Why You Need the Esterbrook Journaler Fountain Pen Nib, Plus Stub Nib Comparisons

[@focusonthefuture582]

Thank you for your thoughts! I, too, have a Journaler nib which I love. I also love the Techo nib, and find myself able to do more with it, That having been said, I need to think more about it because the size of the writing changes so much with the tilt of the pen. Esterbrook is doing a great job for us!

[@snarkywordsworth]

I’ve been waffling between trying out a Techo and a Scribe. The results I’ve seen for both are AMAZING, but I’m worried I won’t have the patience to really get comfortable with the Techo. #firstworldproblems, right? In any case, you may have me leaning a little more towards it, though. Thanks for watching!

[@CattyFae]

that pink ink looks amazing! ❤

[@snarkywordsworth]

I love Twelfth Night! It took me ages to find a pale shade that wasn't too light and that still would show up enough to be legible. Thanks for watching.

[@daves1802]

I just picked up a Nouveau Blue Estie with a Journaler Nib. Love it, just as much as my 742 SU and my Franklin Christoph Model 46 with a S.I.G. Medium! I love stubs but these three give character and can still be every day writers.

[@snarkywordsworth]

Congrats on the new pen and nib! How does the Nouveau Blue look in real life? Is it more blue or can you really see the contrasting browns, too? It's so lovely in photos, but I haven't gotten to see one in person, yet.

[@daves1802]

@snarkywordsworth it is gorgeous and really a pen that you need to see in person to be able to turn it and see how the light reflects. The browns are absolutely not lost in this pen. The contrast works beautifully alongside the blues.

[@ghostwhowalks5623]

beautiful handwriting! Very useful.....I've been getting into speciality nibs lately.....and the journaler has been on my radar. Convinced after watching your video:) Thanks for making this!

[@snarkywordsworth]

Yay! Let me know how you like it if you end up picking one up. 😍😍😍

[@ghostwhowalks5623]

@@snarkywordsworth - def:)

[@siguie2355]

Very interesting! Have you ever tried a Nemosine 0.6mm, or 0.8mm stub? Nemosine went bye bye but I believe Birmingham Pens still sells the nibs. The 0.6 is one of my favourites for reasons similar to what you describe but they are not tipped. I've been thinking about adding an Esterbrook to my collection but I haven't seen one that calls to me yet but if I do find one I will certainly consider making it one with a Journaler nib.

[@snarkywordsworth]

I haven't gotten to try one, yet, but I really want to. I saw an IG story of one of the Birmingham pens with it, and I've been intrigued ever since. They used to do a bronze pen that I was in love with, but I haven't seen in on the site in ages, sadly. Anyway, thanks so much for watching!

[@philnaunton7181]

Never tried a journaller nib, but I do have numerous Stub 1.1's. Some of the Stubs I do have I am extremely happy with, although my handwriting is much larger than your examples. I even use a standard fountain pen that I have adapted a Pilot Parallel Nib to, which find is fun to use on occasion. I may try a Journaller at some point, but for now I have restricted pen purchases for the remainder of '23. For the future I will keep your recommendation in mind.

[@snarkywordsworth]

I totally get restricting pen purchases. I...probably should. :) Do you have a favorite 1.1 stub? Thanks so much for watching.

[@slskene]

Thanks to your great review I just ordered the new Esterbrook Model J in Antique Rose with the Journaler nib. It’s my first Esterbrook so I wasn’t sure what nib to go with but I think I’ll love this one.

[@snarkywordsworth]

That's so exciting! The pictures of it looks amazing - you'll need to let me know how you like it once it lands. :) Thanks for watching.

[@antoniomonteiro1203]

I have a Twsbi Diamond 580 ALR with a 1.1 stub nib which I love. But for normal writing I feel it is a bit too broad, so I use it primarilly for titles. But I have a lot of medium nib pens and I shaped all their nibs to make them more like this Journaler one. I have much more pleasure writing with these nibs shape than normal nibs. The Esterbrook Estie Petrified Forest & Gold was on my wishlist. Now I know which nib to chose.

[@snarkywordsworth]

Totally agree about the TWSBI stubs! I adore them, but they are a tiny bit bigger than I use casually or at work. I love journaling and writing letters with them, though. And yes, you definitely should get the Journaler if you end up ordering an Estie. It truly is an exceptional nib. Thanks for watching!!

[@das_ein]

Hi 👋🏽 Newbie here to learn 🤓 Thanks for the comparisons!

[@snarkywordsworth]

Thanks so much for watching - I hope it was helpful!

[@LenaMellow]

In the $200+ price point the nib should be made of gold and be generally prettier. But yes, your writing looked lovely.

[@snarkywordsworth]

As a fan of Japanese nibs (many of which are gold and under $200), I can totally understand your point of view. I don't necessarily think I'd go hog wild over standard EF, F, M, or B nibs that are over $200, but I don't really consider the Journaler to be a standard nib. If I were to get a custom ground nib, it would generally add $50+ dollars to the price of a pen, so for me, this works out to be a reasonable enough purchase. Of course, reasonable is totally relative. Regardless, thank you so much for watching (and for the compliment about my writing 😍).

[@March22012]

I also love, love, love my journaller nib.

[@snarkywordsworth]

Yay! Can I ask which Esterbrook you use? I'm always interested to hear what colorways people gravitate toward. Thanks for watching.

[@March22012]

@@snarkywordsworth, I got the Sea Glass Estie. It's gorgeous. I have a few Esterbrooks and, like Leonardos, they just work beautifully. I love them all.

[@khk5723]

You can try grinding your own nibs to suit your writing style, it is fun. Nice video by the way. Cheers-!

