Inky T O D - How Important Is Water Resistance?

[TSherbs]

I opened my journal once under a tree after a rainfall. One big water drop obliterated a few lines of written notes. Since then for anything important, I use water resistant inks or at least something that will leave a trace so whatever you wrote can be recovered.

honestly, I would take that as a spiritual reminder that we can't hold onto "things" too much, not even our "thoughts"

 

but I am one who rarely looks back on anything he writes. I write every day for the practice in the moment (I am not a writer working on drafts, etc)

[drv1913]

Color is really my only consideration when choosing an ink. If I were going to look for specific ink properties, I think fade resistance would rank higher than water resistance for me. My notebook is zipped closed when I am out and about (unless I'm actively using it), so I don't really worry about the pages getting wet. In all my many years of keeping notebooks, I've probably only had a drop or two of rainwater fall on maybe half a dozen pages.

[Legal Eagle]

The title of the thread basically says it all. How Often Is Bulletproof Or Permanent Ink Truly Necessary For You ?

[Charles Rice]

For me - never

[WilsonCQB1911]

I don't even bother. If I really need waterproof or permanence I will grab a ballpoint. That's the only time I use those and it's usually only to address a package or envelope. I won't bother with the added difficulty in a FP to use permanent inks.

[chewytulip]

Every time I want to paint over a line drawing. (All the time!)

[ac12]

I do not remember running into a situation where I NEEDED permanent ink.

[sciumbasci]

As often as when you need an archival safe ballpoint or rollerball ink.

Unless you must write envelopes. Then go for the classic permanent marker.

[lapis]

Never. And when I'm at the lawyer or in the hospital, they have their own pen anyway. If I whipped out my own pen and ink, they'd probably grunt. Almost everything else comes and goes via a credit card....

[PaganArcher]

Always. My recent obsession with Diamine inks aside, 80% of my inks are at least partially Bulletproof. I'm a janitor of sorts (specifically floor refinishing and wet services;i.e. waxing and stripping or old wax) and when I have time to write at work, it's rarely in a pristine environment.

[GardenWeasel]

A necessity every two weeks with a personal letter I write and send.

[linearM]

I used to use bullet proof black so I could use watercolor over a drawing, but now most of my drawings are using Noodler's Kiowa Pecan. I am not using watercolor and if I want an area of wash I use a waterbrush and go over the drawing which produces an ares of wash and I can still see the lines underneath. All of my letters are written with Waterman or Pelican inks.

 

When I was using bullet proof black it seemed like the ink would thicken, perhaps the inks have been improved.

[inkstainedruth]

It depends. I really like them for writing checks or addressing envelopes, so I know that it's okay if it rains or I drop the checkbook in a puddle or something. But there are times when I don't care nearly as much (such as when writing to do lists).

Even then, I have tried so-called permanent inks that I didn't like, for one reason or another -- color or behavior (or both), but mostly color.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[zwack]

I always have at least one pen inked with at least a waterproof ink. Handy for writing on envelopes.

 

My wife and I send mail every few days so that is a requirement several times a week.

 

Do I need a wardens ink? Define need? Do I feel more comfortable using one in certain circumstances? definitely. I don't have to sign legal documents more than a couple of times a year usually, but equally, if it was that important then I would be really worried about out and out forgery.

 

The point about using bulletproof inks on checks is not to make it impossible for someone to get money from me, but to make it harder so they are more likely to just move onto the next target.

 

This is like using TSA approved locks on your luggage, you aren't trying to make it impossible for someone to open your bag, just make them more likely to move onto the next target.

[JonSzanto]

Two pens are always inked this way. The first is a basic Esterbrook Dollar pen with a nice stubbish nib (9314-M) for addressing envelopes, and a Sailor Pro Gear with a very fine F nib for writing postcards. Both are inked with Sailor Kiwa-Guro, though I sometimes use a pen (there are a few) that are loaded with Namiki Blue (a great ink aside from it's waterproofness).

 

Is this necessary? No. Do I enjoy using these pens, in these situations, with this setup? Yes. Yes, I do.

Edited May 1, 2016 by JonSzanto

[Aelie]

All the time while I am doing lab work! (I am currently finishing up my PhD) My lab work involves working with bacterial pathogens, so I constantly spray just about everything I touch in the lab with either ethanol or bleach. I have special solvent resistant markers for writing on labware, but for my notebooks I use a Pilot Kakuno filled with Noodler's Texas Blue Bonnet. It's not as resistant as Noodler's Black or Bad Belted Kingfisher (two inks I tried prior to Texas Blue Bonnet), but it's resistant enough and I very much enjoy the color.

 

Outside the lab? I use bulletproof ink (Noodler's Black) only for labeling letter envelopes and writing checks. I still use it often enough - several times a week - to justify keeping around a pen (Pilot Prera) inked with it.

[Abner C. Kemp]

For correspondence like friendly letters and things of that nature, I really don't care. For journaling, it's nice to have something somewhat water resistant but I basically use anything and everything. For daily notes however, I do prefer to have an ink that is water resistant. It's important to note that I say water resistant and not bulletproof or document proof. Basically, if the ink can withstand some water and still look like writing I am happy. So, inks like Pilot Blue-Black, De Atramentis Immanuel Kant, Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black, Montblanc Irish Green, exc. are all just fine. I never really find a need for a document ink per say, and I've generally found their performance to be less than desirable. Then again, I'm not signing big checks or sending out Presidential orders. I do use a few "permanent" inks simply because I like them -- Montblanc Permanent Grey is a favorite of mine and Noodler's Liberty's Elysium (which is sort of semi-permanent) is a color I like quite a bit.

Edited May 1, 2016 by Abner C. Kemp

[HDoug]

I use waterproof inks exclusively. If I'm going to take the time and effort to write something — even a note on a stickie — why let something as common and everpresent as water wash it away or obscure it? I'm using Kiwa Guro black, Platinum Pigment Blue and Sailor Storia blue, De Atramentis Atlantic (blue-black) Platinum Pigment Brun Sepia, De Atramentis Document Red...

 

I'm aware that there are many truly beautiful inks that are not waterproof and that my own personal policy/choice constrains me from using them. Truly unfortunate. Does Noodlers still make Tahitian Pearl blue? I gave away my bottle to someone who doesn't share my "waterproof only" policy.

 

Doug

[majolo]

I'm in the camp where it's pretty important when watercoloring over ink--but then it generally has to be quite waterproof, not just the "can you still read it?" type of water resistance that reviews often test for. Platinum Carbon Black seems to work well.

[DrDebG]

Fascinating!

 

Almost all of the inks I use are not waterproof. If they are, or partially, it is not the reason why I purchased that ink. I buy for formulation and color.

 

I just received, however, three pigment inks from Dr. Ph. Martin's. I am in the process of testing them now. They say that they are waterproof, and my initial testing of a written page in a water bath for 2 hours would agree with their claim. I haven't tested alcohol or chlorine yet. But, actually and to my surprise, my initial results are very satisfactory. I hope to put together a review soon on the three inks - Edge Blue, Dark Matter Black and Garnet Red Rose.