Lamy Nib Widths

[owend]

I can't find on the Forum a definite (as far as that goes!) answer about nib widths.

 

I've got a steel nib, marked F but writing more like a medium, on a Logo; it writes wide for its marking, as others have said for Lamy steel nibs.

 

My question is how do the widths of the Lamy gold nibs compare? Are they truer to their marking, which I sort of gather from various posts? The Fine steel nib is OK for width, I wouldn't want anything wider, so would I need a Medium in the gold nib?

[bardiir]

Gold nibs are broader than the Steel nibs. You can see this effect quite good on the goulet's nib nook: http://www.gouletpens.com/Nib_Nook_s/1114.htm#

 

http://www.gouletpens.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/nibnook/0937_Lamy-extrafine.jpg

http://www.gouletpens.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/nibnook/0937_Lamy-fine.jpg

http://www.gouletpens.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/nibnook/0983_Lamy14k-ExtraFine.jpg

http://www.gouletpens.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/nibnook/0937_Lamy-med.jpg

http://www.gouletpens.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/nibnook/0983_Lamy14k-med.jpg

 

I've got EF, M and B as Gold nibs and the whole range as steel nibs.

 

EF compares to F-M

M compares to M-B

B compares to nothing except maybe the broad line from the 1.1 stub calligraphy nib. It's so fat that I used that to grind it into a stub actually: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/272350-lamy-11mm-gold-stub-nib/

Edited August 24, 2014 by bardiir

[owend]

So to get a nib that writes like a "normal" medium, no wider than the steel Fine, I need a gold Fine? I don't want a really fine nib, I obviously have a slightly heavy hand and I find they can catch on some papers.

[MBFan]

It also depends on ink and paper combinations. Also, you have to take your own writing style into consideration (writing pressure etc.). My nibs tend to run only a little wider than what I would consider 'true'.

 

Edit: no idea why the pic came out sideways.

Edited August 24, 2014 by MBFan

[PabloAU]

In my experience, gold Lamy nibs do not run wider than their steel counterparts. I'm writing with a gold nib on my Al Star today, and my gold Fine nib runs true to size... and is in fact finer than my steel Fine if I compare them visually (I don't have the steel inked up ATM).

 

They are, however, springier and you can squeeze out a little line variation as is seen in the Goulet screenshot above. Naturally when pushed they get a little wetter too, which could compound the effect on more aborbent papers.

 

I like the gold. It gives a nice cushioned ride compared to the steel nibs.

Edited August 24, 2014 by PabloAU

[bardiir]

With a heavy hand the gold gets even more out of touch with the steel. I've got a bit of pressure on writing too and this is the Lamy M which compares 1:1 with my Lamy EF for my writing pressure.

 

Same pen/feed/ink - I swapped out the nib so everything is the same, except the nib.

 

It's got more tooth than the steel nib but it's got a nice bounce when writing which makes it very nice to write with. It got wider over time a bit. It was a bit finer when I bought it but writing with it with a slightly heavy hand has broadened it a bit, it compared to something between fine and medium when i got it so it got about 0.5 steps broader over time.

 

So either I got a very broad EF here or they are really broader than the steel ones (which is what my research has provided me with too and my original decision to buy the EF instead of F/M)

Edited August 24, 2014 by bardiir

[PabloAU]

Interesting. My gold F looks like your steel M on paper, and I'm sure my steel F looks like your gold EF...

[owend]

So bardiir, you find the gold nib writes broader than the steel?

 

And PabloAU, you find the gold similar or slightly narrower than steel?

 

And MBFan, you find nibs (including gold?) only slightly wider than true?

 

This is more variable than I thought!

[bardiir]

I guess we're differently heavy on writing and Pablo just has the slightest writing pressure.

 

The Steel nib will not provide any noticeable line variation with this amount of pressure. But this is now slightly heavy handed, feather touch and heavy handed. I'm not going to do a very heavy handed one with the gold because this is not intended to really flex or anything. But it should give you an idea of line variation due to pressure applied.

 

With no pressure, this is about a F steel nib, with moderate pressure this is an M and with heavy pressure it tends towards going B. With more pressure it's either going broad B or break but well

With the same amount of pressure on the steel M nib: M, M, M-B

With the same amount of pressure on the steel F nib: F, F-M, F-M

Edited August 24, 2014 by bardiir

[owend]

Thanks, bardiir, that helps! I think an EF is too far for me, but judging from your sample a gold F would be between a true F and M, like my steel F?

[bardiir]

Really depends on your writing pressure, maybe you're best of trying this out in a brick and mortar store instead of ordering online. This is slightly flex writing with the EF

[owend]

I would try a B & M store, but there isn't one within 100 miles or so stocking a reasonable range, certainly nothing as exotic as a gold-nibbed Lamy! I realise writing style, paper etc all have a bearing; as a guide I find my Pelikan M200 medium fits most of my uses, but I'd like a Lamy gold nib (on an Accent Briarwood, probably).

 

And in a Fine, looking at the answers here!

[Bo Bo Olson]

Yep....Lamy writes wider than everyone Standard Japanese nib.

When Japanese nibs were voted Standard....I don't know.

 

Would suggest staying with Japanese F or going no wider than Lamy EF.

Pilot of course...Sailor's the fat Japanese nib.