The primary tool for fountain pen calligraphy is the fountain pen, though some practitioners also use dip pens or self-made fine-barrel nibs. Many calligraphers customize their nibs through careful modification. Such specially modified nibs are tailored to the individual user, and may feel awkward in someone else's hand.
The quality of a fountain pen is not determined by its price, but by the shape of the nib, the weight, length, and thickness of the barrel — all of which must suit your individual writing habits. If the pen is too light, you may feel you cannot apply enough force; if too heavy, your fingers will tire quickly during extended writing. Those with stronger wrists can choose a heavier pen, while those with less wrist strength should pick a lighter one. The barrel length should be comfortable: too long makes it hard to balance while writing, too short forces a cramped posture. A good rule of thumb is that the pen should be no shorter than your middle finger and no longer than your hand — roughly 13 cm is ideal. The thickness of the pen also matters: too thick and your fingers cannot rotate freely; too thin and your fingers may hurt.
Smooth ink flow is a crucial indicator of a good pen. Difficulty in ink flow and scratchy writing are usually caused by a narrow nib slit or debris in the slit. In such cases, rinse the pen with clean water, or insert a thin blade into the nib slit to remove debris and slightly widen the slit for smoother flow — but be careful not to widen it too much. If the nib feels scratchy when writing, it is often because a new nib is too fine or the metal edges catch on paper fibers. Simply write on rough paper for a while or gently smooth the nib. For quicker results, a light rub with fine sandpaper will suffice.
As the saying goes: To do good work, one must first sharpen one's tools. Choosing the right fountain pen allows you to write with ease, confidence, and expressive freedom.