Scratchy Flex Nib

[drop_m]

I have a flex nib who don't want to write smoothly. I've examined the tip and everything seems to be alright in fact of alignment. The only thing i can think about is the sharpness of the inner part of the tines.. Is This a common behaviour? How i can fix the problem?

[ac12]

When in the writing do you have this problem; all the time, downstroke, side stroke, ?

 

How are you holding the pen?

If you hold the pen in the traditional tripod grip, the pen will likely be scratchy on the down stroke as the nib is not in alignment with the downstroke. There is a finger over grip that puts the nib more in alignment with the downstroke.

 

You need to lighten up on the side and upstrokes so there is barely any pressure on the pen.

 

Finally, the paper. If the paper is less than SMOOTH, you will feel the texture of the paper.

Edited January 11, 2016 by ac12

[drop_m]

I've tried both the ways - traditional tripod grip and finger over grip - and it seems to be scratchy only on the up-to-right stroke: It put less ink on the paper and sometimes catch some fiber.
I usually write on Rhodia or Clairefontaine paper and for be more clear, the nib is not a full-flex. It is more on the semi-flex side.

[ac12]

ok an up to the right stroke, 45 degrees up, or compas direction NE

what angle above the paper are you holding the pen?

- the more vertical you hold it the less smooth a FP is, at least mine.

- depends on how you rotate the pen, you could be dragging on the inside edge of the trailing tine

 

ideas:

- look at the tip of the nib with a 10x loupe, to check if the tips are in alignment. if the tips are not aligned, it will be scratchy.

- write with a LIGHT hand, even lighter than you use right now. the nib should be barely touching the paper on the upstroke.

- try holding the pen at a lower angle to the paper. try getting down to 45 degrees or less.