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Thread: Removing Rhodium from Nib

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    Default Removing Rhodium from Nib

    The whys and wherefores should not be terribly interesting to the wider group, and would only further shine a light on my eccentricities.

    My question is whether anyone has successfully polished off some (or all) of the rhodium plating from a yellow gold nib? In particular, I would like to turn a fully rhodium plated M805 nib into a two-tone nib as provided with the M800. If that is too complicated, I would be happy with a full yellow gold nib.

    I have approached a number of local jewellers who have all said it is technically possible to remove the rhodium plating by polishing, but they have expressed concern about either bending the nib out of alignment or gunking up the feed with their polishing effluvium.

    Has anyone done something similar? How would you assess the risk of ruining a delightful nib?

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    I suspect that the first thing to do would be to pull the nib and feed out of the collar, so the nib can be worked on without 'gunking up the feed.'

    Once the nib is out and is on a nib block, then polishing off the rhodium would surely be easier? How to get the rhodium off, while leaving all of the nib imprint on the nib might be the next problem.

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    BayesianPrior (November 11th, 2017)

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    Thanks Chrissy. Yes, I suppose isolation of the nib is an obvious preventive step for a FP Geek. I doubt any of the jewellers here would be familiar with that approach. Perhaps the services of a nibmeister who has the proper tools and appreciates the delicate nature of the nib should be retained.

    As for the imprint, I'm not that bothered.

    I think an M800 nib with plating similar to a Waterman 100 would be beautiful. Fully gold nib except for a chevron of rhodium at the business end.

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    'dutchpen' on FPN rhodium plates nibs, and in order to do that, they have to be pristinely clean before you can start plating. He might know about removing rhodium. Just a thought.

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    Migh be counter intuitive but plating it in gold may be the simpler option over removing the rhodium

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    I would not suggest trying to polish off the Rhodium trim. There are too many factors that might harm the nib and would definitely void the warranty. If you pay a jeweler to do it, you are running into the price-realm of just purchasing a new M800 nib from a European distributer. I would suggest seeing if anyone here or elsewhere would be open to trade nibs.
    "Love is the final fight."

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    You can try talking to Michael of Hepworth Dixon, he is clued up on plating .

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    Or maybe just buy an 800 nib?

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    Quote Originally Posted by jar View Post
    Or maybe just buy an 800 nib?
    Yes I think I would go with this option.

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    That would be a logical option, except the M805 nib has been ground from a fine to a 0.3 CI and is just amazing.

    Also the jeweller quoted me less than £20 to polish off the rhodium, which is less than a new M800 nib.

    Thanks for the all the input - a good reality check!

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    I would live with it. Taking off the rhodium might make it unexpectedly more flexible, and you might not like it quite as much.

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    I’d buy an M805 Stresemann. It’s beautiful and the nib fits perfectly - aesthetics wise. I’d strongly advise against removing the coating. My source is my masters degree in fracture mechanics and degree in mechanical engineering, as well as 7 years of experience in fields of mechanical and thermal fatigue, and residual stresses (automotive research and development).

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    Default Re: Removing Rhodium from Nib

    Simichrome works great for this--I've used it to scrub gold wash off vintage Pd nibs, and it's worked well. The bigger challenge may be resetting the nib once your refinishing is done. Goes without saying, but you'll have to remove the feed and collar before you polish the nib.

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