Fountain Pen Nibs - Which Nib is Right For You?

There a variety of Fountain pen nib sizes and types available. We have taken the guess-work out of choosing which nib is best for you by explaining the different sizes and materials available below.

Nib Sizes

Firstly there are many different nib widths available for a fountain pen. Below is a brief description of some of the more popular sizes to help you make the right choice.

Extra Fine (EF) For small/thin, precise handwriting. Not very flexible and can be occasionally a bit scratchy on the less expensive ranges of fountain pen. This however is not usually the case on more expensive pens or gold nib pens as the nibs are produced to a very high standard.

Fine (F) Also good for small, precise handwriting. Not very flexible. A good choice for someone with a heavier hand as a fine nib will withstand a bit more pressure and won't feather(the name given when a nib pulls apart and leaves a wide ink trail) as much.

Medium (M) The preferred choice for most people. This size nib produces a medium size line with greater ink flow for quicker, easier writing and the nib is slightly more flexible.

Broad (B) Suitable for assertive, large handwriting. Not a good choice for children.

Left Hand (LH) The best choice for the left hander. The point of the nib is designed in a different way to create a stress free and most importantly, a non-splatter writing experience.

Calligraphy 1.1 (small edge) 1.5 (medium edge) 1.9 (large edge)

Gold Nib Or Steel Nib?

Fountain pen nibs can be made from 14-Kt/18-Kt Gold or Stainless Steel. Below is an overview of the benefits of each of these materials to help you make your choice.

Stainless steel: Mainly for everyday use. Hard wearing and available on the lower budget pen ranges. Steel nibs however do come on the more expensive ranges of fountain pen and are usually produced to a very high standard. A steel nib is ideal for anyone who uses a hard or heavy hand when writing or is used to using a ballpoint pen applying the same pressure when writing.

Gold Plated: Stainless steel with a gold plate. These steel nibs are usually gold plated to match the appointments on a pen. Eg: gold plated clips, gold rings, gold caps. These nibs have all of the benefits of the above with an added luxury factor.

Gold: Gold or platinum plated/gold (white gold in colour). Typically these nibs are made from 14-Kt or 18-Kt gold and are always hallmarked. Gold nibs are softer and more flexible than stainless steel nibs and are generally more expensive. A gold nib however will shape/wear to your personal style of writing making it much more personal to you and providing a good reason not to let anyone borrow your favourite fountain pen! A gold nib is well worth investing in if you want something a little bit special and something that will last you a lifetime.

Looking after your nib...

It is always important to remember to clean your fountain pen nib from time to time to avoid it clogging up with dried ink. The best way is to simply run it under cold/warm water or leave it overnight in a cup of water (nib section only). If you generally use black ink in your pen then this is more important as black ink tends to dry in the nib more quickly.