What Is A Springy Nib?

[Kuhataparunks]

I see a lot users describing nibs, mainly gold nibs, as being "springy." I tried an EF Pilot Custom 74 time and did not like it, I assume because it was springy.

The line widths were annoyingly inconsistent, as the tines were so easily spread apart. It wrote, with average pressure, like a Metro Fine, not a true EF.

 

Is this what springy means? Lots of line variation?

Even my Custom Heritage PO nib sometimes will create a little variation; are there any gold nibs out there that are as solid as nails, or is springiness simply an aspect of the gold material on nibs? Ideally I want a nib that will create a line with no width variation at all. Thanks for your input!

Edited November 13, 2014 by Kuhataparunks

[nickmazur]

I think you just described a springy nib, your Pilot Custom 74. I've watched a couple of reviews of this nib and I didn't see the tines spread as easily as you describe. My understanding is that most modern gold nibs are designed to write without flexing, with consistent line width.

[wimg]

A springy nib is one that under pressure flexes more upward and downward than sideways, more or less like a good old-fashioned leaf spring. So ideally, this should not cause line variation. A flex, flexy or flexible nib is designed to move the tines sidewards with increasing pressure, that is a different animal altogether, and generally used for specific types of calligraphy, like Spencerian script.

 

However, that is rather theoretical, as the geometry of a nib generally makes that the tines move apart slightly under pressure, and hence cause some line variation.

 

One has to be very careful with pressure when writing with fountain pens, however, especially those with springy and flexible nibs. Too much pressure can cause irrepairable damage to the nib: the tines may not move back to their original position again. In that case the nib is "sprung", or even worse, bent. Do note that fountain pens, unlike ballpoint pens, do not require any or just the lightest pressure to write.

 

There are totally non-springy nibs out there, just consider flat nibs like the ones you may find on Lamy pens, or ones which are describes as " nails". like those on a Waterman Edson or Waterman Carene, or many other modern Watermans for that matter, and a whole bunch of other pens. Many modern pens not originating from Japan or Italy tend to be very stiff, non-flexible pens, or indeed steel-nibbed pens for that matter, if that is of any help.

 

What is actually nice about flexible nibs is that when the design is good, they are lovely to write with from the perspective that one really feels what one is doing. They give tremendously good feedback, like steering with a well-sprung car or motorbike. It is one of the reasons why I love (gold-nibbed) Stipulas. Personally I think it is a pleasure to write with those .

 

HTH, warm regards, Wim

[Otter1]

Another term used to describe nibs, other than "springy" or "flexible" is "soft." And rather than confuse the issue with my own definition, here is a quote from Richard Binder's website (www.richardspens.com) about what a soft nib is:

 

Not firm or rigid, but not flexible in the sense of a true flexible nib. Most soft nibs are springy or bouncy (“live”). The Pelikan M1000 and most Omas Arte Italiana models have soft nibs. The Namiki Falcon’s nib is identified as being soft, but it is semiflexible without being particularly live.

 

Otter1

[napalm]

Speaking of Pilot, the nibs on the Elite 95s are more rigid than those on the Custom 74/91 and will give you a very consistent line.

[cadfael_tex]

Speaking of Pilot, the nibs on the Elite 95s are more rigid than those on the Custom 74/91 and will give you a very consistent line.

Haven't inked up the e95s I just got in the mail yet. I hope you're wrong on that; I'd read just the opposite. I was already a little disappointed in the feel of the pen and looseness of the cap (both posted and capped).

[Kuhataparunks]

Haven't inked up the e95s I just got in the mail yet. I hope you're wrong on that; I'd read just the opposite. I was already a little disappointed in the feel of the pen and looseness of the cap (both posted and capped).

Very sorry to be a Negative Nancy, but of all the 15+ Pilot pens that I've owned, my least favorite by far was the Pilot Elite 95S and a vintage Pilot Elite with PO nib, with equal loathing for both. The nib isn't too springy but still offers that line variation that annoys me.

[lmarine0510]

I define "springy" as the nib having a touch of flex but not enough to call it semi-flex.

[Kuhataparunks]

I define "springy" as the nib having a touch of flex but not enough to call it semi-flex.

This clears up the first question, thanks!!!

Sadly the pilot Custom Series will likely not fit my tastes for hard, solid nibs. I like thin, uniform lines like on the PO nib, and I was hoping to get the Fine nib. Good thing I know this now, as a 14K F nib writes almost nothing like a Steel F nib which I much prefer!

[carlos.q]

I define "springy" as the nib having a touch of flex but not enough to call it semi-flex.

+1

My red Pelikan M205 has a very nice springy steel nib...

Edited November 14, 2014 by carlos.q

[Bo Bo Olson]

There is jack hammer handed, and ham fisted....they need a nail or a semi-nail. They destroy nibs with some to more flex. They are still plowing the south forty with out the mule of ball points. Have the 'death grip'.

