on Extra Fine nibs | fountain pen thoughts

#fountainpen #pilotcustomheritage912
It’s my attempt to persuade you to add an Extra-Fine nib to your collection. Please let me know how well it works :D
Comment down below which pen you would like me to showcase next and hope you guys enjoy this video.
Pens featured in this video:
Pilot Custom Heritage 912 EF
Inks:
Pilot Blue Black
Paper:
Vietnamese generic student notebook
Rhodia Lined Pad
Trùng Kí by Furiin
Tomoe River • Tomoe River Notebook
Music: Gymnopédie no.1 - Erik Satie
For regular updates and more fountainpen contents:
/ awritingguy
Ways to support the channel
paypal.me/awri...
Thank you for watching!

[@dokochu]

I have the entire spectrum of nib sizes and love them all. It's so sad how much hatred EF nibs get from some people. My natural handwriting size is small so I prefer EF and F for everyday writing since it's more legible and looks better. By the way, your writing is amazing!

[@awritingguyAWG]

thank you for the kind words and yes EFs are more finicky to work with but once they’re well tuned and controlled they create wonderful lines on the page - An

[@san2881]

Much I regret after investing a lot of money on my new Lamy 2000 medium nib only to know that it writes too broad (for me sinceIhaveasmallhandwriting). My next pen will be pelican m1000. I will not make the same mistake. I will buy only a fine one.

[@CarzorStelatis]

@@san2881 Bear in mind that Pelikans are a little wider than other nibs. A Lamy Medium is 0.56mm, whereas a Pelikan Fine is 0.5mm. Most other brand Fine nibs are either 0.4mm (European) or 0.3mm (Japanese).

[@Cacciatore_Raccoglitore]

@@san2881 good luck! These days flagship pens are "sign pen" so they tend to write broader than you expected. At least my M400 fine it's like that

[@ameliabuns4058]

For me it's because I can't see my inks well really. But I have one of each nib size tbh

[@incognitoedc]

All EF or F nibs for me as I write very small. Even Lamy EF nibs are too wet and broad for me for writing and journaling. With about 15 pens in my collection now, I've found myself gravitating to the Japanese F or EF nibs. My most used pens are Sailor and Kaweco. My Lamy pens (which were my first fountain pens) are now used primarily for doodling and zentangles. Thank you for the advice on tuning and finding the rhythm of a nib. I enjoy the challenge of becoming one with my pens and discovering the sweet spot of a nib...

[@justdio7459]

How does Japanese nibs differ from European one?

[@commenter4799]

​@@justdio7459rumor has it the Japanese nibs are finer than their European competitors for a given listed size.

[@wmh327]

I was nearly three minutes in before I realized I hadn't heard a single word you said because I was spellbound with your writing...I'll have to watch and "listen" next time!

[@muallaemine]

I write with a very wide range of nib sizes and types. Not only do they have their own particular rhythm as you said, but they have their own characteristic expressions as well. There is a place for a UEF nib right up to a 2B or 3OB; from a ‘regular nib’ to a Fude or an architect or a cursive in a wide range of sizes. All of them are very useable for different things. I find myself in ‘waves’ when it comes to nib sizes I use. Right now I am in my broader nibs phase. But at other times I love my nibs to be the thiner the better. Having used FPs for almost 3 decades, I am lucky to have collected a very wide range of FPs with various nib sizes as well as specialty nibs. I would just advise to use darker inks or saturated inks in the UEF EF and even some F nibs, particularly in japanese brands as they will be too thin to properly show off the colour -or the written text- of many inks that are on the lighter side or are less saturated

[@nauci]

I just picked up an extra fine vanishing point decimo last week so I can use more difficult inks in my Leuchtturm, and it's like writing with a sewing needle, yet surprisingly pleasant. This pen of all pens will teach me to stop using too much pressure!

[@decaquits1035]

It seems so nice and smooth. I've just purchased one right after watching this video. Can't wait to receive it and write my assignments with it!

[@UniversalEngineer]

So very well done from someone who appreciates EF. DELICIOUSLY done. 😀

[@M3T2W01f]

I have nibs of different widths from EF to stubs to flex. My "professional" pens are F or EF. My personal preferences with journaling or writing letters are either medium or stubs.

[@tokiomitohsaka7770]

90% of my handwritten notes are with an extra fine nib. It has several advantages that I appreciate, it allows me to write smaller, which saves on weight (because I can take an A5 notebook and write with it as much as the average person would be able to write on a B5 or an A4 notebook, and keep it thin so I don’t carry a lot of pages in my bag (I got used to it since high school, and kept doing it throughout university and the preference remained). Also, it uses less ink, which is always nice. Also, whenever I want to write something bold among my notes, even a standard fine nib pops when it is surrounded by extra fine.

[@jamesaritchie1]

I hear people say that about EF nibs, and maybe it's true for the average writer, but I write just about as small with a medium nib as most do with an EF. Though I don't find that to be good unless I have to fill a small space on some kind of form. Using less ink is definitely a massive disadvantage to me. Ink is a huge part of why I use fountain pens, and using less ink always means you don't get good color, and you don't show off an ink's properties. If I wanted my writing to look like what comes out of an EF nib, I'd buy fine point gel pens and save a few thousand dollars on ink and a good deal more on good fountain pens.

[@VladimirRobespierre]

So thanks for acknowledging. Can you tell that which one thinner between Lamy Ef and Pilot F. I bought platinum3776 Ef and it is so thinner like an needle. People suggest buying pilot. I wanna a little thinner than Lamy Ef not a needle. If you could answer i would be content

[@civrn368]

I really prefer the extra fine or fine nib for my writing pens. The lines don't lie and you cannot hide bad handwriting with extra fine or fine nib. The broader nibs have their place but not for daily handwriting in my opinion. I enjoy the aesthetic and beauty of your videos and appreciate your penmanship.

