Finding the Perfect Dip Pen Nibs
For years, I used a cartridge pen, because I hated dipping to write each letter. But then I realized my work looked better when I used a dip pen. So I switched. But how do you find the perfect nib?
I asked other scribes what they used. Several brands were offered, especially Mitchell and the easily found Speedball nibs. Nibs are relatively inexpensive and easy to test, once you have the holder. I compared Speedball and Mitchell round hand nibs. I’ve been using Mitchell nibs ever since.
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| My Mitchell Nib Set |
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| Nib Test on Bristol Board |
Well, well. It looks like I should have repeated this little experiment years ago. Just about anything other than what I’ve been using would have been an improvement. Even the Speedball. I doubt my touch was lighter then; maybe even heavier. Wonder what my thinking was. Or maybe I just took another scribes word.
You will also want to test the nibs with the supports and inks you plan to use. After getting all excited about the Tape nibs I found their slight oblique slant made them difficult to use on pergamenata. Sad. I really like them.
Categories: Materials And Tools
