Prepping a New Nib for Calligraphy || Calligraphy Tips & Tricks

Welcome to my channel! I'm Elisabeth of ElisaAnne Calligraphy. I create & offer high-end custom wedding invitations, handwritten calligraphy, wax seals, invitation assembly, and more. I have a passion for my work and enjoy using my experience to educate and assist other creatives! My KZbin channel is full of tutorials, guides, and tips & tricks for calligraphers (especially you fellow lefties out there!).
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This is how to prep a brand new calligraphy nib to make sure you can easily write with it!
Nib in video: Brause Steno* - amzn.to/2EF89nr
Sumi Ink*: amzn.to/2E5xOV9

[@Max-pr4lf]

Bruh I just bought a dip pen for the first time and was so confused why it was ink resistant lmao thank you so much this definitely helped a lot

[@enjoyingthecrisis5931]

Heat will draw out the temper if you overdo it and make the nib more likely to deform than flex. I just toss them in a shotglass of 99% rubbing alcohol after removing them from the retail packaging. I also dip them in a small dish of alcohol after inserting a new nib in case I got some oils from my fingers on there.

[@elisaanne]

yes that totally works as well, smart!

[@kastaylor01]

Enjoying the Crisis That is the way I do it too. You can also used a little windex

[@tanalee229]

I just watched a video on prepping the nib by PAScribe. He cleans his with saliva. : )

[@eshavjy]

I just did this and my Leonardt Steno is not blue anymore :(

[@lacefreak]

I have tried this but much prefer using alcohol to remove the oil. I also clean the nibs with alcohol when I am done writing.

[@menocorde]

10 years and wondering why only a few of my nibs worked better than the others, usually preferring highly used ones. You deserve too much love in your life

[@innate.invincible]

💯✨

[@janiepinterits]

Terrific tip, and especially nice to see another lefty write!

[@elisaanne]

yes, hello fellow lefty!

[@gilangdhanianto945]

@@elisaanne is it hard to keep your writing clean being a lefty

[@dararari8583]

Finally found my lefty fellow artists 😊

[@alfjones6377]

@@elisaanne all you leftys.... another word for left is sinister... And that isn't..... right 😑😑😑

[@adriantwiss600]

I bought a Leondardt nib and tried to use it without prepping. I thought it was faulty and threw it away, Boy is my face red :-)

[@thisnutswontstfu]

Hahaha.just like me 😂

[@elisaanne]

haha this is pretty common to think when starting, don't feel bad!

[@israelamaccabee9569]

I use the Zepter stainless steel cleaner from www.EasyFigure.com They don't list all the products on that page, so, you'll need to call. That cleaner is amazing for all my stainless steel pots, also, of course.

[@depshikhamanger6245]

Luckily I didn't throw my pen set....I m going to prep now

[@vangogh4162]

About a year ago someone gave me a pen with a bunch of nibs as a gift. I was super excited to use it, but was disappointed, as it never worked well for me. A few months later I then used the pen for a prop in an outdoor photo shoot, where it accidentally fell into a campfire on site. Thankfully the pen was not damaged, and that nib began working incredibly well! Now I know why 😂

[@Calligraphy181]

❤

[@bethanychristiansen7499]

Beautiful!! ✨💕💫 Thank you for this tutorial-very helpful!! ✨

[@karenmcdonald9174]

Hi Elisabeth....I'm a total beginner and found your video by accident. Like a lot of people here had never heard of the oil on the nib. Thank you so much for being willing to pass on your knowledge to people like me who are only just beginning to learn this beautiful art form

[@sweetbb125]

Thank you for this tip. It is wonderful to find a left-handed artist!

[@tanandy7664]

I use nail polish remover for mine and it works great.

[@KhdijaHome]

I now understand what was happening with my nibs ! Thanks you so much

[@shahzafarkhan6682]

Love it❣

[@jacobmaul2260]

If you use a torch it won't leave behind any residue, because they have clean gas which can come in a variety of times filtered.

