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Jinhao "18Kgp" Nibs


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http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/1078/imag0182te.jpg

 

So, I think a fair amount of people own a Jinhao pen, the 750 mostly (pictured above), and I think most people have noticed that most nibs have "18KGP" stamped on them. The explanation

 

I've heard is that this might be because they stamp all their nibs and only gold plate some. Well... let's all put on our Sherlock Holmes deerstalker hats and grab the nearest meerschaum pipe to investigate.

 

 

The first thing you might say is 'well, isn't gold... gold colored'? And the simple answer is: not always. Gold we handle is usually always in alloys, and the cheapest metal to mix with gold to make

 

it strong enough for daily wear-and-tear is nickel, which can turn gold a silver color (or the term 'white gold' is used).

 

 

The nib in question:

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/9249/imag0183k.jpg

 

I just happen to have a gold testing kit lying around, consisting of various grades of nitric acid. The idea is, say if I used the 14k nitric solution on any grade of gold below 14k gold, the acid

 

would react with the gold and eat at it.

 

The acids:

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/9581/imag0184yn.jpg

 

 

The plan was to rub the nib on a stone and test the metal that came off with the 18k and 22k rated acids. I also rubbed on a sample of gold, (probably low 22k, maybe 21k) for comparison.

 

 

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6699/imag0186es.jpg

 

The gold has the 22k solution of acid on it, and you can clearly see it is being eaten. The top left is where the nib was rubbed, and it is holding fine up the 18k solution. Now, just the fact that

 

it rubbed off anything is a good sign considering the stone isn't very tough (gold is fairly soft, even in alloy form) and steel probably wouldn't rub off on it that clearly.

 

 

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/8554/imag0188ix.jpg

 

 

Here is where I tried again, but put the sample under the 22k solution and you can definitely see that it has reacted (I left some untouched to the right).

 

 

Now, stainless steel is usually resistant to nitric acid in most concentrations (in fact it's usually the metal to use when dealing with the acid), but not all stainless steels are equal and I

 

imagine Jinhao is not known for high grade steel. It could just be a coincidence that the metal reacted with the 22 and not the 18, but that would be some coincidence.

 

 

This is neither a definitive nor completely scientific test and I'm still not 100 percent sure either way so use this information how you will.

 

And if you're worried, no nibs were harmed in the making of this post. The nib was explained the risks and of his rights before the experiment started.

Edited by Maer
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I wonder if anyone has a scanning electron microscope to conform these findings by means of X-Ray florescence?

 

:roflmho:

 

Nothing like using high tech methods to study the lowest of low tech.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

 

 

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I wonder if anyone has a scanning electron microscope to conform these findings by means of X-Ray florescence?

 

:roflmho:

 

Nothing like using high tech methods to study the lowest of low tech.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

I could do that fairly easily, but I do not have one of these Jinhao nibs. I am planning to stick a few old vintage nib into an SEM (scanning electron microscope) to try and see if the alloys differ greatly between old manufacturers (Waterman & Mabie todd since those are the only 2 that I have).

 

Being a materials engineer with a heavy focus on metals, I would not say nibs are the lowest of tech! In fact, I find them extremely interesting from a scientific standpoint! But then again maybe I'm just the odd man out :P

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I could do that fairly easily, but I do not have one of these Jinhao nibs. I am planning to stick a few old vintage nib into an SEM (scanning electron microscope) to try and see if the alloys differ greatly between old manufacturers (Waterman & Mabie todd since those are the only 2 that I have).

 

Being a materials engineer with a heavy focus on metals, I would not say nibs are the lowest of tech! In fact, I find them extremely interesting from a scientific standpoint! But then again maybe I'm just the odd man out :P

 

I'm studying mechanical engineering and I quite enjoy material engineering. I wish I had a SEM lying around!

There might be one in the engineering building at my school, maybe I'll just beg to use it! :P

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  • 11 years later...
On 7/21/2012 at 1:56 PM, Maer said:

 

 

I could do that fairly easily, but I do not have one of these Jinhao nibs. I am planning to stick a few old vintage nib into an SEM (scanning electron microscope) to try and see if the alloys differ greatly between old manufacturers (Waterman & Mabie todd since those are the only 2 that I have).

 

Being a materials engineer with a heavy focus on metals, I would not say nibs are the lowest of tech! In fact, I find them extremely interesting from a scientific standpoint! But then again maybe I'm just the odd man out :P

 

 

I'm studying mechanical engineering and I quite enjoy material engineering. I wish I had a SEM lying around!

There might be one in the engineering building at my school, maybe I'll just beg to use it! :P

And the results are.... ?

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