Nib Grinding


Grind Name Description Suitable Nib Sizes Reversible Can be made reversible Can add Tomahawk
    EF F M B BB Steel Stub 14k/21k, Pd Stub      
    Down Cross Down Cross Down Cross Down Cross Down Cross Down Cross Down Cross      
Round Nib Factory nibs are typically referred to as round with the exception of stub and music nibs 0.40 0.35 0.45 0.40 0.50 0.45 0.70 0.60 0.90 0.60 1.10 0.30 1.30 0.30 no yes yes
Stub Rectangle very round edges provides smooth writing with some line variation 0.40 0.30 0.45 0.30 0.50 0.30 0.70 0.35 0.90 0.35 NA NA NA NA no yes yes
Imperial half sphere - removes top half of nib to create stub like line variation with round nib feel 0.40 0.30 0.45 0.30 0.50 0.30 0.70 0.35 0.90 0.35 NA NA NA NA yes yes yes
Cursive Smooth Italic (CSI) Rectangle slightly rounded edges for cursive writing with line variation, slightly smoother than CI 0.40 0.20 0.45 0.25 0.50 0.25 0.70 0.25 0.90 0.25 NA NA 1.10 0.30 no yes yes
Cursive Italic (CI) Rectangle slightly rounded edges for cursive writing with line variation, may feel italic drag on down stroke 0.40 0.25 0.45 0.25 0.50 0.25 0.70 0.25 0.90 0.25 NA NA 1.10 0.30 no yes yes
Italic Rectangle sharp edges for maximun line variation 0.40 0.20 0.45 0.20 0.50 0.20 0.70 0.20 0.90 0.20 NA NA 1.30 0.20 no no no
Reduction (reasonable numbers) Reduce the size of the nib to a smaller size 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.60 0.20 0.60 0.20 no yes yes
Reverse Grind Make the reverse side of the nib write 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.30 0.25 0.30 0.25 0.50 0.30 0.90 0.20 1.00 0.25 na na no
Architect Rotated Rectangle - Down strokes are wide and cross strokes are narrow. Good for block lettering and Hebrew/Arabic text 0.20 0.50 0.25 0.60 0.25 0.70 0.25 0.80 0.25 0.80 NA NA 0.25 0.80 no yes no
Waverly (WA) Slight upturned nib. Good for quick writing and low hand discipline 0.40 0.45 0.45 0.50 0.50 0.55 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA yes yes yes
Monoline Round flat face, maximizing the line width in both directions. Set at a specific writing angle typically around 50 degrees 0.40 0.40 0.45 0.45 0.50 0.50 0.70 0.70 0.80 0.80 NA NA NA NA no yes no
Reverse Architect Upside Down Rotated Rectangle - Down strokes are wide and cross strokes are narrow. Good for block lettering and Hebrew/Arabic text 0.20 0.50 0.25 0.55 0.25 0.65 0.25 0.70 0.25 0.70 NA NA 0.25 0.60 yes yes no
Left Oblique Slanted nib cut to resemeble a left foot - For rotation of nib typically around 15 degrees (angle can be specified) produces similar line to a stub 0.40 0.25 0.45 0.25 0.50 0.30 0.70 0.30 0.90 0.35 NA NA NA NA no no no
Right Oblique Slanted nib cut to resemeble a right foot - For rotation of nib typically around 15 degrees (angle can be specified) produces similar line to a stub 0.40 0.25 0.45 0.25 0.50 0.30 0.70 0.30 0.90 0.35 NA NA NA NA no no no
Round Nose Cursive Italic Rectangle slightly rounded edges for cursive writing with line variation, slightly smoother than CI, writes on both sides 0.40 0.25 0.45 0.25 0.50 0.25 0.70 0.25 0.90 0.25 NA NA 1.00 0.30 yes yes no
Needlepoint Reduction of nib beyond extra fine - .2 to .25 mm 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA no no no
Posting (PO) Slight downturned nib - good for very fine writing 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA yes yes no
Fude Severe upturned nib - for paintbrush style writing with large variation from high angle to low angle .25-1.5 .25-1.5 .25-1.5 .25-1.5 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA yes yes no
Concorde Severe downturned nib - posting style forward with fude style reverse .25-1.5 .25-1.5 .25-1.5 .25-1.5 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA yes yes no
Scythe Curved Architect nib 0.20 0.45 0.25 0.55 0.25 0.60 0.25 0.60 0.25 0.60 NA NA 0.25 0.60 no yes no
Tanto Teardrop - Naginata Togi v1 style grind with line variation dependent on writing angle NA NA NA NA 0.60 0.55 0.70 0.60 0.75 0.65 NA NA     yes yes yes, not recommended
Katana Naginata Togi v2 style grind, down stroke has less line variation dependent on writing angle NA NA NA NA 0.30 0.60 0.35 0.60 0.35 0.60 NA NA     no yes no
Diamond Medium Archtiect Forward, Fine Architect Reverse (45 degrees Only) NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.25 0.60 0.25 0.70 NA NA NA NA yes yes no
High Plans Reverse EF/Needlepoint, Forward Broad at high angle stub at low angle - For those that typically write at 70 degree or higher in their planners. NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.60 0.55 0.70 0.60 NA NA NA NA yes yes no
Mullet Fine with Broad Reverse NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.35 0.35 0.40 0.40 NA NA NA NA yes yes no
Speerpoint EF/Needlepoint with Medium/Broad reverse NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.30 0.25 0.30 0.25 NA NA NA NA yes yes no
Reverse Architect w/ Needlepoint ** Upside Down Rotated Rectangle - Down strokes are wide and cross strokes are narrow. Good for block lettering and Hebrew/Arabic text, needlepint on the forward side 0.20 0.50 0.25 0.55 0.25 0.65 0.25 0.70 0.25 0.70 NA NA 0.25 0.60 yes yes no
Tetanus Ultra Fine Point 0.15 mm or smaller 0.15   0.15   NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA   no no no
    Down Cross Down Cross Down Cross Down Cross Down Cross Down Cross Down Cross     Add Tomahawk
    EF F M B BB Steel Stub 14k/21k, Pd Stub      
                                     
* Line measurements are approximate and reflect what is most typical of an european nib on the grind designed writing side of the nib.