So What's Wrong With Nails?

[dneal]

"It's a nail" seems to be a negative term, describing a very firm nib. I'm guilty of it too, and enjoy a nib with a little spring to it; but why should we dislike "nails"? Why the negative connotation?

 

 

 

[Ursus]

1) They are not much fun.

2) They are easier to make.

3) We pay for the gold although steel could do the same thing (be hard) even better.

4) They feel a little like ball points.

5) They don't give you much line variation.

6) You can only use them for modern writing (vs. e.g. Spencerian).

7) Fountain pen users like things to be a little complicated.

8) Fountain pen users like complaining about things that are not complicated enough.

9) Fountain pen users like complaining about how things were a lot better in the old days.

10) Things were a lot better in the old days.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Ursus

[Jamerelbe]

For mine, "It's a nail" is shorthand for "This nib exhibits little or no line variation". No negative connotations - though I agree, it does seem to be used that way sometimes! A long as the pen glides smoothly over the page, I'm not going to complain (too much) if the tines are comparatively rigid...

[dneal]

Having written with an actual nail on several occasions (which is not uncommon for those who have done any framing), I only have one pen that truly writes like a 16d - a Faber Castell Ambition. The hard steel nib and the feedback that resonates through the body feels almost exactly like a nail.

 

That being said, it's a great writing pen and used often. It is on my desk at work, is often the first pen in hand for a quick note, and I never worry about someone picking it up to use it (although they get that confused look on their face when they realize it's a fountain pen).

 

For line variation, I'm quite happy with stubs and italics. My pens that do flex are rarely used so, and only when playing around. I don't write with enough pressure to get a lot of variation out of them in normal usage.

[Tas]

I love my "nails".

(Mostly Sheaffers)

 

 

I presume the term is only used in a negative way by people who don't like them.

[Ursus]

 

Having written with an actual nail on several occasions (which is not uncommon for those who have done any framing), I only have one pen that truly writes like a 16d - a Faber Castell Ambition. The hard steel nib and the feedback that resonates through the body feels almost exactly like a nail.

Back in med-school there was a club for men who would actually eat their food with tools like hammers and so on. I have seen pictures from their meetings and that looked quite odd. Anyway, to be serious, some people enjoy writing with glass pens - which are even harder than actual nails.

 

 

 

I love my "nails".

You rarely hear that from men. I do have some nails that I like myself, though.

[View from the Loft]

Thing is, if you use no pressure whatsoever and allow your pen to glide along on a cushion of ink, and have no interest in flex nibs and their line variation, how on earth would you know if your pen has a nail nib?

 

I like my Parker 25s with their hard nibs - great writers.

 

And yes, you can have line variation from nail nibs. My P25s have italic nibs, which give nice line variation. So there.

[WaskiSquirrel]

It's only negative if the one using the term believes a more flexible nib is superior.

 

To me, the term is descriptive of a nib without flex. It's not negative or positive, just a description.

 

The reason I have more than one or two fountain pens is that I want some variety in my writing instruments. Some pens are nails, some are flexy, and most lie somewhere in between. It depends on what I'm doing, and I will choose different pens.

[The Blue Knight]

There isn't anything with nails however the fact that flex nibs aren't common on modern pens gives them a sort of reputation for being the holly grail of the pen world

 

I wonder what Bo Bo's response will be...

Edited January 2, 2015 by The Blue Knight

[Bo Bo Olson]

A nail is a nail, cheaper if steel.

A nail is a great first 'noobie' nib....in it's hard to bend into a pretzel.

 

Nails are very good in italic calligraphy.

 

One must have five nails...B, M, F & EF....hummmmm oh yes, one or more of the 1/2 widths due to tolerance or different manufacture. One will end up with five or more.

Trying to think why I still have them in more than EF, unless it's the model. ...Ah, one's a P-51 F..got to have one of them.

Good by Townsend M....CMP-1 B....going to keep the Lamy Joy 1.5 though. It lets me see exactly what I'm doing when I take out the calligraphy book.

 

The pens I have sold, were nails....never had a second thought on that....should sell those bigger than EF. (Dam that P-51 is a F.)

 

EF nail is very useful if you have poor paper and no choice of paper, it good with a supersaturated quick drying ink....yep, got my basic 5 & in EF too. Need vivid supersaturated ink for such thin script.

You are bound to have a pen that is not as narrow as Japanese, so must make due with a 'fat' nail EF.

 

The good thing about nails is no matter how hard you press a nib...it stays the same width.

 

Nails are good for 5-6 copies using carbon paper....if such stacks are still used. There printing is best in one can put more pressure on each letter.

