Waterproof black ink for water colour painting

[vans4444]

Sorry if this is an obvious question but this is my first time on the site for quite some time.

 

My wife is into  water colour painting and already has a Lamy Safari. She wants to use the pen for the initial sketch and then the water colour will be applied on top. So needs a black ink that dries quite fast and is water resistant. 
 

I know that Noodler’s Anti feather blue is listed as waterproof and their bulletproof is listed as water resistant. I don’t know if she need waterproof or water resistant.

 

Do you have any black ink recommendations

 

Thanks. 

[A Smug Dill]

 

[A Smug Dill]

 

14 hours ago, vans4444 said:

I know that Noodler’s Anti feather blue is listed as waterproof and their bulletproof is listed as water resistant.

 

X-Feather Blue is waterproof in my testing, but also managed to clog up every pen into which I've put that ink, including pens that have good cap seals. X-Feather Black is not waterproof, in that some wists of black will run from dried ink marks on initial contact with water; but it is also less troublesome.

[tim77]

I would also suggest Platinum Carbon Black.  In my tests one can reliably paint over it 2 minutes after application.

 

I tend to dilute the ink slightly to make it absorb more quickly and prevent smudging.  It works well in a Lamy Safari, but be sure not to let it dry out.  Rinse out an empty pen with water.  Beware of spills - it will stain many surfaces and is harder to remove than normal ink.

[yazeh]

I have had good experience with Noodler's Lexington Gray. It's very fast drying and I saw a recommendation by an artist.

I don't know if it's available in the UK. 

I would suggest, if you can get a few different samples. 

As you are based in UK, I would recommend getting on whatever document/pigment inks available

Brands you can test:

Octopus has a series of Write & Draw inks, which are light /water proof. They are in general very good inks. 

https://www.octopus-office.de/shop/en/creative-inks/write-draw-ink/7331/write-and-draw-ink-set-waterproof-drawing-ink-for-fountain-pens-38-colours

Rohrer and Klingner have a sketchInk line for artists. 

https://www.rohrer-klingner.de/en/sketchink-2/

Both brands have a Document line of inks too. 

Then you have De Atramentis. They have both a Document/ Artist line (they are more or less similar), Document is supposedly eternal

https://www.de-atramentis.com/en/document-ink--84/

Then of course there's Sailor Kiwa-guro and Platinum Carbon Black. I use them regularly too

 

I know fountainfeder in Germany sells samples.  They have actually a sample set of 6 document inks. 

https://fountainfeder.de/en/Document-Black-Ink-Sample-Set/SW12602

 

Good luck !

 

[vans4444]

Thanks for all the great replies.

 

 My wife is not going to be careful and methodical with this ink, so reading the responses I have a feeling that I will have a semi permanent job cleaning out clogs.

 

Is there a pen that clogs less than the Safari?

[A Smug Dill]

1 hour ago, vans4444 said:

Is there a pen that clogs less than the Safari?

 

Plenty. I've used Platinum Carbon Black in lots of different pens, and as long as the pen has a good cap seal (and the pen is properly capped when not being used), it isn't a problem even if the same fill of ink stays in the pen for months. Whether it's a <US$8 pen or a >US$800 pen doesn't matter.

[yazeh]

Same here. I use Carbon Black in one of the Platinum vintage pocket pens. I haven't had any problems and yet have to clean the pen. The combination creates a charcoal black (F Japanese nib = Ef European]. I used it for a few years, before I switched to Lexington Gray. Whenever, I'm on the move, I switch the Carbon Black. The pen is perfect for the travelling aspiring artist in me

[Sailor Kenshin]

Moon Palace Sumi is waterproof once dry, and SHINY.  But can't be used in a fountain pen.  Glass dip or metal dip only.

 

A pen pal sent me a sample.

[midnightblues]

I've not had any bother with Platinum Carbon Black, but can also recommend the De Atramentis Document line, they seem very waterproof when dry, as do the R&K SketchInk range. I can say that Noodler's Heart of Darkness is not 100% proof against wash. 

I do think your wife should learn to look after her own equipment though! If she's a diehard non-pen-washer I'd be tempted to withdraw the Safari and replace with a Preppy. Those things will stay wet and unclogged through an apocalypse, and they're cheap as chips. 

[vans4444]

Thanks everyone, one thing I have a lot of is fountain pens.

 

i have a few Esterbrooks with a variety of nibs that might be better than the Safari. There is also a Twsbi that I am willing to give up for the sake of art.