Thank you for the review and overview, Vincenzo. As far as the German #6 nibs go, my favorite is Schmidt. It just glides across the page for me. Jowo would be second and Bock third. As for specialty nibs, my Jowo Elastic EF nib in my Leonardo Momento Zero Grande is superb with a nice bounce and line variation. I have two Bock Titanium nibs and I found them to be rather scratchy. Aside from Germany, the Hong Dian #6 nib that came out recently is soft and very smooth. As for #8 nibs, I only possess nibs from Jinhao, Hong Dian, and MaJohn. The #8 nib in the MaJohn P139 is sublime with Jinhao coming in second with their Heartbeat nib. Oh, I do have the Sailor King of Pen nib which is also phenomenal. Will you be including a chapter on Japanese and Chinese nibs?
Impressive comparisons, loads of information, a great video, a Herculean task that you have undertaken. And again and again the reminder that the results are without exception influenced by your personal taste and writing style. And yet they can still be a guide for any interested FP fanatic. Thanks for this and the coming 3 videos.
Thanks! It’s all a work in progress. I agree one of the difficulties making videos on nibs is that performance and experience is dependent on so many factors, including writing style, ink, paper, and several other subjective factors. But it’s a lot of fun nonetheless.
Nice dive into the topic. I am sure one could make a 10 hour long video and still not cover everything, though. I am so far only familiar with JoWo but I am anxiously awaiting my Visconti Mirage Mythos so I can test that Schmidt nib for myself. When it comes to #6 or #8, the bigger nibs just look a lot cooler, like you are going to sign a Declaration of Independence, even though it is probably just a note not to forget to buy onions at the store.
I think you’ll love that Visconti pen very surprising. It managed to resurrect my interest in Visconti. I had completely given up on them due to some bad nib experiences. In fact when all is said and done, that pen may very well have led me to purchase one of my favourite pens, which is the Visconti Homo sapiens?
Hi Vincenzo! WOW! Your first Nib video did not disappoint!! Was mesmerized throughout! Had to smile when you mentioned pencil feedback! My first (and, so far, my only) broad nibbed pen was my F-C Hexo. Never had written with a broad nib before, and the first thing I noticed was the pen wrote with EXACTLY the same feel as a rounded over pencil lead! Smooth, but with that pencil feel! Have to chime in and agree with you that the Chinese pens are THE way to go for #8 sized nibs. Every pen I've had has a nice writing nib. Oddly enough, the length of the #8's doesn't affect me like it does you. The often oversized sections took a little getting used to, though. Thanks for producing this series on nibs, as it is very informative and interesting, as well!!
I'm considering purchasing a new fountain pen and have narrowed down my options to the Majohn P139, Wing Sung 630, and Admok M800. Could you please share your expert opinion on which of these models offers the best longevity, particularly when it comes to build quality and durability? I appreciate any insights you can provide to help guide my decision.
I’ve not had the pens for a considerable time . And it is difficult for me to comment on durability. However, if I would have to make a choice, I would go with the 630.
Hi Vincenzo! Excellent thought for making this series of videos. I am sure all fountain pen enthusiasts we have been waiting for such videos forever! Only one thing, if I may, and please do not take me wrong: are the nibs you are testing modified? Because if they are, how can you manage to assess the effect of their modification? To give you an example, I have one of my pilots to one of the biggest European companies for nib modification, and despite the fact that - in general - they made a good job, I think that the nib, eventually, from medium they made it broad! I am waiting for your next videos! One more time, congrats for this initiative you took!!! Bravo! 👏 🎉
@@fountainpentherapy that definitely gives extra value to this assessment, then, Sir. It’s excellent to know these reviews have been made on the correct basis, including that the tested pens are not improved/enhanced/modified, or they would be losing part of their value, in my humble opinion. Greetings from another Mediterranean Fountain Pen enthusiast. I will be looking forward for your next excellent video. Cheers
Thank you for the comparisons. I’m unclear about what you mean by "CONSTANT." You’ve rated every nib as constant, which makes this parameter seem less like a unique characteristic and more like a synonym for "nib."
