Flex Nib For Day-To-Day Writing

[Vlad Soare]

Hello,

 

From what I can see in various videos I understand that a flexible nib can also be used for normal, day-to-day writing, at normal speed, in which case it usually behaves like an extra-fine. Is that correct?

While using it for normal writing, can you still take advantage of its flexibility? I mean, can you use a flex nib just to add some line variation to your everyday fast handwriting, without necessarily going into artistry? Or is flex only good for slow and carefully thought-out calligraphy?

 

Thank you.

 

[Pterodactylus]

A flexible nib is suitable for normal writing, fast or slow, use the flex or not, just as you like.

 

I prefer flexible nibs also in every day usage, they neither slow me down, nor is there a need to use their flex.

They just give you a lot more possibilities to use them

 

You only have to get used to it, if you use them regularly and you are not ham fisted I see no blocking point.

[dickydotcom]

Personally I don't utilise the flex potential of a nib when writing fast, but it's nice to have it there to add some line variation at slow and medium pace.

No reason not to use one.

Dick D

[Sinistral1]

Now that I'm up to about 12 flexible nib pens, I would have to say I have two catagories - normal writing with the option of flexing for signatures, first letters in addressing an envelope or using a heading on a page or emphasis of a single word or phrase -and- only flex writing because the nib is so soft that it is nearly impossible for it not to flex, making normal writing difficult to do with any speed. The latter are for what I call "artsy-fartsy" writing: posters, signs, name plates, greeting cards, certificates, etc. I'm really beginning to enjoy using the ones that are the middle of the road, able to do both kinds of text.

[mvarela]

Now that I'm up to about 12 flexible nib pens, I would have to say I have two catagories - normal writing with the option of flexing for signatures, first letters in addressing an envelope or using a heading on a page or emphasis of a single word or phrase -and- only flex writing because the nib is so soft that it is nearly impossible for it not to flex, making normal writing difficult to do with any speed. The latter are for what I call "artsy-fartsy" writing: posters, signs, name plates, greeting cards, certificates, etc. I'm really beginning to enjoy using the ones that are the middle of the road, able to do both kinds of text.

 

If you can't avoid flexing with the softer nibs, you're probably pressing too hard. It's entirely possible to write monoline script with flex dip pens (say, a Gillott 303 or Esterbrook 357 or 354), which are arguably softer than any FP nib, so it should certainly be possible to write monoline with a flex FP. That being said, it's likely to cause some slow-down, if it's really that sensitive.

[Pterodactylus]

Sorry, double post

Edited February 17, 2014 by Pterodactylus

[Pterodactylus]

 

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/12598422513_d1785c012c_o.jpg

 

(Mabie Todd Swan 4660 Leverless ..... ESS Registrars Blue/Black)

[Sinistral1]

Ptero:

 

My jealousy knows no bounds!!

[mvarela]

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/12598422513_d1785c012c_o.jpg

 

(Mabie Todd Swan 4660 Leverless ..... ESS Registrars Blue/Black)

 

That seems like an awesome pen! I'd love to try one of those for Spencerian or Copperplate, and see how close one can get to what can be done with dip nibs...

[Vlad Soare]

Thank you for your replies.

 

 

[Pterodactylus]

That seems like an awesome pen! I'd love to try one of those for Spencerian or Copperplate, and see how close one can get to what can be done with dip nibs...

It is a very wet writer, almost too wet, I worked on the nib and it is better than when I received it, but it needs a huge amount of ink flow to support the nib when you use it's flex excessively (it's a trade off flow vs. possible railroading when flex it to the max).

It is also not very fine unflexed, I would say M, so I don't think you would like it for Spencerian or Copperplate.

Edited February 19, 2014 by Pterodactylus

[dhnz]

It is also not very fine unflexed, I would say M, so I don't think you would like it for Spencerian or Copperplate.

 

My experience with fountain pens is that the addition of the iridium to the nib means that they'll never achieve the finess of a dip nib. And you lose the ability to use the inks most associated with Spencerian. But then they have other advantages, so you chose based on what matters most to you.

[Pterodactylus]

I wouldn't say that, you can also have a needle point tipped nib.

Hairlines are not an exclusive attribute associated to dip nibs.

[dhnz]

Yes, you can get vintage needlepoint fountain pens, and I've personally had some modern pens ground to extra-fine points by John Mottishaw, but in my experience they still can't match a dip pen nib for fineness. I'll stress again that this in my experience (ie, based on what I've personally used and writing specimens I've seen from others).

 

It may not be the iridum that is responsible for this, but it seems logical to me that, if you take a nib and add tipping material to that nib, it's going to be wider than the untipped nib. Fountain pens with untipped nibs may deliver as fine lines, but I've not had experience with them.

Edited February 19, 2014 by dhnz

[Sinistral1]

I have only dipped a toe into trying Spencerian, but I think the hairlines are as much technique as equipment. As evidence, I present my 56 in action, with a complete rookie at the helm.

 

 

 

[mvarela]

It is a very wet writer, almost too wet, I worked on the nib and it is better than when I received it, but it needs a huge amount of ink flow to support the nib when you use it's flex excessively (it's a trade off flow vs. possible railroading when flex it to the max).

It is also not very fine unflexed, I would say M, so I don't think you would like it for Spencerian or Copperplate.

 

That can be fixed by writing HUGE!

 

I've started trawling ebay for some old Waterman or Mabie Todd, but the prices are scary...

[mvarela]

I have only dipped a toe into trying Spencerian, but I think the hairlines are as much technique as equipment. As evidence, I present my 56 in action, with a complete rookie at the helm.

 

image.jpg

image.jpg

Those seem live very decent hairlines to me! I think the main issue for doing a "neat" script is the recovery from a shade. In the second picture, when coming up to form the bowl of the y, the hairline is not very hair-like at all. It still looks very neat I'd say... can you post more from that exemplar?

 

This is about as fine as I can do with a good dip pen (Esty 356):

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7367/11389901576_74a7561d36_h.jpg

 

I'm skeptical about any FP being able to do so fine hairlines and thick shading, but then again, I could settle for less

[Pterodactylus]

Let´s see if I have something to compete.

 

First I have to say that I can´t write Spencerian at all or write as nice as you can (one square is 5 mm).

 

I tried to copy your sample with my Faber Castell Osmia 223 - F:

 

 

 

And the same in my normal writing:

 

 

(Faber Castell Osmia 223 - F ..... Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black)

Edited February 20, 2014 by Pterodactylus

[mvarela]

Let´s see if I have something to compete.

 

First I have to say that I can´t write Spencerian at all or write as nice as you can (one square is 5 mm).

 

I tried to copy your sample with my Faber Castell Osmia 223 - F:

 

 

 

And the same in my normal writing:

 

 

(Faber Castell Osmia 223 - F ..... Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black)

 

That's most impressive! How many banks would I need to ehem... "borrow from" to get one of those?

[Pterodactylus]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/12652808553_ef3b9a73ed_o.jpg

 

(Faber Castell Osmia 223 - F ..... Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black)