Finicky Nib Will Only Write When Perfectly Straight

[Purseonality]

So, I have a cheap knock around pen but the nib will only write when perfectly straight. At that point, it writes flawlessly. Any slight rotation in my fingers causes it to skip. That's a bit tricky as its a smooth metal pen and some slipping happens naturally. So, I've been holding it really hard to keep it in position. If I were to try my hand (again) at smoothing it, what part of the nib would I need to be smoothing to get it to continue flowing if the nib rotates a hair left or right? It's a $4 Jinhao so not worried if I mess up. Thanks.

[takkun]

When you say perfectly straight, do you mean vertical strokes, with the pen held vertically, or with the nib rotated in the hand from the plane of paper? I'm guessing you mean the latter, which isn't unheard of for a FP to some degree (extreme example: my italic nib is incredibly pick about being completely on the paper). It might have too flat a writing pad, in which case it could probably use some very slight smoothing along the edges of the iridium, to round it out a bit more.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/pdf/workshop_notes.pdf

 

This PDF by Richard Binder is a good primer.

 

What're you using to smooth? I picked up a four-sided nail buffing block (multi-colored, each side labeled) from Walgreens and it's an appropriate grit for nib smoothing. One I grabbed at Bartells was more like sandpaper.

 

Also, hello from across the lake!

Edited January 18, 2015 by takkun

[Consulting_Detective]

This case sounds really interesting, I suggest following what Takkun said, because it is so rare, I never actually heard of that happening..

 

-RTMC

[Purseonality]

Well, let me see if I can explain. It's a hooded nib. When the point of the hood is facing the ceiling, pen writes well. When the point of the hood rolls over a bit ( gets rotated by my sweaty hands, ) to begin to face the right or left wall, it skips. Its not like I'm trying to write with the nib inverted or even seriously rotated. It just takes the slightest bit of rotation in my fingers to skip, so I'm gripping it in this death grasp to keep it from moving off center, which really hurts. It's as though ink is only coming out between the two tines and not spreading to the rest of the nib, so the ink will only flow when the two heads are square on the paper. I hope this makes sense.

[Purseonality]

Oh, and, GO HAWKS!!!

[ac12]

That is somewhat common.

 

Rotating the pen will roll the nib off the sweet spot on the tip. At that point the ink will stop flowing.

Smaller XF and F nibs will have this issue more than the larger M and B nibs. Also Italic/stub nibs will have this same problem. Your Chines pen likely has a F nib, similar to a Western XF nib, so the sweet spot is indeed small.

You CANNOT do anything to the tip to prevent that.

You have to learn to manage the pen. Look at the nib and determine the rotation of the pen and correct as necessary.

I have this problem with the Parker 51 and its hooded nib. The hooded nib hides most of the nib so you have a very small visual reference of the nib, compared to a pen with an open nib that is easy to see.

 

STOP gripping the pen so tightly. This is creating its own problem, with hand cramps.

If the pen is slipping in your hand, you might have a sweaty hand. I had that problem in college. Unfortunately you cannot use the solution I used, I sanded the plastic grip, to eliminate the smooth plastic surface, to give my sweaty fingers traction on the plastic. You may try wrapping a layer of masking tape over the section, to give your fingers the traction to control the pen.

 

You need to learn to hold the pen consistently and NOT rotate the pen.

When you write, you need to move your hand from left to right. I suspect you might be anchoring your hand at the wrist and rolling your hand over to the right as you write, thus rotating the pen. Lift your hand slightly so it can move along the paper as you write.

Edited January 18, 2015 by ac12

[balson]

I have that problem with hooded nibs. because i cannot see the point well its harder to naturally keep it strait. the one solution that seems to work best for me is to create a larger foot on the pen so that it is less likely to rock. a medium or broad point with a good foot seems to rock less than a fine.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Are you holding the pen behind the big index knuckle like a fountain pen at 45-40-35 degrees or before it like a ball point?

[Purseonality]

That is somewhat common.

