You will be cutting open a metal mint tin, things are sharp. Thanks very much for the reference. If this doesn't work, then find some other method that does: glue, slit in the dowel. I was lucky enough to have two fountain pens to examine, but I also found some good other sources. We now need to start on the nib itself. and for fixing any slight differences between the sides. Warning: Micromesh, even though it leaves a polished surface, is extremely aggressive. But, if used with all but the lightest touch, the extra-fine point will have excessive "tooth" and be experienced as scratchy. The e-book on making steel pens is from Project Gutenberg. You want the slit to be wider than a single cut, but not more than absolutely necessary. So use the smallest drill bit you have, and, preferably a drill press. Always, the test of a well-adjusted nib is on paper and with ink. Which Ink Cartridges Can Be Used With Which Fountain Pens? Larger tip sizes create wide lines suitable for bold writing and showcasing the ink used, but many people prefer smaller tip sizes for everyday writing because they create a line width closer to that of a typical ballpoint or gel pen. (See paragraph 2 at the top of this article.). Creating a foot. If bumped or dropped one of the tines can move in relation with the other. Sales: sales@nibs.com Thanks! You also won't be able to 'push' the pen, meaning only down strokes towards you and across are possible. What Nib Tipping Sizes Are Usually Available? Be careful. Please note this is a mailing address only - we do not have an open retail shop. Slip the nib back onto your metal rod and re-flatten it. Exceptions are attempts to write on poor paper ill suited for a fountain pen and some cheap pens with poorly constructed nibs. The springiness of the metal means that it will clamp itself in place if the dowel is the right size. Two years down the track, I'm still using that same bottle of ink and same pen. Misalignment puts one tip ahead of the other on the paper, exposing a sharp inner margin of the tipping to the paper. If you have trouble with getting your pen to write, have a look at some of these:Different Types of Nibs And the best resource that covers everything from designs to problems. 7 years ago (Project and explanation) How many words can you write between dippings? This is roundness at the place where the slit meets the paper. Repeat this process until the slit lines up with the center of the feed. Hot Glue is quite elastic, so if you drill a hole the external diameter of the cartridge, it should form a reasonable seal. (But, see warning above.). So, after a couple of tries I have got making steel pen nibs down to an art. These pens operate in a different way from fountain pens and may be the best solution for some writing situations. In order to see the out-of-alignment tipping, a ten-power loupe is necessary for those of us with mortal eyes. Because another person does often not like one person's tastes in the tip of a pen, the process of smoothing is more art than science. For this cut a rectangle of metal about 2cm by 6cm.The Hole Drill a small hole in it to act as a breather hole, and to stop the nib splitting (though there's not much chance of that unless you temper it) I used a pocket knife to drill the hole, as it was cold outside and I was lazy. OK, if this is the case, look to see if the nib is centered on the feed. But in the end, all it comes down to is cutting a slit with a pair of scissors. A pen that delivers too much ink can be a nuisance, leaving a wet mark that takes a long time to dry and bleeding into the paper. The way this is done is to cut it open!Steps: Get a pair of scissors and cut down the seam used to make it into a tube. Extra-fine point. 120 grit sandpaper makes fast work of it, and then polish it as best you can with anything finer you have lying around. - Hold it quite flat to the page. While you can while writing, if you are drawing straight lines, do them in line with the pen. A couple years back I tried some really thin brass tubing. What Are The Best Fountain Pens? How Do I Add the Nibs.com Web Site To My iPhone or iPad Home Page? What should I know about test writing fountain pens in a pen store? USA, Call: 323.655.2641 The foot will act as a plane under which the ink will flow. High-angle foot or low-angle foot. Word to those who come here wanting to fix fountain pens, don't do it this way. You must fill out the appropriate repair or trade form before sending any pen or nib to us. This is where you will ruin your nib. Copyright © 1996 - 2020 Nibs. The one I made previously (trying a different technique), you could only write a few words, because the slit was too wide so it only held ink at the very tip. I like it, rather than a hard surface abrasive, such as an Arkansas stone or Mylar disks, because it gives, sinking under the weight of the tipping. If it is pushed off to one side, the cure could be simple. What kind of a filling systems do most fountain pens use? For $2.00 at the local dairy I can get the materials to make 6 or 8 nibs. Proceed with caution, testing the