plating

[mke]

One reads a lot about loss of gold-plating (Waterman disease).

 

How about platings made from Rhodium or Platinum?

Same problems?

[WestLothian]

Rhodium and Platinum are much harder metals and these both resist wear more than gold plating. Of course repeated use of abrasive polishes would eventually thin the coating.

[Carrau]

1 hour ago, WestLothian said:

Rhodium and Platinum are much harder metals and these both resist wear more than gold plating. Of course repeated use of abrasive polishes would eventually thin the coating.

+1 for this, although the durability of the metals in the platinum group is dependent on how well the plating is done, I.e., the preparation of the surface and the plating process itself.  If you are interested, I found an article (linked below) sometime back when another FPN member had issues with the Ruthenium (a platinum group metal) on a Montblanc pen.  I found the article not too heavy going for someone not in the metallurgy field.  The website also contained discussions of several other metals used in plating if they are of  interest to you.  It helped me to have confidence in Ruthenium as a plating material, and to understand that problems with it are often process related, and not necessarily a user issue.

https://www.sharrettsplating.com/coatings/ruthenium

[WestLothian]

It is worth noting that Rhodium is commonly used for plating "white gold" rings. This gives a fair idea of just how robust this is in regular handling. Of course rings that do gardening or get visits to the sandy beach will require regular replating. This makes the plating solutions widely available for pen repairers too. For bi-colour pens the plating can be applied with a small brush electrode and then polished to taste. This 1938 pen had only feint remains of the original plating but the text was crisp. This suggests that the original plated layer depth was quite superficial.

[Ron Z]

The down side to Rhodium is the cost.  I used to do rhodium plating, but have had to stop offering it.  The cost of the plating for an ink bottle size has gone from about $360 a few years ago, to around $1300.  Even a 25 ml bottle is about $650 - prices vary according to the days market prices.  I simply can't afford the solution, and can't charge enough to make it worth buying even the small bottle.

[Glenn Atkins]

2 hours ago, Ron Z said:

The down side to Rhodium is the cost.  I used to do rhodium plating, but have had to stop offering it.  The cost of the plating for an ink bottle size has gone from about $360 a few years ago, to around $1300.  Even a 25 ml bottle is about $650 - prices vary according to the days market prices.  I simply can't afford the solution, and can't charge enough to make it worth buying even the small bottle.

 

Holy cow! $$$$$

 

@WestLothian That nib up-thread is beautiful.

 

Glenn

[WestLothian]

£176 for 25 ml where I bought my pen plating bottle. I have also used Palladium Pen Plating Solution, which is a very white, bright alternative.  

 

 

[eckiethump]

Hi There West Lothian, I see you have Edinburgh as your location, this would not let me send you a PM. Have we met or interacted ? both being from Edinburgh, which has a dearth of people interested in pen repair.

Eric Wilson

[WestLothian]

1 hour ago, eckiethump said:

Hi There West Lothian, I see you have Edinburgh as your location, this would not let me send you a PM. Have we met or interacted ? both being from Edinburgh, which has a dearth of people interested in pen repair.

Eric Wilson

 

Hi Neighbour!

Your message got through - a reply sent.

When I try to explain an interest in pens, let alone repair and restorations, the comments are often versions of "aren't those obsolete?" 

Clearly we are not from this century.

Alistair