Rohrer & Klingner Salix/scabiosa - Any "safety" Concerns?

[zombywoof]

Are there any "safety" (pen damage) concerns to worry about using Rohrer & Klingner Salix or Scabiosa "iron gall" formulations in modern (piston filling, e.g. Pelikan) pens?

 

[SeeksAdvice]

I have used Salix in converters (Lamy Al-Star), inkballs (Monteverde Invincia), a Pelikan M400, a Sailor Pro Gear Realo, and something else that I cannot remember off-hand. Only thing that got somewhat grumpy was the Invincia, likely because there isn't much lubrication to Salix. I would recommend not leaving it in an Al-Star and leaving the Al-Star in the windshield of a car down South. Had some odd looking spots in the nib after that.

 

Only thing about Salix is that it's somewhat "dry."

[josiah]

Safety? I've used Scabiosa a lot (it's one of my favorite inks). It takes a little extra effort to clean, but only a little. I have had no problems with it clogging, clotting, precipitating, or staining plastics.

[magique.toujours]

I've been using Salix for the past year or so (one of my most reliable blue-blacks so far). Apart from the interesting fact that it is prone to fading (might have to do with the climate - i'm in hot and very humid Singapore) - i've never had problems with clogging, staining or ruined feeds...

 

R&K's IG inks are reformulated. They're safer than the others, but if you want to be totally safe you should flush once a week or a fortnight tops? I had it in my TWSBI 530 once and scatterbrained me promptly forgot about it for a month or so. Yet it cleaned out, no problems.

[martinbir]

Having spent ages looking for "the perfect blue black" the search ended when I tried Salix about six months ago. I am now on my second bottle and always have at least one pen inked with it. Compared with Lamy and Pelikan 4001 iron gall blue blacks it flows better and retains more blue after fully reacting with the paper, but you do still need a fairly wet nib for a nice relaxed performance.

 

It has been in all manner of pens from 1950s Parkers to more modern Pelikan Souverans and never caused any problems even though I would not tend to flush a pen in regular use as much as once a month. The Souveran M600 ran it for at least four months solid with no ill effects.

 

Generally I find these inks wash out more easily than some of the highly saturated modern inks.

 

At the same time I also tried Scabiosa (waterproof Diamine Damson, what could be better?). This is a bit dryer than Salix and tends to a pinky look in anything but the wettest nibs. Still, it gets on just fine in my old Burnham 55.

 

Use them and enjoy them.

[The Good Captain]

I love both these inks and have got a routing now that I will flush the pens every couple of fills. I've the Scabiosa in a Pelikan 200 and the Salix in a 600 and I've had no problems.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Just ensure your pens are scrupulously clean before and after using an I-G ink, especially if you've recently had a 'bulletproof' or nano particle ink in the pen. (Use of a DIY or commercial pen cleaning solution is a good idea.)

 

Opinions and experience vary widely as to the frequency of a 'maintenance' clean-up. (Montblanc mentions three months is OK for their IG Midnight Blue.) Just fill the pen on a routine basis, and don't let it run dry. Using it on a routine basis is the way to go.

 

If you inadvertently leave the pen uncapped for so long that the nib dries out, you might consider giving it a quick rinse/dip to remove any dried ink.

 

I've been using ESSRI, which has a higher IG content, for months on end without any maintenance and only occasional use - no problems.

 

Oh, just to keep things interesting, R&K Salix can be safely mixed with other R&K FP inks, except Sepia, though the mix won't be so robust.

 

Bye,

S1

[inkstainedruth]

Just remember that when flushing (particularly before or after using a non-iron gall ink) to do the extra maintenance step of doing a flush of vinegar solution (white vinegar and distilled water, in the same ratios as an ammonia and water solution), then flushing well with water before doing an ammonia solution flush.

Other than that, you'll be fine. Salix in particular is a very nice ink that stays bluer longer than pretty much every other IG ink on the market.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[lapis]

I've not yet encountered any problems with any of these R&Ks (or, to brag, any of the 19). I just fill and clean and refill as usual. I would definitely hold it against any ink if it ever gunked up my M900 or M1000.

[tinta]

No concerns whatsoever.

As long as you flush & clean your pen regularly, Salix & Scabiosa appear to be safe GI inks.

Salix has become one of my go-to medium blues.

I've heard that these R&K inks may contain less of the iron-gall component than other formulations.

 

The bottom line is, not to have your pen dry out with an GI ink in it (or any other ink for that matter) & practise a regular, thorough pen hygiene.

FPN member "Sandi1" has posted a very useful regimen for cleaning pens that have been using iron-gall inks.

Enjoy!

[SeeksAdvice]

Wouldn't surprise me if Salix had less IG in it than others. When I first got a sample, I expected it to turn jet black shortly after application to paper. Was surprised when it did not.

 

I have not seen it fade, but I have not subjected any to intensive UV bombardment.

 

For me, it turns to essentially a grey on our office paper.