Protecting A Fireblue?

[trdsf]

The Fireblue arrived over the weekend -- predictably, while I was out of town. The colors are intense and gorgeous and I promise I will take pictures when I get home from work tonight because ooo, pretty.

 

That said... I've heard ominous rumblings that the colors can fade and/or wear off over time, so I would be interested to know if anyone can suggest a protective sealant of some sort, because I want to use this pen, not put it up and look at it and go "ooo, pretty" and be afraid to touch it and make it less pretty.

 

A simple spray (or brush-on) gloss lacquer, perhaps? Or are there better/simpler solutions?

[Uncial]

I've been told (from more than one person) that the oils from your skin will eventually wear the finish off, and it can happen quite quickly. I think you can reflame it relatively easily with a blow torch but a spray lacquer sounds like a good idea if you can get it applied evenly.

[trdsf]

I've been told (from more than one person) that the oils from your skin will eventually wear the finish off, and it can happen quite quickly. I think you can reflame it relatively easily with a blow torch but a spray lacquer sounds like a good idea if you can get it applied evenly.

 

That's the thing I'm mostly concerned about -- the black paint on my Jinhao 611 rapidly wore off where it contacted my hand; I eventually stripped it all off and now it's actually quite a lovely ad hoc "flighter". The stripping happened very quickly, in fact, so I'm a little concerned about my body chemistry vis-à-vis the chemistry of the layer of oxides on the pen.

 

Of course, I don't really want a Liliput "flighter", especially when I paid the premium for the flame treatment.

[trdsf]

Oh, yes - Fireblue pictures!



and

[Spelikan]

The Fireblue arrived over the weekend -- predictably, while I was out of town. The colors are intense and gorgeous and I promise I will take pictures when I get home from work tonight because ooo, pretty.

 

That said... I've heard ominous rumblings that the colors can fade and/or wear off over time, so I would be interested to know if anyone can suggest a protective sealant of some sort, because I want to use this pen, not put it up and look at it and go "ooo, pretty" and be afraid to touch it and make it less pretty.

 

A simple spray (or brush-on) gloss lacquer, perhaps? Or are there better/simpler solutions?

 

 

I've been told (from more than one person) that the oils from your skin will eventually wear the finish off, and it can happen quite quickly. I think you can reflame it relatively easily with a blow torch but a spray lacquer sounds like a good idea if you can get it applied evenly.

 

Oh, my. I saw a Fireblue in person for the first time last week end, and am seriously considering doubling back for it. I loved its weight and presentation, and of course: Blue. I wasn't aware that the finish could potentially wear/fade with regular use, let alone easily, until happening upon this thread just now.

 

Does anyone have before and after images of said Fade, or a tale of successful re-flaming...?

 

 

Oh, yes - Fireblue pictures!

 

 

and

 

 

"Ooo, pretty," indeed!

 

~ S.

[trdsf]

I did swing by a local hardware store and explained what I was trying to do -- that I had a pricey raw steel fountain pen that had been heat treated to bring out colors, and that I wanted some sort of sealant that would protect the finish without altering the colors. So I have a can of clear spray lacquer that I am first testing on other things so that I can be surer of how it will react and how to apply it for best effect.

 

I do not know the brand name off the top of my head; I'll look it up when I get home tonight.

[Spelikan]

I did swing by a local hardware store and explained what I was trying to do -- that I had a pricey raw steel fountain pen that had been heat treated to bring out colors, and that I wanted some sort of sealant that would protect the finish without altering the colors. So I have a can of clear spray lacquer that I am first testing on other things so that I can be surer of how it will react and how to apply it for best effect.

 

I'm interested in hearing how it goes, ie, how the pen feels after you coat it, and how long it lasts?

 

Meanwhile, I've been looking at these:

 

 

... "FIRE TORCH" being slightly outside my preferred desk aesthetic(!), but hey.

 

~ S.

[inkstainedruth]

I'll admit that I love the look of the Fireblue finish. But the price puts me off. I've wondered if it would work to take a less expensive model and go to someone who does metalworking or glass working and have the bluing done by them for me. But I didn't know that the finish could wear off.

