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Tips For Removing Personalisation On A Pen Barrel.

Paul80

By Paul80
in Repair Q&A

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Paul80 Collectors Item

Paul80

Posted
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Hi all

 

Looking for a little advice, don't know if this is possible

 

I have a Sheaffer Balance Vac filler in black, that's in excellent condition with one little distraction, the barrel has someone's name on it, it's not the usual engraving but looks like the letters were pressed in when hot, then the letters were filled with what might be yellow paint.

 

Are there any safe option the remove or minimise this so that it's not so obvious.

 

Thanks for any tips if it's even possible.

 

Thanks

 

Paul

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Honeybadgers Donor Pen

Honeybadgers

Posted
Posted

removing the paint with a very fine dental pick is probably possible (and usually goes a long way in hiding the personalization), but you aren't going to get those letters out without sanding a huge flat spot in the pen that would look worse.

Selling a boatload of restored, fairly rare, vintage Japanese gold nib pens, click here to see (more added as I finish restoring them)

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siamackz Collectors Item

siamackz

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Maybe naphtha to wipe off the paint and a little help with some toothpicks, and then I would use black china chalk to fill in the imprint just to make it a little less noticeable. If it still annoys me and prevents me from enjoying the pen then I might be tempted to fill the imprint with black celluloid slurry (celluloid shavings + acetone), and then micromesh to smoothen and blend with the rest of the pen but this is very very hard to do in a way that shows absolutely no signs of work being done and requires much artistic skill and practice (that I dont have yet). So, I try to be content with the least invasive option.

My Vintage Montblanc Website--> link

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Karmachanic Donor Pen

Karmachanic

Posted
Posted

Hmmm.

 

1) Don't pay attention to it.

2) Change your name.

 

:D

Add lightness and simplicate.

 

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Ron Z Museum Piece

Ron Z

Posted
Posted

While I have removed names, I don't do it for clients, and don't recommend amateurs doing it because of the risks. It takes finesse, skill and a luck.

 

Sanding the barrel down gives you a big ugly flat spot. Using heat to lift the stamping works, but the risk of over heating and warping the pen, or worse, igniting the pen can not be over stated. You have to strip the barrel completely, removing lever and spring ring so that the ring doesn't push out the barrel wall, but you also have to watch for an "innie" where the ring is. Deep imprints are nearly impossible to remove.

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Paul80 Collectors Item

Paul80

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Thanks Ron

 

Might just settle for removing the colour and levelling the raised edge from the impression.

 

It's got to be fully stripped for replacement of the packing so will have a re-think once it's stripped.

 

Paul

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Buzz J Vintage

Buzz J

Posted
Posted

I posted this many years ago.

 

This Skyline came to me with a barrel flat spot that obviously used to be a personalization. For reasons I no longer remember, I heated the barrel and on the previously flat spot, up popped the personalization in bas-relief. Evidently the original personaliztion was pressed in (material displaced) rather than carved (material removed). The pressing created a denser plastic in the letter shapes which when heated, reverted to it's original density and popped out.

 

Somehow, I think Bob Fitzmorris would approve.

 

bobfitzmorris3.jpg

so many pens, so little time.......

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pajaro Museum Piece

pajaro

Posted
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I have had Parker 51s with the big ugly gouged area where a name once proudly resided. My solution was to seek a new barrel. used or NOS, as available. Ariel Kullock was a good source. There are other good sources In the long run, if a barrel is available, it is the better choice, because trying to remove the name from the barrel or cap (seek a new cap) is just too much worry and risk. If you can't find a replacement part at all, live with it or sell the pen. I have, on being unable to replace a part, sold the pen and bought another without personalization or message.

Edited by pajaro

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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Timeline Rare

Timeline

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Unless the name itself is very annoying or the name is offensive, learn to live with it, there is a reason the price was so good.

http://mark.intervex.net/fpn/images/LetterExchange.png

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Timeline Rare

Timeline

Posted
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Like I posted, unless it is offensive. If there was a pen that had his name and there was documentation proving he wrote with it, I'm sure there would be quite a bit of interest in it.

http://mark.intervex.net/fpn/images/LetterExchange.png

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northstar Donor Pen

northstar

Posted
Posted

+1 for a new barrel

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous  Who taught by the pen

Taught man that which he knew not (96/3-5)

Snailmail3.png Snail Mail 

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CraigR Collectors Item

CraigR

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For a daily user pen, the inscription doesn't usually bother me. If it is a pen that I consider "collectible," I will scrounge for a replacement barrel that would retain the authenticity of the pen. I have a couple of such pens that I will take with me to the next pen show I attend and search for barrels. Overall, I really don't mind someone's name on the pen. I didn't buy it new and I know that it resided in another person's hand at some time. It would be fun to know the stories those pens could tell.

A consumer and purveyor of words.

 

Co-editor and writer for Faith On Every Corner Magazine

Magazine - http://www.faithoneverycorner.com/magazine.html

 

 

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1nkulus Collectors Item

1nkulus

Posted
Posted

Unless the name itself is very annoying or the name is offensive, learn to live with it, there is a reason the price was so good.

+1

 

The chances of failure are quite high in attempting to fix it.

Sourcing a new barrel/cap is easier else sell it.

Engineer :

Someone who does precision guesswork based on unreliable data provided by those of questionable knowledge.

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purplepen Mint

purplepen

Posted
Posted

I kinda like it - makes me wonder about the past owners. One of my favorite Esterbrooks has the name Joanne Helke on it. Thank you Joanne for saving this pen.

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Ron Z Museum Piece

Ron Z

Posted
Posted

Then there was Mable Moses. I don't know who she was, but I like the name, and the pen she owned was a very nice pen. The pen to us now IS Mable Moses.

 

Richard Binder did an interesting article on the owners of some pens a couple of years ago. Interesting reading.

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enchiridion Mint

enchiridion

Posted
Posted (edited)

Maybe naphtha to wipe off the paint and a little help with some toothpicks, and then I would use black china chalk to fill in the imprint just to make it a little less noticeable. If it still annoys me and prevents me from enjoying the pen then I might be tempted to fill the imprint with black celluloid slurry (celluloid shavings + acetone), and then micromesh to smoothen and blend with the rest of the pen but this is very very hard to do in a way that shows absolutely no signs of work being done and requires much artistic skill and practice (that I dont have yet). So, I try to be content with the least invasive option.

 

be careful if the barrel is made of acrylate or acetate acetone will melt it.

Edited by enchiridion

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
www.bermond.be

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FarmBoy Museum Piece

FarmBoy

Posted
Posted

I still agree with Mike, among the best engravings on pens is "PROPERTY OF DICK ASSMAN"...

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

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FarmBoy Museum Piece

FarmBoy

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I still agree with Mike, among the best engravings on pens is "PROPERTY OF DICK ASSMAN"...

Found it...Post 5 and 40

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

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