Introduction to Stub and Flex Nib Fountain Pens
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 เม.ย. 2019
- How would you rate your current handwriting? If you're still struggling for legibility, we suggest you check out the first video in this series on how to improve your handwriting with a fountain pen, which you may find here: • How to Improve your Ha...
In this video, Tom discusses the finer points about specialty fountain pen nibs that are outside of your typical fine, medium, and broad point sizes. What do these nibs do for your handwriting? How can they actually improve the look of your cursive or print lettering? We answer these questions and offer suggestions on which nib and pens you should try first.
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#handwriting #foreverflex #teamstub
I am an 8 grader. Feeling proud I have learnt calligraphy and I really like the longhand cursive font.
Son, I started Calligraphy in 8th grade 40+ yrs ago. A nice teacher showed us some lettering and I was hooked. It's something I still do and greatly enjoy at 57 now. Endless learning process, and incredibly relaxing and creative. Never get too frustrated, relax trying, enjoy the process not the end result. The end result comes in time. They joy in calligraphy for me is the process of doing.
@cldavis33 and the 🎉🎉🎉🎉is 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉%vx
Good for you! Most people under 40 cant even read let alone write cursive anymore!
@@TheCreedBratton 24 here and I can both read and write cursive ... but not well. Writing is painstakingly slow as I try and remember how each letter is formed. Reading is quicker, but still slower than print.
@@TheCreedBrattonI think more and more young people are becoming interested in calligraphy and penmanship, so hopefully you'll meet more people with beautiful handwriting.
When I was in elementary school, I was taught cursive, but middle school and high school teachers told us to write our assignments in print. It's not that we're not learning, but that we're learning and then being forced to stop using those skills. It's unfortunate.
Some things that should be part of this discussion. I've used various sizes of stubs, I haven't noticed much difference between say a 0.6mm and a 1.1 mm (almost twice as wide!) stub nib. I can measure differences, but practical use: no difference.
If you want line variation in your normal writing, get a stub nib (or an italic), flex nib line variation requires you slow way down. Wedding invitation? Yes. Daily journal? No. In day to day use a stub gives you variation (and I think helps improve handwriting) while a flex is wonderfully springy but no significant line variation except when you slow down.
Stubs and flexes usually lay down more ink, so cartridges and converters can't keep up. For me a cart/convert are deal breakers. Eye dropper conversion, piston or vacs--only. (The Vacs I've found are more trouble then they are worth)
Standard measurements and definitions: One company's 'stub' is another company's italic, 'calligraphy' etc..
I would like to see a standardization of measurement as in the X-company's 1.1 stub is 1.1mm wide, .4mm deep with deeply rounded corners. (less rounded corners get it closer to an italic).
Also I'm a big fan of stub nibs having started with the Nemosine 0.6mm, 0.8 and later the TSWBIs 1.1mm, (all of these nibs are made by the same German company. Feeds are a critical issue. Mix up your feeds while cleaning several different nibs from the same company and you'll wonder why your stub skips so much). I now either just use a 1.1 nib or DIY italics I grind in the most bootleg manner you can imagine. I'll grind an italic out of a stub by making it flatter and then knocking off the corners until it stops digging into the paper. This is pure backwoods bootlegging, not for the faint of heart or sensible person. I've got experience sharpening wood shop tools which translated to messing around with nibs.
My advice to anyone who likes fountain pens but isn't sure what to do next: buy cheap pens, buy extra nibs, have fun. Try everything.
Finding the perfect flex nib when you've never used one is like buying the best pair of pants before you know what size you wear. Find the most affordable (cheapest but one) nib/pen before spending a lot of money. If you own fewer than 3 fountain pens you haven't learned Rule #2 of Fountain Pens: your favorite pen is either: one you haven't used in a couple of months, the one you use every day, but now you've taken the time to give it a good cleaning and lube.
Im curious about vac-fillers. Why do you think that they're more trouble than they're worth?
@@blazerker1640 I've got two: TWSBIs Vac700 and the VacMini -- both are essentially dead. First point. The cool suuuck! when it fills with ink? You see that once, the first time you fill the pen. After that you never see it again.
