A Decent Dip Pen Or Set For Testing Inks?

[DreamworK]

Can anyone recommend a decent dip pen for testing inks?

[chiaroscuro]

I've used Brause Cito Feins for ink testing (vintage and the lesser quality current production). They're easy to find and, like most modern pens, they're fairly stiff. The line is similar to a European Medium.

 

The problem for ink testing, though, is that dip pens will lay down much more ink than FPs, resulting in significantly darker colors. I find they're best for quickly comparing many inks. If you also use ink swabs, you can get a general idea of the color differences and maybe some other characteristics, but nothing beats actually inking your pen. You could use a syringe to better control the quantity of ink or tap the nibs several times on the inkwell to get the excess off. (I also got some other stiff, "round" nibs for testing and if I find one that's drier or more "true" to an FP I'll let you know, but for now my recommendation is Brause Cito Fein, as dry as possible).

[PaFitch]

Vintage Carter ink testing dip pens show up every so often. it's my understanding they a part of Carter ink displays so people could try out Carter inks. I haven't used mine so I can't testify to its efficacy (one more pen thing on my to-do-list).

[pokermon]

If you have a C/C pen you should clean it out and use that to dip since they are so easily cleaned after dipping. A dip pen does put down alot of ink and sometimes fountain pen ink is too thin for dip pen nibs. If you must get a dip pen I suggest to go to jetpens and grab one of their dip pen holders that can hold both the bigger G style nibs and the smaller style nib and grab a few nibs. Cheapest way to go.

[Chris Chalmers]

How about a glass dip pen? they are so easy to rinse and write a line that is acceptable too!

[dcwaites]

As chiaroscuro and pokermon said, dip pens tend to be too wet, so the inks look too dark. This also applies to the glass dip pens (I have tried them). So far, I have only found one nib that is useful for ink testing is the Perry Iridinoid 105, because the nib tip is folded like a very cheap fountain pen.

 

The other alternative is a cheap, but good quality Chinese fountain pen like a Kaigelu, Haolilai or Jinhao. The nibs can be quite good, but because the collectors are relatively simple, they are much easier to rinse out to change inks.

[Paddler]

I have been using vintage nibs marketed under the "Spencerian" brand name. These seem to be fairly common, at least in my part of the world. Under this brand, "Dome Pointed Falcon", "Bronze Falcon", and "Service" nibs do well with fountain pen inks and will give you a medium line. "Counting House", as well as other brands' "Auditor" and "Bank" work well also, but give a very fine line and are scratchy. I find the "Society Stub", the "Congressional", and the "Signature" nibs to be very wet. If I want to use one of those, I have to use a thicker ink or close down the slit.

 

Dip nibs do tend to start out wet. But then, as you write, they become more dry, ending up completely out of ink. So they will show you every variation you may encounter in fountain pens. Seems to me, this is a virtue when testing inks.

 

[seanruss]

I second the glass dip pen, that's what I use. They put down an acceptable line of ink

[bernardo]

I use a J. Herbin glass dip pen. It's quite practical.

 

[RLTodd]

If you have a C/C pen you should clean it out and use that to dip since they are so easily cleaned after dipping. A dip pen does put down alot of ink and sometimes fountain pen ink is too thin for dip pen nibs. If you must get a dip pen I suggest to go to jetpens and grab one of their dip pen holders that can hold both the bigger G style nibs and the smaller style nib and grab a few nibs. Cheapest way to go.

 

Ditto, plus you can use it the regular way when not testing inks.

 

This is what I do on those rare occasions when I only want to write a few sentences with a new ink. I have a Phileas with a "M" nib that I find to broad for general use. It is cracker jack for testing new inks on new paper.

[DreamworK]

Thanks for all of the advice :-) I want to eventually become proficient at calligraphy, so I've bought a couple nib holders already.

 

As soon as I can save up some money, I'll purchase the J Herbin glass pen. It seems like the easiest option for testing inks very quickly (I can wash away the excess ink with a resevoir of hot water nearby).

[bernardo]

As soon as I can save up some money, I'll purchase the J Herbin glass pen. It seems like the easiest option for testing inks very quickly (I can wash away the excess ink with a resevoir of hot water nearby).

 

Exactly