Swisher (noodler's) Maroon

[wimg]

Hi all,

 

Yes, here it is, another huge written ink review, Swisher Maroon this time. This is a fast-dry ink made by Nathan especially for Swisher Pens, and as such it is very suitable for left handers with smudging tendencies .

 

The choice of this ink was obvious because it was in line with the burgundies I did before. It does look like some of the better Cabernet Sauvignons in colour, after all . It'll be the last one in wine coloured inks for now, as I don't have any others yet . The next colour, who knows, plenty still to choose from .

 

I've used a record number of pens and nibs this time, so I do hope everybody finds something recognizable in there.

 

Clicking the thumbnails will bring up a new browser page with an enlarged version of the image clicked on, and underneath the thumbnails you will find a link to a scrollable layout of all pages of the review in large size, for those of us with fast internet connections.

 

Clickable thumnails:

 

 

Link to all pages at once:

Swisher Maroon Complete Review

 

Just some final notes regarding this review: it was finished the day prior to the start of my holiday and the flooding over here, hence the delay in posting it here. Sorry for that, but understandably I had different things on my mind, besides the lack of system and internet availability.

 

When flushing out the pens used in this review, I noticed that it will flush out like a bright red ink, and that it wasn't all that easy to flush out either. It did dissolve readily, even though, by now, in several pens the ink had dried up completely, as I had squirted out any remaining ink as much as possible from the pens after finishing the actual review. However, it did require 2 days with fairly long cleaning sessions, with a break in between.

 

Also, I'd recommend not to let this ink just sit and dry out in or on celluloid pens, as it did stain 2 of my celluloid pens. Small stains, on the section where apparently some ink remained behind after the squirting procedure, but stains nonetheless. I'll update this review when I am able to remove these stains, and how I did it.

 

Plastic pens, or resin pens if you like, pose no problems in this regard, as I noticed with the Lamys and Pelikans used. They seemed to have stains, but those dissolved readily, unlike those on the 2 celluloid pens mentioned.

 

Am I still using this ink, you may ask. Well, the answer is yes. The flow is incredible, it has some nice shading, and dries extremely quickly on paper, so I use it currently as the ink of choice in my Stipula Etruria Nuda with 1.1 Italic nib. Great to see this dark brown stuff sloshing around in the demonstrator, while a nice bright red to dark red brown gets laid down by the nib .

 

Just remember, this ink was really designed for very good quality paper and not too wet nibs (so no dip nibs ), and the bleeding shown and described, doesn't occur with those papers. I did try it on several better quality notepads, and it didn't bleedthrough those, although the drying time seemed to be (marginally) slower.

 

And last but not least: enjoy!

 

Warm regards, Wim

[southpaw]

Wim, the Mad Dutchman, we need to start calling you The Guru of Ink Reviews. Thanks for a very thorough review.

[Roger]

For sure, SP. Man, when Wim comes out of the chute, he comes with a vengence.

 

Good reading you again, Wim. I hope this means that your flooding is under control and that the electronics and connectivity aspects of your Internet package are completely back up and running again.

[Ann Finley]

Wim, thanks for yet another detailed review! Was about to e-mail you to see if you were OK. Wondered if you were busy making repairs & doing restoration after the flood. Good to see you back with us.

 

I can see that Swisher's Maroon is another of the inks that looks quite different coming from different nibs.

 

Best, Ann

[wimg]

Wim, the Mad Dutchman, we need to start calling you The Guru of Ink Reviews.  Thanks for a very thorough review.

Hi Southpaw,

 

Thank you for your kind words, but Guru, no, too much honor. Just mad Dutchman...

 

Warm regards, Wim

[wimg]

Hi Rog,

For sure, SP.   Man, when Wim comes out of the chute, he comes with a vengence.

Funny, I've been told similar things before .

 

Good reading you again, Wim. I hope this means that your flooding is under control and that the electronics and connectivity aspects of your Internet package are completely back up and running again.

Yeah, all under control now, although not everything back up and running again. Waiting for the insurance company to cough up, so I can start rebuilding my study, and move my books and other things back from the serre back to my study.