Second, my pens are effectively dead because they keep cracking the lids. The metal ring/threaded plastic shears right off. I've replaced them a few times, one time it crack off after a week or so. I've also got the Twsbi Mini --been working fine, though I've replaced a few parts. (TWSBI is great about parts, $2-4 for shipping, send a photo along with the parts request. Quick turnaround.) So this problem is specific to these particular pens.
Third point: Being able to 'vac' the ink or use a piston is a wash. I see no practical difference between the vac fill and a piston.
Good feature! Being able to cut off the ink supply for travel. But... I've been on dozens of flights, climbed mountains, burping from half-filled eye droppers due to heat is far more of a problem. I'll have two fountain pens in my pocket on a flight, one will have some ink in the lid, the other won't. Don't fly with a pen point down, and even in the more level position in your pocket, flying is a 1-klennex problem. Just a few drips.
Would I buy another vac pen? No. I like large capacity but in every case TWSBI has a less expensive more reliable pump alternative.
Another factor. The special refill bottles. They're a bit fussy and potentially leaky. I've got two of these. They come with a double-cap. One opening is smaller for the Vac-Mini. I've got them sealed so only one of the caps opens. While traveling I refill my eye dropper pens with pieces of plastic drinking straw. Insert the straw, finger over the top, transfer to pen, repeat until full. Toss the straw, or wipe the outside with a Kleenex, wrap the Kleenex around it, put it back in the baggie with the ink bottle.
This is super super helpful, thank you
Thank you so much! I've saved your post to go back to and learn from. I think I prefer stubs since I feel I have more control of the ink and flow, at least for now. I might use flex nibs in nib holders instead. 😇🩷🙏🙌 @@WillN2Go1
Team Flex here! I love a vintage Waterman fountain pen with a flex nib. How I wish that someone could go back in time to see what the metallurgista did with the nibs to give them such flexing talent.
I think modern companies too can produce flex nibs if they truly want. Flex is already a niche. Plus modern population are used to ball points where they instinctively use much high pressure. Aurora had to change their flex nib because the testers spring them too easily. So for the longevity of the nib I think most companies do not bother with flex. Economy is also a factor.
@@arunabhalahiri4931 +they need to be wet noodles , they would be unstable and blurp ink everywhere
Looks like I'll start with stubs. Thanks Tom, super informative for a newbie (not new to writing with fountain pens, but new to modern fountain pens - and the myriad options and brands!). like me.
Excellent video! Straightforward and informative with great descriptions and writing samples. Thank you!
3:43 - I wish! In Europe (or Poland, to be more precise), where I come from, we all start with a manual gearbox and the automatic transmission, from what I know, is not fully respected when it comes to driving licence exam. Hence, maybe it's time I got my flex nib ;)
All best to you! Great video!
Pozdrowienia z Polski ;)
POLSKA GUROM ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
It's the same in Sweden, at least when I learned to drive. 😁
I'm totally new to fountain pens, and I have just ordered a pen with EF, medium and a stub nib, so I don't know what team I am LOL but I can't wait to find out. Thank you for this video, now I know what kind of nibs there is :)
Me too..........
I am planning to buy Parker Vector Calligraphy........
I am too much excited and now I am big fan of fountain pen now.....
I would recommend a stub nib.
Something like a Pilot Pluminix with the B stub nib makes most people's handwriting look better.
Only £7.
Your advice to flex learners to not use any pressure is good.
I have a Fountain Pen Revolution Indus with the full flex nib and a Pilot Custom heritage 912 with the fa nib for full flex.
£35 and £150 respectively. The Indus is a piston filler so you can tweak the knob to get more in when full flexing. Very handy.
I use the Pilot as my everyday writer as the Con 70 converter holds a lot of ink and with normal writing it produces a nice fine line
The Gnib is best kept for a dip pen ime. The nib soon corrodes.
Great analogy, Tom
Thank you so much for this video! Btw, that ink is lovely!
Your so correct, I just need to slow down and keep practicing.
DESIDERATA PENS! The feed Pierre makes is awesome. Beautiful work. Zebra nib + running hand = magic.
Man, you've got some fancy handwriting sir, ha ha, Im new to the game but find writing and practicing caligraphy a good way to chill and relax, thanks for sharing with us your knowledge.
I'm only 1 year into my fountain pen journey. I have not tried a flex yet but I find my 1.1 stub to be a wonder! I guess a flex may be in the future!