My apologies I should’ve made that clear. By constant, I mean a regular line without skipping orhard starts. I feel that a well tuned Bock Jowo or Schmidt nib. very rarely give you issues with consistency or are always pretty constant. I’ve had experiences with other Nibs where no matter how hard you try to tune them, they just lack that consistency andconstantly hard start or skip
Must say I agree with most of your observations, but find that I really like #8 nibs. I think the Jinhao nibs are ridiculously good at their price point. My latest is a pair of #9 nibs from Kanwtite ( Mammoth ) and they are not better than the Jinhao! but I still love the experience/novelty.
Hi Vincenzo. Very interesting video series idea. I don't think I would have the time or energy or collection to offer such a comprehensive overview let alone one in 4 parts :) Personally, I kind of wonder who you had in mind as the audience as you sometimes were aiming at beginners and other times went down some rabbit holes. I would rather suggest you do several short videos and let people tune in for the parts they need... or a sort of mini-course with several short modules. As an educator I'm painfully aware of people's schedule and short attention span, especially young people. It is your show though, so do what you enjoy most. If I was aiming at a newbie audience I would really stress how it depends on your own writing and style. For example for those of us who have smaller handwriting or write in Asian characters, an EF (Western) or F (Japan) is a great choice. For stubs, with my handwriting in mind, my favorite is a 0.6 stub, although it is only available from Nemosine (via Birmingham Pen Co). I hope others will make different stubs. When you get further in the set, I hope you will mention "specialty grinds" and nib-grinding and self-grinding and adjusting, and some key tools (and important warnings on damaging a nib). I would also probably discuss dip pens, and some issues related to nib-swapping. A Basic Nib Swapping unit could be on swapping Jowo nibs, or Bock/Schmidt/Jowo nibs. A more advanced units would be the challenge of using old vintage nibs that are from other brands, like custom housings. In any case, thanks again and best wishes. (Subscriber on my other personal account)
I’ll try to be more mindful of the audience as I progress through this series. I really appreciate your input on these videos. Sometimes you kind of lose track of who you’re speaking to. I just enjoyed doing these things so much that I forget that I need to be more mindful of how the message is captured. Inputting together the series I could’ve made this a 10 part, ongoing venture, but had to choose. I also don’t want to come across as being scientific but just share my thoughts with the viewers. It’s not an easy task. I will keep trying, but most of all I wanna be able to get as much fountain pen therapy as I can from all this I don’t want it to turn into a stressful endeavour
@@fountainpentherapy Thanks Vincenzo. Interesting reply. I understand. It can't be easy to put so much content into a video, and plan out a series. I can teach for a long session, but it is very hard without a live audience reacting and engaging. Of course, I have to remember that this is not a Fountain Pen University, but something you are doing for fun... for FP therapy. It is easy to be a back seat driver (critic), so don't worry. That said I think the series has a lot of potential. You do a good job on many aspects and your authenticity and passion for the pens is certainly conveyed. And I have learned along the way too. Have a good weekend and good luck with the series. Ciao.
Thanks for all the info. They ALL write pretty great. Lately I've been writing with my Sailor Candy, which has a #1 (!) nib. Which surely encourages microscopic writing.
Very interesting video, I look forward to the next instalment. I got into #8 nibs a few years ago, my first was a bock titanium fine which has inkflow issues and hard starts, otehr than that it writes fine. I have a couple of the Jinhao #8 nibs and they write beautifuly. I have yet to join you with my remaining grail pen the M1000, but that is because I want the older version with the ink windows.
Vincenzo, my $188 fpr gold eflex nib with ebonite feed arrived. I put in a ranga pen. I think it is going to be great. At that price I probably won’t buy another but eventually I will get a gold Chinese to compare unless cost goes up dramatically.
@@fountainpentherapy i will try to upload a video this weekend for you. i don't feel at this point that it was wasted money, but i am also not thinking it is mohamed ali either. it will also be a good opportunity for me to begin my youtube apprenticeship.