So let us know how the lacquer spray works, trdsf. Hmmm. Wonder if artists' spray fixative would also work....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[alanshutko]

These fired pens and nibs seem like a failure in design. They look great but there's nothing protecting the finish. I'd say the manufacturers should be applying lacquer, not the users. So I'm not buying any.

[trdsf]

These fired pens and nibs seem like a failure in design. They look great but there's nothing protecting the finish. I'd say the manufacturers should be applying lacquer, not the users. So I'm not buying any.

 

When I wrote Kaweco customer support, I was told that the change in the Fireblue's patina and colors was part of their plan for the pen, which is why they don't apply a sealant. They want it to be a pen that evolves.

 

Which is fine conceptually, but I have a fairly reactive body chemistry and metal worn against my skin doesn't get an evolving patina, it gets an ugly corrosion. Contact with my hand stripped the paint off my Jinhao 611, and only in the places where it rested in my hand while writing. I eventually stripped it down to metal and made a sort of 'flighter' out of it. The brushed aluminium is relatively safe against my body chemistry. When I wrote back to advise that there were reasons I wanted to protect the pen, she half-heartedly suggested the kind of lacquer they use on brass instruments.

 

What I picked up after consulting with the paints guy at the hardware store and explaining exactly what I was trying to do, was Minwax Clear Gloss Aerosol Lacquer. I put two coats on the above-mentioned Jinhao and once it had fully dried (I let it go a couple days), I took a little Simichrome to it and WOW the metal just glows now. I'm going to put it back into rotation and see how the lacquer reacts to my skin; if nothing happens, then I'll triple-coat and polish the Fireblue and it should look downright tiedyed. A definite plus to this old Deadhead.

 

I also gave a battered old plastic barrel a spritz of the lacquer, and aside of the physical scratches that I didn't bother buffing out, it makes it looks shiny and new. I'd be willing to bet I could get something like piano black on one of my black Esties, but I don't know that I want to mod one of them.

 

I don't think I would recommend it for general restoration, but if you're looking to hot rod an old beater of a pen, it might be a useful 'cheat'.

Edited September 23, 2018 by trdsf

[whichwatch]

I'll be real interested to hear (and hopefully see in person?) the results of your trial. I have a really cool fireblued Kaweco Al Sport that I have hesitated using lest it tarnish or otherwise distort the color, which was custom done on this pen. I like this one a lot due to the slightly larger size than the Lilliput.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B64F47152-2D1C-474F-9C8D-9DEAEC9582F8%7D/origpict/k1.png

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B2CAE8F16-1BEA-4D2E-BFD3-39659E0BB3AE%7D/origpict/k2.png

[trdsf]

Oooo, I think I see my next Kaweco.

 

I'm taking my time before I do anything with it; I am testing several surfaces just to make sure I understand the properties of the process because if I screw it up... well, that thought simply doesn't bear thinking. I brought the Fireblue to the Hub -- don't know if you happened to see it there or not. Untreated, of course.

 

And yeah, I know, I need to start showing up to the monthly meets again. The ones at the Shepard branch are just up the bike path from me, at least!

[Joe in Seattle]

A bit of Carnuba wax might be just as good for protection and be removable and or renewable. But I’ve never tried this. I love my heavily tarnished Kaweco brass

[trdsf]

Preliminary results are encouraging -- the lacquer is rugged enough to stand up to normal pen usage, it appears. However, because I'm a paranoid sort, I'm going to get a piece of raw steel, torch it, and spray it to see how *that* stands up. The pen I'm using as a durability test is aluminium, and I want to be sure about the reaction steel has.

 

I'm also going to disinter one of my black Esterbrook barrels and put a coating on it. I suspect it might approximate the deep lustre of piano black, as if a black J-series wasn't already dripping with Deco loveliness. Might be fun to hotrod an Estie or two... reminds me, I still need to get that home plating kit. I bet a red J would look stunning with a gold clip.