[@jamesaritchie1]

It's all personal choice. I use medium nibs for every type of writing. Not everyone who uses wider nibs is hiding bad handwriting, which I've found you really can't do, anyway. Bad handwriting stays bad, even with the widest nibs. Or at least stays poor because the letters aren't formed properly, aren't all the same size, etc. I do dip pen calligraphy with metal crow quills, and with actual feather quills, and I get paid for it, so my handwriting is pretty fair, but I still prefer a Japanes medium when doing my normal writing. I also use western fine nibs, but I like western medium nibs, too. If one of the reasons you love fountain pens is the immense number of inks available, and you want to see the shading, which I don't like, the sheen, which I love, and the shimmer in all their glory, and EF nib simply won't do it. This is why a great many of us prefer broader nibs. I gave away two hundred bottles of ink not very long ago, but I'm back up yo almost three hundred bottles in my collection. This doesn't even count the sample vials and shoebox full of cartridges. I'm not a fan of shading, but I love sheen, and some of these inks have sheen that is almost unbelievable. Often this sheen doesn't even show up with an EF nib, and even when it does it's a shadow of what it looks like with a wider nib. I can't recall the number, but Lamy has a beautiful purple ink that has a bright green shade. Purple and green are my favorite colors and getting both in the same ink makes me very happen. But even the true color of the purple doesn't show up with an EF nib, let alone that bright green sheen. Wider nibs also work far better with shimmer. In fact, shimmer can clog many EF nibs when it does clog wider nibs. Anyway, I don't think many try to hide bad writer by using finer nibs. You really can't do so very well at all. We just love ink, and many of us would use fountain pens at all except for the hundreds and hundreds of available inks. I may be a bit excessive where ink is concerned. I have eight bottles of Montblanc ink that cost ninety dollars each. I have a small bottle of Japanese ink that cost over a hundred dollars. I have a lot of inks at the fifty-dollar range. A big bunch at the thirty to thirty-five-dollar range Maybe a hundred of them in the ten-to-twenty-five-dollar range. I have no clue how much the cartridges or the samples would add up to. But too much. More that it's been sensible to spend. I'm definitely out of control with the ink. I got six more bottles in the mail yesterday, and should have at least eight more coming before the month is out. But ink is a big part of why I use fountain pens, and why I use wider nibs.

[@huyked]

I love extra-fine. My writing is pretty small. I think the medium nibs hide the line variations too much.

[@michaelmaccalla6701]

I only use an extra fine nib. I write small and it is what works best for me.

[@thomashenry3284]

Nice review on the extra fine nib… and yes as per some of the comments, I didn’t hear a word you say because I was hypnotized by your beautiful handwriting and I had to rewind a few times to actually listen to your words lol 😆

[@fountainpeninsanity3344]

You brought up some extremely fine points. (: Thank you!

[@neemancallender9092]

EF is my go to nib and always has been for 50 years I have very small and precise handwriting I also draw with ink . EF How long is a piece of string? . Kawako EF is a wide wet almost broad nib Lamy EF varies from a wet medium to a dry fine, you never know what you will get Lamy 2000 gold is super smooth and writes well as an EF Twsbi EF goes from a fine to a dry EF Faber Castel moves into a true EF, dry enough and fine enough with a very stiff nib ultra smooth and constant Pelikan M200 steel EF is also a true EF that can be tuned to write quite dry Richard Binder grinds M200 steel medium nibs to Waverly and needlepoint, these are wonderful XXF nibs Pilot VP F are finer than all european nibs and EF is needlepoint, but the nibs are gold and springy so you lose the precision Pilot steel replaceable nibs in the Metropolitan and Kuako are stiff and accurate, but often too wet to hold the EF Sailor steel EF are needle point and polished and tuned make an amazing stiff XXF Sailor gold EF are needlepoints and a delight with only a small amount of give Platinum 3776 UEF is as they say ultra EF, and the whole nib has spring to it, which is much more easy to control than the spring of the Pilot VP EF Platinum steel replaceable 0.2 nibs in the Preppy or Plesir, once polished on micron paper and dried almost put all other nibs to shame . Hope this help

[@jamesaritchie1]

I would go nearly that far with the measurements. First, a Kaweco EF is an EF because Kaweco says it is. It's narrower than a Kaweco F nib, so that makes it an EF. Contrary to what many believe, there is no such thing as a standard width for any nib size, other than what an individual company sets for its own pens. Even if there were standards there are dozens and dozens of inks that can change line width dramatically. Put Noodler's Hunter Green in your finest nib and tell me how you like your new medium nib. Being gold and being soft may make you lose precision, but it is not the fault of the nib. Whether steel or gold, a soft, springy nib should give more I precision, not less. O assume you haven't mastered flex nibs, steel or gold. They're as soft and as spring as a nib can get, but you can't write Spencerian or Copperplate without such a nib, and it doesn't get more precise than that. I suspect you try too hard to control a soft, springy nib. The best way to write with such a nib is to let it be soft and springy, let it do what it does best. You guide such a nib, but you do not try to control it the same way you control a stiff nib. I do all my fountain pen writing, and about half my dip pen writing with soft, springy nibs. Contrary to what many might think, real feather quills, if made properly, are even more flexible than steel nibs, or any gold nib on the market that I can think of. But look at a copy of the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. Those were written with feather quills, and the high flex of the nibs is obvious. Yet the writing is so precise it looks like it was done on a computer. Honestly, if I could find an EF flex nib on a fountain pen that worked, I'd grab it. The pointed dip nibs I use are almost like a needle, and will cut paper if you get the angle wrong. But they also have flex, which means I can vary the line width with almost no effort. I draw with pen and ink, too, but like most pros, I prefer drawing with a dip pen because it takes more than one nib size to create most art. It often takes several, and it's just easier to switch with a dip pen. Flex is also a must with many types of drawing. Manga artists all use dip pens with flex nibs, as far as I know. At least all I've met or talked to do. You should experiment with wider nibs. We each like what we like, but EF nibs by themselves have extremely limited uses. Add other nib sizes up to BB, and add stub nibs and italic nibs. Try dip pens, or even feather quills. Even if you don't want to learn Spencerian or Copperplate, pen and ink art can do infinitely more if you have different sizes and types of nibs. Even nib material can make a difference. I have nibs made or steel, gold, glass, titanium, brass, and copper. And, of course, feathers.

