Q&A Slices: What is an architect nib?

[@iamyodaok]

the architect's nib is usually for box type calligraphy (non-cursive) which architects usually use in writing specs/ annotations on plans.

[@michaelglodo2389]

At 3:10 Brian mentions the architect grind is a little more finicky. Herein lies an advantage and an opportunity. If the grind is flat, then that's going to be true. But Nick Baca, after asking and explaining to me, gave me a more rounded grind on the vertical surface. What that means is that I don't have to find just the "right" angle, but I can alter the vertical pitch of my pen to get thickness variation when writing cross strokes. In other words, the rounding produces the ability to write with greater variety.

[@AiLake]

I have found that an architect grind's writing angle is very important and it's really personal to the writer. All of my daily carry pens now have architect grinds and I love them!

[@Gouletpens]

Very good point. Definitely one reason it isn't available as a 'stock' nib option. - Colin

[@TheCreedBratton]

What size do you use? Medium? Fine? Bold?

[@word42069]

As an architect who in school had to hand-draft for certain classes early on in the program, I just want it make it clear to people that this grind is very much for architectural lettering (think Frank Lloyd Wright’s lettering) and that in order to do it properly you maintain a very stiff hand where the angle of the writing instrument is kept unnaturally constant and flat while each letter is formed in various generally straight strokes. Think writing Chinese characters with a hand cast. Architectural lettering is deceptively simple looking but is in fact tricky to master as it is such an unnatural way of writing. I assure you that even while looking at FLW’s writing, replicating it makes quite the challenge. The point of the quirkiness or intentional irregularly of arch lettering is so that it cannot be mistaken for line work or symbols in an architectural drawing that may have a LOT of information on it. That said, “drafting” or the drawing of architectural plans, elevations, sections, etc. would never be done with such a pen for a number of reasons with the most obvious being that you don’t actually draft with ink unless you are doing finishing work or a presentation piece… wet ink does not dry well on drafting vellum, is prone to smudge given the type of work involved and you used a tool along with your writing instrument to form each line or curve in an architectural drawing. Drafting requires a very particular method of holding whatever writing instrument you are using in conjunction with a number of drawing tools -most important being a parallel rule and architect’s scale. There is a reason some of the earliest computer software was made for Computer Aided Design (CAD), architectural & technical drawings are immensely time consuming to create by hand and back in the day entire large rooms would be bustling with draftsmen around the clock just to create draw the pages of just one revision of an architectural set. Hell, even with CAD programs today a building can take a year+ to design. With immense love, I say that Architecture is the realm of the mentally disturbed.

[@Brockthedog315]

Any nib or tip of any pen that has a wedge or sharp edge will provide an architect lettering style. Magic markers, felt tips, etc. The main issue is the length of this edge so that you can control the size of your letters/numbers more easily. I’m a landscape architect and would love to have a nib ground someday in this fashion. I’m just not sure how truly smooth of an experience this would be.

[@oldguy7402]

I'm already an avid customer, but the personal, in the moment style of your videos are more like acfriend talking, than a slick sales pitch. Love it.

[@ShahriarFarkhan]

Very well done! This is a great way to enlighten people on the differences and why they may want an architect nib.

[@Qsquires]

Wow! Great explanation. I have considered the architect nib, but love the stub. This is a good illustration of the difference. Thank you!

[@dp8460]

I just found out that sailors naginata togi is a variation of architects nib which is awesome. One reason why on must buy an architects nib or naginata togi is probably if you do asian calligraphy or if you draw and write like an architect.

[@vermis8344]

Architect nib seems to give more brushlike results. Looks good.

[@ZadakLeader]

10+ years ago back in school I used to love pens that were similar to architect grinds. It had not crossed my mind that I could grind it myself better etc, but I did notice that the longer a pen was used, the closer to what I wanted was. Here I am now researching calligraphy and coming across this concept :)

[@H-Bomb295]

Brian, there one company I know of that make their own nibs, including two different architect nibs and a total of seventeen style nibs, even including a Chinese nib. The Italian pen company is Santini. They make a wide array of gorgeous pens at an affordable prices. They sell their own pens so you won't find them at online stores.

