Advice On Nakaya Long Cigar: Ao (Red) Or Kuro (Black) Tamenuri

[vam272]

I would like esthetic advice on the Nakaya Tamenuri long cigar fountainpen. If I understand the Kuro is black finish with red underneath and somewhat visible, whereas the Ao is mostly dark red.

I am inclined toward the black.red as more classical.

ALso inclined to a soft fine tip, or fine flex, for calligraphic touch.

Any and all advice will be much appreciated.

[raging.dragon]

Aka: dark red over red

Kuro: black over red

Ao: black over blue/turquoise

Heki: brown over blue-green

Shiro: brown over white

 

I'd be tempted to get a matched pair, in Kuro with a soft (or custom semi flex) fine nib and Ao with a music nib (probably custom ground for more line variation).

[Mickey]

I have an Aka with an SF nib. It is a joy to write with, but I wouldn't mistake it for a flexible point. I have a Platinum President with a rigid UEF nib. They don't really feel all that much different. The difference is noticeable, but not dramatic.

 

I also have a Heki-tamenuri Nakai with a flex-added (by Mottishaw) OF (reground SM), which I still would not classify as flexible in the calligraphic sense. It simply feels soft and is a bit more expressive than a standard or soft nib. It's my standard carry pen. My Nakayas and Platinum are all excellent writers.

 

If you're interested in pointed pen calligraphy (e.g., Copperplate or Spencerian OP), you're much better off going the dip pen route. (I have.) There is absolutely no comparison. If you're interested in broad pen calligraphy (e.g., Italic, uncial, Humanist), get a Nakaya and have a B, BB, or Music nib reground to cursive or formal italic. If you simply want to add a little dash to your writing, consider an SM reground to cursive italic or left oblique.

Edited October 11, 2013 by Mickey

[Pen_Samurai]

Yeah,

Ao=blue

 

Moving on...

 

I like the shiro personally. It has the most rustic look out of all the traditional colors.

 

If you want the most classic, the black is the way to go, but if you like that little bit of red in the black, you may want to go with the red because it will start off with that nice deep red color and slowly brighten over time. The black won't become as bright.

 

Also, you may hate me saying this, but a stopper or a clip is a good idea too. The lacquer is fragile and if it hits a hard surface it will crack or chip, I've done it, it doesn't feel good.

 

Lastly, if you want a calligraphic touch, look into the music. The soft will give you a nice copperplate effect but the music produces more of a calligraphic look.

[Mickey]

The soft will give you a nice copperplate effect but the music produces more of a calligraphic look.

 

I would hesitate stressing a soft nib enough to get anything other than very slight increases in line weight on down-strokes. This will happen naturally, with virtually no conscious effort. Persistent, aggressive flexing (attempts to emulate Copperplate shades) will cause alignment problems and eventually spring the nib. The alloys, heat treatment regimen, and basic geometry of these nibs (meaning virtually all modern nibs) are not suited to this sort of treatment.

 

Generally speaking, tine flexure in soft nibs is mostly in line with the applied force (they act as simple springs), whereas the tine movement in a nib designed for true flex (pointed pen calligraphy) has substantial movement at right angles to applied force. Soft nibs will bend first and (may) eventually spread. Flexible nibs simultaneously spread and bend (with more or less equal magnitude) when pressure is applied.

[Strang]

I'm with Mickey on the "soft" Nakaya nibs. I have a soft medium which is nowhere close to being a "flexible" nib. Choose their music nib for line variation or, for some real fun, their BB.

 

Somebody mentioned the Heki as brown over blue-green. I see no blue in mine. It's brown over green.

[vam272]

Thanks to all for their advice. I already have a flexible fine on order with Nakaya (briar sandblasted). When it arrives, I'll get a better sense of what flexible fine can do for me. I normally write with a fine point. I am having a Platinum makie pen M reground as italic also.

I have been disappointed in the music nib, except for writing music and for Japanese characters. It seems to show little variation in Western cursive. Beautiful Chinese characters, however.

Eventually, I want a Tamenuri for my desk, on a stand. No intention of taking it along, as I know that lacquer can get chipped. I like the laquered pen stand that Nakaya shows in its accessories section.

Thanks to all. I am still thinking about this, and inclining toward Black/Red (Kuro Tamenuri).

 

Particular thanks to Mickey for his detailed, knowledgeable advice.