Is there a cure for chew marks?

[Penariffic]

Greetings!

 

I have 2 Esties that sadly have been chewed upon by a previous owner. Also the color on many of my Esties are dull. I was wondering if there is a polish or method for both removing the bite marks and for restoring the brilliant color of these pens?

 

Thanks,

Penariffic

[FarmBoy]

Greetings!

 

I have 2 Esties that sadly have been chewed upon by a previous owner. Also the color on many of my Esties are dull. I was wondering if there is a polish or method for both removing the bite marks and for restoring the brilliant color of these pens?

 

Thanks,

Penariffic

 

Penariffic,

 

How deep are the bite marks? Heating sometimes will raise the indentations but this can be a delicate operation. If the dents are shallow you can sand and polish them out. A picture would help. If the nibbler did major damage you may need to find a barrel or a donor pen.

 

Todd

 

 

[Penariffic]

Greetings!

 

I have 2 Esties that sadly have been chewed upon by a previous owner. Also the color on many of my Esties are dull. I was wondering if there is a polish or method for both removing the bite marks and for restoring the brilliant color of these pens?

 

Thanks,

Penariffic

 

Penariffic,

 

How deep are the bite marks? Heating sometimes will raise the indentations but this can be a delicate operation. If the dents are shallow you can sand and polish them out. A picture would help. If the nibbler did major damage you may need to find a barrel or a donor pen.

 

Todd

Yikes! I was hoping there was some sort of polymer that would fill the dent and be clear enough not to be noticeable. Attached is a pic of mt good Esties (I have 2 others, but they are not in good shape). You can see the bite marks very clearly.

[ojars]

Paprika

[Paddler]

I have been trying to make a black SJ look more presentable. There were a lot of small bite marks that just sanded right out. The pen had a couple of nasty scratches that, surprisingly, sanded out also. The four deep fang marks in your red pen are there to stay, I'm afraid.

 

One idea you could try: (You might want to try this on a junk pen first) Use a small knife and scrape the inside of the barrel or the cap above the threads. Collect the plastic dust (it will be the right color) and mix it with a solvent to make a paste or stiff liquid. Use the paste to fill in the dings and sand them flush when dry. I have used this technique with sanding sealer and sawdust on dings in wood.

 

Paddler

 

[FarmBoy]

I have been trying to make a black SJ look more presentable. There were a lot of small bite marks that just sanded right out. The pen had a couple of nasty scratches that, surprisingly, sanded out also. The four deep fang marks in your red pen are there to stay, I'm afraid.

 

One idea you could try: (You might want to try this on a junk pen first) Use a small knife and scrape the inside of the barrel or the cap above the threads. Collect the plastic dust (it will be the right color) and mix it with a solvent to make a paste or stiff liquid. Use the paste to fill in the dings and sand them flush when dry. I have used this technique with sanding sealer and sawdust on dings in wood.

 

Paddler

Since the Esterbrooks are a mixed color to start with, you will most likely end up with a paste that doesn't match the barrel color.

 

I think this one is a candidate for a replacement barrel as the most cost effective solution to a better pen.

 

Todd

[Gerry]

Looks like the bite marks our lab left in my wife's fav Estie.

 

Clear polymer fill took 'em all but out - you have to know where to look. They are visible as the subsurface ripple pattern is distorted, but that is the only way to see them.

 

If CA (Superglue) doesn't bother you, that works as well as a filler, but you need to be careful - the CA is harder than the pen plastic and in blending / feathering the filler to the pen surface, you can end up with distortion at the junction.

 

Regards,

 

Gerry

 

PS: The bite marks are in an area I'd be very careful with trying a heat cure. As we know, this type of repair relies on the plastic's memory - the ability to return to it's original shape after deformation. I have discovered through had won experience that the Estie barrel is tapered at the end through heat shaping (not turning down), so when heated enough, it returns to a cylinder shape. Very very difficult to get the taper back after it springs free...

