Nib Stiffening, can it be done?

[ethernautrix]

Hello, Experts!

 

I have a pen that I like very much, but the nib is just a tad on the soft side. Is there an easy way to make it harder? I understand I'll probably have to send it to a nibmeister, but can it be done? Or would the nib have to be switched out? If I hold the nib over a flame, say, the gas stove to soften it ever so and then stick it in the freezer, might that work? (I have a very scientific mind, me.)

 

In case it matters, it's a Mb 100-Year Historical -- somewhat smaller than a typical Mb nib.

 

If I just have to live with it, then I can and will. But IF! If I can harden the nib, I'd prefer to do that.

 

Thank you in advance!

 

Lisa

Edited September 13, 2009 by ethernautrix

[Vintagepens]

No simple matter, I'm afraid. Heat-hardening is not an option; work-hardening might help a bit, depending on the nib.

[ethernautrix]

Yeah, I thought maybe this would be one of those "accommodate the nib" situations. I still like the pen, and the softness of the nib isn't so bad that I can't use the pen, but why not ask, I thought.

 

Thank you, David, for your reply.

[fountainbel]

See : http://www.khulsey.com/jewelry/kh_jewelry_making_gold_annealing.html

Your nib is most probably 18K, drawback being it is considerably softer & less springy""compared to 14K.

Given the risks of damaging/ breaking off the irridium tip this is not a simple task !

Francis

[soloworx]

As a temporary and stopgap measure, will seating the nib farther inside the section achieve some kind of hardening? Or conversely, bringing the feed out a bit more to stiffen the nib?

[ZeissIkon]

Seating the nib deeper, or feed further out, may alter flow, but won't really affect "softness" or flex; the flex in a nib typically "hinges" in the metal to either side of the breather, and in normal writing, that flex is away from the feed.

 

As others have suggested, there isn't a simple way to harden a nib if it's gold. Stainless might heat harden if brought to red heat and then quenched -- or it might not, depending on the alloy (and it might well lose much of its corrosion resistance along the way).

 

One treatment that has an outside chance of doing some good, even though the mechanism behind it isn't well understood, is cryotreatment. The metal item is soaked in liquid nitrogen for some period of time, then gradually warmed to room temperature. Many/most steels and some other metals (or so it's claimed) will emerge from this treatment with slightly to significantly increased hardness and toughness. This treatment would absolutely require your nib to be off the pen (liquid nitrogen doesn't agree well with assembled objects that combine metal and plastics or rubber, due to the large difference in thermal expansion rates -- when parts shrink by greatly different amounts, the least bad thing that can happen is stuff falling off the pen), and there's considerable likelihood it would have no useful effect. Honestly, given the cost of cryotreatment (and, according to those who do it, the precise methodology that keeps you from just buying some liquid nitrogen and having at it yourself), I'd have to say it's probably not worth trying.

 

By far the simplest way to get a harder nib on your pen is to have the nib replaced...

[ethernautrix]

Seeing as how I didn't think to grab some liquid nitrogen when I had the chance (I was 12 and touring an aircraft carrier with my Navy dad, and one of his pals froze an orange using nitrogen to amuse me and my brother), I guess I'll try banging on the nib with a hammer. Not hard. Just "Ping! Ping!" Nice-like. See what happens.

 

OR... maybe ask Montblanc for their suggestion. Cos where else could I have the nib switched out? I'm weighing the trouble of finding out against the presumption that the 100-Year nib is what it is. Maybe I can ask Sam at Pendemonium if Letta can turn it into a .5 or .6 italic -- hey! That might be just the ticket!

 

*Goes off to write yet another e-mail to Sam.*

 

Many thanks for your feedback and inspiration!

[Lloyd]

Removing flex from a lovely flexy nib is tantamount to altering the Mona Lisa! DON'T DO IT!

[ZeissIkon]

Removing flex from a lovely flexy nib is tantamount to altering the Mona Lisa! DON'T DO IT!

