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Other fun facts:
*On modern nibs, the breather holes aren't really necessary, they are more for a traditional aesthetic. *Most nibs are tipped with "iridium" - which isn't really iridium any more - but a similar hard metal alloy. *What separates a quality nib from cheaper is often how this tipping is applied and how precisely the slit is cut *When using micro-mesh or similar, we recommend not going below 12000 grit unless you are looking to reshape the nib. 12K is plenty for smoothing. *When smoothing, be careful with side to side motion as this can take material from the inside of the tip, causing baby bottom which will cause a nib to false start. *Gold can be softer (not necessarily more flexible) than steel - and gold absorbs vibrations better than steel - however the higher quality steel now used in better brands absorbs vibrations better and so are closer than ever in performance vs. gold.
MrSharkbait
479
Sep 12, 2017
Franklin-ChristophRegarding your last point about gold, I find that confusing. I spent well over an hour in your booth at the San Francisco Pen show trying out the various nibs, and I finally purchased the #6 14K Broad Stub by Matsuyama. When I got home to try the pen out, I noticed that it wasn't what I experienced at the show. It was much stiffer and much less line variation. Then I discovered I was given (and charged) the steel version instead and got it corrected the next day, and I am a very happy camper. Like you said, the steel nib does absorb vibrations better than I expected, but can you give me an example of how it would be closer in performance? To me it is night-and-day still.
MrSharkbaitTo some people it does feel very different. But everyone's handwriting style and hand pressure is different. We hear "i can't tell a difference" more often than "night and day." - Thanks for your business by the way!
stuartkoh
20
May 19, 2018
Franklin-Christoph"Breather holes" may have originally been used to prevent nibs from developing cracks. The slit is a weak point, it's easy for a crack to develop at the back of it. Drilling a round hole can prevent that from happening.
Gold absorbing "vibrations?" I think I'd like to see some proof for that before buying into it.
MrSharkbait
479
Jun 16, 2018
stuartkoh
20
Jun 16, 2018
MrSharkbaitYes, that supports my view that claims of gold or steel "absorbing vibrations" are, to be charitable, misguided.
MrSharkbait
479
Jun 16, 2018
stuartkohWell, all I can say is that I sat at their booth and spent a lot of time comparing the nibs, and the 14k broad stub won me over, enough that I could tell the difference right away when I brought the steel one home by mistake. Rather than absorbing vibrations, I think of it more like transferring vibrations, where the entire system - nib, feed, body - all contribute to the feedback your hand perceives.
stuartkoh
20
Jun 16, 2018
MrSharkbaitIf you prefer that nib after having compared them at length, then that's great. You found something that you like.
I was simply pointing out that some of the claims that FC made above were, IMO, a bit fishy.
stuartkohSorry to sound a bit fishy guys. ;-) This is what was passed to me from the Sailor tradition, through Mr. Nagahara (and his late father) and Mr. Masuyama. But maybe it is steel "produces more vibrations" than absorbs less vibrations. The point being that the tips are of the same material, so often scratchiness is what you are feeling transmitted up through the hand, and it not always just the smoothness of the tip - though of course the nature of the tipping is a fundamental key to whether vibrations are caused, as is paper. Obviously gold is softer than steel. Either can be springy based on the formulation. For my personal handwriting, I cannot tell a lot of difference with modern nibs, and that's the majority report we get from our clients. But some very much can feel a difference and the gold is worth it to them. Some have both gold and steel in our pens, used for different purposes. 20 years ago when selling fountain pens, the difference was more marked and clear, but then gold nibs dominated on most fine pens as the price of gold was less. From our perspective, we are objective and provide both options on all pens, to suit individual preference. We just try to make folks aware that it's not a given that gold will be better for them.
Sharbait, by performance, I mean all the other aspects of a nib that are important. Ink flow, smoothness of tip, dry out times, and so on. Many factors are equal, feed, housing, section, barrel, air chamber in the cap.
On the breather hole issue - there is a lot of debate and always has been, but most believe the holes were initially put in for air purposes. This was confirmed by an old Koh-I-Noor engineer we spoke with recently who was involved in the production of a lot of brands decades ago. He felt strongly about it, but that's still just one perspective. I personally think it was serendipitous perhaps that it also mitigates pressure on that point. Modern nib makers will offer them to us either way, and in our music nib, with two slits, we omitted the breather hole, and have never seen one split. Same with Lamy Safaris, etc etc. Granted - perhaps stronger materials are used now, and perhaps there isn't a fully definitive answer on that point in history. That all said, the original point remains that they are there today mostly for tradition of style as they aren't necessary for anything really functional.
Appreciate the conversation and debate. Cheers - Scott F.
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