NIBS: steel vs gold vs iridium

[ateebtk]

Hi,

Is there noticeable difference between steel nib (or gold plated steel), vs gold nib vs a nib with "iridium". I ask because the M200 has steel nib with gold plating and M205 has steel nib with iridium (from my knowledge).

 

Q) is there are noticeable difference in writing performance?

Q) whats the advantage or having these different materials .

 

 

I understand gold would prevent corrosion but is that really a concern with modern inks.

 

Thanking in advance,

ATK

[jar]

The Iridium is not likely iridium and just refers to whatever hard metal was used for the actual tipping material, the part you actually write with.

 

Gold vs Steel is more just a matter of choice. A great Steel nib is better than a mediocre Gold one.

[tanburi]

And M205's steel nib is nearly a great steel nib.

[Federmann]

And don't forget the Titanium-Nibs!

I love my Omas Emo.

[Xing]

M200's nibs are tipped too IIRC. Most pens made today have a hard metal tipping, commonly refereed to as iridium, but rarely contain any actual iridium. It is there so that the nib don't wear out as fast, which would be a big problem for gold nibs if there is no tipping, but also would effect steel nibs as well.

 

The difference between gold and steel nibs is a personal one, as have been said. There is nothing inherent about a gold nib that you can't achieve with a steel one, except maybe the corrosion resistance. Though the prestige factor associated with gold nibs sometimes causes the nib maker to put in more effort into it, but this is only a concern in places like China, where the workmanship on cheap(er) steel nibs are very patchy, and gold nibs seems to have more consistent quality. This is not really a concern in my opinion in the US (where I am now) or Europe where I find the nib's workmanship have little to do with the material used.

[Silvermink]

Most steel or gold nibs are iridium-tipped - untipped steel nibs are relatively rare, though there some such as the Lamy italics and Esterbrook 2xxx series, and I've never heard of an untipped gold nib (though for all I know they may exist - they'd wear relatively quickly). The M200 has an iridium-tipped nib, as do almost all modern Pelikans. I'm not quite sure if their italic nibs (e.g., in the Script) are tipped, but maybe someone else can comment.

 

There isn't generally a big difference in performance. You're more likely to get modern gold nibs with spring or flex, I think, than you are modern steel nibs, but springy steel nibs aren't unknown. A gold nib is just as capable of being a nail; spring and flex aren't inherent in a gold nib.

Edited December 11, 2009 by Silvermink

[Columba Livia]

I'm not quite sure if their italic nibs (e.g., in the Script) are tipped, but maybe someone else can comment.

 

The script nibs certainly are not tipped. It seems that no(?) fountain pens which are specifically marketed as calligraphy tools have tipped nibs. Even rather high end offerings like the sheaffer targa set didn't have tipped nibs as far as I know.

[Federmann]

The Emotica Titanium-Nib is also tipped?

[Silvermink]

The Emotica Titanium-Nib is also tipped?

 

There was some discussion about that over in the Italian pen forum a little while ago, actually. I don't think anyone ever provided a definitive answer on whether the Emotica's nib was iridium-tipped or self-tipped (i.e., the titanium itself was formed into a ball at the end).

[professionaldilettante]

Iridium refers to the tipping material. The nib can either be gold or steel, but tipped with iridium to increase the wear time on nib tips.

[Pfhorrest]

I like steel nibs better.

 

For me, (and this is probably not true of all FPNers) fountain pens are something that must be able to use anytime and anywhere. I must be able to write with my fountain pen without worrying about damage, how hard I am pressing on the nib, etc.

 

That's why I have fitted a $400 Pelikan with a steel nib, it lets me write without fear and really enjoy the pen. (The M200 nibs are just perfect!)

Edited December 11, 2009 by Pfhorrest

[Randal6393]

Note that iridium tips are actually a combination of (alloy of) several metals in the platinum group and usually have little to no iridium actually in them. Most pens, steel or gold, are tipped with a pellet of noble metals (ie, platinum group metals that have a high resistance to corrosion). Then the pellet is ground into the nib shape desired. The resulting pen is tipped with a corrosion-resistant metal.

 

A titanium pen would meet the definition of pen tipped with a corrosion-resistant metal as easily as any other pen. Titanium, while perhaps not completely within the platinium group, certainly has a high resistance to corrosion.

 

The calligraphic nibs that are common on lower end pens (or some lower end pens with a ball-shaped nib) are not finished with "iridium" but use stainless steel (usually) for the nib tip. Since most stainless steels have a certain amount of resistance to corrosion one could argue that these pens also meet the definition of tipped with a corrosion-resistant metal. From personal experience, I can affirm that stainless steel pen tips last at least fifteen or twenty years without noticable wear.

 

End result? Any modern pen (or antique) that has any quality of manufacture in it should perform well, as far as resisting corrosion and writing for many years without requiring a new nib. In all practical aspects, one nib is much the same as another in terms of corrosion resistance.

 

Now, for writing ability, esthetics, ability to write readily under adverse conditions, etc., ... Well, that's another story and one should read the fountain pen reviews and literature to see what is said about a particular brand's ability to perform.

 

Enjoy,

[hbquikcomjamesl]

I have to agree with "Pfhorrest," at least as far as my "workhorse" M200 (steel EF nib) is concerned: I use it for everything, including NCR forms (up to and including 3-part); a gold nib would be too easily deformed.

 

And Randal, in the Periodic Table, titanium is closer to the Alkali and Alkaline Earth metals than it is to the Platinum group. It is, however, quite strong and quite corrosion-resistant.

[Randal6393]

I have to agree with "Pfhorrest," at least as far as my "workhorse" M200 (steel EF nib) is concerned: I use it for everything, including NCR forms (up to and including 3-part); a gold nib would be too easily deformed.

 

And Randal, in the Periodic Table, titanium is closer to the Alkali and Alkaline Earth metals than it is to the Platinum group. It is, however, quite strong and quite corrosion-resistant.

 

Yeah, but I wasn't willing to look it up -- so I hedged my answer.

 

Hanging my head in shame,