Bookbinders Red Belly Black (Black)

[white_lotus]

I originally wrote this review back in March last year, but could never get the color right. Recently I reshot the images with the new iPhone and the color is much better. So without further ado, a belated review.

 

I remember really liking the ink, it was quite wet, and a dark black. In going over my original writings on this ink I discovered I found lots of problems with hard starts. The particular pen used in this review usually doesn't have such problems.

 

Pen: Edison Collier (F-steel)

Papers: MvL=Mohawk via Linen, TR=Tomoe River, Hij=Hammermill 28 lb inkjet, Rhodia=Rhodia 90g ivory.

Camera: iPhone 7

Water resistant? Fuggedaboutit. Spreads, seeps into the back of the paper.

[Tas]

What a shame about the hard starts. This looks beautiful. Very "nurebairo" or "Ellis Island" in colour.

 

Thank you for sharing this and all the other reviews of late.

I may not comment on each one but know that I always take time to look at them.

[white_lotus]

Thanks very much Tas! It (the hard starts) could have been that the ink is so saturated. It did remind me much of a Sailor ink or, as you mention, the Kyoto TAG Nurebairo. I still need to get myself some "Ellis Island".

 

We have such a bounty of inky riches right now.

[chromantic]

I really liked the color - it's a very 'black' black that looks thick and lugubrious going down, with red sheen an added bonus. The problem I had wasn't hard starts so much as it drying super fast in the nib when I paused to think, despite it's apparent wetness. Then there's the long dry times on good paper which, again, I thought was strange: takes forever to dry on the page but only seconds in the nib?

 

When I divested myself of all the inks I wasn't using, I ended up keeping it as it is the only black I have. I try it now and again, but with the same results.

[white_lotus]

Thanks for the info on your experiences. I should have used the term "nib dry out" instead of "hard starts". I forgot about the slow drying.