Do black ebonite pens fade?

[SeeThroughPen]

Hi! I'm contemplating over getting a Sailor King Of Pen for my birthday, or at least that's what I tell myself In particular I am interested in the black ebonite version, but I'm a bit worried because I've read somewhere that ebonite does fade over time due to exposure to sunlight. Is that right? Does this only affect colored ebonite pens, and will black always be black? I'm not sure I would want to pay that much money if the pen is so fragile. Thanks!

[jar]

Yes, ebonite will fade and oxidize.

[SeeThroughPen]

Hmm, too bad. Are urushi coated pens also affected by this?

[BCDDiggler]

Both air and light, especially UV from sunlight, breakdown dyes and "natural" components. Some materials are more resistant. For the urushi coated I believe that they are lacquered and are protected from both light physical and environmental corrosion. As for sunlight many of the materials are not dye based and would hold up better however, better safe than sorry?

Very little research done on this pen type in particular, but this is generally true of pens and ink I think.

[jar]

Urushi can wear, fade and craze when exposed to sunlight.

But why are such things a problem?

We sunburn, get wrinkles, spot, craze and peel too.

What you fear are all simply natural processes. In the mean time ebonite feels great, wears great, is light and non-slippery.

[SeeThroughPen]

Urushi can wear, fade and craze when exposed to sunlight.

But why are such things a problem?

We sunburn, get wrinkles, spot, craze and peel too.

What you fear are all simply natural processes. In the mean time ebonite feels great, wears great, is light and non-slippery.

Same reason I wouldn't want to drive a car made out of chocolate. Tastes good, but it's not functional

[Cob]

Here a couple of pictures to make your hair curl:

Original 2.JPG

I was able to improve this one though; this is not always the case for reasons I do not know.

Before and after s.jpg

Cob

[SeeThroughPen]

Wow Cob, thanks for the pics, that's quite a transformation. How old is the pen; does it say 1891 on its cap there?

[jar]

Urushi can wear, fade and craze when exposed to sunlight.

But why are such things a problem?

We sunburn, get wrinkles, spot, craze and peel too.

What you fear are all simply natural processes. In the mean time ebonite feels great, wears great, is light and non-slippery.

Same reason I wouldn't want to drive a car made out of chocolate. Tastes good, but it's not functional

But even a faded ebonite body or crazed urushi will be functional.

And fading depends on how much exposure happens.

from left, 1,2,3,4,7,8,10 are ebonite

[tandaina]

Yup, perfectly natural. I just got an old Aurora 88. The section and piston knob are ebonite, the rest black plastic. The ebonite is a lovely chocolate brown color after all these years. I actually thing it looks really handsome that way!

[SeeThroughPen]

But even a faded ebonite body or crazed urushi will be functional.

And fading depends on how much exposure happens.

I guess it depends on if you see the pen more as a piece of art, or just as a (rather) good looking instrument.

For me, as I want to use it for daily note taking as well as for longer writing sessions, it is not functional if I have to stash it away somewhere after every use in order to protect it from UV light. You might enjoy the looks of a faded ebonite pen, but I, not knowing how it will tranform, can't say that for certain.

On the other hand, if you see the pen more like a piece of art, then you'd probably only use it sparingly anyway and not worry too much about fading. Or you'd appreciate the fading like the bouquet of an old wine.

[Neo]

Cob, how did you restore the pen's original color?

[tandaina]

Ebonite *under* urushi does not fade the way ebonite exposed to light and oxogen on its own does. The urushi itself changes color, that's part of its natural aging process and part of the appeal. But the ebonite won't age the same.

I own an Nakaya because it is a *useable* work of art. I have little use for collectibles, for things that one just looks at. My art hangs on my walls, it hangs in the sun if that's where the windows fall, if it fades that is just part of life. My pens get used, so they get scratched and scuffed. My urushi pen will change color as I use it (the green undercoating will be more and more revealed as the urushi grows more clear) and that's exactly the charm of it. An urushi pen becomes a living thing, it changes with me, it changes with use and time.

If you want a pen to remain pristine then Ebonite and Urushi are not good choices. Both of them are "living" materials that will change. I have no idea exactly how mine will change and I like that, I don't need to control them. No pen material is impervious to wear of course, but a regular plastic will change less and might be a better choice if the idea of "living" material bothers you.

[SeeThroughPen]

Found this relevant podcast.

[elaineb]

Yes, I'm curious as well how you did it, Cob. I just had a little Swan ringtop BHR pen get a splash of oxidation yesterday when I rinsed it out with cold water. (Not even lukewarm. Not even warm! COLD water .) It's a very minor brown haze on parts of the surface, but if there's a safe way to reverse it, I would love to get it all black again.

[john]

Yes, I'm curious as well how you did it, Cob. I just had a little Swan ringtop BHR pen get a splash of oxidation yesterday when I rinsed it out with cold water. (Not even lukewarm. Not even warm! COLD water .) It's a very minor brown haze on parts of the surface, but if there's a safe way to reverse it, I would love to get it all black again.

If the ebonite turn brown, you can use the micro mesh to polish it into black again. But don't dye the ebonite.

[Deb]

Some ebonites (black hard rubber) fade more than others, but all will fade if exposed to strong light or to water. If it is absolutely bleached out as in the example Cob has illustrated it's quite ugly, but less fading, to just off-black or dark brown can be very attractive if gently polished. With older pens, I regard it as a sign of the long use they have had and the satisfaction they have given.

[Cob]

Wow Cob, thanks for the pics, that's quite a transformation. How old is the pen; does it say 1891 on its cap there?

It's from about 1922 or thereabouts - no it doesn't say 1891 - what you are seeing is "18ct" referring to the gold band. The discolouration was really quite exceptional and it's the only time I have been able to restore the colour to something approaching black.

In fact that's not true - last night I had to deal with a Swan 4261 from about 1948. the 61 represents BHR and the upper half of the cap was quite faded. It came back beautifully!

Cob

[Cob]

Cob, how did you restore the pen's original color?

On that one I used a pipe-stem restoring material - available in the US. But a warning: that was the only time it worked; I tried it on a number of other pens and it was hopeless!

Cob

[Cob]

Yes, I'm curious as well how you did it, Cob. I just had a little Swan ringtop BHR pen get a splash of oxidation yesterday when I rinsed it out with cold water. (Not even lukewarm. Not even warm! COLD water .) It's a very minor brown haze on parts of the surface, but if there's a safe way to reverse it, I would love to get it all black again.

John's advice is good: try Micromesh and be patient!

Cob