Akkerman #5 Shocking Blue

[dcwaites]

Having received a bottle of Akkerman #5 Shocking Blue, I thought I would do a review.

I did it on Rhodia paper, to show the ink off to its best advantage, but I also tested it on other, lesser quality papers so I could get a better understanding of its overall performance.

 

This is a deep, rich, saturated ink, with a tiny hint of red dye that accentuates the Blue.

It shades, it sheens, it looks good, it behaves well.

 

 

 

 

Just to get a better view of shading and sheening --

 

Edited January 13, 2017 by dcwaites

[mhguda]

Thanks for reminding me. I have a bottle of this. I think it is my favorite Akkerman ink, though not my first. And having got sidetracked by all those other fabulous inks out there, i may just have to return to it for next week's 52 weeks of ink project, and make it my third week's ink.

[dcwaites]

More to come on the flexibility of this ink...

[The Good Captain]

I love this ink and managed to get it when Akkerman were still doing the 150ml bottles. Very similar to Diamine Majestic Blue but the Akkerman one actually dries!

[WhosYerBob]

I find Akkermann Shocking Blue and Diamine Majestic Blue to be very similar to Private Reserve Electric DC Blue; of the three of them, I like the intense red sheen of Electric DC Blue the best, though it smears like crazy and stays wet for a long period. Diamine Majestic Blue smears the least of the three when it is completely dry, and it appears to have the bluest base-color of the three. For day-to-day writing, I prefer Majestic Blue.

[jmccarty3]

I've been wanting to try it, but it's sold out at Vanness and Anderson.

[MannyBA]

I've been wanting to try it, but it's sold out at Vanness and Anderson.

Seems Vanness has it back in stock............................

May have to buy one myself

[Wrecky]

I just bought a bottle of shocking blue.

[jmccarty3]

My bottle was delivered at my office today. It will be interesting to check out the claim that ASB diluted 1:1 with water resembles PPS.

[mulrich]

I'm just finishing a sample of #5 and will probably buy a bottle. It's been a great ink.

[amberleadavis]

Are you using this instead of Love Potion?

[mmg122]

My bottle was delivered at my office today. It will be interesting to check out the claim that ASB diluted 1:1 with water resembles PPS.

JMcCarty3...I hope you'll post any comparisons you make of dilute ASB and PPS. I'm currently using Bungubox First Love Sapphire in place of PPS, but would love to find something closer...and as well behaved. Hard to beat Sailor inks for behavior.

 

Mary

[BlazeOrangeGuy]

"Sheens like Charlie at the slightest excuse"

 

(from the written review)

 

I love my bottle of Shocking Blue. Beautiful color, a joy to write with, and yes indeed it sheens like Charlie - almost to the point of being a distraction to the handwriting when reading. Thanks for the review!

[NicolausPiscator]

Thank you for your review! ... Although I don't know why this blue should be shocking as it is an especially nice example of standard ink blue...

[Wrecky]

"Sheens like Charlie at the slightest excuse"

 

(from the written review)

 

I love my bottle of Shocking Blue. Beautiful color, a joy to write with, and yes indeed it sheens like Charlie - almost to the point of being a distraction to the handwriting when reading. Thanks for the review!

 

Thanks for pointing that out, I had missed that.

[carlos.q]

This is the only ink so far that has dried out in my Lamy 2000 after not using it for a few days. I would suggest that Shocking Blue would benefit with a bit of dilution with distilled water. And if you dilute it 50% you get "Faux Penman Sapphire #11" recipe by dcwaites!

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/317528-faux-penman-sapphire-11-fps-11/

[sketchstack]

I love this ink. Probably my favorite "fun" ink with regards to both shading and sheen. Such a deep, saturated blue.

 

Two observations:

 

1) My Visconti Dreamtouch 1.1 Stub loves this ink when other inks start hard and don't flow quite as a well.

 

2) Diamine Sargasso Sea immediately struck me as a respectable, less expensive alternative to Shocking Blue.

[DrDebG]

Great review. I haven't tried this ink yet. But this is the color range I use most. I will put it on my list.

[lbendezu]

I know some have had issues with this ink drying out, but I've never run into that issue. Diamine Majestic Blue (which I agree is pretty much the same) has given me issues though. The sheen is pretty nice but, as always, your mileage may vary depending on paper and nib. Tomoe River definitely brings it out.

All in all, do like it and have it as a fun ink

[Wrecky]

Most people realise that the name "Shocking Blue" is taken from the world famous Dutch band. What most don't know is, they actually had a song about an inkpot:

Edited August 23, 2017 by Wrecky