Difference between still, 14K and 18K nib

[chenht]

I am new to fountain pen. I just bought a MB 146 with 14K nib and feel that my much cheaper LAMY fountain pen with steel nib actually writes a lot better

Can anyone enlighten me the difference between 14K, 18K and steel nib in terms of writability.

[carnegie]

Wow, that's disappointing to hear. Did you purchase you MB 146 brand new? What size nib is it, M or F and which nib size do you have on your LAMY?

[Lion]

Please supply more information so those in the 'Know' can assist you with your questions!!!
Remember Google is your friend…..

[Bisquitlips]

You are correct. I have about 100 fountain pens. Many, many of them are 18K and 14K nibs. And I have a Lamy with a 1.1 stainless nib that is one of the best performers in my collection.

A good pen company can make a nice writing nib out of stainless, but that stainless nib will not last the same number of years as a gold 14 or 18 K nib will due to the corrosive characteristics of many of the inks.

Typical stainless steel is really not stainless nor is it a great metal to work with for nibs as eventually the nib will deteriorate. Read up on 904L stainless that is a chem grade stainless Rolex uses in some of their timepieces. Even sweat, moisture, and the acid found in that combination from the human body will cause a lesser quality of stainless steel to corrode. And badly in a short period of time. Yes. Inks can be even worse.

So then you add the value and beauty of gold and there you have it. Also, keep in mind that anything under 14K has too many base alloys to make it truly resistant to corrosion. Higher .585 14K, and .750 18K does not have corrosion issues.

In a nutshell, there you have it. At least that is my take on it.

If you have a pen with a gold nib that doesn't write to perfection, get a nibmeister to give it a 1/2 hour of his time. I would bet you find a pen that writes completely to your liking and give you a lifetime of joy. And perhaps several more generations beyond you.

[chenht]

Originally Posted by carnegie

Wow, that's disappointing to hear. Did you purchase you MB 146 brand new? What size nib is it, M or F and which nib size do you have on your LAMY?

It is indeed disappointing:( I bought the MB brand new and it comes with a F nib. The LAMY comes with the same fine nib as well.

I feel that the 'flow rate' of the LAMY is better controlled and the the ink appears to be more evenly spread as compared to the MB. I tried to write on different types of paper and the results are still the same. I m using Waterman ink now and the next thing I would try is to use a different ink perhaps Monblanc.

[chenht]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

You are correct. I have about 100 fountain pens. Many, many of them are 18K and 14K nibs. And I have a Lamy with a 1.1 stainless nib that is one of the best performers in my collection.

A good pen company can make a nice writing nib out of stainless, but that stainless nib will not last the same number of years as a gold 14 or 18 K nib will due to the corrosive characteristics of many of the inks.

Typical stainless steel is really not stainless nor is it a great metal to work with for nibs as eventually the nib will deteriorate. Read up on 904L stainless that is a chem grade stainless Rolex uses in some of their timepieces. Even sweat, moisture, and the acid found in that combination from the human body will cause a lesser quality of stainless steel to corrode. And badly in a short period of time. Yes. Inks can be even worse.

So then you add the value and beauty of gold and there you have it. Also, keep in mind that anything under 14K has too many base alloys to make it truly resistant to corrosion. Higher .585 14K, and .750 18K does not have corrosion issues.

In a nutshell, there you have it. At least that is my take on it.

If you have a pen with a gold nib that doesn't write to perfection, get a nibmeister to give it a 1/2 hour of his time. I would bet you find a pen that writes completely to your liking and give you a lifetime of joy. And perhaps several more generations beyond you.

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience!!

[dchang81]

sounds to me that you prefer the writing feel of steel nibs. in a way, they write how you are used to with typical ballpoint or rollerballs. soft gold nibs can require some finesse and i've found i can't write quite as fast with a soft nib. thats just my 2 cents

[2careless]

Concur that steel nibs can be much better than 14/18k nibs. My best writer is a steel nib...

Vintage pens with steel nibs should not use the corrosive inks like Noodler Bay state blue. I only use J Herbin inks on my vintage pens nowadays. I don't trust the modern inks to be non-corrosive.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by chenht

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience!!

No problem.

