Pens, Nibs and Writing "Feel"

[Steve S]

I have several different pens (or pen bodies) and I have them set up with different nibs, including the Wacom stroke nib (which I used to call the "spring" nib, because it had two tiny springs that gave the tip some "give") and the Wacom felt nib.

For whatever reason, I've recently been doing most of my inking with an HP pen that has a felt nib... probably because I liked the slightly draggy feel of the nib on my slick screen protector... a "pencil on paper" kind of thing. But I recently had the occasion to go back to my Motion LE1600 pen with the stroke nib, and I belately realize that I like this combo a bit better; the Motion pen is alittle longer than the HP and seems to have better balance while the springy stroke nib adds a little cushion to the inking while the tip glides over the screen protector like a high-quality gel roller pen. It's a very seductive combo.

By comparison to these two pens, my Cross executive pen, my Fujitsu stick pen and my standard HP pen, all with standard plastic nibs, all feel a bit like writing with a "10 penny" nail.

So for now, I'm going back to the stroke nib.

What kind of pen combinations have you tried, if any,and what do you like best?


UPDATE: Every now and again, the perennial question about "What pens will work on my tablet?" shows up. Forum member erinsabs found a short article over at TabletPC Review (by Tiffany Boggs) that helps to answer this question:

http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?t=12074Edited by: Steve S

[Matt Faulkner]

I have a Toshiba M4 with the stock pen. I have used the standard plastic nibs with the same feeling you had - good analogie BTW - to me it feels like writing with one of those old Bic Pens - you know the ones with the clear octagonal casing - pointy cap- smeared ink all over the place... Anyways, I still have the standard pen, but use the felt nibs with it. That combination is MUCH better to me. One thing I did though was to remove the grainy coating from the screen - lots better feel to me.

[Dennis Rice]

Where did you get a felt nib with the Toshiba Matt? Did it come with it? I'd like to try one of those!

One of the things I do not like with the plastic pen tips also is the noise. In a quiet room, the tap-tap is a bit annoying, and I am betting the felt nib would solve that.

[Steve S]

Dennis: You can buy the felt nibs directly from Wacom. They're a tad expensive at $5 for five, and they make you search ridiculously hard to find the parts listing...

UPDATE (Dec 08): Earlier this year, Wacom updated their website. I just rechecked the following URL's and they are still OK...

Felt nibs are $4.95 (USD) for 5:

http://direct.wacom.com/stores/5/Oth...splays_C67.cfm

Stroke nibs are $9.95 (USD) for 5:

http://direct.wacom.com/stores/5/Oth...splays_C67.cfm

...but once ordered, they're delivered fast. Wacom is frequently out of stock on this item, however.

One other note. I'm not quite sure how the felt nibs are built; they appear to be some soft layer over a harder core, not solid "felt" or felt-like material. Thus the soft outer layer seems to eventually wear through to the harder inner core (or so the tip of my current felt nib appears?!?!). ButI've never been concerned about noise as I write, so I can't tell you if the felt nib is any quieter than a conventional hard plastic nib...Edited by: Steve S

[Steve S]

The question of whether the different nibs are interchangeable (in Wacom technology pens) keeps coming up, so just for fun, I got out my trusty calipers and measured a few nibs. For all practical purposes, the measurements for each type of nibwere found to be identical:

(Diameter, in / mm) (Length, in / mm)

<> Standard plastic nib, HP: 0.070 / 1.78 1.057 / 26.85

<> Standard plastic nib, Fujitsu: 0.070 / 1.78 1.056 / 26.82

<> Stroke nib, Wacom: 0.070 / 1.78 1.056 / 26.82

<>Felt nib, Wacom: 0.070 / 1.78 1.056 / 26.82

Measurement error was probably on the order of +0.002 / -0.001 inches

Hopefully, this will assure everyone that the different nibs really do fit the different (Wacom technology) pens. If there's any doubt, all you need to do is measure your existing OEM nib...!Edited by: Steve S

[balistic]

I a felt man myself, but you know, I don't think I've ever tried the stroke nibs in my tablet stylus. I'll have to give it a go.

[Steve S]

<<...One other note. I'm not quite sure how the felt nibs are built; they appear to be some soft layer over a harder core, not solid "felt" or felt-like material. Thus the soft outer layer seems to eventually wear through to the harder inner core...>>

...I can now categorically say that the Wacom felt nibs that Iown feature a "uniform" construction throughout. That is, they are not made with a solid core and a soft outer layer. Rather, the entire nib is made from axially-oriented compressed fiber of some type; you can actually peel the fibers away (sort of like string cheese).

With use, the nib apparently develops one or more flats on the tip and these flats result in the "rougher feel" that makes us think that the tip needs to be replaced...

[FeralBoy]

Thanks for the update, Steve! Since you first started this topic, I've been using the felt nibs and haven't looked back. I love the feel of a felt-tip pen in the other world, so this is a pretty close approximation. And it is quieter. You know, I was in a software training class for work this last week, and at times, the clacking of keyboads was really annoying...especially when someone was doing their e-mail rather than listening to the lecture (okay, guilty!). Being back on my tablet this weekend has been a joy.

As for pens, I almost alway use the stock pens with my units because they're easier to carry around and keep track of. I'm a pen loser in the other world, too. Right now, I'm using the felt nib in my X60 pen and I'm pretty happy with the combination.

I think I need to try out the stroke nibs too...

[FilmSlate]

Looks like something I'll have to try too! Now, for the challenge of finding a reseller in Canada..... hmmm....

[doctorbri]

Not to hijack this thread, but is anyone willing to sell a felt and/or stroke nib for a couple bucks each? I'd like to try them out on my x60, but certainly don't need 5 of each.

EDIT: Worked out a great deal with FilmSlate

Edited by: doctorbri