What Happens For An Extremely Smooth Nib Tipping!

[Bo Bo Olson]

...Perfection is the right nib on the right paper, with the right ink...........do write that down in two or three places.........................................I'm sure I got that info on the two or three times I've found perfection...........someplace.

[sansenri]

Isn't it all about surface tension? Surface tension prevents ink from dripping out, you need to break that surface tension to make the ink flow.

 

If your nib ball is polished it's like a freshly waxed car - the water will just bead up, leaving no ink at the base of the nib ball to touch the paper. A less polished ball will leave more ink at the tip.

 

it is, that is for example why a drop of washing up liquid in your ink (surfactant, reduces surface tension, increases wettability) makes ink feel "wetter".

But so many factors play in, as has been mentioned, the paper surface, the nib surface and the tip shape, the ink concentration, the content of wetting agents, viscosity modifying agents, etc.

But as Hari says the important factor to consider is the roughness of the surface (nib but also paper!). The degree of roughness affects the wettability of a solid surface.

So you really need to find a balance (that is good for you) of all these things... fun no doubt...