Deb (January 7th, 2020), silverlifter (January 7th, 2020)
Now, I realize there are those on this forum who will almost certainly disagree with me, but I really think that the "break in" period that some people believe they are experiencing is in actual fact a period of adjustment during which the writer's brain implant (from space aliens, of course) syncs with the nib's primary harmonic resonance. That's why it often takes longer to break in pens with steel nibs than those with gold or mithril ones.
Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur. — Horace
(What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke’s on you.)
Ahriman4891 (January 13th, 2020), azkid (January 13th, 2020), ethernautrix (January 8th, 2020), Jon Szanto (January 7th, 2020), Pterodactylus (January 7th, 2020), Sailor Kenshin (January 7th, 2020)
One thing I have yet to see anyone both verbalize and support with any reasonable evidence or rationale is precisely what is breaking in, and how it is breaking in. If objects are altering during some initial "break-in" period, what prevents them from further wearing/bending/evolving as the days, weeks, and months roll on?
I remain unconvinced, with 50 years of fountain pen use, of this breaking news.
"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."
~ Benjamin Franklin
Pterodactylus (January 7th, 2020)
I had to return my Conid to the factory after 1,000 words, for ink and filter change.
AzJon (January 8th, 2020), azkid (January 13th, 2020), Chrissy (January 7th, 2020), Pterodactylus (January 7th, 2020), Stands on Feet (January 7th, 2020)
I wonder if there is any proof for the assertions about a break in period for fountain pens. I could not say that any good pen, including Montblancs, Pelikans, Lamys or Sheaffers from the 60s to 70s ever broke in that I could notice. Definitely not any of the Parker 51s I got in new condition. Of course some of the described brutality might have changed a nib, as in force-flexing the nib, etc. Doing that to some of today's thin nibs will bend them badly, and then you will see how beneficial it is.
Vintage. Cursive italic. Iron gall.
bebox (January 10th, 2020), Chrissy (January 7th, 2020), ethernautrix (January 8th, 2020), FredRydr (January 8th, 2020), Jon Szanto (January 7th, 2020), Sailor Kenshin (January 7th, 2020)
They do offer "smart paper"...https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/coll...ter=1778035081
"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."
~ Benjamin Franklin
It is generally well known in the exercise science world that it takes your nervous system about 3 weeks to adapt to and learn any given movement pattern (even if you've done it before). This is why a lot of people see strength gains out the gate, then plateau: their nervous system tuned in the movement, now the muscles are doing the work (also why you should stick with the same routine for longer stretches of time and why "confusing the muscles" is BS).
I reckon the same is true for "breaking in" a pen. Different tactile feel, different weight, girth, smoothness, etc. amount to a different sensory experience from pen to pen. Try using a girthy 149 for a month and switch to a slim pen. You'll notice a difference and the slim pen may even be difficult to write with. Now use that for a month and grab that 149. You will almost certainly have another "break in" period adjusting to the new grip.
Deb (January 9th, 2020), Jon Szanto (January 8th, 2020)
What Fred and Deb said about adjusting your hand to the nib.
I like tuning and grinding nibs. Once adjusted, they don’t need a break in period.
What may be happening is that you’re inadvertently (and slowly) adjusting a nib through use. Pressing down on a dry writer to separate the tines, slight misalignment (one tine higher than the other) might be correcting itself through use. None of that is “break in” though.
So you're saying the feed makes no difference? I don't think anyone is saying it's just the nib.
But that is irrelevant - how would one "break in" a feed? Nothing changes in the feed by simply using the pen; the only thing one could do would be to alter the feed in some manner, and that is hardly breaking in a pen, that's actual adjustment and repair (if the feed is poorly made in the first place).
"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."
~ Benjamin Franklin
Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens
I have to be honest, Mook, and I hope that's ok: this is an indication of poorly made pens, or pens that have been sent out in sub-optimal condition. This is not something one should have to do when receiving a pen and it is not how good pens are made. I'm not saying that an occasional pen may not need an adjustment to suit your particular writing preferences, and there are a number of people who sell their pens and ask how you want it "set up" before sending to you. That said, no quality pen requires this effort. Receiving a sub-par pen and doing things to it to become a good writer is one thing, but a habitual expectation of "breaking in" a pen through pressured writing or other process efforts is not, or should not be, common practice.
"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."
~ Benjamin Franklin
Ahriman4891 (January 13th, 2020), AzJon (January 9th, 2020), Chrissy (January 9th, 2020), Deb (January 9th, 2020), Pterodactylus (January 9th, 2020), Stands on Feet (January 9th, 2020)
In my experience, this (dry writers) is not uncommon - and I’ll disagree with Jon a little here. Pen companies that buy Bock and Jowo nibs in bulk usually just screw them in and package it.
Anyway, pressing the pen hard to paper (or other surface) can be an appropriate way to correct minor flow issues (I do it). Over doing it can spread the tines too far apart, misalign them, or bend the nib so that it’s too high above the feed. The biggest problem is that you’re not controlling where the nib is bending.
Last edited by dneal; January 9th, 2020 at 02:07 PM.
This is what I meant regarding "sub-optimal" condition when shipping a pen. I don't give *anyone* a pass for simply installing a part without at least minimal attention to see that it works well. Maybe that is just me expecting too much, but there you go.
Good advice on how to, and how not to, adjust that dry nib!
"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."
~ Benjamin Franklin
Well, there has to be exceptions. Almost three years ago, I bought a Conid Minimalistica with two Conid-branded steel nibs that I understand are made by Bock. I wrote with the M for many months, and swapped in the F two years ago. I don't know what Conid does to their nibs' tipping or temper, but they are a joy to use. Doesn't Franklin-Christoph and Edison Pen Company use Jowo nibs? The several Edisons I've owned over the years were personally tuned by either Brian Gray or Richard Binder as part of the purchase. I owned one F-C with a wide stub steel nib, and it went through the late Jim Rouse's tuning skill before it was handed over.
Jon Szanto (January 9th, 2020)
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