Check washing (Part 2)
Procedure
The procedure is very simple. We're going to take the checks we've written on and attempt to wash them. The primary observation will be which pens wash easiest and as a side experiment to find the best tape to use to cover the signature on a check during washing.Results with Nail Polish
Alright, the first solvent I tried was Equate regular nail polish remover (salon formula). The following checks are what they looked like after one, five minute washing.
#508 (Bic Velocity Retractable Gel Pen)
I tried to use scotch tape on the front and back to protect the signature. There was a little white paint on the bottom of the tray I used, so I think that's why the tape turned white. Overall there was no change to the ink.
#509 (Generic Bic Round Stic)
Again, I tried to use scotch tape to preserve the signature but the tape stuck to the paper and it just ended up giving the check a nice rip that completely voided it. As for the ink, it faded nicely but still was visible without looking very hard.
#512 (Sanford Expresso Extra Fine)
Easily the best wash yet. I didn't even bother trying to cover up the signature because of my previous problems with the tape sticking. The ink has faded significantly, and I think if I would have left it for more than five minutes the effect would be even more pronounced.
Simply because I got such a great effect out of the nail polish remover, I decided to try soaking it in alcohol, then nail polish remover again just to see how well I could do. This is what the check looked like after two washings of nail polish remover and a washing with isopropyl alcohol.
#516 (Pilot Precise Rolling Ball Extra Fine)
Definitely faded the ink a good amount. A plus side to the blue ink instead of the black ink is that it doesn't stand out as well and therefore blends into the background much better.
I'm extremely proud of the second check. Just like check #512, I re-washed this check once with alcohol and once with nail polish remover. As you can see, there are very few signs that any ink existed. This is one of the best washed checks and displays how easy it is to wash a check that is written in the right pen.
Results with Alcohol
The second substance I tried was 91% Cumberland Swan isopropyl alcohol. The following checks were washed in the alcohol for five minutes each.
#513 (Bic Velocity Retractable Gel Pen)
Virtually no change in the ink. There might have been a little smearing, but nothing to be of note.
#514 (Generic Bic Round Stic)
Awesome results! The ink washed even better than it did in the nail polish remover. If I would have soaked this check a little longer I think it would have completely washed the ink away.
I washed this in alcohol and nail polish remover again just to see how good I could make it -- this was a very good wash and if you look closely you can't even really tell that the check had been washed.
#515 (Sanford Expresso Extra Fine)
The ink color itself changed from a dark black to a blurry dark brown, it did not wash away very well.
#517 (Pilot Precise Rolling Ball Extra Fine)
The ink definitely blurred, but just like the previous check it did not blur enough to say that the check was washed.
