Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoy a look at the custom grinds I have so far. Let me know if you have any questions about anything (grinds, the process, etc.) and/or what grinds you love most! 💕
Thank you so much! This is the best description of custom nibs. I’m new to fountain pens, and been buying pens by the look and visual. Now I realize it’s all about the nibs. How do I learn which nib fits pens I already have?
Thanks for the kind words!! I really appreciate that. Your question gets a little dicey - not all nibs are interchangeable or even completely removable. Jowo (and bock) nibs are probably the most common interchangeable nibs/units... here's a reference link on Reddit on which pens have those, but it's not all encompassing - like, I know Esterbrook's Estie has a Jowo nib and it's not mentioned here (hope this is helpful!): www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/b919u8/which_pens_take_jowo_6_nib_unitshousings/
I am a long time fountain pen lover and watch all the usual podcasts but never yours Julia but I now have subscribed and look forward to watching in future. A few years ago I started getting custom grinds. Pelikan tortoise 800 - cursive italic by John Mottishaw Mont Blanc 149 - cursive italic by Mark Bacas Pilot 823 - Journaler by Gena Salorino Pelikan Green 800 - cursive italic by Mark Bacas Pelikan Stressemann 800 - sharp italic by Gena Solorino I have an Edison Collier with their architect nib. I was surprised you did not mention the scribe by Joshua Lax on Esterbrook. A great nib. Finally, have you tried the new flex nib on Magna Carta Great video, keep up the good work. I’ll be watching!✒️🖋️ Brad
Thanks Brad!! Definitely check out some other videos as well - there’s a fun little backlog for sure. I have not tried the Scribe yet but it is on my radar to grab when I can next. I have a Magna Carta mag600 and love love love that flex nib. Please let me know if they have something else I should keep my eye out for. Youuuu, sir, have some great grinds on some great pens yourself 😍
@@julia-here I was scrolling when I got your reply. Thanks so much. I recently got the Magna Carta Mag 650 in Amber that’s a piston filler. I agree the flex is cool. I like the new Esterbrook Back to the Land but they don’t have it at Goldspot with the architect nib. They say it’s coming so they will email me. Like the retro look.
@bradbeth63 absolutely. I was too taken with the back to the land collection and got 2 of the 3 pens 🫠 - hope you’re able to grab yours with the architect soon!! 🤞🏽🤞🏽
Great video, well done. I’m newer to this and planning to get a custom grind. I want needle point or ultra extra fine. But a couple of these seem cool too. Thank you. 😊
This was so informative thank you!! I haven’t made it to a pen show, but I do currently have a Benu mailed out to Gena. In terms of “stock custom” I am a big fan of Franklin Christoph’s SIG nib option on their pens. 😍
Oh how fun! What are you getting on your BENU?! I’ve heard of the SIG nib and look forward to getting to try it out in the future 🤞🏽🤞🏽 Thanks for the kind words as well! ☺️
@@julia-here truthfully the CI just seems scratchier or maybe has more of a slice. Could be the nib I got it on too. That one and the architect took a little getting used to where as the CSI I enjoyed right away. I am wanting the mini stub so bad. I think I would really enjoy that. I'm excited to see your grid journey.
@@Adventuresover40 ok! That’s good info- I was thinking the ci is just a bit more slicy (and dependent on the angle a bit more); I thought I would never get anything architect because it seems so odd but I guess every grind has its intended best-use ☺️ (and thank you! I’m only grinding for fun- a new useful skill to have for now but I’m hoping to share more as I go along 🤞🏽)
@@julia-here It might of been the nib I did too. I had it done on my Monteverde with a steel black nib. The CSI was on a Jowo #6. The CSI is slicy but doesn't feel scratchy. Being transparent I did ever so slightly take the CI across some grit/sand paper from Goulet and it isn't as scratchy now. I'll be interested in your griding journey...see how you progress.
Julia! This was so interesting. I am a new fountain collector and haven't ventured over to custom grind territory just yet. I've been stalking the Esterbrook website waiting to see if the journaler nib would be back in stock. I have tested that one out at Yoseka Stationery and love it. I am also learning that I love stub nibs (currently using and loving an Estie 1.1 stub) so the mini stub is on my list and the cursive italics thanks to you. Again, very informative. Thanks!
