EFNIR: Parker Quink Blue

[LizEF]

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: Parker Quink Blue

This is review #203 in my series.  Here's the YouTube video:

Post-recording notes: Cleaning was simple with plain water, but did take an extra flush or two. My other ordinary blues (Royal Blues) were either more purple or darker than this one, or both. Sorry, but I can't get excited about this color - it's ballpointy or rollerbally. Yawn.  The images give the right idea, but each is slightly off, usually, with the blue a little too bright.  Just break out a rollerball and you'll get the idea...

The line width measurement is one of the lines used for dry time.  Magnification is 100x.  The grid is 100x100µm.  The scale is 330µm, with eleven divisions of 30µm each.  The line width for this ink is roughly 300µm. (For the curious, with 203 inks measured, the average line width is 295µm.)

The microscope image is at 400x.  I thought the fine lines were kinda cool and uncommon.

And here is a screen of the final result, for those not interested in the video:

Scan of Completed Review:

Zoomed in photo:

Absorbent Paper Closeup (top is puzzle paper like thick newsprint, bottom is old 20lb copy paper):

Line width measured via microscope at 100x:

Microscope slide at 400x:

Images also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap.

Previous Review: Diamine Peach Haze.

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Need to catch up on The Adventures of Quin and Makhabesh?  Find the whole story here.

Hope you enjoy.  Comments appreciated!

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

Thanks for this

 

question: North American sellers only seem to carry (bottled) Washable Blue, Blue Black and Black. Is this blue the one that European sellers (especially uk sellers) seem to get that we don’t?…

 

it does look more Blue than the terrible, detestable Washable Blue…

[Sailor Kenshin]

Jackson Pollock!   😁

 

I believe Parker Quink Blue was my first bottle of ink, and I emptied it!  Never thought too much about inks in the beginning, and perhaps I was happier for it.   I have a second bottle now of Quink Blue which is used in vintage lever-fillers and elsewise.  I don't hate this sort of basic blue; Lamy, Pilot, Pelikan, bring it on.

 

And yes, Essri….PLEASE work!

 

As always, thanks for the review and serial!  Keep 'em flyin'!  👍🏻

[InesF]

Hi @LizEF, thanks for the review, for the story and for the microscopic image.

 

While Parker Quink Blue may not be for me, I'm always pleased by the effort you put into the handwritten review!

The story doesn't overcome the nail-biting mode. My nerves are laying blanc meanwhile... 😱

The microscopic image is exceptional, reminds me of fungal networks. But I guess it is still only a pattern made by drying ink.

 

Looking forward to the next sequel.

[LizEF]

34 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Thanks for this

You're very welcome!

 

35 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

question: North American sellers only seem to carry (bottled) Washable Blue, Blue Black and Black. Is this blue the one that European sellers (especially uk sellers) seem to get that we don’t?…

This sample was gifted to me by someone in Canada.  It was labeled as Parker Quink Blue.  That's all I know.    But I assume it's whatever is sold in North America.

 

38 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

it does look more Blue than the terrible, detestable Washable Blue…

 

I think from the EF nib, it looks darker / more saturated.  It looks a lot like Pilot Blue in person.  FWIW.

[LizEF]

31 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Jackson Pollock!   😁

 

33 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I believe Parker Quink Blue was my first bottle of ink, and I emptied it!  Never thought too much about inks in the beginning, and perhaps I was happier for it.   I have a second bottle now of Quink Blue which is used in vintage lever-fillers and elsewise.  I don't hate this sort of basic blue; Lamy, Pilot, Pelikan, bring it on.

You're welcome to my share!   But yes, vintage pens would be a good use for this ink.

 

34 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

And yes, Essri….PLEASE work!

 

34 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

As always, thanks for the review and serial!  Keep 'em flyin'!  👍🏻

You're most welcome!

[LizEF]

13 minutes ago, InesF said:

Hi @LizEF, thanks for the review, for the story and for the microscopic image.

You're very welcome!

