This weekend we were at my parents’ house, celebrating a belated Christmas with my brother. While we were there, I decided to avail myself of dad’s shop and make some nib holders. He had made some for Adela a while back and she yells at me when I steal them, so I figured I should have my own. Are steel nibs period? Of course not. Are they convenient? Definitely. Are the plastic Speedball holders attractive? Not at all. Okay, let’s fire up the lathe!

The actual turning part is not too complicated, provided you have access to the tools. The fiddly bit is the part up from that actually holds the nib. It’s a hole with a slightly smaller plug inside, leaving a narrow ring that grips the half-tube of the nib snugly. Some measurements and trial and error led me to the conclusion that the hole should be 15/64″ and the plug 13/64″. Drilling the holes probably did not strictly require a two axis vise, a drill press, and a torpedo level, but they sure were helpful. After drilling the larger hole half an inch deep and the smaller hole another half inch further, I just needed to pop in a bit of dowel. Could I have gone out and found dowels that would fit? Probably (looks like a 5mm dowel would do the trick). Is shopping more fun than making stuff? Heavens no. Therefore the only answer is:

Step 1: Cut some 1/4″ square bits of wood on the table saw. Take them over to the shaving horse and take off the corners with a spokeshave.

Step 2: Drill a countersunk hole in a 1/8″ thick steel bar.

Step 3: Cut your bits of octagonal wood down to a manageable size and whack them through the hole with a mallet.

Okay, now that you have dowels ready to go, grab some wood. How about some beech? Oak? Poplar? Mahogany? Hickory? Why decide? Cut everything down to 3/4″ square, chop it up into reasonably sized bits, and drill your holes.

Now comes the fun part. Pop it in the lathe and turn it into a curvy little number that fits just so in your hand.

Stick in a dowel, cut it off flush, finish as desired. Now repeat until you run out of time, wood, or ideas for how to decorate the skinny end.