[@chyah3]

I was surprised to find my Hebrew calligraphy nib is also called "architect" nib.

[@Gouletpens]

Yeah, I think most custom nib grinders have it listed as Arabic/Hebrew/Architect grinds. - Colin

[@kapirk2244]

I do like an architect nib. I got one from an eBay seller that is making his own. It’s not a dramatic grind, it’s made from a fine or F/M nib so the line variation is not dramatic but I like it. Maybe because it’s not a dramatic grind, it is pretty easy to write with. I imagine if it were made from a larger nib, it might be more particular in the way of a sweet spot.

[@EastLancashireJohn]

Thanks Brian. I had not heard of an architect nib until this video. I like the colour of those two inks you used.

[@Jimmy2Bits]

If you hold the pen sideways so as to recreate a stub shape on the paper, how does the pen behave that way?

[@christopher5706]

If you are a side writer as a lefty it makes the grinds go in reverse

[@fedya4445]

If I had thought about this, I would have prepared illustrations of the nib (and all the others which we ask about) and a camera angle that would show examples of the nib, in cursive and printing and print style writing.

[@muskndusk]

I find the Architect nib easy to grind. I've done it accidentally several times when I've been 'smoothing' a nib. This annoys me because I prefer stubs. It's the figure 8 technique which causes this to happen.

[@highnoon9333]

*very* impressed with your camera's zoom capabilities

[@cheaplaffsarefree]

Osprey makes two in steel -- broad and double broad. I have the BB and I love it. I'd love to find one in gold but I can't go dropping 800 on a Naginata Togi. I've been cruising ebay for something with a broad or coarse nib that I can have reground.

[@Danielsworlds]

As someone who writes mostly in print, I love the one architect nib i have. The problem is you more often than not have to get them custom ground as there's none available to buy. Sailor used to offer one on pens a while ago but those were not cheep and have not been available for a while.

[@Hexsyn]

I'm hoping to find an architect nib that I can try without breaking the bank. After trying some stub nibs and "flex" nibs, I've noticed that my writing position and style apparently doesn't often have strokes that draw directly towards my hand within the individual letter; rather, my writing spends a lot of time pivoting parallel to the placement of my hand. Conceptually, I think that an architect grind might better accentuate my natural writing propensities, but it is a bummer that it seems I can't test that hypothesis on pens that goulet carries without dropping grail-level money at the moment :(

[@amgcandoregiles]

I feel like the architect grind would be helpful for someone writing in a language where the crossstrokes are wide and the downstrokes are thin; chinese, japanese, korean. I guess with a alt name like Hebrew nib that would make sense (hebrew having an alphabet that has those kind of strokes). I know in studying korean I became really frustrated with my pens (and myself) that I couldnt get the right look to my letters.... just a thought.

[@randy-9842]

Brian or Colin -- does GPCo sell any Architect/Hebrew nibs? I haven't found them on your site. If not, can you suggest a place that does sell them? Oh - and thanks as always for your reviews!

[@Gouletpens]

No, like Brian mentioned, we're not familiar with any pen company that offers the Architect grind as a 'stock' nib otherwise we would carry them! It's a custom grind situation, so someone like Mark Bacas (www.nibgrinder.com/ ) would be the place to go for. - Colin

[@randy-9842]

Thanks Colin

[@TheRealSk8rcruz]

Randy R I see that peytonstreetpens.com sells an architect grind jowo nib unit, too.

[@tomhsia4354]

I hold my pen in a way that makes stubs act like architects. No flex writing for me.

