Pen kit material

[WriteON]

What kind of metal is used. Somebody wants to use a special plating on a kit as a gift (to me).

 

[monophoto]

Not clear about the question - are you asking about the substrate or the plating?

The plating is as described by the vendor. But the question about the substrate triggered some testing.

I have four kit fountain pens, and a kit stylus in front of me on my desk.

The gun metal-plated stylus, and the gold-plated El Grande FP that I've had for 6-7 years both appear to have a ferrous metal substrate - they are attracted to a magnet. But the two 10k gold plated CSUSA Artisan FPs (kits purchased in 2010) and the PSI Chrome Big Ben FP (kit purchased last year) do not react to a magnet, so it is not clear what the substrate is.

My guess is that the nature of the substrate varies with manufacturer, kit, and vintage.

 

[Smitty37]

Not clear about the question - are you asking about the substrate or the plating?

The plating is as described by the vendor. But the question about the substrate triggered some testing.

I have four kit fountain pens, and a kit stylus in front of me on my desk.

The gun metal-plated stylus, and the gold-plated El Grande FP that I've had for 6-7 years both appear to have a ferrous metal substrate - they are attracted to a magnet. But the two 10k gold plated CSUSA Artisan FPs (kits purchased in 2010) and the PSI Chrome Big Ben FP (kit purchased last year) do not react to a magnet, so it is not clear what the substrate is.

My guess is that the nature of the substrate varies with manufacturer, kit, and vintage.

I think you'll need to ask the manufacturer....I think a lot are brass but the substrate will vary with the final plating.

 

[thewishman]

Brass, plated with copper, then plated with nickel, then whatever.

 

[Smitty37]

Brass, plated with copper, then plated with nickel, then whatever.

True in a lot of cases but not all...I do think that the bulk of them do start with brass. But some require a particular substrate to get the color...I think Black Tn usually goes on with a chrome substrate to get the right color.

 

[edstreet]

Ace Metal Pen Kits

Here they list brass as the center band, cap and tip. The listings are scattered throughout the 3 pages.