Montblanc Midnight Blue

[Sandy1]

I ordered MB Blue-Black but I got this instead(MB Midnight Blue). Is this the same thing?

Hi,

As shown in this Review, the comparison shows that, to my eye there is no consistently perceptible difference. Perhaps the chemistry has changed, but the appearance and writing performance/feel is in practice identical. I'm about half way through the bottle used for this Review, and am convinced it's the same stuff. But, like I said, the chemistry may have changed, and I'm not equipped to do such an analysis on the kitchen counter. (I did draw the line after setting-up a cyclotron in the back garden for mixing inks. Enough's enough.)

Bye,

S1

[RedTape]

Is there anyway to make the MB BB less dry and more smooth?

[Dr Lopez]

Fantastic review and work. Using different nibs is certainly one of the points I value most in FPN reviewers. After all, an ink ink can look so amazingly different depending on the tip size used. Thank you.

[Sandy1]

Is there anyway to make the MB BB less dry and more smooth?

Hello,

• Making MBBlBk less dry:
  • I've read of some practitioners using surfactants, from bog standard washing-up liquid to wetting agents designed for the processing of photographic film. (Does anyone remember 'film'?)
  • However, I have not seen their results or recipes, so their success may be anecdotal; and each subsequent practitioner would need to find their own way.
  • Personally, I think the ink as it comes is perfectly wonderful, so have no inclination to fiddle with it.

  [*]Making it more smooth:

  • It is not a 'lubricating' ink, that's for sure. I have no idea how one might increase it's smoothness without compromising other qualities. (Others please chime in.)
  • Once again, I tolerate the lack of lubrication; and somewhat compensate for that by using wider nibs on textured paper, and only using smooth paper when I want to use a narrow nib.

The above two points inadvertently indicate a secondary purpose for this ink: sampling one the nib+feed on one's pen/s. When I receive a new pen, and after it is washed & dried, I load it with MBBlBk and generate writing & drawing samples. Any shortcomings in nib smoothness are immediately revealed, as are: line shape & dimension, and wetness of the nib+feed. (I also use the Waterman 'Florida Blue' for a more typical depiction of the line generated by a writing implement.)

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

Fantastic review and work. Using different nibs is certainly one of the points I value most in FPN reviewers. After all, an ink ink can look so amazingly different depending on the tip size used. Thank you.

Hi,

 

I appreciate your compliments. The use of different nibs, pens and paper is, to me, a very important part of a comprehensive Ink Review. In some other of my Reviews, I typically use six pens and three papers. Although at times my OCD takes over, and I've used maybe ten pens; and the Parker Quink Red Review had quite a few papers - but some had to be removed due to concerns regarding bandwidth preservation and perceived copyright infringement.

 

Also, one of my purposes is to give the reader a good idea what an ink will look like in their pen on their paper. Hence I try to use commonly available pens & papers; and write in my normal manner - which of course does nothing to encourage calligraphers to use any ink that I've reviewed. (Ah me.)

 

I've recently taken to Posting swabs & writing samples over in the SubForum for swabs & tests. I think that area of the Ink Reviews can be used for anyone to post their written sample without going through the time-consuming task of preparing an Ink Review. So if one hasn't written their pen dry, why not make a few jottings and add them as an OP or a Reply to another OP? So, I've posted written samples of a few inks, and encourage others to add their own stuff: from their pens on their paper in their hand. (I may also do that with my own Ink Reviews - especially if some majik is revealed by stumble-upon combination of a certain pen & paper.)

 

Bye,

Sandy1

 

EDIT - expletives deleted

Edited May 26, 2010 by Sandy1

[sarahfar]

It's probably just me, or maybe I'm getting more color blind with age, but my midnight blue looks more like Black with a blue tint. To me the older version was more of a traditional blue black with more of blue tint. Like I say it's probably all me, but it just looks like a lot stronger black.

[Sandy1]

It's probably just me, or maybe I'm getting more color blind with age, but my midnight blue looks more like Black with a blue tint. To me the older version was more of a traditional blue black with more of blue tint. Like I say it's probably all me, but it just looks like a lot stronger black.

Hello,

 

I think that the issue of colour and colour difference is going to ultimately reside with each person.

 

That said, I have no problem keeping a few sheets of paper, one for each ink, and whenever I use one or the other, write a few lines on the appropriate sheet. Ideally I'll have the presence of mind to make a scan after each addition - I am interested to see how the ink changes on the page over time. (I do not keep a Journal, and I write my letters then send them off - I don't see that letter again.) (I don't consider ink swabs 'valid' other than for gross changes.)

