Which nib?

[MrPeeps]

Over the past few months ive come to learn that my preference lies with juicy broad italics or stubs nibs, i use nibs up to 1.9mm on a daily basis. I was curious to know what others preferences are, stubs, italics, fines, oblique even architect nibs...
Thanks all, Luke

[fountainpagan]

I prefer XF nibs, or F.

I enjoy, however, with my flex nibs, the XXF to a good M.

Fine stubs I do appreciate, too.

And for drawing I love my Platinum UEF

Over-juicy and more than M nibs, I find difficult to use.

'Edit: to correct plex into flex)

[Kaputnik]

For almost all my writing I prefer fines or mediums, keeping in mind that a fine on some pens may be close to a medium on others. And I like the Pilot "Fine-Medium" size which I have on a couple of their pens.

I try broad nibs and stubs from time to time, but find them less practical. I can get along with some extra-fines.

[DaveT]

I am probably not going to make sense with my answer.

I like almost all size nibs. Today with me I have a F, M, and a 1.1 italic. I even enjoy writing with an XF. The only nib size I do not like is a broad nib. The B is just not good for my writing style. I can make an italic work but not a B, not sure why. Maybe the feel of the italic makes me more careful when I write?

[Paddler]

I have one of each type and use them all. Each one has its own function in the bullpen. I even keep a couple that are really toothy for writing in moving vehicles. For the really tough assignments, there is a world of dip pens to draw upon *puns intended, neener neener*.

[jar]

Different strokes at different times, but all must be good examples.

[penwash]

My current favorite nib to write with is a "springy" stub nib that is between M and B. I only found one nib that behave like this, an old Geha 14K nib.
My Pelikan 140 is close, but I need to grind it because it's currently a round-tip.

I almost have no use for round-tip M or B. To me there is no difference than writing with a good Rollerball pen.

[bluesea]

Aesthetically I don't like writing with broad nibs. Although I've tweaked my writing a bit to accommodate the thicker lines, I don't like the way it looks. Jury is still out on medium nibs--I'm working on it.

[Avalona]

I usually prefer a medium or smaller. Lots of fine, extra fine, medium, and the occasional A nib (which is basically a medium-broad, in comparison with Lamy nibs). I use a 1.1 nib only as a highlighter. Bigger and flex nibs don't work so well with my writing style or my choice of paper - I write fairly small and the broader nibs just make it look like ink blobs.

[ac12]

Generally an old US Parker Fine. Which is similar to a Lamy/Pelikan/TWSBI XF.

But this depends on the pen, ink and paper, and what I am writing, as I will use anything from an XF up to a 1.5mm CI.
IOW, I pick the appropriate tool (pen/nib) for the task.
Examples:
- Though I prefer a Fine nib, sometimes I need a heavier/wider ink line, then I pull out a M nib.
- I use the 1.1 CI for Christmas cards.
- Some inks are so WET that I have to drop down a nib size to prevent the ink line from being too wide.

[scrivelry]

I like either a fine or an XF, and can use up to a medium on the fine side, sometimes. I can also use an italic/stub nib - that can be a 1.1 or perhaps even wider. I do not like just fat unvarying lines - I didn't even when I used ballpoints.

[millerwb]

I generally prefer a F or XF for general writing and 1.1 or larger for signatures.

[fqgouvea]

I use a wide range, but I particularly like stubs and italics.


Fernando Gouvêa -- fqgouvea@roadrunner.com

[Orpilorp]

My favorite nib will change throughout the day. At work I use third tier pens with semiflexible nibs on cheap Moleskine 3x5 pocket notebooks. But when I get home then everything changes.

If I'm writing on the wider lined Clairefontaine paper I prefer a Lamy AL-Star with a 1.1 stub or a Pilot Metropolitan with a 1.1 stub hacked from a Plumix, but if I'm writing on the narrower lined Quo Vadis paper I prefer a fine nib. And I do mean fine, such as an Esterbrook 048 dip nib or an ultra fine Crow Quill 102 dip nib, both used with thin inks such as Sheaffer or Waterman.

[Runnin_Ute]

I have all the following - and use them all: EF, F, M, B, OB, B stub, 1.1 stub

Today I used an M, F, 1.1 stub and B stub and the OB even. Each one has its place and gets used. The EF's get the least amount of use probably.

[View from the Loft]

I have no round nibs at all -I just prefer not to use them. Most of my pens have CI nibs, in the 1.1 to 1.3 range, a couple of obliques, and a couple of stubs. One of the obliques is quite fine, and sees a lot of use filling out forms (hence always filled with black ink). Otherwise, I prefer my nibs tuned for 8/10 flow, with a moderate to free flowing ink.

It's all personal prefence.

[Blue Note]

Hello Everyone. I am new to the site and need a bit of nib advice. I have around 55 pens in my collection with a variety of new and vintage. I have never been brave enough to try anything other than F, M, and B nibs. I need some advice on what would be my best and safest first option outside the standard choices. I am about to order a Parsons Essential and I'm tempted to try a stub or an italic nib. I don't want it to be too finicky as regards sweet spots and writing angles. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Cheers.