[@jamesaritchie1]

I've owned a number of EF nibs, but I have none in my collection right now. I just don't need one. When I want to write on poor paper, I use a fast-drying ink. These work well on any paper, including such lousy paper as Mead notebook paper, and that's about as bad as it gets. Some of these inks dry as close to instantly as an ink can do, so they don't bleed of feather, even on cheap paper. There's no doubt that an EF nib can create beautiful writing, but they simply don't display enough of an ink's properties to satisfy me. I am not a fan of shading at all, so I almost always use inks that are as highly saturated as possible. But I am a fan of sheening inks, and shimmer inks during the holidays, and it takes quite a bit of ink and a wider line to display these things to the degree that makes them special for me. Most of my pens have medium nibs, though with several this means Japanese medium nibs, which are usually thinner than western medium nibs. Some pens have western fine nibs, if they're wet enough to do the job I want done. I love the Japanese medium for general writing. The western fine nibs I have are all over the place in actual size and wetness, which actually makes them more useful. Unlike many, though, regardless of the size or kind of writing I might want to do, or be asked to do by a client, I can do it without worrying about fountain pens. When I want to or need to use calligraphy for something, I get out my dip pens. It's amazing what you can do with a crow quill steel nib. I also have nibs that go all the way up to six millimeters. Also unlike most, I keep a couple of dozen feather quills on hand. People massively underestimate what a well-made feather quill can do. But take a look at the unbelievably beautiful writing in historical documents, and remember they were written with feather quills. Usually goose feathers, but sometime turkey feather. And for some of the finest and most beautiful writing, crow feathers, which is how the steel crow quill got its name. Here, it's the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence that are the measure of how to write with a feather quill, but most countries have beautifully written historical documents. Ninety percent or more of the time I use true India Ink with these dip pens, and it can't be used in a fountain pen, anyway. But sometimes someone will want color, so I use an acrylic calligraphy ink. So you can take my opinion on EF fountain pen nibs with a large grain of salt. I do greatly prefer a nib that shows off sheen better than an EF nib can, but because of the metal dip nibs and the feather quills, I never have need of an EF nib in my home office, and the ultra-fast drying inks let me get by without one when away from home.

[@donhall-aquitania1025]

I love the smooth effortless writing with my Pilot Silvern medium nib, but I’ve heard wonderful things about the Pilot E95S extra fine so I may give that a try.

[@jorge23483]

I have some EF vintage nibs from Esterbrook and Sheaffer: at the beginning they were scratchy and unpleasant, but some little work and care and now they are fun to write with. From the Japanese nibs I tried in F so far (Platinum, Pilot, Sailor), platinum Preppy and pilot Metropolitan had a slightly toothiness that sometimes like and sometimes dislike but they are great to write in the every day workplace paper. But the one that surprised me more is the Sailor procolor 500 in F, it has feedback but it feels smooth at the same time, a very pleasant writing experience. In general I think I like EF, F and Medium nibs a lot and some special grinds like the cursive/italic and architect, they are really fun to write with, especially with shading and shimmering inks. Broad nibs are maybe my less favorite nib size but I admit it's the nib with less examples I tried so far. Thank you for the video.

[@awritingguyAWG]

thank you for your thought on the matter and I’m glad you enjoyed the content - An

[@cloudkicker-gx7gb]

It’s lovely to see a pen channel writing some Spence

[@robbinallan3767]

I have quite a few nib sizes. I find that my tastes vary from day to day, ink to ink. I think your scripts are beautiful and I enjoy your literary references. Good content.

[@jamesaritchie1]

Ink does matter. I have a couple of inks that will make an EF nib write like a medium. I can't even use these inks in most of my pens unless I add a fair measure of distilled water to dry them out.

[@pensplanners6460]

Love extra fines and fines the most!

[@nitina8564]

I have EF to BB nibs in my collection and its really hard to pick a favourite as depending on what i am writing, how much i am going to write and which paper i am going to write or maybe even more factors that i have to think of at times and choose a nib size to write with. And my choice of nib size keeps changing pretty frequently.😋

[@explorerextraordinaire5472]

lucky ❤️❤️👍❤️❤️

[@sumitsimplylogical7325]

Awesome handwriting sir.. so superb Spencerian you are writing 👌👌👍

[@TINGSTARR]

I’ve been contemplating an extra extra fine Nakaya (Platinum) nib and this video was very helpful. Thanks.

[@jameskeener7251]

Clearly presented and useful. Thank you.

[@Cacciatore_Raccoglitore]

Thanks for Satie music 🎵

[@cal6464]

Your content on EF nibs and the Pilot Custom Heritage 912 are a large part of the reason that I finally committed and bought this pen - albeit with the Posting nib. It's a wonderful writer, and I'm really enjoying getting to know it and the lessons it's teaching me. Very mindful - thank you!

