Kakimori Brass Nib - Beautiful Japanese Engineering for Fountain Pen Ink Sketching, Swatching.

[@jannahlyon]

SPOILER ALERT - I love this nib 💕 It gives such wonderful line variation and it is just a beautifully engineered piece of Japanese craftsmanship. I put some links to where you can get your hands on one in the description.

[@impish22]

I was able to try both nibs, and I liked the brass much better. I found them both a bit scratchy, but actually, the brass was smoother, the stainless to me was more scratchy

[@catherinehubbard1167]

A suggestion: the nibs often have a bit of oily coating when new, so starting with a gentle cleaning in mild soapy water might help initial flow. Also, your skin also has oil, so a good idea not to handle the nib with your fingers but rather with something like a paper towel. I want one of these nibs!

[@phototristan]

They have a pdf on their website listing compatible nib holders. I have the Tachikawa t/40 which is compatible.

[@kathykane4982]

Hi Jannah, brass, like aluminum and copper, will not rust even if you let it sit in water. Remember that copper tubing is the best plumbing material one can install ~ because it does not rust. Brass is an alloy of copper, and brass is a major component of trim on sailboats. Brass is often used in ornamental pots for plants, both indoor and outdoor. Inks are mainly made up of water with a very small percentage of dye or pigment and a binder added in. Occasionally other ingredients like preservatives, fungicides, and lubricants are added to help preserve the shelf-life and improve the flow of your ink, so fountain pen nibs that are made of gold or that are rhodium-plated are desirable because these metals do not rust. Likewise, this brass nib won’t rust. I own three of the metal Kakimori nibs: the brass, the stainless steel (which should not rust either due to the composition of the metal), and the pen-type nib. All three are very scratchy as you noticed with your brass nib, with the finer pen-like nib being the scratchiest. I don’t own the glass nib because it has been out of stock for some time now, even at Kakimori in Japan. I purchased all of my nibs and their pen holders from the Kakimori website because the cost of the nibs was less than half of what the nibs and Sakura wooden pen holder cost in the U. S. I can strongly recommend going directly to the Kakimori website and ordering from them rather than paying the very high markups at Yoseka and art stores like St Louis Arts that carry these nibs even with shipping costs from Japan, which were very reasonable. I think the URL is on the front flap of the box if I remember correctly. Though I use the nibs for writing and swatching water soluble fountain pen inks, I prefer the brass nib to the stainless steel one because it feels just a bit softer with slightly more give, which makes it the least scratchy of the three metal nibs. I really enjoy your videos. Enjoy your nib!

[@jannahlyon]

Thank you so much for all this information, especially about the comparison to the stainless steel nib! I have heard from others (since making this video) that the SS one is finer and 'firmer' so I am still glad I got the brass one :) I did look at the Kakimori site before I made the purchase and it was going to be a bout $55 to ship to California (they only offered me DHL which was $25), so I decided to go with Yoseka so I could get some ink samples too :) But I can see, depending on the exchange rate at the time it may be cheaper to get goods there, and totally worth it if you are buying more than one or the holder too! Thanks again, I appreciate your support, information, and conversation :)

[@MariaWalker-qo3vi]

I appreciate your referral to the Kakimori website, but was surprised that the cost was only $4.50 less than St Lois Art Supply for the brass nib!

[@lithinm1998]

Hey how has it held up after all these days? Does it oxidise and cause any issues? Dies the patina cause any performance issues?

[@dwest200]

FYI the nibs work great mounted in a Kaweco Sketchup 5.6 clutch pencil👍. Easily switch between graphite and ink.

[@cazkiwinz4300]

Yeah, she tried it in a clutch lead holder in the video…..

[@thecolourblindkid]

I enjoyed this review. ...very good ..Thank You

[@arlenemurphy804]

Love mine. I also have the Fude fountain pen too. Love the nib because I can use different inks, watercolor without filling the cartridge. Have enjoyed it very much. it is pricey but should last many years.

[@ChericeByler]

Well, I just bought the steel version. Looking forward to trying it! Thanks!

