By: Katie Hartman<\/p>\n
Cutting the quill\u2019s nib is often seen as the most finicky and difficult part of the quill making process.\u00a0 In a way, this assumption is both true and false.\u00a0 Cutting a quill nib takes practice and some getting used to, especially if you\u2019re nervous handling a knife or razor blade.\u00a0 But, once you cut a few quills and get a feel for the resistance of the barrel under the blade and how deep to make the various scoops, the process is quick and takes a few minutes or less.<\/p>\n
The two primary materials you will need for this part of the process are a sharp knife and a cured feather (see parts 1 and 2).\u00a0 The knife that you\u2019re using should be fairly small and you feel confident in making small cuts with it.\u00a0 The blade can be curved or straight, depending on what you have on hand or your preference.\u00a0 I recommend an exacto knife or razor blade.\u00a0 There are two reasons for this: they are easy to acquire and you can change out the blade easily.\u00a0 Being able to change out the blade of the knife means that you don\u2019t need to muck around with sharpening it or worrying that it will be too dull to make the finer cuts on the nib.\u00a0 Getting your hands on a pen knife that is actually intended to cut quills can be difficult or expensive as these are not widely available in craft or hobby stores (at least in America).<\/p>\n
While many of the cuts required for making a quill are done with the quill in hand, there are a few cuts that require you to press down on a flat surface.\u00a0 Or if you\u2019re like me and have small hands, it may feel more secure to make the first cut while bracing the quill against a cutting surface.\u00a0 For your cutting surface, any table or counter at a comfortable height will do, but if you want to protect the surface of the table you\u2019re going to want a cutting board or mat.\u00a0 I use the cutting mat that I typically use for sewing projects.\u00a0 Its technically only for use with rotary blades rather than fixed blades, but I prefer the thickness and stability of it compared to a cutting board.\u00a0 You can find a cutting mat at a craft or hobby store and some American supermarkets carry them as well.\u00a0 A traditional kitchen cutting board will also work and can be found in kitchen supply stores, hobby or craft stores, and most American supermarkets.\u00a0 If you have a designated shop table that you feel comfortable cutting directly on, you can skip using a protective surface.<\/p>\n
Now let\u2019s get into the process of cutting the quill.\u00a0 For an audio-visual, see the video from the YouTube channel PAScribe below.<\/p>\n
Cutting The Quill<\/em><\/p>\n Materials:<\/p>\n Knife Method:<\/p>\n
\nQuill
\nCutting mat or board<\/p>\n\n