My Problem with common UEF (Ultra Extra Fine), even EF, Grind

To begin with, when talking about UEF (or ultra-extra fine) in this blogpost, i will refer to UEFs as well as EF grinds, as I see a similar pattern with both. I am a big fan of ultra-extra-fine grinds. I love to grind them myself and I love to write with them. Yes, of course...an UEF grind comes with some compromises. UEF grinds have relatively high feedback, little inkflow (therefore dry stroke) and are very sensitive to writing angle. This means that holding the pen in "awkward" positions may lead to scratching or inkflow problems. But then, why do I enjoy the grind? Because this grind is a signature to the versatilty of fountain pens. A UEF grind shows, that fountain pens can also be used for tiny notes or fine drawing, not only for fat and juicy signatures. And from the perspective of a nibgrinder, I think that grinding a UEF nib is the ultimate test and practice to one's ability. In my opinion, no other grind needs as much understanding of forms, precision and calm hands as a UEF grind, except of specialty grinds as the "Zoom" or "Naginata-Togi". I consider UEF grind my specialty.

Mostly, you don't choose this grind at a manufacturer. Mostly, this grind is produced by nibmeisters. Japanese EF nibs tend to be in the UEF spectrum sometimes. I remember a Sailor 1911 EF nib, that was sent to me for some minor repair, that wrote superfine, definitely a UEF grind.

The grind(s) in detail:

But often, when I happen to have a UEF nib in my hands, I cannot get my head around the grind that was chosen. What do I mean by that?

Now we get into the main content of this blog. In order to improve my own grinds and learn from nibmeisters, beyond my experience, I decided to have UEF nibs ground by two nibmeisters, that I will not mention by name. These are two very well known nibmeisters, one in the EU and one in the US.

One of these grinds is shown in the picture below:

As you can see, the sides are very narrow and end up in a sharp and narrow writing surface at the tip. Of course, this is done to maximaly decrease the width of the up- and-downstrokes.

Observing this nib from the side, you can also see a very pointy and sharp vertical form. Altogether, this tip has a very pointy and sharp shape. This gives a minimal writing surface and ink only touches the paper at a very small spot, which also reduces the ink flow.

This UEF grind does its job very well to produce a very fine and dry stroke, But to me, the writing experience needs to be comfortable as well. Keep in mind, that the finer a stroke is, the more feedback you will have. To me, this stroke does not feel comfortable and the benefit of a superfine line comes with the downside of high feedback, even scratchiness.

Now let me show you what the tip looks like on one of my UEF grinds.

As you can see, my UEF grind takes a different route. I practiced a much rounder shape, that has no sharp edges or forms. Seeing the tip from "underneath", the two tines come together in a very rounded form. The fine stroke is not produced by abrupt finishes leading to the ink slit, but by a rounded surface.

I take this approach, as the majority of the rounded surface does not get in contact with the ink and paper, therefore it does not add to the stroke width anyway. BUT, the main benefit, sinking into the paper, these rounded edges allow for smooth transitions. Whereas sharp edges increase the risk of, well, sharp transitions.

The "rounded approach" is also more forgiving towards fast writing and different writing angles, as there are no sharp edges anywhere, that could cut into the paper.

What is the downside of this shape? It is hard to get as much of a thin stroke as with the sharp edged shape, therefore it will probably be necessary to reduce the ink flow in order to have an equally fine line. Nonetheless, the big advantage is a forgiving and relatively very smooth UEF.

In this comparison picture, you can see writing examples with both types of UEFs.

As you can see, my grind (left) shows a somewhat broader downstroke, but thinner sidestrokes, than the 3rd party grind. The stroke altogehter is a bit broader and drier. But the writing feeling is much smoother.

Therefore, I am happy with the UEF grind, that I found works for me. I am even happier, that I am able to grind this shape myself.

Conclusion:

To put a conclusion to this post, even though UEF grinds have such a tiny writing surface, there are still several ways to shape this grind. The eye may not see it, but these different shapes may make a big difference in stroke characteristics and writing feeling.

No well grinded tip is objectively better than another, it is, as with most things, a matter of preference. UEF nibs will ALWAYS come with more feedback than broader nibs. Going for a UEF nib, you will need to accept this circumstance. However, how a UEF grind is shaped will make a difference in the spectrum of smoothness, as far as it is possible with a UEF nib,