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KrazyIvan
March 4th, 2013, 09:53 AM
Thanks to manoeuver (http://fpgeeks.com/forum/member.php/378-manoeuver) for inspiring me to bump up my game in nib grinding. It was this thread (http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/1808-FPR-Airmail-58C-w-FPR-stub-Handwritten-Review) that finally pushed me over the edge. I was going to do it manually but I decided I needed some rotary tool help to speed up the process. I have been wanting to do this for a while. I bought a rechargeable Dremel a while back but soon found out it was not up to the task. There were no speed selections. I bought a new one on Friday, this one corded and with variable speed.

I practiced on a Serwex Executive piston filler. I am very happy with the results. I am also very happy that it took me all of five minutes from start to finish. A very smooth stub came out of all of this. I am glad I used a practice pen because I can see how this can go wrong very fast. Not that I did not know that from the start. :D I know I should know this already but I made a special note about being sure about the direction of the rotation of the tool. :butcher:

I roughed out the general nib shape with the Dremel then I smoothed it out and created the foot with the wet dry paper. The buff sticks were used to polish everything up to a smooth gloss finish. I then increased flow by opening the nib tines a little. I also had to modify the feed just a little with an exacto.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8519610701_2e305d0bc8_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8519610701/)
My #fountainpen nib grinding tool kit has just been upgraded. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8519610701/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8088/8522240562_0ecc7b052b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8522240562/)
I have never ground a nib this fast. 5 mins flat. Writing sample next. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8522240562/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8522283488_82231d7883_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8522283488/)
Nib on the right is stock, nib on the left is my freshly ground stub. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8522283488/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8522257668_bde21852a1_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8522257668/)
My first Dremel ground stub writing sample. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8522257668/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

manoeuver
March 4th, 2013, 10:02 AM
Awesome! You rock Ivan!

I'd love to try one of your stubs.

I showed Pendleton my airmail grind at the Baltimore show, he looked at it and said "it looks like one of my early grinds." Sweet!

KrazyIvan
March 4th, 2013, 10:18 AM
Awesome! You rock Ivan!

I'd love to try one of your stubs.

I showed Pendleton my airmail grind at the Baltimore show, he looked at it and said "it looks like one of my early grinds." Sweet!

How cool is that. Pendleton complimenting your work!

I do have your address here. :) I would be happy to get a second opinion. Let me grind a few more of those Serwex pens I have and I'll send this one to you. (I like to compare my work to my previous work).

I gained a lot of insight by looking at work by Mike Masuyama and Greg Minuskin. I want to get something from Pendleton to compare too. I especially like his angel wing flex mod. I see someone used that as a model to add flex to a Noodler's flex nib. That might be my next project.

wolffullmoon
March 4th, 2013, 10:29 AM
i am interested in doing this too. What stone did you use in the Dremel. My wife has one of the corded variable speed models and I want to give it a try.

I have one of Pendleton's 51s and I am very pleased with it. It would be fun to try a couple for myself--not for other people, though.

manoeuver
March 4th, 2013, 10:47 AM
How cool is that. Pendleton complimenting your work!

I do have your address here. :) I would be happy to get a second opinion. Let me grind a few more of those Serwex pens I have and I'll send this one to you. (I like to compare my work to my previous work).

I gained a lot of insight by looking at work by Mike Masuyama and Greg Minuskin. I want to get something from Pendleton to compare too. I especially like his angel wing flex mod. I see someone used that as a model to add flex to a Noodler's flex nib. That might be my next project.

Which serwex pens? I have a bunch of them, you could just send the nib if I've got a pen that'll take it.

I'll work another one out and send it to you. I can send you closeups of my pendleton nibs- I have 3 now.

KrazyIvan
March 4th, 2013, 11:50 AM
i am interested in doing this too. What stone did you use in the Dremel. My wife has one of the corded variable speed models and I want to give it a try.

I have one of Pendleton's 51s and I am very pleased with it. It would be fun to try a couple for myself--not for other people, though.

It is just the regular Dremel green stone as seen in this picture:.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8088/8522240562_0ecc7b052b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8522240562/)
I have never ground a nib this fast. 5 mins flat. Writing sample next. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/8522240562/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr


Which serwex pens? I have a bunch of them, you could just send the nib if I've got a pen that'll take it.

I'll work another one out and send it to you. I can send you closeups of my pendleton nibs- I have 3 now.

It looks like the 362 but my clip looks different. I do not see my exact model on FPR anymore. I thought it was the Executive based on comments from my Instagram post but no, it's not. It is the Serwex MB style nib from this page: http://www.fountainpenrevolution.com/fpsupplies.html

I think you would need the feed too. I have to cut about 3-4 mm off off the very tip of the feed to make it work with the new grind. I really don't mind sending the whole pen. :)

I would like to see those Pendleton nibs. I want to send my BB Platinum #3776 to him.