 

Well, fortunately, the pen in question isn't really flex, just a little soft.

[ethernautrix]

I was JUST going to say that, ZeissIkon! Not to worry, Lloyd, the nib is just kindv spongy rather than flexy.

 

As I wrote to Sam, I won't be crestfallen if the nib has to remain as is. I still enjoy the pen; I just know I can enjoy it MORE or BETTER. (You can't change people, but you can change your mind and you can change your nib.)

[AndrewC]

Try contacting John Mottishaw-http://www.nibs.com/-and see if they have a nib that could be swapped in. You would have to pay something, but perhaps they would take the old one in trade. As you would be "buying" a nib from them, you do not have to wait in queue. Or, buy the nib and have them install it, and then sell the nib on FPN/PT as you might get more for it. MB nibs-http://www.nibs.com/nibvalues.html#euro They do not always have everything listed...

 

Although pricier than some, I find the work John does is outstanding, and he usually has quite a few nibs in stock. This is assuming you don't mind some different nib in the pen. As to stiffening the nib, that's one I haven't heard of yet. Usually it seems the other way around.

 

Good luck. It is always nice to have a pen you really like write just the way you want it to.

[Ray-Vigo]

I have a couple nibs that are like this. I will vouch that it's not a terribly good thing. You don't get the direct and predictable response good flex gives, but on the other hand you don't have the solid feel of a manifold. It exists in no man's land in between the lines-- too soft and yet not actually usefully flexible.

[ethernautrix]

I've inked the 100 to test the nib. I've already contacted Sam at Pendemonium, to stand by please. It's an XF nib now; I might send it to Pendemonium to turn it into an XF stub. How's that sound, hah? Pretty appealing, no? YeEEEess! I'm thinking... ya know... slightly soft stubbish snib, sounds sweet...!

 

I just have to play around with this nib as is ("play around" = "write with") and see if the tad bit of soft truly bothers me or not.

 

But an XF stub? Hah? Haaah? Might be just the thing.

[Ondina]

Arggg!!!. Don't do it!!. Stiffening a soft nib??? I'm sure you will find many willing to trade for a stiffer one.

[ethernautrix]

How about stubbing a slightly soft nib, Ondina? Stiffening probably isn't an option, and the nib is a limited or special edition, so it wouldn't be easy to swap with anyone. But stubbing... that's an option. An XF stub. Thinking about it... thinking, thinking....

[Lloyd]

Can Greg Minuskin thicken the underside of the nib to stiffen it? Can he chop the tip off then re-tip it (shorten the nib's length) to stiffen it?

[rsilver000]

Why not a bit of gold deposition on the underside of the tines?

Rob

[ZeissIkon]

How much line variation will you actually get with an XF stub? I've got one fine stub, and I can barely see the variation, sometimes; other times, it's easier, but it's never anything like as visible as with my cursive italics (both of which are substantially wider). I find it hard to picture an XF stub having enough line variation to see without magnification...

[ethernautrix]

Can Greg Minuskin thicken the underside of the nib to stiffen it? Can he chop the tip off then re-tip it (shorten the nib's length) to stiffen it?

 

I don't know, Lloyd. It sounds like something Greg can do.

 

 

How much line variation will you actually get with an XF stub? I've got one fine stub, and I can barely see the variation, sometimes; other times, it's easier, but it's never anything like as visible as with my cursive italics (both of which are substantially wider). I find it hard to picture an XF stub having enough line variation to see without magnification...

 

But that's the beauty part, ZeissIkon! I prefer SUBTLE variation (and it amuses me to write "subtle" in all caps). The nib already has a bit of variation and wouldn't need much grinding to finesse it.

 

I've been using the pen to see if I want to mess around with nib. So far, I'm leaning toward yes. I've already picked Pendemonium to be my nibmeister.

[FarmBoy]

(and it amuses me to write "subtle" in all caps)

SUBTLE

 

as in

 

WHISPER