Inlaid Nibs Vs. Long Nibs.

[InkAndWink]

I was wondering what type of nibs does everybody prefer ? What are the pros and cons of inlaid nibs vs. the normal long nibs used in the pen?

 

to me inlaid nibs look more beautiful but i don't know much about them apart from that.

 

Thanks.

[jar]

There is really not much functional difference, though at the time inlaid nibs, sheath nibs and also hooded nibs were developed for technological functions. They were developed in response to the newest inks, inks designed to dry quickly. The hooded, inlaid and sheath designs were all ways to limit evaporation.

 

Today it is mostly aesthetics, personal preferences.

[InkAndWink]

There is really not much functional difference, though at the time inlaid nibs, sheath nibs and also hooded nibs were developed for technological functions. They were developed in response to the newest inks, inks designed to dry quickly. The hooded, inlaid and sheath designs were all ways to limit evaporation.

 

Today it is mostly aesthetics, personal preferences.

 

Ah ok but how easy is cleaning? Are the inlaid nibs easy to tear apart ?

[jar]

There is really not much functional difference, though at the time inlaid nibs, sheath nibs and also hooded nibs were developed for technological functions. They were developed in response to the newest inks, inks designed to dry quickly. The hooded, inlaid and sheath designs were all ways to limit evaporation.

 

Today it is mostly aesthetics, personal preferences.

 

Ah ok but how easy is cleaning? Are the inlaid nibs easy to tear apart ?

 

Near impossible. The question is "Why would anyone want to do that?"

[InkAndWink]

There is really not much functional difference, though at the time inlaid nibs, sheath nibs and also hooded nibs were developed for technological functions. They were developed in response to the newest inks, inks designed to dry quickly. The hooded, inlaid and sheath designs were all ways to limit evaporation.

 

Today it is mostly aesthetics, personal preferences.

 

Ah ok but how easy is cleaning? Are the inlaid nibs easy to tear apart ?

 

Near impossible. The question is "Why would anyone want to do that?"

 

To clean it right ? I have seen some videos where the normal long nibs come off easily and they are very easy to clean but i have never seen a video for inlaid nibs so i am thinking it might be difficult?? no ?

[Pen Is Mightier]

There is really not much functional difference, though at the time inlaid nibs, sheath nibs and also hooded nibs were developed for technological functions. They were developed in response to the newest inks, inks designed to dry quickly. The hooded, inlaid and sheath designs were all ways to limit evaporation.

 

Today it is mostly aesthetics, personal preferences.

 

Ah ok but how easy is cleaning? Are the inlaid nibs easy to tear apart ?

 

Near impossible. The question is "Why would anyone want to do that?"

 

To clean it right ? I have seen some videos where the normal long nibs come off easily and they are very easy to clean but i have never seen a video for inlaid nibs so i am thinking it might be difficult?? no ?

There is a reason you haven't, you would be breaking the pen if you tried to take one out. Most inlaid nibs are permanently glued into the section, which also means they can't be retipped. The best way to clean one would be to run water through the section with a bulb to shoot out old ink particles.

Hope this helps,

Grant

[jar]

There is really not much functional difference, though at the time inlaid nibs, sheath nibs and also hooded nibs were developed for technological functions. They were developed in response to the newest inks, inks designed to dry quickly. The hooded, inlaid and sheath designs were all ways to limit evaporation.

 

Today it is mostly aesthetics, personal preferences.

 

Ah ok but how easy is cleaning? Are the inlaid nibs easy to tear apart ?

 

Near impossible. The question is "Why would anyone want to do that?"

 

To clean it right ? I have seen some videos where the normal long nibs come off easily and they are very easy to clean but i have never seen a video for inlaid nibs so i am thinking it might be difficult?? no ?

 

The idea of taking a nib out to clean the pen is really, really new. It simply would not even have come up in the past. In dip pens, you threw a nib away when it was worn or bent, maybe wiped it down or swished it in water like a brush, but cleaning fountain pens was just not the norm. You filled a pen if it was empty.

[InkAndWink]

ohh i see.

[alvarez57]

Just like jar says, soak in water. There are an entire posts on how to clean and which water with machines that deionize the water, yadda yadda. I use plain tap water (pretty safe in New Orleans, I'm still alive) but don't let them soaking for more than 48hrs, changing the water two to three times. This is for some stubborn inks - blacks, reds, purples.

