Fountain pens are tools, but they should also be fun. And there's nothing more fun than laying down a Sharpie-sized wet line with crisp line variation too. I was getting bored and frustrated with the EF nib in my Ocean Swirl. As beautiful as the pen is, I wasn't using it much. I plan to … Continue reading In praise of the crazy Pelikan Italic Broad
nibs
The frustrating pursuit of a functioning nib… is it too much to ask?
I buy a lot of pens. All kinds of brands. All kinds of price ranges. Steel and gold. Fine and broad. From many different pen shops. I assume that most of the time, the pen arrives ready to write. But sometimes the nib lets me down. And that "sometimes" is starting to feel like "too … Continue reading The frustrating pursuit of a functioning nib… is it too much to ask?
Four reasons to love broad nibs
A while back I wrote a post mentioning that I'd gravitated toward fine and even extra-fine nibs, and the many reasons to do so. But it seems I've... diversified my collection. My 15-pen collection now has a good mix of nibs ranging from UEF to BB, but if anything I have more broads than fines. … Continue reading Four reasons to love broad nibs
Six nibs to make you go “phwoar”
Nibs are what fountain pens are all about. As far as I'm concerned, you can have the flashiest celluloid in the world, but I want my eye to go straight to the nib: it's the jewel in the crown. The best nibs are not only wonderful performers, but gracefully designed and simply beautiful, too. So … Continue reading Six nibs to make you go “phwoar”
Two nibs that are finer than fine: FPnibs XXF, Platinum UEF
I love a good fine nib, I really do. Several reasons spring to mind: most importantly, you can write smaller, more legibly — great when scribbling on printouts, for example. They also tend to perform better on inferior paper, because they lay down less link. Which also means they last longer on a single fill. … Continue reading Two nibs that are finer than fine: FPnibs XXF, Platinum UEF
Wet and wide: medium stub from FPnibs
I've bought a fair few pens and inks recently. My Pelikan M805. Monteverde Fireopal. Pilot 92. Birmingham inks (two batches). Jinhaos. Titanium nib. And I've backed the new Namisu on Kickstarter. Nonetheless, I recently found myself getting itchy for a new pen. And I'd just reclaimed from my partner her Kaweco Al Sport, fitted with … Continue reading Wet and wide: medium stub from FPnibs
Three ways to freshen up your pen life
Stationery is a hobby that's full of joy. Writing can be art, and so can the objects that produce it. But stationery is also a tool, a means to an end... in other words, work. And we all get bored of work from time to time. If you're finding that the spark has gone from … Continue reading Three ways to freshen up your pen life
