Hero 233 Blue-A Hidden Gem

[Fabienne]

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af174/fabienne301/hero233blue_zps539b9592.jpg

[Fabienne]

P.S. After coming back to this writing sample, I have to admit that it has gone a bit from more to less purple as the ink dried. But it is still more purple-blue than green-blue. The scan color is accurate.

[Moshe ben David]

I wonder chemically how it performs with rubber or polymeric sacs on older pens? Or with celluloid barrels on piston fillers?

[Fabienne]

I have no idea. Why don't you get a bottle and find out. It's dirt cheap.

[Pickwick]

I wonder chemically how it performs with rubber or polymeric sacs on older pens? Or with celluloid barrels on piston fillers?

I don't see any problem, given the fact Chinese manufacturers make sac fillers.

[Pickwick]

P.S. After coming back to this writing sample, I have to admit that it has gone a bit from more to less purple as the ink dried. But it is still more purple-blue than green-blue. The scan color is accurate.

Thanks for an informative review. The color is reminiscent of Noodler's Manhattan Blue, and it looks as if Fountain pen Hospital is now calling it Manhattan Black. I'll be getting me a bottle of Hero 233.

[Brian C]

Is this the same ink that comes with the Hero's Safari clones? I love that ink. I would buy a bottle in a second.

[Fabienne]

Oh, I am afraid that I don't know if this is the once which comes with the Hero's Safari. Sorry. Do you get a whole bottle when you buy a Safari Clone?

[WOBentley]

At $4/bottle with free shipping I went for it and added a bottle of the red just to try it out.

Thanks for the review, I love the color!

[amberleadavis]

Wow, you are right, it is a hidden gem. Thank you.

[whoelse]

A lot of people like the Hero 233, will it hurt pen? It is an interesting question because I see these ink has been very popular in school children with no concern on pen hygiene. Another common pen use in school during the old days are the Hero 32x series and because of the low cost, I am sure they are made of the cheapest plastic and sac yet it survive many years of every day writing in school, tossing around etc.

 

That is some kind of testimonial I suppose?

 

The Hero 234 Black Carbon ink is very lovely, true dark brilliant black. However, it stain pen but flush out OK. I didn't want to use it because I am not sure how the 234 will react if I leave the ink in a pen for a long time (I am one with bad pen hygiene too) especially carbon ink.

 

Hero ink is very commonly available here for about $1 a bottle. Pelikan 4001 is less than $3 and even more common. Pelikan products has good price in Singapore, I am starting to be a fan. M400 is selling around $160, I am so tempted to get one (Off topic..).

Edited December 17, 2013 by whoelse

[dan in montreal]

I just bought a bottle of this stuff in Montreal's Chinatown for a whopping 4.25 (CDN), put in a Jinhao 599 and I am impressed. I also got the red and it seems to also be a pretty nice ink. And they both ave the same weird smell - I can't figure out what it reminds me of - dish soap with sweetener is the best I can come up with.

 

I also bought the BB, have't tried it yet.

[Tas]

Well done for raising this fella's profile.

 

I've been a long time fan of it's cousin but wasn't aware of the washable blue version.

 

Thank you.

[JoshM]

I just bought a bottle of this stuff in Montreal's Chinatown for a whopping 4.25 (CDN), put in a Jinhao 599 and I am impressed. I also got the red and it seems to also be a pretty nice ink. And they both ave the same weird smell - I can't figure out what it reminds me of - dish soap with sweetener is the best I can come up with.

 

I also bought the BB, have't tried it yet.

Hey Dan. do you know which store you got it from? and any good places in china town for fountain pens? (Im in montreal) Thanks

[dan in montreal]

Hey Dan. do you know which store you got it from? and any good places in china town for fountain pens? (Im in montreal) Thanks

I can't remember the name. The shop is on the second floor of a restaurant on La Gauchetière. The specialize in Chinese calligraphy material - they are the same people who run the outdoor souvenir shop (they sell books, kites, books) in the little square in the middle of Chinatown.