Nib Stone

[MagisterPerotinus]

I briefly looked for a search function, but couldn't find it, so I'll post a new thread, which as I understand it is a forum no-no.

I found a tool today at my favorite thrift shop. It's a wooden box containing an extremely fine whetstone. This whetstone had a shallow trough (presumably for water) and was coated in ink. I took it home and rinsed it off (the ink was water-soluble, good sign). I feel like I read somewhere about "nib stones" that were used to hone down fountain pen nibs. When I tried to Google it, I came up empty handed.

 

Has anyone come across this type of artifact? Is it really used for smoothing FP nibs, or is it more likely used for shaping calligraphy nibs on dip pens?

[kirchh]

Search box is top-right on every page.

 

Never head of a "nib stone" per se, though I have occasionally seen folks asking about the use of a whetstone for shaping (though not smoothing) fountain pen nibs, which in my opinion is not a very good idea, though others may differ. Calligraphy nibs for dip pens are generally chosen with a suitable tip shape; there would be little need to alter a dip pen nib.

 

--Daniel

[OCArt]

I'm taking a wild guess without seeing it-- I think it is a stone for grinding ink sticks. This kind of thing is often used with brushes for Chinese and Japanese calligraphy.

[AD64]

Can you post a photo for us? That might help with the identification.

 

Best,

 

AD

[kirchh]

I'm taking a wild guess without seeing it-- I think it is a stone for grinding ink sticks. This kind of thing is often used with brushes for Chinese and Japanese calligraphy.

 

Good call -- those have a well for liquid.

 

--Daniel

[MagisterPerotinus]

I attached a picture of the thing.

 

I think that there's a very good chance that OCArt is 100% correct in figuring out what this thing is without seeing it. A+, my man. The design of the box screams "Japan." The stone is a much finer grit than the 1500 sandpaper I have, so maybe I'll try it on a cheap pen just in the name of science. I have a Goulet kit coming in the mail in the next few days, so if I rough-up my nib, I'll be able to smooth it back out in a couple days.

 

Thanks, folks!

Edited May 22, 2016 by MagisterPerotinus

[MagisterPerotinus]

After a couple minutes' thought, I decided I'm not going to put a nib to this thing. I don't know what it's made of, and if I scratch it, it'll be ruined. Maybe some day I'll get into Asian calligraphy, and I'll want a nice smooth surface on which to whip up some ink. Thanks, everyone!

[Ashram]

What you have is a stone for grinding Chinese/Japanese ink sticks. You add a bit of water and grind the solid block of ink to produce the ink mixture used in Asian painting and calligraphy. For more info have a look here.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Ashram

[ac12]

Yes it is used for stick ink, NOT for grinding a nib.

You will likely mar the smooth finish by trying to grind a nib with it.

Edited May 23, 2016 by ac12

[Dr.Grace]

Here's one I saw in Beijing, for really large inksticks.

 

 

[ac12]

That would need a couple apprentices working baseball bat size ink sticks.

[MagisterPerotinus]

Dr.Grace, absolutely beautiful!

 

AC12, 100%. I'm glad I came to FPN to find out what this stone is for before I scratched it all up trying to grind a nib on it.

 

I got my Goulet kit in the mail today, and ground-and-smoothed my Ahab non-flex nib, which had start-up issues. It's buttery-smooth now, with no start-up problems. It was my first proper nib-tuning-type activity, and with such a stark difference in pen-performance, I'm totally exhilarated.