I am learning about pen repair, and there seem to be plenty of resources to help the amateur. But what really interests me is grinding nibs. Where can I learn about this mysterious discipline?

Ray

Hi Ray,

There is an article by Ludwig Tan on Glenn Marcus' site, which is kinda the standard work (by lack of anything else):
Ludwig Tan's Article

However, I don't agree with all the materials used. Check my article on nib smoothing, and you'll find a list:
Grinding nib experiences, really about nib smoothing

If you have more questions, just ask...

Warm regards, Wim

Wim, that's a great article that you wrote. I think people here might appreciate if you linked to it in the Articles section, as a part of our archive of articles. Great resource! (Why haven't I seen it before???)

Wim,

Your article is just what I was looking for; plus, it is articulate, compelling and inspirational.

I have to assume you went back later and fixed the Pelikan 800, yes?

Ray

Hi Ray,

Thank you for your very kind words. I intended it to be written as a kind of travelogue/adventure story. Hope I succeeded.

And yes, I did fix the Pelikan. In addition I do a fair amount of nib grinding, when I find some time in between all my other interests, preferably on Pel M200 nibs, and I've done quite a few Watermans and MBs too, so far. I actually have an MB lying here that needs to be done.

Smoothing I do a lot, much more so, generally for people at work. Often I do a little nib grinding, like turning nibs into dual nibs, and general nib tweaking too, like adjusting flow etc.

BTW, I still intend to write a sequel to that story, actually started on it a while ago, but since I don't have a photograper anymore , I need to set up my own photographic equipment here first. And with my server down, I need to get that running. Higher priority right now, all my pen info is contained by it...

Warm regards, Wim

Hi Leslie,

Thank you for your kind words, too.

How do I link it to the Articles Section? Keith mentioned this earlier, but I thought at the time it just meant posting it in a thread, which I did. By now I know it doesn't, and this was the version of my PT article, adjusted for FPN anyway...

And you probably didn't see it before, because you don't always read all threads and messages...

Warm regards, Wim

Very interesting, yes. I'm tempted to do this myself. I would have to consider investing in a stereo microscope for this, useful and interesting to have for many other reasons as well. With one of these you could mount the pen under the lense and work it while looking through the eyepieces. Seems foolproof since you could actually see it as you work and no hands needed to hold the pen and the loupe.

Somewhere on his web site, I saw a picture of John Mottishaw sitting at his work desk with a stereo microscope right at hand.

Expensive, but probably the way to go if you are spending a good part of each day doing that kind of work.

I've seen Richard Binder work - and he uses a binocular magnifier that he wears on his head. Seems to give him the magnification he needs with the flexibility of using while actually grinding or smoothing. I would expect that there are proponents of both methods...


Gerry

That does sound likely to be more practical...but then you lose a good excuse to get the microscope!

It's slightly different work, though I imagine not much different, but there is a local jewelry shop I had some work done at in Seattle. It's a real professional place - serious jewelry design, casting, etc. Every workstation had a dissecting scope (binocular microscope) at it, along with some even fancier looking equipment.

Hmm. . . and it would be good for plant ID too.

Johnny Appleseed