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How fountain pen nibs are made. Seven mistakes when using a fountain pen and how to avoid them. Wood handle

In fountain pens, atmospheric pressure prevents the ink from flowing out. If you fill a cocktail straw with water and pinch one end, the water will be locked securely inside. But this technology works as long as the pressure is stable. If you board a plane with such a straw, some time after takeoff some of the water will still spill out, since at altitude the pressure in the cabin drops by about 25%. In the case of a fountain pen, an ink stain would form in the pocket area.

The most important part of a non-drip fountain pen, the feeder, is partially or completely hidden under the nib. At the top there are one or, as in Monblanc pens, two capillary channels through which the ink flows to the nib. The feeder ribs act as a kind of buffer on which excess ink accumulates and from which, in the event of increased ink consumption, reserves are taken. Ink is retained on the edges by capillary effect. Despite its apparent simplicity, the solution is very non-trivial, requiring extraordinary knowledge of mechanics and physics.

However, for a disaster with inkblot it is not necessary to take off - a normal oscillation is enough atmospheric pressure or a slight concussion. To prevent this from happening, a rather ingenious solution was invented - a feeder with a ribbed collector. All excess ink was retained on the ribs due to the capillary effect. The feeder also performed other functions - ink came to the pen through a channel, cross section which determined the speed of their arrival. Since ink consumption was inconsistent when using a pen, the collector also served as a kind of buffer.

An equally important part of the pen is the nib; the comfort of using the tool and the beauty of writing depend on its quality. The best Montblanc nibs are made from gold alloy sheets with varying thicknesses - from 0.18 mm at the base of the nib to 0.52 mm at the tip. This provides a light spring force, well known to Montblanc owners, which enhances writing comfort. The body of the pen is stamped, bent, polished, engraved and the tip is welded on from more hard metal. After this, it is given a certain shape corresponding to the style of writing - from a traditional sphere to a beveled flat tip for calligraphy. Some Montblanc boutiques have computerized systems that allow you to test task give unique parameters of your writing style, according to which you can choose a pen that is suitable for you, and if you have a strong desire and budget, make a unique pen especially for you.

One of the final operations is performed with the finest diamond saw. It is this almost invisible cut that delivers the ink to the tip and paper through capillary action. All that remains is to manually polish it and insert it into the handle.

To make it you will need a sheet of paper approximately A4 size and a ballpoint pen. You can take not only regular writing paper, but also wrapping or newspaper paper (you will need a little more of it). A trapezoid-shaped blank with a base length of 14–15 cm is cut out of paper. Glue is applied along the base of the blank, and a rod is pressed against it. After the glue has dried, the rod is tightly twisted into the paper, and the edges of the paper are additionally coated with glue. Cones are formed along the edges of the product. At the bottom, the cone is needed for ease of holding when writing, and top part can be trimmed with a utility knife.

The finished handle can be painted acrylic paint, which does not dissolve in water after drying. The handle can also be pasted over with colored gift paper or scrapbooking paper, as well as a page from a glossy magazine or foil tape. To prevent the paper from being worn out by constant use, homemade pens are additionally covered with transparent tape or varnished.

Wood handle

If you have access to lathe, you can make an unusual wooden pen body. You will need wooden blanks, metal tubes, rod, handle mechanism, glue and sandpaper.

Don't forget that finishing materials may affect the color of the wood. Therefore, test them on waste first - this will help insure against unexpected results.

A saw, a machine, vapors of varnishes and adhesives can be harmful to health if used carelessly, so it is important to remember the safety requirements when working with them.

Syringe pen

A beautiful stationery product can be made from a regular disposable syringe. The nose of the syringe is drilled to the size of the writing unit of the rod. The case is filled with colored gel, rhinestones, and sequins. A rod cut to fit the syringe body is inserted inside. The piston is filled with glue to fix the rod.

Thread pen

A tourniquet is woven from thick threads, and a rod is inserted into the middle. You can take threads of different colors and structures, the main thing is that they are of the same thickness. The plait is woven very simply: one thread is placed on top of the other from the middle to form a square. You can secure the rod in the bundle with a drop of glue.

fountain pen

To make a handle in old style you need to take a large goose or turkey feather. If desired, paint it any color or several at once. The fluff at the base needs to be cut off and sanded a little with soft sandpaper so that the future handle is comfortable to hold. The tip of the pen must be cut at an angle - it is very hard, and the resulting tip can be used to write.

You can also insert a steel feather into a bird feather and mask the junction decorative material. A feather made in this way will be more durable. And of course, you can insert an ordinary ballpoint into the pen.

Gel pen

It differs from a regular ball one in that a gel rod is inserted into the prepared flask. The gel aquarium pen looks original. To create it, you will need a transparent tube with a wooden stopper, sealed at one end (something suitable can be found in a pharmacy or chemical glass store).

