2022-09-12
From scratchy extra-fine to smooth broad nib
All 5 of 6 Lamy nibs i got here were scratchy and mostly dry from the factory. The only exception is the 1.5 nib on my Lamy "Joy" fountain pen. Recently i ordered "no-name" replacement nibs, and they are smooth like glass. Back then, when i was going to school, i thought it was my fault. I started with a fountain pen from Pelikan in primary school. And now i know that the tools you have make the difference. My fountain pens from Faber-Castell and Moonman-Majohn have smooth nibs, and are a real joy.
I figured out how to fix scratchy nibs now. You need at least 2500 grit sandpaper and water. And you need to know what is causing the problem. You need to feel, hear, and watch. And go into the rough edges. There is not much pressure required. And be very gentle. A "nib meister" can be found in me somewhere for sure. I can tune a scratchy extra-fine nib to a smooth broad nib. I can make Lamy nibs write wet too.
In the past weeks i cleaned all my pens. They require maintenance regularly. I soaked them in water, brushed them with a toothbrush, dried them, and added silicone grease. I gave away three of them. Do kids still learn to write with fountain pens these days? I don't know. But i think they are an interesting experience. You also need less force while writing, compared to rollerball pens, if your fountain pen nib is up to the task.
I stopped using converters, and started using a syringe to fill empty cartridges. This way i can make better use of the room inside the fountain pens, and i'm not wasting space with a filling mechanism. It is also a lot cleaner, because you are not dunking a part of the pen or the converter into an ink bottle. Would i ever buy a Lamy "Safari" AL-star again? No. Because of their terrible nibs. And the ink windows are collecting dust. The only way to prevent this is to wrap tape around their holes.