[chenht]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

No problem.

I should have tried out all the FPs before I made a purchase. Now I end up with a pen idling most of the time which costs almost 20 times more expensive than the LAMY which writes better in my opinion

[68camaro]

Originally Posted by chenht

I am new to fountain pen. I just bought a MB 146 with 14K nib and feel that my much cheaper LAMY fountain pen with steel nib actually writes a lot better

Can anyone enlighten me the difference between 14K, 18K and steel nib in terms of writability.

I have several MB's and Sailers and love them, but the steel nib on my wife's Visconti is really sweet. Each pen has its own "feel" so I use certain pens for certain needs.

Don't look down at a steel nib.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by chenht

I should have tried out all the FPs before I made a purchase. Now I end up with a pen idling most of the time which costs almost 20 times more expensive than the LAMY which writes better in my opinion

Put it on the market. Get your $$$ back and pursue the writing instrument you would like to have and that may just satisfy you for life.

Don't settle...!

[Bisquitlips]

Listen guys...

I don't care how much money you spend on a FP there is no guarantee that it will write to your expectations.

When you purchase a nice fountain pen, remember that you are buying for aesthetics. After that it is really your responsibility to have that nib "tuned" to your expectations.

I purchased a lovely 1980's Montblanc 149 with a fine nib. I hated that sucker until I spent $35.00 to have that fine nib tuned to a fine oblique. Today it is one of my very favorites! But without a nibmeister spending an hour with it, it would be sitting in a drawer and not in my pocket.

I purchased the looks and developed the function.

No pen will typically ever come out of the factory with the perfect nib and writing experience. But once you take it upon yourself to acquire the pen you love the looks of and then invest a bit more in its writing characteristics then you have an instrument that you will likely never part with.

Purchase the looks and then expect to get it "customized" to your liking. You will not be sorry.

[chenht]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Listen guys...

I don't care how much money you spend on a FP there is no guarantee that it will write to your expectations.

When you purchase a nice fountain pen, remember that you are buying for aesthetics. After that it is really your responsibility to have that nib "tuned" to your expectations.

I purchased a lovely 1980's Montblanc 149 with a fine nib. I hated that sucker until I spent $35.00 to have that fine nib tuned to a fine oblique. Today it is one of my very favorites! But without a nibmeister spending an hour with it, it would be sitting in a drawer and not in my pocket.

I purchased the looks and developed the function.

No pen will typically ever come out of the factory with the perfect nib and writing experience. But once you take it upon yourself to acquire the pen you love the looks of and then invest a bit more in its writing characteristics then you have an instrument that you will likely never part with.

Purchase the looks and then expect to get it "customized" to your liking. You will not be sorry.

Yes, I am changing the nib but Mont Blanc told me that it would take some time to get it done.

[Lion]

Originally Posted by chenht

Yes, I am changing the nib but Mont Blanc told me that it would take some time to get it done.

Yes, we know, if you have the nib changed through MontBlanc it's still going to be a factory nib replacement and takes awhile in turn around time. What Richard is suggesting is for you to find and go with a custom pen expert who will work your present nib to the style you want(within reason)…..

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by chenht

Yes, I am changing the nib but Mont Blanc told me that it would take some time to get it done.

And Holy COW.... It cuts the paper! Yes it surly does!

[chenht]

Originally Posted by Lion

Yes, we know, if you have the nib changed through MontBlanc it's still going to be a factory nib replacement and takes awhile in turn around time. What Richard is suggesting is for you to find and go with a custom pen expert who will work your present nib to the style you want(within reason)…..

I would like to try out the new EF nib first to see how it goes. I also discovered that different ink gave slightly different flow probably the viscosity is different. Shaeffer ink gives better flow control as compared to LAMY. I bought a bottle of Montblanc permanent blue but I have yet to try it out.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by chenht

I would like to try out the new EF nib first to see how it goes. I also discovered that different ink gave slightly different flow probably the viscosity is different. Shaeffer ink gives better flow control as compared to LAMY. I bought a bottle of Montblanc permanent blue but I have yet to try it out.

I used to drive my self crazy buying inks.

I have learned just to purchase the inks I love! Regardless of maker.