I have just gone through this process. I got some different nib sizes in cheaper pens. I found the broader nibs made my writing look better, but I deemed it synthetic and went with fine and extra fine so that I can really work on it. I do still love the broads for "fancy inks". Thank you!
There's the "different strokes(literally) for different folks" way of looking at it, but there's also the "different tools for different jobs" perspective. Some people really just want to use what they like and they will make it work no matter what, others will prefer to use whatever works best for the specific task at hand. Whenever I'm carrying my pen case I always carry at least one each of a needlepoint, a medium and a triple broad nib so I always have what I need. If I don't have access to my pen case, I carry only a pocket pen with a fine-medium nib because that seems to be the most effective all-rounder. I've found that most people tend to start off choosing a nib width that works well for the ruling width they typically use, then they pick a ruling width for the nib width that they enjoy most, and then they realise that they can't always control the ruling width they get to use, so they either end up carrying a variety of nibs or ask a nibmeister to put a reverse grind on their nib so it can do both at the same time.
I find my writing difficult to read with a medium or broader nib. One of my favourites is the Falcon SF. I also like Pilot's PO nibs for journals and other places I write small. A vintage EF flex is another pen I have the best results with
Thank you for your experiences and recommendations. Since I use the nibs for writing and drawing myself, I have found that the quality of the nib, the ink flow of the pen holder and the type of paper are crucial. Nibs that are too hard and stiff and a rough type of paper are not suitable for this. I also do not use wide nibs. My impression is that it has become increasingly difficult to get good quality pen holders at a reasonable price.
A Platinum Preppy gives you 2-in-1 nib option for their 0.5 M nib, by having a decent reverse writing UEF nib. I discovered it when a wet flowing ink put down too thick of a line for my needs and decided to try out some reverse writing with mine, and it worked well past two pages of writing for me.
I vary more the inkcolour than the nibsize. Currently I have 4 pens inked in Diamine oxblood, Faber-Castell hazelnut, Diamine sherwood green and Lamy Crystal benitoite (blue-black). All of them are extrafine nibs, but two are "ex"-broads, which I put an reverse architect grind on. (As a result of the grind, on the "right" side, these two are more like extra-extra fine) So if I'm in the mood for more line variation I just turn my pen around and write on the reverse side. I really like the look of cursive written with an architect, it's a distinct variation to the usual stub and italic nibs. The red is my favorite at the moment, as it's in the Lamy 2000 EF. If you hit the famous sweetspot of that nib, it behaves slightly "architect-ish", especially on the fine and extrafine. My handwriting is tiny, a capital C is about 4mm in height. So, even with hairlines minor mistakes are not too visible.
Hello and thank you so much for your explanation! I am learning Palmer method as a beginner, so Fine nibs would be recommended, I took from your very informative video. So beautiful your Palmer's writing! I am especially looking to buy a Pilot 743, would you recommendate a Fine, Soft-Fine, Medium-Fine or FA (semi-flex Falcon) nib for the pen for 1) Palmer cursive and 2) everyday handwriting on Rhodia or the New Tomoe River (sometimes more than 1 hours of writing a day)? My handwriting is normal sized I guess (confined between the 7 or 8 mm ruled paper it usually fits well). I refer to note-taking, journalling, long writing sessions (not just testing inks). Thank you and regards from Germany!
I'm glad the video was helpful! If you only want one pen, then the Pilot Custom 743 in fine is a great choice. But if you can get two pens, then you may want your everyday writing pen in medium and a handwriting practice pen in fine or extra fine. Maybe get the Pilot Custom 743 in medium and an inexpensive Pilot in fine, such as the Kakuno or Explorer. Whatever suits your design preferences.
