How to Grind an Italic Fountain Nib
An italic fountain pen nib is three or four times as broad at the tip as it is thick. These nibs have sharp corners and edges which give the writer the ability to produce crisp thick or thin lines depending on how the pen is held, and the direction of the stroke. Over time, a nib can deteriorate. Grinding an italic nib allows you to restore it to its previous writing standard or to customize it to your own specifications.
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Things You'll Need
- Small Arkansas grindstone
- 20x or 30x jeweler's loupe
- Crocus paper or grade 8/0 emery paper
- Razor blade
- Ink
- Writing paper
Instructions
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1
Empty the pen of ink. Soak the nib to remove any ink or ink sediments. Keep the nib fitted to the pen barrel to give you more control when grinding. Check if the nib is tipped; untipped nibs are more likely to require frequent grinding as they do not last as long.
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2
Hold the pen horizontally with the tip of the nib resting on the Arkansas stone. Place light pressure on the nib and use short side-to-side strokes to grind the base of the nib. Stop frequently and check the surface through the loupe. Check the base is completely flat and has no waves in it.
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3
Turn the pen over so the nib is at the bottom, and grind the top surface of the nib in the same way you did the bottom. When it appears flat then grind at a slight angle towards the writing edge. The nib should now have the typical chisel shape of an italic nib.
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4
Hold the pen upright so it is vertical above the Arkansas stone. Face the nib towards you then grind the tip of the nip by making stokes away from you using light to moderate pressure. Use the loupe to check your progress. The tip should be completely flat with sharp corners and no rounding.
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5
Position the pen on the crocus or emery paper so one side of the nib rests against it, then slowly pull it to an upright position; this smooths any sharp edges of the nib that will scratch and catch on paper. Repeat for the other side of the nib. Next hold the pen so the nib faces upwards and rests flat on the crocus paper and slowly pull it upright. Face the nib downwards and repeat the movement.
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6
Insert a razor blade into the split between the tines of the nib from the top of the nib, not the writing edge. Slide the razor blade gently downwards and up to remove any material that may have lodged there while grinding.
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7
Refill the pen with ink and write with it. Write a variety of letters and figure 8 shapes to determine if there are any rough spots. Determine where any scratchy spots are by a combination of writing and examination with the loupe. Clean the ink out and dry the nib then work on any rough spots using the crocus paper and light pressure. Repeat until you are satisfied with how the pen writes.
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Tips & Warnings
Write sentences on a sheet of paper before you start grinding and then after you finish so you can see the difference the grinding has made.
Always grind a small amount at a time as once you have ground nib away you cannot put it back.
Grinding your own nib may void the manufacturer's guarantee or warranty.
References
Resources
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