Nib Suggestions For Someone New To Being A Leftie...

[LagNut]

Folks,

 

I have a family member who is learning to be a leftie, after a quarter century of right (handed) living. I have twisted her young mind into liking fountain pens, and when I asked if she would like a nice pen to practice with, she was very much on board.

 

I had seen, (probably on e-bay), listings that claimed to have nibs that were good for left-handed writing, and now I'm not able to find them. I thought that these were Pilot PO(Posting) nibs, but now I'm not seeing any of these claims, and/or nibs. To be clear, I see the PO nibs, but not the claims of "good for left handed writing".

 

I'm not looking for italics, at least at this point. The posting nib is more in line with her usage (as it is with mine) - relatively fine, easy and fun to write with, and not requiring a great deal of effort to get legible writing. These are brainstorming instruments, and no one else sees most of the scribbles of these pens, but having the writing experience pleasurable is paramount.

 

So, is there a nib that will tend to lower frustration, and if possible, just work? She is not easy on her devices, so I'm still thinking the posting nib would be a decent choice: a nail, but one that I believe will not tend to dig into the paper. I am not a left handed writer, so I can't actually know what will or won't work. I really want this to be a good experience, she's got enough frustration on her plate for the foreseeable future. If I need to back away from this, please let me know.

 

Thanks much in advance for sharing your experience and advice...

 

Mike

Edited October 1, 2016 by LagNut

[Bluey]

That's a new one on me of the PO nib being for lefties. As I understand it, the PO nib is a superfine nib but very smooth. I suppose indirectly it would be ok for lefties because the ink wouldn't smudge as much. I don't think that's the way to go though tbh.

 

I would suggest the best plan is to get the driest ink (Lamy, Pelikan 4001, and Parker Quink, I would say) and a Japanese F or EF pen. I would recommend the Pilot Custom 74 in soft fine(SF). The one that I have is quite dry and the soft nib provides a lovely tactile feeling. They're also relatively inexpensive and cn be picked up for around $60 on Amazon or ebay

 

Don't bother with the PO nib because it's a specialist nib.

Edited October 1, 2016 by Bluey

[LagNut]

Bluey,

 

Thanks much, she has Pilot fine nibs (in Vanishing points), but I could let her have my Custom 74 in SMF. Worth a shot. I actually give that nib a 1 week lifetime if I give it to her, but maybe I'll be surprised. She was continuing to use the VP for over 4 years, so maybe she can do just fine with the Custom 74. I would have thought the soft was a non-starter, since I dig that one in a fair amount.

 

I see if I can run that by her while she's here this weekend.

 

Thanks much for the experience, I would not have tried that without your suggestion. She might really like it.

 

Cheers,

Mike

 

[mivox]

As a leftie myself, I've been pleasantly surprised with regular Lamy F and EF nibs. They write so smoothly for me, I haven't bothered trying a Lamy LH (left-handed) nib, but they make those too... And they're incredibly easy to swap.

[LagNut]

Mivox,

 

Excellent. She has a Lamy already. I will pick up the LH nib, that's wonderful. I have played with replacing the Lamy nibs on my own Safari's. They are pretty beefy nibs also, so that should be helpful. I really appreciate your sharing your experience. This is most helpful.

 

Do you find ink choice important? I do have Quink, and I may have some Lamy ink that I was not enamored with.

 

Mike

Edited October 1, 2016 by LagNut

[sam3k]

I had seen, (probably on e-bay), listings that claimed to have nibs that were good for left-handed writing, and now I'm not able to find them. I thought that these were Pilot PO(Posting) nibs, but now I'm not seeing any of these claims, and/or nibs. To be clear, I see the PO nibs, but not the claims of "good for left handed writing".

 

It's the Pilot WA nib that's mentioned as being good for lefties.

[Monbla]

From the leftie FP users I know, most like a 51 with a F nib for it's dry writing qualities.

[LagNut]

Sam3K,

 

Thanks much. That will give me something to look at, though I'm not seeing a resounding response for it except for your post. If you are a leftie, or even if you just have the nib, is it a plausible choice?

 

Regardless, this is great info, as now I can look at WA nib reviews and see what people are saying about it. I thought I'd seen this, but I was looking at the wrong nib...

 

Cheers,

Mike

 

 

[LagNut]

Monbla,

 

I have some p51's that are fine. And this does fit in with the nail nature that I think will be important for here at this point. She's effectively starting first grade with that hand. She also likes thinner pens, so this will probably be a win.

Thanks much,

Mike

[sam3k]

I am left handed, I don't have a WA nib, but I had been looking at it this week after reading up on Pilot nibs and seeing that it was recommended for left handed people. From everything I've read it seems like it would be nice for a leftie, but... there are many ways to hold a pen if you're left handed, and thus choice of nib is very much personal preference. I'm a side writer, so my biggest issue is with the nib starting to dry on a long stroke (a lot of the time I'm pushing the pen). So for me switching to a very well behaved ink (I only really use Iroshizuku now) made the biggest difference. Though some side writers can have big problems with smudging, so want quick drying.