Great video, Tom! I haven't practiced enough with a flex nib to be proficient, so I'd have to say #Stub. However, my favorite nibs are a variation of the calligraphy nib, the cursive italic. They provide better line variation than the stub, but don't get scratchy or catch the paper like a true calligraphy nib. Also, you can maintain a faster speed than would a calligraphy nib. Thanks for the great video - you have great penmanship with both types of nibs!
Vintage flex is the way to go. I have a red ripple Waterman 52 that is just fabulous. However I think there is a place for both flex and stub. I use the Waterman when I writing letters but I use a Lamy 2000 or TWSBI 580 or Visconti Rembrandt when I'm taking note or other writing so I don't have to remember not to flex. :) I'd say my writing is a probably a 7. What Tom said about fountain pen improving your writing is 100% true. My handwriting, both cursive and print, has improved 1000% it used to be maybe a 1 at best.
With my last name and my beginner status - it is a no-brainer to opt for a Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen 1.0 STUB nib.😁
Thanks for this explanation!
Me at 0. 😂😂. Sometimes even i can't read my own writing.
me too 🙈
Just got a flex nib in the mail today.. Knowing how to use a calligraphy pen, definitely helps with the concept of the flex nib.. just need to work on the line width, but it’s pretty simple and fun to use over the basic calligraphy pen.
Being able to continuously write with the flex nib fountain pen is a huge advantage over having to dip the calligraphy nib all the time. I agree - having the dip nib does give a foundation of skill for using a flex nib.
Love it, your right on it🖋
I have a Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with the FA nib. The stock feed was woefully inadequate, and no matter what I tried railroaded constantly. A three-groove feed from The Nib Factory solved all the problems, and now it's one of my favorite pens. Pilot really needs to address this issue with a wetter feed.
MANUAL TRANSMISSSION ALL THE WAY!! REV THAT ENGINE!
I have a TWSBI Eco with a 1.1 Jowo stub nib and I just discovered that the Platinum 66 F vintage model I purchased has a bit of flex to it and now enjoy both of them!
Don’t always like your reviews, but I found this one most excellent and satisfying. Thank you.
Brutal lol
#foreverflex all the way! I'm a vintage flexer baby!
Tom, the reason I wanted a fountain pen was to do copperplate and it seems the only is the flex nib. I am actually having quite a bit of fun with my Noodler's nib Creaper though. But thanks for the advice!
This is truly an awesome video, Tom. Unfortunately, it makes me want to add a dozen pens to my collection. I love stub and flex but I think flex does more to show off inks. What was that awesome shading blue? I'd add that to my cart too.
Thanks for good video. I have ordered a Waterman Carene fountain pen with a stub nib. I’m hoping it will give me some automatic variation in line thickness, slightly italicised I guess, what do you think about this combo?. Also, what paper would you suggest for ordinary letter writing (I live in the UK). Grateful for your views please.
My first love is stub & Italic nibs because it takes less effort to enhance my writing, but I do like a flex which I occasionally use.
Great Video.
Thx for the Information.
Greetings
Gerry
Cool, which of the ones you recommended is your favorite and most loved- the flex or stub (and which brand and mode, which thickness mml)
Thank you.
God bless.
My favorite I have is the TWSBI ECO with a 1.1 stub nib - so creamy and smooth!
I want to get a broad flex nib pen…
I am clearly a flex nib man! BTW, great voice! Presentation was great. Semper Fi
What is the ink and pen and nib at 3:41 ? such a pretty color and flex nib. thank you so much!!
What’s inks are you using. The lite blue with dark shading is beautiful
As an artist, I am ...addicted to flex. Queue the music.
What is the ink at the opening of the video? The wine colored ink?
Well this answers my question on your recent video
Your comparison is very nice. The metaphor of Auto transmission vs Manual transmission is very appropriate. I understand that beginners can get used to stub nibs easier than flex nibs. Can you direct me to stub nib fountain pens below $20? Also, can you tell me the difference between stub nibs and broad/medium nibs? I ask this because in web sites, I cannot filter based on "stub nibs" but broad nibs etc. are available.
I used a stub/Calligraphy nib in a college Calligraphy class. Taught the hold the nib at around a 40° ~ 45° "/" angle to the paper for the line variation. Old habits are difficult to break. Rotating my standard Medium ball nibs to that angle don't work so great. Seems to work o.k. with my one EF nib though.
going to try some size 6 EF nibs.
