Difference In Calligraphy Ink And Fountain Pen Ink?

[Swell]

Is there a difference between regular fountain pen ink and calligraphy ink? I am new to fountain pens but I am pretty confident in my inks. However, I just bought my Harry Potter-crazed sister a feather quill pen and I don't know what ink to get her. Any advice would be appreciated. I use Private Reserve ink in my fountain pens if that helps.

[kernando]

Yeah. You don't put calligraphy or drawing inks in fountain pens because you can't get it out. They have shellac, which would be the main problem, but I don't think pigments (as in solid particles in suspension, as opposed to soluble dyes) help.

 

For the quill pen, probably try your fountain pen ink first, and get other stuff if it isn't thick enough. But that assumes you don't mind cleaning it.

[pharmacist]

Actually: a quill pen requires gum arabic or similar thickeners or the ink will certainly drib of the nib almost instantly when you hit the paper surface.

 

Actually a good way to write with a quill pen is using a chinese ink stick and ink stone and make your ink instantly. I have done this in the past and it works very well. Chinese ink sticks contain pine resin as thickener (similar to gum arabic). Or you can dilute ordinary water colour paint with just enough water to make it flow well. Most fountain pen are too fluid to be used with dip pens, let alone with quill pens.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

 

+1 on the ink stick: As one starts with a solid, then adds water, the consistency of the ink can be adjusted to match the quill pen. However grinding and mixing the ink can be tedious, (or if using sumi-e ink - a meditation), so I often use the liquid sumi-e ink; and if necessary alter the consistency of the ink: thinner by adding water, thicker by adding liquid gum arabic.

 

OTOH, perhaps taking a bit of your PR ink/s and thoroughly mixing with a bit of liquid gum arabic might do the necessary - especially if coloured ink is desired.

 

Bye,

S1

 

EDIT - to add:

• Do not use quill pens with ink containing shellac, such as India Ink.
• Should the line quality be less than expected, kindly consider using pounce to pre-treat the paper. LINK

Edited July 21, 2012 by Sandy1

[jbb]

Welcome to FPN Swell. I recently tried a feather quill myself. You can use regular fountain pen inks --- that's what I used. BTW, even though I write with a dip pen I found a feather quill to be quite a challenge.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7270335832_3879f657a1_o.jpg

[fluffykitten]

I have used my private reserve with glass dip pens and found some colors work better than others. but overall my biggest problem was actually how fine the lines are. maybe i will do a mini review.