[@snarkywordsworth]

Thank you for watching! I hear people talking about grinding their own, and I'm always so impressed. I think I'd be too nervous to mess up the nibs.

[@StealthyGypsy]

Thanks for that informative and helpful video on stubs. I am just starting to branch out from the normal lineup of nibs. I am hoping that by the time the San Francisco pin show is over I will have a pen with a Journaler nib.

[@snarkywordsworth]

Thanks for watching - I'm so glad it was helpful! Do you know what colorway you want already?

[@StealthyGypsy]

@@snarkywordsworth No, I can’t decide which color to get. I keep going back-and-forth but I’m pretty sure I will only get one, so it has to be the right one. But I’m also hoping I can get Gina to grind one of my pen nibs down to a Journaler. I expect if I wait, Esterbrook will come out with the pen that I must have!

[@shankardebbarma3215]

This resonates so much with me...the 1.1 stubs across the brand's from jowo to Twisbi to pilot B ... None are really suitable for small writing

[@snarkywordsworth]

Thank you so much for watching! If you are still interested in hunting down other stubs that might work, someone mentioned to me the LAMY 1.1 stub is pretty reasonable as far as everyday writing goes, but I haven't yet tried it out. I do really like my Pilot 742's SU nib for everyday, but I know others have had different experiences, so I'm not sure if I just got lucky with an exceptionally good nib or if my nib/ink combo is the real culprit.

[@ironmic9244]

Good comparison of some of the different stubs out there. I have always wanted to try a Journaler nib. I too would like a stub like nib with a narrower width. I am thinking to grinding some of my mediums into medium stubs. I also like the Estie, but undecided about with Estie I would get.

[@snarkywordsworth]

Thanks so much for watching, and good luck if you do decide to start grinding your own mediums! You'll have to let me know how it goes. I'm such a chicken - I don't think I'd be able to. Are there Esties you're particularly drawn to?

[@ironmic9244]

@@snarkywordsworth Oh no, I won't grind my own nibs, I'll have to send them off. I'm too afraid to do that. Let the professional do it. The Esties I like are is the Seaglass, Cobalt, Scarlett, Rocky, and the Peacock.

[@ichirofakename]

Good info, thanks.

[@snarkywordsworth]

Thanks for tuning it!

[@joistevens4454]

Thanks for this information! What color way is this pen?

[@snarkywordsworth]

So glad it was useful - thanks for watching! This is the Estie Cola. It was one of the Esterbrook exclusives from a while back.

[@MrsinTN]

I have wanted a journaler nib, but unsure if I can ever buy one. I have several stub nibs; I had to work and work on my TWSBI stub nib to soften the edges. I have a Pineider Full Metal Jacket with a gold stub nib that is crazy wet and flexy, but most of my other stub nibs are on lower priced pens.

[@snarkywordsworth]

I'd love to try a Pineider with a gold stub! It must be amazing to write with. Anyway, it took me quite a while to commit to buying this pen, but I honestly am really happy to have it. The Esterbrooks with the custom nibs are definitely on the pricier side for steel, but if you happen to have a pen you already love that you'd be willing to have ground into a Journaler, I believe Gena offers the option via her site: www.customnibstudio.com/ .

[@Calcprof]

You might try Franklin-Christoph S. I. G (stub italic grind?) nibs. Available in EF though B (and, maybe, I hoping, in BB)

[@snarkywordsworth]

I've thought about picking one up for a while now, and I've added a couple models to my cart on multiple occasions, but I just haven't finished out the sale. I'd definitely like to try one - maybe there'll be something at the Ohio Pen Show next weekend. Thanks for the rec and for watching!!

[@mitchpearce8540]

Hi. That blue/teal ink that was in your Edison Glenmont has some great shading! Do you mind sharing what it is? I too, love a stub, or a flex nib. Anything that will give some line variation and show off the ink. Thanks for the vid!

[@snarkywordsworth]

It's Sailor Manyo Koke and one of my favorite inks right now. Thanks for watching!

[@opajuzebette4781]

Try the new ministub nib out!

[@snarkywordsworth]

It's already on my wishlist! 😍😂

[@opajuzebette4781]

@@snarkywordsworth Got a few yesterday

[@jean-yvesmead3972]

Is it closer to an Esterbrook 9312 rather than 9314 nib? The '312 are straight italics while the '314 are left-foot obliques, going all the way back to the original Judge's Quill and Relief dip nibs.

[@snarkywordsworth]

Thank you for watching! According to the site, it's supposed to be based off of the 9314M, but I don't personally have experience with vintage Esterbrooks (I'm a vintage Parker girl). Anyway, the Journaler is far more stubby than either an average italic or an oblique, but I can't see or feel any angle at all, so if I go off your description, I'd say it's a subtle stub of the 9312 more so than the 9314. Again, that's just going off the above descriptions as I have never written with either the 9312 or 9314. I hope this helps a little.

[@jacobpedersen8661]

Interesting, I just got a Journaler nib on one of the special editions, and my nib is actually ground now with gJs for Gina's initials and the J for journaler under the Esterbrook logo. Wonder if that is a new thing?

[@snarkywordsworth]

That's awesome that the nib is even more custom, now, though I can't deny being a little jealous about it. :)

[@daves1802]

Just got mine today and it also has GJS below the logo.

[@anil4nature]

👌👌😍🍃

[@snarkywordsworth]

Thank you for watching!

[@MrTwangstaable]

Hopeless handwriting 😢

[@snarkywordsworth]

Sorry if my writing is wonky for you. Thanks for watching, anyway.

[@MrTwangstaable]

@@snarkywordsworth nah, its lovely, it's yours, was expecting a snarky response! Your a sweetheart :)