 

So, I won't be on-line as much as I would like too, apart from all the catching-up still to do. Slowly but surely, though...

 

Warm regards, Wim

[wimg]

Hi Ann,

Wim, thanks for yet another detailed review!

Thank you, for your kind words!

Was about to e-mail you to see if you were OK. Wondered if you were busy making repairs & doing restoration after the flood. Good to see you back with us. 

Well, my holiday is over since Monday, back to work, so from now on it'll be a little slow going. Bu I am sure glad to be back .

 

I can see that Swisher's Maroon is another of the inks that looks quite different coming from different nibs.

 

Best, Ann

Yes, I think most Noodler's inks do this, and many other inks too. This is the exact reason why I try to use so many different nibs. I should probably try to incorporate a few vintage pens as well in these reviews. A Waterman and a Sheaffer should be great in there too, I guess, and maybe a CS, a Parker. Hey, you make me think of new ideas for the reviews. It'll make them even longer. Aaaaaarrgh!

 

Warmest regards, Wim

[smudgy]

Thanks for the great review, Wim. I liked that you showed the bleedthrough on the backside of your paper, too! I've been thinking I should consider more of the Swisher's inks (just have Apricot Orange right now), and this one looks great.

[wimg]

Hi Vanessa,

Thanks for the great review, Wim.

Thank you for your appreciation!

I liked that you showed the bleedthrough on the backside of your paper, too!

This is probably the worst one in my collection. But only with wet pens, and that is what is stated on the Swisher website anyway. What did you think of the feathering? I thought it was quite cute.

I've been thinking I should consider more of the Swisher's inks (just have Apricot Orange right now), and this one looks great. 

Yes, it does look great. Nice shading in not too heavy flowing nibs.

 

I have a few more from this range, another 7 to be exact, including Apricot Orange btw. I do like Cayenne a lot, after all, and it strongly resembles it . Currently I am checking those other 7 all out and deciding which next to review. Probably North Sea Blue or Emerald Green (the latter feathers and bleeds a lot less, btw). I must admit I really like the fast dry qualities...

 

Warm regards, Wim

[woodwindmaster06]

Another great thorough review.

[woodwindmaster06]

Wim: I would also like to see a series of pelikan ink reviews starting with the Pelikan Brilliant Black if you have it???

Thanks

[smudgy]

I have a few more from this range, another 7 to be exact, including Apricot Orange btw. I do like Cayenne a lot, after all, and it strongly resembles it . Currently I am checking those other 7 all out and deciding which next to review. Probably North Sea Blue or Emerald Green (the latter feathers and bleeds a lot less, btw). I must admit I really like the fast dry qualities...

 

Hi Wim, I can't wait to see these reviews.... in all your spare time!

I usually don't really like inks until I see the exemplars on FPN. The swatches just don't do much for me.

 

What did you think of the feathering?    I thought it was quite cute.

To me it doesn't look any worse than what Apricot Orange does.

[wimg]

Wim: I would also like to see a series of pelikan ink reviews starting with the Pelikan Brilliant Black if you have it???

Thanks

Hi Tim,

 

I don't have Pel Brilliant Black right now, but can get it quite easily. The store nearest to work (5 minute walk) stocks all Pel colours. So, that's not the problem. Currently, my problem is time .

 

I've been handed 4 major projects plus odd and ends at work, because I did too well the last year, and my study starts again this week too. So, I'll probably limit myself to at most one of those reviews a month, considering the amount of time they take including preparations and postparations (just made this up , essentially rinsing out pens, and noticing all kinds of other things not noticed prior to writing extensively with an ink prior to a review ). These reviews get written a few times, before you see them here, and it si amazing how much you forget while writing the final story. I tend to get carried away, you see, and obviously it isn't a word processor where you can go back easily and insert or alter something.

 

Anyway, I'll put it on the list, but can't promise you when it will appear.

 

I hope you don't mind too much...

 

Warm regards, Wim

[wimg]

Hi Vanessa,

Hi Wim,  I can't wait to see these reviews.... in all your spare time! 

 

Well, slight problem here, regarding spare time right now .

