Japanese Pen For Sketching?

September 20, 2016

Hey Calabria. Could you provide a sample of the type of art you wish to draw? Some of the responses here assume you want line variation because you're doing art but that's not always the case.

The PCH912 with an EF nib would be a very good choice for drawing if you like fine lines and don't need line variation.

I have a Pilot Custom 91 with an EF nib and here's a couple of drawings I made with it if you want to get an idea of what Pilot's EF line width looks like in line art:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHDWLLcB0Yf/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGoUi3tF1BA/

The EF nib is fine enough that it's not SUPER smooth, but it's very pleasant to use for drawing, especially with a wet ink. If you get your EF nib and it feels too dry - you can floss the tines with an index card, 35mm film, or brass shims for an improved flow. (I had to do that with all my non-flex gold Pilot nibs except my 823 which was the only one working perfectly out of the box. But it's simple and takes just a couple of minutes.)

A nice thing about a Custom 91 (or 74/742/743/823/91/912/845) is that they take the CON-70 converter.

Another nice pen for drawing is the Falcon SEF. My SEF is actually a little smoother than my EF but I love them both. Sadly the resin Falcon can't take a CON-70 so if you get a Falcon I definitely recommend a metal one.

You asked about the PCH 912 WA! I have one! The WA is a great nib but it's much thicker than the EF you're thinking of buying... In fact, my PCH 912 WA is very similar in line width to my Safari EF (which you mention you have.) The WA would be a great pen for drawing on large paper, but unfortunately most of my drawings are on sketchbook paper or 8.5x11 paper... so it's a little wide for that. The WA is basically an upturned Japanese M nib polished to work at a wide variety of angles. It does get a wider line as you angle down and a narrower one as you angle up, like a Fude only not nearly so pronounced.

Pilot's EF is MUCH finer than my Safari EF. In fact -- if you want to test the width of a Pilot EF you could try a Pilot Penmanship/Ergonomic for ~$7. The gold version is nicer and a little softer but the line width is similar.

Have you considered getting an SF nib? A Pilot SF will likely be finer than your Lamy EF and you'll have the fun of a slightly flexible nib.

The more I think about it the more I want to recommend the Falcon SEF... but I love my EF nib as well... and my Falcon SF and Pilot F nibs for that matter. And my Platinum 3776 UEF. These are all great drawing pens, really...

But the PCH 912 does have a nice size to it and weighs a little more than the Custom 91 so if you can afford it it's worth it.

However!!! You could probably get two Custom Heritage 91s for around the price of a Custom Heritage 912. So you could get a PCH91 EF and a PCH91 SF. That would be a really good combo... Draw with the SF and then use the EF for really fine details!!! (and the EF nib upside down for even finer details!)

Edited September 20, 2016 by JunkyardSam

September 21, 2016

Ditto the Pilot Falcon SEF. Also, I like using the Pilot CH912 with the PO (posting) nib. I filled it with Platinum Carbon Black, and it's even smoother than with my usual Noodler's Black.

September 21, 2016

Thank you, all! Polanova – I see what you're doing - very nice (especially in the jacket to the right)! Junkyard Sam – Thanks for all the info! Before I posted my questions, I was thinking of getting a wet, fine nib for cross hatching. This is an unfinished sketch where I'm trying out some stuff (started with Lamy EF and Nurebairo ink, continued with Togi and Sailor black; the paper is a Bindewerk journal):

Sorry for the image quality (iPhone5). – I'm a painter, mostly, but have been thinking about sketching more to somehow trigger some changes in my work. I've been working in watercolor, gouache, oils. With all your help, I'm realizing that why I am looking for new inks and nibs is that the Lamy doesn't give me the contrast of light and dark I'm looking for. It's not about modeling – but I want to work with contrast. I'm doodling here on Muji spiral journal paper (very smooth), but I wasn't satisfied with the crosshatching from the Safari (upper right) and now am excited by the possibilities of getting a really deep black with the Togi (lower right):

Polanova - I hear what you're saying about the lack of wetness when the Togi is used upside down (120 degrees). It's not the ink channel, though; it has something to do with the shape of the tip. I get very wet lines at 90/60/45 degree angles. Junkyard Sam - I really like your drawings. Thank you for the info on the Waverly! As you can see, I'm more messy. Alterego - thank you for bringing up the Fude nib; I'm trying to somehow pre-order it.

This is by far my favorite website - you have no idea how much you've helped me!

- Derek

September 22, 2016

Thank you, all! Polanova – I see what you're doing - very nice (especially in the jacket to the right)!

Polanova - I hear what you're saying about the lack of wetness when the Togi is used upside down (120 degrees). It's not the ink channel, though; it has something to do with the shape of the tip. I get very wet lines at 90/60/45 degree angles

Derek, you have a good eye!

That jacket is the only loose element in the sketch, the rest being a bit too stiff.

Guy was moving so much so that i did a penciled sketch and only later inked it

As to the Togi in reverse: I don`t think it has to do with the shape of the tip. It`s very similiar to my Zoom - THAT was actually tuned by Mr. Mottishaw. God knows what he did but it`s nicely wet.

If those two sketches of yours are somewhat representative to the direction you`re going, maybe you`re better off with Super extra Fine nibs? In that case modern Japanese pens (Platinum offers the finest nibs I believe) or Vintage ones (Welty`s made excellent super-fine nibs, for example) would be the way to go.

just my 2 Euro-cents

September 23, 2016

This has been a week of intense exploration for me! After weeks of cross-hatching, and thinking I want an EF nib, I realize I'm really after weight and mass of line - the Togi is perfect for that, and also an old (70s or 80s) Pentalic Mark X I happened to find in my drawer with a lettering nib from "W.Germany".

Thank you all!