What Ink Do You Use That Is Safe In Your Vanishing Point?

February 8, 2012

My only problem with a VP to-date has been Akkerman's Diepduinwaterblauw (the only pen of mine not to agree with this ink, btw).

February 8, 2012

It's a little hard for me to tell what I'm looking at but if I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing the ink is pooling on the underside of the nib at the top of the section. You're right, this doesn't look right. It would be much easier to see on a standard nib and if I saw it on something like a Pelikan I'd be seriously ticked at that behavior. Usually you do see this in a feed that's out of control but VP nibs just don't usually behave that way. And you gave the impression it was in more than one pen.

Therefore, I don't think this is just your pen. It may be your batch of Noodler's black. This is a problem with small-batch companies like Noodler's in that the inks do sometimes vary in their behavior.

You might consider trying this to see if it makes any difference: Dilute a single fill of the pen by about oh, try 25%-30%. This will not appreciably alter the color or the bulletproof nature of the ink. Truly, Noodler's ink is so saturated that it just won't harm those qualities to dilute it. BUT it very well may reduce the creep by diluting the surfactants enough to prevent this problem. Give it a shot and see what happens.

Good luck!

February 8, 2012

I've used many different brands (Noodler's, Lamy, Pelikan, MB, J. Herbin, etc.) in my two VPs and only one ever gave me a leak problem. That was Scheaffer brown. And that might have just been an aberration.

February 9, 2012

Mostly I use Waterman Florida Blue in my Vanishing Point. Sometimes I switch over to Sheaffer Blue. The VP is a robust beast and I wouldn't have any qualms about using any ink I own for it. ... Come to think of it, there's no ink I own that I won't put in my pens. Weird, huh.

load up noodlers black and see what happens =/

It'll write wonderfully and reliably.

In response to an obvious troll, see my previous post in this topic ...

Ok - well i suppose my point has been misunderstood. I'll be the first to say I love Noodler's Inks - specifically Noodler's Black. My problem is that in my work environment I use my pen a lot and on the go. My VP is constantly clicking in and out. Once, when i had loaded Noodler's black for work, I had looked down after an hour and noticed an ink blob on my shirt, pants, and hand. To say the least I was disappointed in the condition in which Noodler's Black behaved in my vanishing point.

To prove my point I just loaded some Noodler's black to show you how it behaved after a few clicks in and out

I'm not quite sure if this is because my nib is not seated properly or just the way that Noodler's Black is in terms of properties of ink and how it behaves when it comes in contact with the metal clicking out

Okay, fair do's.

Here's my nib unit, as of just now, with BP Black.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~ssulman@ihug.com.au/images/VPNib2.jpg

This is fairly typical of how it looks. But it has never, ever leaked out of the pen. And I don't believe that it should under normal use. And I have a fairly broad interpretation of 'normal'. This pen spends much of the day in a small pocket in my shorts, about mid-thigh, so gets a fair amount of jostling. And it's mid-summer here in Brisbane, so the pen is kept nice and warm.

Your mileage obviously varies!

February 9, 2012

Oh, wow. That's pretty bad, imho. That would bug the heck out of me, too.

Mostly I use Waterman Florida Blue in my Vanishing Point. Sometimes I switch over to Sheaffer Blue. The VP is a robust beast and I wouldn't have any qualms about using any ink I own for it. ... Come to think of it, there's no ink I own that I won't put in my pens. Weird, huh.

load up noodlers black and see what happens =/

It'll write wonderfully and reliably.

In response to an obvious troll, see my previous post in this topic ...

Ok - well i suppose my point has been misunderstood. I'll be the first to say I love Noodler's Inks - specifically Noodler's Black. My problem is that in my work environment I use my pen a lot and on the go. My VP is constantly clicking in and out. Once, when i had loaded Noodler's black for work, I had looked down after an hour and noticed an ink blob on my shirt, pants, and hand. To say the least I was disappointed in the condition in which Noodler's Black behaved in my vanishing point.

To prove my point I just loaded some Noodler's black to show you how it behaved after a few clicks in and out

I'm not quite sure if this is because my nib is not seated properly or just the way that Noodler's Black is in terms of properties of ink and how it behaves when it comes in contact with the metal clicking out

Okay, fair do's.

Here's my nib unit, as of just now, with BP Black.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~ssulman@ihug.com.au/images/VPNib2.jpg

This is fairly typical of how it looks. But it has never, ever leaked out of the pen. And I don't believe that it should under normal use. And I have a fairly broad interpretation of 'normal'. This pen spends much of the day in a small pocket in my shorts, about mid-thigh, so gets a fair amount of jostling. And it's mid-summer here in Brisbane, so the pen is kept nice and warm.

