Twsbi 580 Stub... Thinking Of Getting A New Nib And Reground...

[Rosewood]

Hello,

 

I've got a TWSBI 580 1.1 stub, when it writes I'm reasonably happy, but I cannot figure out why it suddenly goes temperamental from one word, sometimes letter, to the next and refuse to start however I try to get it to bend to my will. So I've decided to cut my losses, I knew there were potential issues with the 1.1 stub and the feed drying up, and tried to ensure it was right before I got it, but it wasn't so I figure I have two options...

 

1. Get a fine or Medium nib for it and forget the italic desires I have, this is less appealing as I like a bit of line variation and I am practicing my italic hand writing.

2. Get a broad nib and see about getting a nib meister in the UK to turn it into a cursive italic. Is this crazy considering the cost of the work, something I still have no idea of the cost of, and the cost of a new nib (£16) for a £40 pen?

3. leave it in a drawer and try not to think about it.

 

I like the feel of the pen, and would be very happy with it if it was a little more obliging, but also I think the stub is possibly too rounded for me, but I'm new to all this so could well be mistaken.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Chris

[MBFan]

You could get a B and grind it DIY style to a stub. You can find guides here, and relevant materials on ebay quite easily.

 

If that's too much effort then maybe invest in a new nib from a different company. Missing-pen (ebay) sell nibs from e.g. Pelikan of varying widths that will be of better quality. I think they should fit the TWSBI 580.

[displacermoose]

 

You could get a B and grind it DIY style to a stub. You can find guides here, and relevant materials on ebay quite easily.

 

This. I don't know how much nib work costs in the UK, but around here you could completely destroy two or three nibs while practicing and still spend less. Nib grinding is not difficult; it requires some patience, but it isn't brain surgery. It's fun, too, and (in my opinion) extremely rewarding. I love reworking nibs on $5 Chinese pens so that they write perfectly.

[Rosewood]

In the end I bought a fine nib, just to get the pen into action while I decide what I want long term, I'm working on my handwriting at the moment and my ideas of what would be the perfect nib are evolving!

 

The fine nib is interesting, every now and then the nib gets a sudden rush of ink to the tip and the line broadens and e's fill up. I cannot work out why it suddenly does this, but I'm thinking it might be related to the ink running out, as that is when it seems to exhibit it's trait. The nib is the older Bock nib.

 

But this might end up being my play around pen, the nibs are relatively inexpensive, would be even better if I could get just the nib without the feed, then I might have a go grinding. Problem is that ideally I would just like a nice pen that is dependable, I seem to be forever fixing things or buying them and fettling them until they are right.

[Gloucesterman]

Might want to check out "Pendleton" here on FPN. he does nib polishing and sells a "butter smooth" CI stub. I got a 580 from him sat a show last year and I love it. Here may even do an exchange to expedite. Have only heard good things about him.