Kaweco Brass Sport Fountain Pen Brass F

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Believe it or not (you can see the video for proof), you can use ketchup to remove tarnish with surprising effectiveness. It doesn't have to be "fancy" ketchup, either. As with any cleaning method, test it on a small area of the pen first. Coat the desired area of brass with ketchup. Let it sit for a minute. Then, clean it off using a paper towel. In this post, I share the reasons why pen enthusiasts are drawn to brass pens. In the accompanying video, you'll learn how to polish your brass using common household ingredients. If you prefer the tarnished look, you'll find a simple, at-home experiment to show you how to age your brass pen overnight. Plus, learn an interesting fact about brass that will give you some peace of mind when lending your pen to someone.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. For pen manufacturing, brass has a relatively low melting point and is more workable than other metals like bronze or zinc. It is corrosion resistant and has a heavier weight than other common pen materials like resin and aluminum. Depending on how much zinc is present, the color of brass can range from a reddish hue to a muted golden yellow. The AL Sport is made of aluminum, a sturdy metal that is lighter than metals like brass or steel. Most AL Sports have matte, anodized finishes that won’t chip or flake, but they can still be gouged by other objects like house keys. Up next, we have the Machine Era Original Brass ballpoint pen. This sleek yet minimalist pen is constructed from fine materials that feel comfortably weighty as your hand glides across the paper yet perfectly balanced for an easy writing experience. A small but noticeable detail is that the brass Sport has a plastic inner cap (something that isn’t present on the aluminium versions of the Sport pens). It sits flush with the edge of the cap, so it is visible (which could be a downside for some). This does offer a very specific benefit that I quite enjoy: whereas capping and uncapping the regular Al Sport pens results in a scratchy metal-on-metal sound, this isn’t the case with the brass one because of the plastic. Opening and closing the pen is much smoother and feels almost ‘cushioned’. In terms of durability this could be a downside as the threads on the inner cap might see some wear after prolonged use. However, so far I haven’t had any issues with it, and it doesn’t deter from the solid feeling of the pen.I haven't noticed any dryout yet, but nothing egregious, and like any fountain pen, regular use is important anyways. Even the famed platinum slip-n-seal should still be used every week or two. But before we get all "mad scientist" on a few brass ballpoint and fountain pens, I want to share a few ways you can remove tarnish from brass. It is natural for brass to patina over time as it reacts to the oxygen in the air and the oils from your skin. Even a brand new pen can exhibit a slight darkening, also called toning, right out of the box. Copper is a reddish-brown metal that’s been used by humans since the Chalcolithic period. This metal is found all over the world, but the highest-quality copper comes from mines in Australia, Chile, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, and the United States. It is valued for its malleability, conductivity, and iconic color, making it one of the most expensive non-precious metals. I opted for the standard pen, and you can see below how it compares to the two short Tactile Turn pens I own. I will say it feels very hefty in the hand, but I really like the feel of it. Finally, it is worth noting that both metals carry some weight, helping to create a pen that not only looks stylish and old-worldly but also feels substantial and valuable in hand. If you prefer a lighter pen, you may want to look for a model made from another material. Understanding Patina and How to Care for Your Pen Copper Patina

Similarly, the patina is how it stops having that "smell" which is caused by the oils in your hands interacting with the metal. Within a week, it'll be gone and your fingers won't smell like brass. It never completely goes away, but it becomes almost invisible. The second cleaning method has a more pleasant, minty smell. Toothpaste contains microabrasives that can polish your pens and your pearly whites. Using an old toothbrush you reserve for cleaning, brush the toothpaste on a small area of the brass ballpoint pen. Gently brush the surface until you start to notice the lightening of the tarnish. Then, wipe down the pen using a polishing cloth or paper towel. This pen oozes expertise with its smooth writing experience, solid one-piece barrel, and finely balanced weight. It comes in standard (5.6”), short (5.1”), and mini (4.4”) sizes, offering the perfect length for any writer. Additionally, there is a slim version of this pen, which may feel more comfortable in smaller hands.A brass fountain pen conveys luxury status through its golden, metallic shine and hefty feel in hand. Many pens use brass as the base of the design, which is then finished in lacquer. The Y Studio Classic Revolve collection, for example, uses the same brass base with 4 different color lacquers.

Then, you have the "raw" brass pens that are not lacquered or varnished. They usually arrive with a polished shine or might appear slightly dulled and tarnished. This is part of the wabi-sabi charm of owning an all-brass pen. If you're after the mirror shine and think you can just keep it nice with a sunshine cloth, you're not going to be able to. Firstly, brass oxidizes fast, so you're gonna be polishing it every other day, and second, the cap has four metal springs that center it and make the cap/uncap feel smooth and tight and keep the whole affair from wiggling about (which makes it feel NICE to cap and uncap) which put long micro scratches down the section and on the base where it posts. These micro scratches will become invisible with time as you let it patina, likely within a week they'll be invisible (but the patina will develop and improve over decades, so brass only looks more and more beautiful with time) My subjects for this experiment are a Retro 51 Raw Brass rollerball pen and a Fisher Space Pen Bullet Raw Brass ballpoint pen. If your pens are not brand new, out of the box, clean the brass surface with a little dish soap and water before proceeding. Make sure they are clean and dry.

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Usually, brass takes a long time to darken and develop a patina. If this type of aesthetic is more appealing to you, then never worry about polishing it. Let's say you don't want to wait the months or years it may take to develop the patina. I'll show you a shortcut using inexpensive, household ingredients. Please remember to be safe and try at your own risk. It is worthwhile to note: the inside barrel threads of the Fisher pen became crusted and needed to be polished to properly screw on the front grip section. Polishing was also needed on the threads of the Retro 51 where it connects with the nose cone. The surface of both the Fisher and Retro 51 brass ballpoint pen became gritty with texture from the layers of patina. To smooth out the rough areas and create a distressed look, I used a piece of sandpaper and the polishing techniques mentioned earlier. With enough polishing, it is possible to lighten the brass and reverse the effects of the patina.