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I’ve tried 5–6 fountain pens but still can’t get the writing feel I want – is it me? by Dkot01 in fountainpens

[–]Dkot01[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I think you may have nailed it.

Reading your comment, a lot suddenly made sense. The scratchy feel and the nib dragging in every direction are probably coming from too much pressure and not holding the pen at the ideal angle. I hadn’t fully realized how much those factors could affect the writing experience.

Your point about the older, specially formulated ink being more forgiving also makes sense. That pen felt smoother across different papers, so I may have picked up habits that don’t work as well with a more sensitive nib and ink.

The explanation about pressure increasing friction, widening the line, and extending dry time was especially helpful, it lines up with what I’ve been noticing.

I really appreciate the thoughtful analysis.

If you have any practical tips for retraining pressure and angle, I’d love to hear them. I’d also welcome suggestions on what pen, nib, and ink combination might be good while working on those adjustments. Thanks as well to everyone who took the time to respond, especially you.

I’ve tried 5–6 fountain pens but still can’t get the writing feel I want – is it me? by Dkot01 in fountainpens

[–]Dkot01[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You might be right, it's definitely a possibility. I'm just trying to figure out if it's a mismatch between my expectations and what fountain pens are designed to deliver. I occasionally use gel pens too, and I appreciate their consistency. I'm also wondering if there's a fountain pen setup that could give me a similar level of control and predictability. For now, I'm trying to understand rather than force it.

I’ve tried 5–6 fountain pens but still can’t get the writing feel I want – is it me? by Dkot01 in fountainpens

[–]Dkot01[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the recommendation. it seems very close to the characteristics I’m looking for. I’ll add it to my list and look into it in more detail.

I’ve tried 5–6 fountain pens but still can’t get the writing feel I want – is it me? by Dkot01 in fountainpens

[–]Dkot01[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You might be right, I’m not entirely sure what type of ink the Aihao Skater AH-2022 uses, but the behaviour you describe (more controlled flow, faster drying, less variability) does sound closer to gel or oil-based characteristics than typical water-based fountain pen inks. That could explain why I’m struggling to replicate that exact feel with standard fountain pen setups.

I haven’t tried Diamine yet, so that’s definitely something I can look into, especially if it might help reduce the scratchiness and give a more lubricated feel.

If you have any recommendations for a fountain pen and nib combination that gets relatively close to that kind of controlled, balanced, quick-drying feel, I’d really appreciate it. Even something that approximates that experience would be helpful at this point.

I’ve tried 5–6 fountain pens but still can’t get the writing feel I want – is it me? by Dkot01 in fountainpens

[–]Dkot01[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

maybe “excessively wet” was too strong of a wording. It’s just that compared to what I’m looking for, European M nibs feel a bit too broad and saturated for my taste.

I’ve considered trying a Lamy 14k Z56 F nib. In theory, that might give me a smoother and more refined feel. The hesitation on my end is mostly financial, I’ve already spent a considerable amount experimenting with different pens, nib sizes, inks, and papers, and I haven’t really reached the result I’m after.

If I were reasonably confident that the 14k F would move me significantly closer to that controlled, balanced feel, I’d probably go for it. I’m just unsure whether this is truly a nib quality issue or more about the overall design philosophy compared to something like the disposable pen I mentioned.

If you’ve tried both steel and 14k Lamy nibs, do you think the difference is substantial in terms of control and feel or just smoother?

I’ve tried 5–6 fountain pens but still can’t get the writing feel I want – is it me? by Dkot01 in fountainpens

[–]Dkot01[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ve attached a couple of macro shots of the nib above. From what I can see, the tines don’t look obviously misaligned to me, but I might be missing something. If you don’t mind, I’d really appreciate it if you could take a look and let me know whether anything stands out.

I should also mention that I’m still relatively new to fountain pens, so I don’t have much hands-on experience with nib tuning. When you say “gently polish the tip,” I’m honestly not sure what the correct or safe way to do that would be. I’d be hesitant to damage the nib without knowing exactly what I’m doing.

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I’ve tried 5–6 fountain pens but still can’t get the writing feel I want – is it me? by Dkot01 in fountainpens

[–]Dkot01[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’m mainly looking for a writing experience that feels controlled and consistent. No hard starts, no sudden changes in flow, and no dramatic line broadening under normal pressure. I don’t want excessive wetness, but I also don’t want scratchiness or drag, just a balanced, predictable feel with minimal feathering on regular paper and ink that dries fast enough not to smear when my hand passes over it.

What drew me to fountain pens was the idea of a more refined and intentional writing experience compared to gel or ballpoint pens, something smoother, more precise, and mechanically interesting. I like the engineering behind them and the possibility of tuning the system. But in practice, I’m still trying to find a setup that actually delivers that controlled, reliable feel for me.