Nib break in

[Dave Colangelo]

So I have heard some talk of nibs being broken in or having a "sweet spot" after some use. First off is this true?

If it is not ignore the rest of this...

Second off, im having some what of an issue with my Parker Duofold Jr. there is a thread on here about its restoration but after I got it writing I found another issue with it. The nib was so old that it had curved seriously to the left. So bad that the tip was completely out of line. However if held a certain way the pen actually did write quite nice, if used any other way it was very scratchy, I assume this is how the previous owner held it. Anyway, after about an hour of finessing it ever so gently the other night I was able to straight out the nib. I examined it under no less than 5 of my loupes to make sure it was correct and Im confident it is. So I decided to start carrying the pen as it is working now and looks great. the ink flow is much more consistent and even but instead of having one really nice writing position and the rest being very scratchy every position is now a very tiny bit scratchy. Will this go away after a little break in? Is my nib still every so slightly out of line and I should hit the drawing board again? If I can figure how to get really go close up pics Ill try and post some.


Regards
Dave

 

[Craig9802]

I'm not an expert with nib tuning, but I would guess that if the pen was used for a lengthy period of time with the tines slightly out of alignment, then the tipping material in the contact area is worn at a new angle, such that it is actually slightly out of alignment when the tines appear to be aligned from above or from the front.

I would bet that a session with some lapping film and / or micromesh would set things right. If the ink is flowing well and things look to be in alignment otherwise, it sounds like your at least 95% of the way there. Best of luck.

 

[nemo]

A Duofold nib curving to one side is most definitely from damage, not from casual use. Sounds like it needs to go to a nibmeister instead of micromesh if you're not happy with the straightening you did.

Some new nibs do "break in" as the gold plating wears off the tip and the underlying iridium finally contacts the writing surface so an improvement is seen. Good tipping material wears very, very slowly but can conform to a user's hand after years of use. I rarely see this and when I do I suspect that someone tried to smooth the nib using abrasive material. To answer your question, I think it is mostly a myth. I've got 80 year old pens showing lots and lots of normal use and the nib tip looks like new.

Just my 2¢

 

[syngent]

I think what really happens is the pen new isn't flushed properly...

And what most attibute to a nib being broken in, is actually better ink flow from the feed, which itself can take a bit to fully saturate and getagoin

Although that being said, my steel pelikan nib has over time come to give a bit more feom flexing it out a bit, it works nicer for more, but that's to do with its spring as its writing feel from the tips has never changed for me

 

[Dave Colangelo]

So it seems like its mostly a myth. For now Im happy with the job I did fixing the nib and im tweeking it as I go but it is getting better slowlly. Ill keep this updated as I use the pen more.

Regards
Dave

 

[Craig9802]

Good tipping material wears very, very slowly but can conform to a user's hand after years of use. I rarely see this and when I do I suspect that someone tried to smooth the nib using abrasive material. To answer your question, I think it is mostly a myth. I've got 80 year old pens showing lots and lots of normal use and the nib tip looks like new.

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