Is It Possible To Fix This Nib Myself?

[Space_Elf]

So, I'm a total newbie to fountain pen repair and fountain pens. Someone gave me this pen and I'm wondering if I can fix the nib myself. Any ideas?

[fountainpagan]

You can make it italic.

[FarmBoy]

Is the tipping gone on the right tine?

[Space_Elf]

You know, I can't tell if the tipping is gone. My vision is very bad, I'm going to have to use the microscope to find out.

 

Just checked, the tipping is gone on one tine. I'm going to guess that sort of repair is a bit beyond me?

Edited March 1, 2015 by Space_Elf

[FarmBoy]

You know, I can't tell if the tipping is gone. My vision is very bad, I'm going to have to use the microscope to find out.

 

Just checked, the tipping is gone on one tine. I'm going to guess that sort of repair is a bit beyond me?

Tipping repair is beyond most of us.

 

Finding a nib will not be difficult. Finding a gold filled smooth overlay cap will take a bit longer. I looked and I don't have one.

[Nanor]

John Mottishaw and Greg Minuskin both offer nib retipping repairs.

[Ron Z]

If it's a Waterman #2 nib, it's much cheaper to just buy a new nib - about half the cost of having it retipped. There are a lot of them out there because it was about the most common size nib that Waterman used.

[rtrinkner]

Watch eBay for a semi-destroyed pen that has a good Waterman nib that you can salvage. On most old Waterman's, you can learn the pen's model number from the imprint on the end of the barrel. It'll be a number, often coupled with a letter, like 52V. If you buy one of the same model, it should be straightforward to swap the good nib to your current pen. Note that you'll have to learn the skills to disassemble the pens to swap the parts. You'll also likely want to replace the inc sac so that you can use the pen. Check out YouTube for tutorials. Richard Binder's web site also has a good tutorial. (Google it.)

 

If you buy one from eBay look at the nib close-up photos really carefully. If the seller hasn't posted such photos, ask them to. Don't buy one if you can't feel comfortable that the nib is in great shape. Note that discoloration on the nibs can easily be polished off in a jiffy with Simichrome polish (available at most hardware stores), so don't worry about buying an apparently stained or dirty nib. Since the nibs are 14K, you won't polish off a plating. If a nib is really dirty, there's a good chance that the feed (part under the nib) is clogged up with dried ink, which would mean an extra step in your repair, as you'd need to unclog it.

 

Caveat: Simichrome is fantastic for this use, but it can be overly aggressive for thinly plated bits on cheaper pens, like pocket clips.

 

Richard

[FarmBoy]

Bring the pen to an event at Peter's Cafe in Millbrae. I can most likely find you a nib or a whole pen.