Best Ink For A Montblanc?

[Juan in Andalucia]

Hello,

 

The only MB that I use with any regularity is a 149 with a Broad nib. After fiddling about with many inks, primarily in the Blue range, I tried my 'workhorse ink' - the Parker BlBk. I liked the results, but didn't like the idea of using my day-to-day ink in such a pen. As a result, I tried the MB BlBk, and have never used anything else since. That pen+nib and ink combo does very nicely on just about any paper, but really wags its tail when I show it a sheet of G Lalo.

 

In my other pens, including the MBs, I'll use whatever ink seems right, so long as it's Blue... You may wish to try the J. Herbin range. I like their Eclat de Saphir quite a bit, especially when using a pen with a Fine nib.. ... Maybe when I buy a Pink Lamy Safari, I'll get some Noodler's Dragon's Napalm.

 

Best Regards

Sandy1

 

I tend to have many pens inked with the same ink. I seem to go through black and blueblack periods. For black it's either Pelikan or Herbin but for blueblack, that's Montblanc.

 

I do admit that I'm just a bit worried when I have MB blueblack in pens with goldplated parts near the nib, as is the case with my MB 144.

 

Juan

[Blade Runner]

I don't have a 144 or used MB BB in steel nibbed pens, but for precaution, I wouldn't use MB BB in these circumstances.

[pankajwillis]

I'd start with MB royale blue. It's a standard ink in the sense that it's not very heavy flowing or "dry".

And it's a very attractive ink appropriate for business and pleasure.

i second that

[Sandy1]

So you don't need to worry about MB Black-n-Blue drying out in pen, since it's iron gall? That was my only concern about using it...

 

You need to worry about ANY ink drying out in the barrel of your PF. For some reason, MB Black-n-Blue carries an iron gall stigma that really relates to the ancient permanent inks that had a ferrous component to make them permanent on paper. MB B-n-B does not actually have that component, but another modern synthetic trait to that ensures permanence. That said, B-n-B is slightly more finicky since it tends to be a more dry ink in some folks' opinion. I actually prefer MB B-n-B to most other inks, but MB Racing Green runs a very close Second.

 

I have personally had more problems with Private Reserve inks than with MB inks, but my experience does not constitute a quality sample size.

 

Hello,

I checked the data sheet found in my box that the MB BlBk came in. It appears that there is in fact ferro-gallic content:

 

"The following colours are available ... Blue-black (permanent ferro-gallic content)."; which is contrary to your statement that "... MB B-n-B does not actually have that [iron gall] component..."

 

Also, the MB data sheet states, "Important note: If permanent MB ink (blue-black) is used, regular cleaning of the fountain pen is essential because the high solids content of the ink can lead to deposits in the feed system."

 

Slightly off-topic: Quink BlBk used to come in boxes that said 'Permanent', and had ferro-gallic content. Recent reformulation of Quink inks have rendered their BlBk without the claim of being permanent, and email to-from Parker indicate that Quink BlBk is just another pretty colour without ferro-gallic content.

 

Best Regards,

Sandy1

[niksch]

Interesting. I must have really misunderstood the gentleman at the Montblanc Factory when I asked him about this ink.

 

Hello,

I checked the data sheet found in my box that the MB BlBk came in. It appears that there is in fact ferro-gallic content:

 

"The following colours are available ... Blue-black (permanent ferro-gallic content)."; which is contrary to your statement that "... MB B-n-B does not actually have that [iron gall] component..."

 

Also, the MB data sheet states, "Important note: If permanent MB ink (blue-black) is used, regular cleaning of the fountain pen is essential because the high solids content of the ink can lead to deposits in the feed system."

 

Slightly off-topic: Quink BlBk used to come in boxes that said 'Permanent', and had ferro-gallic content. Recent reformulation of Quink inks have rendered their BlBk without the claim of being permanent, and email to-from Parker indicate that Quink BlBk is just another pretty colour without ferro-gallic content.

