Nib
last up date 2008/4/15

Nib

Nib is the most important part of a fountain pen. It leads ink from the nib feed to the tip via the tines and writes characters on paper. For smooth writing it needs proper flexibility and round tips. It is the life of a fountain pen. Therefore there are 55 separate steps in the nib creation process, each requiring the utmost care.

Material of the nib

There are 2 types of nib material.

1. 18K, 14K gold
As gold is very expensive it is used for high-class fountain pens. Gold never rusts or erodes, and it won't be corroded by sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or nitric acid contained in ink. Flexible writing touch is a characteristic of gold.

2.Stainless steel
Stainless steel has nearlest the same writing touch and strength against acids as gold. As it is very inexpensive it are used for cheaper fountain pens.

Iridosmine is used for tips as it is the second hardest material next to the diamond and strong against wear. t preserves the writing touch of a brand new fountain pen for long time.

Iridosmine
It is alloy made of 65% of Iridium, Osmium, Ruthenium and 35% of platinum and other metals. Its molecules are very fine, harder than any other metal and it is the heaviest metal. Its hardness is next to that of diamonds! Its polished surface shines like silver and runs over the paper smoothly. With the iridium on the tip you can write 5`6 million characters. If calculated into distance it is equals to 60`70 km. Even if you write 1000 characters per day it will last for 10 years.

14k gold is the best material for a nib
the reasons are:
1. Highly corrosive-resistant so it doesn't rust and lasts for many years of usage.
2. The softness of 14k gold makes for flexibile writing touch.
3. Iridosmine can be attached firmly without losing its strength.

Nib point sizes

Bin sizes are differentiated by the width of the writing line. The size is imprinted on the nib. You should check the nib size imprint when you purchase a pen.

Nib	Japanese	Width of the line(mm)	Characteristic, usage
Super Extra Fine	超極細	0.18～0.24	Especially suited for fine numbers and characters, suitable for bookkeeping.
Extra Fine	極細	0.24～0.28	For fine numbers and characters, suitable for students' note taking.
Flexible fine	細軟	0.28～0.34	Same line size, but more flexible than flexible. A stamp of the elastic fine is same.
Fine	細	0.28～0.34	For general fine characters, suitable for students' note taking.
Medium	中軟	0.34～0.44	Same line size,but more flexible than medium. A stamp of the elastic medium is same.
Medium	中	0.34～0.44	Smooth writing, suitable for general writing.
Broad	太	0.44～0.54	Suitable for manuscript, address writing.
Extra Broad	極太	0.66～0.86	Suitable for those who love broad writing.

*Japanese ---- This means each above Japanese ''Kanji'' character is stamped on Nakaya nib.
When you confirm your nib size, please refer above table.

*A 'medium fine' nib is not available for Nakaya.
Nakaya will adjust this nib from Medium by the customers requirement.

*A design on the nib will be changed sometimes without any notice.
However a design does not make any difference for writing abiltiy .

Sample

DETAILS

Music
Stub
Extra broad
Broad
Flexible medium
Medium
Flexible fine
Fine,
Extra fine,
Super extra fine


     A Sample of Nib design is this corner.

              *Close up pictures of each nibs ;
              * A two tone color nib.
              * A two tone color Music nib.
              * A pink gold plated nib.
              * A rhodium plated nib.
              * A Ruthenium plated nib. etc...

The "elastic" nib

By cutting 2 parts of nib, Nakaya nib has more flexibility and elasticity.

Based on
Music	elastic Music
Ex-broad	elastic Ex-broad
Broad	elastic Broad
Flexible-medium	elastic Flexible-medium
Flexible-fine	elastic Flexible-fine
Ex-fine	elastic Ex-fine
Super Ex-fine	elastic Super Ex-fine

Based on flexible nib which Nakaya already introduces, the nib will be much more flexible by this additional elastic function. (a pattern of 2 tone design is slightly cutted.)

Please try ! (An additional price is $80)

**reference**
a 2 tone Music nib ; $125 , a 2 tone Music nib with elastic ; $205

Manufacturing process of a nib

Nibs are made by a 55 step process including making the alloy, stamping out, imprinting of the logo, making the vent hole, pressing, attaching the iridosmine, centering the slit, grinding the tip, polishing the tip, finishing the tip, and plating, etc.

For more detail go to process page.

Lasting quality of a nib

The nib of a fountain pen lasts for 10 to 20 years. You can write 5`6 million characters, which equals 60`75km. If you write 1000 characters per day it can last for 10 years.

Flexibility of a nib

For writing beautiful characters flexibility of a pen is essential. There are 5 aspects which determine the flexibility of a nib.
Please check these 5 points before you purchase a fountain pen.

1. Material

The flexibility differs with the material such as gold or acid resistant stainless steel. 18k gold is the softest material and 14k is the next. Stainless steel is hard metal and because of its economical price it is used for less expensive products.

2. Thickness of the nib

The thickness of the ingot influences the flexibility of a nib. The thicker the ingot the harder is the nib. The thinner, the ingot, the softer the nib. Grading of the tip and tail also determines the flexibility of a nib.

3. Curve of a nib

A nib is arched. The deeper the arch,the harder is the nib. The shallower the arch the softer the nib. There are also triangular or pentagonal forms which is a little harder than curved ones.

Deep curve

Shallow curve

4. Heart hole

Flexibility of a nib depends very much on the shape, size and the place of the heart hole. The wider the shape of the heart is, the more it lets the writing pressure go aside so the writing touch will be softer. If the hole is more round and smaller, the nib is harder.

5. Length of tines

The longer the tines, the softer the nib. Shorter tines result in a harder nib.