Best Pens For Nib Swappers

[mikeschu]

Name your best (or perhaps "the" best) pen for those of us who want to swap standard #6 nibs, like those you can get from the Goulets. Price isn't an object, but let's try to keep it inexpensive in case those of us who break a pen can get another without too much damage to the budget.

 

Ideally, this pen will be one that consistently works with whatever nib you put in it, with no (or minimal) feed issues and no leaks. Ease of swapping preferred but I would trade a little more work for better performance.

 

Ready? Go!

[FarmBoy]

Esterbrooks. All of them except the 300.

[KBeezie]

Though if you're looking at modern and choices of several brands of nibs. Anything that takes a #6 (Monteverde, Jinhao [X450, X750, 159], Nemosine, Knox [K35], TWSBI, etc), like how I use a Goulet 1.5 with my Nemosine Singularity, Goulet EF in my Monteverde Invincia Deluxe, Goulet Medium in my Jinhao 159, Monteverde Fine in my Jinhao X750.

 

Most of those are under $50.

 

The Esterbrooks last time I checked are not #6.

 

The Jinhao, Nemosine, Monteverde, etc are simple friction fit.

Edited May 23, 2014 by KBeezie

[lahlahlaw]

The Esterbrooks last time I checked are not #6

I'm sure Farmboy knows this. Easterbrooks are an alternative to the OP's question, and a very good one - Esterbrooks are great for us tinkerers!:-)

[mikeschu]

Esterbrooks. All of them except the 300.

 

 

I'm sure Farmboy knows this. Easterbrooks are an alternative to the OP's question, and a very good one - Esterbrooks are great for us tinkerers!:-)

 

I love my Esterbrooks - I own four of them - but in this case I'm specifically asking about pens for #6 nibs. I'd like to try a 1.9mm stub nib and watch the ink drain from the converter as a write a sentence.

Edited May 23, 2014 by mikeschu

[KBeezie]

I love my Esterbrooks - I own four of them - but in this case I'm specifically asking about pens for #6 nibs. I'd like to try a 1.9mm stub nib and watch the ink drain from the converter as a write a sentence.

 

I never tried it, but I kind of want to, but XFountainPen has a Knox K35 1.9mm for $7.99, Though I wish I knew what other #6 was in a 1.9 or 2.0 aside from a custom grind/build. Love my Goulet 1.5 with R&K Salix, but still curious on the visual difference from 1.5 to 1.9. (and yes I actually go thru ink faster on the 1.5 than most my other pens, but not so drastic to see the converter draining away )

[Andrea_R]

Noodler's and twsbi as well

[Beckwith]

The Jinhao, Nemosine, Monteverde, etc are simple friction fit.

 

+1... A jinhao with a Goulet nib is about $30 for a decent feeling pen with a pretty good writing experience

[kidde]

Karl has it mostly covered. Jinhaos tend to be heavy, Nemosine Singularity pretty light, Fission heavier, Kaigelu 316s are good, Noodlers Ahab and Konrad, TWSBI, Monteverde, etc. You pretty much have your choice of fill type and material. I will add that with the cheaper pens especially, cleaning the pen and feed is mandatory. For whatever reason everyone I have worked much better after I pulled the feed and scrubbed it with soapy water and a toothbrush. My Pilots, Pelikans and even Reforms just get a quick soapy flush and run great. Chinese and Indian pens, IMHO, require more thorough initial cleaning.

 

Paul

[grainweevil]

 

I love my Esterbrooks - I own four of them - but in this case I'm specifically asking about pens for #6 nibs. I'd like to try a 1.9mm stub nib and watch the ink drain from the converter as a write a sentence.

 

Not strictly speaking an answer to your original query, but one of those big Indian ebonite eye-droppers with such a stub in it would have much potential, methinks. Should manage a whole paragraph!

