What do you guys use to add a name to a blank? I'm in a rush & I have to add somebody's name to a custom rod for a birthday gift. I saw something on You tube I tried that & it didn't work so well for me. The paint ran for me & it wouldn't dry.

Get a set of metallic pins, they work good for me.

I have tried a lot of methods, but the one that works the best for me is to use india ink in an old fashioned nib. Most paints won't flow through a nib, but the thinner india ink does. BUT, I have to coat it with a fast drying spray finish, can be satin or gloss, hardware store stuff. I make a window in a paper mask and spray lightly on the blank through the mask window. Other methods either run with CP or run with epoxy, but this method has worked for me. India ink comes in all colors. There will be no transition visible from the sprayed area to the unsprayed area after applying epoxy.

I like the India ink with a nib also because I can get a thinner text than with the metallic lettering pens I've tried.

I also use a nib pen and ink. I have used India ink in the past as well as Testors metallic paint.

However, in recent years, I have moved to Speed Ball acrylic ink. It works very well and normally does not have to be coated with any fixative to avoid runs.

But, to avoid the issue of runs when coating, I am sure NOT to brush any part of the coating that is over the inscription. I.e. I apply the finish to other parts of the rod that does not have the finish in that particular area and just let the finish flow over the inscription with out brushing and this essentially obviates the need for a fixative to avoid runs.

For most of the inscriptions, I use a # 51 nib.

[www.dickblick.com]

[www.dickblick.com]

[www.dickblick.com]

[www.michaels.com]

On about 90% of the rods, I use white ink for the inscriptions. White generally shows up well on the rods and covers well.

Roger, what is your favorite of the nibs?

The best metallic ink I’ve ever used is Dr Ph Martins irredentist calligraphy ink using a fine tip nib. You can buy both at most hobby shops. I mostly use copper gold, silver, and black. When dry can be coated with epoxy finish or Permagloss without running. Good stuff.
Norm

Thank you guys I used to use scratch off letters I used to buy at a store in Manhattan they used to have all types of fonts & prints I can't find that anymore

I also use the Speedball acrylic ink with no smears. I use a Speedball fine tip nib that I took and polished the end with 2000 grit sandpaper enough to not scratch the blank. Test on your fingernail. to figure out just how much to polish the end. This will keep you from scratching your hard work.

I've used the Sharpie extra fine oil and water based paint markers with great success. Lots of different colors to choose from, but I almost always use white in the water base, or gold and silver in the oil.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/2018 05:34AM by Scott Giaquinto.

Roger,

I don't see a #51 nib on the Dickblick website you attached - only the 512 and 513. Are these the ones you use?
512 being a standard dip pen and the 513 the extra fine.

Jon Hood

Jon,
I just checked and all of my nibs are size 512

I have tried others, but I keep coming back to this one to give me reliable results.

At times I will try the very small nib 102 - for super fine writing with the small nib holder. But, it is really tough to keep the ink flowing with this tiny nib.

Good luck