Ebonite

[fierdog]

I see ebonite feeds mentioned frequently here. I thought it might be an exotic material, but it sounds like an early plastic. What's the deal? why is it so good?

[errantmarginalia]

I see ebonite feeds mentioned frequently here. I thought it might be an exotic material, but it sounds like an early plastic. What's the deal? why is it so good?

 

Cf. psfred's explanation. Best,

David

Edited May 28, 2008 by cellulophile

[Garageboy]

Ebonite aka vulcanized rubber aka car tires

[CharlieB]

I'm trying to reconcile the two previous posts....

 

If ebonite can be saturated, then I'm sure it would NOT be a good material for car tires!

[vermiculus]

I'm trying to reconcile the two previous posts....

 

If ebonite can be saturated, then I'm sure it would NOT be a good material for car tires!

It's not quite exactly the same material :roflmho:

[psfred]

Ebonite is a trade name for hard rubber -- that is, natural rubber with a high sulfur content vulanized (baked) until it's quite hard, although the stuff used for feeds isn't as hard as the stuff used for barrels, I don't think.

 

The real advantage of hard rubber for feeds is not that it's porous, because it isn't, but because it "wets" with water (it's hydrophilic) unlike most plastics, which are quite hydrophopic and repel water. The best plastic feeds are both roughened and composed of materials that give them some hydrophilic characteristics to improve ink flow. After all, capillary action requires that the ink "stick" to the feed nicely to draw it up under the nib so it can flow down the slit onto the paper, and a material that does not "stick" to water will produce less flow than one that does under these conditions.

 

That said, hard rubber isn't as easy to make a modern feed out of -- Parker used a hard rubber "feed" in the "51", but the collector was acrylic, and performs many of the functions that the feed usually does, especially buffering ink flow to the nib itself.

 

Hope that helps clear things up.

 

Peter

[errantmarginalia]

Ebonite is a trade name for hard rubber -- that is, natural rubber with a high sulfur content vulanized (baked) until it's quite hard, although the stuff used for feeds isn't as hard as the stuff used for barrels, I don't think.

 

The real advantage of hard rubber for feeds is not that it's porous, because it isn't, but because it "wets" with water (it's hydrophilic) unlike most plastics, which are quite hydrophopic and repel water. The best plastic feeds are both roughened and composed of materials that give them some hydrophilic characteristics to improve ink flow. After all, capillary action requires that the ink "stick" to the feed nicely to draw it up under the nib so it can flow down the slit onto the paper, and a material that does not "stick" to water will produce less flow than one that does under these conditions.

 

That said, hard rubber isn't as easy to make a modern feed out of -- Parker used a hard rubber "feed" in the "51", but the collector was acrylic, and performs many of the functions that the feed usually does, especially buffering ink flow to the nib itself.

 

Hope that helps clear things up.

 

Peter

 

Oops. That's what I meant to say ;-).

[fierdog]

Ebonite is a trade name for hard rubber -- that is, natural rubber with a high sulfur content vulanized (baked) until it's quite hard, although the stuff used for feeds isn't as hard as the stuff used for barrels, I don't think.

 

The real advantage of hard rubber for feeds is not that it's porous, because it isn't, but because it "wets" with water (it's hydrophilic) unlike most plastics, which are quite hydrophopic and repel water. The best plastic feeds are both roughened and composed of materials that give them some hydrophilic characteristics to improve ink flow. After all, capillary action requires that the ink "stick" to the feed nicely to draw it up under the nib so it can flow down the slit onto the paper, and a material that does not "stick" to water will produce less flow than one that does under these conditions.

 

That said, hard rubber isn't as easy to make a modern feed out of -- Parker used a hard rubber "feed" in the "51", but the collector was acrylic, and performs many of the functions that the feed usually does, especially buffering ink flow to the nib itself.

 

Hope that helps clear things up.

 

Peter

 

Absolutly! Thanks for the explanation!

[donwinn]

Ebonite aka vulcanized rubber aka car tires

 

Bowling balls are also made from ebonite. Not all vulcanized rubber is ebonite, but all ebonite is vulcanized rubber. I do not know if ebonite feeds and pen barrels are as hard as bowling balls, but for certain they(pens and feeds thereof) are not as heavy. I think I own one ebonite pen, with probably an ebonite feed. It is a Sheaffer Lifetime flattop, made around 1928, according to Doc Nib, from whom I purchased it (not affiliated). I believe its manufacture predates resin & plastic pens, so I am deducing, possibly erroneously, that it is ebonite. It is light in weight, feels good to the hand, and writes pretty well, for an 80 year old pen. I hope I work as well when I am 80. According to my wife, I will have to improve to accomplish that, but then, she is not long on encouragement.

 

Donnie

[dfurlano]

Bowling balls are not made from ebonite.

Edited June 2, 2008 by dfurlano

[donwinn]

According to Wikipedia, bowling balls may be made from rubber [ebonite] urethane, and several other materials. It was not until the 70s that substances other than ebonite were used for bowling balls. I did not verify whether or not any manufacturers currently use ebonite for bowling balls, but there are plenty of ebonite balls sitting in bowling alleys across the US, as "house balls" for those of us who do not own our own bowling ball. The leading manufacture of bowling balls is Ebonite Corp, which used to make all their bowling balls from ebonite, thence the name.

 

It would be an interesting side trip to research and find out how many automobile tires are actually made of rubber, or if they contain rubber, what the percentage of rubber content is of various tires.

 

Donnie

[dfurlano]

You may find some real old bowling balls made from ebonite but that would be all you would find. Ebonite is a nasty material to make and is not cheap.

[tfwall]

You may find some real old bowling balls made from ebonite but that would be all you would find. Ebonite is a nasty material to make and is not cheap.

 

Do you have anything to back this up or are you just trying to be provocative? Donnie gave us some support for his statement, do the same and give us something to evaluate your remarks by.

[dfurlano]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH43_Ae-sHo

 

Also I like to research materials and although some topics like ebonite are difficult to find any good research or writings I did find and buy this book:

 

http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?S...-_-nonisbn-_-na

 

Published in 1958 not the most current but I assume from other things I have read that the technology of making this material has not changed significantly. One of the most difficult parts of the process is the curing of the rubber/sulfer mix. Since fillers greatly effect the curing and final product there is a lot of art to making ebonite in colors.

Edited June 3, 2008 by dfurlano

[tfwall]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH43_Ae-sHo

 

An interesting clip, but it doesn't mention either way whether the balls are made are from ebonite. It merely remarks that they are made from a resin mixed with varying degrees of glass fillers and that through some process it becomes a hard outer ball.

[tfwall]

One of the most difficult parts of the process is the curing of the rubber/sulfer mix. Since fillers greatly effect the curing and final product there is a lot of art to making ebonite in colors.

 

Which you would hope would be well known to a company using the material as both their name and their major production material...

 

[dfurlano]

 

Well in an effort to find the truth I email the Ebonite International Corporation as follows:

 

"We have a raging debate over some facts that I am hoping you can clear up. Although your company is Ebonite International we are having a disagreement if bowling balls actually contain ebonite (rubber/sulfur vulcanite). Can you tell us if they do or if they did about when? Also if they were would they still be in use?

 

This information will help us all be friends again.

 

Thanks"

 

So we will all learn something.

 

Dan

 

 

 

Edited June 3, 2008 by dfurlano