Editing The Pen Addict 306/transcript (section)

== Gold Nib Pens ==


'''Myke Hurley:''' So, 7photo, our good friend Rebecca, looking to buy her first pen with a gold nib, under 300 if possible. That's definitely possible. I would like a pretty color. A limited edition would be preferred. I'm looking at Pro Gear Sky, Platinum Nise Lelos, something along those lines, is I would prefer Japanese. What would you pick? You want to answer? Pro Gear. Yeah, I kind of think you got to go that route.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I think if you're going to, if, like, a lot is riding on this, right? No, I mean it. Like, this feels like this is the first, right? It's like the first pen with a gold nib, right? It's a big deal. This is a big purchase. This is a kind of thing that if you screw it up, if you get something that's not perfect, you're going to regret it, right? And I know that Platinum obviously make amazing stuff. They do. They make really great stuff. But you can't beat a Pro Gear. Like, I don't think you can either. And if Pro Gear is in your, like, that is in your site, and you want a special edition, and they have a new one coming out, like, it feels like a no-brainer to me. Mm-hmm.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, and this is one, like, if you don't see right now, you just wait it out, right? You're going to find something that's going to meet every criteria you have. I think you definitely go Pro Gear. Like, as much as I love Platinum's and Platinum's nibs and Platinum's style, I think that you would enjoy, for the lifetime of using the pen, the Pro Gear more. That's kind of, that's the way I'm leaning. I mean, that's a super good question. And we answer this one a lot, and it's always, like, it depends, and, you know, there's lots of caveats, but I think this one's actually pretty clear. Just don't, like, just don't settle on one that you're not completely in love with, because there'll be another one tomorrow that ticks all the boxes, and then jump on that one. So, similarly, Myke, iEric says, I'm considering getting a Pro Gear or a 3776. Shocking. It's good pens. I like very fine nibs. I have a VP vanishing point in both fine and extra fine. Extra fine is too toothy for me, and fine is not quite fine enough. Which would you recommend between the Pro Gear and 3776? This is actually a harder question to answer than the previous question in my book. So, there's a couple of different ways to go. So, you can get a hard fine sailor nib that's finer than their fine nib and a little bit wider than their extra fine nib, but it might be too firm for you. I actually really enjoy Platinum's soft fine nib, which you think would be a wider line than a standard fine because of the softness of the nib and that it, you know, kind of flexes a little bit. But I found the lines I can get from that soft fine platinum nib are finer than, like, my sailor fine lines, and it's still smooth. It was kind of an eye-opener when I got the red Shungyo 3776 with a soft fine nib, and I was converted immediately to that nib. So, I think out of, to answer this question, I would actually go with a soft fine platinum nib to kind of meet the criteria. Yeah, there's a specific. That you're trying to get.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' You know, like, these are very specifics, right? Like, if this is solving a problem that Platinum can, oh, sorry, the 3776 can solve.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, and I should know this answer. I don't, does Sailor make soft nibs in their lineup? I know they make hard nibs, and I know they make standard nibs. I don't know that I own a Sailor soft nib. So, that's something I'd be interested in trying if there's one out there. I'll look into that.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Did I tell you, by the way, that my Riello is a hard fine, and I really like it?

'''Myke Hurley:''' I think you did, and I think you were, like, surprised that it would actually turn out as well as you thought it would.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, I really like it, which is a big surprise to me, because I didn't think I would really like that at all. But I wanted it because it was fun, but I really like using it a lot.

'''Myke Hurley:''' So, I know Pilot does soft nibs, and I haven't tried one of those yet to compare it to the Platinum nibs. But I love, I absolutely love the soft, fine Platinum nibs for someone who writes very fine and small and still wants it smooth. Wonderful nib. So, Gil's Desk, last one this week, it kind of relates to the pen tuning and cleaning stuff. Favorite cloth products for use in pen filling, cleaning, polishing, pampering activities? So, I have two kind of towels I use in my cleaning setup. One is just a basic microfiber towel that I got off Amazon, you know, so you don't have, like, fibers getting stuck in the nibs and, you know, even general, you know, I don't know what you'd call fluff from non-microfiber towels. These are, like, large 12 by 12 inch or so towels. I bought, like, a 20 pack for, like, five or six dollars. They're really good for, like, not scratching up your nibs and not leaving residue. What's the word I'm looking for? I don't know. I'm blanking. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah, just, like, fluff. The little fluffy stuff. Fluff. Yeah. Yeah. So, doesn't leave the fluff around. The second thing I use is actually, and I'll have to find the brand name of them, but it's a shop paper towel. And those are, like, the blue paper towels you'd see, like, say, like an automotive shop. Those are also kind of, they're not fiber free, but they hold up against, like, water very well. They're, like, super durable. They're not going to scratch your pens when you use them to, like, wipe off the nibs or wipe off the barrels. They're really nice, disposable, like a paper towel. It's just made to be real durable, soak up water very well, and not fall apart when you're using, like, a traditional paper towel. So, those are disposable. The microfiber cloths are reusable. So, those are kind of the two cloths I use. I don't ever, I don't have a cloth to, like, polish any fountain pen nibs or anything like that. Although, I did just get this, Anderson Pen sent me this Mont Blanc nib cleaning cloth. Like, it's in the shape of a nib. Like, you, like, tuck it over the nib and clean it. So, I'm going to have to test that out. It's still in the package, so I'll have to try those for just standard nib polishing. But I don't really polish my nibs that much, Myke.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Lint. That's the word I'm looking for.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I'm pleased you found it.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Thanks so much for listening to this week's show. You can go to relay.fm slash pen addict slash 306 for our show notes so you can find them in the podcast app that you use. They should be in there all linked up for you. Thanks to Casper and Storyworth for their support of this week's episode. If you want to find Brad online, he's over at penaddict.com, knock.co. He is penaddict on Instagram, dowdyism on Twitter. I am imike, I am yke, and we'll be back next time. Thank you so much for listening. Until next time, say goodbye, Brad Dowdy. Goodbye, Brad Dowdy.

[[Category:Podcast Transcripts]]
[[Category:The Pen Addict Podcast Transcript]]