Some Water Resistance Testing - 'permanent' Blues

[dcwaites]

I thought I would do a simple test of the properly Permanent blues* I have at hand.

The inks tested were Pilot Blue, Platinum Pigment Blue, Noodler's Aquamarine (for Swishers, now discontinued) and Koh-i-noor Document Blue.

I have selected Blue inks, as there are lots and lots and lots and lots of Permanent Blue-Blacks out there of varying chemistries. I wanted to do Blue.

 

My exhaustive testing regime consisted of writing samples of all four inks with a FP nib mounted in a pen holder onto Double A Premium copy paper.

 

After letting the ink dry for at least half an hour I then ran it under a stream of hot water for about 30 seconds.

 

The first scan is what the sample looked like before the hot water testing.

 

 

The second scan is after the hot water testing, and after the paper had dried out. The pencil line shows where the water went.

 

 

You can see that the first three inks are totally untouched.

The Pilot Blue leaves enough behind to be readable.

I would not now call Pilot Blue WaterProof, rather WaterResistant.

 

 

 

*Parker Quink 'Permanent' Blue need not apply...

 

[OCArt]

Thanks for doing this. I appreciate seeing the test.

[The Good Captain]

Nice to see this comparison.

[carlos.q]

¡Great comparison! Pilot blue's water resistance is usually good enough for me, although lately I've been using MB Permanent Blue. It's a bolder blue and has great shading.

[jmccarty3]

I like the color of the Platinum pigment blue. Nice to know there's a waterproof ink that's usable in my Izumos and Nakayas.

[dcwaites]

When I bought a pen last year from Engeika, either a Platinum Century 3776 or a Pilot Custom 742, the website recommended the Platinum Pigment Blue. Assuming that he knows something about what he's talking about, I included a bottle in my purchase. It is a very well behaved ink, and a nice colour for a Permanently Permanent Blue.

[lapis]

Excellent comparison. Thanks! I just love seeing e.g. how perm or non-perm a "perm" ink really is! Now please don't hold it against me, but do you happen to have any MB Blue Perm and/or blue R&K and DeA docs on hand?

 

Mike

[dcwaites]

Neither, sorry.

[amberleadavis]

Thanks David!