[Scriptoris] Ultra Fine Calig markers or pens

[Donald Whitney]

Vyolante,
 
  If your going to shape metal nibs like this, you can get a very fine edge using a corrundum nail file - available for $10 at department stores.
This is similar to the corrundum blocks professional jewelers use to sharpen gravers for engraving on metal, which requires a very fine edge (but the cost is a lot less for the nail file).  If you don't have access to that, you can try 1000 grit or finer sandpaper, but be warned that putting this on a buffing wheel would probably distort the shape you are going for.
 
  The bifocal headset is ok (especially for detail work and if your going to be doing it for a while - I have 2 sets), but you could also use a jeweler's loupe (10x magnification) to check the nibs.
 
Silvius, unlettered, but knows a thing or two about metal and rocks
 

> From: eshc at earthlink.net
> Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 21:39:15 -0600
> To: scriptoris at lists.ansteorra.org
> Subject: Re: [Scriptoris] Ultra Fine Calig markers or pens
> 
> Gentles, please be kind. You are reading advice from an amnesiac who 
> doesn't even know which age she's in, much less the year!!
> 
> When I needed a small nib, I would sometimes take a pointed pen nib 
> (like Spencerian writers use) and shape it on a fine hone like knife 
> blades are sharpened with as a next-to-the-final polishing. The steel 
> nib was sharpened in the same way I did large (read "thick") quill 
> ribs, including the bevel at the tip.
> 
> The bevel and the angle the pen point is held when making a stroke is 
> what makes the fine lines. (Please note: When I sharpened nibs, I 
> used a double lens jewelers bifocal headset that I got at a gem show. 
> It doubles as a nifty help as a splinter-getter-outer.)
> 
> With those nibs, I have written Humanistic Minuscule in readable 
> letters at 1/20th of an inch high. Some oldtimers may remember my 
> small lettering in one body-of-work grouping I did some years back. 
> Tiny writing was used of necessity in Period books called "sixteenmo".
> 
> (Try this site for sizes: <http://cool.conservation-us.org/don/dt/ 
> dt0434.html> )
> 
> I never had much luck honing down the markers. They just flayed out 
> and made a mess.
> 
> Besides all kinds of "found" feathers, I have also written with other 
> tools shaped like quills are cut, Actually, it's kinda fun to see 
> what I can make into a tool. I have used everything from tongue 
> depressors and popsicle sticks and bamboo fence trimmings to dry 
> twigs I picked up, used-up tea bags (mushy, cloud letters), and even 
> sharpened fingernails! This doesn't count the reverse lettering for 
> woodblock prints.
> 
> Experimenting is very edifying even if it isn't SCA "Period". 
> Besides, who's to say some monk high from the herb garden didn't try 
> some weird tools on the sly himself!! ; - )
> 
> YIS,
> HL Lete Bithespring, Steppes
> 
> PS For those who obsess about "ye olde termes" for all kinds of 
> measurements---
> http://www.hemyockcastle.co.uk/measure.htm
> Enjoy!!!
> Lete
> ................................
> 
> On Dec 6, 2011, at 7:33 PM, Vyolante Oporto wrote:
> 
> > Greetings unto the List!
> > I'm in need of some very very thin line producing calligraphy nibs,
> > pens, markers, whatever works!
> > I'm trying to do a bolder font in very small print and its just very
> > hard to read with a 1.3mm "Extra Fine" calig marker.
> > All referrals are appreciated.
> > Thanks,
> > Vyolante
> > _______________________________________________
> > Scriptoris mailing list
> > Scriptoris at lists.ansteorra.org
> > http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/scriptoris-ansteorra.org
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Scriptoris mailing list
> Scriptoris at lists.ansteorra.org
> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/scriptoris-ansteorra.org