[@crazywisdom2]

I am a fan of the EF nib. That being said, I own a few TWSBI 580 demonstrators, and a MB 149. All with custom grinds. Possibly down the road i'll expand my fountain pen vocabulary. Love the thin crisp line.

[@vikrambali4588]

Your handwriting is very inspiring

[@systems-b8w]

I have small handwriting, but i also like thicker/smoother pens so i use medium. Ill look into ef and f soon, when i decide to expand my fountain pen collection.

[@mascot4950]

Thanks for this. I'm new to fountain pens and just got my first fine nib. There are no pen shows or anything around here, so no real way to compare pens without buying them. I was trying to figure out if I got a manufacturing defect or if the amount of feedback and "biting into the page" is to be expected. It's a Pilot Custom 823, which I've seen many places refer to as "Japanese fine", as in finer than many western brands would make a fine nib, which I figure is part of the explanation. It writes well (no skipping or anything), I can spot no obvious misalignment under the microscope. I think my conclusion is that I was just too heavy handed and needed to lighten my touch. It's stil giving lots of feedback, but I no longer get the sensation of it digging into the page. It probably makes sense that the feel it has is what one can expect from a really fine nib. I think I've also learned that I'm not a fan of fine nibs.

[@studiomiroa]

I use mostly 3776 UEF for drawing and writing. I have European EF and F nibs as well, but for my writing and drawing style, Japanese UEF and EF are more suitable. I enjoy using Italic nibs for calligraphy though. I think it's all about their own personal styles of writing. Thank you for the video :)

[@awritingguyAWG]

glad you enjoyed the content and I hope to see your comments in future videos - An

[@budgiethebirdiebreadkiller4300]

Hello there. Great review which I was seeking for a while. Thank you

[@adhaskym.a9536]

Thank you for this. It makes me decide to find a replacement for my Kaweco Extra Fine nib. I chose this over a Sailor extra fine. Your handwriting is similar to mine but mine is not as nice as yours.

[@LucasKellis]

I’m recently coming off my infatuation with broad nibs. I went back to look in my journal archives and my handwriting really does shine with an EF. Going to a school that taught cursive really gave me a leg up. Of course now I’m forever curs(ed)ive 😅 to tilt my paper 45 degrees

[@firebearva]

Your writing is stunning. My writing is best with an EF, or F nib. I use a Montblanc Meisterstuck 146 EF.

[@MelissaSue]

Great quotes! I've never tried EF. I prefer F because I like the look of the slimmer penmanship.

[@LucasFe02]

I bought a F nib cause it's similar to a ballpoint pen.

[@jamesaritchie1]

@@LucasFe02 I don't use ballpoint pens at all because I hat ethe oil based ink they use. But I do use rollerballs abd gel pens. Rollerballs use water based in, and even actual fountain pen ink, and gel pens, of course, use gel ink. But I buy bold points, so they're a little bigger than what most use.

[@luizz_k]

Your videos are the best mate

[@siyuanxu3537]

I used to use EF (on Lamy for 10+Years) but changed to F since 6 years and I am happy about F. I have some nibs which say they are F, but actually in M, I can live with that but still not my nib size.

[@luckyoleary9626]

Great video. Thank you. Some of the comments touch on a good point - nib variation between Japanese and European brands. Maybe a comparison would be informative.

[@awritingguyAWG]

Thanks for the suggestion and I’ll find the chance to have both featured in a later video - An

[@14glagla]

I have an F nib on my Kaweco Dia2 and it is my chief pen this way, it will write on everything except maybe on poor quality paper. This very pen, with this fine nib is my go-to writing instrument for long writing sessions.

[@jamesaritchie1]

Buy some ink that dies almost instantly. Then your pen will work on the worst paper.

[@kevinhaynes9091]

I have F and EF nibs on Safaris, F and EF nibs on TWSBI Diamonds, and a UEF nib on a Platinum 3776 Century. I purchased them all exclusively for sketching, to try out as alternatives to fineliners and draughting pencils. I hate to admit it, but for regular writing, I use a Meisterstück rollerball and ballpoint, both with F nibs, although I had M nibs in the rollerball for many years. The fountain pen never appealed, and as I worked in IT, felt a little anachronistic. I'm still in the process of learning to use ink pens for art, but it's been an interesting journey learning about pens, nibs and ink...

[@roderickfemm8799]

I have migrated over time from Fine to Extra Fine to Japanese Extra Fine, and I suspect that is as far as I'm likely to go in that direction (I presume a needlepoint grind would be finer still). I have purchased two new Japanese EF nibs, one a Sailor and one a Platinum, and both had trouble writing out of the box. The Sailor was completely dry even after I flushed everything out. So it's a little more challenging genre to work with. I like the precision of the finer nibs, but after using them for a while, I also like the flair and sweep of a Medium or a Cursive Italic for a change. This was a nice video, however I personally would have preferred it if some of your writing had been in real time, especially when you were talking about the pace of writing while your hands in the video flew across the page.

[@awritingguyAWG]

it does drag the video out a bit if I put everything in real time, however I’ve also released a follow up real time version to these writing samples, hope you would check it out and let me know your thoughts - An

[@roderickfemm8799]

@@awritingguyAWG Thank you, I watched some of it, and found it very instructive. I have often thought that I could improve my own handwriting if I would just slow down, but I don't seem to have the patience for it, I am afraid that if my hand is moving too slowly my thoughts will disappear before I get them on paper. By the way, I was wrong about not going any finer, I have ordered a needlepoint grind pen from Franklin-Christoph, and I am expecting good results since they grind them themselves, and presumably tune them before they go out the door.

