Polish your pens?

[HDoug]

I decided to rinse and refill my Vanishing Point this morning. Then I wondered what would happen (uh oh) if I polished it using some Zymol car polish? It's a natural carnauba with very low abrasive level (it uses ground coconut shells, I think). I used some Q-tips to apply and buff a couple of coats and it works great. I didn't let my girlfriend catch me doing this because she already thinks I'm kinda nuts. But I thought the folks here would understand and thought I'd share it.

 

Does anyone else do this or use a specialized pen polish/wax?

[krz]

I'm sure someone could clue us in on a more specific pen polish but I also use carnauba wax on my pens. Then again, I use it on about anything thats shiney!

[tryphon]

The polish you mention is fairly mild and should cause no problems. For best results try a polish specifically formulated for pen work like our Tryphon polish: works on celluloid, acrylics and thermoplastics.

[htimsdj]

I also use Zymol on my pens, with no problems.

[KendallJ]

There are several threads on pen polishing around, and even a controversial one on the use of buffing wheels. Look in the Repair Q&A and you'll find htem. Kcat might have the references.

[TheNobleSavage]

I used Carnuba Wax for cars on my pens for quite sometime. I bought some of the Tryphon Museum Wax when I made a purchase for nib smoothing mylar. It came in a very small bottle and I thought to myself, "There really isnt much here at all". Well, I also found out that you dont need much to polish your pens either. I find it much quicker polish than using the Carnuba Wax for cars. I like the Museum wax because it is not messy at all and it goes on nice and clear and it doesnt take much for a shine. BTW I do NOT use a buffing wheel, I use a soft cloth to apply and then I use an even softer cloth to buff the pen by hand. I also had very little trouble with the dried white cake buildup in the imprints.

 

TNS

[Vintage Pens Fan]

I just got some cleaning & polishing products from Giovanni & they worked great.

 

To finish off, I used microfiber cloth & give it a high shine. Here some info I got on microfiber:

 

"The Microfiber cloth has a positive charge while cleaning hence attracting dirt, grease and dust found on surfaces which bears a negative charge. Its special weft process traps the dirt without resorting to detergents, but rather using only water without damaging the environment. When combined with tap water, the Microfiber Cloth acts like a magnet for dirt and liquid. The ultraweave attracts the grime and liquid deep into the micro-fibers and holds it deep within the fiber like a magnet. Microfiber is a superior, chemical free, hypoallergenic textile. One strand is 10 times finer than silk, 100 times smaller than a human hair. Microfiber is made of 80% polyester and 20% polyamide (nylon). It is undoubtedly the highest quality microfiber available today. "

 

Got some at discount store (Big Lots, etc) for 99 cents...

 

Regards,

David