Sandpaper Then..?

[Pravda]

One of my 149s has been giving me hell since I bought it new. It always skipped on my letter 'a'. I took it to Montblanc and they kept it for 3 weeks, returning it just as it was after charging $50 for 'repair', which upon inquiry they said the tines needed a little adjustment. Well, at least now I know for sure they're aligned.

 

Anyway, I was lucky to find high grit sand paper (possibly 10,000) and carefully worked my 'a' letter and across towards the right side which was always scratchy and dry. The skip is nearly gone (I am doing this in instalments to be careful) but..

 

I noticed that while it writes much better, it doesn't feel as buttery or smooth on paper. Not scratchy as in digging in, but loud in a way.

 

Since I live in the Middle East and usually difficult to find proper materials readily, I was wondering what household or supermarket item you would recommend me smoothing the nib on after the sand paper?

 

I tried a mirror as I read somewhere it may do the trick, my imagination says it is improving (becoming smoother) but too slow and possibly it is my optimism playing tricks on me :s

[mhosea]

One of the most commonly used tools even by professional nib technicians in the US is actually a fingernail buff stick with gray 12000 grit on one side and pink and white coarser grits on the other (which you don't need). You might look for a fingernail buffer that has a side that seems finer than your sandpaper. Good luck. As long as you under- rather than over-do this, you may be successful this way. However, if you take too much material off, to the point where the transition from writing surface to slit is squared off, you will need more tricks in your bag to restore the pen to smooth writing.

[Pravda]

One of the most commonly used tools even by professional nib technicians in the US is actually a fingernail buff stick with gray 12000 grit on one side and pink and white coarser grits on the other (which you don't need). You might look for a fingernail buffer that has a side that seems finer than your sandpaper. Good luck. As long as you under- rather than over-do this, you may be successful this way. However, if you take too much material off, to the point where the transition from writing surface to slit is squared off, you will need more tricks in your bag to restore the pen to smooth writing.

Genius! Went down to beauty spa in my neighborhood and after a few curious looks I got myself one of those new generation future looking nail files. It worked charms on my nib thank you!

 

Almost smooth didn't go all the way to test it first and see if it may end some more sand paper first.

[Chi Town]

Genius! Went down to beauty spa in my neighborhood and after a few curious looks I got myself one of those new generation future looking nail files. It worked charms on my nib thank you!

 

Almost smooth didn't go all the way to test it first and see if it may end some more sand paper first.

 

keep us posted on your progress!