Recommendation For Smooth Ef Nib Pen?

[Tweety06]

I'm fairly new to fountain pens, and I realize what I'm looking for may not exist, but I figured I'd ask anyway.

 

I'm currently writing mostly with a Pilot Metropolitan fine nib, which I love. But I'd like a pen with an even finer nib (I often mark up documents with fairly small type, so I need to be able to keep my writing small and clear). I have a Pilot Penmanship with an EF nib, but it's so much scratchier than the Metropolitan. So, what I'm hoping to find is a pen with a nib finer than the Metropolitan but just as smooth.

 

I'd ideally like to keep this under $75, but that's negotiable if there's something amazing worth considering. Thanks for any suggestions!

[Bluey]

Try a Sailor EF or a Pilot posting(PO) nib, although you may be scraping it at $75-. You'll find a Sailor EF new for around $90, 2nd hand you may just get one for your budget. Same for the Pilot posting nib.

 

The very finest/narrowest EF I've ever personally tried was a Pilot Capless/Vanishing Point EF, but smooth it most definitely wasn't.

Edited August 22, 2017 by Bluey

[MarcS]

Sailor is a great choice, as are Pilot and Platinum, the other two of Japan's "Big 3". You like the Pilot Metro, perhaps stay in that family and move upscale a bit. The Japanese manufacturers generally are really good with finer nibs.

[cattar]

I use Fine and EF often. Ef does take a lighter hand than Fine.

 

Consider a Platinum Preppy for 3 USD. Or if you tend to drop pens (the preppy cap will crack), consider the Platinum Plaiser (the same pen in aluminum) for 12 USD.

[ENewton]

I don't think you actually need to spend more. I have a Pilot desk pen with an extra-fine nib. It is just as smooth as my Pilot fine and is a less expensive pen. the key is to write with an extremely light hand. Ink makes a difference also.

[SpecTP]

I've always had good performance from Faber Castell fountain pens with EF nibs.

[Mech-for-i]

As far as EF goes, its the person that's holding the pen that really matter , its after all an EF and that means its having all the weight on that really really small contact area, Any form of pressure will start putting the nib digging into the paper .. and no way it can be smooth no matter what. a light light hand just guiding the pen to slide across the page is the only way to go for an EF writing. I've seen so many comment about EF not work for ( whoever complain about it ) and turned out the person wanting to write with an EF like doing calligraphy and a Medium nib or .. well you know what I mean.

 

As fas as real EF goes, the Platinum Preppy 0.2 is as good as any and cheap by all account. and smooth as well

[mitto]

I have just sealed a deal on a near mint Parker 75 Sterling Silver Ciselé pen with a EF nib. Generally I am not fond of F and EF nibs but the near pristine condition of this pen made me go for it when it was offered to me by a antique store owner in Karachi.

[Tas]

I use Fine and EF often. Ef does take a lighter hand than Fine.

 

Consider a Platinum Preppy for 3 USD. Or if you tend to drop pens (the preppy cap will crack), consider the Platinum Plaiser (the same pen in aluminum) for 12 USD.

 

Yep. I'd try both of these excellent writers first before heading up the money ladder . . .

[akrohn2010]

None of the "EF" nibs I have (TWSBI, Nemosine, Goulet) are finer than a Metro F. They are comparable line width, but IMO a better writing experience (especially the TWSBI).

 

To get finer you'll need to go for a Japanese EF (Pilot, Sailor, Platinum) as others have suggested.

 

Also to echo other posters - the finer the point, the less smooth a nib becomes due to less ink lubricating the contact with paper. Not to say there aren't smooth EF nibs, just realize you're getting more feedback by default the finer you go.

 

Good luck!

~AK

[ASCIIaardvark]

I have a Pilot Penmanship with an EF nib, but it's so much scratchier than the Metropolitan. So, what I'm hoping to find is a pen with a nib finer than the Metropolitan but just as smooth.

 

Do you have a loupe? Have you checked the tine alignment on the Penmanship? Pilot's EF nibs are pretty smooth. I have a Platinum 3776 UEF and it's not *that* much smoother than Pilot's steel nibs (nor is it substantially finer).

 

You could also try a more saturated ink - with the finer nibs, you might be tempted to press harder to get more color, which'll make it dig into the paper. You could also try opening the feed channel to make it wetter, but that'll mean more feathering on cheap paper - which'll make the line wider, which is counterproductive to your ends.

[Tweety06]

Thanks to all for the suggestions!

 

Try a Sailor EF or a Pilot posting(PO) nib, although you may be scraping it at $75-. You'll find a Sailor EF new for around $90, 2nd hand you may just get one for your budget. Same for the Pilot posting nib.

 

The very finest/narrowest EF I've ever personally tried was a Pilot Capless/Vanishing Point EF, but smooth it most definitely wasn't.

 

The PO nib looks really interesting, which brings me to another newbie question. Are there any ways to try out a pen/nib before buying? Do I go to a store? A pen show? I hesitate to buy a pen when I have no idea if I'll like how it writes!

 

I use Fine and EF often. Ef does take a lighter hand than Fine.

 

Consider a Platinum Preppy for 3 USD. Or if you tend to drop pens (the preppy cap will crack), consider the Platinum Plaiser (the same pen in aluminum) for 12 USD.

 

I actually have a Preppy EF, which I quite like, but I'm hoping for something just a hair finer. My Pilot Penmanship EF has the perfect line width, so I guess mostly what I'm wondering is if there's something similar but smoother.

 

Do you have a loupe? Have you checked the tine alignment on the Penmanship? Pilot's EF nibs are pretty smooth. I have a Platinum 3776 UEF and it's not *that* much smoother than Pilot's steel nibs (nor is it substantially finer).

 

You could also try a more saturated ink - with the finer nibs, you might be tempted to press harder to get more color, which'll make it dig into the paper. You could also try opening the feed channel to make it wetter, but that'll mean more feathering on cheap paper - which'll make the line wider, which is counterproductive to your ends.

 

No, I don't have a loupe; that sounds like a good next step. When I first got the pen, it was hard to get much of a line at all, so I tried some of the suggestions in this JetPens guide. That improved the flow quite a bit so that it's now generally pleasant with the right inks.

[Octo]

Would you consider a desk pen? JetPens has them by both Platinum and Pilot. Both are reviewed on FPN. Both have good reputations.

 

Your Penmanship nib can be transfered to some other Pilot pens.

[hmj]

I also recommend a loupe. I find that misaligned tines are a common problem with new pens, and the impact on performance is more noticeable when the tipping is finer. Even some pens that I believed were already smooth were made significantly smoother after better alignment. The only catch is that Japanese extra-fine nibs are more challenging to work with than a larger tip size.

 

But once I got comfortable with adjusting the alignment on my pens, it opened up a whole new world of buying with confidence. For example, you can find the reputable Platinum Century 3776 for less than $75 on Amazon. Of course, I also encourage supporting your local fountain pen dealers/retailers.

[parilla]

You may not believe this, but the best extra fine nib I have is on a PAI LI 001 pen I paid US$1.22 (posted) on ebay. It is a Lamy copy.

 

Turn the nib over and you have a xxf that is incredibly fine...and acceptably ok for writing!

[senzen]

My penmanship EF is pretty smooth, but I use pretty decent paper: HP 32 LJ, Tomoe River, Rhodia, Fabriano... My FC Ambition's EF nib is also smooth, but not nearly as fine as the penmanship.

[Tweety06]

Would you consider a desk pen? JetPens has them by both Platinum and Pilot. Both are reviewed on FPN. Both have good reputations.

 

Your Penmanship nib can be transfered to some other Pilot pens.

 

I have never even heard of desk pens, but now I'll check them out. (As well as loupes!)

Edited August 24, 2017 by Tweety06

[Sailor Kenshin]

I use Fine and EF often. Ef does take a lighter hand than Fine.

 

Consider a Platinum Preppy for 3 USD. Or if you tend to drop pens (the preppy cap will crack), consider the Platinum Plaiser (the same pen in aluminum) for 12 USD.

OP: Buy a Plaisir (with its nice, lightweight aluminum body) in any finish that you like. At the same time, buy a Preppy with the 02 nib. The sections are completely interchangeable. Rugged, won't dry out. Total cost, probably about $20.

[bob_hayden]

I agree with parilla re the PI LAI 004. I have a similar one with similar performance.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/325484-informal-review-pai-li-004-safari-clone-123/

 

Other options for those willing to pay less are the Yiren 358

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/321330-yiren-358-with-ef-nib-for-those-who-like-it-smallest/

 

and Wing Sung (or WingS) 3001

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/325651-mini-review-wings-wing-sung-3001-clone-of-pilot-78g/

 

All of these come with a converter or take Lamy-style cartridges. They appear to take Parker cartridges as well. but in my expernece the Parkers do not seal well.

[jonathanaahar]

MY RECOMENDATION IS not to buy an ef nib and get used to bold writing as i did. the writing is mutch more pleasent