RichardsPens.com vs. Nibs.com - Any difference in nib quality?

[SamCapote]

I'm still relatively new with FP's, and have not known enough to appreciate all the nuances in various custom nibs. Is there any major differences in nib performance between www.Nibs.com and www.RichardsPens.com ?

 

Reason I'm asking (and not trying to start a cat fight) is my first order from www.Nibs.com was a M400 Pelikan White Tortoise with BB nib. When I ordered it by phone, they asked a few questions about right handed, medium pressure, medium to heavy flow...and I just absolutely love how it performs.

 

Then today, I ordered for the first time from www.RichardsPens.com and got a M200 with cursive italic nib, but standard checkout (after calling and speaking with Barbara) didn't need any special feedback about right hand, pressure, or flow. So, I'm just wondering if both outfits basically do the same quality of nib work for a simple order like these examples, should I place future orders.

 

Edit: Fixed the website names. Sorry. Are they both similar high quality regarding their nibs?

Edited February 26, 2010 by SamCapote

[Kaych]

Would it be possible to get the URL for "nib.com"? I just tried visiting it and all I got was an advertisement page...

 

As for "binders.com", I assume you mean richardspens.com?

 

Just trying to clear things up

[beluga]

Would it be possible to get the URL for "nib.com"? I just tried visiting it and all I got was an advertisement page...

 

As for "binders.com", I assume you mean richardspens.com?

 

Just trying to clear things up

 

 

It's actually nibs.com (plural).

Hope you have more luck now.

 

 

 

B.

[eric47]

Would it be possible to get the URL for "nib.com"? I just tried visiting it and all I got was an advertisement page...

 

I suspect you want a "www" and an "s" on "nib" in front: http://www.nibs.com/ , which is J. Mottishaw's site.

Edited February 26, 2010 by eric47

[SamCapote]

Sorry. I had the names/URL's wrong which I just corrected in title and first post. Are they both of similar quality on "standard" nib work like in my two purchases?

[nkk]

You probably did what I did the first time I ordered a custom Binder nib. Somewhere on his site there is a form that you can add to your basket. You fill it out, and it is essentially how you hold the pen, wetness, etc. I forgot to do it too, as it is rather hard to find in there.

 

-Nkk

[SamCapote]

You probably did what I did the first time I ordered a custom Binder nib. Somewhere on his site there is a form that you can add to your basket. You fill it out, and it is essentially how you hold the pen, wetness, etc. I forgot to do it too, as it is rather hard to find in there.

 

-Nkk

 

Well I asked Barbara Binder if I needed to do that for the M200 with .9 cursive italic gold plated nib, and she said it's not needed, so I didn't bother. On the other hand, the few questions from www.nibs.com seemed a bit token/casual, so I'm left wondering how much difference there really is between the sites. Again, I am not trying to say anything negative about either site, as my single experiences so far have been wonderful.

[seanpooh]

Nkk is right, after you add a nib to your basket there is a link (http://www.richardspens.com/pens/regrind.htm) to click to specify your custom grind. After that link there is another to a questionnaire (http://www.richardspens.com/info/nibneeds.htm) to fill out to give Mr. Binder more of an idea of how you write.

I haven't ordered from Mr. Mottishaw's website, but I can vouch for Mr. Binder on his quality of work (which I am very happy with). I actually email him with questions and he responds promptly. When I sent my pens to have ground down, I sent along my own ink, a previous writing sample and a sheet of a certain paper so Mr. Binder could adjust the flow where my ink wouldn't bleed though.

 

You didn't have to fill the custom grind form for the M200 to be a .9mm italic because you would choose it from his Nibarama (Specialty Nibs) page. But do fill out the questionnaire about your writing style, it may help. I suppose every nibmeister has their own way on how things are done.

 

Edit: additional reply

Edited February 26, 2010 by seanpooh

[matt385]

No difference in ability, it's more a difference in marketing- over the phone vs. over the web.

