Solv-X: Apparently It Works

July 16, 2021

So as many of you know, I dabble in restoring pens from the 1930s and 40s. Recently I acquired a few celluloid Wearevers from the 1930s and, one by one, took each apart, right down to the nib before installing new sacs and actually writing with them. I had one pen, however, where I got lazy and decided not to knock out the nib. Instead I cleaned the section and nib in the ultrasonic with some Dawn and ammonia until there was no sign of ink and then flushed it with clear water using a bulb. When I put the pen back together it wrote quite well. Recently I loaded it with some vintage Quink with Solv-X. When the pen ran out, I flushed it with clear water so that I could put it away. As I flushed the pen, little pieces of partially dissolved dried ink started coming out. The only place that could come from would be within the feed and nib because the sac is brand new. What the ultrasonic cleaner, Dawn detergent, and ammonia didn't get Quink with Solv-X did...apparently. Has anyone else had a similar situation? Are there current inks that actually clean like this?

Cliff

July 16, 2021

Hi,

From what you're telling, Solv-X is likely to be downright illegal in California.

The closest experience I've had to yours wasn't with ink but with Rotring's Rapidoeze.

Alex

July 17, 2021

18 hours ago, alexwi said:

Hi,

From what you're telling, Solv-X is likely to be downright illegal in California.

The closest experience I've had to yours wasn't with ink but with Rotring's Rapidoeze.

Alex

Alex,

If the truth be known California is probably getting ready to ban ban broccoli, refried beans, etc. due to their methane producing potential...

I do believe that Solv-X actually works...not that we can get it anymore. I recall a thread or two dealing with the "magic ingredient" and should do a search to reread it. Seeing the small clumps come out of a section that had been seriously cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner was an eye opener...

Cliff

July 17, 2021

Solv-x appears to be Phenol (solv) plus amyl-xanthale (x), a flow enhancer and, possibly also a fungicide. Phenol is likely the cleaning agent. Phenol is available on Amazon and is in some sore throat sprays (chloraceptic); do NOT buy the 99.98% version unless you are very experienced in laboratory safety procedures. Personally, because I have asthma, ammonia and Dawn are too dangerous for me to use for cleaning though I do use other liquid soaps.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/292295-what-was-solv-x-in-quink/

Quote

Check for an explanation by Corniche around November, 2010.

Greetings all,

I may have cracked the case. While the name Solv-X is not mentioned by name, there are allusions to it's purported qualities in an old patent application. I believe Solv-X was a combination of Phenol, (fungicide) and amyl-xanthale, a flow enhancer. The latter chemical is referred to in the followings ways; "flow promoter" and "the trend of flotation." I think Phenol was the "solvent," (Solv) and the amyl-xanthale provided the "X." Hence, Solv-X.

Parker Ink Patent

July 17, 2021

solv-x was recently updated here:

July 17, 2021

You might want to try R&K's reiniger (cleaner). It works well and is probably also available (i.e. not prohibited) in the States. I can recommend it and it is IMO really inexpensive. At least smell-wise there is no phenol in it but I do discern an amyl component, which may, of course be and/or include amyl xanthate. Hence its pale yellow color in solution.

July 17, 2021

I've been building up a tiny suspicion of late that one of the better ways to clean out pens besides just water is to use a wet flowing ink. An expensive solvent, to be sure, but one that might do a decent job since they all have solvents/surfactants in them of one kind or another.

July 17, 2021

2 minutes ago, arcfide said:

I've been building up a tiny suspicion of late that one of the better ways to clean out pens besides just water is to use a wet flowing ink. An expensive solvent, to be sure, but one that might do a decent job since they all have solvents/surfactants in them of one kind or another.

you are not alone:

July 17, 2021

Yes, per someone well positioned to know(a Parker ink chemist), bactericide+surfactant+anti-feathering agent make "Solv-X." Old formulae of Quink contained Phenol as the bactericide, while others have been used since.

A little anecdote that I don't think I'd shared here, but that Dr. Davies-Smith shared with me. Solutions of phenol in water have been used, going back to the beginnings of modern surgery, as operating room antiseptics. He relayed to me that at one point(obviously quite a number of years back) Quink contained enough phenol to be useable as an antiseptic, and in India, washable blue Quink was less expensive and easier to get than straight Phenol in water solutions. Consequently, Quink was used at least sometimes as a surgical antiseptic. I've never actually measured the amount of phenol in old inks, but if you open a bottle of them it will practically knock you over.

July 18, 2021

Wow! Thank you, everyone, for the information. What I can say is that my recent experience indicates that Solv-X apparently does work and that it wasn't just advertising hype...not that it means much today.

Cliff