I Like Metal Nibs More Than Gold Nibs. Do I Need To Get My Brain Checked?

[RyanM]

As previously mentioned, I find I like metal nibs, which have very little flex more than gold nibs, which flex quite a lot. I own many fountain pens, including a Parker Sonnet with a gold nib, as well as a few older pens with gold nibs. I just find I don't like the flex it gives, and prefer to write with a stronger nib, with little flex. I also find that the nib on my Sonnet is almost too smooth that it becomes almost difficult to write with? Has anyone else found themselves in a similar situation, or am I just a bit odd?

Would love to know.

[SujiCorp12345]

I don't think it's odd. Just for reference though, you can get gold nibs that are absolute nails if you'd like. I don't think smoothness is really affected by steel or gold. That's just probably the amount of polishing done. Personally, I prefer nibs with a touch of springiness for that subtle line variation.

[WaskiSquirrel]

I always thought gold was a metal?

 

But, aside from that, the engineering of the nib has a lot more to do with how it works than the material it is made of.

 

For the record, my collection is mostly steel.

[______Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

I always thought gold was a metal?

 

 

Sounds to me like you use your fountain pen like a Ball point. With my gold nib pens I need not add any pressure to write, the weight of the pen is sufficient.

[Joe in Seattle]

Your choice is fine

[SujiCorp12345]

 

Sounds to me like you use your fountain pen like a Ball point. With my gold nib pens I need not add any pressure to write, the weight of the pen is sufficient.

Maybe not. I like my M800 a lot but it is very much a nail despite it being a 18K nib. You can still write without pressure with a nail.

Edited December 18, 2014 by Suji

[______Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

That was my point, you can write with out pressure.

If you nib is not a nail and you add pressure to it the tines will flex, which is what the original post was complaining about, if you add less pressure the nib should flex less.

If you add enough pressure You can get a nail to flex.

 

So, regardless of nib material, less pressure = less flex, more pressure = more flex.

[Randal6393]

Read some of the older threads on flex. Depending on your style of penmanship, flex may or may not be desirable. Check out italic writing, round hand, Copperplate.

 

Enjoy,

[WaskiSquirrel]

 

Sounds to me like you use your fountain pen like a Ball point. With my gold nib pens I need not add any pressure to write, the weight of the pen is sufficient.

 

I don't need pressure with any of my pens. I'm not sure what leads you to believe I use my pen like a ballpoint. Gold nib pens can be flex or nails.

Edited December 18, 2014 by Waski_the_Squirrel

[SujiCorp12345]

 

I don't need pressure with any of my pens. I'm not sure what leads you to believe I use my pen like a ballpoint. Gold nib pens can be flex or nails.

I think Zaphod was talking to the OP.

[lisadan]

Your brain is fine (except for the fact that you use fountain pens ). I think it is a matter of personal preference. I have both gold, gold plated steel and steel nibs and it's more a matter of the way a particular nib feels, than the material it's made of.

[ac12]

Tip: as was mentioned, try to write with very little to no pressure on the pen.

One benefit of this is you will also likely then have a lighter grip, which will ease the hand cramp that you probably have when writing.

 

As others have said gold is a metal.

What you probably meant to say is Stainless Steel, rather than "metal."

However, your generality is not correct. I have several gold nibs that are stiff enough for me, that I consider them NAILS. They do NOT flex, in my hand.

I also have Stainless Steel nibs that will flex if enough pressure is applied. Some do not require a lot of pressure, others require more pressure to flex. But these are not what I would consider "flex" nibs. A "flex" nibs would require MUCH LESS pressure to flex.

 

As for smoothness. There are those, like me, who love smooth low friction nibs. There are others that want a bit of friction so that they have some feedback as they write. People are different and like different things.

 

What ink are you using in your Sonnet?

I suggest that you switch to a dryer ink, that will slow down the ink flow and put less ink/lubricant on the paper. That should reduce the smoothness of the nib.

Edited December 18, 2014 by ac12

[Barnaby Bumble]

Aside from the link between gold and flex, which others have already addressed, I don't think there's anything wrong with what you said. Some people prefer a stiff nib, and some prefer a flexy one. Some people like some feedback from their nib, and some want it glassy smooth.

 

There's no right or wrong to it; just personal preference.

[proton007]

There's no harm in getting your brain checked.

[WilsonCQB1911]

Sounds like a nice problem to have. Has to be cheaper.

[ink-syringe]

You should check out Faber-Castell then. Good nibs. But hard. Very hard.

[______Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

I don't need pressure with any of my pens. I'm not sure what leads you to believe I use my pen like a ballpoint. Gold nib pens can be flex or nails.

Sorry if I did not clarify properly, I was not speaker of you but of the original person who posted.

[WaskiSquirrel]

I think Zaphod was talking to the OP.

 

I apologize. I clearly misunderstood.

[Bo Bo Olson]

No!

I now have 5 nails....one too many. There are lots of folks that love nails, but to think a modern semi-nail like a Parker Sonnet is too flexible is a big problem.

 

I chase nibs be they gold or steel with some flex, semi-flex (30) 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex (15), some superflex.

I have come to like true regular flex in F&M, in in some inks they shade better.

 

You press way too hard...it is not a ball point.

Do look up "Death Grip" in advanced search.

As soon as you lighten up your grip and pressure, regular flex will not be 'flexy'.

 

Hold your fountain pen like a baby featherless bird.

You are making baby bird paste, from pressing too hard.

 

You need to go from Jackhammer, to Ham Fisted and finally to Slightly Ham Fisted.

 

Are you holding the fountain pen behind your index finger knuckle like a fountain pen?

Or before it like a ball point....plowing the south forty with out the mule?

Edited December 18, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[RyanM]

Yes, I understand that I do have quite a heavy hand, in both writing and drawing. Maybe I should try some 'nail' like Fountain pens, like as mentioned, Faber Castell. I really like the nib on my Monteverde Impressa. Would this be considered a 'nail' nib?

 

By the way. I got my Brain checked.

 

Lol.