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Hi all,

    I was trying to smooth a Conklin nib yesterday. I was using the traditional smoothing abrasives (2500 grit sandpaper, and several padded micromesh sticks and sheets), and my mind was wandering here and there with some options. Tipping pellets on this particular nib, under very high magnification, looked like an asteroid...

    Has someone tried an aluminum surface as a smoothing/polishing/grounding tool? All aluminum which is not mirror shiny is oxidized, and aluminum oxide is a very fine abrasive (sold as powder for industrial use). In my particular case yesterday, I spent more than my usual time with the sandpaper, then "micromeshed" it (even if the pellets hadn't yet reached my desired looks under high magnification loupe). This means that I might have worked better with a smooth Arkansas stone (that I don't have) or other hard (non-padded) fine abrasive surface.

    TIA

    Martin