[@s.sunhaloo]

A video from the man himself. Keep it up

[@awritingguyAWG]

More to come! - An

[@cd3694]

I buy only extra fine nibs. I love the clean precision they provide v. the heavy blobby lines I get from western nibs

[@ClydeDatastruct]

Just got my very first fountain pen and it's an extra-fine nib

[@mauraserena4521]

I love F e EF Japan nib ! 👏👏👏

[@barbarajloriordan2697]

I am so accustomed to writing with fine and extra fine nibs that it is hard for me to adjust to, say, a broad nib. The broad line is the one that shows all my mistakes. I practice with a broad nib to improve my penmanship!

[@sempermergulus6137]

I have got Montblanc Meisterstück EF nib (0.43 mm) and this nib is still to broad form me. I tried to write up-side-down by flipping the nib and then it was what I am looking for. What kind of fountain pan I should look for this or better quality and similar size? Japaneses ones with Ultra Extra Fine nib? Which one you recommend? Japanese nibs are thinner than European?

[@DLFfitness1]

Good video 👍🏽

[@MightyMonk360]

I would recommend everyone to start practicing with extra fine nib for fine detail and accuracy. Later once you’re writing style improves to a great level you can gradually start experiment with other nibs so you can transfer your base skills to the nib you favor more or nib of your choice.

[@flabbybum9562]

I've always had problems with my handwriting. It's really, really bad. I baffled teachers, because I was the first in my class to read, and I picked up touch typing quickly too. They tried everything for me, but nothing worked. One of the ideas was to try me out on a fountain pen. It didn't seem to help. Then by mistake, I was given a fountain pen with an extra fine nib. Conventional wisdom has it, that people with poor handwriting do better with broader nibs. But I found that with a really fine nib, I could write really small, which just felt more natural to me. It had a double impact - because my writing was smaller, it didn't look so bad, and being able to write in a way natural to me, actually improved my handwriting just a little. I'm now a lot older, and whilst my handwriting is still poor, it is also just about sufficient. I would be lost without extra fine nibs, and I always encourage people with seriously bad handwriting, to ignore conventional wisdom, and give an extra fine nib a try.

[@Johan-vk5yd]

I prefer F for everyday writing because my notebook is small. However when writing a label, which I do several times a-day, I find F too fine to be easily legible on the shelf. A fude nib can cover both those needs. I really have to mend my broken fude pen!

[@derekdavis5720]

I like an extra fine nib & this is a great video. The only fine nib I have struggled with is an Ultra Extra Nib which is particularly sharp and extra dry . I’m slowly mastering this pen using my gushiest ink. The paper has to be good. The trick although by no means perfected is very light on the upstroke and reasonable pressure on the downstroke. As the pen has an 18k gold nib this kind of creates a decent flex effect. My other two extra fine nibbed pens are stainless steel and the TWSBI version is outstanding. I really enjoy your videos and your handwriting is superb.

[@awritingguyAWG]

glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for the kind words - An

[@jamesaritchie1]

If you flex an 18k nib at all, you are damaging it. It may take time for the damage to affect how the pen writes, but it will happen. One of the main reasons people have sent me pens over the years that just stopped writing well has been because of trying to get line variation from a non-flex nibs. Soft nibs are not made so you can get line variation, despite what far too many pseudo-experts on KZbin say. They're made to act as shock absorbers, to soak up the little tremors, twitches, and jerks we all have during very long writing sessions. They make those long, long sessions, easier, and greatly reduce hand fatigue and cramping, if you learn to let the nib do its job.

[@derekdavis5720]

@@jamesaritchie1 Hi James, unknowingly I’ve been misusing soft fine nibs predominantly those from Platinum. Trying to get flex where there wasn’t really very much. Likewise I’ll no longer overwork my real flex nibs. Thank you for letting me know. Great that you took the time to message me. Much appreciated and much wiser. D

[@JosephDickson]

Fine has been a good compromise for my daily writer. Anything too fine and I tend to write smaller x heights making things a bit harder to review later.

[@awritingguyAWG]

the nib tipping does change the size of my handwriting as well - An

[@Fernandohe111]

'EF' nibs are also the only that work for my style (Business Penmanship, as yours), larger nibs and my handwriting feels "dirty". Right now I write with a Kaigelu 316 'EF', but my consumer dream is to have an expensive gold nib pen, eventually I will decided between the Sailor Pro Gear 'EF', or the Platinum 3776 'UEF'. Either way, japanese fine nibs should be a great pleasure to write with.

[@redmoonvenus7327]

I used to only like EF nibs. Now I tend to appreciate nibs in the EF to MF range, and I love a flex nib. F nibs are my go-to. Sometimes I appreciate a M when it's on the finer side. But so far I haven't managed to appreciate B nibs.... I have tried to give them a go, but B nibs give me the impression that I am writing with a fat sharpie. Maybe I will grow into it.

[@em4me-Dan]

If your cursive handwriting is small and EF nib is pretty much the way to go as a thicker line may distort your penmanship. I have been collecting and using fountain pens for 52 plus years, and it has been my only choice in nib selection when I journal. Calligraphy on the other hand will vary in nib size as it is not considered the norm in daily cursive or print writing. It depends on what your needs are. Kudos from NYC.

[@namkyukimpark]

I prefer EF nibs! I still enjoy using the Pilot Custom Heritage 912 EF - inspired purchase because of watching your videos! ^^ I love the elegant lines

[@awritingguyAWG]

Great to hear! thank you for your kind words - An

[@Photographerjaker]

As a student i mostly used F or Ef nib sizes pens the problem i get from them is that sometimes they feel scratchy and my M nib size pen feels smoother but they arent suitable for my work

[@blkgostnone4092]

Your table is looking at us 👀

[@DirkJ.]

