Why Flexible Nibs?

[beezaur]

I might jeopardize my afterlife for saying so, but I am not so sure I like nibs with some flex.

 

I just got a Lamy 2000 (F). Nice pen, but writing with it can be a little trying. Sometimes I get faint fine lines, sometimes I get a wet swath of ink.

 

My "collection" is very modest: I started with a Phileas (M), then got some Lamy Safaris (EF, F), a Pelikan 805 (F), and now the 2000. The 2000's nib is has much more flex than the others. This is proving to be quite frustrating, especially writing on small surfaces which require violation of the major tenets of good writing form. My firmer nibs produce consistent lines without complaining about the poor working conditions. My 2000 responds with irrational fits of faint lines and puddles.

 

What am I not getting?

 

Scott

[Johnson]

The 2000 nib is mushy. I do like this, FWIW, but I do not like "flex" nibs. I am definitely a firm guy like you, though I don't mind a tad bit of "softness".

 

there are plenty of us around, we are just not as vocal as the flex crowd.

[daveg]

They take practice. I think fans of them are quite vocal and convince a lot of newbies to pick one up but they often don't go over well. (Similar comment for italic nibs and most of the "special" nibs.)

 

I find them quite good for Chinese when I'm willing to put a lot of effort into getting an authentic look, but I never use them for English. If I want some line variation I usually prefer a stub, but even that takes a bit more care than a normal round nib.

 

[Johnson]

They take practice. I think fans of them are quite vocal and convince a lot of newbies to pick one up but they often don't go over well. (Similar comment for italic nibs and most of the "special" nibs.)

 

I find them quite good for Chinese when I'm willing to put a lot of effort into getting an authentic look, but I never use them for English. If I want some line variation I usually prefer a stub, but even that takes a bit more care than a normal round nib.

 

Now stubs, there is something I can get behind.

[NeoTiger]

I think flex nibs are very hard work, and require a concious effort to carefully control your pressure and speed. However, the results can be very beautiful.

 

Italics and stub nibs are much easier to work with, but produce a very different effect. I think a good stub is as easy to use as any normal round nib, given that you hold the pen correctly.

[beezaur]

In college I was forced to take art classes. As a science and then engineering major, I was not thrilled to learn about painting and drawing at the expense of a vastly more enchanting math or science class. But I'll be darned if I didn't learn some things about art, and even further I grew to enjoy it.

 

That seems to be the case with nibs -- that different, even initially unpleasurable, nibs are better appreciated the more you know about them.

 

Scott

[Djehuty]

I dunno, people don't usually say I'm terribly boring, but maybe when it comes to fountain pens I am. I like my plain old round fine nibs. I don't see that I'd gain anything from a stub or a flex nib. If I were a calligrapher, sure, but I'm struggling just to make my handwriting legible.

 

[Dan Carmell]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/dcarmell/whynotflex.jpg

On a more serious note, I can understand not liking a "soft" nib like on the Lamy 2000 and a nice smooth rigid nib is a wonderful thing, no question about it. But I would suggest divorcing your experience with these soft nibs with what a true flex is and does. I guess they are a bit more work, although after what? 7 or 8 years of using flexible nibs, I don't find that to be the case.

 

However, the lovely and expressive lines you can create (unless you have my middling hand!) and the wonderful tactile experience of a "living" flex nib under your hand is well worth it. The two words above I scratched out in a hasty instant. I don't have James Pickerings' lovely hand, but I can still have fun with a flex nib and so can you, if you wish!

 

Dan

[Renzhe]

Of course they're not practical most of the time, but they're fun.

[jpolaski]

Flex nibs for me are my kryptonite. I love them, but as an overwriting lefty, it looks awkward and tends to thin the line and stave the flow with all the pushing my hand does. When I get the time to play with one underhand, I can see what the magic is all about, and I adore my Waterman 54 for that fact... ah well, one of these days I'll be able to finally switch to underwriting.

 

For work or general writing, I'm all about a rounded fine nib. Or a medium for letters...