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Kakimori Brass Nib Review 🖋️ Is It Actually Worth It?

Katie Moody

12,789 views

Hi all! In today's video, I’m reviewing the Kakimori Brass Nib from Japan and seeing how it feels to use for art! I test line quality, control, and the overall usability of it.

I also share my favourite waterproof ink and compare them to other writing tools, like the blue pumpkin nib and the Sailor Fude De Mannen fountain pens.

Hope you find this one helpful, and thanks for watching! Katie x

Order my book! https://geni.us/SketchbookJoy

🧡 M A T E R I A L S
Kakimori Brass Nib:
https://kakimori.com/products/k21pmb00m9

Kakimori Sakura Wood Nib Holder

De Atramentis Document Ink in Black

Blue Pumpkin Nib
Sailor Fude De Mannen (55 and 40 degrees)

Strathmore Sketchbook * :
UK: https://amzn.to/3TcDllo
US: https://amzn.to/43fJkeY

Pro Arte travel brush * :
UK: https://tidd.ly/3Xf0hSH
US: https://tidd.ly/4oTHGHB

Daniel Smith Watercolours * :
UK: https://tidd.ly/4bu9M6Z
US: https://tidd.ly/4nep05l

Roman Szmal Watercolours * :
UK: https://tidd.ly/4j7dTsD
US: https://tidd.ly/3ZHJHN6

Large Watercolour Palette * :
UK: https://tidd.ly/3G4T0Qd
US: https://tidd.ly/46dmaHE

Holbein Watercolours * :
UK: https://tidd.ly/3DKBGPC
US: https://tidd.ly/445dr9n

Luminance Pencils * :
UK: https://tidd.ly/3xh5mAP
US: https://tidd.ly/4edCBG1

The above starred (*) links are affiliate links. I'll get a small commission if you buy using these links but at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your help supporting my channel!

💜 T H I N G S M E N T I O N E D
Inside Japan’s most beautiful art stores: Inside Japan’s most beautiful art stores 🇯🇵🎨
My BIGGEST Art Haul from Japan! My BIGGEST Art Haul from Japan! Holbein Go...

💚 C H A P T E R S
00:00 Intro
00:33 Unboxing & price
03:39 Line tests
13:31 Comparison with a Blue Pumpkin nib
15:44 Comparison with a Sailor Fude De Mannen
19:32 Art process and final thoughts

💛 L I N K S
Patreon: Patreon: katiemoody
Instagram: Instagram: katie_moody
Facebook: Facebook: KatieMoodyArt
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KatieMoo...
Newsletter: https://www.katiemoody.co.uk/newsletter
Blog: https://www.katiemoody.co.uk/blog

💙 M U S I C
The music in this video is licensed Epidemic Sound. If you're looking for music for videos I highly recommend them! Here's my referral link which will give us both a free month!
https://share.epidemicsound.com/qx7pc6

20 Comments

@channelbill2933 2 weeks ago

I have a steel and brass Kakimori. A major difference is the thermal conductivity of the metals. Brass heats up quicker than steel and on hot days the ink dries quickly, or gets thicker. Also the viscosity of the ink has a big impact on how well the ink flows off the nib, adjusting the viscosity by adding water to the ink like thicker Sumi ink can have a big impact on how smoothly the nib writes. For outdoors, a major issue is losing the nib because it is so small and is expensive, I keep the kakimori nibs in a tiny Nalgene bottle, which I think is an 8ml round mouth, which is also a great size for carrying dipping ink out doors. The little bottles are air tight and waterproof so as long as you make sure the nib is completely dry, they are great for storing the nibs. I rarely use the brass nib outdoors because of is high thermal conductivity. A small container of water is also very useful when using the Kakimori nibs, I think the instructions say to dip in water before you start writing, regular dipping into water keeps the nibs clean and unclogged and the ink keeps flowing. The ink will dry fairly quickly if you put the pen down, so it is best to just keep it in the water in between drawing and writing. I suggest buying the steel nib if you enjoy working out and about and are only going to buy one nib, once you work out the right viscosity for your inks, it is very smooth and easy to use.

@pix6483 5 months ago

What a treat that you’re testing this mysterious Japanese nib! I’ve been searching for months for a reliable review of it by an artist who tries out all the nib’s line widths, describes how it feels in the hand, and demonstrates its capabilities. How could I have imagined that you’d return from your trip to Japan without this special pen? Thank you so much for this review, Katie – your video is incredibly insightful! ❤

@michellejames5953 5 months ago

Wanted one of these for a few years. Wonderful demo! My tip is to put those little packets you get when you buy shoes or certain items that absorb moisture and pop them in with your nibs if you store them in a tin. I’ve never had any rust doing that and live where the Summers are very humid

@TerriChannel 5 months ago (edited)

I love to use this nib by brushing the nib (using a paintbrush) with a watered down wash of watercolor paint. You can also mix some water with watercolor paint in a small container and dip it just like you would in an ink jar- unlimited colors and fun!! Just experiment with it.

