Squeak, squeak! What causes squeaky nibs?

[Shangas]

Once upon a time, I was plagued by squeaking fountain pen nibs, that would let out audiable squeaking noises when I wrote with them. With a bit of sandpaper and testing, I manged to make the nibs smoother and the squeaking has since stopped.

 

However, I am curious, what might cause a nib to squeak as it moves across the page?

[PavalonTech]

Like scratching nails on a blackboard perhaps. The vibrating nib (probably one side) just emits a noise.

[richardandtracy]

Pretty much as Pavlon Tech says.

 

Before you polish the nib, it's covered in tiny ridges left by the abrasive. As each ridge slides & slips over fibres in the paper, the fibres lodge between the ridges and the nib will be delayed a little. Then, then as the nib springs back it will vibrate. This causes a noise.

 

When you polish the nib, it is still covered in minute ridges, but they are too small for a paper fibre to lodge between, so the nib isn't delayed, doesn't spring back and it doesn't vibrate. So, no noise.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[Shangas]

Ah-hah!

 

Thanks for the information, guys!

[Paddler]

I have a Pelikan M205 that squeaks with vintage Skrip ink. It is like fingernails on a blackboard - - people flee when I fill out a deposit slip at the bank. It is quiet with Levenger's inks and with Quink blue black. Go figure (so to speak).

 

Paddler

 

[richardandtracy]

I have a Pelikan M205 that squeaks with vintage Skrip ink. It is like fingernails on a blackboard - - people flee when I fill out a deposit slip at the bank. It is quiet with Levenger's inks and with Quink blue black. ...

With this there's not enough lubrication & the point is catching on the paper much the same way as if it had a rough surface. It's possible that the point is not quite as smooth as you think and the skrip ink can't quite form a lubricating film over the whole point - the peaks of the roughness stick out of the ink film, so to speak.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[Silas]

I have a Parker Golden Web that "sings" when it writes. Therefore, it is a "Singing Nib" A good thing. I believe all things are in harmony and present you with an aural note.

 

All in the perception!

[Ron Z]

It's a complex relationship that causes a nib to sing, or keeps it from singing. Part of it is the resonant frequency of the nib - your moving the tip over the fibers of the paper causes it to vibrate - like a bow on a string.

 

The length of the tines, smoothness of the nib, smoothness of the paper, lubrication of the ink all have an impact. The set of the nib against the feed can make a difference too, as the feed can dampen the vibration. A singing nib can be quieted.

[Shangas]

If you tuned a set of pens perhaps you could make music out of them!

[ericthered2004]

Yah I find that Lamy nibs can be prone to excruciating singing when they are being smoothed--more than others for some reason.

 

cheers

eric

[Ron Z]

If you tuned a set of pens perhaps you could make music out of them!

 

Like Stan Freeburg's "tuned sheep?"

[CasmiUK]

I always just figure that they're talking to me!

 

I guess that's not too dangerous.......

[Richard]

I have a Parker Golden Web that "sings" when it writes. Therefore, it is a "Singing Nib" A good thing.

Not a good thing in all cases. Here's the definition of singing from my glossary, with the accompanying photo:

 

singing: A squeaking or squealing sound that some nibs make as they write. Singing is a harmonic vibration that occurs when friction between the nib's tip and the paper causes the nib to "stick" and release repeatedly at the resonant frequency of the nib. When a nib that sings is stroked very rapidly across the paper, as in signing with a flourish, the vibration can be sufficiently energetic to atomize the ink, creating an aerosol spray that peppers the paper with tiny droplets. When this happens, the stroke itself usually becomes very broad and fuzzy in appearance, as shown below.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref_info/glossary/singing_spray.gif

[Gretchen]

In desperation with one whining but beautiful pen, I bound the nib to the feed with fine silk thread. There isn't enough tipping to fuss with that, nor does changing how its seated seem to make a difference. A bit kinky, but it works!

Gretchen

[James P]

I guess you can tune a nib, but can you tuna fish?

[savarez]

Every Pilot VP "M" I've ever used out of the box squeaked for the first several days.

Never "F's" though.

Edited May 14, 2008 by savarez

[Silas]

I have a Parker Golden Web that "sings" when it writes. Therefore, it is a "Singing Nib" A good thing.

Not a good thing in all cases. Here's the definition of singing from my glossary, with the accompanying photo:

 

singing: A squeaking or squealing sound that some nibs make as they write. Singing is a harmonic vibration that occurs when friction between the nib's tip and the paper causes the nib to "stick" and release repeatedly at the resonant frequency of the nib. When a nib that sings is stroked very rapidly across the paper, as in signing with a flourish, the vibration can be sufficiently energetic to atomize the ink, creating an aerosol spray that peppers the paper with tiny droplets. When this happens, the stroke itself usually becomes very broad and fuzzy in appearance, as shown below.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref_info/glossary/singing_spray.gif

 

 

Thanks for the explanation, Richard! And all this time I must have been fooling myself.....talk about positive self talk!!

I may just have to send this one to you to "adjust" it so I won't spray. It doesn't get used much in the rotation so I may be able to part with it for awhile.

 

[Shangas]

Sorry to dig this thread up again,

 

Thanks, Richard, for the definition!

 

I have ressurected this thread because I have found myself with a nib which seems to be doing a lot of singing, to the extent that it never shuts up. What can be done to a nib to stop the squeaking and singing (and perhaps more importantly, ink-sprayings, which seem to be happening from time to time)?

 

The nib in-question was originally rather scratchy. I didn't notice it straight off, but when I took the pen home and wrote with it, I noticed it almost at once (second-hand lever-filler here) and I started smoothing out. It's now nice and smooth, but the singing remains...what should I do?

[burmeseboyz]

The nib in-question was originally rather scratchy. I didn't notice it straight off, but when I took the pen home and wrote with it, I noticed it almost at once (second-hand lever-filler here) and I started smoothing out. It's now nice and smooth, but the singing remains...what should I do?

 

Have you tried smoothing the tip surface between the tines? That's usually the hardest part to smooth for me.

[skinnyPens]

I have a Parker Golden Web that "sings" when it writes. Therefore, it is a "Singing Nib" A good thing.

Not a good thing in all cases. Here's the definition of singing from my glossary, with the accompanying photo:

 

singing: A squeaking or squealing sound that some nibs make as they write. Singing is a harmonic vibration that occurs when friction between the nib's tip and the paper causes the nib to "stick" and release repeatedly at the resonant frequency of the nib. When a nib that sings is stroked very rapidly across the paper, as in signing with a flourish, the vibration can be sufficiently energetic to atomize the ink, creating an aerosol spray that peppers the paper with tiny droplets. When this happens, the stroke itself usually becomes very broad and fuzzy in appearance, as shown below.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref_info/glossary/singing_spray.gif

 

I guess it would depend on degree, and tonal quality. But I kind of like the idea of a Singing Nib. I wouldn't want it to spray ink, but have you ever intentionally 'tuned' a nib to sing? Is it possible?