My favorite pen currently is an 823 in fine, which is much closer to an EF in my pen at least. my 823 is very close to your 912's EF, but not quite beating these 912 hairlines with the 823 having more flow.

[@DavidWarrington65]

Beautiful video, and great topic -- I have steered away from EF nibs because I'm trying to train myself to write larger, but I do love a fine line... you've made me wonder if I'm going in the wrong direction. (I have a couple of Chinese EF nibs, but they aren't THAT fine.) I think I'll give a proper EF a try. Thank you!

[@awritingguyAWG]

each has their time and place, please do let me know your experience with EFs in the future - An

[@richardc6932]

For the last year I have had the opportunity to write a minimum of two hours a day or more. Looking back, my handwriting has improved with the use of either a Japanese medium or a Western fine nib such as my Sailor 1911L and Pelikan M800. When using anything finer or broader than those I was not satisfied with the formation of my letter, especially with the broader nibs. I found using quality fountain pen paper also encouraged me to write more. I envy those like yourself who are accomplished writers with any pen in hand and especially a EF one. A true art.

[@awritingguyAWG]

thank you for the kind words and I would love to see your handwriting as well as your thoughts on the page during those two-hour sessions - An

[@jamesaritchie1]

I actually prefer paper with a little tooth in it. Combine very slick paper with a very smooth nib, and it can be difficult to control the pen. It takes one tiny slip to ruin a page of fine writing. Of course, you can hear some of the metal dip nibs I use scratch from across a large room.

[@unionics]

I think Pilot Metropolitan Fine nib is the perfect solution.

[@cobwebsandcatnip]

I only use EF nibs. I write far neater with them and I like the way my writing looks with an EF nib. I can't get on with broader nibs at all

[@Matt-dd1zr]

Hi An, Can you please make a review of Pilot Blue Black? I bought a bottle of Pilot Blue and would love to have a bottle of Blue Black but a review from you would be VERY much appreciated! I love your videos, they’re really calming and make me feel better during these times. I might be buying some special pens in the near future, a Pilot Myu and a Pilot Elite and I’m so excited for that :D Thank you for reading this! Matthias.

[@kikolektrique1737]

So that’s how an extra fine nib writes

[@jenniferjones3396]

I’m new to fountain pens. I currently draw and write with micron .25mm pens. What pen and nib should I get to get closest to that size line?

[@123four...]

You made some good points but I think I'll try to find a Japanese F before jumping to an EF.

[@awritingguyAWG]

it’s definitely a significant jump from the usual european nibs to an extreme hairline from japanese EF, look forward to hearing your thoughts soon - An

[@nitina8564]

That's a wise decision and i am pretty sure you would like the F and find it much better than an EF. Just my opinion and not that EF nibs are bad. But japanese F is really gine and amazingly smooth for such a fine nib.

[@jamesaritchie1]

A Japanese fine is a western EF.

[@GenWivern2]

Ack. Finding a genuinely extra fine fountain pen with worthwhile flex was like hunting a unicorn - it's either that or buy a Falcon and spend a load more cash sending it off for an extra-fragile grind. I was lucky and found a 1930s Swan which is almost as fine as a run of the mill dip nib ... so the moral of my story is if you want to write Spencerian, just accept that you're likely to wind up with a dip pen. However, for the sort of cursive in the video there are some dirt cheap fountain pens which are superb - but you have to acquire the handwriting. I suspect for people who don't want to put in the work a wider line and a fancy ink are going to cover up a multitude of sins.

[@johnd4304]

About as near as I have found of a pen with an EF nib is the Wing Sung 300. And they are super cheap. Shows you don't have to break the bank for a super little pen. It's about as near as I have found to an old fashioned dip pen.

[@johnd4304]

Sorry for the error. I left out the 1. I meant WING SUNG 3001.

[@jamesaritchie1]

The Falcon doesn't actually have a flex nib, and you really, really don't want to grind it into one. Grinding the tipping will void the warranty, but to make it a true flex you also have to grind the nib itself, and that's bad. It won't last, and a new nib cost a hundred and fifty bucks. Even Pilot doesn't call the Falcon nib a flax. It's just a soft nib made to withstand some flexing. Your best chance of getting a really good EF flex pen is to go vintage. I have vintage pens, antiques, really, that cost a fair amount, but I found one with a broken body for thirty-five dollars. The nib still on it was worth six or seven times that much. Ask any elderly people you know. It's surprising how many have a fountain pen or three in a dresser drawer or on a closet shelf. The truth is fountain pen companies don't want to make flex nibs because they get ruined easily. Very few have a clue how to handle a flex nib, and companies don't want to spend times and a lot of money constantly repairing and replacing expensive flex nibs on high end pens.

[@GenWivern2]

@@jamesaritchie1 I think that's too much of a sweeping statement about the Falcon nib, since there are at least two specialist grinders offering conversions which are well regarded. They're intended for people who can seriously write, and the average ham-fisted punter is likely to ruin such a nib in no time, that's true. A Gillott 303 taped onto a chopstick will beat any fountain pen ever made by a country mile if you're looking for hairlines and do so for under a dollar, but again you need the skills first.

[@vecchiaguardiastilografica]

I use a Platinum 3776 UEF and enjoy it. Regards.🇮🇹

[@eruannecalie]

#teamEF #teamneedepoint here. My favorites are Japanese EFs by Sailor and Pilot and Masuyama Needlepoint. I would very much like to try Platinum UEF but haven’t found a pen body Ilike. Glad to chance upon you here. Looking forward to catching up on your content and watching your future videos. Keep safe!

