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Thread: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

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    Default What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    I'm contemplating getting a Pilot 823/743 but not sure what nib tip size. Has anyone (or can someone) measure the line width of the EF / F / M nibs and post it with what ink they used? Thank you!

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    Senior Member Yazeh's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?


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    Senior Member dneal's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    Measuring is actually kind of difficult, even with a scale loupe. Ink consistency is a variable, but so is paper and nib adjustment.

    Can I ask if you have a pen you really like? A Lamy Safari EF, for example, will correspond to a Pilot F approximately.
    "A truth does not mind being questioned. A lie does not like being challenged."

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    If it isn't mentioned in the threads above, nibs.com has this tipping chart that shows the physical measurement of the tines. As dneal pointed out, written line width is dicey due to the ink/paper variables, so about the only hard gauge to go by is measuring the tip. Then you have to account for flow, etc. Anyway, it's a start, though.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    I think you can see a sample writing on Gourmet pens' site:
    I'm not sure if this is the nib you're talking about..

    http://www.gourmetpens.com/2021/04/p...ntain-pen.html

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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    Quote Originally Posted by dneal View Post
    Measuring is actually kind of difficult, even with a scale loupe. Ink consistency is a variable, but so is paper and nib adjustment.

    Can I ask if you have a pen you really like? A Lamy Safari EF, for example, will correspond to a Pilot F approximately.
    I measure with loop and calipers and it seems pretty easy. That being said here is a list:

    Pilot Kokuno - F - pretty nice
    Pilot Kokuno - EF - might be slightly skinny for me but acceptable (would not want thinner - between Kokuno F and EF would be great!)
    Pilot Vanishing Point - F - slightly too wide
    Opus 88 (Jowo #6) - EF - slightly wider than Pilot VP (no good)
    Pilot Prera - M - Definitely too wide

    There were all tested on same paper with same ink.

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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    Quote Originally Posted by Yazeh View Post
    I think you can see a sample writing on Gourmet pens' site:
    I'm not sure if this is the nib you're talking about..

    http://www.gourmetpens.com/2021/04/p...ntain-pen.html
    I'm sorry but none of the links you attached made reference to line width. The last link was for FA nib and not the EF/F/M. Perhaps you meant another link? If not, thank you anyway.

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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    If it isn't mentioned in the threads above, nibs.com has this tipping chart that shows the physical measurement of the tines. As dneal pointed out, written line width is dicey due to the ink/paper variables, so about the only hard gauge to go by is measuring the tip. Then you have to account for flow, etc. Anyway, it's a start, though.
    Thank you for the reference. It is a good start. For anyone else looking at that link, I measured the actual line width to be larger than those numbers stated on TR 68GSM Paper.

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    Senior Member Yazeh's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    Quote Originally Posted by Cool Breeze View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Yazeh View Post
    I think you can see a sample writing on Gourmet pens' site:
    I'm not sure if this is the nib you're talking about..

    http://www.gourmetpens.com/2021/04/p...ntain-pen.html
    I'm sorry but none of the links you attached made reference to line width. The last link was for FA nib and not the EF/F/M. Perhaps you meant another link? If not, thank you anyway.
    I wanted you to have a visual reference in case you were talking about the flex nib. Other than that, it depends what you use normally. Traditionally a Japanese fine is a European Ef etc, Japanese M an European F etc.

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    Senior Member dneal's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    Quote Originally Posted by Cool Breeze View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by dneal View Post
    Measuring is actually kind of difficult, even with a scale loupe. Ink consistency is a variable, but so is paper and nib adjustment.

    Can I ask if you have a pen you really like? A Lamy Safari EF, for example, will correspond to a Pilot F approximately.
    I measure with loop and calipers and it seems pretty easy. That being said here is a list:

    Pilot Kokuno - F - pretty nice
    Pilot Kokuno - EF - might be slightly skinny for me but acceptable (would not want thinner - between Kokuno F and EF would be great!)
    Pilot Vanishing Point - F - slightly too wide
    Opus 88 (Jowo #6) - EF - slightly wider than Pilot VP (no good)
    Pilot Prera - M - Definitely too wide

    There were all tested on same paper with same ink.
    My calipers don’t have those indices. Just numbers.
    "A truth does not mind being questioned. A lie does not like being challenged."

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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    Quote Originally Posted by dneal View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cool Breeze View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by dneal View Post
    Measuring is actually kind of difficult, even with a scale loupe. Ink consistency is a variable, but so is paper and nib adjustment.

    Can I ask if you have a pen you really like? A Lamy Safari EF, for example, will correspond to a Pilot F approximately.
    I measure with loop and calipers and it seems pretty easy. That being said here is a list:

    Pilot Kokuno - F - pretty nice
    Pilot Kokuno - EF - might be slightly skinny for me but acceptable (would not want thinner - between Kokuno F and EF would be great!)
    Pilot Vanishing Point - F - slightly too wide
    Opus 88 (Jowo #6) - EF - slightly wider than Pilot VP (no good)
    Pilot Prera - M - Definitely too wide

    There were all tested on same paper with same ink.
    My calipers don’t have those indices. Just numbers.
    You need new calipers.

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    dneal (January 11th, 2023)

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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    Quote Originally Posted by dneal View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cool Breeze View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by dneal View Post
    Measuring is actually kind of difficult, even with a scale loupe. Ink consistency is a variable, but so is paper and nib adjustment.

    Can I ask if you have a pen you really like? A Lamy Safari EF, for example, will correspond to a Pilot F approximately.
    I measure with loop and calipers and it seems pretty easy. That being said here is a list:

    Pilot Kokuno - F - pretty nice
    Pilot Kokuno - EF - might be slightly skinny for me but acceptable (would not want thinner - between Kokuno F and EF would be great!)
    Pilot Vanishing Point - F - slightly too wide
    Opus 88 (Jowo #6) - EF - slightly wider than Pilot VP (no good)
    Pilot Prera - M - Definitely too wide

    There were all tested on same paper with same ink.
    My calipers don’t have those indices. Just numbers.
    For those that lack the ability of basic reading comprehension, that was for the second part of the question, "Can I ask if you have a pen you really like?"
    Last edited by Cool Breeze; January 12th, 2023 at 01:10 PM.

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is the line width of a no.15 Pilot nib?

    Quote Originally Posted by Cool Breeze View Post
    Thank you for the reference. It is a good start. For anyone else looking at that link, I measured the actual line width to be larger than those numbers stated on TR 68GSM Paper.
    Well, yes... as I believe I mentioned, the only really hard data you can gather is a precise measurement of the tines at the tip, so that you can compare nib to nib what the width of the business end of the nib is. Beyond that, all bets are off - paper, ink choice, nib/feed setup and even user pressure (horrors!) can affect the line as printed on the page. Those variables will always be there, and the exact same nib can lay down different line width if you change some of those variables. Hence my suggestion to measure the metal.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Cool Breeze (January 12th, 2023), dneal (January 12th, 2023)

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