Williamsburg Powdered Red Ink

[musicman123]

Amber sent me a small sample of the Williamsburg Powdered Red Ink as part of the SuperPinks Program. The Williamsburg ink is actually commercially available (http://www.williamsburgmarketplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductView?catalogId=12122&storeId=10001&langId=-1&categoryId=15625&itemOrDescription=red+ink&matchType=contains&start=37&end=48&sortBy=featured&priceRange=), so I think they should go into this forum. Initial thoughts on the ink were not too good, but the ink has since grown on me.

 

This review will follow my normal standard format for reviews, with pictures following a small blurb. The pictures were taken with an iPhone 6, back camera, in artificial lighting. Effort has been made to show the true color, but your milage may vary depending on your monitor. If you would like to see all my ink images, you are free to go to http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews

 

Here is a preview of the ink. This is a nice red ink, which is leaning towards pink.

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Ink.jpg

 

For this review, I started with a Kaigelu 316 on a M nib, but something bad happened to it (read as bad grinding), so I had to switch to a TWSBI B nib (which I have a lot of). So, everything except the paragraphs were written in the Kaigelu M, but the writing samples were done with my normal B nib.

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Nib.jpg

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Nib%202.jpg

 

The review was written on HP 32lb Premium Laser Paper, which can be found at Staples for the whooping price of $19.99, or on Amazon for $15.39. This is my new "standard" paper I will be using for all my reviews, writing, and comparisons. I still have a bit of HP 28lb, which is now discontinued, but I am going to be moving to this one now, as it is much better, IMO.

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Paper.jpg

 

Here is a swab of the ink. It was made with the back of my nib, as I didn't have my Q-tips handy (in school).

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Swab.jpg

 

The ink has some very average characteristics, and nothing about it really wowed me. It gives some decent flow, which is a very tad bit on the dry side, and provides sufficient lubrication. There is a tin bit of shading, from light red to red, but nothing major. No feathering, bleed through, or show through on this paper. The ink is not very saturated, and ends up being a very light color.

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Characteristics.jpg

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Characteristics%202.jpg

 

The dries at roughly 18 seconds, which is a bit slow, but on par with Waterman Audacious Red. This dry time is not a problem as I am a strong overwriter.

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Dry%20Time.jpg

 

Here is a comparison with other ink colors. Use this as a calibration for your monitors and the photos. I did not intend this to show similar colors.

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Comparison.jpg

 

Here is a water test. The top grid had drops of water placed for 10 seconds, then vigorously wiped downwards. The bottom text did not receive any drops of water and was only wiped with in the same motion as the grid. The ink did not fair very well against the test. There is quite some lifting, causing the grid to be partly invisible. However, there was not much wet smear, which is very unique.

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Water.jpg

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Water%20After.jpg

 

Lastly, here is a scan of the review. Use the scan to read the rest of the review. I did not intend for it to show color accuracy. The pictures are the most accurate representation of the color.

 

http://files.goviralforyou.com/Inks/Reviews/Williamsburg/Red/Scan.jpg

 

That's all folks! I would give this ink a 7/10 because of the low saturation. If you liked this review, stay tuned for more to come!

Edited February 24, 2015 by musicman123

[visvamitra]

Nice review, the brand seems a little obscure I've never heard about it.

[musicman123]

Neither have I until the Amber sent me some. I don't even think it is in the Index yet.

[ScienceChick]

IIRC, it's sold as powder in Colonial Williamsburg.

[musicman123]

IIRC, it's sold as powder in Colonial Williamsburg.

Yep! I think so too. Now, I wonder if it was the same formula during the actual colonial era!