Bleach Vs Amonia To Clean Out Old Ink?

[Ink Stained Wretch]

More of a question about stinky pens rather than cleaning out old ink, but it is a cleaning issue.

 

Preface: the danger of a reaction with ammonia is understood and acknowledged (I love that geeky chemistry talk. .

 

I have an Aurora Talentum that has developed a rancid 'dirty wash cloth' smell. This smell is extremely persistent, and has resisted every attempt to clean. I have tried ammonia, commercial pen flush, airing, etc. to no avail. Last night, I completely disassembled the pen (including the disassembly of the converter, removal of the clip, removing the nib from the section) and cleaned and dried each component. The smell persists regardless of the ink being used, so it is definitely the pen.

 

When I went to fill the pen this morning, you guessed it: odor is still there.

 

I would try this: I would disassemble the pen, put the parts in different places, and after an hour or so I'd smell each one separately. By doing this you might be able to isolate one part that's got the stinkys. Then you could concentrate on that part and not bother the rest of the fountain pen. If more than one part is stinky then isolate those from the parts that don't have the odor and work on them.

 

[Ron Z]

A better thing to do would to buy some Shaklee Basic-G. It's a Germacide that will kill about any bug or mold, and should kill the smell. Pen mechanics have used it safely for years to kill mold in pens. The other stuff..... no.

 

Do a Google search. You'll find a number of sources.

[AnnieB123]

A better thing to do would to buy some Shaklee Basic-G. It's a Germacide that will kill about any bug or mold, and should kill the smell. Pen mechanics have used it safely for years to kill mold in pens. The other stuff..... no.

 

Do a Google search. You'll find a number of sources.

 

Thanks for the recommendation. I wasn't aware of this stuff, even though my mum is a shaklee groupie

 

I've been collecting other peoples' junque pens for years and old pens which have been stored in a coffee can in great aunt edna's garage since 1957 can smell pretty rank.

[FarmBoy]

The ingredients can be found in the MSDS for those interested in such things. It is a rather standard disinfectant spray. Not listed will be any dyes or odorants.

 

http://images.shaklee.com/library/Basic-G-Germicide-MSDS.pdf

[Ron Z]

I don't especially like the fragrance of the stuff, but it's better than the it's designed to kill.

[OcalaFlGuy]

CAUTION ! Ammonia + Chlorine = DEATH . (This is no joke.)

 

It will sure mess your whole day up.

 

Life Lesson #48

When you're 9 with your chemistry set, A Lot More isn't Nearly always Any Better.

 

DAMHIK, IJK, OK?

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[OcalaFlGuy]

with a drop or two of Dawn dish detergent (I like Dawn for its grease/oil cutting abilities, in general -- YMMV).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Mine doesn't FWTW.

 

Dawn is indeed the kitties jammies.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[hruodger]

It happened to me with a Montblanc scented ink (chocolate). First tried with water, then soap, ammonia and finally bleach. None of these worked. Then I used a mix of water and acetic acid (vinegar), in proportion of one cup and two spoons. I left the pen in the cup for about an hour, then I cleaned it in rinse water and voila!!! The chocolate smell was gone!!!

 

Maybe this could help for that smell.

 

Regards

[rcksil]

The funny thing is I picked up some pen cleaner locally and it defiantly has bleach in it. Maybe a small bottle of ammonia would be a tad cheaper.