Pen Line Widths
I fell into the fountain pen rabbit hole, looking for the perfect pen. I've not found it yet. Here are some line width measurements from my collection.
Methodology
A word is written on paper and photographed with a ruler. The line width and width of one millimeter of the ruler is measured by pixels in a photo editor. The line width in millimeters is calculated as the number of pixels of the line width divided by the number of pixels of one millimeter on the ruler.
The paper used for the measurements is EAN 7319024206002. I find this to be a good fountain pen friendly paper.
There are several variables affecting the measurements.
- Pressure applied to the pen when writing. Two values are presented. One for relaxed writing with a fountain pen and one for a heavier hand.
- Fountain pen nibs are not exactly the same pen to pen of the same brand and model.
- Paper affects line width, especially with fountain pens.
- And of course measurement errors on my part.
Measurements and Observations
Lamy Safari, medium
Measured as 0.47 to 0.52 millimeter with light and moderate pressure respectively.
Pilot Custom 832, medium grail
Measured as 0.32 to 0.44 millimeter with light pressure and 0.38 to 0.52 millimeter with moderate pressure. In writing it certainly looks like a medium pen, although some lines are finer than usual. The feeling of writing with this pen can only be described as ultra smooth. My pen is on the dry side but writes very well. The upstroke is well tuned.
Pilot Custom Heritage 912, FA
Measured as 0.33 to 0.42 millimeter with light pressure and 0.35 to 0.55 with moderate pressure. This pen has a flexible nib so there will be some line variation even when trying to write with uniform pressure.
Pilot Custom Heritage 92, medium
Measured as 0.45 to 0.48 millimeter with light and moderate pressure respectively. The up-stroke is known to be dry as it comes from the factory. This is common to all pens that use the Pilot size 5 nib. It's possible to rectify this problem by spreading the tines as described at Smoothing Scratchy Nibs. Be careful as it's easy to destroy fountain pen nibs.
Pilot Metal Falcon, soft fine
Measured as 0.32 to 0.35 millimeter with light and moderate pressure respectively. I find it hard to get much line variation with this pen in writing although it has a soft nib.
Pilot G-2 0.7 mm
Measured as 0.35 to 0.40 millimeter.
Sailor Pro Gear, medium fine
Measured as 0.35 to 0.40 millimeter with light and moderate pressure respectively. Finer lines can be had when sketching, 0.25 millimeter reliably. A down-stroke line of 0.45 millimeter can be produced easily with moderate pressure.
Sailor Pro Gear, medium
Measured as 0.45 millimeter with light pressure. The nib seems to have mini zoom nib properties. It writes pretty well and visibly thinner at 0.40 mm when angled high at 70°.
TWSBI 580AL, medium
Measured as 0.37 to 0.45 millimeter with light pressure and 0.40 to 0.55 with moderate pressure. The nib of this pen draws thinner horizontal than vertical lines. This results in some line variation even when writing with uniform pressure.