 

I bought a VP from John at Nibs.com and it was very smooth. I wish all my pens were this smooth. This was my first fountain pen and I asked a lot of questions. When I got the pen I could not get the cartridge installed and I called back and talked to John himself. He said force it :roflmho:

 

I have also had a pen completely rebuilt by Richard Binder. That was my first vintage purchase on ebay. He did communicate back what needed to be done and did an excellent job rebuilding the pen. I have also been to a few shows where Richard was set up and he will answer any question you have.

[Wolverine1]

I have nibs from both nib-meisters. And I prefer very smooth medium or fine nibs. Not not much of a fan of italics, obliques, broads etc.

My experience, and this is my personal preference, I prefer the feel of nibs modified by John Mottishaw. Richard does great work too, but, each nib-meister does things his own way, and I just happen to prefer the way John smoothens the nibs.

Kinda like food, one person's preference might not be loved by another person

[Richard]

This is a great time for me to clear away some of the confusion.

 

At RichardsPens.com, we make a distinction between a stock nib and a custom nib. By "stock," I mean either an ordinary round nib or the specialty nibs on our N I B A R A M A page. By "custom," I mean a nib that is specifically tuned or modified to your order.

 

A stock nib is adjusted to the RichardsPens.com "factory" standard. This means that the nib will be tested and, if necessary, tuned to meet that standard. Experience tells us that this will be good for the vast majority of users. We hope that our stock specialty nibs will get most people going very economically.

 

If you can't find the nib you want right on the individual brand pages or the N I B A R A M A page, it's probably because you have special requirements, and in that case you're looking for a custom nib. Any special adjustment or modification you want makes your nib into a custom nib. Customization includes personalized flow adjustment, creation of a CONDOR™ nib for your Aurora Optima, and everything in between.

 

Now then...

 

seanpooh mentions our nib questionnaire. This is how we acquire the personalized information we need to make you a custom nib. The questionnaire is quite detailed.

 

On stock nibs, we don't do any custom work; this means that submitting our nib questionnaire is a waste of time when you're just buying a stock nib. (If you haven't filled out the form for a custom nib, you don't need to fill out the questionnaire.)

 

Going back to the OP, Barbara told him that the questionnaire wasn't needed because he was looking for a stock nib.

 

Post scriptum: It seems that the questionnaire is too hard to find. There's a link to it on the Shopping Cart page, but I'm going to investigate adding links in other places to make it easier to find.

Edited February 26, 2010 by Richard

[StyloBug33]

I have pens that have been adjusted by both, and do prefer the ones Richard has taken care of. I also think it is a matter of personal preference. They are both very good and very professional.

[trent]

Both have done exceptional work for me.

[jgrasty]

I have two "binderized" Pelikan M200 nibs, not custom ones, and they're both perfect.

[Dan Carmell]

One difference is that Richar grinds and repairs nibs at the shows he attends, but John just sells pens and accepts repair orders to go home with him.

 

So it is a bit more than marketing that makes the difference. Oh, and Richard's wait time is a little over three months these days (I think)--John's is over six months! That's a big difference if you just need a nib ground and want it sooner than later!

 

Dan

Edited February 26, 2010 by Dan Carmell

[stevlight]

Both do great work.

 

I now have a personal relationship with Richard from pen shows and such, so, he knows how I like my nibs to draw--- so I tend to use him now exclusively---Plus he likes half sour dill pickles so we have that in common!

[OcalaFlGuy]

It would be much more helpful to hear someone with both technicians nibs quantify their opinions with specifically why (so far as the difference in the nib goes) they prefer one over the other.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[Richard]

Richard grinds and straightens nibs, but does not re-tip or repair cracked nibs, I don't believe.

Not entirely correct. I offer retipping, via an independent welder who does the retipping so that I can finish the nib to spec. I also do some crack repair and am investigating another avenue for this work. Repaired Parker Duofold nib crack shown here.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref/restoration/duofold_soldered.jpg

[tanalasta]

Last I checked, Richard is about 4-5 months and John 8 months or so...

 

I've a much loved, but not so expensive pen in the post going to Richard in transit atm (haven't tried John).

 

Trying to decide who to buy my next pen from though! Struggling to decide (leaning towards Pelikan) which to get! Can I combine postage?

Edited February 26, 2010 by tanalasta

[rogerb]

I would say no, but why not email or phone them to get a definitive answer?