Left handed analysis 1- nib size

[Cloud]

Hello,

 

I am wondering what other left handed user prefer for nib size. I always use medium because they seem to cause fewer problems when I push it accross the paper. I am an underwriter.

 

Cheers

Edited October 20, 2006 by Cloud

[Kalessin]

I love broad, expressive nibs. I write with my left hand hooked over the line, and like either broad nibs (which I voted for), or, even more, broad or extra-broad oblique nibs. (Oblique in this case meaning left-footed oblique, which means when you look at the top of the nib, it slants down like the toes on your left foot).

[lefty928]

I'm an underwriter also, but generally use fine points for notetaking and such, as I have somewhat small handwriting. This is probably why I usually like wet writers. But I do have some pens with medium nibs, as well as a lot of left oblique straight italics in broader sizes, for letters and times an ink just looks better in a broader nib.

[dwmatteson]

I'm usually an overwriter with fairly small handwriting. I prefer fine points because I end up with fewer occluded loops (e.g., in my cursive/lower case letter e). I like wet writers, but I need to use a thirsty paper or I end up with the smudgies.

 

I do also like fine points tending towards medium because, as Cloud notes, they're easier to "push" over the paper when I end up underwriting (which happens sometimes, but I can't seem to find any patterns as to when I underwrite).

 

Don

[Chris]

I prefer medium nibs but I do have a couple of fine ones, which are not my ideal, and one broad, which is very smooth but gets through ink like there is no tomorrow

 

I like a broad-ish medium rather than a fine-ish medium, if you know what I mean.

 

Chris

[Cloud]

Thanks for the responses,

 

I am getting curious as to trying different type/sizes of nibs and to see the experiences of others to have more chances to obtain optimal results. I had a Namiki VP broad, but that is medium broadish.

 

I had multiple dip pen nibs and tried many of them but can't relate too much to fountina pens because the were not as good quality nibs.

 

This is very good information.... keep the posts coming!

[southpaw]

As a lefty underwriter, I used a wide variety, anything from an XF to, at times, stubs as wide as 1.5mm. However, I primarily use fine, but that's more to do with my writing size than being a lefty. I do prefer very smooth nibs, in part because of the amount of "pushing" involved as a lefty. Also, I've recently discovered the fun of flex nibs (thanks to someone on this board who told me, as a lefty underwriter, I was in a perfect position to give copperplate a shot).

[Patrick Hand]

Within the last three years, I re-learned to write with my hand under the writting instead of the crab hand I use to write with....

 

But the nibs I use are what came with the pen, so I haven't had a chance to experiment with others....

 

I have an aluminum bodied Rotring with a med. nib, but it is way too stiff, so I don't use it very often....

 

I have an old Parker that I like, it has a slightly flexable,kinda heavy nib, I like how it writes, but I'm not sure if that has anything do do with being a lefty.......

 

 

 

 

as a lefty underwriter, I was in a perfect position to give copperplate a shot

I want to find a very flexable, fine nibed pen, so I can try to write in a variation of copperplate. When I was playing with a dip pen, I liked the "springyness" of the nib.... I thought it was because I turned the paper so the pen was at the right angle for writting. But after trying to visualize how a righthander would do it.... I think there IS an advantage to writting it left handed......

 

 

 

.

[Carrie]

I tend to find most modern mediums are far too wide for my writing, so if given the choice I prefer an extra fine. Most of my vintage pens will be equivilent to a modern XF or F. My VP has a medium nib and I also have a 0.9mm cursive italic nib for it. I could never get on wih broad nibs, there's just ink smudged everywhere.

[Cloud]

Interesting,

 

I didn't think the majority of voter as of yet would vote for fine nibs! I taught left hander's would favor borader nibs like medium.

[Ann Finley]

I'm a lefty overwriter that prefers fine--sometimes extra fine nibs (in pointed nibs), so I voted for fine. When using italic nibs, more often than not, I tend to use medium left foot oblique or straight.

 

Ann

[treeverte]

I am a slight overwriter and like broad and medium points...I should really go for fine as I tend to

schmear ink all over my paper if I am not careful. I think it's easier NOT to catch an edge with the larger nib sizes...they do have to be smooth though!

 

treeverte

[Cloud]

Wow, this thread is still alive!

 

Thanks for the info. All of the other lefty who didn't vote, vote. It's good information for all of the lefty community.

[Dawn]

Hi

 

I am a lefty underwriter and prefer a medium nib, usually because they are free flowing and easier to push on the paper.

 

Dawn

[Ray-Vigo]

Lefty overwriter- prefer medium. It's the best balance of smoothness and width for me.

[jpolaski]

I prefer broad nibs for their boldness and flair, though I am forced to use some relatively fine nibs for much of my work. I try to keep it to a medium though...lol

[Jerome Tarshis]

Although I voted for a medium nib, the truth is more complicated. A medium or medium-broad nib is the effect I wish to produce.

 

(Since I stopped working in offices, I haven't had much occasion for small writing, as practiced by editors and proofreaders, not to leave out teachers marking their students' papers. Given a choice, I write larger letters than I used to when I was a statistical clerk or a proofreader.)

 

It is today's paper that introduces the complication. With highly absorbent paper, I can get a rather broad line with a fine nib, so I'll use that. With ink-repellent paper I need to use a medium-broad, at least, to get anything much fatter than an XF line.

 

So "medium nib" is the look I'm trying for, not necessarily the nib width I'll use to arrive at that look. If it weren't for the terrible decline in the quality of inexpensive paper, I might own only one fountain pen today.

 

I used one fountain pen for decades. But no longer. Now the nib and the ink are matters of artistic choice according to what paper I'm using. And since I often find myself writing with what comes to hand, there's no question of retreating to some favorite European notebook brand.

 

If it makes any difference, I'm an underwriter. But I think we left-handed people write in so many different ways that we rather transcend generalizations.

[georges zaslavsky]

I am ambidextrous but I often prefer medium and/or fine nibs on my pens.

[johnr55]

My hold is essentially identical to a right-hander.

 

I have more XF and F nibs than M, but have all three. Like Southpaw, nib smoothness is important, probably because of the 'push' of the nib across the paper, as he stated. Toothy nibs unfortunately tend to catch on the paper.

[anniemac]

I am an under writer and all my nibs are medium, except one, a broad oblique on a Waterman. This writes beautfully. I don't have enough pens I don't think (5) to know if it really makes a difference. Never chanced a fine though!

I did not choose my pens because of their nibs, though. If i liked it, I got it, as long as I could write with it OK.