Well, I received the other day a very nice white dot Sheaffer early Touchdown fountain pen from an ebay auction. I really like the fatter but shorter barrel on this model compared to the Snorkel models.

However, the ink flow was very poor. I decided to try to spread the nib tines a little; first I used Tryphon's brass sheets, but things were going too slowly and I pulled out the razor blade (I know, I know). In trying to force the tines apart, one side broke off (maybe a millimeter). I was furious with myself for not being more patient and careful.

Then I decided, what the hell, I had nothing to lose. I read the various articles on nib shaping and smoothing, such as Wim's. I went ahead and ground down the unbroken side of the nib, and then smoothed it into a modified stub. Not much line variation and not as good as Richard Binder would do, obviously, but I was very happy with the result. It is a very smooth, beautiful nib now.

I'm so happy that I could save this pen.

Ron

PS I would encourage others to experiment first on a cheap nib, as I did with some old worn out Esterbrook nibs. My first few experiments did not turn out so well.

I'm glad things turned out well for you, Ron. I have adjusted with acetate before, and it was slow...and nerve wracking. I can all too well imagine the feeling in your stomach in the time between the accident and realizing you could try to fix it.

I hope you continue to enjoy the pen.

french

I'm impressed! Perhaps you could post a review of this very limited edition with a writing sample? You've no idea how encouraging this story is to the real klutzes here, like myself!

Thanks, French and Meanwhile. Meanwhile, you can't be any more of a klutz than I am. You should see some of my attempted repairs.

Here is a scan as you requested. The Binder stub has more line variation, but both are very smooth.

In addition to Wim's article, here is one I used, but mostly the later parts. I didn't try to shape it as a cursive italic.

http://www.marcuslink.com/pens/nibs.html

Good job, Ron! Your homebrew stub looks quite good as does that 9:1 mix of Noodler's Blue:Black. Makes a very nice B-B ink leaning toward the blue side which is refreshing as so many B-Bs seem to lean toward the black side.

The mix should also do very well in water resistance. The Noodler's Blue carries a VG water resistance rating on its own and the Black, of course is bulletproof. I think you have a winner there!

Thanks, Roger. I appreciate your comments.

Yes, I liked the Noodlers Blue black mix, and I found I couldn't tell any difference between an 80/20 mix of blue/black and a 90/10 mix of blue/black in terms of water resistance. I may even try a 95% mix and see what happens.

I wonder if Noodlers Blue Black is just a mix of their blue and black ink, or something different.

Ron

Beats me, and I doubt that we will learn from Nathan.

My B-B of choice is the Noodler's/Swishmix Tahitian Pearl and it is "Eternal". That, and I use WM B-B for the first load in a new pen per the birthday boy's advice. Must also say that the Sailor B-B is an attractive B-B with VG water resistance. The VG is my valuation based on my own water tests.

Where 'bouts in Philly are you? We were born and raised in the area until we came out here 18 years ago and retired shortly thereafter.

BTW, Gino's Steaks was featured in a vignette on TV today. Made my mouth water. Often, when I was in the S. 9th St. market area on business, I would alternate. Gino's one day, Pat's the next.

Roger, I've been eyeing Tahitian Pearl and I'll probably get some. I read that it is darker than Noodler's BB?

We live in Wallingford, between Media and Swarthmore.

Ron

Edit PS: 9th Street ain't what it used to be. It is not nearly as nice as it once was. DuBruno Bros. opened a large new store in Center City, although they are one of the last of the old merchants who still have a presence on 9th.

Waterman Blue-Black for the first load? What does it do for the pen? Does this apply to vintage or just newly manufactured pens?

So much to learn...

It might be, Ron, but I don't have the Noodler's B-B with which to compare it directly.

Grew up in Havertown, had a HS girlfriend in Swarthmore and spent a lot of business time at Habbersetts Scrapple in Media. Migrated to the northern reaches after marriage and spent nearly 30 years in Telford.

Distressing to hear that of the S. 9th St. area. It was truly a great place to spend an entire day. Oh well, nothing stays the same, but age makes the change always for the worse.

Hi Margana,

The resident Stipula guru on this board, and nibmeister extraordinaire, though not professionally engaged as such, by the name of Wim, has often said that the Waterman inks, and particularly their blues, are very well behaved and make a good 1st load for new pens. This is after, of course, you have washed out the new pen with diluted dish washing detergent and water and rinsed and dried thoroughly.

Now, proof is not in the offing for this claim, but so many of us practice it and have pretty good luck getting new pens working well, that we have come to accept it as gospel. Wim swears that the WM blues have good wetability and establish viable paths through the new feed's channels leading to better flow out of the box.

Whether other good flowing inks, say PR Tanzanite, for instance, would work just as well isn't clear, but Wim is not to be trifled with. I am not very fond of WM B-B, far preferring Tahitian Pearl, but I dutifully make the first load in every new pen WM B-B!

Now, you know the rest of the story.

Thank you, Roger. Sounds like this might be a good practice to adopt even with my vintage pens. I've used Quink in my Parkers for that purpose but perhaps WM B-B would offer an additional benefit.

You did an awesome job!

Thanks, JRodriguez!

Margana, I've also heard Quink Washable Blue extolled for this purpose by JimStrutton.

Ron

yeah

it just breaks your heart so much if you wreck it to a point of no return while trying to fix it~~

be careful with it!

Nice repair/nib mod job! Glad you could make some good out of the slip.

hahahaha, thanks for the inspiration. I was fiddling around with these $1.50 Smiggle mini fountain pens that come with a fine point. Some of them had the problem of one tine being higher than the other causing a nasty scratching sensations when writing a line that goes in one direction.

I dont have any specialist tools like those listed in this post, but i managed to get my hands on a pair of pliers, a wire cutter and some rough sand paper :ph34r:

Did a bit of nip n tuck on the nib and it writes like a nice calligraphy pen. THanks for the inspiration!!

And these pens only cost me $1.50 each so not much to lose either

Nice one Ron,

I am getting braver with nibs myself, need to post a story about a "51" Aero nib that ended up being bent back into shape

Jim

Thanks, Southpaw, Kissing and Jim! Kissing, I assume you're joking about your tools!

I would like to hear your story, Jim.

Ron

I'm so happy you were able to save it, and that it writes with character.
I destroyed a nib once trying to save it from squeaking; with all my uncontained enthusiasm with sandpaper it went from a squeaky medium to a squeaky broad stub. LOL. Ah well.

i was serious

1. Wirecutter to cut the faulty tip off and turn it into a stub nib
2. Sand paper on a block to change the shape of the nib (a moderately oblique stub) <---this step took the longest
3. Pliers to bend the nib a bit

They were $1.50 pens that were malfunctioning, so i was in the mood to take big dares. I didnt have much to lose