Introduction to Stub and Flex Nib Fountain Pens

In this video, Tom discusses the finer points about specialty fountain pen nibs that are outside of your typical fine, medium, and broad point sizes. What do these nibs do for your handwriting? How can they actually improve the look of your cursive or print lettering? We answer these questions and offer suggestions on which nib and pens you should try first.

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#handwriting #foreverflex #teamstub

[pallavisawant]

I am an 8 grader. Feeling proud I have learnt calligraphy and I really like the longhand cursive font.

[WillNGo]

Some things that should be part of this discussion. I've used various sizes of stubs, I haven't noticed much difference between say a 0.6mm and a 1.1 mm (almost twice as wide!) stub nib. I can measure differences, but practical use: no difference.

If you want line variation in your normal writing, get a stub nib (or an italic), flex nib line variation requires you slow way down. Wedding invitation? Yes. Daily journal? No. In day to day use a stub gives you variation (and I think helps improve handwriting) while a flex is wonderfully springy but no significant line variation except when you slow down.

Stubs and flexes usually lay down more ink, so cartridges and converters can't keep up. For me a cart/convert are deal breakers. Eye dropper conversion, piston or vacs--only. (The Vacs I've found are more trouble then they are worth)

Standard measurements and definitions: One company's 'stub' is another company's italic, 'calligraphy' etc..

I would like to see a standardization of measurement as in the X-company's 1.1 stub is 1.1mm wide, .4mm deep with deeply rounded corners. (less rounded corners get it closer to an italic).

Also I'm a big fan of stub nibs having started with the Nemosine 0.6mm, 0.8 and later the TSWBIs 1.1mm, (all of these nibs are made by the same German company. Feeds are a critical issue. Mix up your feeds while cleaning several different nibs from the same company and you'll wonder why your stub skips so much). I now either just use a 1.1 nib or DIY italics I grind in the most bootleg manner you can imagine. I'll grind an italic out of a stub by making it flatter and then knocking off the corners until it stops digging into the paper. This is pure backwoods bootlegging, not for the faint of heart or sensible person. I've got experience sharpening wood shop tools which translated to messing around with nibs.

My advice to anyone who likes fountain pens but isn't sure what to do next: buy cheap pens, buy extra nibs, have fun. Try everything.

Finding the perfect flex nib when you've never used one is like buying the best pair of pants before you know what size you wear. Find the most affordable (cheapest but one) nib/pen before spending a lot of money. If you own fewer than 3 fountain pens you haven't learned Rule #2 of Fountain Pens: your favorite pen is either: one you haven't used in a couple of months, the one you use every day, but now you've taken the time to give it a good cleaning and lube.

[johnlopez]

Team Flex here! I love a vintage Waterman fountain pen with a flex nib. How I wish that someone could go back in time to see what the metallurgista did with the nibs to give them such flexing talent.

[ManicYouniverse]

3:43 - I wish! In Europe (or Poland, to be more precise), where I come from, we all start with a manual gearbox and the automatic transmission, from what I know, is not fully respected when it comes to driving licence exam. Hence, maybe it's time I got my flex nib ;)
All best to you! Great video!

[ullazitabinder]

I'm totally new to fountain pens, and I have just ordered a pen with EF, medium and a stub nib, so I don't know what team I am LOL but I can't wait to find out. Thank you for this video, now I know what kind of nibs there is :)

[kindface]

Looks like I'll start with stubs. Thanks Tom, super informative for a newbie (not new to writing with fountain pens, but new to modern fountain pens - and the myriad options and brands!). like me.

[abstractbybrian]

My favorite I have is the TWSBI ECO with a 1.1 stub nib - so creamy and smooth!
I want to get a broad flex nib pen…

[neilpiper]

I would recommend a stub nib.
Something like a Pilot Pluminix with the B stub nib makes most people's handwriting look better.
Only £7.
Your advice to flex learners to not use any pressure is good.
I have a Fountain Pen Revolution Indus with the full flex nib and a Pilot Custom heritage 912 with the fa nib for full flex.
£35 and £150 respectively. The Indus is a piston filler so you can tweak the knob to get more in when full flexing. Very handy.
I use the Pilot as my everyday writer as the Con 70 converter holds a lot of ink and with normal writing it produces a nice fine line
The Gnib is best kept for a dip pen ime. The nib soon corrodes.

[stefanlaskowski]

I have a Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with the FA nib. The stock feed was woefully inadequate, and no matter what I tried railroaded constantly. A three-groove feed from The Nib Factory solved all the problems, and now it's one of my favorite pens. Pilot really needs to address this issue with a wetter feed.

[JCPB]

Excellent video! Straightforward and informative with great descriptions and writing samples. Thank you!

[zombiesneedluv]

Great video, Tom! I haven't practiced enough with a flex nib to be proficient, so I'd have to say #Stub. However, my favorite nibs are a variation of the calligraphy nib, the cursive italic. They provide better line variation than the stub, but don't get scratchy or catch the paper like a true calligraphy nib. Also, you can maintain a faster speed than would a calligraphy nib. Thanks for the great video - you have great penmanship with both types of nibs!

[techstudios]

Me at 0. 😂😂. Sometimes even i can't read my own writing.

[jkatkat]

I'm only 1 year into my fountain pen journey. I have not tried a flex yet but I find my 1.1 stub to be a wonder! I guess a flex may be in the future!

[mikeczap]

Just got a flex nib in the mail today.. Knowing how to use a calligraphy pen, definitely helps with the concept of the flex nib.. just need to work on the line width, but it’s pretty simple and fun to use over the basic calligraphy pen.

[danmaltby]

Man, you've got some fancy handwriting sir, ha ha, Im new to the game but find writing and practicing caligraphy a good way to chill and relax, thanks for sharing with us your knowledge.

[AnotherNerdHere]

Vintage flex is the way to go. I have a red ripple Waterman 52 that is just fabulous. However I think there is a place for both flex and stub. I use the Waterman when I writing letters but I use a Lamy 2000 or TWSBI 580 or Visconti Rembrandt when I'm taking note or other writing so I don't have to remember not to flex. :) I'd say my writing is a probably a 7. What Tom said about fountain pen improving your writing is 100% true. My handwriting, both cursive and print, has improved 1000% it used to be maybe a 1 at best.

[benjaminlong]

DESIDERATA PENS! The feed Pierre makes is awesome. Beautiful work. Zebra nib + running hand = magic.

[lizpilgrim]

Enjoyed learning about stub and flex nibs.

[larryb]

Your so correct, I just need to slow down and keep practicing.

[susanstubbs]

With my last name and my beginner status - it is a no-brainer to opt for a Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen 1.0 STUB nib.😁