Do you write your envelopes with a fountain pen? I am always worried about what would happen if the ink got wet and smudged so tend to write envelopes using ballpoint. How do you write your envelopes?

With Noodler's Black ink.

I use Noodler's bulletproof inks so I don't worry about that. But I've read where others write the address with a fountain pen then, after it's completely dry, rub some candlewax over it. I've received some letters addressed that way, and I wouldn't have noticed unless I was looking for it.

Doug

I always prefer to use blue ink and I've yet to find one which is completely 'smudgeproof'. However...



this sounds a great idea, I'll have to try it!

I've done both, use Noodlers and the candlewax. Now its rare I use something other than Noodlers, and it's usually Swisher/Noodlers Aquamarine Blue Contract Ink. No worries!

I keep a block of parafin at my writing desk. In the fall and winter months I usually rub the wax across the address and buff. I seldom bother with waxing envelopes in the summer. I have a number of bullet proof inks and I sometimes use them but not always. I hand address with a fountain pen all the letters I ssend -- probably two or three a day most days of the week.

I've been on the Pentrace Snail List since February 2002. I also write to three prison inmates on a regular basis. BTW I never wax the letters I send to inmates. The prison mail room would send them right back to me if I did. No sealing wax or address labels are allowed, either.

Noodler's:
Black
Legal Lapis
Eternal Brown
FPN LE Galileo Manuscript Brown (GMB)
Polar Black
Polar Blue
Hunter Green
Eternal Luxury Blue
Lexington Gray

... depending on the color of the envelope and my mood at the time. Sent some letters off to some Franciscans yesterday, all addressed in GMB, which as it happens is a nice "Franciscan" brown. Corny, but I think they'll like it.

By the way, I've never had a problem with any of the Noodler's listed smearing.

When I'm not using bulletproof ink, I apply some stuff called MicroGlaze which provides waterproofing. When it is first applied it looks shiny, but is invisible after a few minutes. Candle wax serves the waterproofing purpose, too, but is not quite as invisible.

Judybug

I have written lots of snails and use whatever happens to be in the fountain pen at the time; have never had a delivery problem

Lenj

When I use a fountain pen to address an envelope, I cover the address with clear packaging tape.

Donnie

I use washable blue ink, and when I had a French penpal through school he used blue fountain pen ink and the envelope was perfectly legable when I recieved it.

I've never had a delivery problem either using regular fountain pen inks. Even postcards.
Waterproof inks ain't high on my wish list.

I keep a regular white candle handy and rub it lightly over the inked portions of the envelope!

For those of you who say you use waterproof ink on the envelopes, do you keep one pen loaded with waterproof ink for this type of job?

Are you sure the ballpoint ink is waterproof? I have seen some that is a little lacking in this respect.

I use Noodler's bulletproof ink for just about everything, including envelopes. Never had a problem with it smearing, and it really is waterproof.

In the old days, when letters were the primary means of long-distance communication, non-waterproof inks were used on a regular basis. Since the mail system did not grind to a halt, those inks must have worked reasonably well for addressing envelopes.

I always have the desk pen loaded with Legal Lapis. The Lamy 2000 is always loaded with Polar Blue, and a Danitrio $27 pen is always loaded with Polar Black. My Namiki Falcon is always loaded with Noodler's Black. The other colors depend on pen rotation. If I need a particular color to work with a particular envelope, I either use a dip pen or I load a pen with that color and then keep it in the rotation until it is empty.

It really depends on what's in the pen. Usually, it's either Aurora Blue or Autora Black.
I have had no problems with either.

I just got an e-mail from a friend in Germany (I am in the US) saying that she recieved my letter. I used washable blue ink, so plain old blue ink was still legiable after transalantic voyage (airmail whatever USPS's cheapest option is).

I keep a calligraphy pen filled with Noodlers Black. The calligraphy nib is nice, and it manages to go through because it's permanent. Any smudging comes from my hands.

Good Day All,

For what it is worth, I use one of the Noodler's Bulletproof inks for most envelopes. My wife, who doesn't use fountain pens, happended to mention, one cold and rainy day, that FP inks tend to wash off paper. That got me started looking for a waterproof ink. Before then, I had not given it much thought, and I understand that everything I wrote before did arrive. On the other hand, I have seen a letter dropped in the snow, and driven over for several weeks before being discovered. I did start to wonder what my FP addresses would be like after such an experience. But, having discovered Noodler's, I am happy with them, and my hat is off (figuratively) to Nathan for making them available. "Better living through chemistry."

Regards,

Wade