 

Best Regards,

Sandy1

[Sandy1]

Hello,

 

The only MB that I use with any regularity is a 149 with a Broad nib. After fiddling about with many inks, primarily in the Blue range, I tried my 'workhorse ink' - the Parker BlBk. I liked the results, but didn't like the idea of using my day-to-day ink in such a pen. As a result, I tried the MB BlBk, and have never used anything else since. That pen+nib and ink combo does very nicely on just about any paper, but really wags its tail when I show it a sheet of G Lalo.

 

In my other pens, including the MBs, I'll use whatever ink seems right, so long as it's Blue... You may wish to try the J. Herbin range. I like their Eclat de Saphir quite a bit, especially when using a pen with a Fine nib.. ... Maybe when I buy a Pink Lamy Safari, I'll get some Noodler's Dragon's Napalm.

 

Best Regards

Sandy1

 

I tend to have many pens inked with the same ink. I seem to go through black and blueblack periods. For black it's either Pelikan or Herbin but for blueblack, that's Montblanc.

 

I do admit that I'm just a bit worried when I have MB blueblack in pens with goldplated parts near the nib, as is the case with my MB 144.

 

Juan

 

Hello,

 

Ah, if we can back-up just a bit. When I ink any pen with MB BlBk, I ink it and wipe it according to the MB directions / pictographs. Also, when I finish writing with that ink - 3 or 4 days later - the pen is cleaned and stowed til next time. The pen is clean when I am willing to drink the rinse water. Also, I 'write' with water to spread/flex the tines so that any wee nasties can explore the plumbing.

 

Also, I have max. two pens inked at the same time : my work-a-day office pen, and the pen being used for non-business purposes at home. My work pen might get rinsed when it is filled, but gets cleaned once a month for sure. (I have friend who's a jeweler, and cleans my pens once a year in an ultrasomething gizmo, but not much residue comes off the pens. Well, everything runs better when its clean.)

 

Oh, while I do make an effort to care for my pens, I care more about results. I expect a pen, especially one that's up there in price, to be more robust and able to withstand some tougher than normal use. (Pieces of jewelery are excluded - they just have to look good.) So far, after 15 years of intermittent but steady use, the 149 looks mint minus. My work pen looks more than a tad frayed - especially when seen under a lupe - but functions perfectly. My Rotring 600 will likely out-last the great pyramid in Egypt. So if you get a tad of MB BlBk on your gold finery, just wipe it off with a damp cloth and concentrate on what you're writing / drawing.

 

Best Regards,

Sandy1

[Sandy1]

Interesting. I must have really misunderstood the gentleman at the Montblanc Factory when I asked him about this ink.

 

Hello,

I checked the data sheet found in my box that the MB BlBk came in. It appears that there is in fact ferro-gallic content:

 

"The following colours are available ... Blue-black (permanent ferro-gallic content)."; which is contrary to your statement that "... MB B-n-B does not actually have that [iron gall] component..."

 

Also, the MB data sheet states, "Important note: If permanent MB ink (blue-black) is used, regular cleaning of the fountain pen is essential because the high solids content of the ink can lead to deposits in the feed system."

 

Slightly off-topic: Quink BlBk used to come in boxes that said 'Permanent', and had ferro-gallic content. Recent reformulation of Quink inks have rendered their BlBk without the claim of being permanent, and email to-from Parker indicate that Quink BlBk is just another pretty colour without ferro-gallic content.

 

Best Regards,

Sandy1

 

Oh my!! I guess I'll ask the nice people at the local pen shop to open a box of BlBk to check the current data sheet, or perhaps I'll just email the folks at MB. I don't know how to access MB Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) online, which I believe should be available to the public. ... Funny thing is, that while I prefer a permanent ink, whether or not it uses iron gall doesn't matter, so long as it looks and behaves the same way. -- BR, Sandy1

[ChampagneKnight]

I just received two Montblanc pens as gifts (my friends and family know me well!). The first is the Meisterstuk and the second is the Greta Garbo.

