Brown Stain Obscuring my Demonstrator

[Lenny77]

Hi everyone. This is my first post. I am very new at this. I am sure this topic has ben discussed before. However, I didn't see it... So here goes...  I have a Visconti Homo Sapiens Blue Lagoon, which I dearly love. I have tried a number of inks in it, at the moment I am using Robert Oster Silver Fire and Ice. I love the silver sheen. This pen is a partial demonstrator, allowing me to see thru at some places in the barrel, in and among the swirls of teal coloring. However, the inks are staining the inside edges of the barrel brown. So much so that I can't see thru it to see the level of ink. Disconcerting, to say the least.

Suggestions, ideas? Is this a known issue?  TIA Lenny

[Lenny77]

Well, I could've looked a little harder. I found a number of references to staining. Now I'm looking for inks that won't stain.... I can clean it out. Thanks for anyone's help.... 

[gmax]

Hi Lenny,

Sailor Doyou ink has worked for me to clean blue staining from inside a Visconti HS Crystal Demo, with similar teal swirls. Doyou has a reputation as a "cleaner" ink, and just leaving it in the pen for a couple of days worked on my pen 🙂

[Karmachanic]

 

[yazeh]

If Doyou is too expensive, you can also use Noodler's Rattler Red Eel, which is much cheaper. I have a bottle of Doyou and l use it when a purple/ blur-ple ink stains my demonstrator...

[Lenny77]

Some new info. First, thanks to everyone for responding. I have just uploaded an image. I think this is a weird one. 1) I have never put anything in here other than blue ink - ever, 2) stain is brown, not blue. The other folks I am talking to about this think this is residue from silicone grease used to lubricated the metal rod. 3) When I put ink in here, the part of the barrel that is demo (clear) obscures entirely, with this brown color (despite the ink coming out of the nib in blue). So much that I can't see the rod in the center.

 

I have taken the ink out and want to clean it with something, probably alcohol. I don't want to be stupid, so any suggestions are welcome. I would also take the back off, but don't know what kind of glue that is on the threads. Guessing someone here could probably tell me...

 

It's my favorite pen. Writes like a dream. I've got the nib tuned just the way I like it. Let me know if you have any ideas.

Thanks, Lenny

[Lenny77]

OK, have decided to listen. Will gt some Doyou or some Noodler's Rattler Red and see how it goes...

Thanks everyone.

[amberleadavis]

DO NOT USE ALCOHOL.

 

I'd suggest you just ignore that little bit of brown.  You have a pen that for you, writes like a dream.  I don't think it is staining, but even blue inks can stain with a different color.

 

 

Here are some helpful places to start.

 

Cleaning or Not & Stain Removal
Inky T O D - Do You Ever Use Samples Because You're Feeling Lazy?
https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/267347-inky-t-o-d-do-you-ever-use-samples-because-youre-feeling-lazy/
Inky T O D - Cleaning Between Inking - What's Your Process?
https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/266313-inky-t-o-d-cleaning-between-inking-whats-your-process/
Inky T O D - How Long Does Any One Ink Stay In Your Pen?
https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/269697-inky-t-o-d-how-long-does-any-one-ink-stay-in-your-pen/

Stain Removal

Operation Exterminate Bsb Stains

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/303281-operation-exterminate-bsb-stains/

Informal Review - Noodler's - American Eel - Rattler Red

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/258169-informal-review-noodlers-american-eel-rattler-red/

What's Your Cleaner Ink?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/297645-whats-your-cleaner-ink/

[amberleadavis]

Oh and welcome aboard.

[amper]

On 3/16/2023 at 5:43 PM, Lenny77 said:

at the moment I am using Robert Oster Silver Fire and Ice

This is the source of your problem. It's a shimmer ink, and that residue is almost certainly caused by the shimmer particles. It will probably wipe clean if you disassemble the pen, but as long as you use that ink, you will see the residue.

[Lenny77]

On 3/17/2023 at 8:26 PM, amper said:

This is the source of your problem. It's a shimmer ink, and that residue is almost certainly caused by the shimmer particles. It will probably wipe clean if you disassemble the pen, but as long as you use that ink, you will see the residue.

 

I read a lot about this - here... amberleadavis posted a lot of links and I followed them, - And Thank You for the welcome - and what you are saying is clearly true. I believe it started with some deAtramentis with Copper in it, however. (Not to give Robert Oster a bad name....)

