Inky T O D - Ink Review Series - In The Beginning - Pen(S)

[amberleadavis]

In the last few weeks, I've been asked about how to do ink reviews. I must confess that I'm far less knowledgeable than our very own Saskia_Madding, Visvamitra, Sandy1 and LGSoltek to name but a few who are on the first page of Ink Reviews.

So, every day (or every few) days, a new topic will post so we can talk about ink reviews. Your actual ink reviews still go in the Ink Review forum, these topics are for us to Ponder the Peculiarities and Think about Ink.

First, which ink do you pick?

Now, which papers do you use?

So, which pen or pens do you use?

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

OhOh...

 

Considering the vast array of pens I took a somewhat straightforward approach, concentrating on the nib width and wetness (flow), and adding shape (Stub/Italic/Music): and sometimes at the risk of offending dear readers - flex.

 

For each of my self-imposed 'colour groups', I use a core cadre of three pens, and often invite another three pens to join the party, but lately those are not used on all papers: usually the G Lalo Verge de France and Royal are the domain of the core cadre.

 

So that pens of all ages/types can join, I try to keep my choice of pens to those that are quite common - no collectors items.

 

So that the pens do not reflect my personal taste nor the work of nib wizards, pens are off-the-shelf or restored/rescued, with the clear exception of the M200 g-p 1.0 Stub from richardspens (OoooLaLa).

 

The variation in pen wetness tends to indicate many of the inks' properties. e.g. saturation, shading potential, flow, lubricity, feathering/line quality, line width gain (spread), bleed- show-through.

> Those properties also depend on the paper, and as I use a range of papers, I can often get a handle on the performance profile of an ink.

 

Variation of nib width and pen wetness (and paper), combined with consistent written sample text and size, give a fair depiction of how an ink might appear and the extent to which it is malleable.

 

By combining performance profile and appearance, and being fairly consistent in pens used, I have a star to steer by when it comes time to choose pen+paper combos to use with that ink.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited May 3, 2015 by Sandy1

[white_lotus]

Unlike S1, I don't choose pen+paper combos because there are certain papers I use all the time (Mohawk via Linen) that if the pen or ink doesn't work well on that paper that pen or ink won't be something I use.

 

So I choose pens that I use frequently. What's the point of my reviewing an ink in a Parker 51 — which I have several of their P21s, so lower end models of the same style — if I don't use those in my own writing on a regular basis, using them in a review doesn't help much.

 

Especially for review, I also like pens I don't have to fill full. Maybe half-way. That way I can get enough ink into the pen, write with in for a few days or weeks and get a real feel for it, and how I use it on a regular basis. But if it an ink that I'm pretty sure I'll like (and if it's wet I usually will) then I don't mind. Since my favorite pens are an Edison Beaumont pneumatic, Edison Meno pump filler, Pelikan M200, and Pelikan 400, inks have to work in those pens. Usually the only ink I have rejected from a sample is one that is too dry, or even just dry. I know I like wet inks and wet pens, so I buy ink brands that I know will work for me.

 

For me, all I can do is show how an ink worked and, hopefully, looked for me. I know I don't have every kind of pen or pen style. I don't have every paper. The best I can do is show how the ink worked for me.

 

So I use my regular pens. When they become empty, a new ink gets chosen. And I'll review that, or at least start that process. I know this sounds diametrically opposed to what Sandy1 does. But for me, reviews are a secondary artifact of my pen use.

[Sandy1]

<SNIP>

 

For me, all I can do is show how an ink worked and, hopefully, looked for me. I know I don't have every kind of pen or pen style. I don't have every paper. The best I can do is show how the ink worked for me.

 

<SNIP>

 

+Many

[musicman123]

Well I am much less methodical compared to other people, but I just pick whatever pen is empty and ready for a new ink. Generally, if I am suspicious of the qualities of the ink, I load it in a super easy to clean pen like my Nemosine Singularity, or now, my Noodler's Konrad Acrylic. Both can be easily disassembled in case of clogs, stains, or exploding feeds. If I know the ink has a good reputation, it may be reviewed in my more expensive pens, like my Xezo Legionnare or my Waterman Hemisphere.

[amberleadavis]

Okay, next question.....

 

What do you want to see in a review?