Search the Community

Graf von Faber-Castell Stone Grey (cartridge) Photo courtesy of Faber-Castell website This was a tough ink review. My initial experience with the cartridge was very unpleasant. I couldn’t make the ink flow in my Kaweco, or Osmiroid (which doesn’t like dry inks) but it worked well in a Jinhao 450. I had to use two cartridges as one burst. So, I checked several reviews, and was surprised that they were talking about a saturated grey, wet and well lubricated ink. So, I took a 3rd cartridge and syringed the ink out in a Lamy Safari, to test for an extra week or so. The experience was very different and pleasant. I used it mostly for sketching, as the written review had been already done. However, when I didn’t use the pen for a week, I had to prime the feed again. However, this ink is no Sailor Doyou (wet and well lubricated), nor it is as wet and saturated as Noodler’s Lexington Gray. I really loved this ink for doing washes, and for drawing. There’s a purple component in the chroma, that shines through in washes. It has a gorgeous Chroma: It’s a lovely pencil grey, that behaves well on copy paper. I would recommend you getting a sample, before investing in a bottle, and using a wet pen. Writing Samples: I didn’t use a Japanese Ef, so I tried to emulate it by reverse writing. It worked fine with three of the papers, probably because I had left the pen alone for a week or so. But stumbled with Rhodia. I tried to salvage it with the Osmiroid which has a needlepoint semi-flex nib. The shading is accentuated to the extreme by the scanner. Not a colour for Midori, yucky yuck Photo: You can see a pencil comparison, which I added after I scanned the review. Comparison: Water test: Left side 10 seconds under running water. Not bad, eh Art Work: You can appreciate the range and the beauty of the colour here, in contrast with J Herbin Vert de gris: · Pens used: Kaweco (EF/F/M/B), Jinhao x450 fude nib, Osmiroid Copperplate nib, Lamy Safari · What I liked: Lovely color, very well-behaved on copy paper. · What I did not like: I had trouble with the cartridge. · What some might not like: Ink is on the dry side, and it’s pricey. · Shading: Yes, but the scan is more extreme than reality · Ghosting: No. · Bleed through: A bit with a #6 fude nib. · Flow Rate: Cartridge, awful. Syringed ink, good. · Lubrication: On the dry side. · Nib Dry-out: Yes between changing nibs. · Start-up: Ok. After a week I had to prime the Safari · Saturation: Pastel · Shading Potential: Yes. · Sheen: No. · Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. · Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice. · Staining (pen): No. · Clogging: Did not notice. · Cleaning: On the easy side. Though I had to soak the pen overnight. · Water resistance: Very good. · Availability: Cartridges, 75 ml bottles. Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples or any other comments. The more the merrier

Graf Von Faber Castell Desk Accessoires Been on a spending spree with desk accessories lately. Below a pic of GVFC Pen Tray, Letter opener, Pencils, and Pen/ Pencil holder. Pricey but very high quality, heavy, premium products. I normally prefer Japanese leather items such as Pilot Somes line or Saddleback leather, but these European GVFC products are really growing on me. I think I like the combination of polished metal with the cowhide saffiano leather. Tray contents clockwise from left: Nakaya Desk pen in Kimono, GVFC letter opener, Visconti Alutec inkwell containing Sailor Bung Box Saphire, Pilot Custom 823 with Spencerian nib, Pilot Custom 74 with Music Nib, Omas Paragon resin with BB stub. http://s32.postimg.org/xagoq0t39/IMG_2104.jpg