pen after each effort. With ink in the pen, move it on the Micromesh two or three times in the direction of the scratch. It's about 1mm in size, and really shouldn't be much bigger. What should I know about custom fountain pen nibs for my calligraphy practice? The end goal is to be able to make a fountain pen. But using tubing to start from is great if you have it. Share it with us! 1. All rights reserved. I've no idea how long they will last, and they are quite fragile, but it's a good start. They made them in the 1800's' But before I can make a fountain pen, I need to make a nib. 0.2mm is the maximum width you are looking for. If you try making a feeder from hot glue, you could loosely fit an ink cartridge to the feeder and seal it with dripped wax or Sugru. 717 N. Highland Ave., Loft #27 Often makers used a screw press with a chisel edge above and below the nib to make a slit. on Introduction. Decreasing the ink flow is more difficult, as the nib may have to be removed from the pen. Don't worry, the ink in the channel will stay there. if the tipping is balanced. Please note this is a mailing address only - we do not have an open retail shop. What Is the Customization for Added Flex? It comes as 3" by 6" sheets of abrasive on a rubberized fabric backing. A tip with a foot can be heaven or hell. Clean off any swarf with a sharp craft knife.The Curve All ink pen nibs are curved to give them strength. Writing with a scratchy nib, on the other hand, is a less than pleasing activity. Push from the middle of the curve of the tine, not from the shoulder and not from the tip. on Step 9. Repeat the process taking care to observe the effect of the smoothing with your ten-power loupe. The process of balancing a nib requires skill and patience. Very nice done! If it moves up an equal 5% amount above the first side, try the other side to see if it moves up again to its original position. That is still a long way off. I recommend leaving a ring at the end of the nib, so when you're done you can attach it to a handle just by slipping it over.Making the tines straight again: Yup, you'll have to do this often. ), 5. This moves the tines together, as well as (mostly) aligning them up/down. I have an project for children ages 8-12 and I would like them to get to use a pen and dip it into the ink. It will probably break a tempered fountain pen nib.First: Turn the nib upside-down, and while pulling it backwards, apply some pressure down on the nib. But now I've found a better method to fix this. That would make a hole. 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Pacific Time. 120 grit sandpaper 2400 grit sandpaper (the finest stuff you can find) A metal rod about 5-8mm diameter (I used a screwdriver shank) Really tiny drill bit (or a pocket knife)Other Requirements: It will take about 30 minutes. suffers from a couple problems. All things being equal, a wet writing nib will feel smoother than a dry one because the ink acts as a lubricant and the more ink under the tip the smoother the pen will feel. The rewards are great, but pitfalls abound. Nibs are created and pens are sold with the average writer in mind. It is best to have light coming through from the back so that one can see the slit gap open. This is very interesting. Overusing it can remove the tipping material from the end of the nib. What is the difference between a re-grind and re-tip? If a person enjoys writing with a fountain pen, it is probably for several reasons. One of the few unique things that seems to have survived the tumultuous, industrial progression from the past to present is the Fountain pen. * According to a reference given on the next step, the 'proper' thickness for a steel nib is 0.02mm (or 1/120"). What Is A Nib Customization? Writing with a scratchy nib, on the other hand, is a less than pleasing activity. Maybe you could find a steel rod the size of the cartridge, heat it, and press it int the hardened hot glue. I had thought about something like a scissors, as you did. Gently push the nib back to center on the feed. And Why Would I Want One? Below is a list of attributes that various tips may contain which will appear positive in one light and negative in another. The PENnant is the magazine of Pen Collectors of America. It also can play havoc with consistent ink flow. So I'm thinking of hot glue. Ever since one of my school years where our form class (or home class) was in an art building I have been fascinated with Dip pens and Fountain pens. Amazing huh! So, after a couple of tries I have got making steel pen nibs down to an art. When I first tried to make dip-pen nibs, I sorted these issues by hand, which took ages, and was unpredictable. While I didn't do this this time, it may be worth trying. 4. By pushing up on the right tine Many pens tips today are sold with rounded inner margins. The first thing to do is to flatten it all out into a single sheet. But every time I use it I think: 'I spent $25 on this pen. As may be noted from the above, a smooth nib is the result of several dynamics. A simple adjustment can be used to increase the ink flow of a nib.