Preferred Nib Size For Personal Diary Writing

[shethkapil]

I use all my nibs for writing my diary. I even mention the pen nib size and ink in my diary. It gives a bit of variety and character to my writing....

[loganrah]

This pandemic seems to be bringing out all the necro posts. But I'll bite:

 

I like to use my flexiest nibs for journaling. Currently a vintage gold overlay safety pen, which is a little flashy for taking out of the house... Flex isn't always the best for fast writing, but I like to take my time with journaling. And it helps justify my flex pen addiction.

[Karmachanic]

Nib du jour.

[DanceOfLight]

I mix it up. One entry might be an ef or f, another a m,b,or stub. Same goes for colors. One days entry might be one color or several depending on mood or topic or desired emphasis.

This one sums up my thoughts nicely; I'd add BB, OBB, BBB and Flex to that. I do note down the pen, nib, tipping and ink as well. Apart from text in different languages, doodles are added to reflect the mood.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

Thinking about what I've used over the past month, I know I've used a Pilot EF, FM, and 1.1 mm stub, a Sheaffer M, and a Pelikan EF (actually installed in an Esterbrook Dip-Less desk pen). The Pilot FM (fine-medium) is a good journaling width for me, although I almost always use unlined paper, which is less restricting. But I do use a variety, as you see. I rarely use a broad nib, but then, I rarely use a broad nib for anything.

 

Although I haven't done so in quite a while, I will occasionally do a journal entry in pencil (usually 2B 0.9 or 1.1 mm leads), gel pen or rollerball, and maybe the odd paragraph in ballpoint. No real reason for this, other than just throwing in something different on a whim. Not counting the Dip-Less, which is a sort of hybrid, I haven't used one of my true dip pens in a while, but I used to do so more often.

Edited July 8, 2020 by ISW_Kaputnik

[Rroberrt]

I searched for a chain like this to ask whether using two different character sizes might be detrimental to my handwriting?

 

Up until now I’ve been using 1.1 mm stubs but recently I sharpened the 1 mm stub on my Pilot, was delighted with the delicacy of the script and found myself writing smaller.  I guess I’ll find out the answer to my question eventually, but I wondered if others manage different sizes.

[Mangrove Jack]

Any nib really. Whatever pen I am into at the moment, I use.

However for personal diary I prefer F or XF nibs as I can cram more words in to the limited lines on a page. 

[Karmachanic]

3 hours ago, Rroberrt said:

I wondered if others manage different sizes.

 

Personally, the size changes, but my hand scrawl remains the same. Nibs 0.3, 0.4.5, 0.5 and 0.6. line width.  Occasionally a 1.1 and a 1.5 for headings

[Lachryma]

Wow, what an oldie!

 

I'll ditto Karmachanic, I don't notice any difference in my handwriting.

 

I almost always use a very fine nib for writing in my journal.  Sometimes I feel like writing in something other than black and choose something that will show off the ink best but never broad.  Medium is the fattest I have and the fattest I could ever tolerate.  Sometimes that's what I use for highly seening inks.

 

 

[A Smug Dill]

On 6/2/2021 at 2:38 AM, Rroberrt said:

I searched for a chain like this to ask whether using two different character sizes might be detrimental to my handwriting?

 

As with my implied question to you in the other thread, are you talking about handwriting as the activity or its observable outcome?

 

[maclink]

For my personal diary entries I use the opportunity to enjoy my nibs since I use FP friendly paper.  My choice of nib varies.  At the moment, I'm enjoying a stubby B nib on a MB146 as well as stubby M and B nibs on Pelikan M605 and M405's.  On other occasions I write with F or other M nibs.

[inkstainedruth]

Interestingly enough, this topic (in a roundabout way) came up this morning.  I had gone to an estate sale about 45 minutes northeast of me, and had left the house a bit after 5 AM (the sale started at 7 and this particular estate sale company has a "following" and I had seen what looked like a fountain pen in one of the photos, although not listed, which the company sometimes does).  So after snagging the pen, and doing a quick zoom around the rest of the building, I drove roughly 10 miles south to the closest branch of my favorite Pittsburgh area diner chain (sadly ONLY open for breakfast and lunch).  And while eating my breakfast, got through the first couple of pages in today's morning journal entry.  And the waitress, who was checking to see if I wanted more coffee, looked over my shoulder and commented about how small my handwriting is (I tend to write two lines for every printed line); today's entry was with one of the F-nib Parker Vectors, currently sporting Birmingham Pens Herber Simon Cranberry Nobel (a somewhat unsaturated pinkish red). And I wondered what she would have thought if she'd seen the entry from yesterday or the day before (written with the Pelikan M405 Stresemann, B nib, with 4001 Brilliant Black -- ALSO written two lines per printed line... ).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Rroberrt]

Dear ASD, (Sorry, but I’m waiting for direction on how to quote just a few lines), you have me feeling just a little dim; rather like an un-academic fellow in a Le Care novel.

 

Subsequent to the discovery of a stub that suits myself, I enjoy not only the act of writing but I also also the outcome - simultaneously.

 

So I humbly ask you to explain to me the difference, with perhaps an example illustrating.

