Important Question for Picking Your Fountain Pen Nib Size!

Hi everyone! This video goes over some of the important factors to consider when choosing the nib size on your first fountain pen. From paper quality, dry time, nib manufacturer to smoothness, there are a number of major considerations when it comes to choosing your nib size, but the most important question has to do with the size of your handwriting! Hope this video helps you decide on a nib size for your fountain pen! Let us know in the comments your preferred nib size. Is it the same as the nib size on your first fountain pen?

01:07 5 Factors
01:32 Japanese vs European Nib
02:36 Paper
03:27 Dry Time
04:19 Smoothness
04:51 Most important factor
08:10 Summary

[Agent_Orange_Peel]

Great video. How I settled on my nib size is by looking at how I write “e”. If you can’t make a legible loop and it just looks like a closed blob, go finer.

[vegronica]

For me, another point to consider is the characteristic of the ink I plan to use - I'd want a broader nib to show off sheen, or to prevent shimmer particles from getting stuck in a smaller nib! If it's just a standard ink, then using a smaller nib makes sense.

[cal]

I started on a Lamy Medium as it felt like a "safe bet". A year later and my small collection is composed of posting, EF, F, and M nibs. I like to write small, and at work I write on very feather-prone paper.

[mellow-jello]

There are also two factors in my mind. First, consider if you are going to use the FP for writing, or drawing, as a broad nib will allow the pen to lay down thicker lines for illustration. Second, you might want a broad nib if you plan to have a specialty grind that the pen maker does not supply, a broad nib gives more material for your nibmeister to refine.

[mzdione]

My first fountain pen, I got Lamy and I thought the store that went to, allow testing so I didn’t get to try it out but she said medium is the usual nib size, so that’s what I got. I just realise when I tried it out in my journal, I realized my handwriting is big and it makes it more bigger with medium nib 😅.

[js]

I think it should be mentioned ink wetness/dryness may influence the choice of nib since a wet ink in a fine nib will be thicker than a dryer ink in the same nib.

[akira_ariga]

As someone who writes in all those languages, yeah getting the tiniest nib possible is a must. It's even worse that even in Eng, my handwriting is 2mm. I was just destined for the ef hahaha

So far, the smallest I've personally used is the curidas? There may be more finer nibs among the more expensive pens, but I'm too poor to ever find out 😂😂

[sherig]

What paper most resembles the previous Tomoe River paper? I hate the new Sanzen paper. With my 2023 Hobonichi cousin the experience with fountain pens was beautiful. Now with the Sanzen paper all of those pens drag so hard. Makes even the gold nibs seem so damn scratchy. I used to love my sailor medium fine pens and now I hate them. Seems that all my fountain pens suck on that new paper. I have tried kaweco sports plastic and aluminum, twisbi 580 and eco, sailor pro gear slim in mf and medium, lamy 2000, vanishing point. Seems that my sarasa gels pens feel better than fountain pens on the Sanzen paper.

[Drademdar]

The three Lamy Safaris I bought at the beginning had all fine nibs, which turned out perfectly, as my writing is small. I also use 60 to 100 gsm writing pads from various affordable brands, as I write a lot daily, making the customarily recommended brands of writing pads too expensive for my needs. Since the first fountain pens, my collection has increased considerably, but I still stick with either Western fine nib or Japanese fine and medium nib.

[LinzyLouTube]

This was so incredibly helpful. I wish I would have known some of this before purchasing some fountain pens recently. I didn't even know some questions to ask. Ty for this 💜

[amyz]

Thank you very much for this terrific explanation!

[ladyamalthea]

I'm still trying to decide what nib size is my preference, I've been using fountain pens since the end of last year, I have EF, F, M, a Lamy LH nib and two fude nibs. I definitely want to try a broad.

[codesachi]

Thank you a lot for the video! It was helpful and interesting. :)
One day when I visit America, I would definitely visit your shop! <3

[crouserm]

Very nice review. My handwriting is naturally pretty small, bur I've trained my hand to larger writing when sending a letter to my parents or parents in law -- so, broad is good for their letters! Medium to broad for shimmer inks, as others have noted.

[finley]

I know the way ink soaks into different papers affect line with, but I still think manufacturer should also add a millimeter size to their descriptions. We don’t all have the luxury to try the pens out in store.

[JordanQueiroz]

Nice video 😃👏 what about stubs and flex nibs? 😃

[justmejus]

Thanks for another informative video, Daisy! You're always so articulate and helpful with your videos! I have a question. I'm interested in venturing out into the more specialized nibs, like cursive italic. But my handwriting is smaller and I'm partial to extra fine nibs. Would you happen to know of a pen with an extra fine cursive italic? I realize it won't give me as much line variation, but I would love just a bit of extra character in my writing. :) Thank you!!

[peeeedy]

🙋‍♀️.Do you have any suggestions for shading and shimmering inks for a fine nib lover? This is such a thorn in my side! A fine suits my handwriting style best, but it doesn’t show off the beautiful properties of inks the way larger nibs do. Has anyone cracked the code on this? Any magical pen brand🔹nib size🔹ink brand combos that show off shading and shimmer? I would be so grateful for any tips!
Thank you for the video! You guys are always so helpful!

[stylishoversixty]

My first nib size happen to be a "F" fine!

[agungmsa]

Hi, just wondering on the line width between Japanese Broad and western Broad, which one writes broader?