How to use Zebra G Nib on a fountain pen 

+Tiago D'Agostini I'm sure of different brands are of same sizes.

+sdovas Using a Zebra nib like this for drawing is definitely going to be slow because the nib is too sharp and you won't want to damage it or scratch the paper. Also, the drawing techniques for such nib does not allow for fast drawing. The ink flow should be able to keep up because the drawing process is not that fast.

+Teoh Yi Chie I know well the potential for disaster on bristol board with my various crow-quills (Hunt, Gillott, others, some perhaps older than you, even) but I'm glad to get your perspective on this. I can see how the temptation with a FP might be to try to draw faster, but did you find you had trouble tempering your drawing speed with this set-up you describe? thanks...

I still draw at the same speed with the Zebra nib regardless on what it is put on. It's just much more convenient now because you don't have to refill it that often.

+Teoh Yi Chie I wondered about the potential for dubious quality control at the Jinhao factory, and the 450 I just received from across the Pacific embodies Dubious. the thing LOOKS great, glossy black with gold tinted trim, the chevron on the tight clip, and that bitchin' 2-tone nib with the fake gold plate. But get down to working it?Pfffui. The converter leaks, and the line looks like you drew it in wet sand with your big toe. The 250s I gave my young daughters make beautiful lines compared to what comes out of this missile. (it's supposed to be the same nib, I thought) Maybe it's the feed, quality control lacking, because I then tried to swap out the nib for a Zebra G and it took way too long to get it to work at all, along with gushing 3 or 4 converters worth of ink. The nib did NOT seat well with the ZG, despite the testimony of many others to the contrary, and once I got it seated (after a lotta boiling water nib soaking) it flows so weakly that I'm tempted to plunge the damned pen into my eye socket in frustration. For all the time it took to get the new nib correctly seated, and all the ink I lost, and all the scratchy misery of dragging the ZG across the bristol at a snail's pace to keep my line intact, I'd have been better off dipping my Hunt or Gillott crow-quills into India ink. This is not a tool, it is a torture device. And I have no doubt that others have 450s that work fine. And that pisses me off too.

I'm sorry to hear about that. Yeah, China brand pens can have some quality control issues. I've pens that break down after months of use, even without modification.

+Fibbles G Maybe wash the feed section with soap first. But ink flow is not good on this pen. You have to draw more slowly

Not sure about it.

I bought from Amazon. Maybe you can check out eBay.

The feed is not made for the nib so ink flow will always be a problem unfortunately

ohhh, bummer. so, could I buy a regular nib for this pen, and safely change it and use like a regular fountain pen? thanks so much for your response.

@@Sunny-pr1qw If you really want to use flexible nibs, consider the Ackerman Pens ackermanpens.com/ or Desiderata www.desideratapens.com Research online for reviews first. Alternatively, just use the Zebra nib with a pen holder.

What are the channels and other barriers you are referring to?

Bazyliszek the feed channel (where the ink travel). On some feeds, there are “road blocks” built in to slow the flow of the ink so it doesn’t come gushing out. It’s better regulated. When you add flex, you have to find a balance between getting enough ink when it’s flexed and not flooding the nib when no pressure is applied.

@@ninobrn00 in a way, I am now more inclined to stick to dip pens or maybe a (more expensive) pen designed for flex nibs.

instablaster.

​​@@g-r-a-e-m-e- Dip pens with a spring and tiny neo magnet affixed to the nib is the way to go! Less fidgeting needed and a breeze ti clean! And very little dipping needed. Fountain pens are pretty....but overhyped and over priced for the big name brands......in my opinion. Others may disagree.

Thanks bro

most pens from them are also pretty leaky too

I'm not sure of your question. There are online comments on the Jinhao pen not having good ink flow. So I probably would still recommend using the dip pen instead. Or if you have the budget, check out BlueDew fountain pen.

looks like platinum carbon black! www.jetpens.com/Platinum-Carbon-Ink-Black-60-ml-Bottle/pd/3461

Did you get it? How is it?

I don't know about them. Do you have a link to that?

Yes, this is the only site I have found them so far. www.johnnealbooks.com/prod_detail_list/calligraphy-illumination I have ordered one, but it has not arrived yet. The reviews I have read from people are favorable.

I did receive it, although haven't tried it yet. I also ordered (at the same time) a Leonardt principal nib with the spring reservoir and I did try that one. It works very well and holds a great deal more ink. I imagine the Zebra G nib will function in much the same way.

@@teohyc I think I saw them on EBAY in addition to John Neal. Maybe less shipping cost but longer delivery time.

+The Gatorboy How long it lasts will depend on how often you are using. The tip will get blunt when it is worn out. You can draw some initial strokes in a sketchbook and compare them after weeks of use.

