Home > Articles > About Nibs For Engraved Fountain Pens
Do not attempt to remove or alter the nib or feed as this has been adjusted by a skilled craftsmen.
What do the different nib sizes mean?
Nibs are rated several ways: the size of the nib itself, the size of the point (actually the width of the line it leaves), the orientation of the point, and the flexibility of the nib. The physical size and shape of the nib affect the nib's flexibility and how well it writes.
However, nibs are typically rated by their tip size, and tips are produced in several sizes: fine, medium, and broad. There are, of course, additional variations in each manufacturer's product line, but those are the general sizes available almost everywhere.
As an example, a fine tip may leave a line no wider than a single hair, and a medium tip might leave a line as wide as, maybe 5 of those same hairs. A broad might leave a line as wide as 20 of those hairs. You get the idea: extra fine is a smaller line than fine, broad is wider than medium, etc. Some of us call a broad nib a "paint brush" because of the width it leaves.
For the average user the "medium nib is the best choice.
Then, there are "italic" nibs. These are nibs whose tips are ground mostly flat across the tip. They are wonderful for calligraphy, or for writing signatures: horizontal lines are much narrower than vertical lines. You've seen that kind of writing. Imagine using your own pen to do it.
Keep in mind that the nib size measurement reflects the width of the line that the tip leaves on the paper. The shape of the nib also varies slightly to provide either more support and a wider set of tines for broader tips or less support and a narrower set of tines for the finer tips.
Generally, the smaller the tip, the scratchier the nib. Look at it this way: the smaller the tip, the easier it is for the tines to catch on the individual fibers in the paper. As the tip gets larger, it 'catches' less and less on each of the fibers.
The nib of an engraved fountain pen will mold and conform to the individual's writing style and should not be used by others.
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