Great video. I agree with what you say in general... but I would make a distinction between pens for everyday use or work and those used in relaxed situations or just to enjoy writing... In this second case, 8 nibs are delicious while in the first case I would go for the size 6....
I've never had a bad Schmidt nib, one bad Bock nib, and several less than stellar Jowo nibs. I've had the feeds to break off two Jowo nib housings, which is when I discovered that this had been an issue with Jowo nibs. I think more pen turners should use Schmidt nibs, but they cost more. The Admok M800 pens use Schmidt nibs, which is why those pens cost more than most Chinese made pens, but by golly, those pens provide a great writing experience.
I agree that the Schmidt nibs are really nice, but I’m not sure that they are more expensive. It’s always been my impression that they’re the least expensive of the three.
Schmidt nibs are made for them my Bock, but they do some quality control which helps with the consistency. One of the things I don't like is that there are very few options for Schmidt nibs and some of them have brass as part of the nib collar, and brass is easily corroded by ink. I haven't seen a single one of the Schmidt units with brass in the nib collar where the brass hasn't corroded after regular use. Overall, I would say that JoWo tends to be more consistent than Bock, but there is pretty significant differences from nib to nib with flow, smoothness, and nib profile in Bock nibs. Bock also does not finish the tipping the same way on their gold and steel nibs, so the width and writing feel can vary quite a lot. Overall, I find that Pilot's nibs and many Chinese nibs (especially the tubular kind that comes in the Hero 616 and Wing Sung 601) tend to have more consistency in the nib tip shape. I know that for many years Hero has used an automated process to grind their nib tips, and this helps with consistency significantly. Cross also used a similar process when they were making nibs in house in the states. Parker, when the visited the Hero factory tried to see if they could get the machine from Hero or even just take photos of it, and Hero declined. I believe Pilot and JoWo also use such a machine, but I don't have as firm proof of this as I do for Hero and Cross. I can't say that brand to brand tests of nibs side by side can be that helpful unless you are using the same inks and have a larger sample size. Bock nibs especially vary so much from sample to sample that it's hard to generalize flow and smoothness characteristics. I find that in general, out of the box, pens with JoWo nibs often need far less tuning than their Bock counterparts. I've adjusted and tuned at least a few thousand nibs, and that's what I've found. I generally know that if I have a pen with a Bock nib, I have to spend time carefully checking it to make sure it works properly. Some makers are super inconsistent from nib to nib like Parker in the 90's and Montblanc. Montblanc nibs have a lot of width variations. Different "f" or "m" nibs have different widths even across the same model. My current one has an "f" and writes with a line almost as wide as the average Bock steel 060 B in my last batch of Bock 060 steel nibs I received. As far as flex and softness is concerned, it really depends on the material of the nib, the temper of the metal, and the geometry. If you keep the geometry identical, then you will see differences due to the temper of the metal and material used. There are some Chinese steel nibs for example that don't have a springy temper on their nibs and the nibs bend and don't bounce back. Most German and Japanese makers use materials that are tempered to have some spring to them. You will also see differences if you have a nib of the exact same geometry in different gold alloys (10k, 14k, 18k, 21k, 22k). I find that I often prefer the feel of the steel and 14K of some particular nibs, but I've enjoyed all the others as well. I keep around a lot of steel nibs because I like the feel of a lot of steel nibs. Titanium is a problematic material to tip, but it is a unique material. Some of them seem to use a different tipping alloy, and I've seen some like the Schon DSGN Monoc that have no tipping. Some of them are springy and some are not
Thank you for this detailed explanation and your experience. I am glad you brought up the issue of brass nib collars, and I will make sure to address it in a future episode.
Thank you. Actually sometimes the pen matters, as some companies hand test (and tune to a lesser or greater extent) all the pens that they sell. However, with some exceptions (e.g., Lamy dip testing nibs), this is unusual with large manufacturers. The video is fascinating, and quite useful. Thanks.
