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#1
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restoring barrel clarity
Can anything be done to restore a little clarity/transparancy to the barrel
of a striped vac? I thought that I remembered someone saying that they had success with a diluted 409 soultion. As I'm unable to find any mention of such concoction, I'll wait for suggestions. thanks, Chris Burton |
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#2
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Chris Burton wrote:
Can anything be done to restore a little clarity/transparancy to the barrel of a striped vac? I thought that I remembered someone saying that they had success with a diluted 409 soultion. As I'm unable to find any mention of such concoction, I'll wait for suggestions. No method on earth works on every barrel since all barrels and what stained them is also not exactly the same. Deep staing is a chemical change to the plastic that nothing will ever reverse. Otherwise you can try 409 and other chemicals and even bleach. There is some risk of damage to the barrel as well. For the most part if a scrub with a brush and any sort of dertergant dosen't work, I'd suggest leaving it alone. Frank |
#3
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Can anything be done to restore a little clarity/transparancy to the barrel of a striped vac? I thought that I remembered someone saying that they had success with a diluted 409 soultion. As I'm unable to find any mention of such concoction, I'll wait for suggestions. No method on earth works on every barrel since all barrels and what stained them is also not exactly the same. I'm not asking for a "universal barrel clarifier". Only something specific that someone has had success with. Deep staing is a chemical change to the plastic that nothing will ever reverse. Otherwise you can try 409 and other chemicals and even bleach. From what I understand, bleaching pens isn't so good. I would imagine that bleaching would leave an uneven surface and detract even further from what clarity there already is. Is 409 a "safe" cleaner to use in that it will clean without damaging the plastic? There is some risk of damage to the barrel as well. For the most part if a scrub with a brush and any sort of dertergant dosen't work, I'd suggest leaving it alone. What sort of detergent would you suggest? thanks, Chris Burton |
#4
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"Chris Burton" writes:
Can anything be done to restore a little clarity/transparancy to the barrel of a striped vac? I thought that I remembered someone saying that they had success with a diluted 409 soultion. As I'm unable to find any mention of such concoction, I'll wait for suggestions. No method on earth works on every barrel since all barrels and what stained them is also not exactly the same. I'm not asking for a "universal barrel clarifier". Only something specific that someone has had success with. I've had some success with plain water and a Q-Tip. But staining is, as Frank said, hard to reverse. It's a chemical change in the plastic and you can't wash it off. The old Parker repair manual (the small one) suggested vinegar as a clarifying agent for Vac barrels. These pens are 60-70 years old. I'm gonna have a few stains by the time I'm 70, too. Just like me, pens are going to show their age. Deep staining is a chemical change to the plastic that nothing will ever reverse. Otherwise you can try 409 and other chemicals and even bleach. From what I understand, bleaching pens isn't so good. I would imagine that bleaching would leave an uneven surface and detract even further from what clarity there already is. Dilution is important with all caustic agents. Is 409 a "safe" cleaner to use in that it will clean without damaging the plastic? Dilute it. There is some risk of damage to the barrel as well. For the most part if a scrub with a brush and any sort of dertergant dosen't work, I'd suggest leaving it alone. What sort of detergent would you suggest? Parker used the laundry detergent "All" as the secret ingredient Solv-X in Quink. I'd guess that's a stamp of approval. |
#5
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Chris Burton wrote:
I'm not asking for a "universal barrel clarifier". Only something specific that someone has had success with. You are asking that impossible question that I pre-answered with the words--- "No method on earth works on every barrel since all barrels and what stained them is also not exactly the same. Bascially try what you want but my first and best advise is to leave things alone beyond any simple brush with any sort of common dertergent. Like restoring hard rubber color, one method that works great on one pen may be useless or harmful to the next. If you are afraid or unsure--don't try it at all. Hey I've had my most success with plain tap water. But once again, if the stain has moved INTO the plastic as is most often the case with old pens nothing in this universe will remove it or even lighten it very much. The stains that can really be removed or lightened to much extent are those which are simnple surface stains that respond as much to a damp brush with water as most anything. The mechanical scrubing action is far more effective than whatever liquid is used for removal of such a "stain" since these are surface ink deposits, more than true stains IN the plastic itself. Frank |
#6