As a dip pen nib it lasts 2-3 weeks of frequent use. Wash it after use because leaving it in ink speeds rusting. Titanium lasts twice as long but costs three times as much.

+SUPERVANS Yeah, don't use paper that are too thin.

+Tianlovestech It does slightly. Anyway, if you draw often, the tip might wear off faster and you have to change it before that.

Check out Amazon I get my pens in one to two days.

@@lunakat5763 yeah I did that originally when first researching these pens - they are twice the price there.

@@fablewalls will the G nib rust?

@@abdullahal-shimri3091 - yes if you leave it for extended periods with ink on after drawing. Read all the advice on taking the original nib and feed out that you can - it is really easy to ruin the parts if you're not careful.

+Christian S. I won't dare to use pliers on any fountain pen over $20 😂😂

I am thinking use some molding blue stuff/frogz eggz to make a mold of the feeder, then cast the feeder. Cut the nib down at the back with a razer saw to the same length as the stock rotring one polish the cut and then use the cast to shape the nib. A bit of a process but if it works that would be pretty awesome?

I am interested your question, love Artpens, and would be cool if a Zebra fits. Anyone?

+Gary Tan Noodlers Ink.

I don't think there's another nib that can produces lines thinner than the Zebra G. As to whether this is thinner than .005 I cannot say because I don't have that Micron to test.

+artgapelove I'm not sure about the Nikko G nib. If it can fit into a Tachikawa nib holder, it should fit into this pen. Ink is actually not as important as the paper. Ink may feather on lousy paper. But I found that the Platinum Carbon Ink and Sailor KiwaGuro to be excellent for calligraphy work.

It's difficult to find modern fountain pens matching the flex of vintage or dip nibs. The one that's good might be the Omas fountain pens with flessible (spelled that way) nibs. But I'm saying that from hearsay as I've not used them before. The next closest would be the spencerian modified Namiki Falcon ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-knNedhhFsCI.html

@JambonJovi only one video seen where someone uses a Nikko nib - you could contact "Double H" on his/her channel and see how the swap was made.

For extra fine nibs, you have to either apply very minimal force for drawing thin lines, and when drawing thicker lines you have to pull down in direction.

+Michael Sammler Both of those Sailor Fude pens (plastic body) are not my choice. Their ink flow is not good and I think it's got to do with the tip. If you want to get a cheap Fude pen to try, get the Duke 209.

Teoh Yi Chie I have the Fude blue body cheap one, which has a 40 degree angle. Used it for several months with no issues. Really like it. The black body one has a 50 angle and is about twice as much. still pretty cheap. Not sure how the angle effects drawing though. More tilt for a fatter line or less? Also I just ordered the jinhao x750. it was only ¥350. About $3. Luckily I already have pliers and nibs.

Just like you said. Works great and is SUPER fun to draw with. Took quite a bit of pressure to get it to railroad. The variations are really awesome. Thanks so much.

+mrN3w7 Yup. lol

I didn't know that x450 existed. lol

Lol you should also look into the 159 :D I can't believe you replied 😄. They're all the same nib (I've heard) but I think the 159 might be slightly wetter (I'm not really sure) I don't have it so there's no way for me to test it.

+Americo Neves The cap still fits

thanks a lot!

I'm not sure if other brands will fit

I've Noodlers fountain pens. They are too stiff to be considered flexible. Zebra nib definitely is more flexible and easier to flex.

+Teoh Yi Chie have you tried fitting the zedbra nib onto a Noodler's pen?

I've not tried that. Since I don't use dip pens that often, I'm afraid that it might clog up the pen. I think the main advantage of the Zebra nib on Noodlers is the portability. However, you can get that sort of stroke variation with other flex pens. But of course, the fun is in the modification. LOL.

Teoh Yi Chie It is fun indeed! I can't find any Zebra G nibs to try it though. They only come in packs of 10 but I only need one. Do they wear out that quickly?

theartyone it depends on how agressively you use them, or how much... On averag, a person might have to get a new G in one to three months. They are very very springy, so they are quite resilient.

+이승효 Thanks

Probably not. Anyway, there's no need for such modifications now since there are fountain pens that actually use Zebra G nib. Look for Osprey Pens. BlueDew is another one that has a really sharp nib.

@@teohyc thanks for reply! I would love to try buying them but i live in indonesia, my option is limited 😅.. i just heard this osprey and bluedew, i already know about desiderata pens tho.. they use dip nib as well..

I'm from Singapore. You have a good ear 😂

@@teohyc haha yeah, i studied at jcu awhile back and my friends had an accent similar to yours

+rincake I'm not sure if this will work on a Twsbi Mini. I do have a Twsbi pen and they are good for sketching too. I like that they have a huge ink reservoir inside the pen.