 

I did take the pen halfway apart. I had purchased one of those "wrenches" with the two pins sticking out and the nib assembly came out easily. However, at the base of the pen, the pump assembly is screwed into the resin. The resin is clear at that point and one can see that there is a dab of glue that is keeping the assembly secured, and from unscrewing. (I did try, gently). Since I don't know what that glue is I chose not to heat it up a little, get more aggressive and take it off. It would definitely be easier if I had access in that direction.

 

The Doyou will come out tomorrow and I am hoping that will have worked. Thanks everyone!

Lenny

 

[Lenny77]

Left Doyou in for 48 hours. No change. Have Red Rattler coming in two more days, will try that....

[gmax]

I have no experience with Noodlers ink, but I hope it works out for you.

[amberleadavis]

When I used Red Rattler, I left it in the pen for the few weeks it took me to use up the fill.

[Lenny77]

On 3/25/2023 at 7:01 PM, amberleadavis said:

When I used Red Rattler, I left it in the pen for the few weeks it took me to use up the fill.

 

I saw that there's a Blue American Eel. I'm wondering if that might work as well. Anyone know? (Is it the chemistry of the American Eel inks?)

 

I did try the Red for a couple of days and parts of it were better... I put it back in, it's been there for another few days.... still thinking maybe I should try and ultrasonic cleaner to loose the mica particles off the barrel...

[amberleadavis]

2 hours ago, Lenny77 said:

 

I saw that there's a Blue American Eel. I'm wondering if that might work as well. Anyone know? (Is it the chemistry of the American Eel inks?)

 

I did try the Red for a couple of days and parts of it were better... I put it back in, it's been there for another few days.... still thinking maybe I should try and ultrasonic cleaner to loose the mica particles off the barrel...

The eel inks have detergents in them and a lubricant that helps with piston filler pens.

 

So eel blue might be the right answer for you.

[TitoThePencilPimp]

On 3/19/2023 at 9:41 AM, Lenny77 said:

 

I read a lot about this - here... amberleadavis posted a lot of links and I followed them, - And Thank You for the welcome - and what you are saying is clearly true. I believe it started with some deAtramentis with Copper in it, however. (Not to give Robert Oster a bad name....)

 

I did take the pen halfway apart. I had purchased one of those "wrenches" with the two pins sticking out and the nib assembly came out easily. However, at the base of the pen, the pump assembly is screwed into the resin. The resin is clear at that point and one can see that there is a dab of glue that is keeping the assembly secured, and from unscrewing. (I did try, gently). Since I don't know what that glue is I chose not to heat it up a little, get more aggressive and take it off. It would definitely be easier if I had access in that direction.

 

The Doyou will come out tomorrow and I am hoping that will have worked. Thanks everyone!

Lenny

 

Why would you risk breaking a pen that is above the $100 mark, only to remove a small stain?

[Lenny77]

17 hours ago, TitoThePencilPimp said:

Why would you risk breaking a pen that is above the $100 mark, only to remove a small stain?

I have no defense. Inexperience and impatience...

[yazeh]

On 3/28/2023 at 5:43 PM, Lenny77 said:

 

I saw that there's a Blue American Eel. I'm wondering if that might work as well. Anyone know? (Is it the chemistry of the American Eel inks?)

 

I did try the Red for a couple of days and parts of it were better... I put it back in, it's been there for another few days.... still thinking maybe I should try and ultrasonic cleaner to loose the mica particles off the barrel...

You need to be patient, it won't remove it automatically. It takes time

[yazeh]

@Lenny77I was at one point obsessed with cleaning my pens. But in the end, stains are like scars and wrinkles. It's our personal history. I personally find nothing more beautiful than wrinkled faces in a world obsessed with youth and "perfection". 

Japanese have the art of Kitsugi, where they put gold in the cracks. It's the history of the object that makes it more endearing. My father once spend a whole afternoon gluing my mother's favorite set of Wedgwood cups that had all broken when the glass shelf shattered. Those glued cups, to my eyes were more beautiful than the original untarnished ones. 

 

As the great Leonard Cohen said: 

Ring the bells that still can ring, 
Forget your perfect offering, 
There is a crack, 
a crack in everything, 
That’s how the light gets in.

 

You can see that stain as the symbol or reminder of an ink you used and loved.