@@putteringpenman Thank you so much for your so quick reply! It is an excellent idea to buy two pens for practice + for everyday, one 743 and one cheaper pen (still the cheap ones from Pilot are superb for the value). I have not thought of that. I can only financially afford 1 pen in the 743 category of course, so I think Medium or Medium-Fine (also offered by Pilot) would be it. And then an additional kaküno I can also afford, which I will choose in fine then. This sounds like a good plan, thank you for the support! (Also speed of writing I think, I want to write faster, one of the reasons I am learning Palmer, then ink flow with speedy writing becomes important, too in choosing your nib size)
@@mixeddrinks8100 Thank you very much for your insight and recommendation! I did a consideration of the FA, but after the research I fear the FA might be too "soft", so i accidentally put on broader lines if I don't always keep full control (control = muscle tension = exhausting over time for longer writing sessions). I am sure FA is perfect for calligraphy with beautiful line variation, but not so sure if it will be fit for fast everyday "normal" cursive writing without line variation like Palmer method?
I have been learning and practicing the Palmer Method for six years now. I have a video about flex nibs on fountain pens coming out soon. Next week's video, which is a review of the Pilot Falcon, also discuses my thoughts a bit. But in general, I haven't found a flex nib fountain pen that allows me to do good pointed pen calligraphy. I stick with dip pens like the Leonardt Principal EF or Zebra G for Spencerian, Copperplate, and Engrossers Script.
I like to write with fountain pens which are something in-between f and m. The problem what I have is when I buy Japanese pens thru the internet sometimes they are not finer as they should be. I.e. I bought a sailor pro gear and a vanishing point in m, expecting the nibs to write like a European F. Both nibs write as broad as my Lamy safari in m. 😕
Thank you! Japanese Medium doesn't always equal a European Fine. It is usually brand specific, sometimes pen model specific. What pens in particular are you trying to compare?
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I have just gone through this process. I got some different nib sizes in cheaper pens. I found the broader nibs made my writing look better, but I deemed it synthetic and went with fine and extra fine so that I can really work on it. I do still love the broads for "fancy inks". Thank you!
There's the "different strokes(literally) for different folks" way of looking at it, but there's also the "different tools for different jobs" perspective. Some people really just want to use what they like and they will make it work no matter what, others will prefer to use whatever works best for the specific task at hand. Whenever I'm carrying my pen case I always carry at least one each of a needlepoint, a medium and a triple broad nib so I always have what I need. If I don't have access to my pen case, I carry only a pocket pen with a fine-medium nib because that seems to be the most effective all-rounder. I've found that most people tend to start off choosing a nib width that works well for the ruling width they typically use, then they pick a ruling width for the nib width that they enjoy most, and then they realise that they can't always control the ruling width they get to use, so they either end up carrying a variety of nibs or ask a nibmeister to put a reverse grind on their nib so it can do both at the same time.
I like writing with extra fine but I can see that the broad shows off the colour better and looks nicer to me 😊
I find my writing difficult to read with a medium or broader nib. One of my favourites is the Falcon SF. I also like Pilot's PO nibs for journals and other places I write small.
A vintage EF flex is another pen I have the best results with
So now i know, thats why i find my writings they look better if i use broad nib.❤
Thank you for your experiences and recommendations. Since I use the nibs for writing and drawing myself, I have found that the quality of the nib, the ink flow of the pen holder and the type of paper are crucial. Nibs that are too hard and stiff and a rough type of paper are not suitable for this. I also do not use wide nibs. My impression is that it has become increasingly difficult to get good quality pen holders at a reasonable price.
Nice!
A Platinum Preppy gives you 2-in-1 nib option for their 0.5 M nib, by having a decent reverse writing UEF nib. I discovered it when a wet flowing ink put down too thick of a line for my needs and decided to try out some reverse writing with mine, and it worked well past two pages of writing for me.
I vary more the inkcolour than the nibsize.
Currently I have 4 pens inked in Diamine oxblood, Faber-Castell hazelnut, Diamine sherwood green and Lamy Crystal benitoite (blue-black). All of them are extrafine nibs, but two are "ex"-broads, which I put an reverse architect grind on. (As a result of the grind, on the "right" side, these two are more like extra-extra fine)
So if I'm in the mood for more line variation I just turn my pen around and write on the reverse side.