Your mileage obviously varies!

February 10, 2012

It's a little hard for me to tell what I'm looking at but if I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing the ink is pooling on the underside of the nib at the top of the section. You're right, this doesn't look right. It would be much easier to see on a standard nib and if I saw it on something like a Pelikan I'd be seriously ticked at that behavior. Usually you do see this in a feed that's out of control but VP nibs just don't usually behave that way. And you gave the impression it was in more than one pen.

Therefore, I don't think this is just your pen. It may be your batch of Noodler's black. This is a problem with small-batch companies like Noodler's in that the inks do sometimes vary in their behavior.

You might consider trying this to see if it makes any difference: Dilute a single fill of the pen by about oh, try 25%-30%. This will not appreciably alter the color or the bulletproof nature of the ink. Truly, Noodler's ink is so saturated that it just won't harm those qualities to dilute it. BUT it very well may reduce the creep by diluting the surfactants enough to prevent this problem. Give it a shot and see what happens.

Good luck!

Great Idea, I hadn't thought about that. I'm somewhat new to the fountain pen world, about 8 months or so and haven't played around with diluting inks. I diluted 3 mL of Noodler's black with 25% water and I have had basically no issues.

I haven't used it at work, but I've clicked the pen in and out several times and have not had the previous issues.

Thanks so much!!

February 10, 2012

Oh, wow. That's pretty bad, imho. That would bug the heck out of me, too.

Okay, fair do's.

Here's my nib unit, as of just now, with BP Black.

This is fairly typical of how it looks. But it has never, ever leaked out of the pen. And I don't believe that it should under normal use. And I have a fairly broad interpretation of 'normal'. This pen spends much of the day in a small pocket in my shorts, about mid-thigh, so gets a fair amount of jostling. And it's mid-summer here in Brisbane, so the pen is kept nice and warm.

Your mileage obviously varies!

Bad? Maybe for some, but notice that the ink is a film, not pooling, and as I said, does not leak from the pen. Remember also that this pen gets jiggled around a lot. I'd consider this quite mild for the usage and abuse it gets.

Bug you? Why? You can't see it in normal use, and if you only take out the nib unit to refill, you wouldn't know it was there, and what little is there (and it really is only a smear) is easily cleaned off.

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Would do if it ever leaked.

As before, YMMV.

Edited February 10, 2012 by effrafax

February 10, 2012

Oh, wow. That's pretty bad, imho. That would bug the heck out of me, too.

Okay, fair do's.

Here's my nib unit, as of just now, with BP Black.

This is fairly typical of how it looks. But it has never, ever leaked out of the pen. And I don't believe that it should under normal use. And I have a fairly broad interpretation of 'normal'. This pen spends much of the day in a small pocket in my shorts, about mid-thigh, so gets a fair amount of jostling. And it's mid-summer here in Brisbane, so the pen is kept nice and warm.

Your mileage obviously varies!

Bad? Maybe for some, but notice that the ink is a film, not pooling, and as I said, does not leak from the pen. Remember also that this pen gets jiggled around a lot. I'd consider this quite mild for the usage and abuse it gets.

Bug you? Why? You can't see it in normal use, and if you only take out the nib unit to refill, you wouldn't know it was there, and what little is there (and it really is only a smear) is easily cleaned off.

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Would do if it ever leaked.

As before, YMMV.

It would definitely "bug me". Specially if the ink advertises itself as cellulose reactive. One reason I avoid waterproof and "bulletproof" inks. My pens usually reside in the shirt pocket of fairly expensive, 100% cotton, shirts. My main culprit for several ruined shirts has so far been Pelikan Brilliant Black, which unfortunately, contrary to popular opinion, is highly water resistant, in my Pelikan Souveran pens. The Pelikan pens, which I absolutely love otherwise, have a nasty habit of uncapping themselves in my shirt pocket.

February 10, 2012

It would definitely "bug me". Specially if the ink advertises itself as cellulose reactive. One reason I avoid waterproof and "bulletproof" inks. My pens usually reside in the shirt pocket of fairly expensive, 100% cotton, shirts. My main culprit for several ruined shirts has so far been Pelikan Brilliant Black, which unfortunately, contrary to popular opinion, is highly water resistant, in my Pelikan Souveran pens. The Pelikan pens, which I absolutely love otherwise, have a nasty habit of uncapping themselves in my shirt pocket.

