Black nibs

[Siv]

There are a few pens out there that have black nibs. The Lamy Safari is probably one of the most obvious.

http://www.jetpens.com/images/lamy_l17ef-2.jpg

 

So my questions are these - how do they make these nibs? Are they made from black material or are they coated in something? If you wanted a black nib for a pen you already have, is there a way to make them black?

[sjs]

I know in watches, they make black metal by covering stainless steel with a thin layer of coating with a PVD method. It's durable, but not impossible to come off with wear. The black Lamy Safari nibs look similar to me.

[haywoody]

There are a lot of different ways to do black coatings on steel... black chromium, black nickel, black rhodium, black oxide, PVD, and several others. They all give slightly different finishes and durability. Most can be applied to steel nibs and some can be used with gold too.

 

If you want to do this to a nib you already have I would suggest finding a jeweler who does plating. They could recommend the best process for the finish and performance you are after.

 

I would love to do this to "stealthify" some of my pens but have never gotten around to it.

 

/Woody

[JakobS]

The Lamy nibs specifically are Chromium coated, which because of its resistance to corrosion seems like a great choice, though the tines do show wear after a year or so use, it is very minimal. Don't know the specific process of Chromium plating though. Hope this helps!

[Pfhorrest]

Pelikan M100 (White edition) nibs are also coated with this sort of material.

[Siv]

The Lamy nibs specifically are Chromium coated, which because of its resistance to corrosion seems like a great choice, though the tines do show wear after a year or so use, it is very minimal. Don't know the specific process of Chromium plating though. Hope this helps!

It can't be just chromium 'cause chromium is silver/shiny chrome!

 

It may be a chromium salt or something that is PVD...

[fifthblackbird]

Indeed, straight chromium would be shiny. It's probably chromium nitride, a corrosion- and wear-resistant material which is routinely made by PVD (especially reactive sputtering).

[wheezur]

The Lamy nibs specifically are Chromium coated, which because of its resistance to corrosion seems like a great choice, though the tines do show wear after a year or so use, it is very minimal. Don't know the specific process of Chromium plating though. Hope this helps!

It can't be just chromium 'cause chromium is silver/shiny chrome!

 

It may be a chromium salt or something that is PVD...

Yes, it can be just chromium. Black vs shiny depends on how smooth the coating is - if the coating has a lot of texture it will appear black; if the coating is smooth it appears shiny.

[Spector]

speaking of black nibs, which other pens besides safaris have black nibs? I kind of like the look but I rarely see it anywhere

[sticks]

speaking of black nibs, which other pens besides safaris have black nibs? I kind of like the look but I rarely see it anywhere

 

I just picked up some Stypen fountain pen and biro sets - the fountain pens have black nibs. They look neat.

[Ernst Bitterman]

My experience of vintage pens indicates ANY pen can have a black point: Dip it in black ink, frequently India, then put the cap on and leave it alone for a decade or three.

[Juicyjones]

My experience of vintage pens indicates ANY pen can have a black point: Dip it in black ink, frequently India, then put the cap on and leave it alone for a decade or three.

 

lmao Yeah I've noticed that too!

[magan]

speaking of black nibs, which other pens besides safaris have black nibs? I kind of like the look but I rarely see it anywhere

 

what i know:

lamy logo black

pilot quatro black

and a wality (iinm, LFB is the name)

[cr0acker]

speaking of black nibs, which other pens besides safaris have black nibs? I kind of like the look but I rarely see it anywhere

Wality 69LFB

[mollzo]

The Wality looks very nice!!!

 

link

 

(no affil - just found a picture of the pen on their site...)

 

- Morten

[wheezur]

speaking of black nibs, which other pens besides safaris have black nibs? I kind of like the look but I rarely see it anywhere

Monteverde Invincia stealth is all black, including the nib.

[Edgar Allan Bo]

speaking of black nibs, which other pens besides safaris have black nibs? I kind of like the look but I rarely see it anywhere

 

also the Pelikan 100 white with Black nib, clip and rings = http://themagicfountain.blogspot.com/2008/08/elegant-school-pen-pelikan-m100.html

[Juicyjones]

speaking of black nibs, which other pens besides safaris have black nibs? I kind of like the look but I rarely see it anywhere

 

also the Pelikan 100 white with Black nib, clip and rings = http://themagicfountain.blogspot.com/2008/08/elegant-school-pen-pelikan-m100.html

 

That is an incredibly tasteful but fun looking pen.

[penspouse]

speaking of black nibs, which other pens besides safaris have black nibs? I kind of like the look but I rarely see it anywhere

 

also the Pelikan 100 white with Black nib, clip and rings = http://themagicfountain.blogspot.com/2008/08/elegant-school-pen-pelikan-m100.html

 

That is an incredibly tasteful but fun looking pen.

My adult children named mine "The Stormtrooper".

[jkrewalk]

When I worked in Manufacturing and we needed a steel part in black (collars, bushings, screws, etc.) the steel was sent to a metal treating plant for a black oxide treatment which is a metallurgical process. The steel parts were then beautiful black steel when they returned from the treatment plant with a black corrosion resistant finish that did not wear off (and also had increased durability depending on the usage of the part). My Lamy Safari nib looks very much like the black oxide steel I used to work with for years......in fact, I am certain of it!

 

What is Black Oxide?

 

Black oxide is the conversion coating formed by a chemical reaction with the iron in the metal to form an integral protective surface. (Contrasted to an applied coating which bonds to the metal but does not react chemically.) A black oxide conversion coating is applied to ferrous alloys when oxidizing salts react with the iron to form magnetite (Fe304), the black oxide of iron.

 

Similar results can be obtained on non-ferrous metals which oxidize under suitable conditions to form black oxides. Black oxide coatings are offered under a variety of trade names including Black Magic®, Black Penetrate®, Black Passivation, Gun Bluing and others. While some can be applied at room temperature, most are applied at elevated temperatures.

 

All the benefits of black oxide are only available from the "hot" oxidizing process.

 

Where is black oxide regularly used?

 

Black oxide conversion coatings are widely used in the machine tool, automotive, appliance and general metal forming industries. Screw machine parts, forgings and stampings are commonly black oxide coated.

 

 

 

I also found this "do it yourself" black oxide kit here: http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/black.htm

Edited March 24, 2010 by jkrewalk