[@armita611]

I started out in fountain pen with fine nibs, then I moved into mediums and broads, and now I find myself coming back to fine nibs. Though I still enjoy the occasional broad line, I find for myself reaching for my fines and mediums most these days. I have never tried a true extra-fine (unless you count Japanese fines as Western extra-fines) and definitely have never tried a Japanese extra-fine so I'd like to add one to the collection one day. I do want to try getting into the habit of writing with a lighter touch.

[@jamesaritchie1]

An extremely light touch is highly important for two reasons. One is that it's very, very easy to damage a nib over time if you apply any real pressure at all. This is triply true with gold nibs. The other reason is simply because really good writing needs a very light touch. I never had to worry much about it because I started using fountain pens when I was seven, and had a good teacher. That was sixty-one years ago. But I have seen a lot of fountain pen owners who had trouble developing a light touch. Many give up, or are just unwilling to adjust, and buy nibs that are as stiff as possible. There is no wrong choice, but if you can develop a very light touch, your writing should improve by a good bit.

[@rmoraespinto]

There's a certain rhythm to each pen -- correct!

[@13noman1]

I suppose I'm the mirror image; I've gradually added some 1.1 stubs, cursive italic to my otherwise predominant collection of EFs. I perennially write small and most often on cheap copy paper (work) so EF is my most frequently carried nib followed by F -- if reverse writing works with a given nib!

[@awritingguyAWG]

all nibs have their time and place and I do like to play around with stubs and BBs at times as well; as for a nib that could do both BB and EF - a Naginata Togi grind from Sailor might be something you’d be interested in perhaps - An

[@brian11344]

I just ordered a lamy safari in fine and another in extra fine to play with

[@san2881]

I've heard that pelican m1000 souveran F writes like broad. I have a Lamy safari Fine which is ok for me. If I go with the Pelican m1000 should I order a F or Ef

[@explorerextraordinaire5472]

❤️❤️👍❤️❤️

[@VladimirRobespierre]

Is Lamy Ef thicker than pilot custom F ? I bought 3776 and its like an needle.

[@Richard_Barnes]

My MB 149 ‘so called’ EF is a joke. Simple as that. I’ve sent it back and it comes back to me the same (often scratchy, not consistent feel across paper, some strokes good, others not). Somehow from 2015 when I bought it, it’s gone from being one of the best experiences to one of the worst and nothing changes when I give €50 to Montblanc for the service. One day I’ll just give it a real nibmeister and get it sorted properly. For now I could quite happily throw it out a window. Edited to say, of course it’s not an EF, it’s at least a medium to broad compared to my others nibs.

[@awritingguyAWG]

sorry to hear your experience with this EF nib... hope to hear your updates when everything gets tuned nicely to your liking in the future - An

[@nitina8564]

I can understand what you feel and the experience is frustrating. For EF or F nibs i stick to japanese pens and anything other than japanese i go with M or above.. exception being my Visconti homosapien bronze age which was named F but writes like a broad.

[@Richard_Barnes]

@@awritingguyAWG - Thx and I’m sorry for being negative on what is an interesting video. Apologies. 🙂

[@Richard_Barnes]

@@nitina8564 - I agree here 👍🏻 I’ve just had a Visconti Bronze Age with the 18Kt fine nib and it’s a superb writer BUT it was checked and written before I got it. I’ve had a lot of really bad pen experiences online, it is crazy. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@nitina8564]

@@Richard_Barnes glad to know that and hope you have great writing experience with all you pens and hope your experience with the Montblanc improves as well. And yes i never ever blind buy a pen online based on reviews or suggestions, i try a pen first and then pull the trigger, ive had way too many bad experiences with impulsively buying pens online.

[@ScuffedDreams]

My handwriting is naturally thick... so I figured i would get a fine nib as my first gold nib. Was my choice for a Custom 74 a good idea?

[@awritingguyAWG]

yeah, any Pilots are good, but if possible try them out in a store to see if the F japanese nibs are too thin for your needs An

[@ScuffedDreams]

@@awritingguyAWG Thank you for your responce! I already ordered it.. Hoping for the best!

[@explorerextraordinaire5472]

I have an extra fine Parker 51. I do not need another extra fine, my 1 pen is "extra fine," in many ways thank you = ) also I'm the kind of person that likes broad nibs so that's another reason why PLUS if I wanted to write in extra fine I would normally get a ballpoint pen like Pentel RSVP

[@tiramisucocolands7952]

Pilot's premium pens are too expensive for me. Do you think getting a kaküno or penmanship in EF is a good idea? I might buy a metropolitan later and use the EF nib with it.

[@awritingguyAWG]

go for it! the nibs are interchangeable

[@dbbogo6069]

Dude...you have such a nice handwriting.. that it was difficult for me to focus on your words :) probably it would make sense to have a separate slow and close-up of how you write and how the ink is shown ..then a separate video when you have tips like these ! But ok...I can watch to times same video :) very good media materials outhere!congrats

[@awritingguyAWG]

thank you for the kind words and I’ve released a follow up real time writing video of these writing samples. Please let me know your thoughts after watching it - An

[@ExiledExia]

I'm a broad nib person, but this was a nice video!

[@awritingguyAWG]

glad you enjoyed it - An

[@gertahnstrom784]

Lovely video topic. I like fine nibs. But extra fine nibs can sometimes be a bit to honest about the flaws of my handwriting, lines not quite reaching to close letters all the way, or not branching out or in with 'n' or 'd' for example. I don't really like to write with broad round nibs. If I want a fatter line I take out my italic nibs and write an italic script instead. I'd love to have a fancier pen with an italic stub nib. But for now, my Lamy Logo with a 1.1 stub does a great job as a tool for italic handwriting. If I'm writing something a bit more formal or need higher legibility for song lyrics or such, I'll take out my Manuscript pens that has italic calligraphy nibs that are not very handwriting friendly, they make more crisp lines but at the cost of not liking to be pushed at all, making for much slower writing.

