Montblanc Resin Polish Found

[Pravda]

This post is purely based on personal experience, intended as a good Samaritan for those who seek answers.

 

I have recently been selling some of my resin pens and wanting them to go in excellent shape, I decided to polish the gold bits using Silvo silver polish.

 

I used too much and was rubbing parts of the resin with my microfiber cloth and.. WHOA!

 

It totally brought back the resin to new status. Not improved the pen, it literally restored it. So I did the whole pen with it, then tried it on another. The stuff works!

 

After, I decided to wash the pens with soap and water and I have never been more pleased with myself.

 

I have tried in the past many solutions, the 3 step set on eBay and other mild plastic polishes; they would make the pens shine but not address any scratches. Carnuaba wax helped remove the ring marks after a lot of buffing from my 149s and Heritage 1912. But this silver polish was effortless.

 

Thought to report

[Tom Kellie]

~ Silvo silver polish?

From what you've described, it's not overly abrasive.

Thank you for sharing this valuable information.

Tom K.

[Pravda]

 

~ Silvo silver polish?

From what you've described, it's not overly abrasive.

Thank you for sharing this valuable information.

Tom K.

 

 

 

I would imagine it is not abrasive at all. But it must be to some extent, if it removes layers of silver/gold to clean.. I don't understand it, but I tried it on 5-6 pens with excellent results. Tonight I might try it on a 146R.

[Tom Kellie]

~ What especially struck me was your comment that Silvo restored the luster of the resin in the pen body.

That's no minor accomplishment, as months of regular use alters the bright luster seen in Montblanc boutique display cases.

When I've asked boutique staff for any off-the-record recommendations of resin polish or micro-fiber cleaning cloths, they've demurred.

Your experience using Silvo on your pens is encouraging!

Tom K.

[Pravda]

 

~ What especially struck me was your comment that Silvo restored the luster of the resin in the pen body.

That's no minor accomplishment, as months of regular use alters the bright luster seen in Montblanc boutique display cases.

When I've asked boutique staff for any off-the-record recommendations of resin polish or micro-fiber cleaning cloths, they've demurred.

Your experience using Silvo on your pens is encouraging!

Tom K.

 

 

 

Montblanc always maintained (regardless in which country I have prompted them) that resin doesn't get polished. Some people have conducted their own recipe for a polish and often market them on eBay. I have tried the one most recommended, but it did close to nothing.

 

I wonder if all silver polishes will perform similarly; essentially, they're the same compound. I think that it is possible that it has not occurred to anyone to try- out of fear that it may, as you would've guessed, matte the finish or damage the resin.

 

I noticed that if you apply generously, the bluish liquid starts hardening and creating like a putty which then starts 'polishing' the surface.

 

I must say though, none of my pens really had any deep marks on them- just your day to day micro-scratches etc.

[Doug1426]

Might want to take a look at these silver polish abrasive ratings...Silvo is at the bottom of the page, under most abrasive. Sounds a little scary. I wonder how pens look a couple of days later?

 

http://www.hermansilver.com/silver-polish-abrasion-ratings.htm

[Pravda]

Might want to take a look at these silver polish abrasive ratings...Silvo is at the bottom of the page, under most abrasive. Sounds a little scary. I wonder how pens look a couple of days later?

 

http://www.hermansilver.com/silver-polish-abrasion-ratings.htm

 

 

Thanks for the list. That might explain it. While it should not affect plastic, it seems to be abrasive enough to polish it.

 

Pens look fine the following day. Impressive really. Remember, I washed and rinsed with soap and water so nothing stays on the surface to continue on 'reacting'.

[Pravda]

 

 

Thanks for the list. That might explain it. While it should not affect plastic, it seems to be abrasive enough to polish it.

 

Pens look fine the following day. Impressive really. Remember, I washed and rinsed with soap and water so nothing stays on the surface to continue on 'reacting'.

 

PS I am not suggesting that people go try it. That's a decision I'm not making for anyone. I am just saying that it worked for me

[Tom Kellie]

~ In a very general sense, for about how long was the Silvo in contact with the pens, i.e. with both the resin and the precious metal fittings?

