How To Cut A Glass Nib Short?

[jszh]

I don't think I can smoothen the original nib on a Spors pen because it doesn't have the round glass tip (ball) like the new glass nibs I bought. So I decided to cut the new nib short and make it thinner so it can fit into the section. Does anyone know how cut a glass nib? I guess I can grind it to a thinner diameter although it may take some time. But I don't know how to cut off half of it without breaking the nib part. Thank you for your help.

[EMM]

Take it safe and do a slow grind. Glass tends to fracture.

[jszh]

Take it safe and do a slow grind. Glass tends to fracture.

 

I knew but the new nib is about half inch longer. It may take a few days to grind off that much. The other Spors I got can take wider and longer nibs so I just stuff one in. But this one is petit.

[tzmcneill]

When I was taking chemistry classes (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth) we used to use bunsen burners to "fire polish" glass. If the tip is cracked try "fire polishing". http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5503146_process-fire-polishing-glass.html

 

tom.

[jszh]

When I was taking chemistry classes (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth) we used to use bunsen burners to "fire polish" glass. If the tip is cracked try "fire polishing". http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5503146_process-fire-polishing-glass.html

 

tom.

 

I wish I worked in a lab with those equipments.

[LisaN]

When I was taking chemistry classes (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth) we used to use bunsen burners to "fire polish" glass. If the tip is cracked try "fire polishing". http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5503146_process-fire-polishing-glass.html

 

tom.

 

I wish I worked in a lab with those equipments.

Come to the community college chemistry class I teach. We do that the first lab.

[jniforat]

up until two semesters ago, we did that in the chem lab i TA for an experimemt w/steric acid. we had the students adjust the tips of glass micropipet. so that it would give 400-500 drops/mL. didn't think about glass nibs!

[jszh]

I know people use special knifes (with diamond blade?) to cut into flat glass then knock off the undesired part. Not sure if this will work on glass nib as it has deep spirals. And...I don't know how much I have to invest on the knife for an inexpensive pen.

Edited August 19, 2010 by jszh

[Romagno]

I don't think I can smoothen the original nib on a Spors pen because it doesn't have the round glass tip (ball) like the new glass nibs I bought. So I decided to cut the new nib short and make it thinner so it can fit into the section. Does anyone know how cut a glass nib? I guess I can grind it to a thinner diameter although it may take some time. But I don't know how to cut off half of it without breaking the nib part. Thank you for your help.

 

I have successfully cut glass (an automotive mirror) using a Dremel with the reinforced cutting disc.

 

I have never tried this on a glass nib, however.

[jszh]

Thanks. I inked my glass-nibbed wooden pen with Gold Brown ink this evening. The nib turned out to be fine. I am not sure if it was because I ground it with micro-mesh or not. Hope I didn't overdo it. It is a fine-medium smooth writer now with decent shading.

 

As to the ball-pointed new glass nib, it actually doesn't write at all. I figured it was the ball point that stopped the ink at the ends of the spirals from contacting the paper. So I knocked off the tip and smoothed it. Now it works just fine. Not as smooth as the ball point but but I am glad it writes every time from the first stroke. A wet writer also due to the very large sac of ink. The Widow-maker ink laid down from this nib looks like red jewelry on paper if there is no feathering.

Edited August 20, 2010 by jszh

[watch_art]

The Widow-maker ink laid down from this nib looks like red jewelry on paper if there is no feathering.

 

ooooh. phooootoooosss. sounds nice.