Blue-Black Ink

[rak]

I like blue-black ink. I think it is because my first bottle of ink was the old style Sheaffer blue-black. I currently use Pelikan blue-black. I would like some recommendations on other blue-black inks to try and which is your favorite.

[kissing]

Well, out of the currently made Parker Quink range (Washable blue, black, blue, blue-black), Blue Black by far is my favourite

 

Depends on what pen you use to write with, but a wet writer with Quink BlueBlack satisfies me all the time.

[JRG]

I like Quink blue-black as well, although it's a different effect than Pelikan blue-black (which I also like). In addition, I like the color of Waterman blue-black, but that tends to spread and feather a bit on the papers that I use.

 

For that reason, I mainly use a blue-black mixture that I concoct. The current formula: 50% Quink blue-black, 40% Waterman blue-black, 5% Quink blue, and 5% black (Quink or Pelikan is what I use).

 

The 5% blue keeps the mix from drifting too far toward green, and the 5% black deepens the tone a notch or two from Quink blue black. No troubles with spreading or feathering, and I like the color.

[JimStrutton]

I have too different lots of Quink Blue-Black, some stuff that is about 45 years old and the modern stuff.

 

The older stuff is certainly a darker black, but then the new stuff shades better in a wettish pen with a broad nib. A mixture of 30% Quink Blue, 40% Diamine Prussian Blue and 20% Quink Black is the closest I have been able to get to the Old Quink BB if anybody is interested............

 

Jim

[kissing]

The idea of "Blue Black" as a colour has been a little confusing for me at first

 

I used to think "Blue Black" referred to Navy blue - But upon looking at the "Blue Black" inks, i suppose not

 

Oh well, adding a bit of black makes good navy blues anyway

Edited August 22, 2006 by kissing

[Univer]

Since there's a blue-black thread going, maybe I can sneak in to ask a question.

 

It sounds like Diamine Registrar's (concededly not a blue-black by name) and MB blue-black are iron gall inks.

 

Does anybody know - is Diamine's "standard" blue-black also an iron gall formulation? I was thinking about giving it a try, but I prefer to avoid iron gall inks.

 

Thanks!

[BillTheEditor]

Private Reserve Sonic Blue and Private Reserve Midnight Blues are very nice blue-black inks, if you are looking at alternatives.

[gylyf]

Since there's a blue-black thread going, maybe I can sneak in to ask a question.

 

It sounds like Diamine Registrar's (concededly not a blue-black by name) and MB blue-black are iron gall inks.

 

Does anybody know - is Diamine's "standard" blue-black also an iron gall formulation? I was thinking about giving it a try, but I prefer to avoid iron gall inks.

 

Thanks!

Nope. Diamine's Blue-Black is the same as their other, non-Registrar inks. It's also a very nice blue-black, though Prussian Blue has become my dark blue ink of choice. Best,

David

[Ana]

+1 for the PR Midnight Blues. I have a new bottle of Levenger's Cobalt Blue that I've yet to crack into, but I've heard that's a very-dark-blue-almost-black color.

[BillTheEditor]

+1 for the PR Midnight Blues.  I have a new bottle of Levenger's Cobalt Blue that I've yet to crack into, but I've heard that's a very-dark-blue-almost-black color.

Cobalt Blue is a very dark cobalt blue (think of the color of cobalt glass), and is definitely NOT a blue-black.

 

EDITED to add images of PR Midnight Blues and Levenger Cobalt. Inset closeups of each ink are on the right so you can see the amount of shading each one gives. FWIW, when you look at a page written with Levenger Cobalt Blue, you know you are looking at blue ink. It is very uniform, though, as you can see.

Edited August 22, 2006 by BillTheEditor

[JimCouch]

My absolute favorite blue black is the Sailor blue black. Nice vintage look, good flow and very good lubrication. A great ink!

 

I am also partial to Noodler's Aircorp blue black - a blue black with greenish tint to it and the Noodler's Legal Lapis -which leans heavily toward the blue side of blue black.

 

Jim

[Taki]

I like Pilot BlueBlack carts in my decimo. And I like Diamine Indigo. I know most people prefer Prussian Blue to Indigo, but Ithink Indigo has more of a vintage look-leans toward black than P. Blue. I liked Legal Lapis for a long time but got a little bored with it. Maybe it's time to start using it again

[James P]

I've never been much of a blue-black guy, tending to prefer the brighter blues like Waterman's Florida Blue or Noodler's Luxury Blue, or my all-time favorite PR Lake Placid Blue.

 

Recently, however, I discovered Private Reserve's Black Magic Blue and think it's a really nice ink. It's not too black, not too blue. I really like it.

 

Funny thing is I probably never would have discovered the ink if someone didn't ask me to send them a sample of it first. Once I saw it, I just had to write with it. I'm now using it in my newly-acquired Parker "51" and really enjoying the results.

 

James P.

[Margana]

I like Pilot BlueBlack carts in my decimo. And I like Diamine Indigo. I know most people prefer Prussian Blue to Indigo, but Ithink Indigo has more of a vintage look-leans toward black than P. Blue. I liked Legal Lapis for a long time but got a little bored with it. Maybe it's time to start using it again

I'm with Taki on this one. Indigo is my current blue-black favorite although I have many from which to choose. Vintage describes it well. But yesterday and after hearing tons of good things about Prussian blue, I ordered it from James. Time to see what all the fuss was about!

[Univer]

Nope.  Diamine's Blue-Black is the same as their other, non-Registrar inks.  It's also a very nice blue-black, though Prussian Blue has become my dark blue ink of choice.  Best,

David

Hey David,

 

Thanks a lot. I'll probably give it a try.

 

Best regards,

 

Jon

[Taki]

I'm with Taki on this one. Indigo is my current blue-black favorite although I have many from which to choose. Vintage describes it well. But yesterday and after hearing tons of good things about Prussian blue, I ordered it from James. Time to see what all the fuss was about! 

.

I'm so glad to find another person who likes Indigo! :bunny1:

I bought a bottle of Prussian Blue, but it was too blue(navy blue) for me.

[southpaw]

My favorite blue-black inks, though not necessarily named blue-black, are:

Noodlers/Swisher Tahitian Pearl

Noodlers Blue-Black

Diamine Prussian Blue (haven't tried their Blue-Black . . . yet!)

[RonB]

Another vote for Noodlers/Swishers Tahitian Pearl.

 

Ron

[Ana]

Thanks for posting that comparison Bill! They look pretty similar, but you're right, the shading is different. I will give it a shot!

[Hobo Bob]

I'm also partial to the Quink Blue-black, because that's what my grandfather always used, and he got me into fountain pens. I stole his Waterman, and now all he has are Parker Vectors... :ph34r: