Editing Fountain pen (section)

== Nibs ==
[[File:Visconti-detail-1.JPG|thumb|Detail of a Visconti stainless steel nib and feed with a finned ink buffering structure at its rear half]]
[[File:Tip of filler.jpg|right|thumb|Tip of a fountain pen nib]]

According to Mathur et al., "the modern fountain pen [[Nib (pen)|nib]] may be traced back to the original gold nib which had a tiny fragment of ruby attached to form the wear-point."<ref name="books.google.co.uk">{{cite book|last1=et. al|first1=Mathur|title=Developments and Changes in Science Based Technologies|isbn=1-4828-1398-X|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=148281398X|accessdate=27 July 2016}}</ref> Following the discovery of the [[platinum group]] of metals which include [[ruthenium]], [[osmium]] and [[iridium]], "a small quantity of iridium was isolated and used on the iridium-tipped gold [[dip pen]] nibs of the 1830s."<ref name="books.google.co.uk"/> Today, nibs are usually made of [[stainless steel]] or [[gold]] alloys, with the most popular gold content being [[Carat (purity)|14 carat (58⅓%)]] and 18 carat (75%).<ref name="www.richardspens.com materials" /> [[Titanium]] is a less common metal used for making nibs. Gold is considered the optimum metal for its flexibility and its resistance to [[Galvanic series|corrosion]], although gold's corrosion resistance is less of an issue than in the past because of better stainless steel alloys and less corrosive inks.<ref name="www.richardspens.com materials">{{cite web|last1=Binder|first1=Richard|title=To the Point: Nib Materials|url=http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/ttp/materials.htm|website=Richard Binder's Pens|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref>

===Nib plating===
Further gold plating provides favorable [[Wetting|wettability]], which is the ability of a solid surface to reduce the [[surface tension]] of a liquid in contact with it such that it spreads over the surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.penheaven.co.uk/blog/steel-vs-gold-fountain-pen-nibs/|title=Steel vs. Gold Fountain Pen Nibs|website=Pen Heaven|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref>

===Nib tipping===
[[File:Pilot Parallel.jpg|thumb|An example of a type of an italic nib used in fountain pens. Often used to make art.]]
Gold and most steel and titanium nibs are tipped with a hard, wear-resistant alloy that typically includes metals from the platinum group. These metals share qualities of extreme hardness and corrosion resistance. The tipping material is often called "iridium", but there are few, if any, nib or pen manufacturers that used tipping alloys containing iridium metal since the mid 1950s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nibs.com/article4.html|title=Where's the Iridium?|website=The Nibster|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref> The metals osmium, [[rhenium]], ruthenium and [[tungsten]] are used instead, generally as an alloy, with a little bit of osmium, rhenium, ruthenium and tungsten in a mix of other materials, produced as tiny pellets which are soldered or welded onto a nib tip prior to cutting the nib slit and grinding the tip into its final shape.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.nibs.com/article5.html|journal=The PENnant|volume=XIII|issue=2|date=1999|title=How can we talk about Iridium?|author=Mottishaw, J.}}</ref> Untipped steel and titanium points will wear more rapidly due to abrasion by the paper.<ref name="www.richardspens.com materials"/>

===Capillary action===
The nib usually has a tapering slit cut down its centre, to convey the ink down the nib by [[capillary action]], as well as a "breather hole" of varying shape <ref name="ReferenceA"/> The breather hole has no actual function regarding controlling the ink or air flow. Its main function is to provide an endpoint to the nib slit and forestall inaccuracies during nib slit cutting. Adding distance between the breather hole and the nib tip adds elasticity or flexibility to the nib. The breather hole also acts as a stress relieving point, preventing the nib from cracking longitudinally from the end of the slit as a result of repeated flexing during use.<ref name="explain" />

The whole nib narrows to a point where the ink is transferred to the paper. Broad [[Western calligraphy|calligraphy]] pens may have several slits in the nib to increase ink flow and help distribute it evenly across the broad point. Nibs divided into three 'tines' are commonly known as music nibs. This is because their line, which can be varied from broad to fine, is suited for writing musical scores.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Binder|first1=Richard|title=To the Point: Making Music with a Pen|url=http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/ttp/music.htm|website=Richard Binder's Pens|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref>

===Types of nibs===
Although the most common nibs end in a round point of various sizes (extra fine, fine medium, broad), various other nib shapes are available. Examples of this are oblique, reverse oblique, stub, italic and 360-degree nibs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Binder|first1=Richard|title=Nibs I: The Basics|url=http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/nibs/primer.htm|website=Richard Binder's Pens|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref>

Broader nibs are used for less precise emphasis, with the benefit of a greater level of ink shading and/or sheen on less absorbent paper. Finer nibs (e.g. EF and F) may be used for intricate corrections and alterations, at the expense of shading and sheen. Oblique, reverse oblique, stub and italic nibs may be used for [[calligraphy|calligraphic]] purposes or for general handwritten compositions.The line width of a particular nib may vary based on its country of origin; Japanese nibs are often thinner in general.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Binder|first1=Richard|title=Nibs II: Beyond the Basics with Specialty Nibs|url=http://www.richardspens.com/ref/nibs/beyond.htm|website=Richard Binder's Pens|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref>

