How to make quill pens

1. Select feathers

The feathers of many large birds are suitable for making pens, as long as they are long and hard enough (usually the longest ones on the wings). The most common ones are goose feathers, perhaps this is why quill pens are usually called quill pens. Swan feathers are rare and valuable, and crow feathers are better for writing fine calligraphy. There are also duck feathers, eagle feathers, turkey feathers, pheasant feathers, etc.

2. Preliminary treatment

Clean off the scales and skin tissue often attached to the roots of feathers, scrape off an appropriate amount of feathers that hinder writing, the specific amount is customized, and use a toothpick to clean the inside of the quills , ensure smooth flow.

3. Hardening the pen holder

This is done to increase the hardness, facilitate writing, and not easily corrode. Specifically, hot sand, direct baking, air drying in the sun, or simply leaving it for ten or eight years. Here is a detailed introduction to the most commonly used method - hot sand: insert the exposed part into an iron pot filled with sand and heat it for 15 to 20 minutes. The temperature is about 170 degrees Celsius. After cooling, take it out and the color of the pen barrel will become opaque.

4. Sharpen the pen tip

First, make a slit at the base of the feather.

Create an upward cut in the middle of the bottom (ink slot).

Put upward and extend the middle line.

Correct the shape of the pen tip (you can refer to the shape of the pen tip, because the shape of the modern pen is derived from the feather pen). Note that "the thickness of the pen tip determines the writing thickness."

Use a sewing needle to punch a small hole in the middle of the center line.

5. Finished

Newly made pens are inevitably not smooth enough, just use them more often. The Chinese-style square characters will damage the pen tip, so you can use a knife to trim it slightly. In the past, foreigners always carried a knife to sharpen pen tips.