I suppose dip nibs get frowned upon sometimes in my application to writing. Certainly no calligraphy ambitions exist. Too much discipline required and discipline left itself within nursing. Now retired a feeling of freedom exists in many areas. So fountain pens are first choice. Clean and tidy. No inky finger tips. Currently typing with very inky fingertips at 05.02 in the early hours.

Been up since half two and thought a bit of a new ambition may help sleep ensue. Nope! I decided to call the new ambition ‘Will it make the Nipits Buddy Box’.

I have hundreds of dip nibs. Probably well over a thousand in reality. Some I have dozens of the same make/design. So in fairness I probably have about a hundred of different types. Some have been atrocious writers. Some have been pleasantly surprising.

The thing with dip nibs is that they are so easy to dip into different permanent inks with no true concern of ruining the nibs. India, China, fountain pen waterproof, art inks…. and fountain pen inks are all used. A quick wash afterwards and all is good. Saul Goodman! Put India, China, art inks into a fountain pen and it is completely ruined.

I chose some handmade Khadi paper. Chose a few nibs. Lots of nibs were catching. I thought the fibrous paper was doing them an injustice. So changed to a smoother cheap paper.

Even with smooth paper some nibs are simply too pointy sharp. So. The performance of each dip nib (spellcheck/text predictor just changed ‘nib’ to ‘nibble’!!) depends completely upon application choice. Drawing or writing. Some nibs do indeed ‘nibble’ at the paper.

Writers? Some nibs are absolutely awful writers. Catch the paper in upward strokes, write one word only upon a generous dip into the ink, leave huge blots on the paper, have to be written with performing the lightest of touch or said blots are a nightmare, and get rusty very quickly if not looked after.

Drawing? Some nibs are little beauties. Fude nibs especially. The style of ink to paper and angle of nib to paper application is different when doodling or making attempts to draw. The style is a mesmerising experimental journey. Little stabbed dots to build up shading layers, little directional lines to light to shadow shade, provide depth and perceived movement, different angles to create various line widths. I can’t draw at all, but have tried (badly) after seeing it done well. And the use of dip nibs is individual creative style in waiting.

The Nipit box is one where the ‘writers’ are put. Three have made it overnight. The ones that work well. Must have longevity in one dip ink performance, not catch the paper, have decent flex without dropping a huge blot onto the paper and finally…..perform well with different types of ink.

I wrote this blog because sleep has evaded since 02.30. Now……tired with inky fingers and ready for some shut eye!

Night, night.

PLEASE TAP ON INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHS TO ENLARGE. THEY ARE IN BUNCHES OF THREE.