Hero ink 234

[hari317]

Has anyone here used this ink? The carton says High carbonic ink, I have tested the ink with a dip pen, it is quite dark, takes a long time to dry and is not fully "rub resistant" even when dry. I wanted to know if this is safe for use in a FP or if any member has experience with this ink?

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20ink/IMG_2149.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20ink/IMG_2150.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20ink/IMG_2151.jpg

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Hari

 

[hari317]

Looking for inputs, has anyone here used this ink?

 

Thanks,

Hari

[FrankB]

Hari, I have never seen or heard of this ink. The very name, "high carbonic," makes me wary. We have also discussed on these forums that Chinese industrial quality control is questionable at best. I would not put this ink in even a cheap pen that I own. - Personal opinion only, but I stand by it.

[Tricia]

I don't know of it either, but I think using the dip pen would be the safest way to go.

Edited August 16, 2008 by Tricia

[Iridium]

I know what you're thinking: "Is this ink based on water or shellac?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track, myself. But being as this is carbon black, the most powerful pigment in the world, and would clog your feed like concrete, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well...do ya, punk?

 

Kidding aside, from what I've heard about this ink, it's one of several carbon inks designed to be used in fountain pens. However, that still doesn't necessarily make it safe. Personally, I'd only use it in a dip pen, but then again, I don't like to live dangerously.

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I haven't used this ink but I was gifted a bottle of Hero Blue/Black and that will clog a pen. It may be an actual, old fashioned gallotone ink.

 

There's no telling what a People's Republic of China manufacturer is talking about when they make claims about their products. Do they mean it has carbonic acid in it? Does it fizz? Could they be referring to carbolic acid, aka phenol? Are they completely misusing a word? Do they mean that there are a lot of carbon particles floating around in this ink? There's no telling.

 

Use it in a Pelikano Jr. for a while and see what happens. If one of those gets clogged you can take it completely apart rather easily, unless the stuff in that ink welds the plastic bits together, of course.

[Renzhe]

Do they mean it has carbonic acid in it? Does it fizz? Could they be referring to carbolic acid, aka phenol? Are they completely misusing a word? Do they mean that there are a lot of carbon particles floating around in this ink? There's no telling.

 

There is telling. Carbonic inks, such as Higgins Eternal, are suspensions with little carbon particles in them. I'd guess it's soot or graphite.

It appears as if that ink is meant for dip pens.

Edited August 19, 2008 by Renzhe

[psfred]

That is high carbon pigment ink, meaning it is a suspension of carbon black. It may or may not work well in a fountain pen, but I would not put it in a really good one until I knew for sure.

 

Easy test is to write on some plastic with a dip pen and allow the ink to dry (may take a while), then see if the ink will re-dissolve in water. If it does, you will probably be OK using it in a fountain pen as it will rinse out. If not, it's shellac based, and if it dries in the pen, it will clog it up with non-water soluble materials. Not necessarily the end of the world, but you will have to take it apart to get the residual ink out.

 

Hero Blue/Black (at least the one I have) is a normal dye base ink. If it starts out blue and then goes dark blue-black, it might be a ferro-gallate ink.

 

Peter

[Ink Stained Wretch]

That is high carbon pigment ink, meaning it is a suspension of carbon black. It may or may not work well in a fountain pen, but I would not put it in a really good one until I knew for sure.

 

Easy test is to write on some plastic with a dip pen and allow the ink to dry (may take a while), then see if the ink will re-dissolve in water. If it does, you will probably be OK using it in a fountain pen as it will rinse out. If not, it's shellac based, and if it dries in the pen, it will clog it up with non-water soluble materials. Not necessarily the end of the world, but you will have to take it apart to get the residual ink out.

 

Hero Blue/Black (at least the one I have) is a normal dye base ink. If it starts out blue and then goes dark blue-black, it might be a ferro-gallate ink.

The Hero Blue/Black I have has a waterproof component to it. When I soak the page the blue goes away and I'm left with a black line of ink. It looks different from Noodler's Black under the same conditions; it's a less intense looking black, IIRC. It clogged a pen after some days.

[hari317]

Thanks to everyone for their inputs, as suggested by Peter, I did the redissolve test, the ink does seem to be water soluble once dry on plastic.

 

I have taken the plunge and filled it in my Deccan Ebonite ED pen(medium wet writer), even if it clogs, I know I can clean or get a new feed and nib. One thing I have found that once this ink dries on paper, it is absolutely waterproof. Initial impression is positive and the ink seems to flow well with a reasonable drying time. I will post a long term report here subsequently.

 

Regards,

Hari

 

 

[plumcakk]

I picked up that ink at a shady dollar store that seemed like it wasn't attracting many customers a few months back and threw it into my Parker 50 without a thought (I still don't know why...). It was probably sitting on the shelf WAY longer than it should.

That said, it's more grey than black IMO and while being fine for my rough, everyday use, the colour does leave much to be desired. And, is it just me, or does this ink have a horrifying stench?

[finansista]

I no longer use any of the Hero inks. Although they remind me of my school times (ah, this smell ) I found that they are quite prone to clog any pen I put them in. And while writing you constantly have this feeling that there is some kind of powder in them. And I'm not talking the 234, but the standard Black and Blue-Black.

[Oldtimer]

i use the Hero ink on Hero pens. They deserve it! LOL

 

 

--- and experimental, old, battered Osmiroids.

Edited July 31, 2014 by Oldtimer

[nico van der walt]

I in fact also used this ink i must say all in it self for the price it's not bad but you have to clean your pen regularly as i i left it for 2 weeks and it started to give me troubles, it has quite the smell to it, i put the ink itno my Pilot metropolitan and after 2 months the smell was still there even though i wash my pen every week

[OCArt]

"High Carbolic" is a poor translation for carbon black. I believe Hero 234 is a micro-carbon particle ink. In my use it was a wonderful dark black ink-- but it needed to be extensively used each day or it would clog my pen. I now only use it rarely and only for high volume writing.