Home Forums Explore Media Pen and Ink Wax on New Dip Pen Nibs and Other Question

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  • #989725
    LeslieErica
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        Hi, everyone. After one month of use, I have had to replace my extra-fine dip pen nib because it stopped working for some reason. It would have ink clearly on it, but the ink would not distribute onto the paper. Is it unusual to have to replace the metal nib? It seems like something that would last for a good, long time, although I have been doing a lot of stippling. I don’t believe that I have been stippling hard or using a heavy hand.

        Anyway, I have bought a supply of extra-fine nibs, and the two that I have used seem to have wax or something on them, although they work fine. The ink sort of beads up on the body of the nib. Is there something on them that needs to be removed? If so, what do I use to remove it?

        Thanks in advance.
        Leslie

        #1163492

        New dip pen nibs have a coating of oil on them that needs to be removed. The coating can be removed by a gentle wash with a light detergent, by holding the nib over a candle to burn the oil off (there is a risk of breaking the temper of the metal if you overdo it), licking the nib and letting the saliva clean it for you (I know how it sounds but it does work if you’re in a pinch).

        The nib that stopped working probably has oil or grease on its tip. Give it a good clean and it should start working again. Extra fine nibs become very scratchy and start catching on upstrokes when the tines are worn out or get misaligned. If that hasn’t happened to your old nib, it probably still has some words left in it.

        Salman

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        #1163489
        Studio-1-F
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            They coat them with oil before they leave the factory to keep them from rusting/corroding. Dish detergent will get the oil off and then the ink will cling and adhere to the nib as it’s supposed to. :thumbsup:

            Jan

            #1163490
            fatbrush
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                Yes that’s it, the nibs are coated to preserve the finish. My tutor, Noel Longbottom recommended dropping them in boiling water for a few seconds – not quite so drastic as the flame method but nevertheless it always seemed to work.

                #1163491
                LeslieErica
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                    Thank you, Jan, Salman and Fatbrush, for your responses. They were very helpful. I will get to cleaning up those new nibs right away. I wonder why they don’t have some sort of blurb on the nib box that they come in that they need to be cleaned first. Anyhoo, thanks a bunch, guys.

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