Basic ‘must have’ tools for restoration

**azkid** · July 25th, 2020, 10:25 PM

I use red and white Dialux polishing compound bars for the polishing. I usually don't bother with green. My goal is usually to reduce the haze of small scratches rather than trying to get to a like new high polish. Just enough to make it look nicer from a distance.

I am not sure what to say about bad bite marks. I would be inclined towards 400 then 600 grit sandpaper then zona paper from 30 micron to 1 micron then polish with white. I've only had to deal with shallow teeth marks so far.

**da vinci** · July 26th, 2020, 02:52 AM

Interesting thread. For anyone wanting to get some help with learning how to restore pens, I found the Writing Equipment Society course very helpful.

I have found that getting knowledge about vintage pens and restoring/repairing them has significantly increased my appreciation of such pens, and even basic repairs like sac replacement generate a huge amount of satisfaction, using only basic tools as described.

One big challenge I have always found is with the metal parts. Clips, other trim, and caps. Sometime an ammonia solution, polish and elbow grease can help clean up a clip in poor condition but brassing, pitting and loss of plating is something that I don’t think can be fixed, at least not with any basic equipment but I would be happy to be corrected or receive suggestions on how it could be done?

**Chrissy** · July 26th, 2020, 03:08 AM

Originally Posted by da vinci

One big challenge I have always found is with the metal parts. Clips, other trim, and caps. Sometime an ammonia solution, polish and elbow grease can help clean up a clip in poor condition but brassing, pitting and loss of plating is something that I don’t think can be fixed, at least not with any basic equipment but I would be happy to be corrected or receive suggestions on how it could be done?

You're correct in that metal parts can look better after a polish, but pitting and/or loss of plating can't be fixed using basic tools. In order to restore plated metal parts the only perfect method would be replating and that's something that needs a different sort of expertise and non-basic tools.

You would need to a) remove the parts from the pen or cap and b) remove all of the old pitted or old worn off bits of plating so that the part to be plated is pristinely clean. Then you would need to replate it using a specialised replating solution in gold or silver or platinum with an electroplating machine. it's not cheap to get the machines or the precious metal chemicals. Nor is it cheap to get the job done by those people who have the specialist kit.

**da vinci** · July 26th, 2020, 03:42 AM

Originally Posted by Chrissy

Originally Posted by da vinci

One big challenge I have always found is with the metal parts. Clips, other trim, and caps. Sometime an ammonia solution, polish and elbow grease can help clean up a clip in poor condition but brassing, pitting and loss of plating is something that I don’t think can be fixed, at least not with any basic equipment but I would be happy to be corrected or receive suggestions on how it could be done?

You're correct in that metal parts can look better after a polish, but pitting and/or loss of plating can't be fixed using basic tools. In order to restore plated metal parts the only perfect method would be replating and that's something that needs a different sort of expertise and non-basic tools.

You would need to a) remove the parts from the pen or cap and b) remove all of the old pitted or old worn off bits of plating so that the part to be plated is pristinely clean. Then you would need to replate it using a specialised replating solution in gold or silver or platinum with an electroplating machine. it's not cheap to get the machines or the precious metal chemicals. Nor is it cheap to get the job done by those people who have the specialist kit.

Thanks Chrissy, that’s what I thought. I just need to buy better condition pens! 😂