I agree that some companies tuned their nibs better than others. In the choice of pens, I tried to be careful to choose those that were in my view. The best tuned examples. One thing is certain that regardless of which brand you buy my experience is that all three can be tuned With very little effort. I’ve had some experiences with other brand nibs that no matter how hard you try, there’s nothing that can be done.
As a small pen maker who has tuned and supplied many Jowo, Bock, and Schmidt nibs, I would say that it is not very useful to say that one brand is smoother or quieter than another. They vary too much from one example to another. My feeling is that the Schmidt FH452 (#6 sized) nibs are more consistently good without tuning than the Bock nibs, with the Jowo being more akin to the Schmidt nibs. Almost all of them can be tuned, perhaps with re-shaping, into an excellent nib.
Thanks for your insightful comment. I agree that there is a lot of variation between nibs. I did, however, choose my best tuned pens for the comparisons. And as I indicated in the introduction, my attempt was to enjoy myself doing the comparison, and it’s very difficult to be scientific. I agree that there are so many factors that go into a nib and its performance and difficult to arrive at any scientific conclusions for me it’s fountain pen therapy and I enjoyed doing it and I hope you appreciate the effort
Thank you for the review and overview, Vincenzo.
As far as the German #6 nibs go, my favorite is Schmidt. It just glides across the page for me. Jowo would be second and Bock third. As for specialty nibs, my Jowo Elastic EF nib in my Leonardo Momento Zero Grande is superb with a nice bounce and line variation. I have two Bock Titanium nibs and I found them to be rather scratchy.
Aside from Germany, the Hong Dian #6 nib that came out recently is soft and very smooth.
As for #8 nibs, I only possess nibs from Jinhao, Hong Dian, and MaJohn. The #8 nib in the MaJohn P139 is sublime with Jinhao coming in second with their Heartbeat nib.
Oh, I do have the Sailor King of Pen nib which is also phenomenal.
Will you be including a chapter on Japanese and Chinese nibs?
Thanks for sharing your experience! I can tell you that a lot of your comments will certainly be featured in future episodes
Impressive comparisons, loads of information, a great video, a Herculean task that you have undertaken. And again and again the reminder that the results are without exception influenced by your personal taste and writing style. And yet they can still be a guide for any interested FP fanatic. Thanks for this and the coming 3 videos.
Thanks! It’s all a work in progress. I agree one of the difficulties making videos on nibs is that performance and experience is dependent on so many factors, including writing style, ink, paper, and several other subjective factors. But it’s a lot of fun nonetheless.
Nice dive into the topic. I am sure one could make a 10 hour long video and still not cover everything, though. I am so far only familiar with JoWo but I am anxiously awaiting my Visconti Mirage Mythos so I can test that Schmidt nib for myself.
When it comes to #6 or #8, the bigger nibs just look a lot cooler, like you are going to sign a Declaration of Independence, even though it is probably just a note not to forget to buy onions at the store.
I think you’ll love that Visconti pen very surprising. It managed to resurrect my interest in Visconti. I had completely given up on them due to some bad nib experiences. In fact when all is said and done, that pen may very well have led me to purchase one of my favourite pens, which is the Visconti Homo sapiens?
@@fountainpentherapy Considering the price tag on that Homo Sapiens, I hope it will not have the same effect on me 😅
Hi Vincenzo! WOW! Your first Nib video did not disappoint!! Was mesmerized throughout! Had to smile when you mentioned pencil feedback! My first (and, so far, my only) broad nibbed pen was my F-C Hexo. Never had written with a broad nib before, and the first thing I noticed was the pen wrote with EXACTLY the same feel as a rounded over pencil lead! Smooth, but with that pencil feel! Have to chime in and agree with you that the Chinese pens are THE way to go for #8 sized nibs. Every pen I've had has a nice writing nib. Oddly enough, the length of the #8's doesn't affect me like it does you. The often oversized sections took a little getting used to, though. Thanks for producing this series on nibs, as it is very informative and interesting, as well!!
Thanks! I’m glad you found it interesting!
Thanks, Vincenzo. I can't wait to see Part 2!
