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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???

I have nothing helpful to add other than this:

http://youtu.be/46kXH6GGtT0

: )

I like how you think, Micah.

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

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.

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

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

BigCasino wrote:

Well, I'm just talkin about Shaft..

LatakiaLover wrote:
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

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.)

cut it up and sell it as pen blanks George!

BigCasino wrote: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.

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.

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.