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How to use Zebra G Nib on a Fountain Pen


Do you use a nib pen for drawing, making comics, calligraphy? Do you find it a hassle to have to constantly reload the nib? Ever wish that you could use a Zebra Comic G Nib on a fountain pen?

There are products such as the Desiderata fountain pen and Ackerman pump pens that allow you to use those G nibs.

Today, I'm going to show you an easier way. A cheaper way.

Video demonstration

Tools you need


These are what you need.

Jinhao X750 fountain pen
I bought this on eBay. It's a very affordable fountain pen that cost upwards from USD $5. It comes with different coloured bodies. An ink convertor is included.

Zebra Comic G
The Chrome box of 10 cost less than USD $10. And the Titanium version cost $25 and is suppose to last longer.

Ink
I've tried Noodler's ink. I think the water tension is not strong enough and when the nib is flexing, it's more prone to railroading. The Platinum Carbon Ink seems to be more viscous, and it's also waterproof.

Pliers
You'll need this to remove the G nibs from the pen. Because the G nib is not designed for this fountain pen, it will be a bit tight when you it in together with the feed.

How to put the G nib on the fountain pen

Before you start, note that the G nib is sharp. Be careful not to cut yourself.

You can pull out the original nib and feed of the Jinhao X750 very easily.

Spend some time to look at the feed. Note that the feed is not circular all around. There's a flat portion at the bottom. Look at the grip section and look for the flat part there.

You can only put pack the nib and feed when the feed is position with the flat side against the flat side of the grip's hole.


I've tried a few positions of alignment and I found the one above with the most effective ink flow.

Look out for the first cut on the feed, the first slot of those vertical parallel thingys. You should align that slot to the cut of the nib such that when you look at the nib from the top, you can see through.

Once you place the nib and feed correctly, press hard before you push them back into the pen. Remember that you have to align the feed properly or it will not go in. Go slowly so as not to cut yourself.

If the back part of the nib protrudes upwards and prevents itself from going in, just use another finger, preferably from the same hand to push the nib down — your other hand is holding the pen.

To remove the nib

The G nib and feed will be tight and difficult to remove with bare hands. You'll need pliers.

I use some paper/tissue to protect the nib and feed before using the pliers to grip.


Do not use the pliers such that they press down on the vertical slits.


Use the pliers to press down on the sides of the nib and feed. I would use tissue or paper to prevent damage.


If you grip wrongly with the pliers, you're going to damage the plastic nib. I've damaged mine after I found out the correct way of gripping. Don't be like me.


After you completed all the steps, your new G nib fountain pen will look awesome. Time to fill up some ink and test.

If you leave the pen overnight, ink might dry up. Just push out some ink from the convertor to get the ink into the feed and you can use the pen again. And if your nib somehow runs dry, use the same steps.


With a normal nib holder, I could only fill half of the (top left) square with lines before I need to reload. Other than the top left square, all the rest were drawn with the G nib fountain pen.

When you draw too fast and flex at the same time, it has a tendency to railroad. Flexing uses a lot of ink and the feed wasn't able to provide enough ink. So go slow when you're drawing.


I'm bad at calligraphy so I just wrote alphabet in uppercase.


Here's a comparison between a drawing drawn with the Namiki Falcon (left) and G nib (right).

Conclusion

This is a fantastic combination.

It works well. Draw slowly and it will work flawlessly.

Go try it.

All for under USD $20, assuming you already have ink, and pliers.

Share this post or video with all your artist friends and pen nerds. Watch them go insane.

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