Wide Stubs Requiring A Ton Of Pressure

[displacermoose]

Hello fpners! I am hoping to tap the brain trust about a couple of cranky calligraphy nibs, a TWSBI 1.5mm stub for my mini and a 1.9mm Kaweco sport calligraphy nib. I can't get either of them to behave. Both require a lot of pressure to get a solid downstroke (think particularly nasty ball point), and neither will produce reliable side strokes. I've flushed both thoroughly, flossed the tines, pulled the nibs and scrubbed the feeds with a toothbrush, and made sure the tines are properly aligned. I am using Herbin tea brown in the kaweco and Rouge Opera in the mini. I've never had any problems with either ink. I'm writing slowly and being very careful about the nib angle, so I don't think it's me. Also, I've used smaller stubs in the past, both custom ground and factory 1.1's, and had no problems. Any suggestions?

[dms525]

A couple thoughts: Wide calligraphy nibs are very sensitive to having their entire width in contact with the paper. Be sure you are not tilting your nib when writing "side strokes." Also, I don't know the inks you are using, but the Kaweco nibs are dry writers. Try using a "wet" ink, like one from Kaweco or from Waterman.

 

David

[displacermoose]

Thank you for the suggestions. I've spent some time practicing, and a huge part of it was user error. I also ended up deepening the feed channels in the Kaweco, which helped a lot. I'll keep at it and try some different inks.

[Bo Bo Olson]

No pen should need pressure, much less lots. the tip of the nib floats on a small puddle of ink.

 

Check at what angle you hold it. It should be held behind the big index knuckle at 45 degrees, at the start of the web of the thumb at 40 or even let the pen if it wishes rest in the pit of the web of the thumb at 35 degrees.

 

If you are still holding it like a ball point at or before the big index finger knuckle...you need a lot of pressure....in your puddle of ink is much too small for the nib to float on...and it's being driven into the paper so...you defeat what a fountain pen gives you.

 

A wetter ink can also help. Waterman...many Noodlers.