Nib Removal

November 4, 2018

Does anyone have the steps to remove the nib from a classic black fountain pen? I have an extra one and want to try and replace the broken nib. All suggestions are appreciated.

November 5, 2018

Thank you for your views. After seeing no suggestions and another thread dealing with this I will give up and place my broken pen in a drawer. The older I get the more I find that we are not allowed to modify, fix, adjust anything on our own. All we can do is send it back, pay a high price for service and move on. Just venting, have a great day and thanks again.

November 6, 2018

Sometimes it takes people time to answer, especially the people who know, who were away at a pens show.

The nib and feed are a press fit in the section. You need to carefully pull the nib out while rocking it from side to side. Then the feed should be loose enough to pull straight out. A soak or a couple cycles in an ultrasonic cleaner will soften any dried ink, which should make it easier to pull out.

November 6, 2018

Does anyone have the steps to remove the nib from a classic black fountain pen? I have an extra one and want to try and replace the broken nib. All suggestions are appreciated.

What brand?

November 6, 2018

What brand?

Since it is posted in the Cross forum, and there is a Cross Classic Century, I would assume Cross.

November 7, 2018

My problem has been solved. I called Cross and for $20 they are sending me the whole, for lack of the proper term, front end (nib, feed, threads to the barrel. I thought that was a good deal. I want to thank everyone who responded to my query. This site is excellent for those of us who know little about fountain pens.

November 11, 2018

My problem has been solved. I called Cross and for $20 they are sending me the whole, for lack of the proper term, front end (nib, feed, threads to the barrel. I thought that was a good deal. I want to thank everyone who responded to my query. This site is excellent for those of us who know little about fountain pens.

I was about to suggest the same ie buy a replacement nib section.

The Cross nib can be removed, although I have never done it. May need special tools. Much easier to replace than to repair. The proper method as I understand is to use a block with holes of varying diameters, the nib would go in but the cuff of the section would remain above, and the nib is pushed down the hole by tools designed for this. Pulling the nib out with brute force can possibly damage or crack the grip section.

The front part of any FP is called a "Section". or "Grip". For some makes that would include the nib and feed as in Cross, and many new models of Parker and Waterman eg. For others, the nib plus feed with a housing (Collar) that can be screwed into the section is the "nib assembly" (eg TWSBI and Parker Sonnet and Frontier). In some (eg MBs and Pelikans) the barrel and section are one piece, and the nib with feed and collar is screwed in. These of course are generalizations, individual brands may have different configurations.