Hi!

I have a Sheaffer with a visulated section. I'd like to use Noodler's "Bulletproof" Black in the pen; but since the ink's dye is cellulose reactive, I am wondering if it will stain the section as the pen has a cellulose body. I'm not sure if the section is also cellulose or not.

Does anyone know if the ink will stain the section?

Chris

It won't. The celluloid (not cellulose, celluloid is cellulose nitrate) visulated section stayed quite clear on my old Wearever when I put Noodler's Walnut in it (it's mostly Bulletproof black). However, the shellac or rosin sealant stained red from the Walnut ink.

Peter

The logic re: cellulose reactive is correct.

However some modern inks do not play well with old pen materials. If this is a vintage pen, and you are concerned with staining, I say stick with a proven mellow ink.

A related question... PenHero's article on Early TD Pens states:



I thought ambering is irreversible? Or is the author implying a restorer will replace the entire visulated section?

-Mike

Sam at Pendemonium concured in that he didn't think it would stain. However, he also cautioned that fountain pen inks are dyes and dyes can stain. So with that in mind, I've decided not to run those permanent inks in my vintage pens that have those clear sections. Just to be on the safe side.

Thanks for the replies.

Chris

I have not had Noodler's stain any of the visulated section pens I've put it in yet (black and Walnut), and I would not expect any of the other's too, either. However, some of them seem to coat the pen innards with a thin layer of very difficult to remove dye, and I would use an old Wearever or similar pen to test, not a good TD.

The ambering (or other color) cannot be reversed, it's a chemical change in the material. It was nearly water white when new, just like Parker Vacumatics were.

Cellulose nitrate (and cellulose acetate) have had all the reactive sites the cellulose reactive dyes link to reacted with nitric or acetic acid, so they will not chemically bond with cellulose reactive dyes, I don't believe.

Peter

Peter, thanks for clarifying the info on ambered visulated sections

-Mike