How to Polish Montblanc Pen
Introduction:
Montblanc is a German company that produces high-end pens and other luxury goods. The firm was founded at the beginning of the ’20s of the last century, when Monte Blanc and August Eberstein established their own business in Hamburg, Germany. Since then, the company has produced top-quality writing instruments – fountain pens, ball pens, pencils, and many others.
Mont Blanc pen is one of the most expensive brands worldwide besides pens from other famous producers such as Bvlgari or Cartier. The company provides customers with a wide choice of products: fountain pens, rollerballs, ballpoint pens, and mechanical pencils. In addition, Montblanc offers watches in sports style as well as leather goods. In this article, I will discuss how to polish Montblanc pen. So let us get started.
Summary: Polishing a Montblanc pen is a delicate process that requires precision and patience. First, clean the pen with a cloth and soap. Next, use a polishing cloth to polish the pen’s barrel, cap, and nib. Finally, use a fine-grain sandpaper to finish the job.
Why Are Montblanc Pens So Popular?
Montblanc is a brand name synonymous with luxury. This Swiss writing instrument manufacturer was established in 1906 by the Hamburg-based banker and his stationer Wilhelm. The traditional Montblanc’s are still manufactured, including the Meisterstuck range of writing instruments. Handcrafted in Germany, these pens start at around $1,000 and can cost up to as much as $2100.
The high price of the Montblanc pen can meet its value because it is made from real gold or platinum, which is suitable for both professional use or personal collection. It has been used since 1906 till now with classic design without any changes, and it was giving comfortable feeling when you write on paper. The nib can produce various line widths depending on your need, and the nib size is 5 different from each other.
Montblanc Pens History:
The history of Montblanc began in 1906 when it was founded by a Hamburg banker named Alfred Nehemias. He started his company by selling pens with his initials on them. Soon after that, he moved to Paris and opened a store there. Then, in 1910, he brought out his first masterpiece, the Meisterstuck fountain pen, which was made from ebonite and rolled-gold. This product came as an inspiration for making luxurious writing instruments for collectors all over the world.
This instrument became very popular during World War I. Many soldiers on battlefields put up their signatures on cheques or documents with this pen so their friends about their identity can easily identify them. This is why this instrument was also known as the “pen of honor.”
About 50 years later, in 1978, Montblanc started his own company called Meisterstuck Collection, and many limited editions writing instruments with high prices were offered to customers. (It should be noted that this is not a replica of old models) This collection consists of fountain pens, ballpoint pens, and roller balls which are available in a broad range of nib sizes from extra fine to double flex.
Step-wise Guide on How to Polish Montblanc Pen:
Step-1
Dip the Montblanc pen into a cup of warm water. Use this dip to soften the dried ink inside it. Warm water will make this task easy and quick for you. Do not use hot water or it will dry the ink, making it harder to remove.
Step-2
Take out the Montblanc pen from the warm water once you have allowed a sufficient amount of time for the warming up process to melt down all dried ink inside it. Place it gently on a flat surface or hold it with your hands alternatively without pressing hard so as not to crack your Montblanc pen further downwards (which will result in poorly engraved words).
Keep your eyes attentive towards the point where you are about to start polishing off your Montblanc pen so that if still there is any leftover dried ink, you can clean it out and start with a new piece of cloth.
Step-3
Take a clean piece of the fine fabric or a soft, clean cotton cloth from your household, dip it in warm water and then wring it well, so that excess moisture gets removed from the same. Afterward, place this newly-prepared piece of linen on top of your Montblanc pen, and with your other hand, try to use another smaller piece of cloth for polishing off the dried ink gently but firmly on both sides (front and back) till there is no trace left of the dried ink visible to naked eyes.
During this process, make sure you keep focusing only on those areas where you are about to perform the actual cleaning operation.
Step-4
Finally, wash the Montblanc pen with mild soap after completely removing all dried ink inside it, and then help your Montblanc pen dry up under the sun or fan. Wipe off any remaining water droplets leftover from its surface and make sure that you keep your Montblanc pen away from moisture for some days at least to avoid any chances of the development of mold on its body.
Once the ink has dried off, remove it from the surface of your Montblanc pen using a soft cloth. Do not put any pressure on your Montblanc pens for removing the dried ink from its surface. You can also make use of eye drops to help you in removing ink without damaging the surface of your Montblanc pen. Keep the used cloth or eye drops aside to avoid chances of any further contamination of your pen by this dry ink.
Precautions While Performing How to Polish Montblanc Pen:
Do not scratch or damage the surface. You must be careful while polishing the Mont Blanc pen, as a small mistake can make you damage your pen and spoil its beauty. So it is better to take care of these things:
Prevent your item from scratches on its working parts. First, you need to cover all those parts with a plastic sheet not to get scratched when you polish them. If you want to clean the nib, then dip this part into hot water for 2 minutes and wipe it off by using a cloth dipped in alcohol to remove excess ink particles, which might damage it later.
If you want to clean any other part of the pen, use compressed air quite carefully so as not to cause injury by hitting any moving parts. After taking off the excess dust, spray some mild soap on the cloth and wipe it.
Do not over polish your pen. You can use different polishing tools to clean your pen like cotton wool, soft-bristled toothbrush, or microfiber cleaning cloths. The best is to polish with soft fabric; you will get better results than any other material. However, you need to keep in mind that too much pressure can damage the surface of your Montblanc pen, so polish carefully.
Don’t forget the cap, clip, and nib while polishing. The side of a Mont Blanc pen case is made from plastic (either resin) which attracts scratches quite easily, so this part should be cleaned carefully before using it again after polishing.
You can use hand-made polishing paper to clean the nib from dried ink particles. The nib size determines how long you should grind your pen; larger nibs need more time for grinding than smaller ones. For extra care, you can purchase Mont Blanc pens in various sizes so that you have one of every size with yourself as it will be beneficial and handy while cleaning the different parts of your pen like cap, clip, or any other part which needs special care while cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Mont Blanc Pens Guaranteed for Life?
No, Mont Blanc pens are not guaranteed for life. The pen’s quality is not ensured, and the warranty is only valid for a certain period. However, if you want to purchase the pen with peace of mind, go for it. Make sure that you read the warranty before purchasing one.
Does Montblanc Ink Go Bad?
It is a common misconception that the Montblanc link goes bad. However, the ink in Montblanc pens doesn’t oxidize and will last as long as the pen does.
The other misconception is that using a fountain pen can damage your skin or leave you with permanent marks on your hands because of the way the nib of a fountain pen can cause indentations.
However, fountain pens are not harmful to humans or any other living thing and have been around for hundreds of years without any health-related complications caused by them.
Are Montblanc Pens Refillable?
Montblanc pens are not refillable. They are a luxury brand, and they have a very high price tag that is often unaffordable for many people. There are some who will argue that Montblanc pens are a great investment because they can be passed down to the next generation and have an amazing resale value in the future. However, it’s a bit harder to see that when you have to pay several hundred dollars or more just to get the pen.
Conclusion:
If you follow these steps before polishing your Montblanc pen, you will not face any problems while cleaning. So always clean all parts of the pen, including section, feed, or any other part which needs special care; otherwise, your pen may get damaged, and its useful life will also be reduced much more than anything else.
Thus, try to take proper care of your pens to last for many years until you find another one that suits your personality as this is a very precious item to have with yourself at every moment and time throughout your lifetime. I hope this article has been beneficial for learning how to polish Montblanc pen. Thank you and have a nice day!