Thank you so much!! Oh yes, if you like the journaler, you’ll definitely love the mini stub and the cursive italics as well I’m sure! It’s hard for Esterbrook to keep those custom grinds in stock since they come straight from the nibmeisters but I hope you’ll be able to get your hands on one soon! 💕- thanks for the kind words of course ☺️
This was exactly the video I needed for a visual introduction into more custom nib grinds! I am a total beginner, but ar Stationery Fest, I got to try out some of Gina's nibs and I was like 🤯. Then of course I had to research all the types of grinds. I would like to get one done sometime but I don't really have any nice pens . I have some Kaweco sports, Kaweco student, and TWSBI Eco. Not sure if it's even worth it to send one if these pens out for a custom if they're not "fancy." I am very interested in a mini stub, architect and perspective! I never heard of Imperial but that is interesting! I typically write in block all caps in my planners on Tomoe River Paper and prefer to write small. Any thoughts you share would be greatly appreciated! Also, I'm considering getting an Esterbrook Back to the Land or a Sailor Pro Gear Slim for my next "big" pen ❤
New to your chanel (just found you on insta) and this is such a wonderful video. Im so impressed with your reverse architect! I will def be getting one at my next pen show. I have a bunch of the esterbrook grinds, and love the journaler. Also love a trad architect grind and that lovely franklin christoph smooth italic grind
Hey!! Welcome welcome ☺️🙏🏽 - thank you so much!! I need to be practicing more often but you know how time and life goes 😅🥲- but absolutely grab one the next time you can; they’re so fun ☺️
Not yet. I talked to Kirk Speer about CSI grinds. He recommended using broad nibs. The issue is I prefer western EF in my writing. So, not sure what I will do.
All of mine have been on Medium nibs and I’ve seen Karyna (Loves to Plan) get a CSI on an EF; it’s possible.. just not ideal from what I understand. There’s just more material to work on with a B (even if you have something larger, you should be able to get it ground down to a thin CSI); hopefully this is helpful!!
You said you were thinking of getting a JOWO nib with the imperial grind so you could put it in other pens. How would you go about this? Do you buy a whole pen or can you simply buy a replacement nib and then send it off to be ground? I'm just starting to get into this realm of the hobby. Thanks for your videos. I find them super helpful!
Great question. Although you can buy JOWO nibs separately, I have several pens with that particular nib unit (Esterbrook Esties, "maker" pens, etc.) that are the same nib size (like, at one point, I have 7+ mediums!) so instead of having 7 medium nibs, I'd want 2 mediums (let's say) and 1 Imperial and 1 Cursive Smooth Italic and 1 Architect grind, etc... that could be used in those same pens. The entire nib unit/housing just unscrews from the pen. When it comes to nib grinds, 99% of the ones I have have been in person at pen shows/events, BUT I have just sent in a nib unit for a grind (different nibmeisters may prefer the entire pen sent in?). I hope this is the tiniest bit helpful!! And thanks for the kind words :)
@@julia-here Just got my pen! I'm loving the imperial grind on my Broad Navalhur Lovina! I don't know if this is true of the Imperial grind for all pens or just for the B nibs, but it's so cool to be able to write Bold in reverse. I noticed it in Kirk's little thank you note to me. 💙🖋
@NCcrumpet oh yayyy!! I forgot to mention it in this video (I think I did in another) but yes! You can write a thicker line in reverse; it makes it even more amazing. So glad you dig it! 🥳
I just got my first nib work done by Gena / Custom Nib Studio at Stationery Fest. Now I'm sold on the experience. It totally refreshed my engagement with those pens. Looking forward to having more nib work done, and to that end, this video was so helpful and informative!
Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoy a look at the custom grinds I have so far. Let me know if you have any questions about anything (grinds, the process, etc.) and/or what grinds you love most! 💕
This is the video I've been waiting for someone to make!
🙌🏽✨ I couldn’t wait to get it out! Hope it was helpful! ☺️
Nice well paced and presented. Informative without a lot of extraneous filler. Thank you.
Thank you! That means a lot .. especially since I definitely go off on tangents from time to time 🙏🏽☺️
This was really fun to watch Julia! Cool to see which Grinds you've gotten and by which Nibmeister!
Thanks Gailyn!! ☺️🙏🏽
Thank you so much! This is the best description of custom nibs. I’m new to fountain pens, and been buying pens by the look and visual. Now I realize it’s all about the nibs. How do I learn which nib fits pens I already have?
Thanks for the kind words!! I really appreciate that. Your question gets a little dicey - not all nibs are interchangeable or even completely removable. Jowo (and bock) nibs are probably the most common interchangeable nibs/units... here's a reference link on Reddit on which pens have those, but it's not all encompassing - like, I know Esterbrook's Estie has a Jowo nib and it's not mentioned here (hope this is helpful!): www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/b919u8/which_pens_take_jowo_6_nib_unitshousings/
I am a long time fountain pen lover and watch all the usual podcasts but never yours Julia but I now have subscribed and look forward to watching in future. A few years ago I started getting custom grinds.