 

13 minutes ago, InesF said:

While Parker Quink Blue may not be for me, I'm always pleased by the effort you put into the handwritten review!

 

14 minutes ago, InesF said:

The story doesn't overcome the nail-biting mode. My nerves are laying blanc meanwhile... 😱

  Sorry.  Gone on a bit too long.  Next week ends the battle, though perhaps not the nail-biting...

 

15 minutes ago, InesF said:

The microscopic image is exceptional, reminds me of fungal networks. But I guess it is still only a pattern made by drying ink.

😱   I certainly hope it's not a fungal network!   It is interesting the patterns these things make.  It's like there's a whole different teeny tiny world going on under the slip cover...

 

17 minutes ago, InesF said:

Looking forward to the next sequel.

[yazeh]

Great job @LizEF for such an uninspiring ink, (which I'm tempted to flush down the drain), such an excellent review

It's hard to release prejudices against this ink/colour

I like the moment Makhabesh and Essri become life long friends. I imagine them both telling their story to the venerable scribe, (you) at your desktop....

 

For what is worth, Made in France, is engraved under the bottle

 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

You're very welcome!

 

This sample was gifted to me by someone in Canada.  It was labeled as Parker Quink Blue.  That's all I know.    But I assume it's whatever is sold in North America.

 

 

I think from the EF nib, it looks darker / more saturated.  It looks a lot like Pilot Blue in person.  FWIW.

Thanks

 

Here in Canada, as stated above, all I’ve ever been able to find is bb and Washable Blue. And Washable Blue is pale and yucky… I’m still not sure why i can’t bring myself to flush the entire bottle… maybe I’m an optimist… maybe it’s just because i despise waste… this colour seems far less offensive!  But maybe it is, as you suggest a consequence of your nib. 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

23 minutes ago, yazeh said:

 

 

For what is worth, Made in France, is engraved under the bottle

 

Does this mean you provided the sample?…

where did you get the bottle? Do you still have the box?…

or have you possibly found a source of “quink blue” here in Canada?…

 

 

[LizEF]

25 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Great job @LizEF for such an uninspiring ink, (which I'm tempted to flush down the drain), such an excellent review

Thanks!

 

25 minutes ago, yazeh said:

It's hard to release prejudices against this ink/colour

Amen to that!  I'll have to find other prejudices to let go of first...

 

26 minutes ago, yazeh said:

I like the moment Makhabesh and Essri become life long friends. I imagine them both telling their story to the venerable scribe, (you) at your desktop....

 

26 minutes ago, yazeh said:

For what is worth, Made in France, is engraved under the bottle

Oh, that's interesting.  I wonder if that's different from what I would get at the local office supply store.  I'm going there later today and I'm going to see if they have Quink, and if they do, where it's made.

[LizEF]

5 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

I’m still not sure why i can’t bring myself to flush the entire bottle…

There's just something about throwing out all that ink that makes an FP person cringe.

 

6 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

this colour seems far less offensive!  But maybe it is, as you suggest a consequence of your nib. 

Perhaps you should try letting yours condense - someone did that with Pilot Blue/Black and said it still flowed well in their pen...

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

40 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Great job @LizEF for such an uninspiring ink, (which I'm tempted to flush down the drain), such an excellent review

It's hard to release prejudices against this ink/colour

I like the moment Makhabesh and Essri become life long friends. I imagine them both telling their story to the venerable scribe, (you) at your desktop....

 

For what is worth, Made in France, is engraved under the bottle

 

 

15 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Does this mean you provided the sample?…

where did you get the bottle? Do you still have the box?…

or have you possibly found a source of “quink blue” here in Canada?…

 

 

ok, I went and checked each of my bottles of quink, all three (black, BB and Washable Blue) say made in France.

on the BOX, on the side they say:

"Eradicable & Washable Blue ink" for WB;

"Black ink" for Black; and

"Blue-Black ink" for BB

 

6 minutes ago, LizEF said:

There's just something about throwing out all that ink that makes an FP person cringe.

