I Just Wanna Rant!

[Albus]

First Lamy, then Montblanc, stopping their production of IG ink.

 

Why, oh god, why?

 

All I wanted is a blue (ok doesn't really matter, blue-black is ok, but not black, I hated black), waterproof (some running of ink is ok, but it has still to be legible.), dry (no bleed thru on 80gsm paper, but still resonable to write with), safe in celluloid pen ink.

 

So is this really difficult to get? Yes. ESSRI is a weak blue when writing and is very very very dry. And I found that 3:1 v/v ratio of ESSRI to Montblanc (in the midst of testing, try at your own peril) gives reasonable wetness, good colour at starting.

 

Now they are stopping Montblanc iron gall????!!!! Seriously. Why?

Edited October 12, 2013 by Albus

[DanielCoffey]

If you are finding ESSRI that light in writing, you may need to get your pen cleaned and the flow increased. It should be excellent in a pen with moderate flow.

[Laura N]

Why? My guess is money. MB is introducing new permanent blue and black inks priced at a significant premium. It seems possible that they didn't want to undercut that by keeping a permanent ink in their lineup at the regular price.

 

Have you tried R&K Salix? Also nice is Pelikan Blue Black, which reportedly is not iron gall but behaves similarly. I've used both in vintage celluloid pens with no issue.

[Pterodactylus]

http://imageshack.us/a/img534/9700/sa6h.jpg

(Mabie Todd Swan 4660 Leverless ..... ESS Registrars Blue/Black)

(Pelikan 140 - OF ..... Montblanc Midnight Blue (iron gall))

(Noodler´s Ahab EMF ..... Rohrer & Klingner Salix)

(Pelikan 100N - EF ..... Rohrer & Klingner Scabiosa)

(Pelikan M600 - M ..... Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black)

[Sirenology]

Have you tried sailor sei-boku? Should be same maintenance as an ig ink. Not a dry ink though.

[Bemo]

I read in another thread somewhere around here that Platinum's blue black is still and IG. Sorry I can't remember which thread. Also isn't Diamine's registrars ink also an IG ink?

[Alexandra]

Have you tried sailor sei-boku? Should be same maintenance as an ig ink. Not a dry ink though.

I was going to recommend that along with Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher (not 100% waterproof like SSB but a very agreeable ink).

[SeeksAdvice]

Neither of Noodler's "Warden" blues are 100% waterproof. In testing I had Bed Blue Heron have blue-green run off.

[mhosea]

Neither of Noodler's "Warden" blues are 100% waterproof. In testing I had Bed Blue Heron have blue-green run off.

 

The formulation may have changed, in which case you are revealing new information here. Another possibility is that the run-off is not BBH at all, rather ink previously used in the pen and not completely cleaned out before loading it with BBH. To rule out the latter, just use a swab, a dip pen, or anything roughly approximating a dip pen to transfer some ink to the paper and try the test again.

[Albus]

I have a small vial of BBH but I am not really keen to use it in my 1250 sheaffer vac filler, which is one of my daily user.

 

The problem with noodler's ink is that 1. (most importantly) it is wet. I do all of my daily work on 70g to 80g copier paper and even use FP on my exams, swtiching to noodler's will mean that I cannot do that. And even for some drier pens, pelikan BB is already too wet. So I am not keen on trying noodlers.

 

Second problem is 2. Celluloid. As much as i believe that pens should be used, i am not entirely convinced that noodler's ink are safe in celluloid pens. Personally, i like the idea of neutral pH, waterproof ink. But noodler's ink is not proven beyond reasonable doubt that they are safe so I will take it as a last resort when my supplies run out.

 

A little background, I am undergraduate. I write all of my notes in ig inks. I work in a wet organic synthesis lab ie i work with solvents like acetone, ethyl acetate, etc.

 

Even though I like my sheaffer vac fillers, I am not using them because of the dangers of melting celluloid. So my writing material is 70gsm writing paper or notebook with P51 filled with 3:1 (ESSRI:MBMBI). The ink and the pen is solvent safe.

 

I would be interested in getting some mixing recipe with ig ink.

Edited October 13, 2013 by Albus

[Albus]

Sailor nano particle is interesting to me. Waterproof and good behaving.

 

However, as with all suspended ink, there is the problem of it precipitating out. I might just be putting the ink into a centrifuge and seek if i can separate the particles, THAT will be interesting.

 

And as with all precipitate, the problem is cleaning. For precipitates, that are insoluble, mechanical cleaning is a problem. It leaves a thin film of powder every where.

