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Restoring Steel Vintage Nibs

siamackz

By siamackz
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siamackz

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I have a few steel vintage wartime MB nibs. They seem rusted (?)

 

Is there a way to restore them?

Edited by siamackz

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Rosetta59 Mint

Rosetta59

Posted
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There is always the way to restore something, some pictures would help to answer...

Greetings from Italy to you all !!

;)

 

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chunya Collectors Item

chunya

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+1

 

It would also be good to see what nibs they are and what the tipping is like, you never know there may be owners of wartime pens who would welcome a 'new' nib. :)

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  • 4 weeks later...
siamackz Collectors Item

siamackz

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Heres pics of the steel nib on a beautiful 134 I just purchased. There is a lot of pitting. What can I do? Should I fill the pits with solder? And how can I stop the pen from corroding further? Thanks!

fpn_1536165509__8f1717bc-101c-44c7-a4d6-

Edited by siamackz

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Ron Z Museum Piece

Ron Z

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I do not thing that solder would work because the surface has to be absolutely clean, which is why you need flux. Then you'll need to smooth and polish the repair if it does stick. There also doesn't seem to be much if any tipping, but the contact area is pitted as well.

 

I would not do the repair, but rather would shop for a replacement nib. It may take a while, but parts "happen."

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siamackz Collectors Item

siamackz

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I do not thing that solder would work because the surface has to be absolutely clean, which is why you need flux. Then you'll need to smooth and polish the repair if it does stick. There also doesn't seem to be much if any tipping, but the contact area is pitted as well.

 

I would not do the repair, but rather would shop for a replacement nib. It may take a while, but parts "happen."

Thanks Ron! I am glad you replied, even though I was afraid to hear what you said. Ill start looking around

My Vintage Montblanc Website--> link

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siamackz Collectors Item

siamackz

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Preservation is sometime hard on the budget.

 

I wonder if you eletroplate it with 14k and polish. This way it is preserved forever!

 

Either this or gold leaf it!

I will explore this option. Thanks

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Ron Z Museum Piece

Ron Z

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Any plating has flaws that allow things to get under the plating. Look at the plating on the trim rings at the end of sections that are pitted and corroded.

 

If you do decide to plate, polish first, then plate.

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CS388 Antique

CS388

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Posted

Heres pics of the steel nib on a beautiful 134 I just purchased. There is a lot of pitting. What can I do? Should I fill the pits with solder? And how can I stop the pen from corroding further? Thanks!

fpn_1536165509__8f1717bc-101c-44c7-a4d6-

 

How do they write?

 

My MB steel wartime nibs are amongst my favourites. When I first got a few, I stopped using the MB gold nibs altogether, for a while. There's always one in my daily mix (234½ today)

 

If they write, I would leave them as they are and use them?

I fear a restoration on these could be prohibitively priced specialist work?

But, I'm just guessing, here.

And I find that Ron Z's advice is usually on the mark.

 

Good luck.

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siamackz Collectors Item

siamackz

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I don't seem to have much to lose, so I'm going to try to clean the pits, then fill with silver solder, sand/polish, and then plate with rhodium (my jeweller friend will do this for free). I'll keep you guys posted!

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  • 2 months later...
siamackz Collectors Item

siamackz

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Update:

 

I went to my friend's jewellery manufacturing outfit. He has laser welding machines. So, we decided to do the following:

1. Fill the pits with 22k gold (because that's all he had at his place).

2. Then rhodium plate the nib

 

The results are not too bad, especially considering that none of the nob experts around the world agreed to work on this nib (and I know why - it took much time and experimentation)! I will need to sort out the nib tip, but the rest of the nib is good enough for me, for now :)

fpn_1544269796__img_4157.jpg

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bass1193 Extremely Rare

bass1193

Posted
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Between this and the nib welding thread, your friend has done some great work! With his setup, he'd probably have no problem fixing the tipping too. Weld on some platinum group with the nib shimmed to match the kerf of his narrowest saw, then slit and polish.

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siamackz Collectors Item

siamackz

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Between this and the nib welding thread, your friend has done some great work! With his setup, he'd probably have no problem fixing the tipping too. Weld on some platinum group with the nib shimmed to match the kerf of his narrowest saw, then slit and polish.

Have you tried tipping? If yes, Id love some detailed tips so I can try it

My Vintage Montblanc Website--> link

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