Ink recommendation

[PeterSwordsmith]

Hello,

I turn to you pen-wise and ink-steeped sages for help recommendations for a good ink suitable for sketching. 
Since a couple of weeks back I am the happy owner of a Conid Kingsize Bulkfiller with a Bock 340 14k EF nib.  

I use my pens for sketching and appreciate a fine line and an ink feed that is not too rich, but rather on the dry side since I do not want to flood the line.
I currently use Platinum Carbon Ink Black since it is pretty resistant to water once it has dried - a good thing when you want to apply a wash of colour over the drawing.

The problem is that the ink flow is a bit too generous making it very difficult to create the fine lines I appreciate. I will probably get the nib adjusted to EEF, but I would also like to find an ink that is waterproof once dry with a higher viscosity, or lower fluidity: something that makes the flow less generous.

Could you suggest a brand I might try?
Any leads are greatly appreciated!
-Thank you 🙂


 

Edited February 3, 2023 by PeterSwordsmith

[ErrantSmudge]

Rather than get the nib adjusted to EEF, you might first consider having a nibmeister adjust the ink flow.  That's just an adjustment to the tines to bring them a bit closer together, restricting the ink flow.  It's also a reversible mod, in case you change your mind.  Especially if you really like Platinum Carbon Black and would like to continue using it.

[PeterSwordsmith]

14 minutes ago, ErrantSmudge said:

Rather than get the nib adjusted to EEF, you might first consider having a nibmeister adjust the ink flow.  That's just an adjustment to the tines to bring them a bit closer together, restricting the ink flow.  It's also a reversible mod, in case you change your mind.  Especially if you really like Platinum Carbon Black and would like to continue using it.

Thank you for the suggestion!

I asked the good people at fpnibs.com if they could adjust the flow so it is less generous, but I was told that the generous flow was a result of the ebonite feeder and that an adjustment was not possible. As it was through fpnibs that ordered the nib and got it adjusted in the first place, I thought I should trust their judgement in this. If the nib indeed could be made less generous, that would obviously be the best solution since I would not have to look for a different ink than what I am normally using.

Do you happen to know a nib master that you could recommend?

[Mercian]

Cheaper than getting your nib re-ground - and ‘reversible’ too - would be to try out a ‘heavy iron-gall’ ink in your pen.

Flow should be markedly less than PCB, and the results should be crisp lines with great water resistance.

 

I recommend ESSRI, or Akkerman #10, or Diamine Registrars Ink.

 

If you are frit of i-g inks, you might also try Sailor Kiwa Guro. This has slightly less water resistance than your PCB, but it is also far less prone to feathering or bleeding.

 

Slàinte,

M.

[PeterSwordsmith]

10 minutes ago, Mercian said:

Cheaper than getting your nib re-ground - and ‘reversible’ too - would be to try out a ‘heavy iron-gall’ ink in your pen.

Flow should be markedly less than PCB, and the results should be crisp lines with great water resistance.

 

I recommend ESSRI, or Akkerman #10, or Diamine Registrars Ink.

 

If you are frit of i-g inks, you might also try Sailor Kiwa Guro. This has slightly less water resistance than your PCB, but it is also far less prone to feathering or bleeding.

 

Slàinte,

M.

Thank you. I very much appreciate this info. 🙂

[Mercian]

Oh, also, for your intended use-case you probably ought to look at the line of ‘Sketch Inks’ made by Rohrer & Klingner.

They come in various colours, including black.

I recommend that you read several reviews on here of any ink that you might be interested in - different reviewers notice different things about the same ink, and what is a ‘deal-breaker’ for you may not bother somebody else. A particular reviewer might only use ‘F’ nibs, or only ‘B’ nibs, or only ‘flex’ nibs. Reading multiple reviews increases your chances of finding out about any deal-breakers before you buy the ink.

[inkstainedruth]

@PeterSwordsmithDepending on where you live, you might also want to look into some of the Noodler's inks.  A lot of people like the regular Noodler's Black (especially on poor quality paper) but I prefer Noodler's Heart of Darkness, which dries faster, and is pretty waterproof.

I've got Platinum Carbon Black in a pen right now, and also thought it was a little wet, and also on the slow drying side.  I tried Sailor Kiwa-guro a few years ago, but in a Platinum Pretty set up with the rollerball head and it didn't do well in that pen, clogging the head rather badly.  I keep meaning to try the rest of the sample in an actual fountain pen at some point, but haven't gotten around to it.

Nice sketch, by the way -- looks like people at an SCA event!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[ErrantSmudge]

5 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

but I prefer Noodler's Heart of Darkness, which dries faster, and is pretty waterproof.

 

Noodler's Heart of Darkness has some good qualities, but in my experience it is wet and spreads on the paper, putting down a wide line.  I don't think it's what OP is looking for.  Definitely buy a sample first.

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I'll second the suggestion to try Noodler's Black ink. On paper it is totally waterproof once dry. I can't know what its flow characteristics would be on your fountain pen, but it's not generally a gusher.

 

If you get some you might try  testing it on paper, let  it dry for half an hour and then see how the wash of color affects it. In some cases some pens put too much ink down and as a result there's dried ink on top of dried ink. The underlying ink bonds to the cellulose in the paper, but the ink on top of it is just lying there. In such a case it's possible to have that un-bonded ink start to migrate when water hits it. The solution to that problem, if it occurs, is to dilute the Noodler's Black with water. I've found that diluting Noodler's Black to 50% still lets it produce a decently dark line of black ink.

