Cheap Pen With Extra-Fine Nib?

[ErrantSmudge]

I'm looking for a recommendation for a cheap (ideally $10 USD or less) pen that comes standard with an extra-fine nib.

 

I'm taking a course in fashion illustration and have started using my fountain pens for some of the fine line work. I'm currently using a Sheaffer Prelude with an EF nib which works well, but I'd like a cheap pen I can toss in with the rest of my art supplies without worrying about scuffing or damaging it.

 

My first thought was a Pilot Metropolitan, which isn't too far beyond my ideal the price range but is apparently not available with an EF nib standard. I could also buy a Goulet EF nib, but I'd also have to get a pen like a Jinhao x750 to put it into, which starts getting a little pricey.

 

Some other possible options: I already have three Pilot 78G pens, all of which came with BB Italic nibs but I would be happy to swap one out if a compatible EF nib was available. I also have several Jinhao 599 pens (the Lamy Safari clones) that I could easily swap a nib into if something was available to fit them.

 

Oh, yes - I'd prefer a pen that can fill from a bottle (I'm using Noodler's Heart of Darkness as my illustration ink) and am not fond of eyedroppers.

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Edited June 25, 2017 by ErrantSmudge

[Sinuhe]

You are looking for Pilot Penmanship. A very very fine nib with good qualities. No clip, but the transparent version is quite a looker.

[LizB]

Platinum Preppy comes in a 0.2 nib and doesn't *have* to be eyedroppered. I draw with mine filled with dilute Fount India. They are cheap plastic though, but under £3 here (under $5 easily in US, you can get 2).

 

 

Ooh, the Penmanship EF nib seems to be finer than the 02 Preppy, if that helps.

Edited June 25, 2017 by LizB

[Sandy1]

You are looking for Pilot Penmanship. A very very fine nib with good qualities. No clip, but the transparent version is quite a looker.

 

 

+2

 

Hi,

 

I do not dry the cap internals after rinsing - just flick it, then cap it. The bit of water carried forward keeps the nib+feed+ink in a nice humid environment, so they're ready to go when you are.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited June 25, 2017 by Sandy1

[SoulSamurai]

Japanese pens seems to be the way to go for really fine nibs. I like Platinum myself; they do have cheap pens like the Preppy which can be used with a converter. I think the pen is about $3 and the converter is about $7, so just about $10 altogether. I'm using a Plaisir in F right now, which is just a Preppy with a nicer body (same grip and nib), and while it's not as smooth as I would like it does put down the thinnest line of any of my pens; I think the line is very slightly thinner than the line from my Rotring art pen in EF.

[Tasmith]

Spend an extra few dollars and get a Wing Sung 698. Piston filler and amazingly smooth extra fine nib.

[ENewton]

A Pilot DPN-70 desk pen also has a standard extra-fine nib and can use a converter (although I have been refilling the cartridge). One doesn't need to keep it in a holder; in fact, Pilot doesn't even make a holder for it.

 

I have several much fancier pens, but my Pilot desk pen is the one younger colleagues have dubbed "the cool pen."

[ac12]

In general, the Japanese and Chinese nibs are one grade finer than the current Western nibs. Though there are exceptions.

 

The Pilot Metro F nib is like the Goulet or Lamy EF nib.

 

Go on eBay and look for the Chinese pens with a FINE nib. You might luck out and find a pen with an EF nib.

Many of the Chinese pens are less than $10, shipped to your mail box.

Though some of the pens may require tweaking to get the ink to flow right.

Edited June 25, 2017 by ac12

[Sailor Kenshin]

Delike New Moon at about $16, which is a bit over what you wanted to spend, but small, easy to manage, very fine line, and internal piston converter.

[ErrantSmudge]

Thanks to everyone who wrote with their suggestions.

 

 

You are looking for Pilot Penmanship. A very very fine nib with good qualities. No clip, but the transparent version is quite a looker.

 

 

I'm giving the Pilot Penmanship pen a try; JetPens carries it in the USA and I was also able to get some colored pencils along with the order.

