Tuning the nib on my Platinum Preppy
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- Опубликовано: 5 авг 2024
- Hello my pen people!
Today I’ve got a little spring cleaning for one of my nibs! My platinum Preppy has been getting a little bit unreliable lately, probably due to the trauma of being owned by an artist like me!
I bought a few tools to do maintenance on the nib. Here is a link to the brass sheets I used:
bit.ly/BrsShts
And here is the pen loupe:
bit.ly/PenLpe
Also, this is the micro mesh I used at the end:
bit.ly/McrMsh
There are other versions of this for sale through other venues, and I’m sure they work just as well.
I highly recommend the Platinum Preppy if you’re new to fountain pens, or need something cheap to sketch on the go with:
bit.ly/PtnmPpyF
Thanks! Please subscribe to my channel if you like what you see!
bit.ly/3iVayOb
Chapters:
00:00 introduction
00:42 pen problems and tools
03:14 the nib up close
04:48 flossing: first pass
07:44 test 1
09:20 flossing: second pass
11:11 test 2
12:56 smoothing the nib
16:38 drawing sample
19:38 final thoughts
Nice to see the Preppy is back from the grave! And thanks for the great tips. 👍 Liked to see scientific illustrations too!
Thanks! The preppy is such a reliable pen. I’m also glad that it’s working like old times :)
Great to see some love given to the Preppy - one of my first pens, too, and a great gateway pen for any beginner! I haven't tried this method much, but I have found that if I have a pen that needs more space between the tines of the nib, a few strokes with slightly greater than normal pressure can immediately help loosen the flow up a little. I do think it's possible to do this too far and spring a nib, though. Thanks for sharing, and lovely illustration at the end!
Thanks for the kind words!
I did that exact thing with the nib from my Kaweco sport, and it worked like a charm. I’ve heard that some people looking for a wetter experience with their nibs find that helps too. Personally, I like dryer feeds.
I didn’t know how bad the condition of my nib was until I saw it under the loupe. Those times were soooo tight. Drastic measures had to be taken.
Unfortunately, it’s my fault they got that way, because I let someone borrow the pen who didn’t know how to use it. I’m a middle school teacher and I have an art club. I let a student try my pen out, hoping I could spark a young interest in fountain pens. This was a mistake. I’m glad I could restore it though! It makes me all that much more confident recommending the preppy as a starter pen. I still use it after all these years!
You can use a paper bag to smooth/polish a nib too. Just draw repeated figure eights with normal drawing angle and pressure, then test it on regular paper and repeat if necessary. Worked for me the other day.
Good advice. I do think that something like that would be a bit “safer” for more slight adjustments.
I also have heard some people say that the underside of an old coffee mug is another good place to start. I don’t really feel like I want to doodle on the bottom of my coffee mugs though... but I compared the “grit” of my coffee mug to the micro mesh I used in the video... and it was pretty similar... so that’s another way you could try as well :)
i did that to one pen I liked, it made the nib feel like rubber :(
i ordered mylar, waiting fo rit
Great Video! Just ordered a Platinum Preppy EF and a converter yesterday due to your recommendation 😊 can't wait for it
Hope you love it!
I just ordered a few myself. I have a F & EF, so got some M.
Thanks for another great video Stephen. Very helpful!
Always so kind with your comments, sir. Thank you!
Never lend your favorite pens to anyone, ANYONE! lol but seriously, glad your pen can work again. If I find a pen having skipping problem, I would think of using a little knife to gently go through between the nib to see if it helps.
That might work. I would be a little scared of opening the times too much if using a blade. I would also recommend smoothing it out after with some micro mesh. For me, the brass sheets is about as extreme as I would go :)
@@stepheninks yes the sheet is indeed a good idea!
Thanks Stephen
I still use this method all the time.
Useful video. Will try similar treatment on one of my nibs, wich is somewhat inconsistent in performance👍
I enjoy your reviews of fountain pens from an artistic perspective very much. The kakuno seems very likeable and you have me tempted to purchase one to play around with.
For the budget, the Kakuno is almost unbeatable. A lot of people in my comments have been talking about the Penmanship, which I believe has the same nib. Between those two, and the Preppy, I don’t think you can find a better value for an extra fine line fountain pen!
Nice explanation.
One question Stephen, what size of brass to you recommend as a workhorse, 0.032"? 0.025"? I want to buy one sheet but I have no idea, usually I like M nibs and my nibs are made of steel.
Thanks!
I really think that having an assortment has been helpful to me. However, if I were to choose only one, I think that the thicker one would serve you better. I have used all of my sheets in the pack I bought (except for the very thinnest one) from time to time, and especially with medium nibs, you will need to really get something thick for it to make a difference.
Damn you started at a really low grit! most start at 8000 if it's bad, get to 12000 and then use mylar paper
I’m still learning! I’m also not very patient. To be fair, I probably would have been more cautious with a more expensive pen. These days I usually use fiber grit, if at all. The brass sheets get used way more often than the micro mesh.
How did You take nib from the feed?
Just put pressure with my index finger and pushed it straight upwards. This one comes off pretty easy because I’ve done it so many times, but it might stick a bit the first time. It is supposed to come off though. It shouldn’t break if you push it a bit.
@@stepheninks Thank you 🤩