Thank you really appreciate it
I'm considering purchasing a new fountain pen and have narrowed down my options to the Majohn P139, Wing Sung 630, and Admok M800. Could you please share your expert opinion on which of these models offers the best longevity, particularly when it comes to build quality and durability? I appreciate any insights you can provide to help guide my decision.
I’ve not had the pens for a considerable time . And it is difficult for me to comment on durability. However, if I would have to make a choice, I would go with the 630.
excellent video, nice job ! thank you 👍
Many thanks! from one of your last videos, it looked like we had the same idea
Hi Vincenzo! Excellent thought for making this series of videos. I am sure all fountain pen enthusiasts we have been waiting for such videos forever!
Only one thing, if I may, and please do not take me wrong: are the nibs you are testing modified? Because if they are, how can you manage to assess the effect of their modification? To give you an example, I have one of my pilots to one of the biggest European companies for nib modification, and despite the fact that - in general - they made a good job, I think that the nib, eventually, from medium they made it broad!
I am waiting for your next videos!
One more time, congrats for this initiative you took!!!
Bravo! 👏 🎉
To answer your question, none of the nibs used in this video were modified in any way.
@@fountainpentherapy that definitely gives extra value to this assessment, then, Sir.
It’s excellent to know these reviews have been made on the correct basis, including that the tested pens are not improved/enhanced/modified, or they would be losing part of their value, in my humble opinion.
Greetings from another Mediterranean Fountain Pen enthusiast.
I will be looking forward for your next excellent video.
Cheers
Thank you for the comparisons.
I’m unclear about what you mean by "CONSTANT."
You’ve rated every nib as constant, which makes this parameter seem less like a unique characteristic and more like a synonym for "nib."
My apologies I should’ve made that clear. By constant, I mean a regular line without skipping orhard starts. I feel that a well tuned Bock Jowo or Schmidt nib. very rarely give you issues with consistency or are always pretty constant. I’ve had experiences with other Nibs where no matter how hard you try to tune them, they just lack that consistency andconstantly hard start or skip
Wonderful review of nibs!
Looking forward for part 2 my friend!
Thanks again!
Must say I agree with most of your observations, but find that I really like #8 nibs. I think the Jinhao nibs are ridiculously good at their price point. My latest is a pair of #9 nibs from Kanwtite ( Mammoth ) and they are not better than the Jinhao! but I still love the experience/novelty.
Funny you should mention that number nine Mammoth pen it’s in my sites as we speak after I saw a review on the new Mammoth X
Great way to start my morning. You've influenced my journey quite a bit!
I am so glad to hear that!
Great video, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for such a detailed and informative video.
You are most welcome!
A triumph of form over content! Thank you.
From the comment, I just have to assume you did not like the video. I hope at least you appreciate the effort.
Hi Vincenzo. Very interesting video series idea. I don't think I would have the time or energy or collection to offer such a comprehensive overview let alone one in 4 parts :)
Personally, I kind of wonder who you had in mind as the audience as you sometimes were aiming at beginners and other times went down some rabbit holes. I would rather suggest you do several short videos and let people tune in for the parts they need... or a sort of mini-course with several short modules. As an educator I'm painfully aware of people's schedule and short attention span, especially young people. It is your show though, so do what you enjoy most.
If I was aiming at a newbie audience I would really stress how it depends on your own writing and style. For example for those of us who have smaller handwriting or write in Asian characters, an EF (Western) or F (Japan) is a great choice. For stubs, with my handwriting in mind, my favorite is a 0.6 stub, although it is only available from Nemosine (via Birmingham Pen Co). I hope others will make different stubs.
When you get further in the set, I hope you will mention "specialty grinds" and nib-grinding and self-grinding and adjusting, and some key tools (and important warnings on damaging a nib). I would also probably discuss dip pens, and some issues related to nib-swapping. A Basic Nib Swapping unit could be on swapping Jowo nibs, or Bock/Schmidt/Jowo nibs. A more advanced units would be the challenge of using old vintage nibs that are from other brands, like custom housings.