I have your same sentiments! that was the purpose of my question

February 10, 2012

Oh, wow. That's pretty bad, imho. That would bug the heck out of me, too.

Okay, fair do's.

Here's my nib unit, as of just now, with BP Black.

This is fairly typical of how it looks. But it has never, ever leaked out of the pen. And I don't believe that it should under normal use. And I have a fairly broad interpretation of 'normal'. This pen spends much of the day in a small pocket in my shorts, about mid-thigh, so gets a fair amount of jostling. And it's mid-summer here in Brisbane, so the pen is kept nice and warm.

Your mileage obviously varies!

Bad? Maybe for some, but notice that the ink is a film, not pooling, and as I said, does not leak from the pen. Remember also that this pen gets jiggled around a lot. I'd consider this quite mild for the usage and abuse it gets.

Bug you? Why? You can't see it in normal use, and if you only take out the nib unit to refill, you wouldn't know it was there, and what little is there (and it really is only a smear) is easily cleaned off.

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Would do if it ever leaked.

As before, YMMV.

It would definitely "bug me". Specially if the ink advertises itself as cellulose reactive. One reason I avoid waterproof and "bulletproof" inks. My pens usually reside in the shirt pocket of fairly expensive, 100% cotton, shirts. My main culprit for several ruined shirts has so far been Pelikan Brilliant Black, which unfortunately, contrary to popular opinion, is highly water resistant, in my Pelikan Souveran pens. The Pelikan pens, which I absolutely love otherwise, have a nasty habit of uncapping themselves in my shirt pocket.

Once more, with feeling . . .

My VPs, all filled with Noodlers (and only ever Noodlers), have never, ever leaked ink to the outside world.

'Nuff said.

February 10, 2012

I have used BSB (which worked wonderfully), Diamine Amazing Amethyst and Damsom. Damson gave me some slight leakage problems but no mess just a bit of excess ink on the nib. I use my VP (fine) in college so it get clicked many many times during a normal day. The pen has performed beautifully for me needs.

February 10, 2012

Once more, with feeling . . .

My VPs, all filled with Noodlers (and only ever Noodlers), have never, ever leaked ink to the outside world.

'Nuff said.

(nod) Though I've had gunk build up in my VPs, I've never had a leak.

February 10, 2012

It's a little hard for me to tell what I'm looking at but if I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing the ink is pooling on the underside of the nib at the top of the section. You're right, this doesn't look right. It would be much easier to see on a standard nib and if I saw it on something like a Pelikan I'd be seriously ticked at that behavior. Usually you do see this in a feed that's out of control but VP nibs just don't usually behave that way. And you gave the impression it was in more than one pen.

Therefore, I don't think this is just your pen. It may be your batch of Noodler's black. This is a problem with small-batch companies like Noodler's in that the inks do sometimes vary in their behavior.

You might consider trying this to see if it makes any difference: Dilute a single fill of the pen by about oh, try 25%-30%. This will not appreciably alter the color or the bulletproof nature of the ink. Truly, Noodler's ink is so saturated that it just won't harm those qualities to dilute it. BUT it very well may reduce the creep by diluting the surfactants enough to prevent this problem. Give it a shot and see what happens.

Good luck!

Great Idea, I hadn't thought about that. I'm somewhat new to the fountain pen world, about 8 months or so and haven't played around with diluting inks. I diluted 3 mL of Noodler's black with 25% water and I have had basically no issues.

I haven't used it at work, but I've clicked the pen in and out several times and have not had the previous issues.

Thanks so much!!

Good deal. Hope it holds up under work stress.

February 10, 2012

I haven't used Noodler's Black in mine yet, but when I used Noodler's Benevolent Badger it got pretty messy. All over the nib and partially onto the opening by the clip that the nib comes out of. I've used a bunch of iron-gall inks in my VP and I've only had one small problem. Lamy Blue-Black liked to dry out on me and I had to keep re-priming it, but no problems with MB Midnight Blue or Rohrer & Klingner Salix.

February 10, 2012

I think KCat's suggestion of diluting the Noodler's is excellent. I believe that is sometimes presented as a selling point for the inks: you get a lot more volume and because they are highly saturated, you can dilute them a lot and get loads more ink for the dollar. With these inks, you do need to regularly maintain your pen (flush and fill). I was told that it should be done frequently, so instead of just adding more ink, clean first.

Another suggestion is to use Pilot inks. I know that both the Blue and Blue Black resist water quite well and obviously should work well in a Pilot pen. They would be a good choice for a lower maintenance ink for your pen.

Dave