Gold versus Steel Nibs
A good pen is one that can be used often without quickly wearing out. It is one that allows the owner to write flexibly. It allows ink to flow consistently, without stopping or smudging. It feels just right in the writer's hand – not too light; not too heavy. It is not a pen that requires the writer to exert much pressure and effort in order to write. To create this kind of pen, manufacturers use varying materials and techniques. Some are considered to be superior over the others. However, some pen collectors say that it is all a matter of preference. Of course, the different materials used to make a pen will greatly affect the writer's expectations of its performance ability. This is particularly true for fountain pens.
A fountain pen relies on the principles of gravity and capillary action, and these are accomplished through its nib. A nib has many parts: its base, body, shoulders, breather hole, tines, slit and tip. At the tip lies a ball, which is the part of the pen that comes in contact with the paper. Ink is drawn down from the pen's reservoir. It is the breather hole that allows the ink to flow down through the slits, to the tip and onto the paper via the ball. As it is a very important part of the pen, it is considered the most valuable part. This is because nibs can be made from precious material.
The most common materials used for making nibs are stainless steel and gold. A nib made be purely steel, or it may be gold-plated stainless steel. There are also nibs that are made of pure gold. This can be 14 karat, 18 karat or even 23 karat. This explains why fountain pens greatly differ in their prices.
Stainless steel is much harder than gold. This is why fountain pens with steel nibs are recommended for daily, normal use or for children's use. Gold, on the other hand, is soft. This means that it can give the writer more flexibility. However, modern steel fountain pens have been improved to render good performance, too.
Another difference between steel and gold nibs lies in their response to ink. Ink can be alkaline, but it can be very acidic, too. Acidic ink can corrode steel nibs over time. Gold is much more resistant to acid. In fact, gold nibs last for lifetimes.
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