J Herbin Authentic Ink

[wushimushi]

Hi all,

 

Does anyone have any advice on J Herbin's Authentic Ink being used for fountain pens? Apparently the ink is supposed to be legible for 300 years!

I've got a friend who bought the ink not knowing the viscosity of the ink makes it unsuitable for fountain pens. Well actually I have not seen the actual thickness of the ink, but that was the problem as described. My friend has the intention to dump/sell the entire bottle of ink, but before doing that, has anyone tried to dilute the ink so that it can be fountain pen friendly? Otherwise, I think it may be a good excuse to introduce my friend to dip pens =D

 

Thanks.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

I use the stuff in an inexpensive Hero brand replica of the Parker Sonnet.

 

I have everything ready to write, then charge the pen, write without pause to the maximum practical extent, then wash the pen immediately in a solution of surfactant/detergent and 10% unscented household ammonia.

 

I never let the ink linger in the pen, so its strictly a home-use ink.

 

The ink is very interesting, with a distinct organic Brown aspect - apparently due to the tannins. (?)

 

It is also very nice from a dip pen. I use the various round [ball] and square-point nibs, most fitted with reservoirs.

 

N.B. I would not dilute JHEC - that will dilute the surfactant and may reduce the ink flow, hence make clogging more likely. I would suggest adding a bit of surfactant to increase the ink flow. I use it as it comes.

 

Bye,

S1

 

= = =

 

Samples:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Compare%20MB%20MidnightBlue%20-%20Herbin%20Encre%20Authentique/INK557-1-1.jpg

 

 

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Compare%20MB%20MidnightBlue%20-%20Herbin%20Encre%20Authentique/INK558.jpg

[fiberdrunk]

I've never tried the J. Herbin iron gall ink, but I make homemade iron gall inks (traditional recipes) and have successfully used it in these fountain pens: Parker Vector, Pilot 78G, and Pilot Parallel. It's clogged other pens I've tried, including the Platinum Preppy. Can't get any flow at all with that pen. Parker Vectors are especially good with iron gall inks, so I'd recommend trying it in a Vector first. The pens I listed usually start right up, too, even the next day. I keep homemade iron gall ink in these pens at all times, flushing the nibs every few weeks or so. No problems. Also, I don't dilute the ink.

Edited January 19, 2012 by fiberdrunk

[wushimushi]

Hi, thank you both for your comments =)

 

Sandy, I'm not sure if I had gotten the name of the ink wrong, because the ink that I've got here is blue in color. By layman description, it looks like metallic paint. I'm still trying to find a picture of it online because the ink is not with me now...

 

As for fibredrunk's advice about using Vector, I'll have to try it out but I'm not optimistic, simply because the issue I'm facing with the ink seems to be it being like water soluble paint. So unlike normal ink, the ink stains the section when I dip to fill, and will dry up even if just left for a minute or two... I'm actually skeptical as to whether it will even work for dip pens hahaha. Maybe I really have gotten the name wrong Will have to check with my friend again!

[fiberdrunk]

Hi, thank you both for your comments =)

 

Sandy, I'm not sure if I had gotten the name of the ink wrong, because the ink that I've got here is blue in color. By layman description, it looks like metallic paint. I'm still trying to find a picture of it online because the ink is not with me now...

 

As for fibredrunk's advice about using Vector, I'll have to try it out but I'm not optimistic, simply because the issue I'm facing with the ink seems to be it being like water soluble paint. So unlike normal ink, the ink stains the section when I dip to fill, and will dry up even if just left for a minute or two... I'm actually skeptical as to whether it will even work for dip pens hahaha. Maybe I really have gotten the name wrong Will have to check with my friend again!

 

The J. Herbin website says the Authentic Ink is black, so it sounds like you may have something else there. Here's some of J. Herbin's specialty inks. Maybe this will help narrow it down.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

If the ink looks like "metalic paint", then it is not Encre Authentique, rather some other encre. Perhaps an Herbin pearlescent dip pen ink. I would not use that stuff in an FP under any circumstance.

 

Bye,

S1

[wushimushi]

I think you all are right. From what the ink looks like, it's probably the Calligraphy Ink (“Encre De Calligraphie”) as in the official website. It's quite a scary ink though, the sample my friend passed me stained the container it was in...

 

Thanks for all your comments and help!

[Zaphodbeeblebrox]

If you go to J.Herbin website it has a chart that tell you which types of inks that work which types of writing instruments.