Light polishing of Estie?

[KCat]

I'd like to give the J-series Esterbrook I've repaired a light polishing. Used a polish that really did nothing for the pen and am wondering what is a good, safe choice. It has a good imprint and no dings or major scratches so I don't need to do much.

 

suggestions? warnings?

 

currently I have flitz and Terry's Pen polish (for modern pens) and that's it.

[Dennis Lively]

I am a simichrome kid all of the way. It has a light abrasive that will bring the shine back to any pen. Other polishes I have tried are just too mild.

 

Esties are the sherman tanks of the pen world. Great material to work with. It can handle a vigorous polishing and come back for more. If it has a strong imprint you should take a white grease pencil or white crayon and color/fill in the imprint and with a soft cloth wipe off the excess. It will make the imprint jump out at you and look fantastic to say the least. The darker the pen the better for this btw.

 

No warnings per se. Just take your time, after the initial polish hit it again with a piecs of an old flannel shirt and watch that baby shine like a new penny.

 

Dennis

[KCat]

No warnings per se. Just take your time, after the initial polish hit it again with a piecs of an old flannel shirt and watch that baby shine like a new penny.

 

Dennis

but... but...

 

i like my old flannel shirts.

 

seriously - thanks for the input. It's not my pen so I wanted to make sure I don't muck it up. it's already in such great condition. I didn't ask how my sister acquired it. I'm never the sumgal.

[Keith with a capital K]

I have been field testing Giovanni's new polish, scratch remover, and pen shine/protectant and have to say that these work extremely well in addiution to my standby of Simichrome.

 

No affiliation...just a satisfied customer.

[AndrewC]

Hey KCat,

I like my flannel shirts too. Have any old receiving blankets around? If not, hit a second hand kids store and pick up some cheap pre-softened flannel polishing rags. My wife couldn't figure out why I wouldn't let her give away all the baby blankets... AndrewC

[Gerry]

You might also consider trying the polish (either part of a kit or separately) available from Martin Smith (Wood Bin). Most of the materials you will neet to restore a fairly banged up Estie are there.

 

Gerry

[usasoccerboy]

Esterbrooks allow a stronger polish as it is harder to scratch. We sand then polish esterbrooks, and we find them easier to shine than most other pens.

[Keith with a capital K]

I'd only sand a pen if it needed it, ie. light scratch removal that won't respond to polish alone.

 

Those little marks let us know that a pen has been used and well loved and trying to remove deeper marks with sanding alone can damage the pen.

[Gerry]

Yes, if the scratch is deep enough to require severe sanding (one that might alter the shape or line of the pen) and you still want to restore, I strongly recommend filling. CA works well, and some specialized 2 part epoxies will do.

 

If you like the character that the scratch brings - by all means embrace that.

 

I repaired a tooth mark left by our puppy in an Esterbrook that I had just restored for my wife. She had left the pen on the coffee table, and Skye investigated. Gave it a sort of hardness test - one squeeze leaving a 1/8 inch diamond shaped depression in the previously unmarked cap..

 

Filled and polished just great. You can still see the spot if you know where to look, since the layer containing the design / texture was also deformed, but the surface is perfect, and it looks like an interesting motteling mark in the typical Esterbrook finish.

 

Gerry

[usasoccerboy]

I'd only sand a pen if it needed it, ie. light scratch removal that won't respond to polish alone.

 

Those little marks let us know that a pen has been used and well loved and trying to remove deeper marks with sanding alone can damage the pen.

Depending on the severity of the pen determines how we sand it. Lighter paper for newer looking (less scratches) pens, and stronger for severer pens. We know a technique that allows for no warping. Basically, it by our method of sanding that we get this result. Our pens come out looking brand new, and our customers usually comment on their appreciation of it.

[usasoccerboy]

Yes, if the scratch is deep enough to require severe sanding (one that might alter the shape or line of the pen) and you still want to restore, I strongly recommend filling. CA works well, and some specialized 2 part epoxies will do.