[@NhatNguyen-ym2sm]

Omg it worked immediately!!

[@NWHomesteader]

Thank you! That explains why I’ve had so much trouble in the past. I never knew about this step!

[@latui7350]

By using heat you're creating a seasoning with the oil by taking it past its smoke point. Similar to how cast iron and carbon steel pans are seasoned. This method could provide more protection for the pen vs the potato method which fully strips oil from the nib and will cause the ink to flow more easily since the seasoning fills in any imperfections in the nib.

[@Violamanben]

Ugh …. I really wish I had seen that 6 months ago …. Well, I’m still very glad I saw this. Thank you!

[@littletweeter1327]

Thanks. my Zebra G's never had issues but these steno nibs i ordered do need to be prepped.

[@inkmatetattoostudio1160]

This is fantastic video .. I was unable to use my many nibs it was not working properly so i was tensed but I warm it up and it is working properly after thate I am so happy 🤩🥰 thankyou

[@Howling-Heretic]

So THATS why I couldn’t get mine to hold anything. Thanks so much!

[@yudithmolina7605]

And I thought my ink was watery 🤣

[@casey43110]

Thankyou so much for the tip!!

[@Fanny-tn8ig]

OHH MY GOD, Just Found this video and i just know about it 😭, i thought i bought the wrong nib uhhh, thankyouu so muchhhhhh ❤️❤️❤️, help me alot 🥰🥰😍

[@mixi3591]

I was about to return what I bought from frustration 🤣 thanks A LOT!!

[@r.mercado9737]

You have a lovely hand! Thank you. Semper Fi

[@garethcopping3213]

Thank you so much for this. I was convinced I needed a reservoir or something. I'm a lefty too!

[@user-uf6vg7kl9d]

Hi, fellow leftie here, I was wondering what the struggle was going to be for a leftie in this type of art, and after watching this video which I was watching for the purpose of the video, and realized immediately that you are also left handed and you seem to have no trouble at all and it gives me so much more hope and confidence that I will be able to do it too:) thank you for this!!!

[@Calligraphy181]

❤

[@tr33m00nk]

I don’t mean to single you out because there sure is a lot of sketchy 'advice' about preparing metal dip pen nibs floating around. The result of heating a nib to remove the coating is usually a little bit of discoloration of the metal. That straw-reddish color or worse - blue is the result of changing the temper. On these very thin small pieces of steel that's all it takes to change/destroy the temper. Sure the nib still 'works', but it's now 'outside factory specs' as they say for durability and performance. I learned this decades ago but I guess schools and manuals no longer include such information. Dipping or immersing nibs in detergent, alcohol, or nail polish remover (that’s acetone -the best) then rubbing them with a cloth does the least damage. And I think the careful rubbing alone sometimes is enough. No one mentions or uses reservoirs either. A reservoir allow you to write/draw 5-7X more before re-charging the nib. Yes, ink dries around it and needs to be cleaned off occasionally after 4-5+ 'loads’ depending on the ink and humidity, but it only takes a few swipes with an old paintbrush charged with slightly soapy water, a dip-rinse into plain water and a wipe off (that’s if you’re using India ink -the worst). Then re-charge the reservoir and continue to write/draw. Calligraphers used to be make reservoirs of watch springs (good luck finding that now) or some other narrow, thin springy metal. That’s the ideal material. I make them now using narrow strips of thin stiffish plastic. Strips cut from credit card stock can be sanded down at the ‘working end’ to get the preferred flex and ‘ink holding’ finish. Usually 2-3mm wide and 1-2mm thick. The length and overall shape depends on the construction of the pen handle/holder. Some holders are hollow with a spring that grips the nib. Some just have a curved slot the nib fits in, etc. The working end of the reservoir should touch the nib just below any gap, hole or filigree that interrupts the split in the nib (ie: the split that channels ink down the last few millimeters to the tip/paper). The working end must be bent into a curve (not too shallow, not to steep) so that just the tip of the curved end will touch the nib to hold a drop of ink - the “reservoir”. The other end which holds the reservoir to the pen must fit snugly into the gap between the bottom of the nib and the holder spring or slot. So this end needs to be long enough to insert 5mm or more into the holder. The overall length and shape of the handle end of the reservoir strip stuck into the holder requires some creative design by the user to best fit their holder(s) and produce a stable optimal drop of ink in the ‘reservoir’. If you get the 'ideal' fit you'll be able to change nibs without removing the reservoir strip from the holder. And just adjust the reservoir strip to touch the nib at the correct spot for that nib. Once you understand how it works, you can make a hand-full of reservoir strips and easily adapt them to different nibs and holders. Sorry I can’t include an illustration - I tried a bit of ASCI art but it didn’t work. If I can find the book I learned this from I’ll come back and add it to this post. [Don’t hold your breath. That was over 40 years ago. { ; - ) ]