Pelikan tortoise 800 - cursive italic by John Mottishaw
Mont Blanc 149 - cursive italic by Mark Bacas
Pilot 823 - Journaler by Gena Salorino
Pelikan Green 800 - cursive italic by Mark Bacas
Pelikan Stressemann 800 - sharp italic by Gena Solorino
I have an Edison Collier with their architect nib.
I was surprised you did not mention the scribe by Joshua Lax on Esterbrook. A great nib.
Finally, have you tried the new flex nib on Magna Carta
Great video, keep up the good work. I’ll be watching!✒️🖋️
Brad
Thanks Brad!! Definitely check out some other videos as well - there’s a fun little backlog for sure.
I have not tried the Scribe yet but it is on my radar to grab when I can next. I have a Magna Carta mag600 and love love love that flex nib. Please let me know if they have something else I should keep my eye out for. Youuuu, sir, have some great grinds on some great pens yourself 😍
@@julia-here I was scrolling when I got your reply. Thanks so much.
I recently got the Magna Carta Mag 650 in Amber that’s a piston filler. I agree the flex is cool.
I like the new Esterbrook Back to the Land but they don’t have it at Goldspot with the architect nib. They say it’s coming so they will email me. Like the retro look.
@bradbeth63 absolutely. I was too taken with the back to the land collection and got 2 of the 3 pens 🫠 - hope you’re able to grab yours with the architect soon!! 🤞🏽🤞🏽
I have a techo nib and it’s really fun! You should try that one
Yes! Would love to give that one a try! Thank you ☺️
What a great video idea! I have every one of these grinds except the Waverly. I just adore custom grinds!
Thank you!! ☺️
The Waverly took me a minute to truly enjoy but totally get it haha!
Thank you so much for making this video. This is so helpful and informative❤❤
No problem! It was super fun to make and I was hoping it would be helpful ☺️✨🫶🏽
Great video, well done. I’m newer to this and planning to get a custom grind. I want needle point or ultra extra fine. But a couple of these seem cool too. Thank you. 😊
No problem! A needlepoint is very tempting to me as well 👀👀- I appreciate you watching 💕✨
This was so informative thank you!! I haven’t made it to a pen show, but I do currently have a Benu mailed out to Gena. In terms of “stock custom” I am a big fan of Franklin Christoph’s SIG nib option on their pens. 😍
Oh how fun! What are you getting on your BENU?!
I’ve heard of the SIG nib and look forward to getting to try it out in the future 🤞🏽🤞🏽
Thanks for the kind words as well! ☺️
@@julia-here getting a Journaler on my Benu!! 🥳🥳🥳
@emmaythegray niiiice!! Hope you love it! 👏🏽🥳
So cool that you are doing your own. How exciting.
I have a cursive italic, cursive smooth italic, and an architect.
Ooo! Those are good ones! Can you tell a difference between the cursive italic and csi??
@@julia-here truthfully the CI just seems scratchier or maybe has more of a slice. Could be the nib I got it on too. That one and the architect took a little getting used to where as the CSI I enjoyed right away.
I am wanting the mini stub so bad. I think I would really enjoy that.
I'm excited to see your grid journey.
@@Adventuresover40 ok! That’s good info- I was thinking the ci is just a bit more slicy (and dependent on the angle a bit more); I thought I would never get anything architect because it seems so odd but I guess every grind has its intended best-use ☺️ (and thank you! I’m only grinding for fun- a new useful skill to have for now but I’m hoping to share more as I go along 🤞🏽)
@@julia-here It might of been the nib I did too. I had it done on my Monteverde with a steel black nib. The CSI was on a Jowo #6. The CSI is slicy but doesn't feel scratchy. Being transparent I did ever so slightly take the CI across some grit/sand paper from Goulet and it isn't as scratchy now.
I'll be interested in your griding journey...see how you progress.
@@Adventuresover40 oh nice! Nothing wrong with smoothing it out a bit 👀😌
Julia! This was so interesting. I am a new fountain collector and haven't ventured over to custom grind territory just yet. I've been stalking the Esterbrook website waiting to see if the journaler nib would be back in stock. I have tested that one out at Yoseka Stationery and love it. I am also learning that I love stub nibs (currently using and loving an Estie 1.1 stub) so the mini stub is on my list and the cursive italics thanks to you. Again, very informative. Thanks!