 

Although Ig ink leaves a thin film of particles too, I find that by using a very dilute solution of bleach, the particles can be dissolved and render soluble and so it can be cleaned out easily. I will be experimenting with vineger, hydrogen peroxide.

 

So this leaves with ink that contains dyes but are water resistant. Hmmm

 

 

OOOH i forgot R&K's ig ink!!! OK! i will experiment with that!

 

 

When i mean that ESSRI is weak in writing, I do not really mean that the result (after oxidizing and maturing) is weak. It is just that when you lay it down, it is very pale at first, but really the ig content is quite high considering the darkening shown.

 

And more importantly it is very very very DRY. Sandy1 says that he finds it wetter than MBMBI but I find it to be the opposite, no idea why but i think YMMV.

Edited October 13, 2013 by Albus

[athenian]

How about Diamine Registrars? Excellent ink.

[Mafia Geek]

Go for R&K Salix or Scabiosa (also IG but purple in colour). Also, Akkerman make an IG ink, and you get the cool ink bottle to go with it.

 

I'm in the same boat as you, I've found of all the inks I've tried (and yes there are A LOT) IG inks are the best performing on paper. They may require a little more maintenance in the pen, but perform the best on paper. They are the most waterproof I have ever used (even over pigment/nano inks) and feather/bleed-through the least. The R&K Salix is a really nice looking ink too. It has some really nice shading to it and I really like the colour. It's also fairly easy to come by and is very well priced. Give that a go, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

 

i have a review of Salix, Lamy IG, Montblanc IG, and Diamine Registrar's ink and for me Salix is my favourite.

[wastelanded]

Diamine Registar's is a very good ink, as is Akkerman's Nº 10 (same ink by some accounts, I'm not so sure). R&K's Salix and Scabiosa are wonderfully expressive inks.

 

I too will miss MBMB, to me it's the classiest ink around.

[WirsPlm]

I have a small vial of BBH but I am not really keen to use it in my 1250 sheaffer vac filler, which is one of my daily user.

 

The problem with noodler's ink is that 1. (most importantly) it is wet. I do all of my daily work on 70g to 80g copier paper and even use FP on my exams, swtiching to noodler's will mean that I cannot do that. And even for some drier pens, pelikan BB is already too wet. So I am not keen on trying noodlers.

 

Second problem is 2. Celluloid. As much as i believe that pens should be used, i am not entirely convinced that noodler's ink are safe in celluloid pens. Personally, i like the idea of neutral pH, waterproof ink. But noodler's ink is not proven beyond reasonable doubt that they are safe so I will take it as a last resort when my supplies run out.

 

A little background, I am undergraduate. I write all of my notes in ig inks. I work in a wet organic synthesis lab ie i work with solvents like acetone, ethyl acetate, etc.

 

Even though I like my sheaffer vac fillers, I am not using them because of the dangers of melting celluloid. So my writing material is 70gsm writing paper or notebook with P51 filled with 3:1 (ESSRI:MBMBI). The ink and the pen is solvent safe.

 

I would be interested in getting some mixing recipe with ig ink.

I've used Noodler's in Esterbrooks and don't have any problems. There was a particular plastic that Pilot and I think Lamy used that had problems with Baystate Blue, but 1) That was Baystate Blue, and 2) the plastics were reformulated to avoid the problem. Can you explain why you aren't sure Noodler's would be safe in celluloid pens?

[ravantra]

Have you considered Kung Te-cheng. It is not quite blue more toward purple but it is indestructible. It is not IG ink but totally waterproof.

[Albus]

How about Diamine Registrars? Excellent ink.

 

I should be trying Diamine soon... Love the Magestic blue though!!!

 

Go for R&K Salix or Scabiosa (also IG but purple in colour). Also, Akkerman make an IG ink, and you get the cool ink bottle to go with it.

 

I'm in the same boat as you, I've found of all the inks I've tried (and yes there are A LOT) IG inks are the best performing on paper. They may require a little more maintenance in the pen, but perform the best on paper. They are the most waterproof I have ever used (even over pigment/nano inks) and feather/bleed-through the least. The R&K Salix is a really nice looking ink too. It has some really nice shading to it and I really like the colour. It's also fairly easy to come by and is very well priced. Give that a go, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

 

i have a review of Salix, Lamy IG, Montblanc IG, and Diamine Registrar's ink and for me Salix is my favourite.

 

Same here. I tried Lamy, Montblanc and Essri. I think it's a combination of water-resistent, dryness and easy to find.