 

I've never had a Montblanc before am wondering what everyone's favorite inks are to use in their Montblancs.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Very recently Mont Blanc just introduced a Saffron ink (Gandhi ink) and I started using that in my Le Grande OB MB. The ink is an orange but it is beautiful and pleasant to the eyes. Other than that I am a fan of the Bordeaux and the Violet since they are beautiful too. Black is typical but always a good for start and to keep especially if you want to be simple and classic so you can't go wrong with black. Now I do have one thing to warn about is that Mont Blanc will never admit to this and/or blame it on the way you clean your pen but the blue black ink messed up a past Mont Blanc that I had and I insisted Mont Blanc replace it and they did. As much as I love the color I will never get the Blue Black again. It is just not worth the risk/maintenence. This is my sincere experience. The rest of them run through really nice. I have never tried the racing green.

 

By the way.. Congratulations on your new Mont Blanc!! You will love it. ;-)

 

Sincerely, Jay

[DetlevCM]

I just received two Montblanc pens as gifts (my friends and family know me well!). The first is the Meisterstuk and the second is the Greta Garbo.

 

I've never had a Montblanc before am wondering what everyone's favorite inks are to use in their Montblancs.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Very recently Mont Blanc just introduced a Saffron ink (Gandhi ink) and I started using that in my Le Grande OB MB. The ink is an orange but it is beautiful and pleasant to the eyes. Other than that I am a fan of the Bordeaux and the Violet since they are beautiful too. Black is typical but always a good for start and to keep especially if you want to be simple and classic so you can't go wrong with black. Now I do have one thing to warn about is that Mont Blanc will never admit to this and/or blame it on the way you clean your pen but the blue black ink messed up a past Mont Blanc that I had and I insisted Mont Blanc replace it and they did. As much as I love the color I will never get the Blue Black again. It is just not worth the risk/maintenence. This is my sincere experience. The rest of them run through really nice. I have never tried the racing green.

 

By the way.. Congratulations on your new Mont Blanc!! You will love it. ;-)

 

Sincerely, Jay

 

 

Orange ink - I knew who'd love that (a friend of mine) - I just checked the Motnablanc site and it doesn't show up... ??? Is it a limited edition ink?

[rocc2005]

So what is the ink more advisable to use in Montblanc pen? What is the ink that does not affect the Montblanc pen? What brand ink MB less harmful?

[rocc2005]

The royal blue ink MB is aggressive to MB fountain pen?

[jar]

So what is the ink more advisable to use in Montblanc pen? What is the ink that does not affect the Montblanc pen? What brand ink MB less harmful?

 

I've used Sheaffer Skrip, Parker Quink, Waterman, J. Herbin, Diamine, Private Reserve, Pelikan 4001, various Montblanc inks, Aurora, Conway Stewart, OMAS, even some Noodler's inks in my Montblanc pens.

[Redbarchettayyz]

I think anything not super terribly ultra-saturated would be fine, but I'd follow that rule for any nicer pen. My Montblancs currently have in them Diamine, Pelikan Edelstein, De Atramentis, and Montblanc inks.

Edited August 12, 2012 by Redbarchettayyz

[Truman]

Diamine is my go-to ink in general but my second most favorite is MB. I love the Toffee Brown in particular.

[Chrissy]

The royal blue ink MB is aggressive to MB fountain pen?

No not Royal Blue. It was the Blue/Black, and that's probably because it's an iron gall ink

[meiers]

Any ink that is not made by MontBlanc!

 

Sure! I mean why would you want to use an ink that was formulated to use with MB pens?

 

 

Right now I am using MB midnight blue and a cocktail of various MB inks which approximates the colour tone of British Racing Green

[Chris S]

I love MB Midnight Blue in my Starwalker. It doesn't seem to look the same when I use it in any other pen. I think that's my favorite ink in that pen. I also like Aurora black in it, but not to the same extent.

[spraine]

Hi-

 

I use Noodler's bulletproof inks. Anything negative about using those?

 

Thx,

Steve

[Charles Kang]

Very interesting posts.

I remember Blue Quink ink of 30 years ago always end up with clumps of stick residue at the bottom of the bottle even when the bottle is only half used.

Switching over the Sheaffer's black did not have such problems.

Used Sheaffer's for years after that.

Must try some of the inks mentioned here.

[Pen Nut]

Hi-

 

I use Noodler's bulletproof inks. Anything negative about using those?

 

Thx,

Steve

 

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