[@Calligraphy181]

❤

[@carolynroan529]

I thought that I wasted my money buying the set. Many thanks!!

[@zevlous2.011]

Thenk you! it does work!! 😊

[@Codebluesituation]

Thank you so much for this! i use nibs to ink my drawings all the time and i never knew this 😦

[@pavel.suchkov]

thank you so much!!!

[@Unaffected_Unknow]

Another beginner here, but why not use isopropyl alcohol to remove the oil? The open flame can cause permanent discoloration and weaken the metal overall. I don't see how the alcohol wash would do more damage than that.

[@13rabbit12]

Thank you

[@benosgmail]

Hi, I'm new to nibs and pens but I like calligraphy I'm giving it a try. I recently got a speedball 512 with the holder.. my question is. is the Brause nib you use in the video will fit in the nib holder I have? thanks for the help.

[@dani-jm6wk]

Lemon juice also lifts it as well

[@ethanbrazile6934]

So this is why I've been failing at calligraphy😂😂 thank you for this tip

[@kirpt2530]

Thank you for the info! Where did you get the nib holder?!?

[@AnujChoudhary31]

That's adorable "you don't like lighter"

[@HeatherMaderArt]

Thanka for the tios...just starting to use these on my channel. As a side note, I have this wierd uncanny gift for recognizing people's voices...u are almost a dead ringer for a young Winona Ryder. Lol.

[@anniechelon]

Thank you so much for this! I am pretty new to calligraphy, and I was sooo frustrated for not being able to do it properly no matter how much I was trying... #dummy

[@elisaanne]

Don't worry at all!! I had no idea when I first started either :)

[@mauraserena4521]

Grazie!

[@nunyabiznes33]

I have no idea how to use them. I just ordered a cheap one and waiting for it to arrive. Not sure if it'll have that coating.

[@stektirade]

Everyone in the calligraphy community keeps calling this coating an oil. On this steno 361 it's a blueing finish and same with all the others, they are all finishes that adhere to the steel not oils. This got me confused when people were telling me to remove the "oil" when I just went and cleaned them.

[@homecareful]

More often it is an oil, even on the nibs that are treated with blueing.

[@mariannepaumelle3981]

The first time i did that i put the nib in the flame... 😂for a very long time (i didn't know...) thanks for your advices !

[@elisaanne]

that might be too long haha!!

[@mohamedbukharyibnmohamedri8769]

Should I use the flame before I write with the nib ma'am??

[@diyaanoop593]

thanks

[@schwarzerritter5724]

I clicked, because you had my favourite nib in the thumbnail.

[@spawn314159]

heat _does_ dammage the metal structure. if it changes color, its changed its temper.

[@JohnDought]

Hello😊 do i need to use a match all the time because you not cleaning the nib after burning the layar on the nib.

[@samfall6958]

Would isopropyl alcohol work too?

[@InsaneClownFpv]

Should of cleaned the yip after burning but other then that good!!

[@nunyabiznes33]

Is reservoir needed for nibs with dimple on top?

[@MarthaSpizziri]

I have heard that the flame *will* damage the nib--that it will soften it and it won't last as long.