Also, try searching for 'Waverly' as well as 'WA', here are a few links to get you started:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/211364-anyone-tried-a-pilot-waverly-nib/
https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/3xtccs/new_pen_pilot_custom_heritage_912/
https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/4om6pc/best_pen_for_a_leftie/

Just to suggest an alternative, I would recommended a steel F nib. Something that's very hard and smooth, maybe one of the Faber Castell pens? I've heard good things about their nibs, I have one of the GvFC gold nib pens and it's sublime.

[estie1948]

I am an Esterbrook man since I first learned to write cursive in second grade in you don't want to know what year. I am also a man that seems to have to use an extra fine nib. If I use an western fine nib or a medium, then a four line note will require four sheets of paper. I use an Esterbrook 9550 nib in all of my Esterbrook pens. The 9500 is an extra fine manifold nib. I also use a few Japanese fountain pens with the extra fine nib.

 

Many years ago, when my wife, who was a leftie was still alive, she would occasionally use one of my fountain pens. She never fell for fountain pens because she always smeared the ink except with my fountain pens with their extra fine, 9550 nibs. As a person with no love for the fountain pen, she treated them no differently than a Bic ballpoint pen. I tell you this to say that the Esterbrook nibs could take her abuse without any apparent damage.

 

-David (Estie).

[Schadenfreude]

I am a leftie. I dont use fountain pen that is made for lefties. I use fountain pens without nib customisation. It's not about the tools you use, but about the way you write. There are overwriters, sidewriters and underwriters. I am an underwriter so i dont smear the ink

Edited October 2, 2016 by Schadenfreude

[LagNut]

Sam3K,T

 

thanks much. She's now going to get some Iroshizoku ink. That is not what I would have expected as an ink choice.

 

I also didn't realize there are multiple leftie writing styles. Since she is just starting now, I'm not sure what it will be,

 

This is again excellent, and non-intuitive information.

 

Mike

[LagNut]

David (Estie).

 

I have an Estie, and that exact nib. I like thin lines, so again she will be gaining a pen of mine. It's nice that a fine nib is where she nneds to go, as that is where I have been largely in my fountain pen travels.

 

She likes the idea of a expanding her collection. Have you people been in cahoots with her?

 

Cheers,

Mike

[LagNut]

Schadenfreude,

 

Thanks for this. she is claiming she has not smeared her inks yet, so maybe she's an underwriter? She does have mainly fine nibs. She is going to research this, and check out the writing styles. I may get her on this site as a member yet...

 

Again, thanks much.

 

Mike

Edited October 2, 2016 by LagNut

[LagNut]

All,

 

I'm about to be driving her back down to her abode, so I'll be gone until Monday night probably the earliest. I will absolutely come back and check things out, so if you have more info, I will gladly take it, but I won't be responding for a bit.

 

This has been fantastic info, and has already enriched her collection greatly. It's also going to deplete my ink.

 

Thanks much, this really has been a great help.

 

Mike

[Schadenfreude]

Schadenfreude,

 

Thanks for this. she is claiming she has not smeared her inks yet, so maybe she's an underwriter? She does have mainly fine nibs. She is going to research this, and check out the writing styles. I may get her on this site as a member yet...

 

Again, thanks much.

 

Mike

Hi Lagnut/Mike

 

Yes lefties have different hand positions when writing.

 

Overwriter/overhook: it means that when writing, the hand forms a hook which the letters they write are below their hand

 

Sidewriter: it means that when writing, the hand is located next to the letters

 

Underwriter: the hand is below the letters.

 

Here are few samples of videos

 

https://youtu.be/10ZWeq9h1V4

https://youtu.be/Kg8MvdOy_us (my way to write is what the uploader said "less common")

 

I hope the videos above can help her determine which hand position she prefers.

 

Greetings

 

Vanessa

Edited October 2, 2016 by Schadenfreude

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Kindly consider a Pelikan Pelikano with an 'A' (beginners) nib. Moving to a dedicated left handed nib can then be considered.

(My paternal grandfather is a left-handed under writer, as was my father. I do some things left handed, such as deal cards and swing an axe.)

 

Our friends at Classic FPs have graciously provided this resource: http://www.nibs.com/Left-hand%20writers.htm

 

Bye,

S1

 

__ __

The 'A' https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/309790-pelikano-a-nib/

Edited October 2, 2016 by Sandy1

[LagNut]

Schadenfreude/Vanessa,

 

Thanks much. I have not seen her actually write, but I've sent the links on to her, so she can be informed if she is talking with other people about what her actual writing style is. It might actually help to see how others actually write and possibly try other methods than she has so far. We don't have anyone actually a leftie in our immediate circle, and our little corner is the fountain pen geeks of our tribe. She's been doing this on her own, so I suspect she might see some things to try.

 

Thanks much,

Mike

[LagNut]

Sandy1,

 

Those are inexpensive pens and well worth the try. They even have "left handed" Pelikano Jr's. I can't see from the pictures what makes the tip left-handed (this is amazon.com), but now I'm more than a little intrigued.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C70DABM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

The pictures on nibs.com were instructive, and a quick explanation of terms that were only vague concepts before, underwriter in particular, which is what I suspect she is now given that she has not had issues with smearing ink...

 

Thanks much for the tips,

Mike

Edited October 6, 2016 by LagNut