Everyday Utitlitarian Ink Suggestions?

[Archman66]

I would be interested your opinions/suggestions for an every day ink (bottled or cartridge). It is for an everyday inexpensive fountain pen. In the course of a day most of my pen use would be for work which would include taking notes at meetings, writing down ideas, and some sketching. Some personal pen use would be journaling. I may eventually get a second or even a third pen; but for now, I'd like to make the most of the one pen I have.

 

Some thoughts (perhaps even misconceptions?) I have:

 

Black is nice for sketching. Red is for markups/revisions/corrections only when sketching.

 

Colored inks are nice for writing to designate originals from copies. Poetically as well as practically.

 

Non-blue, or non-black inks impart a little character (in the preference of color).

 

Thought about a dark brown - adds color, and approaches black for sketching.

 

Sometimes when you ask one thing to do multiple tasks, it does none of them well. Yet sometimes we are pleasantly surprised.

 

I've played with the following samples and these are my initial impressions:

 

De Atramentis Tobacco: I thought it would be darker. Didnt realize it was scented, but doesn't really smell scented. Perhaps something a little darker.

Diamine Amazing Amethyst: A little too froo-froo for me.

Diamine Asa Blue: Nice document blue

Diamine Merlot: I just like this color. Don't know how practical it is. But I like this color.

Diamine Raw Sienna: It's okay. A little too light.

Diamine Sargasso Sea: Nice dark blue.

Noodler's Antietam: Expressive. I can see using this as an expressive ink for special writing; not necessarily everyday.

Noodler's X-Feather: Good dark black for sketching.

[PlasticFantastic]

I define utilitarian as professional, or inks you can get away with using just anywhere (whether it be doodling or signing an international peace treaty)

 

with that definition of the term,

I suggest either a great black (Aurora be thy name) or blue (toss up between Waterman Florida Blue, Diamine Majestic Blue, and Visconti Blue)

[Abner C. Kemp]

Pilot Blue-Black would be my choice. It is well behaved and quite waterproof. It also offers some subtle shading. You can buy a humongous 350ml bottle on Ebay for $36.81 which is pretty good bang for your buck. It's definitely not the most interesting ink out there but it is a solid everyday choice, especially for business correspondence exc. I'm not sure how it would be as a sketching ink but I imagine it would be just fine.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pilot-NAMIKI-INK-350-350ml-Blue-Black-/370649392597?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564c6ce5d5

 

Of course, Waterman inks have always been preferred as everyday writers. Serenity Blue is pretty much as standard a blue as you can find but they also offer a darker brown and a green ink that might have some character. At ~$10 for a 50ml. bottle its definitely a good deal as well.

 

You might consider J. Herbin Caco du Bresil. It's a tad pricier but is a dark brown that borders on grey/black that you might like.

 

If your looking for a black I would go with Aurora black. But, Pilot Black isn't a bad ink either and can be bought in one of those huge 350 ml. bottles if you looking to save some money. J. Herbin Perle Noire is also a good black but also slightly more expensive than Pilot.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Abner C. Kemp

[Tom Traubert]

Diamine Twilight is great and is my usual 'normal' coloured ink. However, at the moment I have Sherwood Green in my Cross Apogee; it's dark enough to be considered formal- it's almost black at times, but has phenomenal shading and an enchanting sheen.

[dizzypen]

Noodler's Navy... How I love thee let me count the ways...

 

+1 for Pilot Blue-Black. Underrated, but excellent ink.

[ac12]

No one ink, it also depends on the ink flow characteristics of the pen.

And what you have available. Buying local is a good idea cuz shipping cost raises the price of ordering ink.

 

Blue:

- Waterman Florida blue, for my dry pens

- Cross/Pelikan, for my wet pens

- Diamine Midnight, if you want a DARK blue

- Sheaffer Skrip

- Parker Quink

 

Black:

- Waterman, for my dry pens

- Cross/Pelikan, for my wet pens

- Sheaffer Skrip

- Parker Quink

[Lazarus Long]

For a utilitarian ink, Noodler's Black is my favorite. deep black, works well on any paper, doesn't bleed or feather, doesn't clog the pen. I think it is the best of Noodler's bulletproof inks. All the other's I've tried have feathering/bleed through issues and eventually clog the pen. I haven't had any of these problems with Black.

[amberleadavis]

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inklings/slides/2013-Ink_747d.jpghttp://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inklings/slides/2013-Ink_748b.jpg

 

And it's available exclusively in Texas from Dromgoole's.

 

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inklings/slides/2013-Ink_747b.jpg

[amberleadavis]

And it's water resistant and quite artistic.

 

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inklings/slides/2013-Ink_761.jpg

 

Here's where I tried to soak it out.

 

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inklings/slides/2013-Ink_757b_20131214_180719.jpg

[Archman66]

Is the Pilot blue-black available in bottles or just in cartridges?

