Making It Skinny

[Chmara]

I received a number of Jihnao X750 as gifts and all came with medium nibs that produce too fat of a line for my left-handed scrawl, leaving open loops closed when writing script/

 

I ordered abd waited for a Jinhao .38 fine nib and it is OK. But I got some Wing Sun fine nibs and find them scratchier, but leaving open loops and finer lines.

 

How might I change -- without a lot of cost - my 7 Jinhao Medium nibs to fine. buying nibs from Goulet, etc. would cost more per item than the pens cost in lots of 5 and my budget is retired miniscule.

 

I have never ground a nib but have seen some theoretical methods on You-Tube, own some Arkansas Stone and nib tuning grit. Any suggestions or technique you can share with this naive newbie? Where do I start, when is it finished, what are the steps to create a new tip from the blob that now makes medium lines.

 

THNX

[sidthecat]

It will end in tears.

 

That said, if you think you have the tools and the skill, go for it.

[Feanaaro]

You can only write with one pen at once, right? Find one single nib that works well for you, and when you feel like using a different pen body just swap it.

Then you can then still try to work on the 7 medium nibs to make them finer, it'll probably fail but at least you'll have made some experience, and still have the single nib that worked for you to begin with.

Edited February 1, 2018 by Feanaaro

[Honeybadgers]

Sent you a PM. I'll get you something. Making a nib finer is a real pain when you don't have two dozen spares that you're willing to destroy.

Edited February 1, 2018 by Honeybadgers

[PaganArcher]

I've successfully transformed a couple nibs with a fine ceramic stone, some micro mesh, a strong magnifying glass, good lighting, and a metric ton of patience.

 

Start with one, and go slow. If you think you're going slowly, go slower. Check your work often. If you feel hand fatigue, step away.

 

Beyond that, expect at least one failure.

 

Best of luck to you.

[dcwaites]

The fortunate thing with the Jinhao X-750 is that you can get replacement nibs on eBay for only a few dollars for 5 or so nibs. What you should spend your money on (about $20 odd ) is a good loupe. Then a very find sanding stone, and a set of micromesh pads or sheets. And patience, and practice.

You don't just have to make a fine nib, if you find a nib with a honking great blob of tipping, make it into a stub or italic.

[jekostas]

Practice, practice, practice and the willingness to ruin a few nibs. That's how you learn