Sweat causing clouding???

[jasontg99]

So I started trying to take better pictures of some of my recent pens and one of my abalone emperors was covered in a "white fog". It is coming off with some work. I took the refill out to see if it had leaked and here is a pic of what it looked like. There is no evidence of leaking. The reason I think it may have been sweat is the fingerprints on the refill. What do you guys think? I have never seen this before and having this happen to such an expensive pen is kind of freaking me out.

Jason

 

[seamus7227]

can we see a picture of the pen as well?! did you use any CA on any of the components? If so, there is your answer, or so it appears to be the out-gassing of CA

 

[OKLAHOMAN]

I agree it looks like CA out-gassing.

 

[jasontg99]

I forgot to mention, there is no CA finish of any kind. It is a resin covered abalone and I use epoxy to secure the component parts. This is why I don't understand this. I have got most of the clouding off of the pen. I will see if any of the other pens have this problem. Thanks for the quick responses.

Jason

can we see a picture of the pen as well?! did you use any CA on any of the components? If so, there is your answer, or so it appears to be the out-gassing of CA

 

[Greg Green]

Agreed, C/A outgassing. I had a cap that wasn't quit tight so I dabbed a very small amount of c/a on the inside of the tube and pressed in. No worries here. Except I immediately screwed the cap onto the body thinking nice, done! Next morning, viola, nice fingerprints etched into the shiny gold nib. Made me very sad :frown:

 

[Andrew_K99]

I also would have said CA off gassing from first hand experience but you said you didn't use CA ... I'll be curious as to what other think may have caused it.

AK

 

[LagniappeRob]

Years ago, I machined a whole batch of parts out of aluminum. I had forgotten to wipe them down before storing them. Came back a few days later to use them and each and every one had sets of my fingerprints on them - EATEN into the Al. Took me a couple more days to refinish them, and clean them.The oils, sweat, etc most definitely will eat into many kinds of metals.

 

[jasontg99]

Years ago, I machined a whole batch of parts out of aluminum. I had forgotten to wipe them down before storing them. Came back a few days later to use them and each and every one had sets of my fingerprints on them - EATEN into the Al. Took me a couple more days to refinish them, and clean them.The oils, sweat, etc most definitely will eat into many kinds of metals.

That must have been what I did (or in this case did not do). I can not imagine I would have accidentally used CA on such an expensive blank/kit. I will have to keep in mind to wipe these down after turning them. Not all of us have A/C in the shop!

Thank you,
Jason

 

[Akula]

wet sanding?

 

[jasontg99]

Yep, I only wet sand with MM. Think water is causing the problem?

wet sanding?

 

[seamus7227]

jason, can you show the components? the suspense is killing me. And i work in my garage in 105 degree temps but im not dripping sweat all over my work, im confused. Now that i look at your picture more, and someone commented about it being from wet sanding, even if it had been from wet sanding how would it have gotten on the ink cartridge? I mean surely you are wiping it clean of all the sanding slush once you are done, right?! Ok, so you didnt glue the components into the barrels either?

So it went like this?

~turned the barrels down on the lathe
~wet sanded
~wiped up all remains of water from wet sanding
~ensured the inside of barrels were clean and free of debris
~assembled tubes and components to complete pen
~next day, white powder everywhere

is this an accurate assessment?~

 

[jasontg99]

jason, can you show the components? the suspense is killing me. And i work in my garage in 105 degree temps but im not dripping sweat all over my work, im confused. Now that i look at your picture more, and someone commented about it being from wet sanding, even if it had been from wet sanding how would it have gotten on the ink cartridge? I mean surely you are wiping it clean of all the sanding slush once you are done, right?! Ok, so you didnt glue the components into the barrels either?

So it went like this?

~turned the barrels down on the lathe
~wet sanded
~wiped up all remains of water from wet sanding
~ensured the inside of barrels were clean and free of debris
~assembled tubes and components to complete pen
~next day, white powder everywhere

is this an accurate assessment?~

Seamus,

That is an exact decription of my normal process. I always remove any water from my pens after I MM because I use plastic polish next. With this pen I did take it to the buffer next. This is the only pen that I have had this problem with. If I do a CA finish, I ensure to leave the pen out for a day or two to degas. By the way, I made this probably two or three months ago. I made another one at the exact same time, but did not have this problem. I am going to chalk this one up to PFM. Sorry, can't do pics either. I was able to get the residue of the nib with some water and a soft towel. I know, I am just as confused as you. :befuddled:

Thanks guys,
Jason

 

[Akula]

it looks like sanding residue from your hands/fingers and why I asked about wet sanding

 

[Tim'sTurnings]

Here is a definition of sweat from Medicinenet.com:

Sweat: A colorless transparent acidic fluid with a distinctive odor secreted by the small tubular sudoriferous (sweat) glands situated within the skin and under it in the subcutaneous tissue. The sweat glands discharge their fluid through tiny openings in the surface of the skin.

Could the acids in sweat possibly contaminated your components?

This is only an idea of what may have happened. I am glad you got the parts cleaned up. This is good to know as I worked on some pens today and I will difinitely watch for this.
Tim.

 

[jasontg99]

Tim,

I am just as confused as everyone else. This is a first for me. I am just glad I was able to get it cleaned up.

The people at IAP continue to amaze me. Thank you,
Jason

 

[Andrew_K99]

Okay, one more attempt to blame CA ...

Was the pen stored with a pen or pens in an enclosed space that you used CA on?

AK

 

[jasontg99]

Okay, one more attempt to blame CA ...

Was the pen stored with a pen or pens in an enclosed space that you used CA on?

AK

Nope. it was stored by it's lonesome self in a plastic sleeve (same as all the other pens that do not display the same symptom). I am grasping for straws too. :befuddled:

Jason

 

[edstreet]

What does the inside of the tube look like?

 

[jasontg99]

What does the inside of the tube look like?

Good question. I will look when I get home.

Jason

 

[seamus7227]

I am wondering if CA was used in the application of the abalone to the tube? I know that is a long shot, but it shouldnt be ruled out. <<scratching head still>>

 

[jd99]

Are they your finger prints? Are you sure your house isn't hunted...

Just kidding, :biggrin:
sure looks like CA gassing to me, maybe seamus has something with the way the abalone was attached.

 

[jasontg99]

I am wondering if CA was used in the application of the abalone to the tube? I know that is a long shot, but it shouldnt be ruled out. <<scratching head still>>

Seamus,

Now that is something I had not thought of. I will PM the person who made these. You may be onto something. Although, one would think it would have happened to both pens as I made them at the same time. Who knows???

Jason

 

[jasontg99]

What does the inside of the tube look like?

It looked clean. I did not find the same white residue. CONFUSED in VA. :question::bulgy-eyes::befuddled: