Clogged pen

September 24, 2007

Hello people!

This is my first post in a while here, as I did not have time with my studies to be here much. I have been given a gorgeous (although only plated) gold/ivory-like-plastic (which is rather ebonite-like, to what I see of it.) pen. It is also a semi-flex nibbed pen. The problem is, it was filled with a very tough, shellac-based (probably) ink. It has thus completely clogged, as much as I know how to tell. Any tips and tricks to really check out what's wrong? Any tipa and tricks for actually unclogging the thing? I also have some Koh-I-Noor Cleaning solution for pens... might that clear it out? (that liquid is rather expensive, which is why I do not want to try it before I ask if it does or does not clear shellac)

Thanks a lot in advance

Neohaven

September 24, 2007

Your fist step is cheap-water.

Ordinary run-of-the-mill tap water is fine.

Cold, not hot. Just pour it into a glass, drop a tissue or hanky in the bottom (to protect the nib) and then place your pen nib down in glass. Now walk away.

Tomorrow (yes thats right), try flushing water through it.

Is the pen piston, or cartridge/converter based? If converter just keep washing, flushing until the water come out clear, if piston then more work will be required.

Try water fisrt.

September 24, 2007

If shellac based ink, I don't think water will work. You may have to use stronger solvents, though I'm not sure which ones. I recall reading somewhere that shellac based ink is either very difficult, or impossible to get out of a pen once dry

September 24, 2007

I have poked around Wikipedia today, and found the article about shellac. Here is what it said

It is soluble in alkaline solutions such as ammonia, sodium borate, sodium carbonate, and sodium hydroxide, and also in various organic solvents. When dissolved in alcohol, typically blends containing ethanol and methanol, shellac yields a coating of superior durability and hardness and is available in numerous grades. It is used in the traditional "French polish" method of finishing furniture, and fine viols and guitars. Shellac is also used as a finish for certain former Soviet Bloc small arms' wood stocks, such as the stock of the AK-47. Shellac refined for industrial purposes either retains its natural wax content or is refined wax-free by filtration. Orange shellac is bleached with sodium hypochlorite solution to form white shellac and also is produced in wax-containing and wax-free form. Because it is compatible with most other finishes, shellac is also used as a barrier or primer coat on wood to prevent the bleeding of resin or pigments into the final finish, or to prevent wood stain from blotching. Lightly tinted shellac preparations are also sold as paint primer. Shellac is best suited to this application because, although its durability against abrasives and many common solvents is not very good, it provides an excellent barrier against water vapor penetration.

Basically... is there anything in there which will not harm the pen at all? I might try a dilute ammonia solution, maybe?

The baseline is really... which of these would harm the pen? Also, more importantly, which would be okay to use?

Edited September 24, 2007 by neohaven

September 24, 2007

First, I will repeat what was said above - try water first!

What makes you think it is shellac? Was there a bottle that came with the pen that said on the label "Shellac Based Ink"? I wouldn't go too far down the road of figuring out what dissolves shellac unless you know for sure that it is shellac. But if water doesn't work, or only partially works, you might try getting a small ultrasonic jewelry cleaner and trying that. If nothing about water works, and you are faced with discarding the pen otherwise, then try a mild solvent. Alcahol is maybe not as bad as other solvents, but realize that most any solvent you use will damage your pen in some way. Maybe it won't damage it enough to even be able to tell, and you will have no problems with it; or you may ruin your pen. Be prepared for that eventuality when you try solvents. Good Luck!

Scott.

September 24, 2007

Dilute ammonia is commonly used for cleaning ink out of pens, so I presume you could try it first. I wasn't aware it could dissolve shellac, (something new to watch out for).

good luck,

Andy

September 24, 2007

First, I will repeat what was said above - try water first!

What makes you think it is shellac? Was there a bottle that came with the pen that said on the label "Shellac Based Ink"? I wouldn't go too far down the road of figuring out what dissolves shellac unless you know for sure that it is shellac. But if water doesn't work, or only partially works, you might try getting a small ultrasonic jewelry cleaner and trying that. If nothing about water works, and you are faced with discarding the pen otherwise, then try a mild solvent. Alcahol is maybe not as bad as other solvents, but realize that most any solvent you use will damage your pen in some way. Maybe it won't damage it enough to even be able to tell, and you will have no problems with it; or you may ruin your pen. Be prepared for that eventuality when you try solvents. Good Luck!

Scott.

It was given to me with 2 bottles of drawing inks, which as we know and as I have been told earlier here contain shellac!

September 25, 2007

Find out what model the pen is, and if it'll stand up to ammonia... as long as it's OK, go for it.

September 25, 2007

Alcohol harms some kinds of plastic. Ammonia is safer. But do try a very long soak in plain water first. You may be surprised.

If water dissolves it, even partly, then it isn't shellac-based. (Or at least not all of it.)

September 25, 2007

If the pen has been filled with drawing ink, water will not clear it out..

What you want to do is go to the local art supply shop and purchase some technical pen cleaner (the kind used for Rapidograph style pens) this will clean out the shellac based drawing ink... it will most likely take a bit of soaking, filling, emptying a few times to get it all cleaned out...

If the pen has a sac, replacing the sac is a good idea...

September 25, 2007

If the pen has been filled with drawing ink, water will not clear it out..
What you want to do is go to the local art supply shop and purchase some technical pen cleaner (the kind used for Rapidograph style pens) this will clean out the shellac based drawing ink... it will most likely take a bit of soaking, filling, emptying a few times to get it all cleaned out...
If the pen has a sac, replacing the sac is a good idea...

Koh-I-Noor cleaning liquid dissolved in water : should it do the trick?

July 1, 2011

Koh-I-Noor cleaning liquid dissolved in water : should it do the trick?

To be safe, it is a good idea to try cleaning with a 1:4 diluted Koh-i-Noor Rapid-Eze Pen Cleaner. If that doesn't work try 1:2 and finally pure cleaner. Elsewhere in the forum a detailed note of the contents of the cleaner and chemical properties were given. Having a Chemistry as well as technical drawing background, I can reasonably assure you that even the pure cleaner is unlikely to damage your pen.

Edited July 1, 2011 by Koshy