 

I also invite other practitioners to create and add their own written sample/s - perhaps in the aux forum for Scans, Tests, etc.

 

Best Regards,

S1

[sarahfar]

I agree completely. Ultimately there are a lot of facts, including light and eyesight. I probably score poorly on both. And inks vary from dye lot. I've never figure it out. Omas ink and Herbin where I am, work well. MB has always been fine. Others known to be safe have been problematic. There's a lot of humidity here, so I think it too plays a part. But you're point is well taken. I found it even more interesting how different my ink usage was with the same inks as to the great ink samplers. Go figure... It is really a personal thing as you say, I wish I could use some of the more intense and saturated inks as people on both coasts do without trouble. But it is unquestionably one of those trail and error personal things.

 

Best

[Brian]

A very thorough comprehensive review. One observation is spot on, that the actual color rendered on paper varies between this ink and the older MB Blue-Black. A bottle purchased from South Coast Plaza tended to be very dark and almost black. I like it though as it works and flows perfectly in many of my pens that are not necessarily MB.

[Sandy1]

A very thorough comprehensive review. One observation is spot on, that the actual color rendered on paper varies between this ink and the older MB Blue-Black. A bottle purchased from South Coast Plaza tended to be very dark and almost black. I like it though as it works and flows perfectly in many of my pens that are not necessarily MB.

Hi,

I think the observations about colour will coalesce over time. From my experience, i-g inks can change their colour (even slightly) over time. It seems that is part of the 'curing' process. And may have to do with how the ink reacts to the paper. Also very tricky with dark colours at the best of times, where the density (light to dark) of an ink makes it difficult to see what colours are in there.

In the near future, I intend to use the BlBk and the MB alternately and accumulate a larger number of more diverse samples. As I now have a scanner, I'll scan each one shortly after creating it, and at some as yet to be determined subsequent time/s.

And I will be the first to admit, that because I like the BlBk so much, I convince myself the MB is the same 'for all intents and purposes'. Ha!

Bye,

S1

[Silvermink]

Very nice review. I think of late my favorite iron gall ink has been R&K Salix, but I really like MB B-B too. I'm sure I'll grab some Midnight Blue when I run out.

[monjaraz85]

I ordered MB Blue-Black but I got this instead(MB Midnight Blue). Is this the same thing?

Hi,

As shown in this Review, the comparison shows that, to my eye there is no consistently perceptible difference. Perhaps the chemistry has changed, but the appearance and writing performance/feel is in practice identical. I'm about half way through the bottle used for this Review, and am convinced it's the same stuff. But, like I said, the chemistry may have changed, and I'm not equipped to do such an analysis on the kitchen counter. (I did draw the line after setting-up a cyclotron in the back garden for mixing inks. Enough's enough.)

Bye,

S1

 

Lol...its a really good ink...it doesn't bleed through on my moleskine...I once tried to make my own super conducting super collider but just like in the 90's the funding was cut by congress.

[Sandy1]

I ordered MB Blue-Black but I got this instead(MB Midnight Blue). Is this the same thing?

Hi,

As shown in this Review, the comparison shows that, to my eye there is no consistently perceptible difference. Perhaps the chemistry has changed, but the appearance and writing performance/feel is in practice identical. I'm about half way through the bottle used for this Review, and am convinced it's the same stuff. But, like I said, the chemistry may have changed, and I'm not equipped to do such an analysis on the kitchen counter. (I did draw the line after setting-up a cyclotron in the back garden for mixing inks. Enough's enough.)

Bye,

S1

 

Lol...its a really good ink...it doesn't bleed through on my moleskine...I once tried to make my own super conducting super collider but just like in the 90's the funding was cut by congress.

I didn't use gov't $ directly, mostly loans at bargain rates for home improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, etc. Also a radical form of AMEX Gold Card shenanigans - nothing illegal mind you. I took the approach, 'If I build it, they will come.' So far it's working out pretty much OK. Meeting some interesting people. -- S1

[monjaraz85]

I ordered MB Blue-Black but I got this instead(MB Midnight Blue). Is this the same thing?

