. All the other suggestions are valid but I don't think any of them offer a 0.6mm stub. I can actually write close to normal cursive with the 0.6 stub, whereas I have to write much bigger with a >1mm Safari stub. Just be prepared to do a little bit of nibwork with micromesh out of the box. There is no quality control for Nemosine

 

I was reading this thread and wondering for a while why the Nemosine did not get mentioned. I bought the 0.6 stub demonstrator as well. They carry the color solids too as well as all the same bodies with an 0.8 stub, and regular nibs. They are German nibs.

 

I too had a little "catch" on the left side of the nib and took care of it myself with a very gentle nail rasp.

The pen writes very smoothly now and starts and flows well each time. Make sure you water flush it with a drop of dish detergent and dry first before filling.

 

I can't comment on Xfountainpen quality control as this is the only pen I have bought from this company. I would chalk up my "catch" on the side as more of my style of holding rather than a defect. In any case, it was easy to correct without a lot of trouble. It has further smoothed just with use. These nibs have no iridium on the tip as I see.

 

Oh - they sell for the grand sum of $14.99. Which complicates things as shipping is free @ $15.00. Xfountainpen has their own website should you choose to use this option. My shipment came in two days. www.xfountainpens.com

 

So you just have to buy a small bottle of ink as I did, or something else. They reportedly rebrand Diamine ink, great prices and fast shipping.

 

Wish everything in fountain pens was so easy to choose and use without incident.

And does not claim to have some mysterious "resin" with a high price and cachet name and yet not write well.

 

Definitely worth the "try" for the price.