 

A fountain pen should be held behind the big knuckle, like holding a featherless baby bird.

Don't make baby bird paste.

 

Yep, lots of folks want that 'uneven' soft....flex. I really like line variation. There are the Cursive Italic and Stubs (usually nails....after all what else can one do with a nail?) as one wise poster said, always max line variation.

'Springy' really has too little tine spread.

Semi-flex and above, are line variation on demand....

 

 

There is lots of fun in semi-flex...sort of 'springy'++.

"Springy" is more tine bend than tine spread @ 2X a light down stroke. Semi-flex 3X a light down stroke has the tine bend of springy with more tine spread. Have 26 of them.

Have six nails, from EF to BB stub and a M-B Cursive Italic. I'm set with nails.

Edited November 14, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

For "a nib that will create a line with no width variation at all" I suggest looking at the stylographic nibs. Those are described by Richard Binder: "Held vertically above the paper, a technical pen produces lines of identical widths in all directions."*

 

Otherwise very rigid nibs are the way to go. The nib must have enough tipping that the sweet spot is of equal dimensions to produce a true mono-line. Also the tines must not spread, which can be achieved by nib design/materials.

 

+1 for the Waterman Carene.

 

The Esterbrook Manifold nibs are made from thicker steel than their other nibs. (I've affectionately nicknamed their 9450 Extra Firm Posting nib as the 'steel driver', and the 9460 M Manifold as the 'cold chisel'.)

 

The Parker 25 nib is also steel, has very short tines, no breather hole, and is of a split conical design.**

 

One might also consider Sheaffer pens with the conical Triumph nib, and the Parker 51. (Might the Octanium nibs of the 51 Special be even more rigid than the gold alloy nibs of the other 51 versions?)

 

A key aspect is one's manner of writing. A slightly deliberate even hand is needed.

- My manner of writing is quite the opposite: even with the most rigid nibs my writing shows line width variation as the nib floats, skims and settles upon the paper, then becomes airborne at the end of a line.

 

 

Bye,

S1

 

__ __

* Graciously contributed by Richard Binder in the Reference Pages of his site http://www.richardspens.com/?design=stylos

** Our friends at The Battersea Pen Home currently have P25 XF nibs on offer.

Edited November 14, 2014 by Sandy1

[plumeau]

Compare Parker 45 and parker Frontier, you will have the answer.

[yannori]

If you want absolutely no line variation, you can pick up a Rotring Isograph pen. They are officially fountain pens, use FP ink, and come as eye droppers. They do not have a "nib" though. They have a tube that releases the ink through capillary action. It's basically a hollow nail that comes in specific line widths. Tips are replaceable and the pens range from 0.1 to 0.75.

 

Or you could get a Sailor FP. Many of their EF nibs have no line variation whatsoever.

 

Good luck!

[Bo Bo Olson]

Cross is also a smooth nail. But they are heavy.

[napalm]

Sailor Trident.

[Betweenthelines]

I think you would really like Sailor nibs. They aren't springy at all, and delightfully fine, precise, and smooth.

[estie1948]

A springy nib, when referring continents in the norther hemisphere, is, I believe, a type of hare or rabbit. If you are referring to continents in the southern hemisphere, I believe a springy nib is a type of antelope.

 

I could be wrong. Maybe?

 

-David.

Edited November 17, 2014 by estie1948

[KBeezie]

Example of one of my "Springy" nib. (Technically it's just simply Pilot Elite, made in March 24th 1971 (KO 24), don't think "mini" was ever an official name, just added by the ebay sellers to denote the short pens of that time)

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/nib_top.jpg

 

It's not going to give you "Ahab" flex if you know what that looks like, but it's basically going to spring back on me if I give it any kind of pressure, often giving a slight boldness to my downstrokes if I'm not using a feather-light touch. Though I also have some nibs that have next to no line variation at all, but still has that springy "Feel" to it. I guess for me if I had to use the term, I'd use it for nibs that don't feel like I'm writing with a nail with ink coming out of it, it has some "give" if I'm doing more than just hovering the paper.

Edited November 17, 2014 by KBeezie

[Bo Bo Olson]

Many folks today, have modern pens with semi-nail nibs (2 X tine spread), when they run into 'true'** regular flex think them 'springy' or even semi-flex.

** semi-vintage '90's and before or vintage. The P-75 is a vintage semi-nail.

 

I put the couple of 'Springy' nibs I have sort of between true regular flex and semi-flex in it's own flex set....not the 3 X tine spread of regular flex, semi-flex and 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex.

 

'Springy/ has semi-flex tine bend, but only have 2X tine spread, like my MB Woolf, and some other pen I have that don't spring to mind. I had expected the MB's nib to be 'Springy' in many like it and talked about it.

More tine bend, less tine spread, than true regular flex.

 

I am of course spoiled with semi-flex. A 'Springy' ++ nib.

Edited November 17, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson