Nib Block

[Larry Barrieau]

I understand that playing with junker nibs can help you to learn nib work. I have learned a few basic pen repairs like resaccing lever, button, touchdown, and vacumatics. The biggest help to success was on line videos. That,s how I and most people learn tasks, by seeing them. This site has provided me with help (written and visual), that is priceless. Without pictures and video I might still be wrestling with that first Estie sac.

[Orpilorp]

Sorry, but given the discussion above I have to share this parody video on nib tuning. Remember, lubrication is important.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLx0u8Ui_S-mz-WG9tz_EwUNUDXNGZ3WQN&v=iY8IWsVqPnM

[Vintagepens]

After looking at Davids site I think that this may be quite satisfactory for the amateur who wants to try their hand at nib work. It wouldn't stand up to what we do, but I paid $250-$300 for mine. I find David's comment that the bit of give of the material is sometimes what is needed to push out a ding. I'll have to try one.

 

Note that it does meet the requirement that the surfaces be absolutely smooth, which is a good thing,

 

The blocks were designed for amateur use, though the qualities of acrylic can also be very useful for professionals -- many of whom have added our blocks to their nib toolkits. Durability should not be an issue, as I've seen vintage acrylic nib blocks that are still in good shape after decades of hard professional usage. An Italian pen colleague also recently remarked to me that acrylic blocks were commonly used in Italy for nib work, which I had not known.

 

The extreme hardness of a steel block can be both good and bad. It is ideal for when you need to make the metal flow, and especially when you are using the hammer. That hardness can be a drawback, however, when you want to make a simple bend (that is, unbend by counterbending) without actually displacing the metal. Many nib techs have gotten around this with steel blocks by putting a piece of very thin paper between the nib and the block, allowing a bend in the nib to be pushed not just flat, but a tiny bit beyond -- which is often necessary when the nib material is hard and springy. Acrylic has just enough give to provide the same effect without the paper. And until one is pretty advanced in nib work, it's probably best to avoid displacement of metal as much as possible.

 

One other advantage of acrylic over hardened steel is the ease with which a block can be customized. If you have a tough job where the bend is right next to an especially bulbous tip, it's the work of a moment to carve a little hollow recess to accommodate the tipping.

Edited January 3, 2016 by Vintagepens

[markh]

Okay, after yours and Rons explanation I get it now. You just put the nib on the block and work it out. Trial and error comes to mind. I actually have some junker steel nibs I can practice with. Thanx. I'll still probably screw up my nibs, but now I'll be better at it

 

You should try, but I believe that steel nibs can't be fixed this way - one advantage of gold.

 

 

Somehow there always seem to be lots of bent up old gold nibs around that need work.

 

.

[ac12]

 

 

You should try, but I believe that steel nibs can't be fixed this way - one advantage of gold.

 

 

Somehow there always seem to be lots of bent up old gold nibs around that need work.

 

.

 

 

I was able to straighten a few stainless steel nibs, including my training junkers.

Yes it was harder to do than a gold nib, but I got them straightened.

I did do some of them by using the side of a punch to support the nib, before I got my nib block.

[FOUR X FOUR]

I find I do not use any of the various blocks much. When I do I tend to use t the one designed by John M.

Sometimes it helps to drink a milkshake when working on nibs.

It helps to drink a milkshake no matter what you're doing

[ac12]

 

It helps to drink a milkshake no matter what you're doing

 

 

+2 :-)

[Precise]

I've never used a nib block. But on a few occasions I've planed a chopstick to the desired diameter for this purpose.

 

Acrylic, though brittle, is one of the harder plastics. I like the idea of a plastic nib block. I'd be tempted to drill a small indentation in the block where the iridium tip sat, to avoid bending it there. Of course plastic is much easier to drill than steel. The indentation might not be bothersome if it fell under the middle of some future nib, but if it was troubling you could fill it with some glue or filler.

 

Alan

[drop_m]

I'm thinking to buy one of these acrylics nib blocks to try to repair some bent gold nibs i have. More for fun than for the needing.
Since i've nearly a hundred of dip nibs all around, do you think i can use some of them to "learn the job"?

[ac12]

 

I'm thinking to buy one of these acrylics nib blocks to try to repair some bent gold nibs i have. More for fun than for the needing.

Since i've nearly a hundred of dip nibs all around, do you think i can use some of them to "learn the job"?

 

 

I don't see why not.

The difference will be how the different metals behave. So gold will behave different from stainless steel which will behave different from carbon steel.

But the task of ironing out a bump or straightening a nib should be similar.

[drop_m]

I don't see why not.

The difference will be how the different metals behave. So gold will behave different from stainless steel which will behave different from carbon steel.

But the task of ironing out a bump or straightening a nib should be similar.

 

Thank you

Edited January 10, 2016 by drop_m

[es9]

Reviving this thread. 
 

Curious to hear how how the acrylic nib blocks have worked out for those who used have them. 
 

Separately, has anyone used the Pendragon’s steel one before? It looks pretty darn nice. I can’t tell how it would compare to something like the Steytler block. 

[Seney724]

I've been delighted with my acrylic nib block.

That said, I have always tried to be aware of what work I can do comfortably & confidently vs. those jobs which need to be sent to a professional, full time nibmeister.

For me, if it is complicated enough that I need someone else to do it, I will use only someone who does nib work and nothing else.

 

If you are viewing this thread for the first time now, and did not see it in 2016, you need to check out this video!!    

 

[Ron Z]

I will politely disagree with you.  There are repair people who can do excellent nib work.  What's the point in restoring a pen if it, as one client put it, "Writes like a chicken foot."  There are times at pen shows where nib techs who outnumber repair people 2:1 (or more) sitting idle, and maybe 1/2 to 2/3 of the clients on my very full signup list are there for nib work.

[Seney724]

8 minutes ago, Ron Z said:

I will politely disagree with you.  There are repair people who can do excellent nib work.  What's the point in restoring a pen if it, as one client put it, "Writes like a chicken foot."  There are times at pen shows where nib techs who outnumber repair people 2:1 (or more) sitting idle, and maybe 1/2 to 2/3 of the clients on my very full signup list are there for nib work.

You are welcome to disagree with me. Thank you for doing so politely.  My push-back is offered in that same spirit........

 

I'm not sure what your personal pen show observation proves. But, that is of no matter.  I was only stating my own opinion & practice. 

 

As in any "GP vs. specialist" setting (law, medicine, automotive, landscape etc., etc), there are examples of some general pen repair people who can outperform some nibmeisters.  Likewise, there are others who get into trouble because they do not know their own limitations or have not had the proper training and/or experience.

 

In my opinion, the key to success is to find the right person for the job.  And not take a chance by stopping in someplace which is convenient or by sending it off to somebody because you recall their name from a post you read sometime in the past. Spend some time and do your due diligence!!!!!

 

"My nib, My choice."   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ron Z]

I guess that my comment takes issue with what seems to impugn the people with broader skills sets.  The GP vs specialist model doesn't always apply.  My father-in-law started as a pathologist, went into allergy, but was one of the best GP doctors (he ran a clinic) I've ever encountered. 

 

Robyn and I are often surprised at the number of people who seek us out just for nib work at pen shows when there are nib specialists around us. I don't advertise or describe myself as a "nib meister" but I get a lot of nib work, and a lot of repeat customers,  and Richard did too.   Though he made a brand with his nib work, he did a lot of general repair work.

 

Good nib work IMO justifies having other work done on a pen.  When a customer says "I can't out the pen down," or "I love what you did with the nib," or as a customer wrote a couple of weeks ago, "I  swooned when the nib touched the paper,"  I know I did my job well.  That's the goal of the work we do.

[Seney724]

1 hour ago, Ron Z said:

I guess that my comment takes issue with what seems to impugn the people with broader skills sets.  My father-in-law started as a pathologist, went into allergy, but was one of the best GP doctors (he ran a clinic) I've ever encountered. 

 

Robyn and I are often surprised at the number of people who seek us out just for nib work at pen shows when there are nib specialists around us. I don't advertise or describe myself as a "nib meister" but I get a lot of nib work, and a lot of repeat customers,  and Richard did too.   Though he made a brand with his nib work, he did a lot of general repair work.

 

Good nib work IMO justifies having other work done on a pen.  When a customer says "I can't out the pen down," or "I love what you did with the nib," or as a customer wrote a couple of weeks ago, "I  swooned when the nib touched the paper,"  I know I did my job well.  That's the goal of the work we do.

 

Your two posts make it clear you believe my intention is to impugn people with broader skill sets.  That is simply not so.

 

Let me start by saying we agree completely that the goal of anyone's work should be to do it well.

 

I also want to acknowledge that I am not in a position to speculate why people do (or do not) bring you their pens.  Some may know and trust you more than anyone else in the world.  I know you have such customers and I think it is admirable for you to have this dedicated group of people who believe & trust in you.  Others, however, may not even appreciate there are people who dedicate their work exclusively to nibs.  To them, it's merely a matter of bringing a pen to a pen person and they saw your name on one of the pen boards, etc.   And then, of course, there is everything in between..... which is a lot of territory.

 

Here's my point, and I offer it with all due respect to your Dad, I do not think what he did in his career is a good analogy for this conversation.  Whereas it is true that lots of doctors who have had no formal training in allergy routinely see & care for allergy patients, allergists do not do invasive, high risk procedures.

 

I think a better analogy is to ask (hypothetically) if you get an acute gall bladder attack and you need to have your gall bladder removed, are you going to go to a general practitioner or to a general surgeon?  

 

Ok, chances are someone is going to reply to this post and say that GPs are not credentialed to do gall bladder surgery; nowadays it has to be done by a general surgeon.  And, in many hospitals in 2022 that's true.  But, there are still places in the USA where GPs do general surgery.  Now, to my point, why don't we see GPs doing as much general surgery as they used to???  It's because, over time, hospital quality control data showed, conclusively, their outcomes were not as good.   I do not see this shift has having occurred as a result of anybody impugning anyone else; to me it is the result of a collective & correct effort to assure the highest percentage of best practice outcomes are achieved on a regular basis.

 

I don't want to argue with you about this Ron.  We are just going to have to agree that we disagree.  If the nib work I need done is something more than I believe falls within the purview of my skill set, the nib is going to a full time, dedicated nibmeister.

 

[es9]

I think something is getting lost in the abstraction here.  Let me start by saying that I have had nib work done by both Ron and well respected nibmeisters.  All outcomes have been better than anticipated.  Additionally, Ron has told me when a particular repair would be better performed by a dedicated nibmeister.  He didn't try to fix the problem even though he felt it could be beyond his abilities.  That makes sense: If a customer gets a bad result, the customer is less likely to use his services in the future.  Moreover, given the number of customers he has, he doesn't need to push the envelope.  Put simply, he does excellent nib-repair work, so I plan to send him more nibs to repair!

 

All that said, why wouldn't I bifurcate the repair anyway?  That is, why wouldn't I send the pen to Ron for the non-nib work then send the pen to a dedicated nibmeister for the nib work?  To stick with the medical metaphor: Even if a GP can successfully treat the gallbladder problem, why not go to a gallbladder specialist anyway; after all, even if the risks of a bad outcome are small with the GP, they are likely even smaller with a specialist.  The answer is easy: resources are not limitless.  By "resources," I mean mostly time.  Assuming Ron and a dedicated nibmeister charge roughly the same for the work -- this is likely not the case, but let's assume it is for the moment -- sending a pen to two people adds a lot more time to the repair process.  What's more, the time delay is not only felt by me.  Both Ron and most dedicated nibmeisters have backlogs of pens they are working on.  So by going insisting on going to a dedicated nibmeister for something I know Ron can do, I (at least) double the amount of time it takes to get the pen restored, and I add delay for everyone who needs the dedicated nibmeister for something Ron doesn't do, like retipping.  Or even worse, I am the reason the dedicated nibmeister (or gallbladder specialist) has to stop taking new work (or seeing patients) for a period of time and the work that requires the specialist has to wait (like retipping).  I've been on the receiving ends of those emails, and they do not feel good.  

 

Everyone get's to pick how they proceed.  But having had great results from Ron -- and knowing that he will tell me if he thinks something might benefit from a dedicated nibmeister -- the answer for me is easy.  

[Seney724]

45 minutes ago, es9 said:

I think something is getting lost in the abstraction here.  Let me start by saying that I have had nib work done by both Ron and well respected nibmeisters.  All outcomes have been better than anticipated.  Additionally, Ron has told me when a particular repair would be better performed by a dedicated nibmeister.  He didn't try to fix the problem even though he felt it could be beyond his abilities.  That makes sense: If a customer gets a bad result, the customer is less likely to use his services in the future.  Moreover, given the number of customers he has, he doesn't need to push the envelope.  Put simply, he does excellent nib-repair work, so I plan to send him more nibs to repair!

 

All that said, why wouldn't I bifurcate the repair anyway?  That is, why wouldn't I send the pen to Ron for the non-nib work then send the pen to a dedicated nibmeister for the nib work?  To stick with the medical metaphor: Even if a GP can successfully treat the gallbladder problem, why not go to a gallbladder specialist anyway; after all, even if the risks of a bad outcome are small with the GP, they are likely even smaller with a specialist.  The answer is easy: resources are not limitless.  By "resources," I mean mostly time.  Assuming Ron and a dedicated nibmeister charge roughly the same for the work -- this is likely not the case, but let's assume it is for the moment -- sending a pen to two people adds a lot more time to the repair process.  What's more, the time delay is not only felt by me.  Both Ron and most dedicated nibmeisters have backlogs of pens they are working on.  So by going insisting on going to a dedicated nibmeister for something I know Ron can do, I (at least) double the amount of time it takes to get the pen restored, and I add delay for everyone who needs the dedicated nibmeister for something Ron doesn't do, like retipping.  Or even worse, I am the reason the dedicated nibmeister (or gallbladder specialist) has to stop taking new work (or seeing patients) for a period of time and the work that requires the specialist has to wait (like retipping).  I've been on the receiving ends of those emails, and they do not feel good.  

 

Everyone get's to pick how they proceed.  But having had great results from Ron -- and knowing that he will tell me if he thinks something might benefit from a dedicated nibmeister -- the answer for me is easy.  

Congratulations for having arrived at a way of going about this which works for you.     I have too.   

 

I disagree with your logic, but that is of no matter.  As you say, "Everyone get's to pick how they proceed."  I agree with that comment 100%.  And, I believe it is why people are best advised to always do their due diligence whenever making a decision about where to send their pens for some kind of work.

 

For the record, my comment about what I do with my nibs if I need someone to work on them.....which is what set this all off......... was never intended to morph into a thread about Ron.  This thread got badly derailed and I apologize to you (not truly the "OP," but as the person who resurrected the thread after 6 years) and to the other FPN members for the distraction.