I really like the look of cursive written with an architect, it's a distinct variation to the usual stub and italic nibs.
The red is my favorite at the moment, as it's in the Lamy 2000 EF. If you hit the famous sweetspot of that nib, it behaves slightly "architect-ish", especially on the fine and extrafine.
My handwriting is tiny, a capital C is about 4mm in height. So, even with hairlines minor mistakes are not too visible.
great information thanks for sharing
Hello and thank you so much for your explanation! I am learning Palmer method as a beginner, so Fine nibs would be recommended, I took from your very informative video. So beautiful your Palmer's writing!
I am especially looking to buy a Pilot 743, would you recommendate a Fine, Soft-Fine, Medium-Fine or FA (semi-flex Falcon) nib for the pen for 1) Palmer cursive and 2) everyday handwriting on Rhodia or the New Tomoe River (sometimes more than 1 hours of writing a day)?
My handwriting is normal sized I guess (confined between the 7 or 8 mm ruled paper it usually fits well). I refer to note-taking, journalling, long writing sessions (not just testing inks).
Thank you and regards from Germany!
I'm glad the video was helpful!
If you only want one pen, then the Pilot Custom 743 in fine is a great choice.
But if you can get two pens, then you may want your everyday writing pen in medium and a handwriting practice pen in fine or extra fine. Maybe get the Pilot Custom 743 in medium and an inexpensive Pilot in fine, such as the Kakuno or Explorer. Whatever suits your design preferences.
@@putteringpenman Thank you so much for your so quick reply! It is an excellent idea to buy two pens for practice + for everyday, one 743 and one cheaper pen (still the cheap ones from Pilot are superb for the value). I have not thought of that.
I can only financially afford 1 pen in the 743 category of course, so I think Medium or Medium-Fine (also offered by Pilot) would be it. And then an additional kaküno I can also afford, which I will choose in fine then.
This sounds like a good plan, thank you for the support!
(Also speed of writing I think, I want to write faster, one of the reasons I am learning Palmer, then ink flow with speedy writing becomes important, too in choosing your nib size)
@@mixeddrinks8100 Thank you very much for your insight and recommendation!
I did a consideration of the FA, but after the research I fear the FA might be too "soft", so i accidentally put on broader lines if I don't always keep full control (control = muscle tension = exhausting over time for longer writing sessions).
I am sure FA is perfect for calligraphy with beautiful line variation, but not so sure if it will be fit for fast everyday "normal" cursive writing without line variation like Palmer method?
What's your take on flex nibs ? And how long have you writing in the Palmer's style ? Thx in advance !
I have been learning and practicing the Palmer Method for six years now.
I have a video about flex nibs on fountain pens coming out soon. Next week's video, which is a review of the Pilot Falcon, also discuses my thoughts a bit. But in general, I haven't found a flex nib fountain pen that allows me to do good pointed pen calligraphy. I stick with dip pens like the Leonardt Principal EF or Zebra G for Spencerian, Copperplate, and Engrossers Script.
I like to write with fountain pens which are something in-between f and m. The problem what I have is when I buy Japanese pens thru the internet sometimes they are not finer as they should be. I.e. I bought a sailor pro gear and a vanishing point in m, expecting the nibs to write like a European F. Both nibs write as broad as my Lamy safari in m. 😕
1. You’ve got a beautiful handwriting.
2. Could you please confirm if Japanese “Medium” equivalent European “Fine”?
Thank you.
Thank you!
Japanese Medium doesn't always equal a European Fine. It is usually brand specific, sometimes pen model specific. What pens in particular are you trying to compare?
My handwriting looks best with a fine nib but I prefer the smoothness of a medium. I wanted to like broad nibs but that line is just too thick for me.