Pen Classes - Basics, Repair, Nibs, Using, Etc.

[LamyOne]

Hello FB,

 

I had a long and detailed response to this, but I deleted it. I don't want to be a kill-joy or a dream crusher; so for those reasons.... I'm still out!

 

I still wish you the best of luck with this endeavor.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited October 6, 2014 by LamyOne

[Lou Erickson]

I think this sounds like an intriguing idea, and would be interested in seeing more thoughts on it. I've bought the tools to try nib smoothing, but haven't been willing to risk messing up a pen. Some in-person guidance would be about right. Paying for that kind of attention from what is a small group of people does not sound like a problem to me at all. It means I go to this class instead of picking up a shiny pen - a worthwhile trade-off.

 

Anyway, people are worth more than things.

[FarmBoy]

Hello FB,

 

I had a long and detailed response to this, but I deleted it. I don't want to be a kill-joy or a dream crusher; so for those reasons.... I'm still out!

 

I still wish you the best of luck with this endeavor.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

I can assure you there would be no dream crushing on my end.

I'm still not sure there is an endeavor here, I'm just stimulating conversation.

Edited October 6, 2014 by FarmBoy

[inkstainedruth]

I took Richard Binder's nib smoothing class last year at DCSS, and it was great (albeit at 8:30 on a Sunday morning...).

I would love to see repair classes. The current batch of nibmeisters aren't going to be around forever: while I can probably do simple stuff like re-saccing lever pens, really complicated stuff is probably beyond my skill set at the moment. I would happily scrounge up the cash for stuff like learning how to repair cracks in celluloid, for instance. Or repairing a Vacumatic. And the next pen show I go to I will have to find someone to fix the Snorkel that someone "helped" me repair....

Yes, on one side I'm talking about taking away business from the current go-to guys. But what happens when they're gone? What happens with the next generation of pen users (isn't part of the idea of websites like FPN to instill a love of fine writing instruments to the ones that come after us -- rather than our heirs going "oh, here's some old pen that doesn't work anymore" and just chucking it into the trash?).

While I like (and have used) videos, there is nothing quite like a hands-on class with the instructor right there if you have an immediate question or a problem or are just all thumbs....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

ETA: There is also the issue of people learning things in different ways. What I mean is some people learning better from books, but others need to have someone physically show them what to do (I took a class once on this topic, where the instructor talked about the 7 different "types" of intelligence (kinetic, visual, etc.) as well as stuff like Briggs-Meyers. While it was geared towards a completely different audience from those interested in pens and pen repair, the principles are, IMO, the same -- and it made me think differently about classes I've taught (mostly beginner level hands on needlework and fiber classes, but on other topics as well, such as using drafting tools and basic geometry to draw various heraldic charges).

Edited October 6, 2014 by inkstainedruth

[gweimer1]

I took Richard Binder's nib smoothing class last year at DCSS, and it was great (albeit at 8:30 on a Sunday morning...).

I would love to see repair classes. The current batch of nibmeisters aren't going to be around forever: while I can probably do simple stuff like re-saccing lever pens, really complicated stuff is probably beyond my skill set at the moment. I would happily scrounge up the cash for stuff like learning how to repair cracks in celluloid, for instance. Or repairing a Vacumatic. And the next pen show I go to I will have to find someone to fix the Snorkel that someone "helped" me repair....

Yes, on one side I'm talking about taking away business from the current go-to guys. But what happens when they're gone? What happens with the next generation of pen users (isn't part of the idea of websites like FPN to instill a love of fine writing instruments to the ones that come after us -- rather than our heirs going "oh, here's some old pen that doesn't work anymore" and just chucking it into the trash?).

While I like (and have used) videos, there is nothing quite like a hands-on class with the instructor right there if you have an immediate question or a problem or are just all thumbs....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

You sum up my goals in a nutshell. I want to spend the next 5 years or so just learning all this, and as many pens as I can. I've even repaired one pen just for the sake of doing it. I would like to be in a position to offer services for hire when I hit retirement.

 

btw - I've done two snorkel repairs, and don't yet find them as difficult as reported, but I have a third that seems to have an issue with creating enough vacuum to collapse the sac, so I'm stumped.

[bleair]

The biggest win over videos in classes like this is being able to get feedback. With coaching, someone with a lot of experience can help point out how to reach the next level and help you overcome your weak spots. I'm thinking of handwriting especially. I could write several problematic letters & joins and get coaching on how to improve and maybe how to write alternatives. Here in San Francisco there are quite a few calligraphy classes being offered but they are pretty pricey and they fill up really fast. I also think they cover a spectrum of interests from italic forms to very artistic with brushes and other media.

 

 

I'd also be interested and willing to pay for a repair class where the repair master was explaining and pointing out the little gotchas and details in how they went about doing the repair. There is a tremendous amount that the experts know, but until you build up the experience yourself these details can seem almost magical (are their repair secrets that people are unwilling to share?)

Also, If were allowed to bring a pen in to be repaired, that seems like something I'd be very open to paying more for. I understand pen troubleshooting can be somewhat open ended in difficult, but for the parts that can be taught I'd love a class. I'm also imagining being able to try the pen before and after to see how the problem improved. I'm sure some problems are too difficult or pen specific to be practical to turn into course material, but maybe there are some introductory style things that could be taught. On the flip side if the repair is really difficult maybe that can be a good means to justify a higher tuition fee?

 

Another idea for a class, which might be shorter in duration is instruction for how to grind a nib from medium into cursive or even crisp italic.

[bleair]

Another thought - and this one would require the instructor to bring in a bit of gear (lights, soft box maybe)

 

There are wonderful pictures posted here on the forums of amazing pens and nibs.

 

I'd enjoy a class that showed ways to take photos of our own pens. I realize there are limits of what you can do without a great macro lens, but I'm certain there are things like lighting setups and good angles to use to compose nice photos of pens.. this heads into the territory of a photography class, but even so, I think there could be quite a good amount of overlap of people who are interested in pens and nice pictures of pens. Plus tons of people have smart phones and the cameras on them these days are semi-decent.

 

A couple of ways you might advertise this would be to mention that the instructor will have some nice macros lenses to help take pics of your pen and / or examples of really nice nibs or pens that photograph well... Nothing too racy, but you could hint at some of the nib porn that might be present in the class.