[@jamesaritchie1]

There's nothing wrong with slow writing. Slow is a lot better when doing anything creatve. Too many want their writing to keep up with their thoughts, but unless you're a genius whose first thoughts are wonderful, it's a very bad idea. Going slow gives you time to think, time to change what you were about to write. This is good.

[@boo_]

I just plonk my finger into some ink and write with it.

[@jamesaritchie1]

You are probably the smartest one here.

[@VanWatches]

but what inks would you recommend for a platinum/nakaya EF? a wetter ink? I have diamine, j herbin and iroshizuku inks at the moment. My go to black is namiki.

[@awritingguyAWG]

japanese ink works most of the time, but if you’re looking for a broader range of color I would say Sailor Studio series or JHerbin perhaps - An

[@tracyverberkmoes4818]

What is the smoothest writing affordable EF? I have a Fine Pilot Explorer and it sure isn't as smooth as I had hoped....but I can't afford the Pilot Custom Heritage used here....it seems difficult to get an EF that is really smooth and affordable?

[@bookbutterfly2408]

Pilot Kakuno and Penmanship both come with extra fine nibs. So does the Platinum Preppy.

[@VyNguyen-wy3ov]

I just purchased the Mont Blanc 145 F nib and I am crying because it is way too thick 🥲

[@agnigoswami4939]

I like fine and extra fine ... The thin hair like flourish.. aaaaaaa❤️❤️❤️🤣 Q. How can I improve my slant?? My slant is not consistent....😶

[@awritingguyAWG]

doing straight stroke drills on ruled paper and maintain your writing angle would be where I’d start - An

[@jamesaritchie1]

Turn your notebook so the slant is straight up and down in relation to your forearm. This doesn't help everyone, but it does help some writers learn to get a consistent slant.

[@Crimson_626]

I only have a Fine or an Extra Fine on 14k flex nibs...maybe an 18k flex...thats it. On steel nibs ( JOWO ) ...purely Medium and preferably Broad.

[@natisemsobrenome6054]

I like really really fine nib. Cause I like writing Chinese characters and I like the size tiny, so...

[@mrpilotsapien7705]

Couldnt have said it better....

[@gertahnstrom784]

Video voice over sound advice: Use Audacity to remove the fan(?) noise in the background. Very easy to do. Here's a link to a 3 min video on how to do it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2Gpd36ilJV6iaM

[@awritingguyAWG]

I’m currently still working with an ipad for editing and still trying to find a solution to the noise problem, I’ll definitely getting it sorted for next week video, thank you for your thoughtful advice! - An

[@TheRacerRich]

Would this be considered Spencerian script or something else?

[@phamtien2104]

Wow, how did you buy this notebook from VN?

[@awritingguyAWG]

dạ em người Xì Gòn ạ :D

[@manifunk1]

Which pen is your favourite with an extra fine nib?

[@johnd4304]

Greetings from England. Ah, at last I've found a reviewer who actually knows how to write. As someone who was schooled in the 1940's and 1950's using dip pens, I cringe at the sight of what the vast majority of self styled reviewers think is acceptable handwriting. Watching them almost constitutes cruelty to pens. I must admit that your handwriting is almost indistinguishable from my own. But, to achieve the standard that I find acceptable, the finer the nib the better- that is as near as possible to a dip pen nib as possible. Unfortunately over the years, while fine nib pens are reasonably easy to find, genuine EF's- at a reasonable price- are a different matter. I wonder, could you maybe suggest a pen and nib combination that would fit the bill? And what, for example, is the pen and nib you used in your video? Many thanks.

[@awritingguyAWG]

for a relatively small investment I would always suggest the Platinum Preppy 02 with an EF nib to be the first EF, even to my students; these do not create the perfect hairline but it’s a good solid entry to try out how an EF would feel during long writing sessions; and we could go on from there with japanese EFs which I’ve featured a number of times on the channel so far. Hope my comment is helpful to your search - An

[@vecchiaguardiastilografica]

Pilot Prera ef

[@jamesaritchie1]

Even people with lousy handwriting can still be great at reviewing. As for EF nibs, the last one I bought was on a pen that cost nine dollars. Though there is no such thing as a "genuine" EF. They're all genuine. Standards don't exist and never have. Each company decides for itself what an EF, and every other size is, and they're all right. Since my handwriting is good enough to make me a pretty reasonable amount of money, it's certainly far better than most, especially when I write Spencerian or Copperplate, but this doesn't mean I should complain about how others write. There's a poem about poetry that reads, "It's true that meter matters, but matter matters more". I enjoy writing well, and I enjoy reading fine handwriting, but I'm a thousand times more concerned with what someone writes than it how they write it. An awful lot of people write beautifully, but have absolutely nothing worth reading. Mark Twain had handwriting that was a bit below average, yet Huckleberry Finn is the novel that poy America on an equal footing with the entire literary world. Abraham Lincoln's writing was well below average, but few pieces of writing are as beautiful, or as meaningful, as The Gettysburg Address. Best worry about what others, and youself, have to say, rather than in whether they say in in beautiful script.

[@carassiq5386]

Try to experiment with Jinhao x450, x750 and Zebra G titanium nibs (don't use chromium ones, they rust over time). They require some tweaking to fit and the feed is also require additional work: you will need to broaden ink channels so the feed will be able to keep up with increased ink usage while flexing. This combo gives best line variation (from hair-thin lines up to 5 mm while flexing at max) in a solid metal body and does not cost a fortune.