Pelikan 100N Cosmetic Damage, How To Minimise?

November 23, 2014

Just acquired this super bargain Pelikan, but it has a nasty line of damage down one side, affecting both the binde and the cap and piston knob. I'm not certain whether the celluloid is actually damaged or whether this is something that has encrusted it (wondering if for instance the pen lay in a pen tray with some kind of foam material under it that has melted?)

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t411/amk-fpn/pelikandamage.jpg

I'm happy with the pen as it is - it works! No cracks, nice CN nib, feed is in perfect state - not bad for ten euros. But I would like to minimise the cosmetic imperfections if possible. I take it on the black sections a bit of gentle heat would help remove dents, but I don't know what is possible to do to the celluloid? Please help!

November 25, 2014

It appears that it was chemically altered from your picture, or that the celluloid reacted to something that it was sitting on...

If this is the case, since there is no way to make it 'as new' short of replacing the binde (which is possible and not to hard if you can find a suitable donor) you can blend out the blistered parts with a red or green scotchbrite pad and then smooth it gradually with varying grades of fine sandpaper or up to 1000 grit if you can get it.

A more fast and dirty way is to start with scotch brite and then go straight to 0000 steel wool and then final polish with a buffing wheel on a dremel or a sunshine cloth with a generous helping of elbow grease.

It will never look like new quite again, but you can make it look acceptable and not scabby like the present picture shows.

Hope that helps and good luck with the project!

November 25, 2014

Thanks, I'll get my sandpaper and micromesh out. If this was a flashy Italian celluloid I'd be gutted, but there's something very workmanlike and honest about the Pel 100 and 100Ns that makes me think this one can be a good little user despite its scars.

November 25, 2014

I agree. I just restored a 100N and it has quickly become one of my favorite pens because of what you said. Not showy, but rock solid reliable and built like a tank.

November 25, 2014

Brilliant! I spent an hour taping over the cap rigs and knurled bits of the piston knob, and then got out the micromesh; you can just see a couple of discoloured spots in the celluloid, but all the bubbled up nastiness has gone and the pen looks nicely shiny. Just one bit too close to the cap ring to get rid of (and if I did, the ring would stand proud as it's been pushed up by the cap material).

So now just the piston seal to redo, a bit of tinkering with the nib, and I'll have my second Pelikan working!

I'll get a pic up tomorrow.