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. A couple of years ago, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a pen made out of solid, untreated brass. Fortunately nowadays they are much more common, in part due to the contributions of German pen manufacturer Kaweco! Brass is different from most other metals that are commonly used in pens; it’s about three times as dense as aluminium, and it forms a beautiful patina after some use. Put those properties in a pen, and you get something quite unique! The innovative Kaweco Supra can literally shapeshift. A standard sized pen at first glance, this ingenious fountain pen has a removable central piece allowing it to be condensed into a small-scale portable writing instrument. The interchangeable design allows you to personal the size and weight for your specific needs. The sleek barrel accentuates the modern simplicity of this pen, which features a robust solid brass construction and durable stainless steel nib. Over time the raw brass will weather creating a truly unique finish, individual to yourself and your pen usage. Key Features The next pen on our list is the Retro 51 Vintage Lincoln Tornado rollerball. This pen is a modern take on a classic design and, like all Retro 51 pens, it is sure to turn heads. The Vintage Lincoln is constructed from solid brass that’s been finished with an antique patina, giving it a unique look that will only become more beautiful over time.

As we’ve mentioned, one of the defining characteristics of copper and brass metals is their ability to develop a patina over time. This natural aging process is caused by exposure to oxygen, moisture, and other elements, and results in a darkening of the metal’s surface. The balance and feel in the hand are perfect. You can hold it by the grip, which is concave, or by the section, which is where I do. it's not usable unposted unless you have tiny Donald Trump hands, but you could write a few words with it that way. Posted it will fit any size hand, including my XL paws. It's quite thin at the grip, not the thinnest, but very thin, something I love for portable pens, as it makes them agile and nimble and unobtrusive. 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. 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.uncapping it takes a little getting used to, but once you have the hang of it, it's great. Either grip the pen nib up, base in your pinky finger and pull with your thumb and forefinger, or (my preferred way) nib down, holding the base with your middle, ring and pinkie and pulling the base out with your index and thumb. It starts out kind of slippery, but the patina will give it more texture within a short amount of time. Made from solid lead-free 'eco' brass, which is left untreated and uncoated, it weighs in at 44g which is more than most other pens currently available. The untreated finish means this pen will - like the Al-Sport Raw that came before it - wear over time and develop a unique patina depending on use and storage conditions. The finish can either be left to develop or can be restored using brass polish and a liberal application of elbow grease. To quote Leonard Koren, who wrote a book on the topic, " Wabi-sabi is exactly about the delicate balance between the pleasure we get from things and the pleasure we get from freedom of things." 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.

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. It depends on the pen's filling mechanism, which you can find in the Technical Specs section above. It isn't necessary to apply silicone grease to the colored AL Sports, as the anodized aluminum is more resistant to galling. However, should you find it becoming more difficult to separate the pen's barrel from the section, you can also apply a small amount of silicone grease to the threads. Pen Type I disassembled the Fisher pen, removing the front section, refill, and spring. For the Retro 51 pen, I removed just the refill and spring. At the time, I thought using tape would protect the clip and top disc. As you'll find out, I was wrong. Pen manufacturers have used copper and brass metals to manufacture ballpoint and fountain pens for hundreds of years. Thanks to their charming color, strength, and malleability, these two metals make wonderful pens that feel warm and comfortable in the hand. And, as long as you are willing to care for your pen, it will maintain its natural shine for decades to come.However, when I was removing the nib, I was surprised to see it's a standard Schmidt nib unit. So I don't know who makes the nib, but the feed and housing are the same, so you can unscrew the nib and feed from the pen (don't have a cardtirge in it) and screw in any schmidt #5 nib unit. I just wanted to play around with it, so I pulled the nib out and tried several various nibs.

To remove tarnish, I'm going to show you a couple of methods using materials you can find at home as well as a product made for this specific purpose. Kaweco nibs usually tend to have a balanced flow, not too wet. They are smooth writers and come in a bunch of nib sizes, ranging from extra fine to double broad and even calligraphy nibs. In this case, the Kaweco Brass Sport came with a broad nib installed, and it wrote consistently out of the box.Last but not least, we promised a showpiece and, with the Kara Kustoms Decograph Signature Edition, we didn’t disappoint. This stunning solid copper fountain pen is limited to only 30 pieces and each is handmade in the United States. Buyers can choose from a full range of steel nib sizes (extra fine, fine, medium, broad, extra broad) or opt for titanium in EF, F, M, and B sizes. 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. Eyedropper - A pen that utilizes the entire barrel as a reservoir for ink. Ink is directly filled into the barrel, allowing for a high ink capacity. Here's a video on how to do it!

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.

Engraveable Fountain Pens

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. As the Roman poet Horace wrote, "More durable than brass my monument shall be." Human beings are the only creatures (that we know of) endowed with awareness of mortality. All of us know we're going to die someday. With this knowledge, we attempt to build monuments to outlast us so we may never fully die. We create art and contribute to a greater cause with the hopes that our deeds will live on. Our tools, like the humble pen, can remind us of this grander scale in a symbolic way.