Black Hard Rubber degradation - any way to slow?
#1
Posted 19 May 2013 - 02:42 PM
Is there any way to slow the degradation of BHR?
I've noticed my CS200 is lightening in areas, and I really don't want to see it turn brown all over! The area covered by the cap is still really crisp and black, as is the cap.
Is there a way I can slow this process?
Best wishes
Robin
#2
Posted 19 May 2013 - 04:42 PM
#3
Posted 19 May 2013 - 05:14 PM
I know it won't affect how the pen writes, but it's disappointing to see something fade like that.
#4
Posted 19 May 2013 - 05:56 PM
I seem to remember someone claiming that olive oil could prevent further oxidation. Might be kind of slippery to write with!
Schrödinger's cat walks into a bar. And doesn't.
Regards,
Allan
#5
Posted 19 May 2013 - 06:43 PM
If the pen is smooth, you can often polish away the oxidized layer. I believe the CS200, however, is chased, so you couldn't do much polishing without weakening the chasing.
I seem to remember someone claiming that olive oil could prevent further oxidation. Might be kind of slippery to write with!
It is indeed chased. It has reasonable barrel markings, too, but not amazingly deep. I wouldn't want to weaken them.
Olive oil?! I thought oil + rubber pens was a bad thing - or is it only the petrochemical oils that are a problem?
#6
Posted 19 May 2013 - 07:07 PM
Schrödinger's cat walks into a bar. And doesn't.
Regards,
Allan
#7
Posted 19 May 2013 - 08:12 PM
#8
Posted 19 May 2013 - 10:28 PM
That's a relief - I was worried that it was my handling the pen that had made things worse.
Handling the pen is fine. It is primarily UV light that breaks down to bonds in the rubber that releases the carbon black (rubber would not be black on its own - it needs carbon black). Water, in and of itself, does not hurt hard rubber but, what it does do is wash away the carbon black in broken bonds of rubber showing the oxidization that has occurred. As sections are thick and not exposed nearly so much to light it is generally safe to soak them in water when cleaning old vintage pens.
Roger W.
#9
Posted 20 May 2013 - 02:01 AM
http://www.amazon.co...ywords=uv meter
....and find out how much UV is actually being emitted by in-house light sources. I realize that modern windows are supposed to have UV blockers in them. I'd like to know how effective that is. For instance, if your desk sees sunlight coming in through the window, is it truly blocking UV rays?
And with your pen...if you are a little paranoid about this, maybe keep the pen in a desk drawer when not in use.
#10
Posted 20 May 2013 - 06:31 PM
He is now using a product which is used by automobile repairmen to clean rubber bumpers. Apparently it works, but I would worry about long term effects
Others swear by oven cleaners !
And, yes, by all means, the pen should be kept out of sunlight.
#11
Posted 21 May 2013 - 07:41 PM
I have a pen I treated with a little olive oil to see what it would do. It did seem to make the pen look a bit younger and it hasn't done anything bizarre yet after more than a year... so at the least it doesn't appear to cause any harm.
Tim
Edited by Teej47, 21 May 2013 - 07:42 PM.
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