I'm checking FPN for the first time in a week, and I should really be working and studying. Big report and detail planning to finish, and study...

I usually don't really like inks until I see the exemplars on FPN.  The swatches just don't do much for me. 

No, which is why I started the digital ink sampler. It needs updating, though. Much has happened since the last version . You need to see it with different nibs, to get an inkling () of what it could do with your pen. Nobody (or virtually nobody ) writes with swabs...

 

What did you think of the feathering?    I thought it was quite cute.

To me it doesn't look any worse than what Apricot Orange does.

It was fun, though. I know it wasn't meant for dip nibs, as the web site mentions, but I want to maintain a standard set of nibs anyway, regardless.

 

Anway, rambled enough already .

 

Warm regards, Wim

[smudgy]

Well, slight problem here, regarding spare time right now smile.gif.

I'm checking FPN for the first time in a week, and I should really be working and studying. Big report and detail planning to finish, and study...

I usually don't really like inks until I see the exemplars on FPN.  The swatches just don't do much for me.

No, which is why I started the digital ink sampler. It needs updating, though. Much has happened since the last version biggrin.gif. You need to see it with different nibs, to get an inkling of what it could do with your pen. Nobody (or virtually nobody ) writes with swabs...

 

Hi Wim,

Hope things settle down for you soon. I sure can relate to busy! *sigh*

 

Looking forward to whatever ink you decide to surprise us with next. I know they are time consuming for you, but they're fun to look at and read IMO, so thanks!

[Kelly]

Thanks for this incredibly thorough review, Wim! This led me to purchasing a bottle that arrived earlier today. It's an amazing color - far more vibrant than can be conveyed by a scan and the color holds well in the drying which, as you've indicated, is lightning fast. I actually thought it was still wet because it remained so saturated and was surprised it was completely dry with no smudge at all. It's like a juicy raspberry. In February, I'm ordering a Taccia Andante in Black Cherry and I think I've just found the perfect ink for it in this Maroon. Very, very nice

[Goodwhiskers]

Me too with the thanks, Wim!

I visited Maastricht once, in the summertime, while I was a high school student. Good place! Yes, much of downtown didn't seem much higher than the river level. I hope the insurance company has coughed up for you by now.

[chainwhip]

To echo what's already been said, great review Wim! Were you able to remove the staining from your Celluloid pens?

[wimg]

Thanks for this incredibly thorough review, Wim! This led me to purchasing a bottle that arrived earlier today. It's an amazing color - far more vibrant than can be conveyed by a scan and the color holds well in the drying which, as you've indicated, is lightning fast. I actually thought it was still wet because it remained so saturated and was surprised it was completely dry with no smudge at all. It's like a juicy raspberry. In February, I'm ordering a Taccia Andante in Black Cherry and I think I've just found the perfect ink for it in this Maroon. Very, very nice 

Hi Kelly,

 

Thank you for your kind words! It is a very pleasant and vibrant colour indeed. I just cleaned out my Etruria Nuda, which has this ink all over the place in impossible to reach nooks and crannies, but I knew that that was going to happen, so that's fine. I had it in rotation with this ink all of this time . It did get a great wash yesterday, and I am still deciding what to feed it next. Probably the same ink again .

 

Warm regards, Wim

[wimg]

Me too with the thanks, Wim!

I visited Maastricht once, in the summertime, while I was a high school student. Good place! Yes, much of downtown didn't seem much higher than the river level. I hope the insurance company has coughed up for you by now.

Hi Goodwhiskers,

 

Thank you!

 

And Maastricht is a great town indeed, plus it has one of the best pen shops in the country .

 

I don't live close to the river, but the sewers in the main street here couldn't cope with the downpour, and as a result, it flowed down the side streets to the street where I live, which lies below the main street, past our house, towards the lowest point a bit further down the road, where there is still a remnant of an old cherry tree orchard. There are no kerbs here, just paving, and my garage lies 4 1/2 feet below street level, which is why we had the flooding .

 

And yes, the insurance company paid out for most of the damage, fortunately.

 

Thanks for your concern!

 

Warm regards, Wim