[@Kurazaybo]

I did look at stubs with skepticism at first but now I prefer them, I like ones slightly thinner than de 1-1.1 mm that they are usually offered in. However I wonder why some companies like Lamy only offer them untipped, mi steel Safari nib now is worn and is more of an oblique. Would love to try an architect grind, seems like it would be nice for titles or highlighting some words, wich I usually do

[@Cortesevasive]

cauz its chyp

[@eileengoldenberg270]

So a fude nib basically does a similar line, wide when you go flat and sideways and thin when you tip it up and goes vertically..sailor fude de mannen is one the fude pens I use in my urban sketching.. I have been interested in trying an architect nib, and I am going to the SF pen show this weekend. Maybe I will see you there, I will be there on Friday. Thanks for posting this!

[@Gouletpens]

Yep, Brian will be in SF this weekend. Not sure how schedule though! - Colin

[@eileengoldenberg270]

Hey great meeting you today in SF!! Should have gotten a picture my, friends don’t believe me...

[@danlevene5478]

I have a Sailor naginata togi nib, which I think is a lot like an architect grind, but it is easy to write with.

[@martingutierrez2430]

I was wondering if a lamy Safari nib could be made into an architect nib. And if so which size?

[@Gouletpens]

I don't see why not. :) Probably the broad would be best as it has the most tipping material to work with. -Lydia

[@hitekrednek7664]

As someone learning Biblical Hebrew, this nib would make the perfect tool.

[@mirageinthedesert5448]

Couldn’t you rotate a stub and hold you right pen differently to get a similar effect as the Arabic nib

[@vermis8344]

I've been getting somewhat similar results with a steep left-footer stub nib and a bit of rotation.

[@Gouletpens]

Yeah, I'm a side-writer, so my stubs actually have the line variation of the Architect grind. Thick on cross-strokes. - Colin

[@mirageinthedesert5448]

The Goulet Pen Company cool

[@MissMarilynDarling]

this explains why i write sideways i must be trying to emmulate the architect style i just find it easier im wondering how many people do that uninstinctively

[@AnotherFishyMuffin]

Huh, interesting! I didn’t know much about architect bibs before. ✨

[@deadmanomegagaming4061]

I still have no idea what an architect bib is 😄

[@shubhokarr4636]

'Kanwrite' offers an architect grind as a separate nib unit.

[@herrsteppenwolf]

8/24. FPR offers several pens with the Architect nib.

[@jamesjacocks6221]

Architect/Hebrew nibs aren’t that hard to grind and, once you have studied the geometry of the grind surfaces, may be made iteratively on high grade sandpaper (1200 grit or thereabouts) or better, very fine stones. The process is auto-tuning if you hold the pen at your natural writing angle when grinding the writing surface. Great video.

[@DrAzzam]

Architect nibs are perfect for calligraphy in Eastern languages like Arabic ... are they available in your store ..?

[@mirageinthedesert5448]

First yay Really appreciated the insight. I really want to try an architect nib and get into them and was wondering about this

[@neemancallender9092]

AnArchitect nib cannot be factory because it depends on the angle of the pen to the paper and that depends on the individual using the pen When you want a nib ground you need to send a photo of the angle of the pen to the paper

[@caelointheclouds]

Does anyone know I can obtain an architect nib? What Fountain pen can I use?

[@randomrandomizer]

can't you just have an angled stub (say 45 degrees) and then use it as a stub or architecture nib? the way i write i need the stub angled anyway

[@oteliogarcia1562]

if you're left-handed, isn't the architect nib your equivalent to a right-handed person's stub nib?

[@KhurramZubair-q2t]

also very similar to italic

[@KhurramZubair-q2t]

close to Oblique nibs

[@garima_basnet]

Architect nibs are for "architects". For block letters. (Speaking as a student of architecture). Notice how Brian wrote in block letters and they looked so great. We write in our own fontstyle in architecture. They are so desirable to me. It would add so much character and professionalism to my letters. They might not be for everyday writing.