 

Perhaps you should try letting yours condense - someone did that with Pilot Blue/Black and said it still flowed well in their pen...

well, at least I'm not alone... misery and company and all that...

condensing It is an idea, but frankly, IMO not really worth the effort, and carries too great a risk of mold or spillage WRT the potential pay off  

[Frank C]

There is a fourth variety: Blue. It does not say, " Washable" on the box. The label on the bottle and the square of the color on the box are darker that the "washable blue". I haven't used either one in a while. As I recall, the washable is less intense than the standard blue. I bought mine from Cultpens in the UK. They sell all four for $5.62 USD each. A good price for good ink. 

[LizEF]

44 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

well, at least I'm not alone... misery and company and all that...

condensing It is an idea, but frankly, IMO not really worth the effort, and carries too great a risk of mold or spillage WRT the potential pay off  

  Find a poor unsuspecting newbie who still likes rollerball blue, and give your bottle to them?

[LizEF]

19 minutes ago, Frank C said:

There is a fourth variety: Blue. It does not say, " Washable" on the box. The label on the bottle and the square of the color on the box are darker that the "washable blue". I haven't used either one in a while. As I recall, the washable is less intense than the standard blue. I bought mine from Cultpens in the UK. They sell all four for $5.62 USD each. A good price for good ink. 

Thank you!  I looked before recording my review, but was still not sure if "Blue" and "Washable Blue" were the same thing.  Now we know.   I'm off to the office supply store now and will see if they have any Quink, and if so, what sort of Quink...

[yazeh]

 

1 hour ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Does this mean you provided the sample?…

Guilty as charged!

1 hour ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

where did you get the bottle? Do you still have the box?…

Nope. I believe at a local Staples...

1 hour ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

or have you possibly found a source of “quink blue” here in Canada?…

 

 

There's nothing written on the bottle but Parker Quink. I bought it about 15 years ago, I believe. But still amazon.ca and Stylo.ca shop variations of it...Though to spend 18 $ for this ink, is a waste of money..but then I'm biased

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

3 hours ago, Frank C said:

There is a fourth variety: Blue. It does not say, " Washable" on the box. The label on the bottle and the square of the color on the box are darker that the "washable blue". I haven't used either one in a while. As I recall, the washable is less intense than the standard blue. I bought mine from Cultpens in the UK. They sell all four for $5.62 USD each. A good price for good ink. 

That's the one I meant in my original question. Cult Pens refers to it as Permanent Blue... 

I may pick a bottle up...

[yazeh]

@IThinkIHaveAProblemIronically, Stylo.ca marks the bottle as Washable, while amazon.ca marks the same bottle permanent. I once asked what's the difference between the washable and permannet , and the answer was that once washes off hands and clothes and the other not

 

@LizEF I did a little sketch / wash on Strahtmore Paper with Parker Quink... Colour is more washed out with scan..

 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

57 minutes ago, LizEF said:

  Find a poor unsuspecting newbie who still likes rollerball blue, and give your bottle to them?

that would be cruel. and a terrible way to welcome someone to the hobby!  

55 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Thank you!  I looked before recording my review, but was still not sure if "Blue" and "Washable Blue" were the same thing.  Now we know.   I'm off to the office supply store now and will see if they have any Quink, and if so, what sort of Quink...

betcha you find Black, BB, and Washable blue...

15 minutes ago, yazeh said:

 

Guilty as charged!

Nope. I believe at a local Staples...

There's nothing written on the bottle but Parker Quink. I bought it about 15 years ago, I believe. But still amazon.ca and Stylo.ca shop variations of it...Though to spend 18 $ for this ink, is a waste of money..but then I'm biased

Stylo only carries the Black, BB and Washable blue. it says "blue" but when you read the description, it says "Washable"

https://www.stylo.ca/en/afficher-produit/7428.html

 

I think its likely to be the permanent blue, but at some point in the last 15yrs or so, Parker seems to have stopped importing it to North America (maybe its a victim of the same problem that Pelikan 4001 BB... although I don't think the ink in question here is iron gall, it may still be a similar issue)