 

Good luck with your search for the kind of ink you need. And

[PeterSwordsmith]

21 minutes ago, Ink Stained Wretch said:

I'll second the suggestion to try Noodler's Black ink. On paper it is totally waterproof once dry. I can't know what its flow characteristics would be on your fountain pen, but it's not generally a gusher.

 

If you get some you might try  testing it on paper, let  it dry for half an hour and then see how the wash of color affects it. In some cases some pens put too much ink down and as a result there's dried ink on top of dried ink. The underlying ink bonds to the cellulose in the paper, but the ink on top of it is just lying there. In such a case it's possible to have that un-bonded ink start to migrate when water hits it. The solution to that problem, if it occurs, is to dilute the Noodler's Black with water. I've found that diluting Noodler's Black to 50% still lets it produce a decently dark line of black ink.

 

Good luck with your search for the kind of ink you need. And

Thank you for good reflections!
:-)

[PeterSwordsmith]

7 hours ago, ErrantSmudge said:

 

Noodler's Heart of Darkness has some good qualities, but in my experience it is wet and spreads on the paper, putting down a wide line.  I don't think it's what OP is looking for.  Definitely buy a sample first.

"Heart of Darkness" is such god name for an ink that I might be willing to accept any flaws or shortcomings it might have 🙂

[PeterSwordsmith]

12 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

@PeterSwordsmithDepending on where you live, you might also want to look into some of the Noodler's inks.  A lot of people like the regular Noodler's Black (especially on poor quality paper) but I prefer Noodler's Heart of Darkness, which dries faster, and is pretty waterproof.

I've got Platinum Carbon Black in a pen right now, and also thought it was a little wet, and also on the slow drying side.  I tried Sailor Kiwa-guro a few years ago, but in a Platinum Pretty set up with the rollerball head and it didn't do well in that pen, clogging the head rather badly.  I keep meaning to try the rest of the sample in an actual fountain pen at some point, but haven't gotten around to it.

Nice sketch, by the way -- looks like people at an SCA event!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Sailor Kiwa-guro sounds interesting. It is noted down as one of the candidates. If the ink is not left in the pen for long after use it might cause less problems from clogging.
Thank you for the suggestion 🙂

[Penguincollector]

Have you tried Pelikan Fount India? It’s NOT India ink, but a waterproof ink similar to Platinum Carbon for fountain pens. Pelikan inks tend to be on the drier side. 
Pelikan Fount India

[inkstainedruth]

@PenguincollectorThat's good to know.  I picked up a bottle of Pelikan Fount India a few years ago at an art supply store, but never got around to trying it.

I don't use black inks a lot in general, although -- ironically -- at the moment I have 3 pens inked up with different blacks: Platinum Carbon Black in one of the Parker Vectors, Namiki Black in the Pilot Metropolitan with the stub nib, and whatever dried up black ink was in the Parker 61 Flighter where I got it (the seller got it at an estate sale and didn't know).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Penguincollector]

I don’t often use black ink either, @inkstainedruth- but I do have 4 of 7 inked pens with some shade of blue at the moment, so I get it. 

[inkstainedruth]

Oh, inking up pens with various shades of blue I TOTALLY get.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[PeterSwordsmith]

Blue ink is an unexplored continent for me. 
Not so strange since I almost exclusively use my pens for drawing.
Sepia, however...
A nice sepia is a beautiful, beautiful thing! 🙂

Edited February 5, 2023 by PeterSwordsmith

[InkyColors]

 

I use DeAtramentis Archive Black.  It is waterproof and fadeproof.  I haven't used the Platinum and so can't compare them.  Liz said that the DeAtramentis Document Black didn't work well in her extra-fine nibs, but I haven't had any trouble with the Archive Black.  If left in a pen for over a month it will start to get cloggy, but works well if you clean the pen every few weeks.  I used it on the vine in this picture.  This is pencil but it works just as well with watercolors.

[Maurizio]

I also say you should try “regular” Noodler’s Black. 

 

Pelikan Font India might be worth a try also. I had a bottle of it, but was not impressed. It was dry like most Pelikan inks, but I also found that it was messy and smeared easily unless given a very long time to dry time. 

 

I have Sailor Kira-Guru also. Besides being overpriced for what it is - and it’s not even close to as waterproof as Platinum Carbon Black is -  it is not a dry ink and I say it’s close to the same flow and wetness as Platinum Carbon Black. 

 

I like all my inks wet so I add glycerin to them (except Platinum Carbon Black), for my use I find Noodler’s Black a bit “dry” which is why I add glycerin to it and why I think it might work for your use. Maybe try a sample vial and see if it works for you. 

[A Smug Dill]

51 minutes ago, Maurizio said:

Pelikan Font India might be worth a try also. I had a bottle of it, but was not impressed. It was dry like most Pelikan inks, but I also found that it was messy and smeared easily unless given a very long time to dry time. 

 

Do marks made with Pelikan Fount India ink on the page ever get to a point of being near-waterproof, instead of bleeding and running all over the place when re-wetted, if given enough time to dry upfront? Platinum Carbon Black achieves waterproofness in a matter of seconds after being laid on paper.

 

Now that I have a heat gun, I'm almost tempted to see whether I can ‘bake’ Pelikan Fount India onto the paper surface, instead of giving it a month to dry under normal conditions, so that the ink marks will not budge with splashed with water or get dunked.