 

Cheers, Al

[KBeezie]

 

Not strictly speaking an answer to your original query, but one of those big Indian ebonite eye-droppers with such a stub in it would have much potential, methinks. Should manage a whole paragraph!

 

Cheers, Al

 

Hawk or something other brand? I remember there was an Indian flex pen that uses #6, as a result it's feed would be more than enough wet for a big stub.

[mwpannell]

I'm trusting this ebonite #6 nib switcher from Peyton Street Pens will be just the thing. I should be finding out for sure by next Tuesday.

[KBeezie]

I'm trusting this ebonite #6 nib switcher from Peyton Street Pens will be just the thing. I should be finding out for sure by next Tuesday.

 

I just noticed the straight Jowo nib looks identical to Goulet's except they just add a GP logo to the blank spot, otherwise it's exactly the same casting and 2-toning.

[mwpannell]

Well, I'm no expert, but look at JoWo then Goulet, Edison, Meisternibs (see Edison Pen Co, LLC DBA Meisternibs) and a bunch of others and you'll see lots and lots of cousins, nieces, nephews, siblings and identical twins.

[mikeschu]

 

I never tried it, but I kind of want to, but XFountainPen has a Knox K35 1.9mm for $7.99, Though I wish I knew what other #6 was in a 1.9 or 2.0 aside from a custom grind/build. Love my Goulet 1.5 with R&K Salix, but still curious on the visual difference from 1.5 to 1.9. (and yes I actually go thru ink faster on the 1.5 than most my other pens, but not so drastic to see the converter draining away )

 

First order: Nemosine Singularity Demonstrator with a 0.8mm CI nib. I also ordered the other three nibs (0.6mm CI, 1.1mm, and 1.9mm). If I can remember, I'll post a 1.9mm sample.

 

Next order at Goulet will probably have a Jinhao X750, which will go through a nib swap as its first step.

[KBeezie]

First order: Nemosine Singularity Demonstrator with a 0.8mm CI nib. I also ordered the other three nibs (0.6mm CI, 1.1mm, and 1.9mm). If I can remember, I'll post a 1.9mm sample.

 

Next order at Goulet will probably have a Jinhao X750, which will go through a nib swap as its first step.

I wasn't a fan of the 0.8 that came with my nemosine, too dry, too much drag on the paper, the flow was skittish. Yet when I put a goulet 1.5 in it (same feed and all), nice wet and even flow, very smooth, no drag.

 

PS: I also got my Shimmering Sands X750 from Goulet, for a while it had a Goulet EF nib in it, but currently has a Monteverde black-coated Fine nib in it now as I moved the EF to the Monteverde pen.

Edited May 23, 2014 by KBeezie

[bernardo]

Most modern Lamys have that capability, and their nibs are really good.

[KBeezie]

Most modern Lamys have that capability, and their nibs are really good.

Though you're limited to just Lamy nibs and Lamy pens. (unless of course someone can show a Lamy nib fitting onto a Jinhao 599 metal version )

[mikeschu]

I wasn't a fan of the 0.8 that came with my nemosine, too dry, too much drag on the paper, the flow was skittish. Yet when I put a goulet 1.5 in it (same feed and all), nice wet and even flow, very smooth, no drag.

 

PS: I also got my Shimmering Sands X750 from Goulet, for a while it had a Goulet EF nib in it, but currently has a Monteverde black-coated Fine nib in it now as I moved the EF to the Monteverde pen.

 

Good to know. I'll definitely flush the pen and take a look at it under a loupe, but I believe xfountainpens will at least check it before sending it out.

 

Most modern Lamys have that capability, and their nibs are really good.

 

Another good alternative for those who don't necessarily like to tweak pens. I personally didn't like the feedback through the pen that the nibs gave me.

[Runnin_Ute]

I have a Broad from Goulet in my Noodler's Konrad. Haven't tried either of the stubs.

 

I have had to fill more than once during a single letter though with Apache Sunset. I had a fresh fill and before I finished had to refill......