17 Inks Water Tested

[Prolix]

A quick water-fastness test of 17 inks on a sheet of Rhodia dotpad paper. They all dried for at least a week prior to when I conducted the test. I rinsed the sheet in warm water, soaked it for half an hour, and then pressed it under a stack of magazines to dry.

 

 

http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv56/k4p2tog/InkWaterTest1copy.jpg

 

 

De Atramentis Aubergine (4)

 

Diamine:

Hope Pink (2)

Marine (1)

Peach Haze (1)

Syrah (3)

 

Noodler's:

54th Massachusetts (5)

Antietam (3)

Bad Green Gator (5)

Baystate Concord Grape (4.5)

Black Swan In Australian Roses (4)

Green Marine (4)

Kung Te-Cheng (5)

Liberty's Elysium (3.5)

 

Pelikan Edelstein Ruby (2)

 

Pilot Iroshizuku:

Ama-Iro (2)

Yama-Budo (3)

 

Private Reserve Tropical Blue (1)

 

Notes: I was having feed issues with the pen with which I wrote the Bad Green Gator sample, which is why it is lighter than normal. The way the waterproof Baystate Blue and the more fugitive Baystate Red combine produces a decent imitation of mimeograph printing.

 

I've given a numerical rating based on remaining legibility.

 

5 = Unchanged

4 = Changes to color but still entirely readable

3 = Readable, but it is getting hard

2 = If you stand on your head and squint, you just might make something out

1 = All gone!

Edited March 5, 2014 by Prolix

[cjr]

Thanks for this test. Already have and like 54th, BGG, Elysium, and Syrah (nice to see some water resistance). I plan to buy a bottle of Kung Te-Cheng and may also get one of Black Swan (always liked the shading).

[amberleadavis]

You are AMAZING. I love these kinds of tests! Thank you.

 

Welcome both of you to FPN!

 

KTC is an ink which in my experiments has NEVER faded or washed away.

[Sblakers]

Fantastic demonstration. Thank you for this!

[yogalarva]

Haha, having just received a sample of BGG today with ink drop, I was wondering how it's water resistance played out. Thanks for the great info! :-)

[Prolix]

Glad to hear that everyone is finding it interesting! I'm a recent convert to the fountain pens and have been documenting my ink samples for my own information, after some unpleasantness with a spilled glass of water and a sheet of notes. Since I've greatly enjoyed seeing similar tests that others have posted here, I thought people might find see mine.

 

KTC certainly lives up to it's reputation; it is a marvel to behold!

 

I also have a sheet in the window testing for light-fastness, the first scan of which is due soon. Some of the inks are vanishing at a surprising rate!

[PrintersDevil]

Noodler's 54th Mass is a great ink.

I marked up an index card with it and taped it to an east facing window for two months and the color was rock solid.

Bulletproof all the way.

If only it flowed better in my Pelikan 800....

[amberleadavis]

Glad to hear that everyone is finding it interesting! I'm a recent convert to the fountain pens and have been documenting my ink samples for my own information, after some unpleasantness with a spilled glass of water and a sheet of notes. Since I've greatly enjoyed seeing similar tests that others have posted here, I thought people might find see mine.

 

KTC certainly lives up to it's reputation; it is a marvel to behold!

 

I also have a sheet in the window testing for light-fastness, the first scan of which is due soon. Some of the inks are vanishing at a surprising rate!

 

 

I try and put BSB and Cape Cod Cranberry into every test because they fade so quickly it provides a great contrast on pages with inks that don't fade at all.