In any case, thanks again and best wishes. (Subscriber on my other personal account)
I’ll try to be more mindful of the audience as I progress through this series. I really appreciate your input on these videos. Sometimes you kind of lose track of who you’re speaking to. I just enjoyed doing these things so much that I forget that I need to be more mindful of how the message is captured. Inputting together the series I could’ve made this a 10 part, ongoing venture, but had to choose. I also don’t want to come across as being scientific but just share my thoughts with the viewers. It’s not an easy task. I will keep trying, but most of all I wanna be able to get as much fountain pen therapy as I can from all this I don’t want it to turn into a stressful endeavour
@@fountainpentherapy Thanks Vincenzo. Interesting reply. I understand. It can't be easy to put so much content into a video, and plan out a series. I can teach for a long session, but it is very hard without a live audience reacting and engaging.
Of course, I have to remember that this is not a Fountain Pen University, but something you are doing for fun... for FP therapy. It is easy to be a back seat driver (critic), so don't worry.
That said I think the series has a lot of potential. You do a good job on many aspects and your authenticity and passion for the pens is certainly conveyed. And I have learned along the way too.
Have a good weekend and good luck with the series. Ciao.
Thanks for all the info. They ALL write pretty great.
Lately I've been writing with my Sailor Candy, which has a #1 (!) nib. Which surely encourages microscopic writing.
It is amazing how much variety there is in nib sizes
Very interesting video, I look forward to the next instalment. I got into #8 nibs a few years ago, my first was a bock titanium fine which has inkflow issues and hard starts, otehr than that it writes fine. I have a couple of the Jinhao #8 nibs and they write beautifuly. I have yet to join you with my remaining grail pen the M1000, but that is because I want the older version with the ink windows.
I think that pen is worth the hunt keep looking and when you find it, it will make it all that more special
Great video thanks
Thanks for watching!
Vincenzo, my $188 fpr gold eflex nib with ebonite feed arrived. I put in a ranga pen. I think it is going to be great. At that price I probably won’t buy another but eventually I will get a gold Chinese to compare unless cost goes up dramatically.
@@AlejandroPato-Fuego you’ll have to tell me more about this nib because I’m wondering if it’s worth the price
@@fountainpentherapy i will try to upload a video this weekend for you. i don't feel at this point that it was wasted money, but i am also not thinking it is mohamed ali either. it will also be a good opportunity for me to begin my youtube apprenticeship.
Great video. I agree with what you say in general... but I would make a distinction between pens for everyday use or work and those used in relaxed situations or just to enjoy writing... In this second case, 8 nibs are delicious while in the first case I would go for the size 6....
I totally agree fact that is what I was alluding to when I spoke of number eight size Nibbs, not being totally comfortable for long writing sessions
I've never had a bad Schmidt nib, one bad Bock nib, and several less than stellar Jowo nibs. I've had the feeds to break off two Jowo nib housings, which is when I discovered that this had been an issue with Jowo nibs. I think more pen turners should use Schmidt nibs, but they cost more. The Admok M800 pens use Schmidt nibs, which is why those pens cost more than most Chinese made pens, but by golly, those pens provide a great writing experience.
I agree that the Schmidt nibs are really nice, but I’m not sure that they are more expensive. It’s always been my impression that they’re the least expensive of the three.
Schmidt nibs are made for them my Bock, but they do some quality control which helps with the consistency. One of the things I don't like is that there are very few options for Schmidt nibs and some of them have brass as part of the nib collar, and brass is easily corroded by ink. I haven't seen a single one of the Schmidt units with brass in the nib collar where the brass hasn't corroded after regular use.
Overall, I would say that JoWo tends to be more consistent than Bock, but there is pretty significant differences from nib to nib with flow, smoothness, and nib profile in Bock nibs. Bock also does not finish the tipping the same way on their gold and steel nibs, so the width and writing feel can vary quite a lot.
