I've enjoyed my small collection of fountain pens. I thought they wrote pretty well. I've been blissfully ignorant.

Goaded by curiosity, I purchased an inexpensive stainless m200-sized stub from Richard Binder's website that would fit into few of my Pelikan pens. I figured if I didn't like it, I could always afford to drawer a $40 curiosity. It came today. Mildly curious, I screwed it into my 625 and wrote a few words on a stickynote pad.

It was like smoking crack.

My remaining pens are hopelessly abandoned; I'll write with nothing else until they've all been customized.

CURSE YOU RICHARD BINDER! **shakes fist at an uncaring sky**

Will

PS: All joking aside, this lowly stainless nib is the best I've ever tried. I can't wait to send my 625 nib in for customization. Incidentally, Richard wrote me an email because I'd asked what "Flow Rate" he pre-sets his nibs to. He said that, as a default, he sets stubs to "6-7." The flow is perfect. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go write something...

Oh no! Richard's queue is about to go to seven months!

Bloody christ!! For a moment there I thought something terrible had happened!!

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your new nib.

I have ordered a 6mm stub from Richard for my Pilot VP and have been eagerly waiting for it to arrive. Just checked the tracking and it apparently cleared UK Customs this evening, so shouldn't be too long now

Your post has made me even more impatient to try it out!

I just ordered one from Richard. Am also waiting for it to arrive.

Any chance of some handwriting samples of these nibs - before & after pics?? Please & Ta

Would be most useful

STOP STOP STOP!

This is a Richard free zone - no more talk.

I have sent him 5 duofold nibs to work his magic and realise I have to wait almost 5 months to get them back.

Lets keep him secret until his workload reduces.

Congratulations on the nib! I'm deciding between that and a cursive italic. I have an m205 coming in about a month. I reckon I should place an order for a nib now, eh?!

I now "save up" pens that need to be Binderized. Just last week, I sent 9 pens. I know it'll be months before I see them again, but the wait will be worth it.

I don't know him personally, but in my very limited email conversations with him he also seems like a gentleman and nice guy.

There's a very easy solution to your problem. Send the rest to Richard

Yup. My tax refund may end up in Binder's evil clutches.

Will

I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Binder, and he is even more personable in real life. A most magnificent individual.

OK, OK, I'm saving all my pennies till I can get anything from Mr. Binder. Something with flex and wet broad flow.....chills of anticipation here.

Will, I was drooling on Binder's website earlier today, but couldn't decide. What width stub did you buy? (That's all I couldn't decide- width.)

Thanks,
Kristi

Kristi, I think Richard can advise you, if you contact him directly. There are also rules of thumb, based on the size of you normal writing.

good luck
Bill

Hi Kristi,

I know that there is some arcane rule of thumb that has to do with 'measuring your small case letters,' but I'm not that consistant. In fact, that's why I don't buy lined journal paper; some days I write big, and other days I write small. So that whole system goes out the window.

My advice? Buy one size larger stub than you would a regular round tip. I normally write with a medium nib, but I am very happy with my .8 (broad) stub. My .8 is much finer on the cross strokes than the downstrokes. I think the cross strokes on a medium stub (.6) would be too fine for me.

Hope this helps,

Will