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"Tim McNamara" wrote in message ... "Chris Burton" writes: Can anything be done to restore a little clarity/transparancy to the barrel of a striped vac? I thought that I remembered someone saying that they had success with a diluted 409 soultion. As I'm unable to find any mention of such concoction, I'll wait for suggestions. No method on earth works on every barrel since all barrels and what stained them is also not exactly the same. I'm not asking for a "universal barrel clarifier". Only something specific that someone has had success with. I've had some success with plain water and a Q-Tip. But staining is, as Frank said, hard to reverse. It's a chemical change in the plastic and you can't wash it off. The old Parker repair manual (the small one) suggested vinegar as a clarifying agent for Vac barrels. These pens are 60-70 years old. I'm gonna have a few stains by the time I'm 70, too. Just like me, pens are going to show their age. Deep staining is a chemical change to the plastic that nothing will ever reverse. Otherwise you can try 409 and other chemicals and even bleach. From what I understand, bleaching pens isn't so good. I would imagine that bleaching would leave an uneven surface and detract even further from what clarity there already is. Dilution is important with all caustic agents. Is 409 a "safe" cleaner to use in that it will clean without damaging the plastic? Dilute it. There is some risk of damage to the barrel as well. For the most part if a scrub with a brush and any sort of dertergant dosen't work, I'd suggest leaving it alone. What sort of detergent would you suggest? Parker used the laundry detergent "All" as the secret ingredient Solv-X in Quink. I'd guess that's a stamp of approval. Thanks for the info. I'll see what a little ALL in solution does. |
#7
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wrote in message ... Chris Burton wrote: I'm not asking for a "universal barrel clarifier". Only something specific that someone has had success with. You are asking that impossible question that I pre-answered with the words--- "No method on earth works on every barrel since all barrels and what stained them is also not exactly the same. Bascially try what you want but my first and best advise is to leave things alone beyond any simple brush with any sort of common dertergent. Like restoring hard rubber color, one method that works great on one pen may be useless or harmful to the next. If you are afraid or unsure--don't try it at all. Hey I've had my most success with plain tap water. But once again, if the stain has moved INTO the plastic as is most often the case with old pens nothing in this universe will remove it or even lighten it very much. The stains that can really be removed or lightened to much extent are those which are simnple surface stains that respond as much to a damp brush with water as most anything. The mechanical scrubing action is far more effective than whatever liquid is used for removal of such a "stain" since these are surface ink deposits, more than true stains IN the plastic itself. Frank Thanks. |
#8
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I have had some success with a home-made polishing mop and the buff machine
polish you use for machine polishing plastic. To make the mop, cut a thin slit half an inch long in a steel rod (a thin 6-inch nail will do; cut off the head and the tip). Then pass a 3-inch by half an ink piece of fabric (a J-cloth is what I use) through the slit so that half of the fabric is on each side. Then wipe the mop you have just made with polish, insert the plain end into a cordless drill (set to its slowest setting), wind the mop on the shaft and insert into the vac barrel. Then "polish" slowly (if you let it rotate too quickly two things happen: it will overheat and you will lose control). The polish will very gently remove much if not all of the staining from inside of the barrel. I mount the barrel horizontally in a machine vice and hold the cordless drill in both hands for maximum steadiness. If you are in any doubt practise on a no-value barrel first. Christopher W. "Chris Burton" wrote in message hlink.net... Can anything be done to restore a little clarity/transparancy to the barrel of a striped vac? I thought that I remembered someone saying that they had success with a diluted 409 soultion. As I'm unable to find any mention of such concoction, I'll wait for suggestions. thanks, Chris Burton |
#9
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"Christopher Wigdor" writes:
Then wipe the mop you have just made with polish, insert the plain end into a cordless drill (set to its slowest setting), wind the mop on the shaft and insert into the vac barrel. Then "polish" slowly (if you let it rotate too quickly two things happen: it will overheat and you will lose control). You are a brave man. "Power tools" and "fountain pens" seem to me to be a non-compatible set of ideas. If you are in any doubt practise on a no-value barrel first. Excellent advice, even if one has no doubt. ;-) |
#10
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"Tim McNamara" wrote in message ... These pens are 60-70 years old. I'm gonna have a few stains by the time I'm 70, too. Just like me, pens are going to show their age. Given that anyone will arrive at the biblical three score and ten, they should consider themselves privileged to be able to hold and write with a FP |
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