Sitb - Diamine Racing Green

[Renfield]

Hey Folks

 

A while ago I got a bottle of Diamine Racing Green, and when it arrived, it had a serious case of SITB.

 

Here is a pic

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5330/9885114643_d04e9c3c0f_b.jpg

I contacted Rolf at missing-pen,de who was great and replaced the bottle straight away.

I got it a few weeks ok, and checked it, and it looked a little bubbly, but thought that might be due to travelling, so I let it settle had a look, and wasnt too sure..... so I give it a shake and left it to settle again.....

Here are some pics, one from above so you can see the oily discoloration, and another so you can see what looks like a little build up.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7299/9885111893_1155d93235_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7420/9885015544_7e401947ac_b.jpg

Maybe I am being a little paranoid, but does this new bottle look a bit iffy as well? I have not used it just in case

Hopefully some other users can have a look and let me know how their bottle compares.....

Thanks

Ren

 

 

[auto winder]

I have a bottle of Diamine Racing Green that I got a couple of weeks ago, but fortunately I didn't notice any SITB or other strangeness. Very nice colour, by the way.

[The Good Captain]

Personally, I think this looks 'normal' to me - in terms of the Racing Green properties in general. I bought two bottles, to economise on the postage, almost 12 months ago. My working bottle looks the same as your final picture and I've just checked the second one, which has been standing on a shelf, undisturbed, and it's the same. I wouldn't call this SITB anyway - the fungal strands and mould I once found in an almost new bottle of Sheaffer Skrip Blue-Black were much more distinguishable, as was the fusty/mouldy smell as well.

My only problem with Racing green is the pink dye component - it's a bugger to wash out of a pen if one is changing inks. Pink used in various Diamine inks is easy to spot even before use - the inside of the cap is stained that colour!

I'm sure you are safe to use this bottle and the oil on the surface can always be sucked up using a bit of kitchen towel or something.

[SeeksAdvice]

That does look a bit odd. I've seen material floating on the surface of ink, but that does look a bit strange.

 

Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be "sure."

[Renfield]

Just as an update.....

 

 

I decided to try the ink, and dipped a Safari in to fill it up, but when it came out this is what I saw

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/10008477433_5642ab4f84_b.jpg

So it would seem the second bottle is contaminated as well....

Oh well.

I emailed Diamine, but they didn't reply sadly.

Ren

 

[The Good Captain]

Just as an update.....

 

 

I decided to try the ink, and dipped a Safari in to fill it up, but when it came out this is what I saw

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/10008477433_5642ab4f84_b.jpg

So it would seem the second bottle is contaminated as well....

Oh well.

I emailed Diamine, but they didn't reply sadly.

Ren

 

Yes, that does look rather disconcerting. What does it smell like, by the way?

[lapis]

I have a bottle I bought right at the very beginning (July 2012) but haven't used it now for a year or so. When I opened it today, there seemed to be a very slight discolouration (some red, some yellow) on the top surface but no slime or fungus or mould in the form of a real, particulate "coating". I then shook the bottle vigorously. Opening it showed me a lot of foam but nothing else. After letting the bottle stand peacefully for 10-15 min, the ink looked absolute normal, harmless. Writing with a few glass dip pens on various papers and the taking a closer peak with a 10x microscope eyepiece, I see absolutely nothing other than a clean, clear surface of the nib and the same of the writing on the paper. Try that out too, with a glass dip pen or any dip pen. As always, it could well be that we have two or more different charges.

 

Mike

[lapis]

I have a bottle I bought right at the very beginning (July 2012) but haven't used it now for a year or so. When I opened it today, there seemed to be a very slight discolouration (some red, some yellow) on the top surface but no slime or fungus or mould in the form of a real, particulate "coating". I then shook the bottle vigorously. Opening it showed me a lot of foam but nothing else. After letting the bottle stand peacefully for 10-15 min, the ink looked absolute normal, harmless. Writing with a few glass dip pens on various papers and the taking a closer peak with a 10x microscope eyepiece, I see absolutely nothing other than a clean, clear surface of the nib and the same of the writing on the paper. Try that out too, with a glass dip pen or any dip pen. As always, it could well be that we have two or more different charges. The very first thing I thought of before even opening the bottle was that i should take a quick whiff, not knowing what to expect. Here, too, I noticed nothing unusual.

 

Mike

[The Good Captain]

As I've mentioned, my two bottles look as normal as I would have expected so I can only guess that Renfield's bottles are from the same 'off' batch as each other. The smell of my Skrip Blue-Black that had the mould growing on the surface had a really strong smell of fustiness etc. Unmistakable.

I'm sure that the 'foam in the RG is due to shaking/agitation/stirring etc and pink/red dye is used in the manufacture of a number of Diamine inks that one wouldn't necessarily be aware of, based on the final colour and title. This RG is one of them, as I've mentioned.

[Renfield]

Yes, that does look rather disconcerting. What does it smell like, by the way?

 

It smells a little fusty. As I have 2 bottles, I checked the "more" contaminated bottle, and it smelt about the same.

 

I smelt another couple of Diamine inks, which had a sweeter more inky smell (Sherwood Green, Burnt Sienna and Oxblood)

 

Not sure if that helps,

[Renfield]

As I've mentioned, my two bottles look as normal as I would have expected so I can only guess that Renfield's bottles are from the same 'off' batch as each other. The smell of my Skrip Blue-Black that had the mould growing on the surface had a really strong smell of fustiness etc. Unmistakable.

I'm sure that the 'foam in the RG is due to shaking/agitation/stirring etc and pink/red dye is used in the manufacture of a number of Diamine inks that one wouldn't necessarily be aware of, based on the final colour and title. This RG is one of them, as I've mentioned.

 

When I turn mine upside down and look at the bottle, I can see a distinct pink/orange residue in the bottle.

 

Does yours have that?

[watch_art]

The residue on the bottom means you need to shake the bottle good before you open it. The stuff on the Lamy - is that a solid sort of mess or just bubbles?

[Renfield]

The residue on the bottom means you need to shake the bottle good before you open it. The stuff on the Lamy - is that a solid sort of mess or just bubbles?

 

Its a solid sort, but I had not shaken the bottle before filling.

 

But then I normally don't when filling a pen, except maybe some noodlers that are known to seperate, and even then just a quick shake.

 

This took some shaking to get the residue from the bottom

Edited October 1, 2013 by Renfield

[watch_art]

My Diamine Lavander is really thick on the bottom, too. It's just stuff falling out. Similar to Noodler's.

[The Good Captain]

 

When I turn mine upside down and look at the bottle, I can see a distinct pink/orange residue in the bottle.

 

Does yours have that?

Yes it does, and there's a permanent pink stain on the seal inside the cap. The fusty smell seems to be the indicator that things aren't all well, though.