Well, This Was Unexpected...

[fullfederhalter]

At the flea market today I bought a typical silver/grey Esterbrook dollar pen. It had what appeared to be some dried ink on the portion of the barrel covered by the cap. No big deal I thought. A little light cleaning in the ultrasonic cleaner would remove it. When I got home I put it in the ultrasonic cleaner and set the timer for 10 minutes. I checked after the cycle was over and found that the water had turned a turquoise color, but the stain was still there. I did not change the water as I typically do, and set the cycle for another 10 minutes. I went back about an hour later to check. The water was much darker and I could not see the parts. I reached in and was shocked to see that the plastic had changed to the uniform teal color you see in the pic below. I wiped the parts down with a cloth, expecting the color to wipe away, but it did not. The entire pen is now stained. However, I quite like the color. Has anyone had a similar experience?

Edited July 24, 2016 by fullfederhalter

[Sailor Kenshin]

At the flea market today I bought a typical silver/grey Esterbrook dollar pen. It had what appeared to be some dried ink on the portion of the barrel covered by the cap. No big deal I thought. A little light cleaning in the ultrasound cleaner would remove it. When I got home I put it in the ultrasound and set the timer for 10 minutes. I checked after the cycle was over and found that the water had turned a turquoise color, but the stain was still there. I did not change the water as I typically do, and set the cycle for another 10 minutes. I went back about an hour later to check. The water was much darker and I could not see the parts. I reached in and was shocked to see that the plastic had changed to the uniform teal color you see in the pic below. I wiped the parts down with a cloth, expecting the color to wipe away, but it did not. The entire pen is now stained. However, I quite like the color. Has anyone had a similar experience?

No...but it's pretty. And one of a kind.

[DanDeM]

You put the entire pen to soak for more than an hour!?!?!

Strongly urge you open the pen to let the JBar and lever retaining-ring dry before they rust.

And scoop out what’s left of the sac and the ink that has stained the pen. It will be an ugly job.

Hope it was a bargain.

[fullfederhalter]

It was a bargain at $3.00. The ultrasound cycle ended after 10 minutes, although I got sidetracked and did not retrieve the pen until an hour had passed. I did remove the sac and J bar with no problem afterwards. Since the barrel was already stained, this actually improved its appearance. Nevertheless, I learned a valuable lesson about ultrasonic cleaners and residual ink.

Edited July 24, 2016 by fullfederhalter

[ac12]

Yes it has happened before.

 

I would NOT put a pen barrel or cap into an USC. There are too many places that an USC will drive water into, and which are difficult to impossible to get the water back out of. And all the ferrous metal parts that could rust, such as: the lever, the J-bar/pressure bar, the C ring, the clip, the parts on the ends of the pen.

 

Now the question, will the ink leach back out as you hold the pen.

Edited July 25, 2016 by ac12

[Hobiwan]

I wiped the parts down with a cloth, expecting the color to wipe away, but it did not. The entire pen is now stained. However, I quite like the color. Has anyone had a similar experience?

 

 

I had a similar experience (only different); I once had a Waterman olive ripple desk pen base (no pen). After asking around a bit, I was given an olive ripple desk pen by a fellow collector. After cleaning it off I discovered, to my surprise and chagrin, that it was a Rose ripple pen. Seems the dirt & crud made the red part look brown.

 

But your experience is quite unique. If the color doesn't rub or wash off, could be that the ink somehow chemically bonded with the plastic. I'd just put a nice coat of polish on it and admire. It does look one-of-a-kind.

[Brian Anderson]

I agree with Dan. Open that barrel up and remove the J bar, I'd try to blow out the lever box area to make sure there is no water by the lever ring. If there is, it will rust, and will cause a bulge to form at the lever box. Never throw a barrel in an ultrasonic if it has any metal parts in it. An all plastic barrel is one thing. Caps are ok to put in an ultrasonic as long as you let it dry out for several days afterwards, or you pull the inner cap (not recommended). Usual caveats apply, any small cracks will become disastrous in an ultrasonic and you'll be left with parts.

 

Now, for the color, if you want it to come off, try simichrome on it and I'll be it works. Also, you could try micro-mesh on it as well, but I'll be it comes off with simichrome.

[Sailor Kenshin]

But it's PRETTTYYYYYY.

[bsenn]

Its what it would look look like if Kullock made Estie parts...

[estie1948]

That is a pretty Esterbrook! Hopefully you got everything dry enough and it last in great shape. Ultra sonic cleaners are very helpful for sections, nibs, and feeds. I haven't the kind of luck that would produce anything like a good result if I put in a whole pen.

 

I applaud you for your honesty. Just think how you would have set us all to searching everything Esterbrook if you had said you bought the pen in that color!

 

-David (Estie).

[Jobesmirage]

Thats... a really good looking pen and I had no idea that anything like that could happen in an ultrasonic cleaner. Ill be a little more wary with mines

[Orpilorp]

You may have stumbled into a new side business of custom tinting pens. I'd like to see what could be done with a white Lamy Safari.