 

A nail, is the perfect pen to let a Ball Point Barbarian use once one points out the shinny end up.

 

Some respected long time posters here are Nail only.

 

I do recommend to 'noobies', EF&B in nail, M&F in true regular flex....in M is a very under rated nib; before looking at semi-flex...and working up the flex ladder...but most want to jump head first into the Flex pool.

Then run back to nail, when they discover they have not developed the Hand for it.

I say 'true' regular flex in many companies don't make that any more, instead have semi-nail like the 400/600. A 200's nib is 'true' regular flex. Modern 800 is a Large nail if you want a Large pen.

So is a Townsend.

 

Really, 'true' regular flex semi-vintage or vintage are not 'flex' nibs....unless you are nail only.

Neither is semi-flex....'almost' flex.

Nail users are very, very much better than a died in wool Ball Point Barbarian....poor soul, who can't even play with inks.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Bo Bo Olson

[dneal]

I wonder what Bo Bo's response will be...

 

It didn't take long...

 

Bo Bo - Thanks for not cutting and pasting your usual nail/flex post.

[TSherbs]

nuffin is wrong with a nail

[Ursus]

 

Nail users are very, very much better than a died in wool Ball Point Barbarian....poor soul, who can't even play with inks.

 

That is true: It undoubtedly speaks to the advantage of nails that they are not ball points.

[ac12]

To me, a "nail" is just a description of a nib that does not flex.

 

And there is nothing wrong with "nails."

I use them and like them.

I write with little to NO pressure on the pen. So gold or stainless steel, nail or semi-flex, there is no appreciable difference to me.

So a nail does me just fine.

In fact, for me, a "semi-flex" requires too much pressure to write with when trying to flex it. So I use it just like a nail, no pressure, no flex.

 

Personally, if I want flex, I will pull out my dip pens.

 

If I want line variation without using my dip pen, I would just use an italic nib fountain pen. I get my line variation without putting any pressure on the pen.

[dneal]

To me, a "nail" is just a description of a nib that does not flex.

 

And there is nothing wrong with "nails."

I use them and like them.

I write with little to NO pressure on the pen. So gold or stainless steel, nail or semi-flex, there is no appreciable difference to me.

So a nail does me just fine.

In fact, for me, a "semi-flex" requires too much pressure to write with when trying to flex it. So I use it just like a nail, no pressure, no flex.

 

Personally, if I want flex, I will pull out my dip pens.

 

If I want line variation without using my dip pen, I would just use an italic nib fountain pen. I get my line variation without putting any pressure on the pen.

These are my thoughts too a tee. Well said.

[Algester]

but I can't chuck a nail into my fps... the diameter wont fit into the feed... but it would be interesting how a nail would be like as a stylus I mean someone made a plastic nib so why not a nail...

somebody has to make this happen

and now for something proper for me having held up a manifold nib I see where a good nail-like nib could do good especially if your dealing with a lot of cheap paper and probably carbon paper as well maybe I should try it out...

yeah having a springy nib on a cheap paper would be a very bad idea... unless you like how your words look like ink blotches sure why not

Edited January 3, 2015 by Algester

[brunico]

A nail, is the perfect pen to let a Ball Point Barbarian use once one points out the shinny end up.

 

You have it the wrong way round.

 

Rather, a flexible/springy/soft nib is the perfect pen for such a person. After all, some people here press down so hard that they have difficulty writing with anything that doesn't have a bit of suspension, like the spring behind their biro refills.

 

From comments I read here, using what is disparagingly called a nail seems to take a bit more skill. Writing halfway-decent copperplate, though, takes more skill than anything I achieve with my rigid nibs.

[Ursus]

Otherwise one could call it firm - which sounds more pleasant. Recently I noticed the description "firm and flexy" on ebay. Some people will write everything that sounds nice no matter the contradictions that arise.

[ac12]

nail = manifold

 

Esterbrook manifold nibs were used to write carbon copies, where you HAD to PRESS down to make the copes.

[Misfit]

Are modern nibs supposed to have flex? Certainly not like pens of old. I've copied this from Richard's Pens website:

 

"Most pens today — as did many in the past, including Duofolds of the 1920s and the sturdily built Sheaffer Triumphs of the 1940s — have nibs that are firm or rigid, with little or no flexibility. These nibs stand up very well to being used with a firm writing pressure; and this is probably a good thing, because most modern writers have learned to write using a ballpoint, which requires a firm pressure."

 

Stub and italic nibs give good line variation, and are my favorites. I have seen shading with some nibs that are not stub or italic nibs. What I'd like to know is which pens do users describe as nails? I don't think I'd describe any of mine that way....