 

Diamine Registar's is a very good ink, as is Akkerman's Nº 10 (same ink by some accounts, I'm not so sure). R&K's Salix and Scabiosa are wonderfully expressive inks.

 

I too will miss MBMB, to me it's the classiest ink around.

 

Akkerman seems to be expensive but review give it a plus. I may want to try it.

I've used Noodler's in Esterbrooks and don't have any problems. There was a particular plastic that Pilot and I think Lamy used that had problems with Baystate Blue, but 1) That was Baystate Blue, and 2) the plastics were reformulated to avoid the problem. Can you explain why you aren't sure Noodler's would be safe in celluloid pens?

 

Well, from what I read, it is not enitre clear if noodler's ink is safe in celluloid or not. For my vintage sheaffer pens, I want to take a guilty until proven innocent stance. If I really have to resort to noodler's I may use the black, HOD or x feather - basically the more established ones in my pens.

 

A note, I am not anti noodler. I use BSB in a lamy yellow safari w/o problem so it is alright. I just have problem with noodler's overly wetness and heavy dye component that causes problem.

(Nathan, can't you make a ink that is not so saturated and not so wet?)

 

And because I print in black and write writing in black will make my writing less obvious. So I would not be very interested in using black; I need some contrast in colour.

 

But the primary concern is that I use cheap 80gsm paper and I prefer drier inks. U may suggest that I use better paper, but really if you are going thru 200 sheets in a month worth of writing that is not an option.

 

 

Have you considered Kung Te-cheng. It is not quite blue more toward purple but it is indestructible. It is not IG ink but totally waterproof.

Yah it has a lovely colour!!! Does it clog? Goulet says that it may clog.

[cbaytan]

Have you tried sailor sei-boku? Should be same maintenance as an ig ink. Not a dry ink though.

 

+1 Pigmented Sei-Boku absolutely rocks. Before Sei-Boku, I've used Noodler's 54'th Massachusets (too dark blackish blue) mixed with Luxury blue for a lighter tone also Bad green Gator for giving it a more colder & lighter tone. All eternal Inks. Mixing inks for your taste is great fun. Noodler's make several great eternal/waterpoof blues, I would love to try Bad Blue Heron but I have tons of Blues at home now. Actually I am looking for someone giving away some blues like Baystate blue- not for staining properties, too indigo for me and does not mix with other colors/greens.

[WirsPlm]

Well, from what I read, it is not enitre clear if noodler's ink is safe in celluloid or not. For my vintage sheaffer pens, I want to take a guilty until proven innocent stance. If I really have to resort to noodler's I may use the black, HOD or x feather - basically the more established ones in my pens.

 

A note, I am not anti noodler. I use BSB in a lamy yellow safari w/o problem so it is alright. I just have problem with noodler's overly wetness and heavy dye component that causes problem.

(Nathan, can't you make a ink that is not so saturated and not so wet?)

 

And because I print in black and write writing in black will make my writing less obvious. So I would not be very interested in using black; I need some contrast in colour.

 

But the primary concern is that I use cheap 80gsm paper and I prefer drier inks. U may suggest that I use better paper, but really if you are going thru 200 sheets in a month worth of writing that is not an option.

 

Huh. Well, you're the first person I've heard talking about celluloid and Noodler's.

 

Honestly, I think there's a lot of FUD spread about Noodler's because Nathan's a new player who's not afraid to do inks with different properties and is not shy about speaking his mind. He ought to just put up some endurance test videos with various pen materials, but given his 'instructions' with KTC it seems he thinks all the rampant mud-slinging is funny. I wonder if there were historical kerfluffles of ink problems (Parker's 51 Superchrome was reportedly pretty toxic)? It takes all kinds, I guess. Nothing in the world will get me to buy Waterman's inks, the pH tests I've seen were pretty acidic (not putting battery acid in my pens, thanks), and I've yet to see a Diamine ink that can stand up to water.

 

I use all my Noodler's inks on all kinds of paper, including cheap office paper. The ones that give me trouble are Polar Brown (smelly, feathery, shades too much) and Bad Green Gator (lovely in F nibs but feather-prone when enough ink gets on the page). BSiAR, the blacks I've tried (X-Feather, Black, Eel Black) haven't feathered enough for me to notice it.

[Chiro75]

ESSRI does do well with an occasional flush. I am notoriously bad at pen maintenance but a flush every 6 months or so is always a good idea with that ink,. LOL