Trying A B, Bb Or Stub?

[dornblaser]

Now that I am back into fop's with a vengeance, I would like to try a B, BB or stub. I have never actually tried one before, I have lived in the XF - M world. So, where do I start? I am interested in discovering if there is a learning curve, and what it is. As to pen recommendations I would like to keep the pen costs affordable or go to, probably preferred, to purchasing a Pelikan M400 - M600 nib from nibs.com or from another nibmeister. From what I have seen on-line a stub is what I am looking for, and not the widest stub. Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

Thank you in advance,

David

 

[ScienceChick]

Try out Esterbrooks (the Estie Loaner program) with various stub nibs to see what you like. I was always a F person but tried an Estie 2284 and was hooked on stubs. Also, do a search on ArtsNibs' Tomahawk stub mod. He can do the mod on a M or broader and it's wonderful to write with. (I got a Tomahawk on a M and he stubbed another couple of Ms and an EF).

 

Another loaner option is the TWSBI loaner program (in the Chinese pens subforum). There are many stubs, Bs and at least two Tomahawks in the available loaner pens.

Edited December 2, 2014 by ScienceChick

[Runnin_Ute]

Try out Esterbrooks (the Estie Loaner program) with various stub nibs to see what you like. I was always a F person but tried an Estie 2284 and was hooked on stubs. Also, do a search on ArtsNibs' Tomahawk stub mod. He can do the mod on a M or broader and it's wonderful to write with. (I got a Tomahawk on a M and he stubbed another couple of Ms and an EF).

 

Another loaner option is the TWSBI loaner program (in the Chinese pens subforum). There are many stubs, Bs and at least two Tomahawks in the available loaner pens.

I'll be sending back a couple of tomahawk modded pens to Amber in the next day or two. A B and a 1.1 - so get in line. They have been fun the last 30 days.

 

If you have a Lamy Al Star or Safari get a 1.1 or B to see if you like it. Goulet has them for under $15.

Edited December 2, 2014 by Runnin_Ute

[PabloAU]

Do you currently own any pens with affordable, easily swappable nibs? e.g. Lamy, TWSBI, Edison, Kaweco, or Jinhao?

 

Personally I'd rather buy a few cheap nibs than invest in anything pricey if I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy the experience. That way you can easily pick up both a broad and a stub/italic to feel the differences. If you enjoy it, then start looking at nibmeistered options afterwards as you get a feel for preferred width and sharpness.

[Oldane]

A TWSBI with a 1.1mm cursive italic would also be my first suggestion. The B nib from TWSBI is more like a M nib from Pelikan. An alternative could be a Pelikan M200 with an Italic nib (they behave more like a stub than an italic). If you don't want the line variation, Pelikan also has ordinary B nibs (but not BB and 3B anymore) which are a little more easy to write with than the cursive italics.

 

FWIW, I have used a Richard Binder "Italfine" nib in my M800s and M200s for years. It's a 0.8mm cursive italic on the normal side and a F when you turn the pen around and write with the feed upwards. Very convenient at work - two pens in one.

[ThomasB]

I would second both the Lamy and the TWSBI while leaning towards the Lamy Safari / Al-Star...Both come with the 1.1 nib and are smooth writers. BOth very affordable as well

 

Thomas / tbickiii

[dornblaser]

Do you currently own any pens with affordable, easily swappable nibs? e.g. Lamy, TWSBI, Edison, Kaweco, or Jinhao?

 

Personally I'd rather buy a few cheap nibs than invest in anything pricey if I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy the experience. That way you can easily pick up both a broad and a stub/italic to feel the differences. If you enjoy it, then start looking at nibmeistered options afterwards as you get a feel for preferred width and sharpness.

Are Safari nibs swappable? Other than a Safari, Pelikan's are my only swappable nibs.

[PabloAU]

Are Safari nibs swappable? Other than a Safari, Pelikan's are my only swappable nibs.

 

They sure are. Check the link below for an easy how-to:

http://blog.gouletpens.com/2011/03/swapping-lamy-nibs-with-just-tape-video.html

[Bo Bo Olson]

A Pelikan 140 or Geha 790 which is 1/3-1/2 cheaper in B or OB is quite a fine stubbish nib. The 140 is a semi-flex, the Geha should be...though I do have a 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex that surprised me in Geha 790 was 'known' for being semi-flex.

 

Geha was direct competition to Pelikan and is as well made and sturdy as a Pelikan.

I have six '70's and before Gehas. The steel nibs are just as good as the gold, like the Osmia. Fantastic steel nibs.

 

I say 790/760 because I know the nib will be at least semi-flex.

 

The Geha school pen (no cap jewel ring, just the clip's ring) with the serial number, could be semi-flex but I'd not count on it....but most are just nice springy regular flex nibs like the Pelikan 120.

The 790 is not much more expensive.

Prices:

Geha has skyrocketed. What use to be €19-25 is now 30-40+.

Pelikan use to be @ €50-70, now 70-90.

Osmia use to be @ 55-70, now close to 100....though you can still have luck with any of them, if you hunt on German Ebay and hunt for a bargain. Buy Now is never a bargain.

 

The hunt is really, half the fun. If you miss, there will be one just like it, next week or the week there after...in your budget range.

 

There are German pirates, selling a nice €12 Geha school pen for $85 on US Ebay.

(well, lots have gone over to a €19 start bid in Germany, but there are the cheaper school pens there.

 

 

An Osmia or (Osmia Faber Castell) has a nib with a diamond on it, normally the nib size ie 2-3-4 inside, that is semi-flex. Those with a Supra nib are 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex but they go for a bit more than vintage Pelikan.

 

The vintage nibs are narrower than modern. A B or an OB is a writing nib, not a signature nib. It's like a fat modern M.

 

I have a semi-flex B nib from my 400n, on my Pelikan 605.

It is a flat stubbish nib.

A modern nail/regular flex stub is as a nice poster defined, max line variation always.

The semi-flex or 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex nibs have line variation, but max line variation on demand.

Edited December 3, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson