First TWSBI: Can't Decide Nib Size

[DKnight]

I am looking to get my first TWSBI (an Eco) and I would appreciate suggestions about which nib size I should get. 

I currently own the following pens: Lamy Safari F, Pilot Metropolitan F, Kaweco Sport EF, and Jinhao X750 M.

 

I ask for suggestions because a) I am still unsure which nib size I prefer and b) unsure how a TSWBI writes (dryer, wetter, etc.)

 

My instinct is to get a Medium or bigger since my experience with Medium is only my Jinhao and I have never written with a larger nib. I don't anticipate using this for work so that isn't a consideration.

 

P.S. I have used Goulet's Nib Comparison, but it wasn't very helpful to me.

Edited March 10, 2022 by DKnight

[Amontillado]

I'm a complete newbie. Take these observations with caution.

 

I think the choice of nib should be based on what kind of paper you write on and how large you write.

 

My daily work journal is written with a fine nib. The notebook I use is crummy paper and A5 size. I need to write small and the paper won't respond well to a heavy ink flow. My daily carry pocket pen is also a fine nib, so I can write small on index cards.

 

When writing longer form, I use American letter-size paper (A4, I think) of slightly better quality and I write larger than in my work journal. That's best done with a medium nib.

 

For signing my name, I write large and bold with a 1.1 mm stub nib. I like the look. It's unapologetic in a thoughtful way. It might also be considered a fussy nib. When I first got it, I assumed it was in need of nib tuning. Now I realize it's just sensitive to the angle above the paper. Also, if the pen isn't rotated to place the nib fully flat against the paper it has skips and other bad habits.

 

Basically, for a right-hander, as the back of the pen points more toward your shoulder and less toward your nose, the pen needs to be rotated a few degrees counterclockwise to keep from putting the paper in contact with just one corner of the stub nib.

 

Whatever you get, learn what the pen likes. If that doesn't suit you, you may need a different pen, but it's not the pen's fault. It's like sailing. If something is hard to do on a sailboat, that's the boat's way of telling you there are better ways.

 

If a pen is scratchy, it may be that rotating the pen is all that's needed, or the angle above the paper isn't optimal. You might be using too much pressure. It should take just a touch, not a press, against the paper.

 

Or, I could be completely wrong and should have stuck to the promotional pens realtors give away. I can see that argument, too.

[maclink]

The Eco's that I have tend to write on the wetter side.  The F's should be OK if you are using at Metropolitan F.

[Jamerelbe]

5 hours ago, maclink said:

The Eco's that I have tend to write on the wetter side.  The F's should be OK if you are using at Metropolitan F.

 

+1 - My Ecos also tend to write wetter (though they may have tweaked the design since I bought them?), so a TWSBI F will probably write wider than the Metro, and maybe also the Safari.  It's not a huge step up to M, but B is noticeably wider - so it depends whether you want a pen you can write small with, or whether you're keen for a pen that lays down a lot of ink. 

 

If you want a pen to have fun with, it's also worth checking out the 1.1mm stub - it'll give your writing some line variation, and works really well for headings, signatures etc, without being (far) too big for general writing!

[essayfaire]

Like @Amontillado, I think it depends on how you want to use the TWSBI.

 

I tend to purchase TWSBI Gos in fatter nibs then my other pens, but not because they run narrow; I use them differently.  My Pilot F is perfect for writing, but I would never put a shimmering ink in it; I like that a TWSBI with a M or broader nib can hold a shimmer ink and that I can see it through the barrel. 

 

If you will be using it for normal writing with inks that neither shimmer nor sheen, I would order an XF or an F.

 

By the way, the Go has my favorite ink filling mechanism ever.  The spring is so easy.  If I could find a "higher end" pen that I could fill this easily and neatly I would be a very happy camper.  Now that they have converters with springs available I have picked some up to put in other pens.

[Amontillado]

4 hours ago, essayfaire said:

By the way, the Go has my favorite ink filling mechanism ever.  The spring is so easy.  If I could find a "higher end" pen that I could fill this easily and neatly I would be a very happy camper.  Now that they have converters with springs available I have picked some up to put in other pens.

TWSBI excels at filling systems. I almost wish my Vac pens would run dry quicker so I could fill them more often. That Vac-specific ink bottle is fun.

[Mark from Yorkshire]

On 3/18/2022 at 8:27 PM, essayfaire said:

Like @Amontillado, I think it depends on how you want to use the TWSBI.

 

I tend to purchase TWSBI Gos in fatter nibs then my other pens, but not because they run narrow; I use them differently.  My Pilot F is perfect for writing, but I would never put a shimmering ink in it; I like that a TWSBI with a M or broader nib can hold a shimmer ink and that I can see it through the barrel. 

 

If you will be using it for normal writing with inks that neither shimmer nor sheen, I would order an XF or an F.

 

By the way, the Go has my favorite ink filling mechanism ever.  The spring is so easy.  If I could find a "higher end" pen that I could fill this easily and neatly I would be a very happy camper.  Now that they have converters with springs available I have picked some up to put in other pens.

I can concur the TWSBI broad nibs are nice and wet and do a sterling service with a shimmer type ink

[DKnight]

I went with a medium nib size and I have been very pleased with it! And the pen as a whole... wow. Beautiful, great weight, great to handle. I knew that TSWBI would live up to the hype, but it has been so fun to actually use it. It is currently the pen that I find excuses to use more often.

[essayfaire]

47 minutes ago, DKnight said:

I went with a medium nib size and I have been very pleased with it! And the pen as a whole... wow. Beautiful, great weight, great to handle. I knew that TSWBI would live up to the hype, but it has been so fun to actually use it. It is currently the pen that I find excuses to use more often.

So glad you're pleased with your choice!

[Amontillado]

3 hours ago, DKnight said:

I went with a medium nib size and I have been very pleased with it! And the pen as a whole... wow. Beautiful, great weight, great to handle. I knew that TSWBI would live up to the hype, but it has been so fun to actually use it. It is currently the pen that I find excuses to use more often.

 

Eco's are cool pens. They write great. Personally, I prefer pens that drink straight from the bottle. Even a cartridge converter is a little too pre-packaged for my odd tastes. Piston, vacuum, and eyedropper pens are the way to go. I don't care if cleaning them is more involved. I like fiddling with them. Of course, that's opinion.

 

I keep my fine nib Eco loaded with Diamine Sherwood Green ink. If I have to jot something down that must not be forgotten as the day grinds on, I write the reminder with the Eco. The rest of my notes are in Cult Pens Deep Dark Blue which I think they also call Michael. The green notes contrast with the dark blue ink without being garish.