What's a "Snag"?

[Hillary A.]

Hi there friends,
I've been reading lots of your lovely posts/advice and I keep seeing mentions of nips that 'snag'. What exactly does this mean? Is it anything to do with the paper as well?

Thanks all!
Hillary

[rebeccasinnen]

A snag is when the pen catches on the upstroke, I believe.  Or I suppose it could also be when the prongs snap together at the bottom of a closed stroke and it catches the paper fiber and drags the ink.  Both are highly irritating. Gillott 303's are ultra sharp pointed nibs.  When I was a beginner, I loved them because I was forced to have a light hand using them, but now I think they are one of my least favorite nibs. 

Just thinking about it gets me all tensed up!  LOL  It's like fingernails on a chalkboard...

[AndyT]

Yes, catching on the upstroke is the big one, as Rebecca says.  Common with sharp, flexible nibs - but it can also be caused by coarse paper and heavy handedness.  The Gillott 303 taught me a lot about cultivating a light touch because it's so prone to snagging even on pretty good paper, and unlike Rebecca, I still like it a lot.

[Faeleia]

A snag is when the nib stabs into the paper accidentally instead of going smoothly like a pen should. It happens because nibs are sharp, unlike ballpoint pens.. I've almost stabbed myself with nibs several times now, much less the chance of stabbing poor innocent papers..

[Nickkih]

I actually stabbed myself yesterday in the thumb replacing a nikko g. . The worst pain ever 😁😁😁😁😁

[patweecia]

I actually stabbed myself yesterday in the thumb replacing a nikko g. . The worst pain ever 😁😁😁😁😁

omg nickki, i hope you're okay.  i get that worst pain ever...i poked my finger with a nib too. i'd rather be injected with something.

[Hillary A.]

Yikes!! Sounds worse than my ever-present papercuts!

I guess (hopefully), I will know if it's happening to me! So far I think I've been okay (fingers crossed).

EDIT: 2 hours later ::
Of course, I jinxed myself! It happened to me all night with my Hunt 101...downstroke, *splatter, downstroke, *splatter. I think I'm a bit heavy handed, and I'm definitely gripping my pen a bit.