 

If you like the character that the scratch brings - by all means embrace that.

 

I repaired a tooth mark left by our puppy in an Esterbrook that I had just restored for my wife. She had left the pen on the coffee table, and Skye investigated. Gave it a sort of hardness test - one squeeze leaving a 1/8 inch diamond shaped depression in the previously unmarked cap..

 

Filled and polished just great. You can still see the spot if you know where to look, since the layer containing the design / texture was also deformed, but the surface is perfect, and it looks like an interesting motteling mark in the typical Esterbrook finish.

 

Gerry

We will fill certain cracks too, but when filling in black pens, clean the crack, and then when dry, take a sharpy marker and paint the crack black, then use the filling material. This really makes the repair look unnoticeable, especially if you use a filling material that dries clearly, and not cloudy.

[KendallJ]

I have been field testing Giovanni's new polish, scratch remover, and pen shine/protectant and have to say that these work extremely well in addiution to my standby of Simichrome.

Keith,

 

Walk me through which of these you use when and what you think each is good for. How much do you use at a time. I just received the 3 pack and a small vial of pen wax. Want to put a nice finish ona couple of my vintage.

 

Ansy source for lint free cloths (other than flanel shirts )?

[Keith with a capital K]

Kendall,

 

I apply all three of these with a q-tip and use a fairly small amount... just enough to cover the pen's surface.

 

Apply the scratch remover, let it dry and buff the pen by hand with a soft cloth.

 

Apply the polish and buff out with a soft cloth.

 

Apply the polish/protectant and buff with a soft cloth.

 

It's pretty simple and straightforward. For pens needing a little more aggressive scratch removal I use Simichrome instead of Gio's scratch remover.

 

I do use soft flannel and quite often it is the tail of my work shirt. The microfibre cloths that are now available work really well for polishing too.

[KendallJ]

hmm interesting. So the scratch removal is actually done when you buff it off after it is dry? This works sort of like a car wax?

 

I fancy trying this on a couple of vintage pens. If it works well, well then heck, sky's the limit right?

Edited February 26, 2005 by KendallJ

[Keith with a capital K]

It can work wonders and you should be impressed how a little work can result in such a wonderful transformation.

[Maja]

Quick question:

Anyone try Turtle Wax as a pen polishing compound? (I think Corien uses it)

Any thoughts on it?

 

Thanks in advance,

Maja

[KCat]

Corien sent me a sample. I found it about as good as the New Pen polish - perhaps more aggressive? But I haven't really used it extensively to judge it fully.

 

I have also used carnauba wax for a little shine on plastic like the Sheaffers where you can't really take the nicks out.

 

I have only tried these with handbuffing. Carnauba has the occasional bit of something gritty? in it.

[KendallJ]

Cat, got your buffs yet? waiting for a review...

 

ordered some myself.

[KCat]

got them but can't test drive yet. i'm not comfortable with using them at 3500 rpm. At least, not on a pen.

[KendallJ]

Kendall,

 

I apply all three of these with a q-tip and use a fairly small amount... just enough to cover the pen's surface.

 

Apply the scratch remover, let it dry and buff the pen by hand with a soft cloth.

 

Apply the polish and buff out with a soft cloth.

 

Apply the polish/protectant and buff with a soft cloth.

 

It's pretty simple and straightforward. For pens needing a little more aggressive scratch removal I use Simichrome instead of Gio's scratch remover.

OK Keith. I am doing something wrong. Got my first Esties off of the Bay and cleaning up the bodies' while the sections and nibs are soaking.

 

I like the polish and cleaner, but I'm not convinced on the scrath remover. Applied it. let it dry, and it is a "bugger" to get off. In fact, once it was dry, I couldn't get it out by just buffing. I actually had to remoisten it to get it to do something.

 

What am I doing wrong?