Say what? Why do I need to know how to prep a calligraphy nib? Can’t I just pop it in the holder and go? Not so fast! If you’ve tried to use a brand new nib and run into difficulties, you probably understand why! Keep reading to figure out how to prep a calligraphy nib in a few easy steps!
First off, let’s talk about why its necessary to prep a calligraphy nib before use
Calligraphy nibs are supplied from the manufacturer with a thin layer of oil which serves to protect the nib before use. Nibs are made of metal, and are prone to rust if not protected during storage. This oil works great to protect the nib, but can be a bit of a headache for the calligrapher if not removed properly. Most calligraphy inks are water based, and therefore when combined with this oil coating, the ink will often bead up or slide quickly off of the nib- leading to ink blobs or inconsistent flow. If you are having ink flow problems with a new nib, this coating is likely the culprit.
A Quick Visual of Prepped vs. Un-prepped Nibs
Front View
Back View
Thankfully, there are several easy ways to prep the nib to remove the manufacturer oil and ensure a beautiful writing experience! We will review several methods below!
Nib Anatomy
Before we get started, lets review the proper terminology for the parts of a pointed pen calligraphy nib- or as I like to call the “Nib Anatomy!” (can you tell I’m a nurse?!?)
The main features of the nib (starting from top to bottom) are as follows:
- The Tip: The pointed area at the top of the nib, which makes contact with the paper.
- The Slit: The central cut at the top of the nib, which forms the tines. The slit is key for the ability to vary line thickness.
- The Tines: Each edge of the nib on either side of the slit.
- The Shoulder: Refers to the width of the nib- the wider the shoulder, the less flexible the nib; but with a caveat– some nibs have large shoulder slits, which improve flexibility.
- The Vent Hole: The hole directly in line with the slit. The vent hole is key to allowing air flow and ink flow.
- The Base: (also called the heel or the tail). The blunt end of the nib that fits into the holder.
Now that we speak the same nib language, lets talk about how to prep them for use! And in case you were looking for a good one to start with, I recommend the Zebra G for beginners. Paper & Ink arts also has a great sampler set if you want to try different nibs 🙂
Well, how do I prep a calligraphy nib?
I’m glad you asked! Keep reading for some of the most common methods! We will review the good, the bad and the not-so-recommended methods. But before we ged started, lets touch on a few key points that apply to the process in general:
- Be sure to wash your hands before you begin to prep you nib. Your fingers have their own oils, and you don’t want to transfer these to your nib after you’ve spent hard work to remove the manufacturer’s oil.
- Once your nibs are prepped, be careful not to touch the top 2/3 with your finger or you may be inadvertently re-oiling them ;).
- When holding the nib, do not put pressure on the tines or moveable parts. Try to hold the nib at the bottom (also called the heel, base or tail) or at the bottom 1/3 of the nib.
- Ensure that you thoroughly give attention to the top and underside of the nib when cleaning.
- Be sure to let the nib dry completely before storing to minimize the risk of rust formation.
Alright! So let’s look at our available methods of how to prep a calligraphy nib!
1. Soap and Water
Easy peasy! Using dish soap and water is one of the easiest and most effective methods to remove the oil from the calligraphy nib. Dish soap is made to de-grease, so its a cheap and easy way to clean nibs. Any dish soap will do. To use this method:
- Lather 1-2 drops of dish soap between your fingers.
- Gently rub the nib between your fingers.
- Rinse the nib thoroughly with water and carefully dry with a paper towel or a microfiber cloth.
Voila! Your nib is prepped and ready to use!
2. Toothpaste and Toothbrush
Another easy method to remove the protective coating on the nib is using toothpaste and toothbrush! No need to stress over the brand, just grab what you have on hand! However, I would suggest using a soft bristle toothbrush to prevent undue wear and tear on the nib. To start:
- Run the toothbrush under water or dip the bristles into a bowl to wet. Then, squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the toothbrush.
- While holding the nib at the base (or heel), use the toothbrush to gently scrub the nib- ensuring that you’ve covered both the front and back sides.
- Rinse the nib thoroughly with water, ensuring that any toothpaste no longer remains.
- Dry the nib thoroughly with a paper towel or microfiber cloth.
Ta da! Your nib is ready to go!
3. Saliva (I know, eww)
Ok, hear me out. Its seems yuck, but saliva is actually very effective at removing the coating from your nibs. But! Important Note! DO NOT PUT THE NIB DIRECTLY INTO YOUR MOUTH! 🙂 We don’t want any accidental nib swallowing, cutting of your mouth, or direct ingestion of these chemicals. So! Methods:
- Start by collecting a good bit of saliva onto a paper towel.
- Rub the nib with the moistened paper towel.
- Rinse with water and thoroughly dry.
And now, you have a nib that’s prepped and ready to go!
4. Rubbing Alcohol, Acetone, or Windex
Rubbing alcohol, acetone and window cleaner are all effective at removing oil from nibs. For this method:
- Collect a small amount of liquid in the lid of the container, or in a small bowl.
- Use a q-tip to spread the liquid over the top and underside of the nib.
- Be careful around the pointed edges as fibers from the q-tip can snag and get caught.
- Pro-tip! Try alcohol wipes- like those found in first aid kits. These work well also!
- Rinse with water and thoroughly dry.
- Quick note: Use of a chemical is not my favorite way to prep a nib, as over time the solutions may damage the nib.
5. The Potato Method
What did the poor potato do to deserve this treatment?? 🙂 As we know, potatoes contain a good amount of starch, which works to absorb the oil from the new nib. This method is not my favorite because it is easy to damage the nib, but it is effective. To try:
- Gently insert the nib/nibs into a potato.
- Only insert so far that they eye is just covered- inserting too far may make the nib to difficult to pull out.
- Allow the nibs to sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Gently remove the nib and rinse with water.
6. The Heat Method
Another not recommended method for me– but moving the nib quickly through a flame can effectively remove the oil coating. However, this method is a bit too risky, not only due to the risk of burning yourself, but of damaging the nib. For those reasons, we will move right along 😉
How do I tell if it worked?
Once your nib is dry, load it into your pen of choice and dip into your ink! If the ink coats the nib well and seems to adhere without beading up or running off in places, you are likely good to go!
Want to Watch the Process?
Check out the full process video on YouTube- video linked below.
Thank you so much for reading and watching. Did you give these techniques a try? If so, let me know in the comments! Please feel free to drop me a note with any questions or suggestions for future posts & videos!
If you’re looking for more pointed pen tutorials, check out this section of the blog. Thanks again for reading and I hope to see you soon!
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