Overall, I find that Pilot's nibs and many Chinese nibs (especially the tubular kind that comes in the Hero 616 and Wing Sung 601) tend to have more consistency in the nib tip shape. I know that for many years Hero has used an automated process to grind their nib tips, and this helps with consistency significantly. Cross also used a similar process when they were making nibs in house in the states. Parker, when the visited the Hero factory tried to see if they could get the machine from Hero or even just take photos of it, and Hero declined. I believe Pilot and JoWo also use such a machine, but I don't have as firm proof of this as I do for Hero and Cross.
I can't say that brand to brand tests of nibs side by side can be that helpful unless you are using the same inks and have a larger sample size. Bock nibs especially vary so much from sample to sample that it's hard to generalize flow and smoothness characteristics. I find that in general, out of the box, pens with JoWo nibs often need far less tuning than their Bock counterparts. I've adjusted and tuned at least a few thousand nibs, and that's what I've found. I generally know that if I have a pen with a Bock nib, I have to spend time carefully checking it to make sure it works properly. Some makers are super inconsistent from nib to nib like Parker in the 90's and Montblanc. Montblanc nibs have a lot of width variations. Different "f" or "m" nibs have different widths even across the same model. My current one has an "f" and writes with a line almost as wide as the average Bock steel 060 B in my last batch of Bock 060 steel nibs I received.
As far as flex and softness is concerned, it really depends on the material of the nib, the temper of the metal, and the geometry. If you keep the geometry identical, then you will see differences due to the temper of the metal and material used. There are some Chinese steel nibs for example that don't have a springy temper on their nibs and the nibs bend and don't bounce back. Most German and Japanese makers use materials that are tempered to have some spring to them. You will also see differences if you have a nib of the exact same geometry in different gold alloys (10k, 14k, 18k, 21k, 22k). I find that I often prefer the feel of the steel and 14K of some particular nibs, but I've enjoyed all the others as well. I keep around a lot of steel nibs because I like the feel of a lot of steel nibs.
Titanium is a problematic material to tip, but it is a unique material. Some of them seem to use a different tipping alloy, and I've seen some like the Schon DSGN Monoc that have no tipping. Some of them are springy and some are not
Thank you for this detailed explanation and your experience. I am glad you brought up the issue of brass nib collars, and I will make sure to address it in a future episode.
very interesting and enjoyable video. I believe that each pen and nib must be measured against itself.
That's a great point!
@@fountainpentherapy , thank you
Thank you. Actually sometimes the pen matters, as some companies hand test (and tune to a lesser or greater extent) all the pens that they sell. However, with some exceptions (e.g., Lamy dip testing nibs), this is unusual with large manufacturers. The video is fascinating, and quite useful. Thanks.
I agree that some companies tuned their nibs better than others. In the choice of pens, I tried to be careful to choose those that were in my view. The best tuned examples. One thing is certain that regardless of which brand you buy my experience is that all three can be tuned With very little effort. I’ve had some experiences with other brand nibs that no matter how hard you try, there’s nothing that can be done.
@@fountainpentherapy Absolutely agree.
As a small pen maker who has tuned and supplied many Jowo, Bock, and Schmidt nibs, I would say that it is not very useful to say that one brand is smoother or quieter than another. They vary too much from one example to another. My feeling is that the Schmidt FH452 (#6 sized) nibs are more consistently good without tuning than the Bock nibs, with the Jowo being more akin to the Schmidt nibs. Almost all of them can be tuned, perhaps with re-shaping, into an excellent nib.
Thanks for your insightful comment. I agree that there is a lot of variation between nibs. I did, however, choose my best tuned pens for the comparisons. And as I indicated in the introduction, my attempt was to enjoy myself doing the comparison, and it’s very difficult to be scientific. I agree that there are so many factors that go into a nib and its performance and difficult to arrive at any scientific conclusions for me it’s fountain pen therapy and I enjoyed doing it and I hope you appreciate the effort
Doesn't Leonardo use JOWO nibs?
Yes, they do and I have become a little bit disillusioned with constantly having to buy beautiful pens, but with boring Yowo nibs