 

Rotating the pen will roll the nib off the sweet spot on the tip. At that point the ink will stop flowing.

Smaller XF and F nibs will have this issue more than the larger M and B nibs. Also Italic/stub nibs will have this same problem. Your Chines pen likely has a F nib, similar to a Western XF nib, so the sweet spot is indeed small.

You CANNOT do anything to the tip to prevent that.

You have to learn to manage the pen. Look at the nib and determine the rotation of the pen and correct as necessary.

I have this problem with the Parker 51 and its hooded nib. The hooded nib hides most of the nib so you have a very small visual reference of the nib, compared to a pen with an open nib that is easy to see.

 

STOP gripping the pen so tightly. This is creating its own problem, with hand cramps.

If the pen is slipping in your hand, you might have a sweaty hand. I had that problem in college. Unfortunately you cannot use the solution I used, I sanded the plastic grip, to eliminate the smooth plastic surface, to give my sweaty fingers traction on the plastic. You may try wrapping a layer of masking tape over the section, to give your fingers the traction to control the pen.

 

You need to learn to hold the pen consistently and NOT rotate the pen.

When you write, you need to move your hand from left to right. I suspect you might be anchoring your hand at the wrist and rolling your hand over to the right as you write, thus rotating the pen. Lift your hand slightly so it can move along the paper as you write.

 

Thank you for the tips. I am working on exactly what you advised, and seem to be having better luck. I guess the problem I'm describing is a very small "sweet spot," so I will not be messing around with the nib. It is a Chinese fine, and that's exactly what I want, I just need more practice. I'm still new to FPs and need to experience several types. Fortunately, with inexpensive pens readily available, I can try a variety. Thanks again.

[Purseonality]

Are you holding the pen behind the big index knuckle like a fountain pen at 45-40-35 degrees or before it like a ball point?

I confess I hold it more like a ballpoint. But, I have unsteady hands so I need to hold it closer to keep my handwriting legible. I'll just keep practicing keeping it on the "sweet spot."

[ac12]

 

I confess I hold it more like a ballpoint. But, I have unsteady hands so I need to hold it closer to keep my handwriting legible. I'll just keep practicing keeping it on the "sweet spot."

 

Yes a ball point or pencil does not care about you rotating the pen, but a fountain pen does.

You just need to practice, and after a while controlling your hand will become 2nd nature.

[Bo Bo Olson]

95% of skipping is caused by unaligned tines and holding a fountain pen like a ball point.

You are not using the 'iridium' bump under the tine points to float on a nice small puddle of ink, but dragging a tiny tip (what you think of as a small sweet spot which it isn't) over a tiny area, like stabbing a spear in the ground with less ink.It can not float....it must be dragged, pushed ....wrestled with. By holding the fountain pen back your "tiny" sweet spot grows much wider; a true sweet spot.

 

You can hold the nib like with a Pelikano or a Safari or an American Parker 75, in the classic tripod triangle; scrunched up near the end of the section.

 

Or in the 'forefinger up'. The thumb is held a tad flatter than this picture...flat...no pressure, it is a dam the pen rests against. Held at @ 09:30 on the pen body.....over that you tend to add pressure.

 

The forefinger rests at 12-12:30* or even 13:00 with only enough pressure to keep the pen from doing somersaults in your hand. Holding at the classic tripod's two O'clock or 14:00 IMO makes you press...which you don't want.

 

This picture is about 40 degrees at the start of the web of the thumb. 35 degrees is in the pit of the web of the thumb. 45 degrees is a tad higher, but still behind the big knuckle. Let the pen decide where it wants to rest; don't force it high or low.

 

Yes for half a day you will write a bit bigger, then you get use to it and your hand writing will get back to normal.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/SAM_0418.jpg

Edited January 20, 2015 by Bo Bo Olson

[Purseonality]

Thanks for the tips! I'm filling spiral binders up with stock phrases line after line after line. I'll get this.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Hold the fountain pen like a featherless baby bird.

Don't make baby bird paste.