Ebony Wood Care

[Blueberry567]

Hello, I'm getting a sailor ebony wood sapporo for xmas. Is there any precautions I should take when this pen is in and out of use? For reference I live in Scotland.

[Algester]

without knowing how the wood was treated I would take a guess that humidity maybe your major problem

[Tinjapan]

This is a good question and one I have about akl my pens. I would to know how ech was treated/finished so that I can reapply whatever when needed.

[rutherfordr]

I always use lemon oil once a year, usually in the autumn, to keep the ebony moisturized. I have ebony figurines, though, not a fountain pen.

 

A little bit of oil goes a long, long way, and it would be unfortunate to have a slippery pen barrel!

[amk]

Japanese wooden swords (bokken) are given a wipe with camellia oil from time to time. You only need a tiny smear of it. Also works well with metal tools in a somewhat damp workshop.

[Gasquolet]

I remember there was mention in a review of an older series of these pens that the wood is pressure stabilised, never did find out if that was the case though. Having seen the pen in the Iron wood finish I'd be careful applying oil, it seems that the factory finish is very fine, almost like a wax, not a coating. An oil on top of that could result is a much shinier pen than you start with.

 

Camellia and Lemon are okay and a wipe on/ wipe off short term treatment but ebony is naturally oily so I'm not sure about the need to add more unless you're trying to maintain a shine and I'd steer clear of oxidising oils like teak or danish oil - anything linseed or tung based, just because in my experience this type of oil on dense grained oily wood can result in a sticky mess for days.

(here speaks someone who turns wood and has ruined hours of work in the last moments of 'maybe this'll make it look nice...')

 

Oils from your hands when you handle the pen will likely be enough to keep the wood conditioned. You may need to expect some evolution of the finish where it rubs/ gets handled though. Wabi-Sabi - I'm a big fan of that.

 

I think you will find unless you let the wood get saturated and then force dry it with heat or similar, it'll be very stable. Ebony is traditionally used on guitar fretboards where often is is only polished, not coated. Also black piano keys.

 

The only thing about the Scottish connection I'd be aware of is if like me you have central heating on in the winter but not in the summer, the humidity in your house will be much lower in the winter as a result. If you're not using the pen I'd store it in a desk drawer or somewhere that will stabilise the environment round it, away from direct heat.

[Blueberry567]

I got in contact with sailor and this is their response "Provided you do not leave your pen outside in freezing weather you should not need to take any special precautions to protect your pen." Thank you all for the great advice on wood care.

[aardvarkbark]

Manufacturer's recommendations are often the best. Lemon oil may attract and hold grime. A furniture wax (not polish) may add a protective layer, but you'd lose the natural feel of the wood, I'd think, which should be part of the pleasure of writing with a wood pen.