I want to try a flex nib before going back to a stub nib or a Fude nib. Can you recommend a good size 5 and 6 Flex or ultra flex nib? I can't afford gold.
Good video with much information. Only improving handwriting has more to do with practise than with fountain pen, can be done with any pen or pencil. Lots of youtube fountainpen channels around with hosts that have terrible handwriting to prove this. If you have bad handwriting, line variation from stub or flex nib will only makes things look worse.
Manually throttled? I learned to drive on a stick shift, so I get your manually throttled. I had to chuckle because thinking of "manually throttled" sounds more like pushing the pen the point of abuse.
I guess my handwriting can vary anywhere from a 4 to 7. Usually it is on the neat side, but if I get trying to write too quickly it deteriorates fast.
Tom, I guess that I have been buying fountain pens for about a year and a half now and watching your handwriting that is something I found myself wanting to develop.
Thank you for your stub and broad nib recommendations.
I much prefer the 'chicken scratch' sample and I've been writing with fp's since the sixties. All cursive does NOT have to be spencerian or palmerian at all. It needs to be legible, as the purpose is communication. Having studied graphology for many years I learned that indeed people's personalities can be connected with their cursive writing.
Buenas tardes.
Que tinta es la que usa cuando inicia el video? Cordial saludo desde Medellin, Colombia.
What about the Noodlers flex pens? Would you recommend one of those?
Great tutorial-loved the car analogy! ✒️💦👍 #teamflex
When i need flex nib, i use dip pen, but when writing normally i use stub nib. This choice is based on the absence of flex nib fountain pen in my country, even I just knew *a flex nib fountain pen* from your video.
Beautiful ink
What inks are used in this video? I love the shading on the blues...
The blue is Robert Oster Blue Water Ice
Thank you, very much!
@@ALittleBitofALot I see the name here, thank you
what ink was being used in the zebra g writing sample?
That blue ink @3:50 what is that? I need to order some of that now!
So, does the Monteverde Monza have to be green??
At 2:20 which nib is being used in the light Blue Scribo Feel?
What are the inks used in the video?
3:38 - Please I would love to know what nib or pen nib you are using here - that is the best flex I have ever seen and I really would like one.
Newbie here...in the pics was the blue pen the stub flex pen??
I bought a flex nib of $2 and works well.
Why can't G nibs be made to perform the same but made from 18-21k gold nibs so they are durable?
what happens if I try to make a thick upstroke with a fountain/dip pen? I will break the nib or tear the paper or what?
Flex nibs for me. I plan to get a gold nib.
6:03 Does this dry up quickly? I've had so many problems with Noodler's and never been happy after all the tinkering.
I have been writing with FP's for over 60 years. I love italic and stub nibs, which are my favorite everyday writing nibs. They work wonders for my penmanship. How-some-ever, I am still a novice with flex nibs. I have no talent for using them.
Re your statement that a good handwriter “should be able to write in print and cursive” - would this exclude, from “good handwriter” status, those we sometimes see: whose handwriting is observably excellent yet is, say, in the italic form of handwriting - thus falls decidedly outside (or between?) the conventional “either/or” dichotomy of “print”-versus-“cursive”?
What is the pen at 3:51 minutes?
It seems a dip pen nib but non flexible which im looking for and cant find it.
That is the Desiderata Precession fountain pen that we had commissioned as a limited run. The one we sold with the Zebra G-nib has sold-out. You can find more pens that utilize the Zebra G-nib on the Desiderata website.
Oh! I forgot to mention the flex nib pens are relatively difficult to find. Many thanks!
I have several stub nib pens but only one flex nib pen, the Pilot Falcon. I don't know if being left-handed is an issue or if it's just I haven't practiced with the flex nib, but the stub nibs take less effort/knowledge/skill to improve my handwriting. I vote STUB.
You recommend the Monteverde over Noodler's Ahab for under $30?
Personally I would recommend the Ahab but without the Ahab nib (instead, buy a Fountain Pen Revolution number six Ultraflex steel nib and use that).
@@nmatavka TY
At 3:34 is that blue pen an Edison Beaumont, and is it a 1.1mm stub nib? I love the line, I want to call Dina and order one on Monday!
