Will Certain Inks Write Finer Than Others?

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

This little adventure was undertaken in response to the Inky Thoughts Forum Topic "Are There Certain Inks That Will Write Finer Than Others?" posted by Member stevekolt. LINK

 

Four inks were used:*

• Waterman Serenity: A 'simple' dye-based ink that delivers high quality results with a wide range of paper+pen combos.
• Diamine Bilberry: A 'simple' dye-based ink that is quite different from WFBl in terms of saturation and wetness (flow).
• Rohrer & Klingner Salix: A compound ink that includes a dye and an iron-gall component.
• Sailor sei-boku: Uses pigment particles that are small enough to be compatible with fountain pens. Often referred to as 'nano particle' ink. Wiki LINK
  

Four papers were used:

• Hewlett-Packard HPJ1124: laser copy/print. 24lb. Demonstrated to be an FP-friendly utility paper.
• Rhodia: satin finish vellum, 80gsm. Representative of FP-friendly 'high-end' writing papers.
• Royal: 25% cotton, laser/inkjet copy/print, 'letterhead', 90gsm. Representative of 'fuzzy' papers that are not particularly FP-friendly.
• Staples: house brand multi-use copy/print, USD4/ream, bears FSC logo, 20lb. Representative of 'lowest bidder' copy/print papers, with a pedigree that would likely meet the purchasing criteria of a [publicly traded] company.

One pen was used: An Esterbrook with a slightly wet rigid Fine steel nib.

• The nib's width and wetness was chosen based on the information provided by Member stevekolt. However, the nibs suggested were considered a bit 'soft', so a rigid nib was chosen to enhance the consistency of the amount of ink applied: the tines are less prone to spreading in response to variation of the weight of the author's hand whilst writing. (I write with a brisk light hand.)

No doubt that this sort of thing has many variables, and that somewhat different results may well be achieved by other people using different pen/s and paper/s with their bottles of these inks. Such is the nature of FP use.

 

As ever with comparisons, I leave the evaluation of results to each person, and invite Members to steer this Topic in whatever direction they wish and to add their own written samples.

 

So let's crack on . . .

 

Bye,

S1

___ ___

* As the Noodler's family of 'bulletproof' inks are rather idiosyncratic, choosing one to represent all would be goofy, so they were not invited to this particular get together.

-}{-

☛ For convenient viewing of the images, you may wish to scroll to the menu at the very bottom of this window then ensure the FPN Theme is http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/ecb8726d-1.jpg

 

 

WRITTEN SAMPLES - Moby Dick

Ruling: 8mm.

 

Ink sequence:

1. Waterman Serenity

2. Rohrer & Klingner Salix

3. Diamine Bilberry

4. Sailor sei-boku

5. Waterman Serenity

6. Diamine Bilberry

7. Rohrer & Klingner Salix

8. Sailor sei-boku

 

Figure 1.

Paper: HPJ1124.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Comparison%20-%20Fine%20Writing/INK121_zpsb2fd477c.jpg

Figure 2.

Paper: Rhodia.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Comparison%20-%20Fine%20Writing/INK118_zps4560f12d.jpg

 

Figure 3.

Paper: Royal.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Comparison%20-%20Fine%20Writing/INK120_zpsbd79a560.jpg

 

Figure 4.

Paper: Staples.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Comparison%20-%20Fine%20Writing/INK119_zpsd1a24a71.jpg

 

Figure 5.

Bleed- Show-Though.

Left: Royal. Right: Staples.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Comparison%20-%20Fine%20Writing/INK123_zps63dec8e3.jpg

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NUTS BOLTS & BOILERPLATE

 

Please continue to support The Fountain Pen Network: OK

 

Lines & labels: Omas Turquoise from a Pilot Penmanship + XF nib.

 

Imaging

• An Epson V600 scanner was used with the bundled Epson s/w to produce low-loss jpg files.
• To maintain simultaneous contrast between ink and paper, I set the base-tint of each paper to the same value and hue.
• Figures 1 - 5 were scanned at 200dpi.
• No post-capture manipulation of scanner output was done, other than dumb-down by Epson, Photo*ucket, IP.Board s/w, and your viewing gear.

Links:

• Waterman Florida Blue - now 'Serenity': My Review & Index to prior comparisons LINK
  
• Diamine Bilberry: Review & Dilution Set
  
• R&K Salix: Comparison Exemplars

Fine Print

◊ The accuracy and relevance of this Review depends in great part upon consistency and reliability of matériel used.

◊ Ink does not require a label/notice to indicate (changes in) formulation, non-hazardous ingredients, batch ID, date of manufacture, etc.

◊ As always YMMV, due to differences in materials, manner of working, environment, solar flares, etc.

◊ Also, I entrust readers to separate opinion from fact; to evaluate inferences and conclusions as to their merit; and to be amused by whatever tickles your fancy.

-30-

TAGS: Fountain pen ink review comparison Sandy1 2013

Edited April 17, 2013 by Sandy1

[alvinlum]

Interesting.

[Lloyd]

Although not included in your testing, I find that Noodlers Bulletproof Black writes a finer line than any of my other inks except, perhaps, my IG inks.

[PaperDarts]

So interesting, thank you! I find that the same pen and ink will write more or less "fine" depending on the paper I use, or else what must be very minute variations in nibs of the same size (e.g. different Lamy EF nibs). Let's face it, it's always an adventure involving many different variables!

[amberleadavis]

WOW - S1 - I always learn from your posts. Thank you.

[Sandy1]

Although not included in your testing, I find that Noodlers Bulletproof Black writes a finer line than any of my other inks except, perhaps, my IG inks.

Hi,

 

Yes indeed, Noodler's Bulletproof Black has a great reputation. However, I don't use Black FP ink, so I invite you or other Members to add comparisons which include that ink.

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

So interesting, thank you! I find that the same pen and ink will write more or less "fine" depending on the paper I use, or else what must be very minute variations in nibs of the same size (e.g. different Lamy EF nibs). Let's face it, it's always an adventure involving many different variables!

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

Paper is a very important factor, but too often we don't know if a paper is FP friendly until we try it.

 

From my personal perspective, I most often write in the size shown above, which some may consider rather large. So for me, line width variation due to ink alone is not that significant, yet I realise it is of interest to those who write in a very small hand with narrow nibs, (especially if writing in some of the Asian languages), and to illustrators & artists whose work includes tiny detail.

 

The samples above use papers that are common to my Ink Reviews, so the results can be placed within the context of a much larger group of samples.

 

Also, the samples do not show an instance where an ink+pen+paper combo has seriously misbehaved, other than bleed- show-through. It was not my intent to 'rig' the samples to show failure; and I am pleased that the results show versions of success.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited April 18, 2013 by Sandy1

[Sandy1]

WOW - S1 - I always learn from your posts. Thank you.

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

I do think these little adventures help to address some of those niggling questions that crop-up from time to time, and benefit from being demonstrated.

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

Interesting.

Thanks!

[stevekolt]

Thank you S1!!!