What Nib Size For A Beginner? (Pilot Metropolitan)

[BrianV]

Hello.

 

I'm looking at buying my first fountain pen. I have my eye on a Pilot MR (Metropolitan or Animal) after reading some online recommendations on beginner pens. However, there is a lot of conflicting recommendation regarding nib size when starting out.

 

Should I start with a Fine or Medium nib? I've heard a medium nib is better for learning, but a fine nib is better if you write small, and less bleed-through on cheap paper. Given that this is a Japanese nib, perhaps the medium is the... happy medium? (is there a bad pun emoticon?)

 

The intended purpose is to be an everyday pen that I can also learn Italic with as I try to rescue my handwriting.

 

I'd really appreciate any insight!

 

I'm sorry in advance if this is posted in the wrong place. I considered putting it in 'Of Nibs and Tines', but it didn't strike me as appropriate there either.

[BrianV]

Or, (Option C) - should I try to find a Pilot Plumix (Ugly Pen...) with an italic nib, and swap it into the metropolitan?

[PAKMAN]

I would go with the medium to start with, gives a better writing experience overall for learning to use a fountain pen. I ended up gravitating to fine nibs myself but some folks go the other direction and love the really broad nibs.

[dk76]

What do you think of the ballpoint or rollerball you are using now?

 

Line width is personal. And to me, whichever one makes you happy and gets you to use your pen is the "no recommendation" recommendation I would give.

 

Just be aware that the finer the nib, the less likely the fp will be a smooth writer.

[BrianV]

What do you think of the ballpoint or rollerball you are using now?

 

Line width is personal. And to me, whichever one makes you happy and gets you to use your pen is the "no recommendation" recommendation I would give.

 

Just be aware that the finer the nib, the less likely the fp will be a smooth writer.

 

I suppose that's a good way to think about it - I've never paid attention to the other pens I've bought. However, they are all without exceptions labelled 'M'. Since I feel comfortable with that, it makes sense to continue that way. Thanks!

 

I'm going to move ahead with a Pilot Metropolitan in Medium. I'm also looking at picking up an old Schaeffer No Nonsense as they seem to be well-liked, inexpensive italic-ground pens. Actually, when I saw this image, it gave me a flashback to my mother having this set when I was young:

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61hP9zIJTXL._SY355_.jpg

 

Although I am sure hers is long gone.

[BrianV]

I also just bought a Jinhao X450 on Ebay after reading some reviews on FPN. For $3.99CDN with shipping included, I couldn't *not* buy it.

[inkstainedruth]

If you have a chance to try a Metropolitan out, see you can try both an F and an M model. I personally recommend the M -- I found the F that I tried was scratchy.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[BrianV]

If you have a chance to try a Metropolitan out, see you can try both an F and an M model. I personally recommend the M -- I found the F that I tried was scratchy.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I ended up buying an M nib. Unfortunately, no place within an hour's drive sells this pen (that I could find), so I ordered 'blind' off of Amazon. I expect it will work out well, though.

[inkstainedruth]

I ended up buying an M nib. Unfortunately, no place within an hour's drive sells this pen (that I could find), so I ordered 'blind' off of Amazon. I expect it will work out well, though.

 

I bought mine at Bromfield's Pen Shop a year ago Christmas, while doing "the holiday travel to see the in-laws thing". So that was about a 10 hour drive from Pittsburgh to MA. And then taking the train into Boston from Franklin, where we were staying. Taking the T from South Station to the stop for Bromfield's, then walking a couple of blocks. After which, I took the T to Cambridge to Harvard Square to Bob Slate's. Then it was BACK to South Station, then getting a train out to West Natick, which is the closest stop to where my M-i-L lives. Oh, and the guy at the ticket office gave me a credit card receipt but apparently didn't give me a ticket. And so the conductor was going to throw me off the train in someplace like Newton.... I wrote a very long and pointed complaint letter to MassTransit after that. (I don't remember for sure, but I may have had to pay for a *second* ticket -- with no discount because it was on the train; almost missed my stop because I was on the phone to MassTransit going "I'm not paying for a second ticket when I have my receipt for the first one because the ticket window guy is incompetent!")

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[BrianV]

So, then pen arrived with the M nib. I'm somewhat regretting not getting the F nib. It feels like a fairly strong line, which is too much when used at 'normal' size on standard lined paper. Also, because my lined paper is cheap, I can really only use one side due to bleed through, and the sheet under it is covered with random bleed-through dots.

 

None of this is a complaint around the pen - it's buttery smooth and doing exactly what it's meant to. I'm not convinced however that my nib choice is suitable for my current writing style. It looks OK when I write at double size.

 

It's odd that the line feels so much 'heavier' than the 'M' ballpoints I have here. I think the FP is laying down a much heavier, consistent stroke of ink which gives it a heavier perception.

[inkstainedruth]

It may depend on the ink you're using. Some pens write wetter or drier -- even within the same brand, model and nib width.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[ac12]

 

So, then pen arrived with the M nib. I'm somewhat regretting not getting the F nib. It feels like a fairly strong line, which is too much when used at 'normal' size on standard lined paper. Also, because my lined paper is cheap, I can really only use one side due to bleed through, and the sheet under it is covered with random bleed-through dots.

 

None of this is a complaint around the pen - it's buttery smooth and doing exactly what it's meant to. I'm not convinced however that my nib choice is suitable for my current writing style. It looks OK when I write at double size.

 

It's odd that the line feels so much 'heavier' than the 'M' ballpoints I have here. I think the FP is laying down a much heavier, consistent stroke of ink which gives it a heavier perception.

 

 

What ink are you using?

All the Noodler's inks that I've tried are WET inks and will make a pen write wide. Some are WETTER than others.

I suggest trying Waterman ink, as a starting point.

 

Also do NOT press hard on the pen. A FP can write with just the weight of the pen. Any more pressure from you will cause MORE ink to flow, making the ink line wider.

Edited February 24, 2016 by ac12

[BrianV]

  

 

What ink are you using?

All the Noodler's inks that I've tried are WET inks and will make a pen write wide. Some are WETTER than others.

I suggest trying Waterman ink, as a starting point.

 

Also do NOT press hard on the pen. A FP can write with just the weight of the pen. Any more pressure from you will cause MORE ink to flow, making the ink line wider.

I am using the black Pilot ink cartridge that came with the pen. I have Waterman Blue and Brown coming in the mail tomorrow.

 

I'll try working with lighter weight going forward, see if that helps.