Anyone tried SEM's "super black" ebonite?

[LatakiaLover]

I got some a year ago in Chicago, and lopped off a chunk today for the first time.

Drilling was really strange. Virtually no chip, just powder. Cutting a tenon was more normal, but what came off was still smaller than the usual ribbons, and more fragile as well.

I'm afraid to start shaping because I always hate that "wasted work" feeling, and especially hate getting took for several hundred bucks of useless rod. My equanimity will definitely take a hit if it's crap.

Anyone here dealt with the super black formulation before? Does the stuff shine? Does it even stay together???

[mredmond]

I have nothing helpful to add other than this:

http://youtu.be/46kXH6GGtT0

: )

[LatakiaLover]

I like how you think, Micah.

[W.Pastuch]

Well just finish it and you can tell us, maybe save us some money, you're stuck with it anyway.

[Vermont Freehand]

I asked Meike about this product a few weeks ago, but I haven't gotten to try it yet. For those of you wondering, here's is their explanation of it;

"the 1920 black is the result of a development of an Ebonite that comes closer to the Ebonite of the early 20th. It contains a bit of carbon dust. The result is very deep black, best to polish and the material gives the feeling to be a bit harder. The pen makers love the 1920 black, for pipe making the classic is preferred, cause of the softer bit."

I look forward to hearing some feedback on this stuff. It would be nice to stock this in the store, it's just SEM prices are so much higher than NYH.

[caskwith]

If it contains carbon dust then I would be worried about a lumpy finish, I have come across this before.

[Alden]

"Super Black" is the only ebonite Shaft ever uses. But he is a bad mother shutyomouth.

[BigCasino]

[Alden]

Well, I'm just talkin about Shaft..

[RadDavis]

Anyone here dealt with the super black formulation before? Does the stuff shine? Does it even stay together???

I have no idea.

Hope this helps.

Rad

[LatakiaLover]

Well, I decided to start shaping the stem---been giving it the dim view treatment all day, and it just sat there sullen and defiant---and what a mess. Don't try this stuff unless you have some serious dust control happening. What comes off looks like micro-super-ultra-fine lamp-black powdered-carbon nano-atoms. Only finer and blacker than that. Sticks to everything. Touch your face with your hands = instant tattoo.

Yuk.

I'll finish the stem, but will set the rest of the rod aside for special & specific requests, I think. (And that's provided it polishes, which at the moment I doubt.)

[BigCasino]

cut it up and sell it as pen blanks George!

[Jthompson1995]

cut it up and sell it as pen blanks George!

Don't cut it, a lot of custom pen makers want longer pieces to cut themselves so they don't waste material.

[sam a]

yeah, i got a rod of it, and i don't plan on getting any more. for the most part it works the same as SEMs regular black, but it doesn't buff up as well, and if you do manage to a decent shine out of it, it dulls rather quickly in my experience. that and it gets black shit all over the place.

[sam a]

oh yeah... forgot to mention that i got the powdery drilling too, no matter how sharp the bit. although when turning i got ribbons. all in all, sounds like your experience with the stuff is similar to mine. defiantly not recommended.