Omas Nib Removal

[redacted]

I've tried soaking it in near-boiling water (achieved via a boiler and about 1/5th cold tap) but it doesn't seem to budge. The water is definitely still quite hot though. I'm not sure if this is hot enough, but I'm also not sure if I should be leaving it in longer - I mostly just held it for a minute or so and tried to nudge the nib. Does anyone with more experience removing friction-fit nibs know the specifics of removing these? I need to reseat the feed since it's strangely at a completely different angle to the nib. It's a resin model, so I'm sure it's not nearly as bad to soak in water as the celluloid models.

[Ron Z]

I wouldn't soak in boiling water, or even hot water.

 

The section should unscrew, though it doesn't on some models Look carefully below the threads - you should see the seam between the section and barrel. If the section unscrews you can the knock the nib and feed out. If not, the nib unit should unscrew from inside the section. You need a spanner to fit in the notches to do this. I recommend one sold by Dale Beebee. It may be stiff when you try to remove it.

 

If the collar around the nib is cracked (which could be why the nib has shifted) you'll either have to send it to Omas service (Armono) to have them replace it, for find someone who will make one for you.

[redacted]

I see - though unfortunately this is the 360, which doesn't have a removable section as far as I'm aware. Fortunately I didn't really leave it in the water too long, so I don't think any lasting damage was caused, if any.

 

Now that I look closer, it looks like the feed is aligned properly - but the nib is definitely slightly rotated counterclockwise, so there's a fairly large gap and misalignment between the feed and the nib.

[Ron Z]

You have to be careful yanking nibs and feeds. Sometimes you can wiggle the nib out, which loosens things up enough that the feed can be removed, but you need to be careful. Using a spanner and then knocking it out of the collar is I think safer.

 

If you do wiggle it out, try to get the nib and feed into the same spot in the collar. You'll see and impression left by the nib on the inside wall.

[Markall]

If its a 360 vintage, I think the plastic is too fragile for much fiddling with it. Omas are prone to deformation and wearing.

[Markall]

Wiggling out the nib only and after that pulling out the feed, is the way to go. I heated up nib feed and lower part of the section in very hot water and then pulled out the nib with tweezers while protecting the nib with rubber from the inner tube of a bicycle tire. Some pulling and wiggling and out it came. You can remove the feed by hand and unscrew the collar with a large fitting screwdriver. That’s how I do it.

I needed to do this because my nib was not aligned for my hand. The triangular shape determines the way you can hold it and for my hand it was offset. The nib and feed were to my taste too far inserted. Now the nib is perfectly aligned and the distance from fingers to paper is more as I like it.