Nib V. Gravity: Is A Repair Cost-Effective?

[PeonyMoss]

A few months ago, I dropped my Hemisphere and it landed nib-down.

 

Dropped a hint to my husband that a repair might make a good Christmas present. Yesterday morning, the package I unwrapped contained both my unrepaired old pen and a new Hemisphere.

 

Apparently the people of the shop convinced him that a repair wasn't cost-effective and sold him a new Hemisphere, telling him I could just switch out the sections. (I can't - they are not interchangeable.)

 

So now I have a lovely new Waterman, but I still long for use of my old one as well.

 

So, questions:

 

1. Are they correct? or were they just practicing on my poor husband?

 

2. Any suggestions or options?

 

 

[Charles Rice]

Suggestion - Keep your husband

[Wolverine1]

Why dont you post some detailed pictures of your damaged pen? FPN members can look at the detailed pictures and then give you their opinions on whether or not a repair is possible. Without pictures, it is kinda hard to answer your question.

[Ron Z]

The cost to straighten a nib usually ranges between $25 and $35 plus postage, steep or gold it doesn't matter. The cost for a major brand replacement steel nib unit is usually about $35 plus shipping, the cost for the whole pen is about $75 on Amazon, and some as low as $45 on eBay. Steel nibs can be a pain in the tush to do to because the metal is so much harder than gold.

 

So yeh, I think that for a steel nib pen, replacing it may be the better option.

[The Blue Knight]

Dutch pen often has Wateman nibs for sale. Even golds nibs from an earlier Waterman model that should fit the pen. I'd get in touch with him and see what he can do. It should be a lot cheaper then what the retailer is offering it for.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/user/7515-dutchpen/

[DonLeone]

The cost to straighten a nib usually ranges between $25 and $35 plus postage, steep or gold it doesn't matter. The cost for a major brand replacement steel nib unit is usually about $35 plus shipping, the cost for the whole pen is about $75 on Amazon, and some as low as $45 on eBay. Steel nibs can be a pain in the tush to do to because the metal is so much harder than gold.

 

So yeh, I think that for a steel nib pen, replacing it may be the better option.

Can confirm, paid 29 euros for a parker 45 factory nib replacement, steel, wasn't worth it.

 

If there's an emotional attachment though, it is probably worth it even if it is steel. Try replacing someone's teddy bear with an exact copy. It's just not the same.

[KBeezie]

Gravity vs Nib... who won? (like asking who won in Deer Vs Car )

[PeonyMoss]

Suggestion - Keep your husband

 

Oh, that's the plan.

 

Dutch pen often has Wateman nibs for sale. Even golds nibs from an earlier Waterman model that should fit the pen. I'd get in touch with him and see what he can do. It should be a lot cheaper then what the retailer is offering it for.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/user/7515-dutchpen/

 

Thank you for the tip.

 

Can confirm, paid 29 euros for a parker 45 factory nib replacement, steel, wasn't worth it.

 

If there's an emotional attachment though, it is probably worth it even if it is steel. Try replacing someone's teddy bear with an exact copy. It's just not the same.

 

Yes, there's an emotional attachment to my first pen (it was a gift from my husband, plus I love the color - Shimmery Green)

 

Gravity vs Nib... who won? (like asking who won in Deer Vs Car )

 

Gravity. Definitely.

[PeonyMoss]

Why dont you post some detailed pictures of your damaged pen? FPN members can look at the detailed pictures and then give you their opinions on whether or not a repair is possible. Without pictures, it is kinda hard to answer your question.

 

For the life of me I can't figure out how to post a picture. Perhaps my post count is too low for the privilege?

 

I will try to get better photos. It looks like the tip of the left tine is pushed under the tip of the right tine.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v60/PeonyMoss/Watermannib.jpg

Edited December 26, 2014 by PeonyMoss

[Ron Z]

It may be repairable with relatively minor damage like that. Then again, the iridium could pop off in the process - it happens. But the nib isn't mangled, so may be worth trying. But the base line for nib work is $25. Link below, then the "contact us" page.

[FarmBoy]

Buy a beat up pen of the same model on eBay and swap the nibs.

[empty]

Nib repair is specialized work and not cheap, the cost goes up significantly if you need a retip. It made sense to get a retip when I dropped my Montblanc 149 and one of the tips broke off, used 149 nibs cost upwards of $250 so $60 for a retip/repair was worth it. But when I dropped my Pilot Prera I didn't consider paying for a repair, I just did it myself with a loupe, my fingers, micromesh and lots of patience. It still looks a bit bent if you look closely but it actually writes better than it ever did. So you might want to try aligning the nib yourself, if that doesn't work then you still have the option of buying a replacement nib.

[Ron Z]

Buy a beat up pen of the same model on eBay and swap the nibs.

Yup. Certainly an option. Some folks feel comfortable doing their own repair work, but don't know how, which is one of the reasons why I/we answer so many repair questions. Some folks don't feel comfortable at all and want someone else to do it, which is why pen mechanics are in business.

[KBeezie]

Yup. Certainly an option. Some folks feel comfortable doing their own repair work, but don't know how, which is one of the reasons why I/we answer so many repair questions. Some folks don't feel comfortable at all and want someone else to do it, which is why pen mechanics are in business.

Course one could always luck out if they get a matching section too and just switch that (assuming that too had not been beat to hell and back).