 

 

Edited March 24, 2008 by Gerry
Added PS

[girlieg33k]

Paprika

Now that's funny! :clap1:

 

Using heat may work, but I'd also caution against it. There are several topics on how to use a heat gun and/or hot water (in this section) for this sort of thing. The last time I used a heat gun, it led to a funny story -- but not a very fun episode (while it was happening).

[Penariffic]

Paprika

Now that's funny! :clap1:

 

Using heat may work, but I'd also caution against it. There are several topics on how to use a heat gun and/or hot water (in this section) for this sort of thing. The last time I used a heat gun, it led to a funny story -- but not a very fun episode (while it was happening).

I guess I wasn't there for the location joke on "paprika." It just escapes me. 0__0

 

Yeah, I can't see how heat would resolve these marks, it would likely just warp the pen.

[Penariffic]

I have been trying to make a black SJ look more presentable. There were a lot of small bite marks that just sanded right out. The pen had a couple of nasty scratches that, surprisingly, sanded out also. The four deep fang marks in your red pen are there to stay, I'm afraid.

 

One idea you could try: (You might want to try this on a junk pen first) Use a small knife and scrape the inside of the barrel or the cap above the threads. Collect the plastic dust (it will be the right color) and mix it with a solvent to make a paste or stiff liquid. Use the paste to fill in the dings and sand them flush when dry. I have used this technique with sanding sealer and sawdust on dings in wood.

 

Paddler

Since the Esterbrooks are a mixed color to start with, you will most likely end up with a paste that doesn't match the barrel color.

 

I think this one is a candidate for a replacement barrel as the most cost effective solution to a better pen.

 

Todd

Ouch. Oh well. I suppose it can be used as Jewel fodder

[Penariffic]

Looks like the bite marks our lab left in my wife's fav Estie.

 

Clear polymer fill took 'em all but out - you have to know where to look. They are visible as the subsurface ripple pattern is distorted, but that is the only way to see them.

 

If CA (Superglue) doesn't bother you, that works as well as a filler, but you need to be careful - the CA is harder than the pen plastic and in blending / feathering the filler to the pen surface, you can end up with distortion at the junction.

 

Regards,

 

Gerry

 

PS: The bite marks are in an area I'd be very careful with trying a heat cure. As we know, this type of repair relies on the plastic's memory - the ability to return to it's original shape after deformation. I have discovered through had won experience that the Estie barrel is tapered at the end through heat shaping (not turning down), so when heated enough, it returns to a cylinder shape. Very very difficult to get the taper back after it springs free...

I didn't realize that plastics from that age had any 'memory' like the polymers made today. When I first got the pen i soaked it in hot water to remove the Ink residue on it, so if that didn't affect the marks, I doubt a heat gun or dryer will either

 

I will seek out a clear polymer method. Its not like I could do more harm since these bite marks appear to be fatal to the pen's value anyway.

[Ron Z]

PS: The bite marks are in an area I'd be very careful with trying a heat cure. As we know, this type of repair relies on the plastic's memory - the ability to return to it's original shape after deformation. I have discovered through had won experience that the Estie barrel is tapered at the end through heat shaping (not turning down), so when heated enough, it returns to a cylinder shape. Very very difficult to get the taper back after it springs free...

 

Yeh, don't try it on a Sheaffer Balance either. That plastic shrinks when heated, and will conform to the shape of the J bar inside the barrel. Ugly.

[Kelly G]

Yeh, don't try it on a Sheaffer Balance either. That plastic shrinks when heated, and will conform to the shape of the J bar inside the barrel. Ugly.

 

Don't I know it! That was the disaster that led me to purchase a decent heat gun. I did the amazing shrinking barrel trick on a very nice 1000 brown striped Balance. I also toasted the section - a nice brown color. It took me nine or ten months to find a decent replacement barrel and section on eBay. The only saving grace was that I salvaged the lever for use in another pen. The lesson learned: 145 degrees is plenty for removing the section from the barrel.