Best Way To Sand A Glass Dip Pen?

[inkwell84]

i have a couple glass dip pens and im aware they are handmade and thus all different. i would like to know the propper way to sand it to get the best ink flow. thank you

[andybiotic]

I don't think you can sand it to increase or decrease ink flow... ink flow for glass pens are down to the groves or channels on the nib, It can be very hard to sand them. The only thing you can do to a glass pen is to smooth the tip. Don't use high grit sand papers, 1200 is already too high. First use some brown paper bag or the rough cardboard backing of notepads such as Rodia. Dip some ink (always smooth nibs with ink) and draw some figure 8s. A more specific way is to use it normally first (the glass nib may be absolutely fine and you don't need smoothing at all, don't assume all glass nibs need work) then take note on which direction(s) is scratchy then concentration on those directions on the brown paper bag or the cardboard backing. Proper nib smoothing is quite difficult and will need micromesh papers with grades ranging from 9 micron to 0.3 micron...

 

Another trick I use is get one of those nail polishing sticks (find the smoothest ones - usually for buffering and polishing) and smooth nibs on that.

[691175002]

It is hard to adjust flow since it is mostly controlled by how deep the grooves are. You can widen the line by sanding down the end of the nib, or smooth it like any other nib.

 

Since you can write with the pen held in any orientation you might want to avoid forming a sweet spot on the nib since it might be hard to find again. Rotate the pen if you smooth it to keep all sides relatively similar.

[orangos]

I had a rough spike on a cheap glass nib. A very fine grade of lapping film (used to true up the ends of fibre optics, etc) did the trick, when stuck to a glass sheet with water alone, and damped on the 'rough' upper side too. The stuff is sold by average micron size of the abrasive particles -- the super-fine 0.3 micron comes out at perhaps 60000 grit! Also works on some scratchy metal nibs. However always check first that you really have an issue that abrasives can cure, and that calls for high magnification! A 10x or 20x loupe, a really good macro lens, or stick the nib under a school microscope, or...

 

You can get an assortment of grades cheaply off ebay. Also great for sharpening cutting tools afterwards -- look up the 'scary sharp' system. Brings my woodblock carving knives up a treat!

 

All of the above presupposes obtaining yet more stuff. Now I know that's not the 'FPN Way', but...

[inkwell84]

i ended up using 8,000 grit and both nibs turned out amazing. they write beautifully. thank you for all your help

Edited March 21, 2012 by inkwell84