Thank you so much!! Oh yes, if you like the journaler, you’ll definitely love the mini stub and the cursive italics as well I’m sure! It’s hard for Esterbrook to keep those custom grinds in stock since they come straight from the nibmeisters but I hope you’ll be able to get your hands on one soon! 💕- thanks for the kind words of course ☺️
This was exactly the video I needed for a visual introduction into more custom nib grinds! I am a total beginner, but ar Stationery Fest, I got to try out some of Gina's nibs and I was like 🤯. Then of course I had to research all the types of grinds. I would like to get one done sometime but I don't really have any nice pens . I have some Kaweco sports, Kaweco student, and TWSBI Eco. Not sure if it's even worth it to send one if these pens out for a custom if they're not "fancy." I am very interested in a mini stub, architect and perspective! I never heard of Imperial but that is interesting! I typically write in block all caps in my planners on Tomoe River Paper and prefer to write small. Any thoughts you share would be greatly appreciated! Also, I'm considering getting an Esterbrook Back to the Land or a Sailor Pro Gear Slim for my next "big" pen ❤
Oh great!! I have some advice for you! Get grinds on pens you enjoy, whether they are $10 or $100. 💕
New to your chanel (just found you on insta) and this is such a wonderful video. Im so impressed with your reverse architect! I will def be getting one at my next pen show.
I have a bunch of the esterbrook grinds, and love the journaler. Also love a trad architect grind and that lovely franklin christoph smooth italic grind
Hey!! Welcome welcome ☺️🙏🏽 - thank you so much!! I need to be practicing more often but you know how time and life goes 😅🥲- but absolutely grab one the next time you can; they’re so fun ☺️
Thank you for the video. Very helpful indeed. Have you tried CSI in an EF nib?
Thank youuu! I haven’t personally but I’d imagine it would be very subtle (and I think i would dig that). Have you??
Not yet. I talked to Kirk Speer about CSI grinds. He recommended using broad nibs. The issue is I prefer western EF in my writing. So, not sure what I will do.
All of mine have been on Medium nibs and I’ve seen Karyna (Loves to Plan) get a CSI on an EF; it’s possible.. just not ideal from what I understand. There’s just more material to work on with a B (even if you have something larger, you should be able to get it ground down to a thin CSI); hopefully this is helpful!!
You said you were thinking of getting a JOWO nib with the imperial grind so you could put it in other pens. How would you go about this? Do you buy a whole pen or can you simply buy a replacement nib and then send it off to be ground? I'm just starting to get into this realm of the hobby. Thanks for your videos. I find them super helpful!
Great question. Although you can buy JOWO nibs separately, I have several pens with that particular nib unit (Esterbrook Esties, "maker" pens, etc.) that are the same nib size (like, at one point, I have 7+ mediums!) so instead of having 7 medium nibs, I'd want 2 mediums (let's say) and 1 Imperial and 1 Cursive Smooth Italic and 1 Architect grind, etc... that could be used in those same pens. The entire nib unit/housing just unscrews from the pen. When it comes to nib grinds, 99% of the ones I have have been in person at pen shows/events, BUT I have just sent in a nib unit for a grind (different nibmeisters may prefer the entire pen sent in?). I hope this is the tiniest bit helpful!! And thanks for the kind words :)
Thanks so much! I’ve got an imperial grind on the way !
@@NCcrumpet Yesss!! You MUST let me know what you think.
@@julia-here Just got my pen! I'm loving the imperial grind on my Broad Navalhur Lovina! I don't know if this is true of the Imperial grind for all pens or just for the B nibs, but it's so cool to be able to write Bold in reverse. I noticed it in Kirk's little thank you note to me. 💙🖋
@NCcrumpet oh yayyy!! I forgot to mention it in this video (I think I did in another) but yes! You can write a thicker line in reverse; it makes it even more amazing. So glad you dig it! 🥳
Cool
Thanks! ☺️
I just got my first nib work done by Gena / Custom Nib Studio at Stationery Fest. Now I'm sold on the experience. It totally refreshed my engagement with those pens. Looking forward to having more nib work done, and to that end, this video was so helpful and informative!
Oh how awesome! Gena is seriously a wizard! 🙌🏽💕
What did you end up getting?!
@@julia-here Gena convinced me to get a right oblique on my 823. Love it.
Plus Gena tuned the nib on a beloved ebonite pen by AbleSnail.
@alsowentmyth oh lovely!! 😍