[@jannahlyon]

Nice! You will have to let me know how you like the steel version and if it seems to behave differently to the brass one 💕

[@zenandink3531]

I have the steel one and I’m really enjoying it for inks and for sketching😊

[@ocelot420_69]

Dip pens all lean towards being a bit "scratchy", I use a bunch of nibs for illustration and actually I like the bit of extra drag and feedback from a dip pen nib over a fountain pen.

[@impish22]

This looks like a fun nib

[@Volkmannx]

Interesting, thanks!

[@UNKUHNOODLES]

Do you prefer this instrument over the Sailor "FUDE" instrument?!? Perhaps it is far too early to tell... Maybe one day you can do a follow up video comparing the two and give your opinion as well!🎲🎲🎲

[@jannahlyon]

Even after using it for just a couple of days/weeks I can say that I like the fact that you dont have to hold it in a certain orientation like you do with the fude, this means you can just pick it up and go for it rather than having to have the nib facing the right way. I like this freedom, I feel like it leads to more movement in your strokes, being able to twist and turn the pen as well as changing the angle. I don't know yet if I like it better, they are different from each other but I can let you know down the road :)

[@willowendraec5296]

Is the brass nib noticeably heavier than a normal steel nib...?

[@jannahlyon]

Sorry I am not sure, I only own the brass one.

[@willowendraec5296]

@@jannahlyon ah no, sorry, I meant compared just to any regular fountain pen/dip pen..? Not necessarily the steel Kakimori nib 🐣

[@jannahlyon]

@@willowendraec5296 oh, sorry 😂. Yes it definitely feels heavier than a regular dip pen nib, but it is not uncomfortable or unwieldy.

[@eliscs9638]

Eu queria comprar uma, como faço?

[@jannahlyon]

O link para comprar online está na descrição :)

[@gunsmokeandghouls]

Interesting but way over priced. Can get similar variations with a fude fountain pen for half the price or less.

[@jannahlyon]

Yes, it definitely is expensive for how tiny it is and I actually find (after using it for a couple of months now) that a fude nib is actually easier and more predictable to use for sure. But, there is something about this nib that makes me happy when I use it. It is a bit woo-woo, the symmetry and simplicity add to the the drawing experience for me. The unpredictability of what mark I will get and the texture of it pulling on the paper is part of it. I do wish it were less expensive so it was accessible to more people, but there is craftsmanship and thought involved in the engineering that should also be rewarded. Also the fact that it is a dip pen that holds a lot of ink is very useful too 💕

[@edwardrutledge2765]

I foolishly bought one of the lacquered Kakimori holders @ $85. Doah…how spendthrift is that?

[@jannahlyon]

I am sure it it beautifully crafted just like the nib. You get to enjoy the simple yet thoughtful craftsmanship and how it enhances the experience of using the nib - no regrets just journeys :)

[@edwardrutledge2765]

@@jannahlyon …that’s the most polite “you’re an idiot” I’ve ever received! 😄

[@jannahlyon]

@@edwardrutledge2765 bwhaaa! 😂 Seriously though, on a parallel, I am deep into fountain pens now and at the beginning I thought I would never spend over $60 on a pen, my TWSBI is wonderful writer - but there really is something to be said for thoughtful craftsmanship/engineering and artistic aesthetic. I am eyeing $200+ pens now with head tilts and eyebrow raises of possibly, it really is all about what they add to the journey and experience. That being said, I am still a thrifty miser who likes a cheap way out when I can find it 😂

[@edwardrutledge2765]

@@jannahlyon …I’m an ink addict, pen investments can get out of hand quickly. So instead of wildly expensive pen works of art, I instead buy less expensive chassis that permit swapping out good different nibs. I’ll buy a Gravitas, or Franklin Christof (not cheap) pen, knowing I can swap out oodles of different #5 or #6 nibs giving totally different ink on paper appearances. For me it’s ink, paper and nibs, but only a half dozen pens. 🙄👍🤔😄

[@jannahlyon]

@@edwardrutledge2765 yeah, that sounds like the way to go, I am also a collector of the mediums! I am really interested in the Franklin Christof pens, they seem very versatile and lovely looking too.