Can leather really harm the pens?

[Tojusi]

I have often read on these forums that if a pen case is made of leather, it should be vegetable tanned and not mineral tanned leather so as not to damage the pens. Apparently, it is said that the chemicals used in the mineral tanning process would be corrosive or otherwise harmful for various metals in the fountain pens and/or for the pen itself.

 

I would now like to get an educated response as to whether the above is true or not, or merely hearsay. So any experts, please step forward.

 

My own hesitation with the above stems from a very non-reliable source: Last week, I had access to a somewhat comprehesive encyclopedia set from the 1960s (!), and the entry for "leather" included a very long description of the various tanning processes. It would appear that that tanning is only one step in making the leather, and even in relation to vegetable tanning there seemed to be steps and procedures steeped with chemicals....

 

/Tojusi

[markc]

What I was told is basically the same. But specific to sterling silver.

 

The suede part of the leather is rough (somewhat) and compounded with the chemicals used to tan leather, it speeds up the oxidation (tarnishing) of the pen.

 

As I am not a chemist, I can't attest to the accuracy of this.. It's what I've been told.

[andy b]

i'm new to the fountain pen world, but in the firearms world, it is recommended to use only vegetable tanned leather for any item that will come in long-term contact with metal firearm parts. i would guess the same holds true for contact with metal FP parts.

 

andy b.

[jicaino]

hardcore chemicals are indeed used in the whole process involved in turning the skin of a skinned animal in leather. Most likely if it's a first quality leather, it would import its stuff from contries where the environ isn't a concern for some industries. If your pen cases are lined with some sort of protective fabric, it will be on the safe side. If your inteds are storing the pens in those leather cases, permanently closed, that can cause a problem. I don't think that leather cases are a downside while transporting your pens, but they're not the safest way to store. BTW some fabrics are pretty darn abrasive on plastics and metals too!

[Shelley]

Yes you are quite correct, whilst there are many methods involved in curing and tanning hides, by far the cheapest fastest and easiest option is to use chemicals that are rather detrimental to silver, brass, and the various alloys that is mixed with gold (pure gold and platinum are immune). There is at least one pen company that produces cases that are specifically designed not to corrode your metal parts-but I can not remember who-might be Aurora or Visconti...also I imagine that the leather cases that are designed to hold cigars are hopefully tanned in some less than volatile substance, and make excellant pen cases.

Finally as long as you keep them dry they should be fine, wipe your pen regularly after use, especially sweat off the metal bits, store them dry, for long term storage, flush, dry, clean and store in tissue paper or similar then you should get noo problems!

[krz]

I have a vintage pen/pencil set that had been in a leather case for years before I got it. Wherever the leather touched on the chrome it was indeed corroded.

[michael_s]

Is it safe to assume that leather pen cases sold by pen manufacturers are vegetable tanned? I have a 7 year old Cross leather pen pouch...

 

-Mike

[Ink Stained Wretch]

Is it safe to assume that leather pen cases sold by pen manufacturers are vegetable tanned? I have a 7 year old Cross leather pen pouch...

Well, I'm hoping so. The two fountain pens I usually carry with me are a pair of Kaweco Sport "Metallic" pens and they're in a small, leather pouch or case that Kaweco sells. I hadn't thought about the leather maybe harming the plastic. And the case itself travels in a Ziplock bag.

 

I do know that cotton really sticks to that leather case. I wonder if that indicates what sort of tanning chemicals were used to tan the leather ?

[pankaj]

Any idea about Visconti leather pen case? Ive recently got one, cradling 24 pens. Reason to worry now :bonk:

[JimStrutton]

Don't rely on cases from pen makers to be safe. I bought a Parker case a while back and that had a warning note inside that it could cause damage to metal pen parts over time.

 

So I store the pens in my pen drawer and just carry the ones I am using in a pen case for protection. Short term I have not seen any harm, even with Parker "51" silver caps that are renown for tarnish.

 

Jim

[FrankB]

pankaj, I have four Visconti 12-pen cases that I have been using for about seven years. I have even stored some pens long term in them and I have yet to see any ill effects on my pens.

 

I like to use leather cigar cases for some of my pens. I have yet to see any problems but I just carry pens in them, I do not store pens in them.

 

This topic is something to think about, isn't it?

[pankaj]

This topic is something to think about, isn't it?

 

Thanks Frank. Yeah, certainly its an issue.

 

Leather apart, I usually insert each pen in a slim tubular polyethelene (LDPE) and put it away in small wooden pen box. A beautiful teak box that I had virtually snatched away from my medico dad. ( sweet memory of my dad, passed away since long). I hve heard ppl say even that poly wrapper might cause harm cuz of chemcial reaction. I'm a bit confused and concerned. Looks like my honest effort and anxiety to save the pens from scratches is going to frustrate :bonk:

 

And that lovely Visconti case.. oh..no..say it again Frank.. it doesn't harm.

[Paddler]

Leather is hygroscopic (unless specially treated); it will absorb moisture from the air. That moisture, along with chemicals in the leather, whether vegetable or not, will begin to corrode metal (gold and platinum excepted). The only way to safely check a pen case would be to put a brass rod or a piece of copper tubing in it for a year and see what happens.

 

Paddler

 

[rroossinck]

I've also seen some effects of leather on my Lamy 2000, and I've wondered if others have seen this too. I've got a two-pen case from Libelle (two, actually), and whenever I pull the 2000 out of it, I've noticed that there's always a visible mark on the pen where it's sat in the leather sleeve. After using the pen, it disappears, but it's a little disconcerting.

 

Anyone else notice this on their 2000?

[tycosiao]

I'm using a MB 2 pen case to store my meisterstruck bp and my wm expertII fp. only the WM's clip corroded whereas the MB stayed as good. the WM's clip is chrome.

[mengsuan]

I feel like removing my pen from the pen case after reading these posts. Btw, anyone heard of Balmain pen case? I've never heard of it, but I've just found one lying around my father's drawer.

[saintsimon]

I learnt it very early with my first soft leather case that silver surfaces tarnish quickly when in contact with leather.

 

Sinple advice: of whatever kind the tanning process is, just keep silver away from leather, e.g. by simply using lined leather cases.

[michael_s]

So does leather have side effects besides tarnishing silver? When I saw the word corrosion, I thought more along the lines of rust instead of tarnish. (Yes, tarnish technically is a form of corrosion...)

 

-Mike