Refinishing a cheap metal pen

[Kabe]

I have a cheap Sabonis pen that is my smoothest writer, and I love it. However, the cap's paint/finish/wahtever has flaked. What do I refinish it with? My jeweler buddy says gold or silver plating or crohming is way too expensive. Spray paint does not stick. Car paint? It's a goldlike metal

[Kabe]

no one?

[ihimlen]

I have a cheap Sabonis pen that is my smoothest writer, and I love it. However, the cap's paint/finish/wahtever has flaked. What do I refinish it with? My jeweler buddy says gold or silver plating or crohming is way too expensive. Spray paint does not stick. Car paint? It's a goldlike metal

 

A pic would be useful but if it's a gold-coloured metal then your pen most likely has a brass cap. In that case I'd just remove the remaining old finish (in a delicate manner so as not to scratch the cap surface), then get it lightly polished (you can even get it brushed if you can remove the clip and have a bit of patience) and that's about it! The cap will get a nice solid look of a good, vintage brass zippo lighter!

 

P.S. You may also want to apply a thin coat of a transparent metal lacquer to the cap surface after polishing it.

 

Hope this helps.

 

i.

[The Grim Sheaffer]

let it rust, put some rivets in.-- STEAMPUNK

[AndyH]

Don't know if it's worth it for this pen, although sentimental value has its place, but plating is not "out of the question" in my opinion.

 

An inexpensive plating pen and solution are available from Rio Grande jeweler's supply.

[someonesdad]

I agree with AndyH: hit the library and find the older Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, etc. type books and you'll find lots of instructions on how to plate things yourself. One is "Formulas, Methods, Tips, and Data" by Swezey. Or try google books -- I believe they have all the Popular Mechanics stuff archived. It's fascinating to read the magazines from 100 years ago.

[Kabe]

Thanks everyone, all three ideas are being considered

[Kabe]

Special jeweler's paint did the trick, looks silvery cjrome now