Nib damage?

[JunkerJorge]

I was at a meeting and a coworker (trying to be funny) grabbed my pen and  scribbled aggressively with it. Immediately afterwards it seemed broader and wetter. However this morning it doesn’t seem as out of character. No skipping or anything this far. Does it seem the nib was damaged?

[txomsy]

Most likely not, but I'm no nibmeister, so do not heed my words.

 

I think if it had been definitely sprung, it would still write wider, but possibly the elasticity of the metal made it recover. If the elastic modulus had been surpassed I suppose it wouldn't. But again, I am no materials scientist or engineer, and in my field (Medicine) subjects tend to heal by themselves, something inanimate objects don't.

[arcfide]

You can check to see if the nib has been lifted from the feed by looking at it from the side. It is possible that your coworker may have opened up the tines a little bit, but if the nib isn't sprung, then you're probably at least not beyond the point of no return. 

[LoveBigPensAndCannotLie]

1 hour ago, txomsy said:

I think if it had been definitely sprung, it would still write wider, but possibly the elasticity of the metal made it recover.

 

I think this is probably what happened. I'm usually very gentle when tuning my nibs (although I have my moments of frustration where I'll overdo it and end up damaging a nib), and I noticed that a lot of time when I open up the tines just a bit (usually using the fingernail trick), it will write wetter for a bit and then after a while it goes back to normal because the metal springs back.

 

For OP, I think as long as it is writing fine, there is no need to worry about it. More worrying is your coworker messing with your stuff without your permission but unfortunately bad manners are much harder to "fix" than a sprung nib.

[txomsy]

I would blame it more on ignorance than on bad manners. Many of us have thought at some point all metals were like the springs in ballpoints or dampers: they could be strained to a huge degree without damage and would return to their original shape. Without more experience one lacks the reference to realize some metals elasticity is much lower and they can enter the plastic, stable deformation region a lot easier than a typical spring.

 

The sad part is that while bad manners may be harder to fix than a sprung nib, ignorance is a lot harder to fix than bad manners.

[InesF]

As already mentioned before, the nib doesn't appear to be damaged, according to the photo.

I observed repeatedly that a before shaken pen does write wetter. It is, most probably, caused by an over-saturation (flooding) of the feed. The moment you notice such a treatment and nib behaviour, you may use a tissue or paper towel to suck excess ink from the feed. This should help immediately.

If the nib writes well now and ist not more scratchy than before: lucky you! 😊That could had gone wrong as well.

[jmccarty3]

Hope you ripped your coworker a new one, or at least gave him a stern lecture. Be sure to let him know how much a new Sailor would have cost him if he had sprung the nib.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Do you have insurance for my $500/1,000 pen?????

The first words out your mouth as soon as he uninvited grabs the pen......practice.....

 

Second words is that old lie, it took me months of writing to shape the nib to fit my script and you just ruined it.....if possible all in one breath.

 

You appear to have lucked out ...this time.....do speak to him about  how your lawyer will contact his lawyer for a brand new pen, the next time he grabs it....and or the repair of it.

 

Do put down a free BP when every you write something for jerks like that.

 

[Mark from Yorkshire]

Only a 🐓Womble would do that to a colleague. I would be having a stern word with them. That or not take an expensive fountain pen to work. My “work” fountain pen is a simple Helix Oxford school type cartridge pen. All my quality ones stay at and are used at home

[Bo Bo Olson]

3 hours ago, Mark from Yorkshire said:

My “work” fountain pen

I don't know his brand but a cheap Parker or some sort of Chinese pen.

[Mark from Yorkshire]

9 hours ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

I don't know his brand but a cheap Parker or some sort of Chinese pen.

They are a uk stationery company make pens, pencils, protractors etc see here: https://mapedhelix.co.uk/product/oxford-fountain-pen-stainless-steel/

 

by work fountain pen I meant the one I have at the office and use for work not brand. The brand is Helix Oxford

Edited November 12, 2023 by Mark from Yorkshire
Clarification of what I meant by work fountain pen

[Bo Bo Olson]

A solid looking pen.

 

I picked up a Parker SS Flighter 15 and 50, a bit over a week ago, along with a P-51. I paid €20, my neighbor paid 12.

 

I also have an English made and designed P-21, the one with the bottle neck body.....good balance.

We got to wait for the Show Me Your Stainless Steel Pen thread.

[InesF]

17 hours ago, Mark from Yorkshire said:

Only a 🐓Womble would do that to a colleague. I would be having a stern word with them.

+1 👍

 

17 hours ago, Mark from Yorkshire said:

All my quality ones stay at and are used at home

I can understand that so well. But isn't it a pity needing to hide the pens you love the most at home?

Stern words to jerks is, most probably, the way to go into a better future.

[Mark from Yorkshire]

Yep, but I would not want to loose them or have them stolen. That or inadvertently damaged

[Mark from Yorkshire]

1 hour ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

A solid looking pen.

 

I picked up a Parker SS Flighter 15 and 50, a bit over a week ago, along with a P-51. I paid €20, my neighbor paid 12.

 

I also have an English made and designed P-21, the one with the bottle neck body.....good balance.

We got to wait for the Show Me Your Stainless Steel Pen thread.

You could always start the show me your stainless steel pen thread 😜 

[PenTurnt]

From the posted picture, it's really difficult to give 'useful' input... but since you mentioned that there were no longer any perceptible issues after some time, I'd say just put it out of your mind.  I've had this same kind of incident happen way too many times at work, so I finally decided that it's just not worth having 'nice' pens available for inconsiderate people to ruin.  Sucks, but better to learn from your mistakes.