Pens, Nibs and Inks

I’ve been looking for a fountain pen, nib, ink and paper to copy the Bible. I’m pretty sure I’ve narrowed down my choices for the pen, nib and ink.

I have an Amazing Grace pen; the metal parts are pewter and brass available as a kit from Wood Turningz, and the body was made by Dutchturner. I also have Faith Hope Love; the metal parts are available as a kit from Wood Turningz and Penn State Industries, and the body made by ProvincialMills. The third pen I’m using is an inexpensive Dikawen 817. I’d like to get another Christian-themed pen.

I’ve tested different nibs, most of them from Fountain Pen Revolution. All three pens use #5 nibs (the base is 5mm), but I found nibs on FPR that are #5.5 (an unofficial size) that fit a #5 pen. Amazing Grace has an FPR Two-Tone Extra Fine nib and Faith Hope Love has an FPR Chrome Extra Fine nib; they seem to write about the same.

I tried some flex nibs, which changes the width of the line depending on how hard the pen is pressed to the paper, but I didn’t like those. I did like the fatter lines for the headings, so the Dikawen has a Goulet Pens 1.4mm Stub nib, which writes with a fatter line vertically than horizontally.

Amazing Grace has Platinum Carbon Black ink, and I’m using it for writing the main text. Faith Hope Love has Platinum Pigment Rose Red ink, and I’m using it for Jesus’ words. Dikawen 817 currently has Parker Quink Blue, and I’m using it for the headings. Be aware that carbon and pigment inks have small particles in them, unlike most inks which are water-based, so pens may need cleaning more often when using these types of ink. The advantage of these types of inks are that they’re archival, so they shouldn’t fade.

There will be some changes. I’m still testing the stub nib in the Dikawen, so I plan on using Platinum Pigment Blue for the final product. The barrel of Faith Hope Love is easier for me to hold because it’s fatter, so I’ll probably put black ink in that and red in Amazing Grace.

My wife, Tammie, ordered Amazing Grace from Lincoln’s Leather when we were at the Ohio Pen Show in November, and it was delivered this week. The pen barrel and cap are made of small pieces of leather stacked together, dyed, glued and made into a pen. Tammie ordered the Amazing Grace kit in pewter and brass (the same kit I have) with the barrel and cap in red leather with gold highlights.

I’m still testing papers, but I’ll likely use Mohawk Crane’s Crest 100% Cotton Kid Wove, Mohawk Strathmore Pure Cotton Wove or Mohawk Strathmore 25% Cotton Wove. Cotton paper is expensive, but it should also last a lot longer than papers made from wood pulp. Wood pulp wasn’t commonly used for paper until the mid-1800’s.