How Far To Put The Dip Nib In?

[Stompie]

I have found that, depending on how you put your dip nib in to the holder, will affect the actual writing and the flexibility of the tines.
Too far in and the tines actually tend to open up already without you even writing.

Are there any guidelines on how far one should or should not place the nib into the holder or is it just a matter of guess work?

[miguelgoncalves]

On Pelikan pens you should submerge the gold/chrome ring just above the nib...

 

With the huge nib on my M1000 I have a hard time filling the pen most of the times.

 

HTH

[Stompie]

On Pelikan pens you should submerge the gold/chrome ring just above the nib...

 

With the huge nib on my M1000 I have a hard time filling the pen most of the times.

 

HTH

 

I am actually referring to dip pen nibs not fountain pens, but thanks anyway.

[bardiir]

Just put the nib in there as far as you feel comfortable with and as far as it's writing good. It's really depending on the nib too. Different nibs will need to be put in there deeper or shallower to work correctly.

 

You could mark your nibs once you found the perfect position.

[ac12]

If the tines are spreading, your holder is not matched to the nib for size.

In that case, I would only put it in as far as the tines do not spread. Once the tines start to spread, back the nib out a bit.

 

In the case of an oblique holder, the nib is pushed in so the tip of the nib is on the axis of the handle of the holder.

So the flange of the oblique holder has to be adjusted to match the nib.

Edited August 26, 2014 by ac12

[typophile]

It seems to me that it'd just be a matter of guess work and experience. Or you could avoid the issue entirely and use a brush to load your nibs.

[Cryptos]

typophile, I think the OP is talking about how far to push the back end of the nib into the holder, not how deep to dip it into the ink.

[typophile]

Ah, right. I guess I somehow misread the post, my bad

[Iso*]

Okay...

The question that needs to be posed is what nib you are using...

I use nearly exclusively esterbrook dip nibs, namely the 356 and 357. I use two holders, a custom made one from the venerable Brian Smith, and another vintage one that holds the 356 rigidly - modern pen holders use a ferrule that is too wide and won't hold smaller nibs firmly.

I have standardised my nib positioning so that I do not need to move my hand down or move closer to the paper so that I hold the nib exactly the same way, every time I begin practise. I generally slide the nib until the & sign can be half-seen on the holder on both the 356 and 357.

 

But this is just personal preference, mainly because some people prefer to have their hand closer or further away from the paper. In addition, your pen holder may have difficulties on nibs that are further extended from the holder.

In general, I usually keep the nib fairly well seen - the model number can be seen on the nib, and the shoulders are clearly well defined. I don't understand how your dip pen nib ??starts flexing?? even before you write - perhaps too deep? I think halfway inserted should be fair enough. For reference, the & sign on my esterbrook nibs is roughly around 45% inserted.

[Stompie]

Okay...

 

The question that needs to be posed is what nib you are using...

 

I use nearly exclusively esterbrook dip nibs, namely the 356 and 357. I use two holders, a custom made one from the venerable Brian Smith, and another vintage one that holds the 356 rigidly - modern pen holders use a ferrule that is too wide and won't hold smaller nibs firmly.

 

I have standardised my nib positioning so that I do not need to move my hand down or move closer to the paper so that I hold the nib exactly the same way, every time I begin practise. I generally slide the nib until the & sign can be half-seen on the holder on both the 356 and 357.

 

But this is just personal preference, mainly because some people prefer to have their hand closer or further away from the paper. In addition, your pen holder may have difficulties on nibs that are further extended from the holder.

 

In general, I usually keep the nib fairly well seen - the model number can be seen on the nib, and the shoulders are clearly well defined. I don't understand how your dip pen nib ??starts flexing?? even before you write - perhaps too deep? I think halfway inserted should be fair enough. For reference, the & sign on my esterbrook nibs is roughly around 45% inserted.

 

Ok, so having the model number still showing, which equates to just under half way then.

 

 

 

[Mickey]

I have found that, depending on how you put your dip nib in to the holder, will affect the actual writing and the flexibility of the tines.

Too far in and the tines actually tend to open up already without you even writing.

 

Are there any guidelines on how far one should or should not place the nib into the holder or is it just a matter of guess work?

 

 

 

In general, pointed pens write best at lower angles, so inserting a point just enough to secure it in a straight holder is probably far enough. A perfect fit in any holder is almost impossible, so the deeper you seat the point, the greater the possibility it will be put under enough tension to effect performance (misalignment, scratchiness, etc.) The rule for oblique holders is different: you insert the point until its tip and the shaft's longitudinal axis are in line or just short of that position.

 

Remember, many of these points are far, far more flexible than FPs and even the slightest pressure (preloading) is enough to spread the tines. Points like the Hunt 99 are so soft, the slightest pressure spreads the tines. The pen point does not need to touch the paper to write, just come close enough that the ink does. That pretty much describes the proper weight of hand for an unflexed point.

 

BTW, I've enjoyed your penmanship posts.

[Stompie]

so inserting a point just enough to secure it
The rule for oblique holders is different: you insert the point until its tip and the shaft's longitudinal axis are in line or just short of that position.

 

The pen point does not need to touch the paper to write, just come close enough that the ink does.

 

 

 

Excellent advice thank you!