Pelikan Nib Line Thickness

[Falcon user]

I'm sure this has been discussed somewhere but recently I have bought a few Pelikan FPs, some gold plated nibs, some gold nibs and some with steel (not gold plated) nibs and I bought all of these pens in extra fine nib size. I have concluded that gold and gold plated nibs (eg Pelikan M150) write at least two times thicker than the steel nibs (eg m205 blue demonstrator) off course in same nib size of Extra Fine.

 

I was wondering is this what other Pelikan users have encountered?

[fabrimedeiros]

Yes, you're right! But I don't if gold nibs are two times thicker than the steel nibs. Usually, Pelikan steel nibs write with the same width as most other brands. So, when you want a Souveran gold nib, if you like the medium strokes, maybe you should pick up a F gold nib, as general rule, but there may be exceptions.

 

I think this difference in width may be due to the fact that Pelikan has two different suppliers: one that makes the gold nibs; the other that makes the steel nibs. This is just a hypothesis. I don't really know what happens. What I really know is that I love both. With Pelikan feeder, these become great writers!!

Edited November 9, 2010 by fabrimedeiros

[lapis]

I don't know who make which nibs, but I don't think that makes all that much difference. What I do see is that most -- if not all -- Pelikan nibs are so "hand-made" that if you compare one nib size on different pen classes/categories, you'll get different widths. That is even true for a handful of different pens, all in the same class, all of which have the same nib size.

 

Funny example (which I do love)... the following pens I have write line widths which look like this:

 

M215 B < M800 B < M1000 B

 

I.e. all three pens have a B nib but the M1000's is thicker than the M215's. Of course, that is also a range in size of the whole pen itself... but... I also saw that type of variability when I bought each pen and tried out several B nibs on each one.

 

See also: http://www.fountainp...f-pelikan-nibs/

 

Mike

[Falcon user]

yeah, what is strange is that even steel gold plated nibs write thicker (similar to gold nibs) as compared to pure steel nibs. The pure steel nib writes extra fine similar to Japanese extra fine thickness, but gold and gold plated steel nib write much thicker around one size larger than Japanese nib thickness. Maybe like you wrote, it is another production facility that makes pure steel nibs? But then again, I find all FP producers have their own guidelines when it comes to line thickness.

[Falcon user]

wow, B nibs...I wonder if they are comfortabel for writing (also M Pelikan nibs) or are they better for let's say sketching/drawing/signatures?

[fabrimedeiros]

wow, B nibs...I wonder if they are comfortabel for writing (also M Pelikan nibs) or are they better for let's say sketching/drawing/signatures?

 

It depends on the size of your handwriting. For ex, I have large handwriting, so B nibs are nice for writing. I have M400 with B nib and it's quite confortable for me. For taking notes, I also use BB italic nib (the new M800 1.5mm italic nib). M1000 3B I use only for quick notes and signatures: Long time writing isn't possible with this nib, however it's very fun!

 

It's better if you could try a B nib. If isn't possible, pick one. If you don't like, Pelikan can swop for free.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Maybe I should get more nit picky...normally I can tell a fine from a medium, a medium from a broad.

I think there is less difference than many think. But do check you nibs against Richard's stroke charts.

 

Taking some nibs out of the cups.......just grab and go.

 

Writing my seven letter last name.

EF is 1/2 letter narrower than Fine.

Fine is 1/2 letter narrower than Medium.

Medium is 1/2 letter narrower than Broad.

[jgrasty]

Pelikan nibs vary in width. I've got several EF nibs and there's considerable differences between them. Of course, the pens I have range from 1942 to modern...

[Limenweim]

From what I gathered so far, if you are intending to get gold nibs, get a size smaller than your intended width. I haven't exactly tried out myself, but I ordered gold nibs in XF size and steel nibs in both XF and F (from Richard Binder). Will test out that hypothesis when I get back home in around 1 week's time!