 

[maclink]

1 minute ago, Rroberrt said:

(Sorry, but I’m waiting for direction on how to quote just a few lines)

If you select/highlight a block of text, a moment after you're done, a little popup box saying 'Quote selection' will appear.  Click on the box and vuala... you have generated a reply with only that text quoted.

 

If you wish to quote something from someone else in the same post, just do the same and see what happens.  For instance:

 

3 minutes ago, Rroberrt said:

So I humbly ask you to explain to me the difference, with perhaps an example illustrating.

I'm trying to figure what difference it that to which you're referring.

[Rroberrt]

7 minutes ago, maclink said:

I'm trying to figure what difference it that to which you're referring.

 

On 6/3/2021 at 7:55 PM, A Smug Dill said:

are you talking about handwriting as the activity or its observable outcome?

 

The difference between activity and outcome?  However, my new friend in this underworld of FP users, I think the answer to my original question is “Forgedabahtit”, and just enjoy my new skill.

 

Speaking of which, Ruth reminded me of yesterday, when my wife asked me to fill in an account number for her. The teller asked her who had written these numerals, they were so beautiful - or  was it a machine? You can imagine that I have written these numerals hundreds of times over the years - Ah! The power of the stub.

[inkstainedruth]

What a great story Rroberrt!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[A Smug Dill]

6 hours ago, Rroberrt said:

Dear ASD, (Sorry, but I’m waiting for direction on how to quote just a few lines),

 

If you're using a computing device that takes input from a mouse, trackpad, etc. then highlight the text the specific text you want to quote, in your browser by clicking-and-dragging the pointer, and then click on the [Quote selection] button that pops up.

 

If you're using a mobile handset or tablet device, with which user interaction is effected using the touchscreen only, then tap on a word in the text to highlight/select it, and drag on the markers on either end to extend the highlighted text fragment, and (if the button has not already popped up by now) tap lightly on the selected text to bring up the [Quote selection] button, and then tap on the button.

 

6 hours ago, Rroberrt said:

I enjoy not only the act of writing but I also also the outcome - simultaneously.

 

There's absolutely wrong with that, and I hope everyone does indeed enjoy both aspects simultaneously. However, in the context of answering your question of,

On 6/2/2021 at 2:38 AM, Rroberrt said:

I searched for a chain like this to ask whether using two different character sizes might be detrimental to my handwriting?

I just needed to be sure which aspect you're concerned about compromising.

 

6 hours ago, Rroberrt said:

So I humbly ask you to explain to me the difference, with perhaps an example illustrating.

 

 

Running on uneven terrain and/or an unfamiliar course would slow me down, and could be seen as being ‘detrimental’ to my running in that the outcome, e.g. time to complete 5km, would be worse than my best or even my average; my usual courses are relatively flat on roads and pavement around the Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanic Garden. On the other hand, running (especially as training) on uneven terrain and unfamiliar courses will help me learn to deal with a wider range of conditions more competently or comfortably, and so improves my running as an activity that takes practice and skill.

 

Therefore, if someone just asked, “Would a mixed course over pavement, sand and grass be detrimental to my running?” I wouldn't know how to answer, unless I know whether they're focused on capability as a runner, or achievement of outcomes in a single attempt.

 

On the other hand, if the question was, “Would wearing a pair of running shoes of which the soles have worn out unevenly, and significantly more so on one shoe than the other, be detrimental to my running?” I'd say the answer is most likely yes to both aspects.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Depends on how good your journal paper is, to what  do you want the ink to do.

If using two toned shading ink, suggest a regular flex M....like from a 200. Semi-flex is often too wet to sahde.

 

If shading ink is not a priority, and you want some flair in your writing suggest a '50-65 German factory stubbed semi-flex....it Is Not a calligraphy nib, but adds flair.

 

Trying to use it as a calligraphy nib, Is Nib Abuse!!!

Sooner or later you will be selling the sprung nib to someone who won't understand what all the fuss is about semi-flex nibs and never buys one that works.

 

The only obliques worth spending any money on Is German vintage '50-70 era stubbed semi-flex nibs...........I wasted a lot of money making sure of that....much $$$$.

Regular flex oblique you need a 1 1/2" or 5cm thick magnifying glass to find it.

Nail or semi-nail....if you see, is pure Myth induesed  In there is none at all in nails. Had two, one an OM the other an OB. Sold one and had the other made CI.

Nail obliques are good if you have left eye dominace or write in one of the many left handed styles. That way you can see the top of the nib.

 

You could if you love nails, have it made CI and get good line variation.

It all depends on your paper and which inks you want to use....and if you have a few pens with different flex, then what mood you are in.

I of course don't Journal...I BS here, it saves me ink.

[A Smug Dill]

On 6/6/2021 at 10:59 AM, A Smug Dill said:

There's absolutely  nothing  wrong with that,

 

Haha, I only noticed just now that a crucial ‘nothing’ got inadvertently omitted, but it's way too late for me to edit my post now!

[georges zaslavsky]

I use mostly fine or extrafine  for my daily writing at work. For personal correspondance and other stuff, medium or stub nibs.