That's a Herald, which was a custom one made by Brian at Edison Pen Co directly. Unfortunately, Goldspot does not sell this pen model any longer. The only way you can get it is from Edison directly as a custom pen.
@@GoldspotPens Thanks, what about the nib, was that a 1.1 stub?
I would LOVE if Tom's videos and writing samples mentioned nib sizes (along with ink color names) ❤
In Europe, most people drive manual transition.
Pilot parallel is also a good stub nib and not
Very expensive
What kind of ink is that 2 tone blue ink?
robert oster blue water ice
What is that stunning bright blue ink?
Check description
@@Unknown-xb6ro I see no mention of the ink. Would it be on the other video mentioned? I will check both and watch this again to listen for it. It might have been easier if you had just told me, although I suppose answering viewers questions can get tedious.
robert oster blue water ice
Will someone be kind enough to tell me which were the inks used in this video? That teal, blue black and dirty red omg! Thanks everyone!
robert oster blue water ice
I learned to drive on a manual car LOL that's all I drove until 25. If you want to learn on flex, go for it!
All the Europeans (well, Brits at least) are LOLing at the car analogy. It's hard to get automatic cars here.
how do you buy that costly pens
What is the purple ink at 3:35 please?!?!?! Its beautiful!!!!!
3 Oysters Purple Grey - goldspot.com/products/3-oysters-delicious-ink-purple-gray-38ml-bottled-ink
good and useful video. tried to fit zebra g nib in jinhao x450, not easy. 14k gold flex nibs are good. Conklin good looking pens have poor quality control. FPR flex nibs pens are acceptable and value for money with good experience. pilot pluminix nibs are cheap best natural line variation option.
R.S. Solanki, I buy from FPR frequently, and haven’t used my flex nib very much. Just refilled it today, so I can practice more. For a cheap, carry around, won’t cry if I drop it or lose it pen, I too favor the Pilot plumix.
The problem normally is the paper. No matter how sharp is you're italic nib, if you touch the paper softly you will have a nice result.
When the problem is not the paper or a not sharp need, it is on the writer. If you are with the right material you can see bark of the potential no matter how new you are. Sometimes is not possible to get there in the regular writing. But, you can feel the potential.
5:24 pen recommendation
Medium r jst Perfect
For Calligraphy Flex Fine Nib is Best
Flex Medium Nib 4 those who likes Bold Letter
Italic Pen r Piece of Sheet
Good video! I am ‘bi-‘ on this one!
Cursive italic, custom ground.
Who does your customization?
Damn, I should have bought the stub nib for pilot metropolitian TT now I need to use it and then buy the stub TTTTTTT
I like round nibs. Stub and flex make my handwriting very slow. I am not that patient, I like my mind and hand to be in sync. I think my handwriting is okay, not very artistic but readable. Others don't have much problem with it
"most new drivers learn on cars with automatic transmissions" - most people outside the USA: "huh?"
😆🩷👍
А что за чернила вначале видео?
May be around 4-5. Check out here and let me know th-cam.com/video/711iiJLfs4k/w-d-xo.html
Most of the recommended "flex" nibs are actually just "soft" nibs. If you "flex" these nibs, you might ruin the tines.
If you want to pratice writing with flex nibs, go with disposable dip nibs while still saving for vintage flex fountain pens.
I might be 4.
Yep definitely 4
4:04, what pen is it?
6.5
Do LAMY fountain pens have a flexible nib ? ( lamy safari - joy)
Lamy pens do not have a flex nib option.
2020
I am a stub person.
Any reccomendations?
Me 4 to 6
Jajajajajajajaja...that is a tricky question...🙈 but Ivan write cursive and bold perhaps my notes can’t be read and understood not because my handwriting...
It's a shame the Omniflx nib has so many feed problems.
9 and prior to fountain pen 6 but i got into fountain pens after a car accident that permanently damaged my writing hand. A college professor/ Lawyer saw the inability to take notes with ballpoint pen after the accident and cast removal and let me use his to give it a try before buying a fountain pen. I went from only being able to write for 10 minutes before the pain hurt too much to about an hour and a half with the fountain pen. And yes it improved my decently good handwriting. Even if you have good handwriting a fountain pen can improve on that good writing.
gripping thumb is lifting too much.... 🤔