Trying Black Stone Powdered Ink

[moylek]

I got some packets of Black Stone Powdered Fountain Pen Ink from Cyber6 at Scriptus (Toronto pen show) back in November and finally tried them out yesterday. Fun. A little messy. Here's what the process looked like and what I ended up with.

 

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0307.JPG

Three packets - Red Cashmere, Blue Cashmere, Black Cashmere - and three bottles.

 

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0310.JPG

 

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0313.JPG

Power into the bottle ...

 

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0322.JPG

... and add 30ml of water with syringe.

 

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0325.JPG

As hard as I tried, power got everywhere: on my desk, on my iPad, in my tea. Interestingly, these two blobs are both from drops of water hitting powder from the only packet I had opened: Blue Cashmere.
http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0328.JPG

Here's the Blue Cashmere all shook up. Pro tip: don't shake a swing-top bottle full of ink if you intend to open it in the near future.

 

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0329.JPG

Two more poured ...

 

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0330.JPG

... and all three mixed.

 

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0339.JPG

And now to test at three dilutions. First I tried the minimum solution of one packet in 30ml of water. Then I tried 1:1 and 2:1 water to (initial concentration) of ink.

 

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0332.jpg

 

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/~moylek/pub/fpn/BlackStoneInk/IMG_0333.jpg

 

And finally I mixed all three 3ml samples of 2:1 dilutions into an ink well, and got the purplish brown of the last line. I'll probably fill up a trusty Parker 45 with this mixture - Brown Velour, I'll call it - and use it this coming week at work.

 

As for the Blue, Red, and Black Cashmere .... I think that I will do some mixing and see what sort of Blue-Black and Red-Black I can come up with at some point.

 

Thanks again, Cyber6.

Edited December 15, 2014 by moylek

[amberleadavis]

LOOKING GREAT

[TheRealScubaSteve]

Those are neat looking bottles. Did you notice the sheen with Red Cashmere yet?

[Runnin_Ute]

I have gone 3:1 Blue to Black (blue mixed up 90 ml - 4.44%: Black mixed 30 ml - 13.33%), was darker than I wanted. In an effort to make a great blue black. Need to try a 4:1 or 5:1 to get what I want.

 

I also mixed up 50 ml of the red (8%) and 62.5 (~6.5%) ml of the green - which for some has had some issues, but mine is great.

 

Like Steve says, the sheen on the Red Cashmere is amazing. Need a broader nib though.

[ScienceChick]

I'm using RC in a B nib for holiday cards and the sheen on everything except really absorbent paper is amazing - and it's diluted to around 4%

[moylek]

I will have to put some of the Red Cashmere in something broadish and give it a try - maybe for my last few tardy Christmas cards.

[Cyber6]

Ken.. I am so sorry about your tea... http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Sad/sad-023.gif

 

 

I am so glad you are enjoying playing with them... Another neat trick, Blue Cashmere reacts different on different paper when heavily diluted (say 2:1 or 3:1)... on cheap paper it will go down blue and dries to a lavender..

 

 

 

C.