How Flexible

[passer]

Hello

I consider ordering a custom nib fountain pen by Richard Binder (after looking at nakaya a bit, but Richard Binder seems way more competent and ready to address customer's specific questions). What I desire is a 4XF nib, a bit scratchy instead of the usual smoothness, since I feel a certain degree of resistance is vital in shaping letters, which may be due to the fact that until now, I have been writing with a simple steel dip pen (has it's drawbacks: need to dip every few instances…, whence my quest for a fountain pen). Richard Binder most kindly agreed to making a nib a somewhat toothy, as he calls it. Now, I also feel this nib should not be entirely rigid, but I'm uncertain whether to ask for a semi flex or maybe for some custom degree such as 1/4 flex? If you'd be so kind as to have a look at a little video clip I posted here:

 

 

and give me your opinion?

 

/ edit :

 

Maybe the amount of flexibility can actually be measured. In the image attached the thinner, pressureless (and horizontal) stroke seems to be about 0.15 mm wide, the one with pressure (and verticality) about twice as much. The nib bends about 1 mm, at a pressure widely around 15 g. In case it matters: The nib itself is 2 cm long.

 

 

end edit /

Thanks a lot

Edited February 16, 2014 by passer

[dhnz]

My experience with nib smoothness is the opposite of yours – I have never preferred a scratchy nib over a smooth nib. And this is why I believe that, when it comes to flex, you should get what you want, not what someone else thinks you should have. Try out a bunch of dip nibs and find what works best for the hand you want to write, then ask for a nib similar to that. I say dip nibs, because it's probably easier for you to cheaply and easily trial a number of them, as opposed to fountain pens. But bear in mind that dip nibs and fountain pen nibs will not always perform the same (dip nibs can be finer and more flexible, for example).

[passer]

Yes, I think so, too. That's what I'm trying to do with this post, maybe I wasn't really clear about that. Perhaps I should simply mail my favourite dip pen over to Richard (transcontinental mail though).

[jelly]

This might just be my novice eye speaking, but that looks pretty similar to the amount of flex a noodler's creaper seems to offer unless you press really hard.

[DanF]

Any 4XF nib is going to be scratchy, but I think it's a good choice if you are going to write that small.

 

Dan

Edited February 24, 2014 by DanF