The only nibs you would take off the pen are those that already are known to be interchangeable, such as Pelikan, Esterbrook and some Auroras. Otherwise not!

Edited November 17, 2010 by alvarez57

[InkAndWink]

oh ok. So even the clogs can be cleaned just by soaking the pen in water or water:ammonia mixture ?

 

Also is it a good idea to soak the pen frequently like every week or 2 to keep it running ?

[significantpass]

oh ok. So even the clogs can be cleaned just by soaking the pen in water or water:ammonia mixture ?

 

Also is it a good idea to soak the pen frequently like every week or 2 to keep it running ?

 

I think that's a bit excessive. A rinse and flush every 3 weeks to a month suffices for me. I suppose if you use an ink which is very high maintenance, than you might have to do that.

[Bo Bo Olson]

There are two basic sorts of ink, the low maintenance two toned shading inks and the high maintenance mono-tone Glow in the Dark super saturated inks.

 

You should have both.

 

You need to buy a rubber ear syringe to clean out pens with. It works with C/C pens and pens that have twist out nibs.

 

You have to clean the pen every time you change inks.

[Koyote]

I think my Sheaffer Legacy's yellow gold inlaid nib is the prettiest thing I've seen on a pen. And each of my inlaid nibs seem pretty resistant to drying out if I sit with the pen uncapped for >10 minutes. But in terms of actual writing ability, they're no better than a good open nib.

[wspohn]

There are two basic sorts of ink, the low maintenance two toned shading inks and the high maintenance mono-tone Glow in the Dark super saturated inks.

 

You should have both.

 

You need to buy a rubber ear syringe to clean out pens with. It works with C/C pens and pens that have twist out nibs.

 

You have to clean the pen every time you change inks.

 

 

If you have more than a pen or two, I'd recommend you consider an ultrasonic jewellery cleaner. For $30 they work very well. Just take the section out of the pen, or dip the nib into the water and give it 30 seconds or until ink stops coming out.

 

One example:

 

ULTRASONIC CLEANER

[nicholasyeo]

oh ok. So even the clogs can be cleaned just by soaking the pen in water or water:ammonia mixture ?

 

Also is it a good idea to soak the pen frequently like every week or 2 to keep it running ?

 

I think that's a bit excessive. A rinse and flush every 3 weeks to a month suffices for me. I suppose if you use an ink which is very high maintenance, than you might have to do that.

 

Well, three weeks is a long time... I totally clean my pens out every week.

[InkAndWink]

There are two basic sorts of ink, the low maintenance two toned shading inks and the high maintenance mono-tone Glow in the Dark super saturated inks.

 

You should have both.

 

You need to buy a rubber ear syringe to clean out pens with. It works with C/C pens and pens that have twist out nibs.

 

You have to clean the pen every time you change inks.

 

I guess i will be using the normal aka low maintenance inks to start with at least .

 

 

I think my Sheaffer Legacy's yellow gold inlaid nib is the prettiest thing I've seen on a pen. And each of my inlaid nibs seem pretty resistant to drying out if I sit with the pen uncapped for >10 minutes. But in terms of actual writing ability, they're no better than a good open nib.

 

Yeah i saw that pen. Its very beautiful. The inlaid nib is the thing which attracted me the most towards a Sheaffer. So i have decided to buy Sheaffer 444. This would be my first fountain pen after 10yrs

[jar]

So i have decided to buy Sheaffer 444. This would be my first fountain pen after 10yrs

 

Be sure to check before you buy. Sheaffer tended to reuse names and numbers for many of its pens, sometimes even in the same model year, and so look to make sure you are getting what you want. The inlaid nib 444 is a nice little pens anyway.

[InkAndWink]

So i have decided to buy Sheaffer 444. This would be my first fountain pen after 10yrs

 

Be sure to check before you buy. Sheaffer tended to reuse names and numbers for many of its pens, sometimes even in the same model year, and so look to make sure you are getting what you want. The inlaid nib 444 is a nice little pens anyway.

 

Yup, I am planning to buy the Sheaffer 444 - Triumph white dot, to be precise.