EFNIR: Robert Oster Heart of Gold

[GreenMountain]

Fountain Pen:  The ink doesn't flow all the way to the tip of the nib.  It seems to be there, but doesn't lay down on the paper.

Glass Pen:  The ink sticks to the grooves but doesn't move down to the tip, and doesn't flow on the paper.  To get the ink to come off the glass I have to tap the side of the glass nib, which just causes a smear rather than a line, of course.

 

Any advice will be great.  I'm going to try the liquid soap tack and will report back.

 

[LizEF]

2 hours ago, GreenMountain said:

I'm going to try the liquid soap tack and will report back.

Very strange.  Makes me wonder if there's an issue with your bottle.  I've never heard of an ink that wouldn't flow off a glass dip pen.  Liquid soap should help break the surface tension (if that's really the problem, as opposed to something wrong with the ink).  If that works, I'd recommend switching to a more controlled / consistent product like the one from Vanness or Liquitex Flow Aid or Kodak Photo Flow, as mentioned here:

 

 

[GreenMountain]

Well, first I tried Liquitex Flow Aid (4 drops in 1/2 a small tube of ink) and that did no good.  Then I tried Dawn dish soap (a little on a toothpick swirled around), and that did the trick.  I don't know why the ink didn't work without additive, but it seems fine now. 

I'm thinking of adding soap to the whole bottle of ink...will that hurt it, or should I continue to decant a little at a time?

Thanks very much for your response, Liz.

[LizEF]

3 hours ago, GreenMountain said:

Well, first I tried Liquitex Flow Aid (4 drops in 1/2 a small tube of ink) and that did no good. 

I don't really know anything about Liquitex Flow Aid, but wow, that seems like a lot!  Really makes me wonder if you got a bad batch / bottle!

 

3 hours ago, GreenMountain said:

Then I tried Dawn dish soap (a little on a toothpick swirled around), and that did the trick.

And that's amazing!  (Though it may be the combination and the Dawn tipped it over the edge.)

 

Really glad the ink is working for you now.  My only concerns with treating the whole bottle are:

1. Dawn has color (unless there's a clear version I don't know about).  Will the larger amount, even though not a larger percentage, impact the ink color.
2. Be very careful not to over-do it, lest you ruin the whole bottle - you can always add more, but you can't take any out.

Hope you enjoy all that glitter!  The writing sample looks great!

[GreenMountain]

Actually I added the 4 drops one at a time, testing after each, then resorted to soap.

I'll keep using the small vial for more trials...if soap alone will do, I'll stick to that.

Yes, I'm really liking the gold color!  Excellent for planning notes, and doesn't seem to clog up any more than regular ink. 

 

[LizEF]

26 minutes ago, GreenMountain said:

Actually I added the 4 drops one at a time, testing after each, then resorted to soap.

I'll keep using the small vial for more trials...if soap alone will do, I'll stick to that.

Yes, I'm really liking the gold color!  Excellent for planning notes, and doesn't seem to clog up any more than regular ink.

  Very glad you've been able to salvage this bottle!

[chromantic]

I finally ordered a bottle. I'm using it in a Waterman Espert c/c and didn't have any issues with flow, wrote straight away. I was expecting something a little darker maybe, a brown with gold shimmer, but it looks just like GreenMountains photo, a gold ink with a brownish tinge. Similar to Golden Beryl, though that's a brighter gold.

[LizEF]

2 hours ago, chromantic said:

I finally ordered a bottle. I'm using it in a Waterman Espert c/c and didn't have any issues with flow, wrote straight away. I was expecting something a little darker maybe, a brown with gold shimmer, but it looks just like GreenMountains photo, a gold ink with a brownish tinge. Similar to Golden Beryl, though that's a brighter gold.

Glad it's working for you - sometimes these glitter-heavy inks don't flow well.  Hope you're enjoying it, too!

[inkstainedruth]

Not sure how I missed this thread before now.  

@LizEF -- You sure have more guts than I do.  I'd be afraid to put a shimmer ink in a pen with an EF nib.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

[LizEF]

37 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

@LizEF -- You sure have more guts than I do.  I'd be afraid to put a shimmer ink in a pen with an EF nib.... 

How else would we learn that it's really not about the nib size - it's all about the feed and the nib slit.  Glitter inks will work fine in an EF nib.

[inkstainedruth]

I'll take your word on that, but will also choose to err on the side of caution....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[LizEF]

18 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

I'll take your word on that, but will also choose to err on the side of caution....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Lithium466]

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

How else would we learn that it's really not about the nib size - it's all about the feed and the nib slit.  Glitter inks will work fine in an EF nib.

+1

That is my experience as well. Something the fine line is even an asset with the glitters being spread more evenly. 

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, Lithium466 said:

+1

That is my experience as well. Something the fine line is even an asset with the glitters being spread more evenly. 

I hadn't considered that, but yes, as long as the EF is wet enough, that may well be the case.

[Lithium466]

But you might loose the "outlining" effect

[LizEF]

3 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

But you might loose the "outlining" effect

Equally good point.