A hole is made in the cork according to the diameter of the rod; the cork can also be painted with acrylic paint. A mixture of water and glycerin is poured into the flask - the more glycerin, the thicker the filler, and the slower the decor will float in the body. We pour glitter, stars, and foil fish into the flask, insert the rod into the cork and close the flask tightly (for reliability, you can secure the cork with waterproof glue).

2-in-1 pen

To create it you need to take a pen and a simple pencil. Disassemble the pen, cut off a part from the pencil based on the length of the pen, and insert it into the pen body. To adjust the pencil to the diameter of the handle, it must be planed with a sharp knife and sanded with sandpaper.

Insert the pencil into the body and secure with adhesive tape. Next, we cut the rod and assemble the handle. Now the pencil will always be at hand - with reverse side the pen you write with.

By the way, don’t throw away the remaining piece of pencil, it may still come in handy.

And in conclusion - a pen for spy game lovers

A fountain pen—either a regular one or a homemade one—can be filled with invisible ink. Making such ink is quite simple. The only thing is that you won’t be able to pour them into the rod, because they are very liquid.

There are three most common types of invisible ink and three ways to read what is written:

• dilute solution copper sulfate- hold the paper over ammonia
• lemon juice– heat the paper with an iron or lamp
• milk - iron the letter with a hot iron.

A beautiful pen can be bought at any store. But if you are a fan of exclusives and a lover of products self made, you can make a one-of-a-kind pen. A self-made piece of stationery will become a unique designer souvenir for you and your friends.

I have several “alphabetic” posts, for example “”, “”. There is something missing about writing instruments.

Therefore, today I present a reprint from the wonderful blog “YaSkrepka” entitled “How a fountain pen works.” The article is very good, you couldn’t write it better. As always, I recommend subscribing to this blog.

There are already a lot of posts on YaSkrepka about various pens, including fountain pens. How are they arranged? What principle is used when writing with a fountain pen? I learned the answer to this interesting question in the LJ community pen-ru “Pens and Pencils.” It turns out that the writing unit of an ink pen can be divided into three parts:

1. feeder-feather block
2. ink tank (disposable or refillable)
3. pen body with cap.

For a classic open nib fountain pen, this block looks like this:

The diagram requires a little explanation. We all know a can of condensed milk. And probably everyone knows the scheme for drinking condensed milk from a can - you need to punch 2 holes, through one of which you need to drink. What is the second hole for? If this is not done, a reduced pressure is created in the jar without air flow and the liquid (condensed milk) stops flowing out of the jar.

An ink pen is usually done a little differently. To simplify the design, the air supply channel and the ink supply channel were combined into one. And the ink flow rate (and for different types feathers - for example F and B are needed different quantities ink when writing) is regulated by the width or, more correctly, the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel. go to the bottom of the channel and are brought to the feather. Air through the air hole in the pen flows through the channel into the ink container and compensates for the pressure difference. Therefore, the combination of the air intake port, pen type and ink/air channel determines the normal flow of ink.

In addition, two more elements of the pen play a significant role in this - the collector in the feeder and... the ink. The commutator is commonly used in pens with an open nib. Its function is interesting - it is a buffer, a micro-reservoir between the pen and the ink container. These slots hold the small amount of ink that the pen needs to compensate for the writing speed.

At different writing speeds it is necessary different speed ink supply. You can “set” a certain average speed, but then when writing slowly the pen will write boldly, at average speed it will write optimally, and at high speed there will be gaps in letters. In this case, at a slow speed, the collector draws excess ink into its system of ribs, and at a high writing speed, it releases the accumulated ink using the capillary effect.

Ink also greatly influences the character of the letter. Thick ink in a pen with an EF nib just won't let you write, and too thin ink and a B nib can result in blots and very thick lines.

In addition to density, the wettability coefficient plays a significant role, which is regulated by adding certain surfactants to the ink recipe.

with your own hands.

“Nowadays, few people write by hand. The age of computers, mobile phones and other gadgets seems to have completely atrophied the ability to write with a pen. All the more beautiful. Moreover, with a pen. This is why calligraphy skills become a valuable skill.

Imagine how nice it would be for your loved one to receive a postcard written in a special font and even by hand. You can purchase a fountain pen at an art store. But the above product is rare. Just we'll talk This is not about companies and types of metal pens.

We bring to your attention the most ancient natural writing instrument – ​​the kalam (or kalyam). It was used by the ancient Persians and Indians. You will get it absolutely free if reed grows in your area.
Interesting? Well, then be patient and go for the reeds.

Late autumn is the time. At this time it matures completely. Green doesn't suit us.

The prey must be cleared of leaves. Let it dry for a couple of days.

Ready? Take sharp knife. A pocket bag is enough. Cut one segment first.

Measure from the edge a gap the length of your thumb.

Very carefully, without demonstrating force, we cut one layer of the stem to half its diameter.

We cut again at an angle of about 30 degrees, stepping back a little.

Then we make the cutting angle even sharper.

We give the appearance of a wide flat feather.

We cut off the tip so that it is even. Like this.

