Hi folks,

I use my signature all the time I also take a lot of notes with my pens. I like to use a pen with a cursive italic nib. Reading on the forum got me wondering what people use as inks for signing their name? An uncle of mine used to have 2 signatures, one for Bank cheques and the like and one for all other purposes. I wonder if any of you use a special ink and colour for your signature but not for other purposes?

Secondly, (and remember I am new to the forum so forgive my - almost complete - innocence in these things) what is a good colour of Blue and of Black and of red that are freely or at least reasonably freely available. I do not want to have to make my own "witches brew" but at the same time I want each colour to be vibrant and not bland. Does that make any sense? I use all three, blue at the moment because I like people to realise mine is an original signature and not a photocopy - I know I know I'm still catching up with the developments in technology if I think this makes a difference; (tell me do you think the wirteless will catch on?!!!) I use red to make ammendments to documents and I use black sometimes too.

I look forward to being informed as to your colours of choice and for what purposes.

Krown

I used to use black ink for my signatures, which made Noodlers Black the perfect signature ink, due to its fadeproof and waterproof qualities.

About two years ago, I began to become concerned with the difficulty of picking out my original signatures from xerox copies. Xerox copy technology has now advanced to the point that this has become a real problem, at least in my circumstances.

So I switched to blue ink for my signatures.

Unfortunately, there simply is no waterproof, fadeproof dark blue or blue black ink that doesn't also have pronounced greenish components to the color. The Noodlers products (Blue Black, Legal Lapis, Aircorp, Tahitian Pearl) all have green components or are a pale, chalky blue color (Luxury Blue, Glacier Blue, North Sea Blue, Polar Blue). The Private Reserve products (Midnight Blues, Black Magic Blue, American Blue, DC Blue, Electric Blue, Lake Placid Blue) have fantastic colors, but they all disappear at the first sign of water. The traditional blue inks, such as Waterman, fade like crazy in a surprisingly short time -- even when not exposed to direct light.

Sad to say, I'm seriously considering using a Sharpie or some similar product for signatures and saving my fountain pens for other uses. The folks in my office will be horrified, because they all know of my love for fountain pens.

I prefer to use blue ink for my signature, but I use the same blue inks for other purposes as well.

My favorite blue, black and red inks are:

Blue:

Visconti
Private Reserve Lake Placid Blue
Aurora
Lamy
Waterman Florida Blue

Black:

Skrip
Waterman

Red:

Waterman
Quink

For signatures on material otherwise not hand-written, i.e., checks, typed letters, etc., I prefer to use a broad nib pen and Noodlers Tahitian Pearl ink. Often, the pen is my Pelikan M1000.

I will also use this pen and ink combo for hand addressing envelopes and post cards.

The color is distinct and a bit unusual so the signature is clearly "personal." The ink is also waterproof and otherwise permanent, which provides a measure of security for bank checks and moist-fingered postal carriers and machinery.

Andy

I have a feeling that you may not be located in North America. If you are in the United States or Canada, or in the UK, I'd suggest the same inks as Ray, with two additions. For blue, Noodler's Ottoman Azure is a unique color that gives nice variation with an italic nib. For red, Noodler's Antietam is a classy shade with overtones of burnt orange that won't be mistaken for any other ink.

If you are elsewhere, give us an idea of your location.

Hi again,
thanks for the comments and if anyone else wants to add to my multiple answers then please do. Just a quick note to confirm I am in London in the Uk for a while. Krown

Pelikan Royal Blue and Diamine Registrar's are fairly distinctive and not green tinted. Registrar's also gives really nice shading.

Did I read somewhere on this board that Diamine Registrar's is an iron gall ink? If so, the pen will need to be rinsed frequently, or it will jam up and be ruined (not really, a sonic cleaner should be able to clear out the iron gall from your pen if the ink dries in it).
Donnie

Yep, Diamine Registrar, Montblanc Blue Black, Lamy Blue Black, and a couple of the Rohrer and Klinger inks are iron gall inks. If you are willing to clean out your pen every two weeks, these inks are perfectly safe to use, and they are definitely both fadeproof and waterproof on the paper. Problems arise if you let them sit in pens for long periods of time without flushing.

I have heard that there are one or two carbon-based black inks from Asia that requires the same frequent cleaning program.

This sounds like a perfect reason to mix some Noodlers waterproof inks.

OK, just got done experimenting, and I like this one which is unique:

• 2 parts Noodlers Aircorp Blue-Black
• 2 parts Noodlers Luxury Blue
• 1 part Noodlers Black
• 1 part Old Manhattan

Perfect dark, but with beautiful shade of Blue-Blue-Black so it's not going to be mistaken for a xerox.

One unique touch, if you like the idea, is Noodler's Red Black (basically a black ink with a red highlight or halo to it). It would look very interesting with the pen you use.

Somewhat like your uncle, I use different inks depending on whether I am writing a check or another document. I have developed the habit of using Noodler's waterproof inks for checks. I generally write the check in Legal Lapis and sign with either Eternal Brown or Iraqi Indigo, using a B italic nib. All the colors xerox well, but the combination of colors is unique enough that I can always look at an original check to determine if I wrote it myself.

For general signatures, I also employ a B italic nib with one of the Noodler's waterproof inks, or with Pelikan Brilliant Brown or Royal Blue. For a bold standout signature, I have used MontyB Turquoise. The Turquoise is a shimmering blue that jumps off the page.

Hi Samcapote, remember I said I didn't want to make my own "witches brew" but I'm still interested.

Let me ask you first, the OLD MANHATTAN you refer to, is that a Noodlers ink as well; you must remember until joining the forum I thought Noodlers were the guys in a chinese Kitchen who... well you get the idea!
Second, may I ask you just how you mix inks? I mean is it like drinks, shaken or stirred and what is the least messy way of doing so? K

Hello KROWN!

Yes, sorry those are all Noodlers, and all permanent/eternal brands which I verified from this thread, but it is also printed on their labels. The Old Manhattan is the blackest, richest waterproof black I have found, and is a custom ink from The Fountain Pen Hospital here. If I want to make it a bit darker, I would add another part of the Old Manhattan. This has a lot more character and impact than Legal Lapis or AirCorp Blue-Black alone.

I use a plastic tube with a secure screw top that holds about 6 ml, and then use a 3cc syringe with either a needle or intravenous soft plastic catheter to draw up 1cc (= 1ml) for 1 part. Put in plastic tube, cap, and invert up and down until well mixed. It is very easy once you find a secure cap small tube/bottle. If I didn't have a syringe, I would just get an eye dropper and fill to specific same amount. The other one below is a tube of Levenger Cardinal Red that I removed from the cartridges that were very cheap on a closeout sale.

I use Pelikan Turquoise in an Esterbrook with a 2314-M nib. The ink doesn't come out turquoise-y at all, but a bright ocean blue, with a few dark turquoise highlights. It was an accident that I stumbled across the combination, and a happy one at that.

I use Legal Lapis and FPN's Galileo Brown. They are both very distinctive, not reproducible by a color copier, and I can easily differentiate between original and copy.

Hi Samcapote' thanks for the clarification. I'll put my witches hat on and do some experimenting after all!