Was it a few minutes? Longer?

It was helpful to know that you washed and rinsed with soap and water.

It might also be instructive to have a sense of approximately how long each pen underwent the Silvo polishing process.

Tom K.

[Pravda]

 

~ In a very general sense, for about how long was the Silvo in contact with the pens, i.e. with both the resin and the precious metal fittings?

Was it a few minutes? Longer?

It was helpful to know that you washed and rinsed with soap and water.

It might also be instructive to have a sense of approximately how long each pen underwent the Silvo polishing process.

Tom K.

 

 

 

I spent about 5 minutes on each pen, diligently working around 360 degrees. Firm but not too much pressure exerted.

 

My head didn't tell me to be too cautious because there was no color coming off on the tower, i.e. black or indication that resin is being sanded off.

 

Actually, with the last wipe on say a particular spot, the luster can be spotted right away. My common sense told me I should wash thoroughly afterwards just in case a chemical reaction that I don't see could be taking place.

 

In contrast when applied to a metal surface, the tower would get black even if the gold/silver was seemingly clean, indicating that a layer was coming off.

[Pravda]

Now that I am thinking about it, I believe the phenomenon here is the liquid acting like a rubber eraser maybe. Except the eraser (I once tried) wasn't very good in removing scratches and quickly deprived the resin from its shine.

[Tom Kellie]

~ Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation, Pravda.

You've put use of Silvo in context, which is much appreciated.

Restoring boutique-quality luster to Montblanc fountain pens seemed to be beyond reach.

Perhaps Silvo, as you've explained it, is a step towards that.

Were I using Silvo for the first time, I might stay away from the precious metal and instead focus on the precious resin barrel.

That's a reflection of my tendency to approach unfamiliar tasks in a step-by-step manner.

Again, many thanks!

Tom K.

[Kalessin]

I wouldn't recommend Silvo for polishing, as it's a pretty aggressive abrasive (which is how it polishes silver).

 

While I prefer to let my pens accumulate the marks of use, if I were going to polish an MB, I'd use Novus #2, which is a polish intended for plastic, which is what MB's resin is. I've used Novus on pens and many other plastics.

 

Some people have found that metal polish can remove the plating on MB nibs, turning a bi-color nib to all yellow gold.

[Tom Kellie]

~ Is “Novus #2” a readily available product.

Where I live, international search engines aren't available, which is why I ask.

I'm uncertain where one might purchase “Novus #2”.

A plastic polish which isn't aggressively abrasive would be ideal.

Tom K.

[dubhe]

I have used a tiny amount of Autoglym Super Resin Polish to good effect on old pens purchased from eBay. It is part abrasive part filler designed for car paintwork but it transforms used pens to shiny new removing light scratches.

[Pravda]

I am under the belief that abrasives grip on different surfaces varies. That's to say on the resin, not so much.

 

Point did that for some members that reside in say the Middle East, or China etc don't find all products readily available in their respective markets; and so, to every end there is a means.

[Kenlowe]

 

~ Is “Novus #2” a readily available product.

Where I live, international search engines aren't available, which is why I ask.

I'm uncertain where one might purchase “Novus #2”.

A plastic polish which isn't aggressively abrasive would be ideal.

Tom K.

 

 

 

People have suggested Meguiars products especially their PlastX product. There is a website in China

 

www.meguiars.com/cn.

 

I hope that this helps.

Edited October 18, 2016 by Kenlowe

[oneill]

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE MOST EFFECTIVE POLISH FOR BRASS

[Tom Kellie]

People have suggested Meguiars products especially their PlastX product. There is a website in China

 

www.meguiars.com/cn.

 

I hope that this helps.

 

 

~ Kenlowe:

 

Many thanks for posting that!

Tom K.

[meiers]

 

 

~ Kenlowe:

 

 

 

 

Many thanks for posting that!

Tom K.

Meguiars plastx is my go-to for precious resin polishing. Edited October 18, 2016 by meiers