Molotow pens

[majel]

Has anyone had the issue with the pens no longer producing "chrome" but rather looking like silver paint?  I store the pens upright and shake for about two minutes before using but both the 1mm and the 2 mm come out looking silver.  Any ideas?

[BigTallDad]

To what are you applying the pens? Is it a porous material, paint, raw plastic, etc.? I've had a 4mm pen that gave silver letters on an envelope.

[majel]

Using on painted bodies, generally acrylic.

[peteski]

is it possible that the liquid has thickened up (some solvent evaporated)?

Molotow liquid needs to be fairly thin for the little "chrome platelets" to float on the surface of the liquid and then smoothly align and settle down as the solvent evaporates.

[majel]

I guess that's possible.  The pens are about a year old and worked ok up until the last two models.  Any idea what solvent?

[peteski]

1 minute ago, majel said:

I guess that's possible.  The pens are about a year old and worked ok up until the last two models.  Any idea what solvent?

Smells a bit like isopropyl alcohol, but don't quote me on that.

Even then, I would not use anything less than 91% (preferably 99%). I have not thinned this stuff yet - maybe someone else here has some actual experience with this.

[Bugatti Fan]

I have a 2mms pen that seems ok. It is about a year old so I will be looking now to see if the performance deteriorates. It is does, I will probably look at using a refill as it can probably be sealed better than the pen. Just recently I had to clean off a build up where the cap slides onto it. I have read  that it goes on well by air brushing. I would guess that it would also be ok for picking out fine detail with a fine artists paint brush.

[Bainford]

6 hours ago, majel said:

Has anyone had the issue with the pens no longer producing "chrome" but rather looking like silver paint?  I store the pens upright and shake for about two minutes before using but both the 1mm and the 2 mm come out looking silver.  Any ideas?

Do you store them tip down, or tip up?

[Steamboat]

I have definitely noticed it.  Mine is about 2 years old.  Does anyone know how to do a refill?

[espo]

As mentioned by others, the best chrome finish is usually done over a very smooth surface and preferably done in gloss black. The pens need to be shaken vigorously to mix all of the particles inside the pen.   

[Dave G.]

2 hours ago, Steamboat said:

I have definitely noticed it.  Mine is about 2 years old.  Does anyone know how to do a refill?

Here is a video or url, whichever loads:  https://youtu.be/_d1VEx2pkVA

[1972coronet]

I've had the smaller-tip model for over a year (maybe closer to 2 years) ; I also have a bigger-tip model that I bought on 23/08/ 2019 . 

I store them cap-down , in an upright position --- no problems whatsoever .

[majel]

I had stored mine horizontal for about six months then read that they should be stored cap up so now they are cap up.  The last two cars i tried using them on were painted blue and gunmetal.  Came out silver on both, one was a Tamiya lacquer the other a Tamiya acrylic.

[1972coronet]

Since I use mine so infrequently ---- last time I used them was in December 2019 . 

I treat them as though I'm using them for the first time , every time : shake-vigorously ; "pump" the tip gently-against scrap paper (or some such) ; then start by running the pen against scrap plastic . I've had the ink come-out silver for a few small strokes , then the chrome-particles "activate" . 

Hopefully that will work for you as well .

[peteski]

You might be onto something - the paint that's dried up on the nib/tip messes things up?

I would take the nib out and repeatedly dunk it in a container of lacquer thinner to clean it.  The thinner might have to be changed few times until it remains clear.

[Bills72sj]

I have a 1mm and a 2mm. I store them capped, tip DOWN. I have not needed to "pump" or shake them yet. Note: they are both less than a year old.

[Bugatti Fan]

So far the conversation has been about the marker pens and a good number of suggestilons have been put forward.

Have any of you guys used this ink through an air brush?  Interested to know what experience anyone has doing this?

A number of years ago I had a Rotring  technical pen that was refillable, normally with their black ink. I wonder if the Molotow chrome ink would be thin enough to use in one of these. Not sure if they are actually made any more as so many disposable fline line black pens are on the market now.

[Foxer]

3 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

So far the conversation has been about the marker pens and a good number of suggestilons have been put forward.

Have any of you guys used this ink through an air brush?  Interested to know what experience anyone has doing this?

A number of years ago I had a Rotring  technical pen that was refillable, normally with their black ink. I wonder if the Molotow chrome ink would be thin enough to use in one of these. Not sure if they are actually made any more as so many disposable fline line black pens are on the market now.

You can buy Refill paint for the pens.  This is even better chrome from an airbrush, especially for bumpers and larger pieces

[Mr. Metallic]

12 hours ago, majel said:

I had stored mine horizontal for about six months then read that they should be stored cap up so now they are cap up.  The last two cars i tried using them on were painted blue and gunmetal.  Came out silver on both, one was a Tamiya lacquer the other a Tamiya acrylic.

I think the issue is storing them "cap up". This is probably allowing the ink to dry out faster than the "cap down" method. But you should be able to restore the tip by soaking it in alcohol. 

[Lowlife ! !]

 

I'm interested to read this as I was going to post up the question myself !

My first 1mm pen was used so much ( on lowriders ! )  it ran out !  I then bought 1,2 and 4mm versions, a year or so ago, and lately I've found they run a dull silver colour. They are usually stored flat..

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll certainly try them as I LOVE these pens, when they work well anyway !

[StevenGuthmiller]

I've come to the conclusion that I will only use these pens when absolutely necessary.

I'm not particularly enamored with their performance, and with proper preparation, Alclad chrome will give you every bit as good a chrome finish as Molotow.

If I can airbrush the part, it gets Alclad.

Only small details and touch-ups here and there get Molotow.

 

 

I just sprayed Alclad chrome on this steering wheel.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

 

 

[Dave G.]

I've just been leaving them around any old way and shake them up now and then. I just started with Molotow though ( been using Metalizer) and have to say the results were reasonably impressive. In some spots it was silvery till turned to a different light direction and then for some things you may want a chrome trim look, it was almost too chrome. Convenient for now. I'd try spraying it though, I haven't found the perfect chrome yet, sprayed. I'd like to build a 59 Galaxy if I ever find one and that whole lower section of the rear quarter is chrome as I recall. A perfect candidate to be sprayed. I generally used the buffing Metalizers in the past for something like that. So, well it's a dream right now cause I don't have the Galaxy yet but I have  2mm Molotow lol. Most of my painted chrome is windows and side molding etc, common stuff.

[majel]

I agree with Steven that Alclad is the way to go when possible.  I was trying to use the pens for trim rather than BMF which I hate mainly because i can never get it to lay down perfectly without looking thick or crinkled.  My fault, not the BMF!

[LouO]

I just bought one of the 1mm chrome pens to do small trim etc...and was wondering about storage since the day I got it. So I reached out to Molotow and here was their response:

We recommend to store the Marker lying (tip up) protected from sunlight and not exposed to high or low temperatures.

Don´t forget to shake very well (approximately 2 minutes) before using again.

 

Hope this helps.

[randyc]

I have thinned with alcohol.  Not sure if it was 50/70/91 - I have all three at the bench.  Have not tried to airbrush.  And have similar silvering when the ink starts getting thicker.  I bought a refill tube.   Have only opened it once - it may go silver before I get back to using.   We'll see.   

What I have noticed is like someone else said, the fluid has to be thin enough for the particles to turn right to make the chrome effect.  And if it is right, you can usually blow on it gently and help improve the chroming effect.  

And yes, it works great if you pump/drip out a little pool of ink and use a good detail brush.  In fact that works better for me than the hard 1mm tip.