Glossary
Nib prep
Removing the thin factory oil coating from a new pointed nib so ink adheres and flows evenly instead of beading up.
Nib prep is the process of removing a thin protective oil coating that manufacturers apply to new pointed pen nibs to prevent rust during shipping and storage. That coating is invisible but repels water-based ink, which means a brand-new nib dipped straight into ink will often bead up, skip or refuse to hold ink at all until the coating is removed.
Common prep methods include wiping the nib with a small amount of dish soap and water, passing it briefly through a flame to burn off the coating, or simply rubbing it with saliva, which contains enzymes that break down the oil. All three methods work; the choice usually comes down to convenience and what is on hand, since flame prep requires more care to avoid overheating a delicate nib.
After prepping, dry the nib and test it with a few strokes before starting real work, since a nib that still skips may need a second pass. A common mistake is skipping prep entirely and assuming a nib is simply bad or ink is faulty, when the real issue is the factory coating. Re-prepping is occasionally needed if a nib sits unused for a long time and picks up oxidation or residue.