Turning A Skyline Nail Nib Into A Mild Flex Nib.

[Addertooth]

The grand experiment is on. I have an extra Skyline nib which is hard as a nail. I am recontouring the underside, much like how Waterman flex nibs are ground (thinner at the edge, full thickness at where the two tines meet). I just want to give this nib a small amount of flex. This is baby steps for me before I go more dramatic. The pen it will rest in, is going through the final stages of a restore (the shellac which holds the sac in place is drying). Previously there was no flex or line variation with this nib (as tested before the restore effort). Tomorrow I will post the results. The victim is a Skyline Standard in black.

 

 

[Honeybadgers]

consider drawing the shoulders back if it's a manifold shape as well. Thinning won't do much if the shoulders of the nib are way in front of the breather hole.

 

Even if you wreck it, honestly, nobody will mourn the loss of a manifold nib.

Edited August 26, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[Addertooth]

I absolutley and completely agree with you Honeybadgers.

 

Here are the results for round 1. No pressure .32mm, maximum reasonable flex is 1.12mm. I wanted to see if I was on the right track before I went too dramatic with it.

 

[Addertooth]

The very first Skyline I bought (a Gold Award) was graced with a very flexy nib. It was a truly exceptional example of a Skyline flex nib.

Every other Skyline since it, have been no-flex, to miniscule flex. One lucky initial hit can really skew your perception of what a specific

family of pen should write like. Sometimes if lightning refuses to strike, you need to put up a taller lighting rod.

[PAKMAN]

Nice!