As I mentioned my VP nib unit is shot and I am in need of a new one. All I intended to do was to buy a regular old nib but thanks to Old Griz suggesting this as an opportunity to justify one of Richard's stubs, well, it got me to thinking!
My VP was and will remain a daily user primarily for note taking. The only non regular nib I've owned was a Prelude with a broad ground to a cursive italic which was too broad for daily use. Consequently I've been considering the .6mm stub nib from Richard but wondered if anyone could comment on the utility of that particular nib on a daily basis using mostly average to sub par paper? Any writing samples compared to a standard F and M VP nib or another benchmark?
All input is greatly appreciated!
Full Version: Question re: VP nibs - generic and custom
I have a chrome VP with both a standard Medium nib unit and a Binder 0.6mm stub, and I have to say, the 0.6mm is the way to go.
I love the standard Medium nib; it's smooth, wet and very reliable, but the Binder nib is all that and more. I can actually write faster with the 0.6mm stub because it's so smooth (on all paper, good or bad). The corners are nicely rounded, so you don't need to worry much about nib rotation, and the nib also writes wetter than my standard Medium, which aids in quick strokes (and smoothness).
This is my first 0.6mm stub, but it certainly won't be my last. In fact, while I thought the 0.8mm was my favorite size, I now find myself reaching for the 0.6 more often.
In short, get the Binder; you'll like it.
I love the standard Medium nib; it's smooth, wet and very reliable, but the Binder nib is all that and more. I can actually write faster with the 0.6mm stub because it's so smooth (on all paper, good or bad). The corners are nicely rounded, so you don't need to worry much about nib rotation, and the nib also writes wetter than my standard Medium, which aids in quick strokes (and smoothness).
This is my first 0.6mm stub, but it certainly won't be my last. In fact, while I thought the 0.8mm was my favorite size, I now find myself reaching for the 0.6 more often.
In short, get the Binder; you'll like it.
These are beautifully smooth nibs that take no more adjustment in writing habits than a regular nib but give you a little more expressiveness and a wonderful feedback. They work well on any paper.
IMO of course.
IMO of course.
Can't vouch for a VP Binder stub, but I have a 0.6mm Binder Stub on a Pelikan m200, and it is as easy to write with as any of my round nibs. Super smooth while adding a touch of flair to your writing, very cool. You should have no trouble writing with a stub on any type of paper for any purpose.
I'll be buying a stub for my VP before its over with, just not sure whether to stick with 0.6 or try a slightly wider 0.8.
I'll be buying a stub for my VP before its over with, just not sure whether to stick with 0.6 or try a slightly wider 0.8.
HOLD ON... what is this enabling stuff I am being accused of 
All I did was suggest that since you needed a new nib you might want to try one of Richard's wonderful stubs....
I had one on the VP that I sold to playpen and she absolutely loves it.... I also loved the nib... but the pen was not getting used so it got a new home....
All I did was suggest that since you needed a new nib you might want to try one of Richard's wonderful stubs....
I had one on the VP that I sold to playpen and she absolutely loves it.... I also loved the nib... but the pen was not getting used so it got a new home....
Another who can't vouch for Richard's VP stubs, but he ground me two stubs at a pen show, and these nibs are [slipping back to 1985] AWESOME [back to 2007].
I'd go with the 0.6mm stub and not look back. The stubs I have are smooth and as someone else mentioned, let me write as fast with them as with a round tipped nib.
The other advantage of buying a VP stub from Richard is *I think* these are pre-made and ready to ship, so you don't wind up in his long (but worth it) queue
Good luck
French
I'd go with the 0.6mm stub and not look back. The stubs I have are smooth and as someone else mentioned, let me write as fast with them as with a round tipped nib.
The other advantage of buying a VP stub from Richard is *I think* these are pre-made and ready to ship, so you don't wind up in his long (but worth it) queue
Good luck
French
I have a VP with Binder .5mm italic cursive which is my usual office-carry instrument. Works wonderfully for this, but these fine italics are sharp edged and require a little bit of care. Some days I get lazy and just use the regular (round) fine nib.
Doug
Doug
I also have a VP Richard Binder 0.6mm stub and I think that it is without doubt the bee's knee's. Highly recommended; buy yourself a New Year present, you will not regret it.
As Fench mentioned these are 'off the shelf'. To my delight, delivery to the UK only took about 10 days.
As Fench mentioned these are 'off the shelf'. To my delight, delivery to the UK only took about 10 days.
I have a VP with a custom broad stub from Richard and I would agree that it is too broad for use as a daily writer. If I had it to do over, I would get the medium stub.
I also bought a broad oblique italic from Richard and I have to say I like it a lot. Because of the way you have to rotate the pen to use an oblique nib, it rotates the clip out of the way, eliminating one of the only complaints I have with the VP. Also, because the widest and thinnest lines on an oblique are on the diagonal, the up and down strokes are less fat than with a broad stub, so the broad oblique does not seem subjectively as fat to me on normal writing.
The way I look at it (and this is obviously a very subjective question), at $50 each, buying one of these customized VP nibs from Richard is a pretty low-risk proposition. If you don't like it as much as you thought, you can probably re-sell it on the Marketplace in a heartbeat without having lost too much. Plus, you'll be that much wiser about what you like and what you don't.
I also bought a broad oblique italic from Richard and I have to say I like it a lot. Because of the way you have to rotate the pen to use an oblique nib, it rotates the clip out of the way, eliminating one of the only complaints I have with the VP. Also, because the widest and thinnest lines on an oblique are on the diagonal, the up and down strokes are less fat than with a broad stub, so the broad oblique does not seem subjectively as fat to me on normal writing.
The way I look at it (and this is obviously a very subjective question), at $50 each, buying one of these customized VP nibs from Richard is a pretty low-risk proposition. If you don't like it as much as you thought, you can probably re-sell it on the Marketplace in a heartbeat without having lost too much. Plus, you'll be that much wiser about what you like and what you don't.
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