Making An Xf Nib Drier

April 1, 2015

Hi all,

I hope this is not a redundant post of another one, but it probably is.

I have a Sailor 1911L with an XF nib and as I was adjusting the tines to align and be more smooth I ended up causing the nib to run very wet. I was using the same ink as before, so I know that it isnt due to ink. What is the best way to adjust the XF nib to make it drier.

April 3, 2015

I'm sure nib-meisters will chime in, but when I need to adjust a nib to make it less wet, I start by gently pushing each tine past the center, under the other tine. The tines will snap back to near-normal, but a little closer to each other. Then you have to adjust the tines again to align them. Use your index finger to push the right tine gently leftwards, under the other. Then push the left tine gently under the right one. Go slowly and test after each adjustment. Once the flow is how you like it, adjust the tines with your finger nails so that they're exactly aligned. Using a jeweler's loupe helps to see if the tines are perfectly aligned. If the nib ends up too dry, you can use your fingernails to pull the tines gently apart. Put your fingernails under the "shoulders" of the nib (angled part about half-way down the nib) and separate the tines gently. Again, test after each adjustment.

Cheers,

Richard

April 3, 2015

I flip my pen upside down and gently press the forward end of the nib (forward of the shoulders and more towards the tips) against a flat surface. I don't have to realign the nib tips this way. Basically, you're aiming to get the two tines closer together smidgen by smidgen. i would use the crossover tine technique if my upside down nib press wasn't sufficiently effective. Depends on the metal and construction of the nib.