The signature tool
Nib & ink finder
Fountain pens aren’t bought by spec — they’re matched to a hand. Answer eight quick questions and the desk hands back a nib profile, an ink pairing matched to your paper, and the pens that carry it.
Worked examples
Three common writers, run through the finder and explained end to end.
Nib sizing, answered
What nib size should a beginner get?
A Western fine or a Japanese medium — both lay roughly a 0.5–0.6 mm line: smooth enough to enjoy, restrained enough to behave on ordinary paper and small handwriting. The finder tunes this to your specific hand, paper, and speed.
Why does a Japanese Fine write like a Western Extra-Fine?
The two sizing traditions differ by about one step because kanji rewards finer lines. A Pilot F writes close to a Lamy EF. The finder always reports both so you order the right line the first time.
Does the finder account for cheap office paper?
Yes — paper is a question, and it changes both the nib and the ink. Tell it you write on copy paper and it steers toward finer nibs and better-behaved, faster-drying inks that won’t feather, and away from wet broad nibs and heavy sheeners.
Can I share or revisit my result?
Every result encodes into the page URL. Copy the link to share it or come back to it later — the same answers always reproduce the same nib, ink, and pen recommendations.