Kung Te-Cheng

[HDoug]

Just for the record, I thought I would post an update. So far I have had 19 refills in the Pelikan M200 anthracite demonstrator I got as a dedicated Kung Te-Cheng tester. Here's a recent pick:

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1092/5159326666_2a93b77c21_z.jpg

 

Every time I fill a pen, I make an entry into my database:

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1246/5158718103_7be421e438.jpg

 

Here in report mode is a list of when I refilled:

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5159327056_fd8d755e50.jpg

 

The comments section notes that I rinsed the pen four times, twice with ammonia/soap detergent, and twice with plain tap water. When I rinse the pen, I unscrew the nib and let tap water flow through it under the faucet.

 

I would have to say that although Kung Te-Cheng is supplied with its own pens and carries a warning that it shouldn't be used in any other pens, the ink is actually safe for use in any pen. It's very saturated, and somewhat "sticky" so you just have to rinse it every now and then.

 

That is all. Carry on.

 

Doug

[RobbW]

Thanks HDoug! That's great news. I've been keeping mine in the supplied Preppy, but am now looking forward to trying in in a Pelikan 400. Your ink looks darker than mine--maybe my Pelikan will day a darker, wetter line than my Preppy. I love the color in your photo. Nice handwriting, too!

[reprieve]

Thanks for the update, Doug!

 

I am basically doing the same experiment as you--using a Pelikan M205 blue demonstrator and Baystate Blue. I bought the pen to be used with this particular ink. I've had it inked with Baystate Blue since July, refilled twice, and haven't flushed it yet. No issues to report so far.

 

I may try Kung Te-Cheng next. It looks like a lovely purple.

[Alohamora]

I've had a bottle of Kung Te-Cheng a few weeks now. I've been afraid to use the Preppy eye dropper pen, I'm more afraid of the potential for an ink disaster with an eyedropper that leaks than I am of harming one of my other pens. :embarrassed_smile:

 

Kung flowed poorly in half of the pens I tried it in. It works fine for me in a Sheaffer school pen and in a couple of cheap Chinese pens. I wouldn't call the ink purple, it's more like a dark blue with a purple attitude. There is lots of nib creap, but I just kinda got used to the look of a blue nib and it doesn't seem to do any real harm. I've seen no signs of staining on sink or pen.

 

Most surprising is that Kung seems to mix well with other inks. I've mixed it with some light color inks to make them darker and give them a bullet-proof aspect. A small amount goes a long way in mixing because it's so dark and saturated. I had good luck mixing, but I'd still advise to start with small quantities and observe results carefully just in case something does go wrong.