[alarickc]

I use sailor Sei-Boku as my utilitarian everyday ink that's always in my Pilot VP. It a blue-black-grey ink with a hint of green. Distinctive but subdued. It is high maintenance though as a nano-particle ink.

[Ink Stained Wretch]

For a utilitarian ink, Noodler's Black is my favorite. deep black, works well on any paper, doesn't bleed or feather, doesn't clog the pen. I think it is the best of Noodler's bulletproof inks. All the other's I've tried have feathering/bleed through issues and eventually clog the pen. I haven't had any of these problems with Black.

 

+1 on the Noodler's Black. And it's waterproof and solvent proof, too.

[ethernautrix]

Noodler's Black is my utilitarian ink for every day. I wouldn't insist on a black ink for writing everything, but for drawing, especially the way that I draw (*laughs), only the black ink appeals to me. And Noodler's Black because it works on the most variety of papers and is waterproof (which is helpful with I use an ink brush to give a drawing some shadow or a wash).

[RyanH]

It's probably too expensive to really be called "utilitarian", but Iroshizuku Yama-Guri is otherwise a fantastic all-purpose ink. A great dark brown ink that behaves well on cheap paper and has a bit of water resistance.

 

Waterman Florida/Serenity Blue has a bit of a boring perception, but there's a reason it is the unofficial standard fountain pen ink. A free-flowing, very smooth ink that works well on even the cheapest papers, and with a wet writer it even has a bit of sheen. The only downsides are a complete lack of water resistance and a tendency to dull over time (part and parcel of being a "washable blue" ink).

 

For something different, Noodler's Black Swan in English Roses is a fantastic red-brown that is cheap paper friendly and near-bulletproof. My go-to ink for italic/calligraphy pens.

[dizzypen]

Is the Pilot blue-black available in bottles or just in cartridges?

Yes on both accounts. I always get mine from JetPens. Other retailers might have it available as well.

[KBeezie]

For most of my pens (especially every day writers) I'm primarily using Noodler's Black Eel, it's a decent black, bulletproof/waterproof/forgery-resistant/archival and it's lubricated (so good for my piston pen and extra fine nibs).

 

The only other black I have (in cartridges) is Waterman Intense Black, overall it's pretty well behaved, but not exactly waterproof (holds legibility, but ends up with a yellow halo effect around it when dried from being wet, where as black eel doesn't run at all, not even a halo). I currently use Intense black in my Faber-Castell BASIC with a Fine Nib.

 

Far as everyday blue, colorwise I've mainly liked Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo, though not exactly that cheap, but it's the only blue I was particularly drawn to that wasn't so vibrant. (though I have Diamine Majestic Blue on the way, so I might change my views in terms of everyday blue to use).

 

My current inked pens as of ... yesterday I think.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/5star_apr16_2014_front.jpg

Edited April 16, 2014 by KBeezie

[Lou Erickson]

I have and liked the little bottle of Pilot blue-black I picked up. They had black, blue, and red, and I may fill out the set if I go back.

 

I picked up some Waterman Serenity Blue, and was quite impressed with how well behaved it was.

 

The Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black is a nice solid black. It's less expensive than the Aurora so many seem to like.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Many excellent suggestions above, so I'll add R&K Sepia and Private Reserve Ebony Brown to the list of candidates. Also, Noodler's FPN exclusive Galileo Manuscript Brown should be joining us yet again, so that's yet another to consider ...

 

Bye,

S1

 

__ __

My wee IRs of the above:

> R&K Sepia : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/254819-rohrer-klingner-sepia/?p=2808820

> PR Ebony Brown : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/237569-private-reserve-ebony-brown/page__view__findpost__p__2564970

> NFPNGMBr : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/231406-noodlers-galileo-manuscript-brown/page__view__findpost__p__2482258

Edited April 17, 2014 by Sandy1

[wallylynn]

I likes me a good old fashioned Blue-then-black iron gall ink in a wet nib. I never tire of watching the color change. Water resistant, works on nigh any paper, dark enough for professional use, blue enough to not-be-black (some places don't like black due to photocopies). Currently using Diamine Registrars. Saved some (since discontinued) Lamy and MB. Need to get ESSRI, and K&R.

And it's water resistant and quite artistic.

 

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inklings/slides/2013-Ink_761.jpg

 

Here's where I tried to soak it out.

 

 

Amber, I love your pen stands. Do your pens dry out?

[amberleadavis]

I likes me a good old fashioned Blue-then-black iron gall ink in a wet nib. I never tire of watching the color change. Water resistant, works on nigh any paper, dark enough for professional use, blue enough to not-be-black (some places don't like black due to photocopies). Currently using Diamine Registrars. Saved some (since discontinued) Lamy and MB. Need to get ESSRI, and K&R.

 

 

 

Amber, I love your pen stands. Do your pens dry out?

 

 

I took old paperweights that had a chip and a friend drilled them out. He set the diameter exactly for the TWSBI. My pens will dry out if left for hours, but if I lived somewhere other than the desert, it would be just fine. He can make you one if you are interested.