@bluewren65 5 months ago

Great to see an artist drawing with this nib. I've only ever seen it used on fountain pen channels for swatching inks. I recently tried a glass dip pen and I liked that you get a lot of ink with each dip, but found that even if I dotted it on a scrap piece of paper it would gush ink for the first few lines. The ink also, weirdly, seemed to migrate up the pen and get all over my fingers, yuck. I feel like the kakimori nib gives the best of both worlds, tons of ink in each dip, but with the smoothness and control of a fountain pen. Great drawing, wonderful review, thanks Katie.

@smkdesigns24 5 months ago

How you just whipped that beautiful painting out is beyond my comprehension. Wow! ❤

@JamesDoig 5 months ago

Thanks for the heads-up on the prices in Japan! I browsed to the Kakimori website while on a VPN, copied the url and pasted it into proxy buying site....
Brass was £23, but I went with copper for £28.
Given the prices in Japan I got the small nib holder, ink sample set 1, and a ceramic & glass pen holder. Each item was half the price of any UK stationary site.🎉

@zircusT 5 months ago

What a marvellous review this is, and that painting is absolutely amazing!!!
Now I know what I want for my birthday (and made sure I'll get it too - I just made an order 😅)

@carriekorb46 5 months ago

Excellent review, comparison, and demo—thanks so much for sharing!

@nickykegen 5 months ago

Great review thanks Katie. You created such a beautiful piece of work too! ❤

@carlarijff5177 5 months ago

Hi Katie, I love my kakimori nib and holder and draw with it a lot with document ink ore drawing ink, wash it out and it is okay, also have the sailor pen and that one is nice to take with me, have the kakimori for months and never use the normal dip pens anymore, love the drawing you did and it is so nice see the joy you have using it, nice I see someone use it too and hope you enjoy your wonderful Japanese supplies, love them all and see you on Patreon. 😊🥰

@mjpete27 5 months ago

Hullo Katie, I really enjoyed watching you work with the new nib style! I have almost purchased one for myself! I was taught Calligraphy as an elective in school it was an “extra” class. We had regular penmanship classes being taught cursive writing and those classes were taught with ink pens like Bic ball points! I was watching you move the pen and one thing that you might want to try is keeping your wrist locked and change your angle of the pen by raising or lowering your elbow! Holding your pen still and without a hard grip, not loose but relaxed enough so that your hand does not cramp? You might have an easier time getting consistent results too. I watched a Korean Drama and the scholar was wearing the kimono the ones with huge sleeves and he used one hand to hold the brush/pen the other hand and arm to hold his sleeve back from his paper surface! I thought that was an art form all by itself! I do look forward to seeing you use more supplies from your travels in Japan! Have a grand week!

@tracyhanson8644 5 months ago

Hi, Katie. Beautiful. I love the finished piece! The new nib & holder is on my wish list now. ❤

@Melsartventures 5 months ago

Super interesting video - thank you Katie 😊

@lightwavz 5 months ago

Great test! I never knew this nib existed. Thanks so much!

@WilmaBadenhorst-i8u 5 months ago

Lovely drawing!❤

@LindseyFlaten 5 months ago

This is really REALLY nice! I just love seeing how you put new tools to use! Your artwork turned out so effortless and inviting! ❤

@priscribbles 5 months ago

So far I had watched people using the kakimori nibs for different ink swatching & writing. Now watching you create this lovely art piece with the kakimori nib sort of justifies its price & popularity. ❤ Really enjoyed the art process section 😌 (always do).
For the convenience point of view, Sailor fude wins.. I have the 40 degree one and I love it.🥰
Another informative and fun video. ✨

@doubleluckybear 5 months ago

Thank you for this video. I have been waiting for it since I saw that you had purchased the nib. Really thankful for your line swatching and also comparison. Loved the drawing at the end too.

@ruthdavis9090 4 months ago

Thanks for this video, very helpful. My son sent me the most random selection of things such as sketch books, pens, empty stacking ink bottles but amongst the goodies was one of these n=Kakimori nibs. I was a liitle dubious at first as I have the Toms Studio one dip nib and found it very disappointing but Wow! Kakimori beats it hands down (sorry Tom). Lovely nib and great to sketch with.