Plating Oxidation?

[walshjp17]

I have been trying to make some cigar replica pens for a week or so. After several fits and starts, I've been able to get some fairly presentable looking pens (nowhere near the quality of others, as I am just starting this venture) but when I assemble the pens something happens to the tip of the nib and they all look like they were oxidized (might not be the right term) and have turned 'strange'.


This 'oxidation' does not occur in any pens other than these cigar replicas.


Photo 1 shows the completed pen. photo 2 shows the pen open with the 'oxidized' tip. Photo 3 is a close up of the tip.


Does anyone know what happened? Is there some sort of reaction between the CA used to insert the components into the blanks? I used thick CA from Mercury. I was not using any exotic wood just mesquite and whatever is shown in photos 1 and 2.



The kits came from two sources: Chrome Jr. Gent 2 sourced from Timberbits (pictured) and two Chrome Sedona kits from Woodcraft.


Any help would be appreciated.

 

[08K.80]

CA fumes will cause that.

Did you place the cap end on it right away? Leave it sit over night.

 

[walshjp17]

Let it sit overnight in two cases, 2 hours in the third.

 

[ed4copies]

Days are better than hours.

CA has had that effect on my pens (years ago) months after they were made---but they were exposed to summer heat.

 

[walshjp17]

OK. That sounds reasonable. Next one I try I'll let it off-gas for three/four days before joining the parts together.

Curious as to why it only happens with these cigar replicas and not any other kit where the kit is assembled as purchased.


Is there any way to fix the 'oxidized' parts short of using parts from another kit?

 

[NewLondon88]

a gentle acetone wash should remove the fuming crud.
I'd dilute the acetone a little and use a soft cloth, very
light pressure. It will come off, but there's not much to
the platings on these kits, so be gentle.

as for why just the cigars .. could be that the fumes
are enclosed in the pen, whereas other types will
allow the fumes to dissipate. (I'm assuming the pen
was capped when this happened)

 

[walshjp17]

Yes, the pens were capped. I'll give acetone a try and see how that goes.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[Dale Allen]

Did you use CA glue to glue in the tubes?
If so, it could be that there is a thick buildup in the end that needs more time to cure.
And being that it get little air down there it can take even longer!

 

[walshjp17]

As noted on the OP, I used thick CA. I agree, now, that CA fumes were the cause. Will allow more off-gas time going forth.