Custom Blended Ink, My Perfect Blue

[Tinjapan]

 

The painting referred to above.

 

Edited July 21, 2014 by Tinjapan

[Tinjapan]

Made it into Tokyo today and was finally, after a two search and wait, able to get my very own ink made.

Pic 1. The ink factory. Pic 2. Adding a different color. Pic 3. Measuring. Pic 4. Pouring into my glass bottle. Pic 5. Attaching the label. Pic 5. Ink blending master Ishimarusan.

 

Notice what he uses to mix the ink.

 

Edited July 21, 2014 by Tinjapan

[Tinjapan]

Opps!

Edited July 21, 2014 by Tinjapan

[MarcS]

a beautiful blue. there are grail pens, and now an example of a grail ink. congratulations on the fruitful outcome of your diligent search. is it available for the general public, or will it be yours alone?

[vossad01]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story! It was a real treat and I am glad that I happened upon it. I had no idea such events occurred.

 

I also could not help but to notice your penmanship. I am enamored with its neatness and the ease with which it can be read. Is it any particular hand? The line variation also has me wondering, what kind of nib was it written with?

[Tinjapan]

is it available for the general public, or will it be yours alone?

Thank you for your comments. As they are blended individually, by the bottle, by one man, supply must necessarily be limited. If, however, I gave out the name and number, I suppose some one else could have it made. But, I am liking the idea of my own unique to meself ink.

[Tinjapan]

 

I also could not help but to notice your penmanship. I am enamored with its neatness and the ease with which it can be read. Is it any particular hand? The line variation also has me wondering, what kind of nib was it written with?

You can have no idea what that means to me. Up until I started with fountain pens a little over two years ago, my handwriting was illegible, even by myself! Fountain pens and writting slopes changed that. Bi have also been practicing Spencerian penmanship, although only the lower case thus far.

 

The pen shown on the first picture is the one I used. It is a vintage Conklin's Self Filling Pen "S"4, slip cap with a #5 Conklin nib.

[ac12]

Certainly a LOT faster to have a specialist mix it for you, than trying to mix it yourself.

I do some of my own mixing, but it is very slow, since I do not have anywhere near his expertise. And it has to be done with accuracy, or the small test batch won't match the larger bottle.

 

The other problem is what you saw. The dip pen that is used to test the ink as it is being developed may not write the ink line the same color as your pens.

I have several dip pens, and have not found a dip pen nib that matches my pens.

And to make the problem worse, my pens have different flow rates, so the same ink in different pens can look quite different.

 

Glad you were able to get your ink.

I'm still working on mine.

[Tinjapan]

AC12,

 

So true on all counts! I really expected it to take much, much longer than it did. One look and he had it. Two tries only because I wanted shading. That's experience for you.

 

I have this ink in 9 different pens, a first for me to have more than one pen inked with the same ink currently in another pen, and it is soo different in each pen. Yet, just perfect in each one.

[Newjelan]

Thanks, what a wonderful story and great photos. Even though Japan is on my Tavel list, I think I'll have to visit just so I can experience this establishment and my own ink blend. Wonderful!

[Tinjapan]

Thanks, what a wonderful story and great photos. Even though Japan is on my Tavel list, I think I'll have to visit just so I can experience this establishment and my own ink blend. Wonderful!

Thanks for your comments.

 

The ink mixing event was a special event. Be sure to check Sailor Japan's website for the event schedule.

Edited July 25, 2014 by Tinjapan

[napalm]

I notice a glass of true blue in the first pic.

[Pen_Samurai]

It's a great color. Can you post a few pics with white paper?

 

Also, I'm glad to see you're enjoying your new ink. Can't wait to get my post up.

[Tinjapan]

It's a great color. Can you post a few pics with white paper?

Also, I'm glad to see you're enjoying your new ink. Can't wait to get my post up.

Hey, there you are! I have been trying to email you for the past two days! Either got distracted/pulled away or didn't have all the info with me. Forgot to order two more bottles of this ink.

 

Yes, on white paper would be nice. Will try to get that done over the weekend.

[Tinjapan]

Oh wow, that worked!!!

 

On Rhodia graph paper.

 

[TSherbs]

congrats.

 

what a great story

[Tinjapan]

congrats.

 

what a great story

Thanks! I guess good things do come to those who wait.

[mhguda]

Wonderful story and I love your special blue... Enjoy!

[bone215]

Yes, a good story, thank you for sharing it.

[jmccarty3]

What a wonderful story and what a beautiful ink! It is a shame that Western cultures do not appreciate fountain pens and inks as the Japanese do.