Maja
March 4th, 2013, 07:45 PM
Way to go, Ivan (and manoeuver!). I noticed Pendleton using a rotary tool in Eric's "Video Highlights of the 2013 LA Pen Show video" here http://fpgeeks.com/2013/02/video-highlights-of-the-2013-la-pen-show/ (from the 05:55 time mark).
I never thought about that kind of breathing/airway protection and/or air filters, but it sounds like a good idea (and protective eyewear is essential of course). I'm sure you're being extra-cautious.. :)

KrazyIvan
March 5th, 2013, 09:14 AM
When I die, I want them to say my lungs were lined with iridium. :D

manoeuver
March 5th, 2013, 05:42 PM
careful what you wish for, it could happen in a year.

KrazyIvan
March 5th, 2013, 06:10 PM
I am joking. Warning is noted. I have access to a respirator.

manoeuver
March 6th, 2013, 05:08 AM
I want a nib tipped with depleted uranium.

KrazyIvan
March 6th, 2013, 08:50 AM
I want a nib tipped with depleted uranium.

I would look to Delta for that. They have the Fusion "heater" nib so they might be interested in developing a glowing radioactive nib. :p

Mags
March 11th, 2013, 04:00 AM
I would be too nervous with a dremmel and my nib....In 5 min - I could surely destroy a nib.

manoeuver
March 11th, 2013, 07:39 AM
I would be too nervous with a dremmel and my nib....In 5 min - I could surely destroy a nib.

that's the idea. destroy a handful of cheapie nibs while you figure out what you're doing.

KrazyIvan
March 20th, 2013, 04:21 PM
That pen just left my possession and is on its way to Maryland.

KrazyIvan
April 18th, 2013, 03:43 PM
So manoeuver and I discussed this and I want to go ahead and offer this pen up to whomever wants to try it. A pay it forward sort of thing. Manoeuver has the pen now and has said he will forward the pen. The thing now is how to decide who gets it. Hmmm.

I say, if you are interested, post in this thread stating you are intersted and I will do a random number generator thing on Saturday night. So, post away. :)

manoeuver
April 19th, 2013, 03:43 PM
I'll use it!

KrazyIvan
April 19th, 2013, 04:25 PM
It looks like you may end up keeping it. ;)

KrazyIvan
April 20th, 2013, 09:08 PM
And it is yours. :D

drgoretex
April 23rd, 2013, 07:13 AM
Cool thread, Ivan. I have long been eyeing up a dremel for other work (wood and stone carving), and this just might be the excuse I need. I have only ever used the wet-dry paper for nib grinds. Works great, but fairly slow.

Ken

KrazyIvan
April 23rd, 2013, 08:41 AM
It is slow work doing it manually. I figure if Pendleton can do it with a Dremel. I can at least attempt it.

manoeuver
April 23rd, 2013, 11:58 AM
takes me about an hour to get a stub happening on those serwex fine nibs with no power tools.

Ivan, how do you secure the dremel when you're working?

KrazyIvan
April 23rd, 2013, 12:42 PM
takes me about an hour to get a stub happening on those serwex fine nibs with no power tools.

Ivan, how do you secure the dremel when you're working?

I did that one by hand (meaning I held the Dremel in one hand and the pen in another) but I do have this vice for steady work needs:

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/091162/091162008355.jpg

woosang
April 23rd, 2013, 07:52 PM
Would a dremel be too hard core to thin down a nib ? It's very soft as it is and maybe just the slow way may be the best. Thoughts?

KrazyIvan
April 23rd, 2013, 08:24 PM
Depends on how soft. I believe Pendleton does it on his angel wings nib modification. The more experienced the better to control the Dremel. I am comfortable with a Dremel but I am second guessing how to go about thinning a nib.

CS388
April 27th, 2013, 04:46 AM
I think an hour is pretty much alright - unless you're doing (eg) ten or twenty nibs per day?
My only experience has been with fine grade wet-or-dry papers - and has been more about smoothing out, rather than changing shape.
I must admit that I'd be terrified to take a power tool to a nib. I could imagine the whole thing disappearing very quickly.

But, well done KrazyIvan. It looks good - and the writing sample proves it works. Hat's off to you.

Good luck with the nib thinning.

OcalaFlGuy
May 2nd, 2013, 09:03 PM
FWIW, Pendleton uses a diamond disk on his dremel, I'm pretty sure Richard does also.

I think PB is as concerned about any diamond dust that may migrate as much as the atomized tipping and most of all the
fact that he's often in that "contaminated zone" for several hours continuously.

I think WatchArt has done some grinding with the green stone dremel.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

KrazyIvan
May 2nd, 2013, 09:35 PM
Yes, watch art has done the green stone grinding. Its on his YouTube channel. I also read that Mr. Motishaw or Binder used to use doubled up cutting disks (the brown ones, not fiberglass) for nib grinding. Have yet to try that out.