 

I actually like the black version of the Penmanship as well, with the red accents on the cap; but the transparent version is more useful to check ink supply. And since I already have some Pilot pens and CON-50 converters, it fits in my current pen ecosystem.

 

 

A Pilot DPN-70 desk pen also has a standard extra-fine nib and can use a converter (although I have been refilling the cartridge).[...] I have several much fancier pens, but my Pilot desk pen is the one younger colleagues have dubbed "the cool pen."

 

The DPN-70 does look cool; but I'm concerned it is too long to fit in the storage boxes/bins I use.

 

 

The Pilot Metro F nib is like the Goulet or Lamy EF nib.

 

That's very useful to know, thank you. I have several Lamy Safaris, but suspected Lamy's EF nib wouldn't be fine enough based on my experience with their F nibs. My Sheaffer EF is (to me) unexpectedly fine, writing noticeably finer than a 0.3 mm marker. I'm curious to see how the Pilot EF nib writes.

Edited June 25, 2017 by ErrantSmudge

[migla9]

+1 for the Pilot Penmanship. And the little knobs on the cap stop it from rolling away on your desk.

[ac12]

The old US nibs were finer than todays nibs, similar to the Japanese and Chinese nibs.

My old US Parker nibs are finer than todays nibs, and I suspect the Sheaffers were as well.

My Cross Century is even finer. I had to go up to a M nib to be similar to the old US Parker F nibs that I used.

[plumo]

The old US nibs were finer than todays nibs, similar to the Japanese and Chinese nibs.

My old US Parker nibs are finer than todays nibs, and I suspect the Sheaffers were as well.

My Cross Century is even finer. I had to go up to a M nib to be similar to the old US Parker F nibs that I used.

 

Any idea why US nibs trended courser?

[deepak23]

Speerbob has some vintage Pilot Elites in EF. Great pen and great value.

 

(No Affiliation etc etc)

[Sandy1]

 

Any idea why US nibs trended courser?

 

 

Hi

 

Interesting question.

 

Perhaps it was that in early days the ability to mass produce wide nibs was not in place, so wide nibs needed to be hand crafted, hence expensive. (Limitation of tipping technology?)

 

Or most people were trained to write in a small compact hand. (?)

 

I found that very evident in the Easterbrook nibs, which are clearly marked, so widths are fairly easy to document, as opposed to ungraded nibs, where one needs to see a scaled written sample to see what's what, and even then its a best guess. e.g. Nibs from Parker Newhaven in England tend to be rather generous compared to their stateside contemporaries.

 

Time for a new Topic?

 

Bye,

S1

[Sasha Royale]

Finer nibs require efficient feed to supply the tight nib. Quality feed come at a higher price. I know of several "Fine" nibs using adequate feeds, at budget prices. However, a smooth flowing EF usually cost more. Extra-fine lines come from extra-fine nibs, which, by definition, are very tight nibs. The complication will not be in the EF nib, rather in the ink feed, that must supply the tight nib.

 

Try an HERO 266. $1.50 or $13 per 10 pack. It is fairly wet, so you can write with the back of the nib. Small risk.

 

Good hunting !

Edited June 27, 2017 by Sasha Royale

[Ted A]

 

Any idea why US nibs trended courser?

 

"We're 'Mer-cuns. Bigger is Badder"

 

At least it seems everything we make just gets bigger: Cars, houses, football players, Happy Meals

Edited June 26, 2017 by Ted A

[Proto]

Another option is the Jinhao 911, available for about $9 US on Amazon with Prime shipping, or can be had for around $3 at various Chinese sellers on eBay. I have several of these and all of them are very smooth writers (no bad one among the few batches I've purchased).

[InsuranceMan]

For $12.95 you can get a Wing Sung 698. It comes with a F or EF nib. It is an excellent writer. Cliff

[InsuranceMan]

For $12.95 you can get a Wing Sung 698. It comes with a F or EF nib. It is an excellent writer. Cliff