Hi,

As shown in this Review, the comparison shows that, to my eye there is no consistently perceptible difference. Perhaps the chemistry has changed, but the appearance and writing performance/feel is in practice identical. I'm about half way through the bottle used for this Review, and am convinced it's the same stuff. But, like I said, the chemistry may have changed, and I'm not equipped to do such an analysis on the kitchen counter. (I did draw the line after setting-up a cyclotron in the back garden for mixing inks. Enough's enough.)

Bye,

S1

 

Lol...its a really good ink...it doesn't bleed through on my moleskine...I once tried to make my own super conducting super collider but just like in the 90's the funding was cut by congress.

I didn't use gov't $ directly, mostly loans at bargain rates for home improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, etc. Also a radical form of AMEX Gold Card shenanigans - nothing illegal mind you. I took the approach, 'If I build it, they will come.' So far it's working out pretty much OK. Meeting some interesting people. -- S1

 

LOL!!!!!

[Mickey]

First of all, an excellent, thorough review. Thanks.

 

Is there anyway to make the MB BB less dry and more smooth?

Hello,

• Making MBBlBk less dry:
  • I've read of some practitioners using surfactants, from bog standard washing-up liquid to wetting agents designed for the processing of photographic film. (Does anyone remember 'film'?)
  • However, I have not seen their results or recipes, so their success may be anecdotal; and each subsequent practitioner would need to find their own way.
  • Personally, I think the ink as it comes is perfectly wonderful, so have no inclination to fiddle with it.

  [*]Making it more smooth:

  • It is not a 'lubricating' ink, that's for sure. I have no idea how one might increase it's smoothness without compromising other qualities. (Others please chime in.)
  • Once again, I tolerate the lack of lubrication; and somewhat compensate for that by using wider nibs on textured paper, and only using smooth paper when I want to use a narrow nib.

The above two points inadvertently indicate a secondary purpose for this ink: sampling one the nib+feed on one's pen/s. When I receive a new pen, and after it is washed & dried, I load it with MBBlBk and generate writing & drawing samples. Any shortcomings in nib smoothness are immediately revealed, as are: line shape & dimension, and wetness of the nib+feed. (I also use the Waterman 'Florida Blue' for a more typical depiction of the line generated by a writing implement.)

 

Bye,

S1

 

Quite by coincidence, she who must be obeyed purchased a bottle of MB Midnight Blue for me yesterday; so I immediately flushed and cleaned my daily writer (M200/M400 EF Binder full flex) and took the ink for a test spin. The pen neither balked nor gushed with this ink and only on one paper (an HP ink-jet paper) did the feed have trouble keeping up under flex. The EF produced a true EF line on everything but bagasse. Wetness and lubricity were never an issue. It was smooth even on Clairefontaine and Black & Red, both of which can sometimes feel chalky with the wrong ink. This may be the smoothest writing, most paper tolerant ink I've encountered. By contrast, the PR Ebony Purple, which was previously in the pen, was a little too wet AND didn't provide as smooth a ride. My theory is that MB stays under the nib (rather than immediately soaking in, drying, or spreading) just a bit longer than some other inks, 'quietly' providing lubrication without trying to feel slicker than eel spit. Very well behaved.

[Sandy1]

I'd say that everything has now all been said and done about this ink.

Thanks for everything I missed out on.

 

Mike

Hi Mike,

...

I doubt that I'll do a Review of Waterman Florida Blue. :-)

Best Regards,

Sandy1

 

OK Ms Smartypants, here ya go:

• Waterman Florida Blue https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/185343-waterman-florida-blue/page__gopid__1869915#entry1869915

Bye,

Your evil twin sister

[SnowLeopard]

MB Midnight Blue had a longer dry time on Claire with 149 fine-med than expected. Truly nice wet line with wonderful shading.Not exactly sure it's composition is exactly the BB of old.

Edited February 17, 2011 by SnowLeopard

[shmotash]

Was looking for the right ink for my MB, this review certainly helped me decide. Great review. Perfectly done.

[Sandy1]

Was looking for the right ink for my MB, this review certainly helped me decide. Great review. Perfectly done.

Hi,

 

Thank-you!

 

When I was gifted with the MB149, included was a bottle of the BlBk. That pen and this ink are an amazing pairing. Perhaps not for everyone, but it jangles my bangles.

 

Bye,

S1

[hoche]

really nice review.

This is one of my faverate one. stocked in my pen. The blue black is the best color for me.

In the first 30 second you can see the color changing, It looks cool.

Only on one thing, the Fe Ga ink is too acid. I don't know if it is good for the pen.