1. Use a Potato to Prepare New Calligraphy Nibs
Sticking your new nibs in a potato for a few minutes will work wonders to get the oils off! Start by picking up a potato at the grocery store.
Push your nib halfway into the potato, exerting firm but gentle pressure.
Let the nib sit for fifteen minutes. Try not to exceed fifteen minutes, or the nib may start to rust.
Wipe the nib off, and you’re all set to go!
The potato method is an excellent way to make sure your nibs are clean! It’s hands-off, cheap, super-effective, and can allow you to prepare several nibs at a time with minimal effort.
2. Use Dish Detergent to Prepare Calligraphy Nibs
Many dish detergents exist to combat grease, so they’re great for getting oil off of new calligraphy nibs! For this method, you’ll need a de-greasing dish detergent, a soft toothbrush, and water.
First, you’ll dip the toothbrush in water to moisten it.
Next, squeeze a little bit of detergent on the brush.
Scrub the nib for about thirty seconds. Make sure you give plenty of attention to both the top and the underside of the nib!
Once you’re finished scrubbing, drop the nib in water and let it sit for a few seconds to get the soap off.
Fish the nib out of the water, then dry it off!
For most nibs, the dish detergent method actually wasn’t the most effective method I tried, but it gets the job done!
3. Use Toothpaste to Prepare New Calligraphy Nibs
For whatever reason, toothpaste seems to be more effective than dish detergent when it comes to removing manufacturer’s oils. Maybe it’s just the brand I used (Crest Complete), but toothpaste did a great job of getting the nib squeaky clean! As with the dish detergent method, you’ll want to start with a soft toothbrush and water in addition to the toothpaste.
Begin by moistening the toothbrush in the water.
Then, squeeze a very small amount of toothpaste onto the toothbrush.
Give the calligraphy nib a good scrubbing; 30 seconds is also ideal for this method.
Once you have scrubbed the nib with the toothpaste, drop it in water to get the toothpaste off.
As with the dish detergent method, you’ll want to fish the nib out of the water after a few seconds and wipe it off. Try writing now — you’ll be delighted at how nicely the ink flows off the nib!
4. Use Acetone to Prepare New Calligraphy Nibs
If you don’t have access to any of the materials outlined in the three nib preparation methods above, you can use acetone.
Begin by pouring a small amount of acetone into a container (such as a lid). Saturate one end of a cotton swab with the chemical.
Use the wet end of the cotton swab to wipe off the top and underside of the nib. Try not to let any tiny cotton swab fibers get caught in the tines!
Once you’re finished wiping off the nib with the cotton swab, the nib is ready to write with! There’s no need to dry it; acetone evaporates very quickly.
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