Scratchy And Skipping Nib

[essyr]

Hi, so I'm fairly new at this. So I dropped my pen (a really cheap Chinese one) the other day and the tines got messed up. While trying to realign them, I think I accidentally broke off the ball-thing (I'm pretty sure the tip; again, I'm new, I don't know much, and I'm trying my best). The pen writes all right upside-down now, though it skips a bit and has trouble starting, but it's really scratchy and barely writes at all right-side-up. However, it writes fine both ways if I put the paper on something soft, like a pillow or something, so I guess it just can't write on hard surfaces (though that's a problem, too). I'd really appreciate any tips on how to fix this!

 

PS, I am very limited when it comes to tools I can use, and so I only have really, really common things (and sometimes not even those).

[ac12]

IMHO, if you broke off the tip, get a new pen. As you said, it is a cheap pen.

It is the tip that gives you the smooth feel when you write. Without the tip, it WILL be scratchy, as the end of the nib is now sharp, and will drag on the paper.

[essyr]

I realize that that would probably be the best thing to do, but I really like the pen, so I'd like to try to fix it.

[recluse]

Yes, getting a new pen is, probably, the easiest solution. You can find a replacement nib but it may cost as much as a new inexpensive pen. Or you can file down the tip completely and make a stub.

[essyr]

Any tips on trying to file it down?

[recluse]

Any tips on trying to file it down?

 

There's a lot of information available. Make a search on Google using keywords grinding nib stub.

 

In short, by stub I mean a chisel-edged nib (italic, cursive italic and what not). As an inspiration look for pictures of nibs in Pilot 78G B and BB. This is what you may want to get if, indeed, the tip is totally broken. You will need some tools: for example, sandpaper 400 grit and nail buffing stick with the smoothest surface being 12000 grit (they usually come with three or four surfaces) may be sufficient. A loupe would be of great help but you can get away without it. And then, start slowly, learn where it goes and so on. You may even salvage the nib.

[essyr]

 

There's a lot of information available. Make a search on Google using keywords grinding nib stub.

 

In short, by stub I mean a chisel-edged nib (italic, cursive italic and what not). As an inspiration look for pictures of nibs in Pilot 78G B and BB. This is what you may want to get if, indeed, the tip is totally broken. You will need some tools: for example, sandpaper 400 grit and nail buffing stick with the smoothest surface being 12000 grit (they usually come with three or four surfaces) may be sufficient. A loupe would be of great help but you can get away without it. And then, start slowly, learn where it goes and so on. You may even salvage the nib.

Thanks! I'm still trying to figure all this stuff out.

Edited November 18, 2013 by essyr

[recluse]

Thanks! I'll still trying to figure all this stuff out.

 

Consider this as a project. If you'd try to make it fast, you may accidentally succeed but as well may destroy the nib (not physically, of course, but to the point when it's good only for the trashcan). Check what these nibs are for (italic handwriting, for instance) and check how those nibs look like before you start grinding. Notice that the nib must be flat, so the tines must be aligned and so force. It's not super difficult stuff, it's just a lot of information to digest.

 

Check out for instance

Edited November 18, 2013 by recluse

[P.E.N.S]

I would also suggest to smoothen the nib and make a stub and because it is a cheap pen smoothing the nib would be a great idea but be cautious as you may as well destroy it.

Good luck and Warm regards

Waasiq

[Mike 59]

Hi, It's not likely that you could buy a replacement nib for your pen, but many nibs on these types of pens are very similar, if not the same, and you may well find a nib on another pen that will fit yours.

Otherwise, as the posts above have mentioned, you can file down the nib, using the very fine materials available, so that you can actually write with it. These nibs are usually made from steel, then a much harder tip is welded on to the very end.

Then a cut is made right through and part the way back up the nib.

The gap is very small, less than 0.1mm, and that creates the path for the ink to flow down.

As you have lost one half of the tipping, then really you may as well file down the other half to make them equal, but this means about 0.5mm total to remove.

Also you will need a x10 or so magnifier to see this, and some very fine filing equipment.

A popular source would be some of the four sided nail file blocks. They have been found in the 'Poundshops/Dollarstores' depending on your part of the world.

My photo shows a nib with tipping, and 2 without, so that is what you might be aiming for.

These are Parker Calligraphy pens, and are designed to write with a wide line 'down' the page, and a narrow line 'across' the page.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Mike 59