My Two Beat Up 18K Sonnet Nibs... Worth Recovering?

[senzen]

When I didn't know better and had zero patience, I managed to mess up my two Sonnets; I have since bought two steel nibs and they are working very well, but just realized those two old nibs are 18k... I wouldn't try to improve them myself, that's what messed them up in the first place, so I would look for a nib meister... Is it worth it? I'd end up getting (used?) sections, barrels and caps (and a feed!), I do quite enjoy my Sonnets now, with nice ink and paper... A bit of wax on the caps to stop the evaporation ... And a lot more patience.

 

I remember them being a lot more messed up, they don't look that bad now, but are very scratchy and bent... I have an aversion to gold but appreciate gliding nibs.

 

 

 

[corgicoupe]

I was going to say that they don't look so bad. 18k nibs are probably worth fixing, at least touch them up on a buffing wheel with some tripoli.

[pajaro]

The nibs don't look as if they are creased or bent. Some light polishing would improve the appearance. Align the nibs.

[senzen]

I was going to say that they don't look so bad. 18k nibs are probably worth fixing, at least touch them up on a buffing wheel with some tripoli.

 

Thanks!

[senzen]

The nibs don't look as if they are creased or bent. Some light polishing would improve the appearance. Align the nibs.

 

Thanks, I'd rather have them looked at by someone who knows what they're doing...

[pajaro]

 

Thanks, I'd rather have them looked at by someone who knows what they're doing...

 

Also, consider the nibmeister estimate and investigate new nib cost, to see which is greater. Dutchpen, a member here, has sold these nibs at $35 to $45 in the past, for 18K nibs.

[mitto]

Perfectly good nibs to tinker with. Had they been mine I would have long been done with them.

Edited November 3, 2017 by mitto

[Chrissy]

Perfectly good nibs to tinker with. Had they been mine I would have long been done with them.

 

+1. Me too. Scratchy nibs aren't that difficult to adjust when you have a nib smoothing board and a bit of time and patience.

[pajaro]

If these nibs have been bent, you will be able to see residual effects of it. I would not spend the kind of money a nibmeister would charge to fix something that wil always look damaged, unless the repair cost goes well up, for a more involved repair. Mitto's suggestion of saving them for tinkering is appropriate. Sometimes people get a hankering to send something to a nibmeister to get into the game. I suggest you choose something else for that. It is possible to find 18K Sonnet nibs at prices less than you find from high priced sellers.

Edited November 4, 2017 by pajaro

[georgeb]

If they are "very scratched and bent" as you say I recommend taking pictures from the underside, the sides, and the top with a different background and post them here. I would like to see more detail.

[senzen]

If they are "very scratched and bent" as you say I recommend taking pictures from the underside, the sides, and the top with a different background and post them here. I would like to see more detail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ac12]

Buy a plastic nib block from David Nishimua, get a couple/few burnishing tools (like a smooth butter knife handle), then practice on CHEAP steel nibs.

Learning to straighten a nib is very hands on, "try and see what works," then keep experimenting.

After a few months of practice on steel nibs, then you might try your hand at one of the gold nibs.

 

Enjoy the journey

[mitto]

The tines of the nib on the right (in the first photo) are bent sideways as well not aligned as shown in picture 6 and 7. And hence need some serious skillful ministration to first straighten and then align the tines. Yet, I don't think a nib block would be needed to work on this nib.

 

The other one (on the left in the first picture) looks fine except that there is a little un-noticeable dent on one of the tine but the tines look too tight together. A little misalignment is also seen (in picture 4). If you can pry the tines apart a little bit and then adjust the tines, the nib would be ok.

 

I see that the feed on one of the nib unit is broken. How come?

 

Best.

Edited November 5, 2017 by mitto

[senzen]

Buy a plastic nib block from David Nishimua, get a couple/few burnishing tools (like a smooth butter knife handle), then practice on CHEAP steel nibs.

Learning to straighten a nib is very hands on, "try and see what works," then keep experimenting.

After a few months of practice on steel nibs, then you might try your hand at one of the gold nibs.

 

Enjoy the journey

 

Interesting, thanks!

[senzen]

The tines of the nib on the right (in the first photo) are bent sideways as well not aligned as shown in picture 6 and 7. And hence need some serious skillful ministration to first straighten and then align the tines. Yet, I don't think a nib block would be needed to work on this nib.

 

The other one (on the left in the first picture) looks fine except that there is a little un-noticeable dent on one of the tine but the tines look too tight together. A little misalignment is also seen (in picture 4). If you can pry the tines apart a little bit and then adjust the tines, the nib would be ok.

 

I see that the feed on one of the nib unit is broken. How come?

 

Best.

 

Erm, because... Very clumsy and with zero patience? I'm still clumsy but have learned to take it easy. It gnawed so much at my conscience I eventually got another section and a steel nib with its own feed.