Grinding A Broken Parker Falcon Nib

[Plusfoursmax]

So, I was in a meeting yesterday, and wanted to annotate my notes. I have my trusty Parker Falcon loaded with Skrip Red, and it was dry. I checked the reservoir, no probs, and upside down the nib worked. After the meeting I had a look through the loupe and saw that the tines were spread a bit, and the tip was dry. I gently pressed the tines down and together to bring them closer. Suddenly there was a ping and a rattle somewhere on my desk, and the pen is as you see it. It seems the welding on half the tip was fatigued and failed cleanly at the ball.

Ah, well I could invest in a new tipping op, but retippers are a dying breed, and I don't think the pen is worth it. I decided to turn it into a usable stub Italic. Here goes.

1st action is to level the tines, I did this on 800 grit wet/dry. Skrip acts like a stained glass window!

2nd was cutting the foot of the nib; normal Italic pens have a nib that widens out to present a slightly broad foot to the paper; A calligraphic Italic nib is much sharper. As this is a hack up, I need to do this gently. Started using orange mylar (coarse abrasive) on a mirror, gently cutting the bottom of the nib level, it looks a lot like a reed pen being worked on, for the same reason!

Then cut the foot, blurry and dirty, but you get the idea.

Tines misaligned, bent them in line and then on to polish.

Tried to write and sharp and scratchy

Used the yellow fine mylar abrasive sheet, first on the mirror, and then on a rubber pad on the mirror. This gives a little, and allows for a slight curve to form (incidentally this is exactly how the ends of optical fibres once glued into the plugs are given a slight radius and polish to allow a single point contact with the mating fibre, using the same mylar)

 

 

Finished result, and a small sample. The pen is smooth in all directions, but I am fooling no-one that this was anything other than a hack-job. If I feel the need in later life, and am flush (and there is still someone prepared to do it) the remainder of the nib could be retipped with perhaps a bigger ball.

This is a scratchy and smooth comparison (scatchy under the smooth)

lastly, this is a pic of the yellow mylar, on the pad on the mirror, with the mixed inks of polishes past; rather fetching, I think!

[perth]

Very nice job. I've been fortunate enough to not have the opportunity to do as you've done.

[terim]

FYI .... I think Ariel Kullock has some replacement nibs for the Falcon. I got one from them via eBay.

[Plusfoursmax]

Hi Terim,

Thanks for the pointer. Ariel is an amazing craftsman and artist, and I am sure that if he had a section/nib, it would be beautifully looked after and presented. (His website is down currently, it looks like he sells through eBay a lot though.

However, I do not want to throw away the front of the pen just because the iridium broke off. I want to keep it whole, and do something with it; and hopefully not change it too much if I decide to retip it later on.

Thanks,

Max

 

[Gloucesterman]

Actually I think you did an awesome job. Not knowing your pen repair experience, I'm inclined to believe that you are a solid crafts-person regardless of any of your own comments.

 

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

P.S. Very nice pictures and thanks for walking me/us through your process.