The Fountain Pen Network > Pen cleaning. When to use ammonia and when to avoid?

Full Version: Pen cleaning. When to use ammonia and when to avoid?

The Fountain Pen Network > General Pen Topics > Repair Q&A

welfvet

Nov 10 2007, 05:43 PM

I understand ammonia can be very useful to clean pens, but that celluloid reacts with it. Is that correct?

Thanks

Phthalo

Nov 11 2007, 02:14 AM

Probably, if you soaked your celluloid pens in nothing but ammonia...

The amount of ammonia required to clean a pen is tiny. One quarter of a teaspoon in a mug of water is plenty.

I use ammonia to clean all my pens - celluloid, urushi, silver etc.

welfvet

Nov 15 2007, 05:22 PM

Thanks v much. I'll probably give them all a spring clean this autumn as I've been a bit slack when not using them.

Nic

Tweel

Nov 17 2007, 04:59 AM

One thing I've noticed is that (even dilute) ammonia will darken some stainless steel.

-- Brian

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