[@jennyw.2693]

Excellent advice for a beginner like me! Will use washing-up detergent instead, though. It should dissolve the layer of oil. =)

[@noinformationavailable4114]

This actually helped me so much! I feel like a dunce for not knowing to prep it first and using it so long!

[@ClaraZeela]

Where is your pen from ? I’m looking for nice pens to fit my new nibs ! New to calligraphy !!

[@josiesell9773]

I don't know whats wrong with my nibs but they turned orange when I put the flame to them

[@Heather-wy5yv]

I also read that you can initially soak your nibs in alcohol or acetone to remove the oil. Do you agree with this method? I found it to work well trying it for the first time today but I am worried about any damage it could've done.

[@TheLadybughug]

Hi, I purchased a nib and pen set, pretty generic, and the tip does not produce the wider or broader strokes, so I assume its a fine tip nib. Is it normal for new nibs to be “tight” (if i press hard, more ink flows, but its a bit too much). Or do Ineed a specific nib to do strokes like yours? Mine only has one little hole, whereas yours has 3. This is my first, totally new at this. Thank you for the info, and being a leftie too! ❤️

[@elisaanne]

try buying a Nikko G nib! The one in the video is a blue pumpkin, which would also be a good option.

[@theresaclueless]

Didn't fix mine, ink doesn't flow down at all . I wonder if I gave a bad one

[@celeste572able]

How far does the nib needs to go ?

[@randomcollette3531]

Hey, I used a potatoe on my nibs, but now all of the ink disperses really thickly on the 1st use and then disappears quickly. The ink isn't used up quickly, it's all still on the nib, but just above the tip of the nib. Is my calligraphy set crappy, or am I doing something wrong?

[@elisaanne]

How long did you leave it in the potato? It needs to be in at least 5 min, then clean it with water and dry it completely. Also, it needs to be stuck in the potato deep enough to cover both tines!

[@giulialoiodice3848]

I am very new to calligraphy, I just bought a Hiro Leonardt crown nib n. 41. I tried both the potato and the fire but still, my nib releases all the ink on the first stroke and I can write maybe 2 or 3 letters before having to dip it again... What am I doing wrong? :(

[@elisaanne]

I Giulia, I don't have experience with that type of nib, but I would recommend maybe putting it in rubbing alcohol (or vodka) like some other people in the comments have recommended to see if that will work!

[@jillmcquinn4844]

I saw another artist submerge her nibs in boiling water, then dry them. Any issues come up with doing that?

[@dayumdayum1149]

is it bad if i get it red hot😳?

[@yatharth2538]

I am a beginner can anyone tell me if I should do this everytime whenever I want to use it or just for the first time after unpacking it ?

[@tasnimfatema168]

Same qstn

[@jacobbalcer3329]

What is the font called?

[@jennerally_correct]

Lmao! I'm not gonna lie to you. Matches are way more dangerous. A lighter does burn down to your fingers. Lol. But if you held it on for a while and it goes off. You need to give it a minute so the metal cools down.

[@DodieSy-js7cv]

Love all your videos! I love the wood pen you are using. Where did you get it from?

[@Calligraphy181]

❤

[@Calligraphy181]

❤

[@jaimeagullo3877]

Uso para dibujar mismo proceso

[@dararari8583]

Hey I actually first time ordered nib but later I got to find that it's actually used in comics, mandalas, it says it's also come to use in calligraphy but it's nib isn't much flexible. I wanna assure that is there any difference from comic nibs and calligraphy nibs?

[@Calligraphy181]

❤

[@judeironheart7252]

big question: why do manufacturers coat them with oil if it's useless, if the coat will be removed anyways?

[@philiprawcliffe793]

To stop them going rusty

[@koalawaterfall3196]

hello, how do you remove the rust from the nib? and i've tried the potato method but it couldn't last long and the ink would start blotting up again :( what should i do? Thanks in advance!

[@elisaanne]

If your nib is rusty I recommend throwing it away and buying a new one!

