Sailor, Pelikan, Faber-Castell, Omas, Pilot?

[ohnonotagain]

Hi, these brands seem to have a reputation for super smooth nibs. Which one is the smoothest, comparing similar widths? I want to get close to no feedback or no feedback at all in a western F or M nib or a Japanese B nib.

[whitedot]

Smoothness is a combination of paper, ink and nib. Generally, the wider and wetter the nib, the more lubricated the ink, and the slicker the paper, the smoother writing will be.

 

There is no definitive answer to your question, and anyone who replies "Pelikan!" or "Sailor!" etc. is misguided.

Edited October 20, 2013 by whitedot

[amk]

There are a lot of variables, but I have been very, very impressed by the smoothness of the Sailor nibs that I've tried out - far more so than any of the other names mentioned. In fact I found one or two of the Sailor nibs almost disorientating - they were so smooth that the lack of feedback meant I had difficulty controlling the pen till my mind adjusted!

 

However, I don't have so much experience with Pelikan and none at all with Omas.

[Laura N]

With a medium or wider nib, I think you'd be happy with any of them. Note that I once got a Sailor broad nib that was so smooth I had to de-smooth it, since it slipped and skittered on Clairefontaine paper.

 

If you buy a micromesh stick for a few dollars, or buy from someone like John Mottishaw who will adjust a nib to your preference, you can have any nib made as smooth as you'd like.

[whitedot]

Whereas, in my experience, Sailors are consistently and unbearably scratchy. I would never purchase one. In fact, I would never use one, even if you paid me.