tune + smooth
Sometimes nibs need a little help to become all they can be. Maybe it’s a little scratchy, or too inky, or not inky enough. From your prized grail pen to your daily writer, we can help you get your pen writing just the way you want it to.
customize
Have a fountain pen that just sits in your desk drawer because it’s boring to write with? We can help! Let us turn that forgotten pen into a new old favorite.
how it works
ONE
Fill out the submission form here
I’ll send a response with more information
TWO
Carefully package and mail your pen to:
Gena Salorino / Custom Nib Studio
P.O. Box 31135
Los Angeles, CA 90031
THREE
Pen magic!
FOUR
I’ll send an invoice when your pen is ready and ship your pen back to you
services
tune + smooth
$30
Adjust the tine alignment, smooth the writing surface, increase or decrease ink flow—whatever needs to be done to get it writing, right.
journaler
$50
The Journaler is a grind I developed for Esterbrook inspired by one of their vintage nibs. A medium nib is ground to a smooth, stubby italic. The idea is that the grind will add a little flair to your writing while being friendly enough for daily use.
Stub
$50
Stub nibs have some line variation (wider downstroke, narrower cross-stroke) but are still smooth and user-friendly. A great place to start if this is your first customized nib.
Smooth italic
$50
Cursive Italic nibs are similar to Stubs but have a greater variation in line width between cross-stroke and downstroke. Slightly less user-friendly than a Stub as they are more position-sensitive (if you rotate your pen too much, they won’t write).
sharp italic
$50
Formal Italic nibs are crisper than both Stubs and Cursive Italics; this gives you the most line-width variation between cross strokes and down strokes. They are more appropriate for advanced users or those familiar with calligraphy; they are very position sensitive (the pen cannot be rotated while writing).
left oblique
$50
Left Oblique nibs are cut at a 30 degree angle. Sometimes called a left-foot oblique, they are especially suited to users that rotate their pen to the left.
Reverse oblique
$50
Right Oblique nibs are just the opposite of the Left Oblique; also cut at a 30 degree angle, but to the right. Some lefties who rotate their pen to the right love this customization, but it is best suited to advanced users.
architect point
$60
Sometimes called a Hebrew Point or an Arabic Point, this grind creates line width variation opposite of a cursive italic—it has a wide cross-stroke and a narrow downstroke. It is well-suited to those writing Arabic, Hebrew, Japanese, or block printing. The reverse of all Architect Point grinds are XXF.
It is relatively user-friendly, although it is sensitive to the angle in which you hold your pen from the paper.
REVERSE
architect point
$60
This grind can write as any tipping size on the normal size, depending on the starting size of the nib. The Architect Point is on the reverse of the nib. This allows you to have a more usable nib for normal writing, but access to a more expressive nib on the reverse.
PERSPECTIVE
$60
Inspired by the Naginata Togi nib, the Perspective grind is similar to an Architect Point in that the down stroke is narrower than the cross stroke. However, the width of the line changes depending the angle you are writing with. It is best to start with a Broad or Double Broad nib for this grind. It also writes as an XXF on the reverse.
ADD FLEX
$60
Flexibility is added by thinning out the tines, providing spring and bounce. This allows for line variation when pressure is (carefully) applied. Available for 14k gold nibs only. Recommended for those with experience using flex nibs.
Straighten bent nib
$35-$75
If your tines are bent, chances are… we can fix it!
Available for gold nibs only.
regrind to smaller tipping size
$50
We can regrind almost any nib to the smaller tipping size of your choice: Medium, Fine, Extra Fine, or Extra Extra Fine. This can also be added on to any other regrind.
regrind to smaller tipping size (XF, XXF, NEEDLEPOINT)
$60
The finest of the fine. A Needlepoint grind produces a hair-thin line. For those with a light hand only.
regrind + resize
+$10
Maybe your nib is a Broad, but you want a Medium-sized Cursive Italic. We can do that!
Flex+needlepoint
$100
Especially well suited for Spencerian script and other calligraphy. It is a tool that has a certain learning curve in order for it to be used effectively. Flex can only be done on 14k gold nibs.
UPCOMING PEN SHOWS & events
oblation papers Portland, or. december 7-9, 2024
Appointments will become available November 23rd, 2024 at 12 noon Pacific time.
Please scroll down to make an appointment.
Philadelphia pen show January 17-19, 2025
Appointments will become available January 3rd, 2025