===Nib flexibility===
[[Flex nibs|Flexibility]] is given to nibs in several ways. First, thickness of the nib metal changes flex. When the nib alloy has been pressed thick it will result in a hard nib, while thinly pressed nibs are more flexible. Nibs can be pressed so that they are thinner at the tip and thicker at the feed to mitigate stiffness or to give a more controlled flex. Second, the curve of the nib determines in part how stiff the nib will be.<ref>{{cite web|title=Grading Flex Nibs|url=http://www.vintagepen.net/grading-flex-nibs.html|website=VintagePen|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref>

Nibs pressed into more deeply convex curves, or into three or five faceted curves, will be stiffer than flatter nibs. Third, the "breather hole" size, shape, and position alter the stiffness. Heart shaped holes will improve flex as they widen, while round, small holes stiffen the pen. Fourth, the length of the tines determines how far they can spread under pressure, shorter tines make a stiffer nib. Fifth, the alloy used can affect stiffness: as mentioned before, gold is considered superior for its flex compared to steel. Moreover, purer gold (18k and 21k) is softer than most lower gold concentration (14k) alloys.<ref name="www.richardspens.com materials" />

[[Image:Swan nib.jpg|left|thumb|Mabie Todd Swan flexible 14k nib.]]

Fountain pens dating from the first half of the 20th century are more likely to have flexible nibs, suited to the favored handwriting styles of the period (e.g. [[Copperplate script]] and [[Spencerian script]]). By the 1940s, writing preferences had shifted towards stiffer nibs that could withstand the greater pressure required for writing through carbon paper to create duplicate documents.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Binder|first1=Richard|title=Rethinking The Value of Steel Nibs|url=http://www.richardspens.com/xf/2011/05.htm|website=Richard Binder's Pens|accessdate=27 July 2016}}</ref>

Furthermore, competition between the major pen brands such as Parker and Waterman, and the introduction of lifetime guarantees, meant that flexible nibs could no longer be supported profitably. In countries where this rivalry was not present to the same degree, for example the UK and Germany, flexible nibs are more common.<ref name="gentleman">{{cite web|title=Fountain Pen Guide|url=
https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/fountain-pen-guide/|website=Gentleman's Gazette|accessdate=27 July 2016}}</ref>

Nowadays, stiff nibs are the norm as people exchange between fountain pens and other writing modes. These more closely emulate the ballpoint pens modern users are experienced with. Despite being rigid and firm, the idea that steel nibs write "horribly" is a misconception.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Binder|first1=Richard|title=To the Point: Steal the Steel|url=http://www.richardspens.com/?page=xf/2011/05.htm|website=Richard Binder's Pens|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref> More flexible nibs can be easily damaged by ballpoint users who write with excessive pressure. Ideally, a fountain pen's nib glides across the paper using the ink as a lubricant, and requires no pressure.

Good quality nibs that have been used appropriately are long lasting, often lasting longer than the lifetime of the original owner. Many vintage pens with decades-old nibs can still be used today.<ref>{{cite web|title=How to Collect and Buy Vintage Fountain Pens|url=http://www.artofmanliness.com/2015/11/19/writing-with-history-how-to-collect-and-buy-vintage-fountain-pens/|website=The Art of Manliness|accessdate=27 July 2016|date=19 November 2015}}</ref>

[[Image:Hero329nibsgal1.JPG|thumb|Hooded nib of a [[The Shanghai Hero Pen Company|Hero]] Pen]]
[[Image:Parker 50 (falcon) nib.jpg|thumb|left|The Integral Nib of a Parker 50 (Falcon)]]

===Different nib styles===

Other styles of fountain pen nibs include hooded (e.g. Parker 51, Parker 61, 2007 Parker 100 and Hero 329),<ref>{{cite web|last1=Binder|first1=Richard|title=To the Point: Nibz 'n the Hood|url=http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/ttp/hood.htm|website=Richard Binder's Pens|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref> inlaid (e.g. Sheaffer Targa or Sheaffer P.F.M) or integral Nib (Parker T-1 and Falcon, Pilot Myu 701), which may also be ground to have different writing characteristics.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Binder|first1=Richard|title=Design Features: Integral Nibs|url=http://www.richardspens.com/ref/design/integral_nibs.htm|website=Richard Binder's Pens|accessdate=27 July 2016}}</ref>

Users are often cautioned not to lend or borrow fountain pens as the nib "wears in" at an angle unique to each individual person.<ref name="gentleman" /> A different user is likely to find that a worn-in nib does not write satisfactorily in their hand and, furthermore, creates a second wear surface, ruining the nib for the original user. This, however, is not a point of concern in pens with modern, durable tipping material, as these pens take many years to develop any significant wear.
<ref name="gentleman" />