Baystate Blue Ruined My Yellow Lamy

[Bill Smith]

This is an interesting conversation, I wonder how many people read the product description on the Noodlers site before pulling the trigger? While this is a a nasty surprise, on the same token, it pays to be carefull when loading up your pens. Mr. Tardiff stated in his product copy that this is not like other inks and it's more saturated. Common sense would then dictate in light coloured, demonstrator or vintage pens.

 

I plan to get a bottle of Baystate Blue and it will not be used in my vintage pens, most likely my blue Visconti Van Gogh and I hope this colour does not get discontinued because it would be fun to write with a "vintage" ink.

 

Bill

[Titivillus]

I still really want this ink.

 

 

: ) )

 

 

 

Your and Tytyvyllus's posts always make my day

 

I try to be a raconteur but sometimes you need to just stop and pull back. This thread got mean early so I held my tongue. But I will try to be witty in other threads!

 

Kurt

Edited January 31, 2008 by Tytyvyllus

[goodyear]

It really is too bad if Baystate will be limited. I really like the ink.

I can only second this. I was hoping it would some day find its way to TWD, because of shipping costs to Europe, but now I begin to doubt it.

 

JO

Likewise

[omasfan]

I don't want to add to any misunderstanding but I found the Original poster's post very helpful. It is important that such things are brought up and that damage can be averted from other fellow FPN's pens. This is not an onslaught against Noodler's but I think that it is important that such things are made public in an objective and hatred-free way. The way, the OP described the problem, the ink is definitely flawed to me. This just shouldn't happen with a robust and reliable everyday pen like the Lamy.

I personally have ceased any use of Noodler's inks long ago (except for the Firefly ink in a bright yellow acrylic pen (no staining possible ever :roflmho: )) for fear of staining my more expensive celluloids which I use a lot. However, I know that there are a lot of Noodler's supporters who swear by the brand. It's a difficult situation and everybody has to make their decision about whether to use this (or other) brand or not. It is a fact that Noodler's has produced some of the most beautiful and intense colors in inkdom. That is just a fact and if one is not blind, one will easily see why that is true. But there have also been several proven complaints of staining (and drying) issues with the brand. And I think many of these complaints are well-grounded and not just made out of the (baystate) blue (lame pun intended!)

Only long-term use will show if the detractors or the supporters will be right. Meanwhile, I'll lean back, enjoy my beloved Diamine inks and see what happens.

[scribbler77]

Well, I'll certainly be ordering it while I can still get it. I'll use it in one of my Rotring 600s. They are metal and don't stain. Great pens that don't (didn't) cost a fortune.

 

I use my pens to write with, not to look good in my pocket. And I never put a dark ink into a plastic light colored pen. Even Levenger inks will stain the light colored True Writers!

 

 

[omasfan]

... someone who might not be a fp or ink expert and that includes me.

 

Come on, Tom! You may not be an ink expert, but you for sure are a fp expert.

[artaddict]

I have used Polar Black, Luxury Blue, and Apache Sunset. So far I have not had any staining problems, but that could be because I'm using the bulletproof ones in Black pens.

OTOH, my vintage Waterman Blue ink stained our kitchen sink. I doubt that it's permanent though.

[jmkeuning]

I'll use it in one of my Rotring 600s. They are metal and don't stain.

 

Don't be so sure. If I do not quickly wipe the Luxury Blue off of my Lava 600 it's hell to clean up.

 

The pens are metal, but they are painted metal.

[macthemaths]

Thanks everyone for getting this back on track. I think that it might be useful if we restrict talk in this thread to Baystate Blue and the staining that was noted by the O.P. ONLY.

 

Thanks again,

 

Chris

[dcwaites]

Pear Tree Pens is out of stock. (I think you guys have bought out all their stock.)

 

Anybody know of any other stockists that might consider posting across the Pacific for a reasonable cost?

 

 

[SamCapote]

I felt I owed it to Nathan to see what happened using his "common water" (a term I never heard before), so I just went up to the local convenience mart and bought a small bottle of Clorox Bleach. I mixed approximately 20% with water as he suggested.

 

I dipped a paper towel back and forth in the bleach "common water" solution, and after working on stains for about 6-7 minutes, they did not come out of the yellow plastic. Perhaps if I soaked the entire pen piece for a lengthy time there would be some effect, but I have a concern of the bleach oxidation damage on the plastic/nib/feed if used for a longer time. I don't know one way or the other if this is a safe mixture to do an extended soak with a pen.

 

If anyone has a question about any of my observations, they can easily reproduce what I did.

[kiavonne]

Pear Tree Pens is out of stock. (I think you guys have bought out all their stock.)

 

Anybody know of any other stockists that might consider posting across the Pacific for a reasonable cost?

 

Swishers is definitely getting in another shipment. They called me not more than 3 minutes ago to touch base on this problem. They are calling all their customers who bought this ink to make them aware of the potential staining issue. That said, I've already told them I'm a happy customer, very pleased with their service, and happy to hear they have another shipment on the way. They did take it off the site for the time being while they address this matter with their customers, but it is coming in again.

 

ISellPens, Todd Nussbaum's site is stating that Baystate Blue is on the way.

Edited January 31, 2008 by kiavonne

[kiavonne]

I felt I owed it to Nathan to see what happened using his "common water" (a term I never heard before), so I just went up to the local convenience mart and bought a small bottle of Clorox Bleach. I mixed approximately 20% with water as he suggested.

