Okay guys! Here it is: The official first 777 Pen Repair Video! This one is of me grinding a fine italic nib. The video is a time lapse, I didn't think you wanted to watch me grind for 15min... :)
Enjoy! If you like this video leave me a comment on my blog please! If I get enough comments and good responses I will know to continue keeping up the videos.
Notice: This video is not attempting to instruct and in any other way teach Pen-repair or nib grinding. Nib grinding requires much more knowledge, experience, and skill than can be gained in 1 or even 10 videos. Nib grinding is an art that takes patience, practice, hard-work, and talent to learn. Be safe, and don't do anything to your pens unless you're confident you have the experience/knowledge to be doing so. Also, remember to have fun too! Fountain pens are a hobby for all of us!
So, what did you all think of this? Like it? Drop me a comment and let me know!
Regards,
777
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Tyler, the idea is great and I was really hoping to learn something from this. However, the time lapse photography made everything happen too fast. Add to that the lack of a soundtrack explaining what you were doing as well as the fact that often your hand blocked what you were doing, and the final result, for me at least, wasn't very helpful. For example, how much pressure should one use when grinding a nib? With the time lapse photography and lack of an explanation, it looks as if the nib will be ground to nothing in a very short time. Obviously, that's not what happened but the only way to tell was the fact that you used the pen at the end of the video.
ReplyDeleteI think taping in real time and then cutting out long periods of you just grinding (with you explaining this) would have been much more useful. Of course, this is just my opinion and others may disagree.
All in all, I think it's a fantastic first step and I look forward to others. Thanks for all of the effort you put into this.
Yes, the time lapse was fast, and I wasn't able to find a soundtrack without bumping into copyright issues...
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of this is more to show people a small glimpse into a nibmeisters work than to teach how to grind a nib. I don't feel qualified to teach people how to grind nibs as it's a somewhat risky process. It also takes more equipment than the average user wants to buy...
I may do a tutorial for nib grinding in the late future but for now I'll keep with the basics...
On the other hand, glad you're looking forward to more videos! I've got some neat ones coming up such as:
- The parts to a sheaffer vac fill
- Disassembly of a Parker 51 hood
- Guided tour of my workshop!
Best Regards,
777 - Tyler Dahl
Tyler: The comments already made cover some o fthe 'action' problems,but my concern is with the'equipment' used.Looks like you used some 'sandpaper' which you rested on a foam mounted emery board. Is that right? And if so what type 'sandpaper' were you using.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, the result is neat.Thanks
I agree with Tberry010, a list of materials would be nice. Good job!
ReplyDeleteMaterials: I'm going to try and post this stuff in a separate post. Be on the lookout for it. This here was just for fun - to document the process of the grinding and show the results that can be had.
ReplyDeleteI'll get that stuff up soon!
Regards,
777
Not wishing to hand you a downer... I'm not intending to, honest.
ReplyDelete1. Time lapse doesn't tell us much?
2. No sound, what are you doing?
3. Irritating, 'cos the subject is of interest - no one else
talks about this (pro's keeping it to themselves)
I like your blog, you clearly work hard at it.
So yes please, more, but with informative detail.
Dave
Yes, it looks like I will have to do a separate video for those interested in grinding...
ReplyDeleteI was not attempting to describe it here because to be quite honest, I'm really not all that qualified to teach others how to grind nibs.
It takes a lot more skill and tools than the averages user has or wants...
I may do a tutorial in the future... for now, this video was just for fun.
Regards,
777 - Tyler Dahl
That was pretty cool. Some sound would have been nice though. From what I can tell, the pen was loaded with ink while you were grinding it, right?
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it! Yea, I wish I could've gotten some sound but I didn't have any songs that I could've used without bumping into copyright issues.
ReplyDeleteYes, the pen is inked up while grinding. Keeps it lubricated during the process.Regards,777 - Tyler Dahl
Dear Tyler, I've just recently fournd your site and am enjoying it immensely. My pens got put away for many years (scratchy nibs was one reason), and I just recently got some nib smoothing paper from Richard Binder. Although I'm learning how as I go, it would be nice if you could share whatever knowledge you have, even if you're not a pro. Lots of us would like to do a little tweaking on our pens, but we're a little scared and intimidated by the dire warnings of the pros. Not that some of those warnings aren't justified, but if fine tuning a pen costs half as much as the pen itself.......well, would you pay half the cost of your car just to get an oil change and a tune up? No wonder so many people get turned off to fountain pens! Please give us whatever details you can, a materials list, and suppliers where we might obtain them. Thanks ever so much. You're doing a great job.
ReplyDeleteTo be fully honest the best and truly only way to get good at grinding/smoothing is practice. Just experiment. That's how I learned everything. I asked a few questions when I was in a difficult spot but mostly I did lots of research, reading, studying, and mainly practice.
ReplyDeleteJust get some cheap pens and start with those. Work with them, try different things and see what results you get.
Regards,
777 - Tyler Dahl