Maybe you can check out Noodlers Ahab. www.parkablogs.com/picture/review-noodlers-ahab-flex-nib-fountain-pen

+ihy I'm not sure about Hunt 101. If they can fit into the Tachikawa nib holder, I guess they should be able to fit into the X750.

I suppose. But nowadays there are fountain pens with EF flex nibs that can mimic Zebra nibs. It's just more convenient when you don't have to keep loading ink to the nib. One example is Pilot Namiki with Spencerian modification www.parkablogs.com/picture/review-pilot-namiki-falcon-fountain-pen

@@teohyc Thanks brother

I'm not sure. The Zebra nib only fits specific size holders

+Xuan Shao Maybe you can look at the Daler Rowney sketchbooks. I recommend at least 120gsm. www.daler-rowney.com/content/hardback-books

+Xuan Shao water cooler books work well, and if you can get some paper from rhodia that would be great!

Hmmm. That's weird. Sorry, I'm not sure why that is so.

+Jason Tay I'm not sure but the Twsbi 700 is a vacuum type filler and I'm pretty sure when you push down to flex it is causing the pressure to change.

I’ve not tried that before

+Gerald Keshawn I don't go to Art Mark but I go to ArtFriend frequently.

Oops

+Damon Lobsien The nib will not fit perfectly but it will fit quite close, so it will feel a bit tight when you push the nib in. There's no need to reshape the nib.

+MC CLG If you have pliers, just some cardboard to product the nib and feed, then clamp it on the side where you can't bend those fins, and pull.

+Teoh Yi Chie I finally got it off! I had to crazy friends the grip back together then was able to pull the Nib n feed out with a grip puller I made,that's like goulet pens to remove my nibs safety. thanks!

I'm not sure about that.

Jinhao x450 works best with zebra G

If I'm not wrong, the Zebra nib only has one size. Med on the Jinhao means the tip is medium, not the size of the nib.

+Teoh Yi Chie Thank you Teoh for such a quick reply. I am so new to all this, but I think it would be good training to start drawing with a fountain pen to train myself to get used to it. Thanks again for the video!

+artgapelove Maybe I'll do a video. But the general advice is to wash your fountain pens monthly. Just flush them with water will be sufficient. You can also get the Rotring Cleaning Fluid (for technical pens) for cleaning as I find that it can really dissolve ink particles quite well overnight.

+Henry Chua Hi, sorry I don't know. I bought mine from Amazon USA. Maybe you can ask at ArtFriend, Straits Commercial or Overjoyed.

+Teoh Yi Chie Thanks for your prompt reply. Really appreciate your advice. Happy drawing! ☺

+Michael Spader Thanks for your support. You can check out the past outdoor sketching videos at ru-vid.com/group/PLucoL_7WoAgBy5QVG51DaTEaGgzDqz82A I don't produce those as frequently because they are rather difficult to produce solo.

+Robert van Munster You can buy it on Amazon UK at www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=zebra+g+nib&tag=parblo-21 Or buy on eBay and look out for free shipping. The item is very lightweight.

Teoh Yi Chie Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, I don't have access to a creditcard. So I need to find a website where I can pay with PayPal.

+Robert van Munster Try eBay then.

Teoh Yi Chie Wow, I don't know why, but I didn't even consider it when I read your comment. But it's of course a perfectly fine option, so thank you for telling me again. And thank you for this video and all the others, I really like them and find them very informative.

www.penstore.nl/

Sumi ink is grounded from ink sticks. They have heavily pigmented so more likely to clog the pen. I recommend Rotring ink.

+bigcat2501 I'm not sure if the grip section from the Metropolitan would fit.

the metropolitan fits a proprietary pilot nib, while the jinhao in this video fits a standard #6 size nib. thankfully jinhao pens are very inexpensive, more so than the metropolitan, if you wanted to try it out

awesome! the pilot feeds are specially designed, so I guess that makes sense. but I'm sure it works well as a dip pen too!

+Yin Kean Chin I have not tried that before.

+iAmIISupermanII Not sure.

+iAmIISupermanII The Jinhao x750 is a size 6 nib, which is a universal size for most, if not all, interchangeable nibs. However, the Jinhao x250 is smaller and has a size 5 nib so no it can not be used in it..

+Ренат Гафаров how'd you break your pen trying to replace a nib

Damon Lobsien it didn't fit

+Derun Ertugrul Jinhao x750

Thanks. So you don't need any adjustments for the feed? You just insert the nib?

No modification required. But it's going to be a tight fit.

Thank you very much for your interest. I don't know why fountain pens are not produced with G nibs. That's what everybody needs and looking for. I will send an email to Jinhao company to demand such fountain pens.

I hardly put Nikko G nib inside of Jinhao 150. I had to grind the feed but the ink flow diminished bec of the modification. But it works anyways. The nib is so scratchy that I am thinking about grinding the tip of the nib too.