Can A Nib Be Too Smooth?

[superfreeka]

In your opinion, can a nib be 'too smooth?' That is; can the tactile experience (or lack thereof) of a theoretically perfectly smooooooth nib cause displeasure to the writer? Is some feedback preferable to you, or can a nib never be smooth enough?

Why?

[superfreeka]

I voted 'Yes.'

I have a strong preference for *slight* feedback because I find my handwriting suffers without a touch of drag to slow me down and let me know where I'm going. I find that I'm not pleased with the tactile sensation of writing with a very smooth, broad nib; I much prefer a semi-smooth EF.

Edit: I find that I also enjoy the sound a nib with a little tooth makes as it marks the page. Funny.

Edited July 18, 2014 by superfreeka

[Ragwort Fairy]

My hand already can't keep up with my brain, anything which slows me down is a negative. I also find that, the faster I write, the more consistent my writing looks. My handwriting is heavily influenced by my mood; if I hang around too long, it changes.

[sharmon202]

Ever try a Jetstream ink pen? It runs away from me, especially on a smooth paper like Rhodia premium. Not a good feeling.

[superfreeka]

Ever try a Jetstream ink pen? It runs away from me, especially on a smooth paper like Rhodia premium. Not a good feeling.

 

Yes! I know that feeling. On non-fountain pens I prefer a resistance roughly situated between the feeling of writing with a Fisher Space Pen refill and a Jetstream.

 

The porridge must be warm!

Edited July 18, 2014 by superfreeka

[FountainPages]

At one point in my fountain pen maturing process I would have said a resounding NO! That is, until I wrote with smooth nibs with tooth...a mythological combination. I now have an an Aurora. One truly has to write with such a nib to appreciate the fact that a nib CAN be too smooth. I also prefer paper that has some tooth to it, ie; Exacompta. A beautiful writing experience!

 

Eadward

Edited July 18, 2014 by FountainPages

[Ragwort Fairy]

Ever try a Jetstream ink pen? It runs away from me, especially on a smooth paper like Rhodia premium. Not a good feeling.

 

Despite being told it doesn't feel good, that sounds dreamy to me. So far, I can only afford to use "ooh, this pen is on offer" on "ooh, this paper is on offer". If I ever start earning enough money that it feels more "wage" than "pocket money", I shall have to try the combination.

[Runnin_Ute]

I said yes.

 

Not much tooth, but a hint. Whether provided by paper or nib it matters not. When the combination is wrong (to much tooth of each) then it is no fun.

[Taiin]

Ever try a Jetstream ink pen? It runs away from me, especially on a smooth paper like Rhodia premium. Not a good feeling.

 

Before I made the switch to fountain pens, Jetsteams were the only ballpoint I'd use. I absolutely adore writing with a smooth, slick pen! I guess I like flying across the paper.

[shuuemura]

Yes! That's one of the reasons why I sold my first Hakase pen - the nib was too smooth for me, and I couldn't control it on paper. Other people might like a very smooth nib, though.

[Blade Runner]

Yes. I prefer nibs with some feedback. I find this consistently in Aurora and MB nibs.

Super smooth nibs feel featureless and somehow unsatisfying to me.

 

I also prefer paper that has some texture such as Crane's 100% cotton.

I do not like glossy smooth paper such as Clairefontaine for the same reasons as above and longer ink drying time.

Edited July 19, 2014 by Blade Runner

[autopsy]

A very, very smooth nib combined with a smooth paper (Rhodia, etc) causes baby bottoming. Hard start, hard to write with. No bueno.

[langere]

Heh! A whole number of people voted "No" - haven't heard from them!

 

Well, I am one of those "No" voters. The reason I voted that way is that for each person it's different. So, there is no such thing as "too smooth" because there will always be somebody who loves that kind of pen.

 

Erick

[Fabienne]

No! Smooth me out and let me go!

[Hardcase]

I need some kind of feedback or else I end up sliding around the page. The smoothest pen that I have is a Pilot Metropolitan that, with Noodler's Heart of Darkness, has absolutely no feedback - it's like writing on ice. And I write poorly with it, which is sad, because it's a great inexpensive pen.

 

-Drew

[ac12]

I LIKE SMOOTH.

It is probably an over reaction to writing with pens with less than SMOOTH tips on paper that is less than smooth. I do not like the drag that I get from a less than smooth setup.

There are many factors that create that smooth writing feel, not just the nib. And they interact with each other. Failing in any one item could destroy the smoothness of the writing.

- smooth nicely rounded tip profile

- smooth tip surface

- enough ink flow to lubricate the tip on the paper, depending on the pen it could be from a medium to a wet pen (this is affected by the ink, the feed, and the nib)

- sometime a different ink will lubricate the tip better than another ink

- a paper surface that is hard and smooth

 

So as you can see, it is not just the nib.

Edited July 19, 2014 by ac12

[Blade Runner]

The other problem I have with slippery smooth is the lack of control.

[Algester]

how smooth is smooth... that is the question

[The Blue Knight]

Yes my Kaigelu 356 is I like a little tooth as I need some feedback.

[pajaro]

The kind of feedback I like is the feel as if I were writing on a velvety smooth surface. Not like writing on ice with an icicle, but that of writing on velvety smooth paper with a smooth nib, with a little resistance, but nothing scratchy.