 

I dipped a paper towel back and forth in the bleach "common water" solution, and after working on stains for about 6-7 minutes, they did not come out of the yellow plastic. Perhaps if I soaked the entire pen piece for a lengthy time there would be some effect, but I have a concern of the bleach oxidation damage on the plastic/nib/feed if used for a longer time. I don't know one way or the other if this is a safe mixture to do an extended soak with a pen.

 

If anyone has a question about any of my observations, they can easily reproduce what I did.

 

 

I'm glad Swishers is helping you out. They're a good company. I have no question about your observations. You've brought awareness to the table. That is good. Informed people make better decisions. I'm glad you like the color of Baystate, though, as well. I like it a lot myself.

 

 

[KCat]

I have used Polar Black, Luxury Blue, and Apache Sunset. So far I have not had any staining problems, but that could be because I'm using the bulletproof ones in Black pens.

OTOH, my vintage Waterman Blue ink stained our kitchen sink. I doubt that it's permanent though.

 

I've had a couple of inks "threaten" to stain my sinks. Like the OP, I scrubbed with SoftScrub or otherwise soaked in bleach. Neither were Noodlers inks. I can't recall which inks they were - one was a blue. That surprised me. I tend to think of most common blue inks as relatively "safe." I wish I could say what it was - I use a number of PR and Diamine inks. Doubt it was the latter. The other stainers were reds/purples and the sink was old and only stained in the cracks near the drain. Still, I'm much more careful with all of my inks when rinsing simply because I was surprised by how quickly this particular blue ink soaked in.

[BoxerDad]

My Baystate Blue should be in tomorrow. I don't care what hell it stains, as long as it looks good on paper.

[Jimmy James]

Pear Tree Pens is out of stock. (I think you guys have bought out all their stock.)

 

Anybody know of any other stockists that might consider posting across the Pacific for a reasonable cost?

 

I don't, but I must join you in what I'm fearing may be the land of non-buyer's regret. I have been waiting out a couple of impressions of this ink before putting in an order for it somewhere, and I now fear I may have missed my chance. That would be a real pity. I'm very much willing to live with staining concerns in exchange for the pop of this color.

[Nellie]

Hi,

could someone who has got the ink please do a fading test (put a note in their window for a while)? I really like the scans of this colour, but - as Nathan Tardiff points out that "it will also eventually fade before strong UV light" - I am a bit worried that it might fade as quickly as some more traditional blues do (e.g. Scrip or Quink).

Thanks in advance

Nellie

 

[southpaw]

Stepped out for a while. Did I miss something? A big

 

THANK YOU!!!!

 

 

to everyone for getting this back under control so quickly.

 

As to the ink and the staining, a few comments. First, one of my regular dealers is going to hold TWO bottles for me as soon as his shipment comes in. A bright, vibrant blue --- gotta love it! Also, I trust Noodlers.

 

As to the staining, might I suggest that there may be something else going on here. I've noticed that ANY fountain pen ink will stain my kitchen sink (it's an old enameled cast iron one) IF the conditions are right. If the sink has just been cleaned and no hard water deposits have had time to accumulate, no problems at all. If the sink has been used a bit, it's a completely different story. Fountain pen ink will ALWAYS leave it's mark, whether it be Pilot, Diamine, Waterman, J. Herbin, Lamy, Visconti, Omas, Caran d'Ache, Aurora, R&K, or Pelikan.

 

I don't currently own a Safari, but the plastic it's made of (ABS iirc) is quite resistant to a variety of chemicals. I'm wondering if there may not have been something else either on the pen that caused a reaction or if the surface of the pen might have had a manufacturing item (not suggesting any user-induced issues).

 

I hope the stained Safari makes its way back to Nathan so he can play with it and figure out what happened.

[dcwaites]

Pear Tree Pens is out of stock. (I think you guys have bought out all their stock.)

 

Anybody know of any other stockists that might consider posting across the Pacific for a reasonable cost?

 

Swishers is definitely getting in another shipment. They called me not more than 3 minutes ago to touch base on this problem. They are calling all their customers who bought this ink to make them aware of the potential staining issue. That said, I've already told them I'm a happy customer, very pleased with their service, and happy to hear they have another shipment on the way. They did take it off the site for the time being while they address this matter with their customers, but it is coming in again.

 

ISellPens, Todd Nussbaum's site is stating that Baystate Blue is on the way.

Sighhhh, I'll just have to wait until it appears on their sites. I 'need' to buy some new pens anyway...

 

Just a general comment, not aiming at anybody, about new products.

 

In spite of all possible testing by the developers on a new product, there can be unforeseen consequences. The important thing is that it is handled gracefully by all parties involved.

 

Even with a well developed product, things can happen. There was a story many years ago about a country gentleman who bought a new Rolls-Royce and drove it home to his property. As he came in through the gate, the front bumper-bar (fender to you Yanks) fell off. He reported this with some bemusement to the dealer, who, as is appropriate for a Roller dealer, was horrified. A junior salesperson was sacrificed in atonement, and a team dispatched to the property to make good the repair, resulting in a happy customer.

 

 

[Stephen-I-am]

I hope the stained Safari makes its way back to Nathan so he can play with it and figure out what happened.

Great idea. It might also be a good idea if anyone receiving the ink could see if it stains any junk pen parts they might have.

 

Stephen