We clean up all the irregularities. Then we turn the feather over and cut off the layer, retreating 1.5 mm at an angle of about 45 degrees.

It is better to do this on a table or any other convenient flat support. The finishing touch. Be careful. You need to make a cut right in the middle of the feather.

But first, to prevent the crack from spreading across the entire reed, you need to make a small hole. Ideally, a thin drill is used. But you can pierce it with an awl.

Kalam is ready. Now you will need ink or ink. If possible, you can try to replicate the famous fonts of the Middle Ages. But this is not necessary. Try writing a few letters and maybe you will get your font.

With the help of kalam and ink, you can beautifully sign a card, a note for a gift, or the packaging itself. And what are the possibilities in decoration... Good luck!”

Thanks Dmitry! I’ll add on my own that I saw a scribe with a calligraphic pen at the Medieval Festival in Spain. It cost him 3 euros to write a name beautifully on a prepared sheet of paper...

A fountain pen is always more than just a pen, it is a faithful companion that follows you everywhere when you make a to-do list for today, cross off completed items from your work plan, write down your phone number beautiful girl person you just met, signing a greeting card or business documents. On our website you can purchase the original one. The attitude towards a fountain pen is always special - it is not at all the same as a simple ballpen , which can be thrown away if it breaks.

A fountain pen is the same as Zippo lighter – it fits comfortably in the hand and pleasantly tightens the pocket. If your loved one breaks down, you will first think about the possibility of repair, rather than replacement.

Usually experienced fountain pen owners know everything about how to handle their pen, how to care for it, how to put it in order if something happens to it. So our article is primarily addressed to beginners who are encountering this for the first time. important issue. Why fountain pen may require repairs? After all, any Parker product is reliable and designed to last! Most often, it is the pen that is bent as a result of a fall that needs repair. No one is safe from accidents! So, the pen is bent, and this is not a reason to panic. What to do in such cases?

There are three ways to deal with the problem.

Method one, official

Contact the company service center. The Parker brand has official services in Russia. If there is such a service center in your city, consider that the problem has already been solved - specialists will be able to cope with almost any damage. In a pinch, it's easier to replace a bent nib than to try to repair it. The main advantage of contacting a service center is the quality service that they will provide you with. Typically, branded services employ professionals who already have experience in solving such problems. A significant disadvantage is the high cost of services. If we are talking about a cheap pen, it’s easier to buy a new one or try to fix the situation better first. available means. And if you do not live in the capital, there is a high probability that there is simply no official service center in your city. Then you will inevitably have to look for other options.

Method two, available

A jewelry workshop can help out if there is no service center in your city, or the specialists have asked for too high a fee for their services. Jewelry workshops different levels available in any city. Jewelry tools are quite suitable for repairing a gold pen, and good master You probably have the necessary skills. It would seem that this method has no disadvantages - it is easier to find a jeweler, and the cost of the work will be significantly lower than in the service. However, you should still be very careful when choosing a specialist. This must be good specialist, ideally, already having experience in such work. Otherwise you'll have to do it again. Keep in mind that the cost of repairs from a jeweler can be up to 50% of the cost of the pen itself, so think: maybe repairs don’t make sense at all, unless the pen is dear to you as a memory?

Method three, do it yourself

This method is suitable for fearless owners of fountain pens who are not afraid of completely ruining their favorite thing. If you learn how to fix a bent nib yourself, you'll be able to use your skills many times in the future.

The main difficulty with self-repair– removing the pen from the pen. Here it all depends on the model - with some pens you can remove the nib in no time, with others you need to tinker and find out exactly how this is done so as not to break the pen. Of course, when you are getting ready, you will not be interested in how easy the feather is to remove, and certainly not predict that after a while you may need repairs. Therefore, you will have to comprehend the theory in practice. In some cases, repairs can be made without removing the pen.

There are two ways to straighten a bent feather at home using available tools. Experienced owners of fountain pens advise using ordinary chopsticks. The first repair method is as follows: place the pen on a hard surface ( ideal solution will form a rubber or silicone mat on which the pen will not slide), and then gently smooth the bent part using the sharp end of a stick until you achieve the desired result. The second method is used only if you have removed the pen from the pen. Place a chopstick on the table in front of you, place a feather on its surface, placing it lengthwise, with the tip towards the sharp end of the chopstick. The feather should adhere to the surface of the stick as tightly as possible. Then take a second stick and gently smooth the damaged area, as with the first method. Chopsticks – ideal option for such repairs as they are hard enough to repair damage without scratching the pen. The choice of sticks also matters - it is best to choose not round, but slightly ribbed sticks, the narrowing of which has a rectangular shape.

If you think that your Parker pen is not valuable enough to contact a service or jeweler, try to fix the damage yourself. If you succeed, it will give you valuable experience that can be useful in the future. As a last resort, you can always buy a new pen and try to handle it more carefully. You can also buy a Zippo lighter and practice refueling it yourself.