Visit: Needlepoint Nib Journey
For very fine needlepoint nibs in the 0.1mm - 0.05mm range, I compare each and every nib from the box to pick out the most suitable ones, as some deliver more ink flow than others.
(.06mm lines on a Muji notebook.)
Shape:
I’ve found that for needlepoint fountain nibs, the tipping shapes aren't always necessarily needle-like or specially ground. A very careful minimum grinding of a round iridium tip can still produce lines as thin as 0.1mm and thinner without any skipping. My personal super fine needlepoint nib (see the photo below) was an M nib, and similar to the original shape.
I think it's all about how the nib's point contacts the paper and how you hold the pen (very lightly). Over time, writing with needle-shaped nibs may also cause the tines to open gradually. A round nib tip is more likely to spread pressure evenly, which can make the slit more resilient to opening.
Smooth vs Toothing:
When it comes to buffing the nib tip, overpolishing can cause the nib's slit to widen, making the lines thicker than they were before, in my experience. A pencil-like toothing works great. Their hydrophilic surface helps the nib hold and deliver ink better.
Next, writing:
I also found that a combination of a passport size B7 or even B8 plus a fine needle nib (using the pocket pen) is a heavenly match. So easy to carry. I even made a font point gauge when I was testing the performance of finer nibs along with a crack gauge.
I find that 0.03mm flourishes are best accomplished using arm movement, which puts little pressure on the paper, something I learned from the beautiful penmanship techniques of "Ladies' hand" Spencerian and Business penmanship.