[@HAVIK009]

I've restored a rusty nib with oil and a fine steel brush then polish with more oil. Just be careful not to scratch too rough .This happened to me for cleaning the nib with tap water nerver again.

[@user-is5zq6hf8b]

Thank you for this new subscriber 🫶🏻

[@tajulalamalam7180]

I need calligraphy nibs.

[@anonymousperson6228]

Don’t use fire to prep nibs! It damages them!

[@danmcdaid]

You actually can use fire and it's fine. Just don't overdo it.

[@yes-gn1vy]

My nib won’t fit what do ever :(

[@winkprince1875]

A raw potato works well, also.

[@Almaateeq.maryam]

I tried this but I think I burned it a little 😅 .. I'm afraid that the ink comes so fast and in a large amount from the nib is because this little burn 😅😅

[@keyaanali2516]

Can I use soap and water

[@lakshmipathy8362]

Some suggest toothpaste.😅

[@tapatibhattacharyya6125]

But i cant do that because im a kid is their anykid friendly way

[@wickedamoeba8719]

Potato nibs? Who thought of that?! Who made that connection?!

[@emmanuelzamudio2877]

Omg!!! your voice sounds like sadie on steven universe ❤

[@elisaanne]

haha I had to look up who that was :)

[@spawn314159]

saliva is the best to clean the oil off. dont burn the nibs.

[@candycake9531]

Me: clicks video, sees matches ._.

[@meganhauck89]

Where was this video my entire life

[@alfjones6377]

If you are left handed, why not put your wedding ring on the right?

[@jazzyjay6887]

I will see if micheals have those

[@elisaanne]

You might have better luck with Amazon!

[@tayloredwards5004]

Where did you purchase your nib holder ?

[@candycake9531]

I was wondering what it is called, I would like to purchase it

[@elisaanne]

I can't remember I'm so sorry! I think it was a maker on etsy based in Ukraine!

[@annaorem6117]

What is a good type of paper to use for a dip pen?

[@aguywithtoomuchtime1005]

Preferably any kind of smooth, thick paper with very little tooth. Rough paper will damage the nib with time, and don't hold ink well.

[@sunnirae1900]

Hi Elisa, I have a question, I've been practicing for a few weeks and for some reason, my writing is completely silent! I'm a lefty, do you know what could be causing this?

[@elisaanne]

Hi Sunni! I'm not sure what you mean by "silent" - do you mean nothing is showing up when you write?

[@sunnirae1900]

ElisaAnne Calligraphy no, I mean it's literally silent, no noise. As I understand it, I'm supposed to make a scratching noise while writing. This happens with all nibs.

[@elisaanne]

It actually doesn't happen with all nibs - mine don't always do it! Part of that is because we are left handed... as long as you are able to write and produce letter forms I really wouldn't worry about the noise. You aren't doing anything wrong if it's silent :)

[@63artemisia63]

We could barely hear the “lawn machines” ;o)

[@jankafka7330]

I put a slice of potato in my mouth and insert new nibs through my numerous facial piercings. Not only does this remove the protective coating but I get a lot of props for the metal. The chicks love Hunt 101s.

[@therealholliewould]

What ink do you use? 😊

[@elisaanne]

Just added the ink to the description!! Thank you so much for asking and reminding me :)

[@Cyriljayant]

It is a bbq a nib :0

[@ared18t]

I just use alcohol good ol Vodka

[@elisaanne]

also a great option :)

[@DeputatKaktus]

Instructions unclear. The floor is now moving under my feet and I cannot feel my face. Also, where did that traffic cone on my head come from?

[@t.k.abrams4720]

You shouldn't burn the nib. It's not even necessary. And it's not oil on it. It's resin. You can use soapy water and a cloth to remove it just like ink.

[@souvikart9988]

Use a candle 😇😇😇😇

[@elisaanne]

Love that idea! Smells good too!

[@in2phalanges]

Are you still teaching ?

[@gordonhall9943]

That's a bit too long with the match