"Grit" and determination - Gama Ezhuthani nearly back to original colour

[subbu68]

While posting my Indian pen pics here I had mentioned about my ebonite Gama Ezhuthani losing it's colour when I forgot it in a mug of water to remove old crusted ink from it. More than half had faded to a light brown and the black ripples just seen brownish. (Photos are not very clear due to the lighting but you can compare the bottom tip and upper half and see what I am talking about). 

 

 

 

Searched on the net and most spoke of UV damage to ebonite and a little water wash was enough to damage it forever with no way back. @K Singh gave me the suggestion to send it to Gama to polish it back. But that was no feasible due to paucity of time when we go on vacation to India.  

 

While at the the office yesterday during my break I thought of trying scratching a small patch with  razor blade. Ran the blade a few times and the faded ripple that was brownish became black. 

 

While Australia were showing their grit at CWC2023 against Afghanistan on the TV, I thought why not try out with the "grits" I  have in my toolbox?

 

First ran 150 grit sandpaper dipped in water on the pen. The colour started to get back to original. Then had the 200 grit on the pen. Better and smoother it became. Lastly ran the 1500 carbide paper and that gave nearly the same shine as it had. 

 

 

Sorry, I did not take a snap before I started the process and another in the same light after I scratched it out,  so the real difference cannot be seen by you all. Was so excited with the afternoon result with the razor blade that I wanted to do it before I went to bed last night. The ripples are now black, the base is darker mustard. Near to the original. Ran the 200 and 1500 grits on the bottom half too to keep the colour even. 

 

Any suggestion for a further "grind" or some polish to make it shinier and darker? 

 

 

  

[tommym]

Wow! Congratulations! I thought that pen was a goner!

 

Tommy

[subbu68]

4 hours ago, tommym said:

Wow! Congratulations! I thought that pen was a goner!

 

Tommy

Ran a nail buff/polish block on the pen last night. First with the side marked BUFF and then the POLISH side of the block. The pen started squeaking when polishing.