I use to use FP back in 80s and 90s when culturally, that's what everyone used. And a absolute rule of thumb was a new pen is christened with 1 color and it stays that color throughout its life. Changing color is considered bad for the pen.

Is this true?

(And back then there were no 30 different colors of ink, just Blue and Black. )

Why limit yourself to one color? Putting different color inks in pens does not harm the pen, otherwise there wouldn't be so many different colors available.

And changing colours does mean you need to give the pen a really thorough flush-through, which it might not otherwise get as often as it should

I started using different colours for a bit of fun to liven up dull work, but I found also that certain colours were more relaxing to read. At the moment my main colour is purple but I started off with black and then blue and for a while considered settling on teal. There's no harm in using different inks.

PensPensPens wrote:

"Is this true?"

Culturally it was true where I lived. But then again, inks were limited to Black, Blue and Blue-Black. As soon as I discovered different color inks, I started using them. I change inks frequently now, and I love the options. As someone said, we have to remember to flush the pen before changing colors. The pen won't be hurt, but one might end up with a peculiar color ink.

As long as all the ink you're using is fountain pen ink (not India ink or the calligraphy inks that are for dip pens), there's no harm in switching colors. As someone else mentioned, you should give the pen a good flush before filling with a new color.

The only problem for me is that if I'm constantly changing ink colors, I start having trouble remembering what ink is in which pen. I keep about 15 pens inked.

Judybug

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I returned to FPs in the 80s because there were more colours than blue and black (which I have never used). That said, I can't see how changing a colour would be bad for a pen, since the companies make more than one colour. As for the rule of thumb, I have never heard of it, not that I would have obeyed it

If changing colors can harm a pen, I am going to have a real pile of rubble on my hands someday!

If I am writing a letter with a C/C pen, sometimes I will just put in a new color cartridge without flushing out the old color. It makes the letter more interesting as the two colors fight it out in the feed.

You can do this with a converter, also. Carefully suck one color in below the other one - like making a "black-and-tan", only you don't need the spoon. If the converter has a bead in it, invert the pen just once; it makes some crazy colors on the page.

Paddler

that's a fab idea - will definitely give that a try!!

Color, color I live for COLOR!!!! As stated before no harm will come from changing inks if you do a good water flush between colors. I keep 6-8 pens inked all the time and have 6-8 different colors in play. Some pens like certain inks better than others and the color looks so good with some pens that I do tend to repeat the same ink quite often in certain pens but with others, it's a different ink every time I fill them up!

"Life is to short to write with black ink or ugly pens!" pakmanpony

I change colors all the time. Sometimes, I don't even flush between the change, just to see the color variations it yields. Is great fun, and part of the pleasure on using FPn's.

I have just recently started venturing out into other colors with some regularity. I bought a 6 pack of Levenger ink about 5 years ago... Still have it!

But! I do tend to use the Amythest more than the other colors. I have almost a full bottle of Red and Green (anybody wanna trade?).

I just received some samples of a few inks from Pear Tree yesterday. I REALLY like Apache Sunset by Noodler's. I can see me purchasing some of that!

I really suggest experimenting with color! I find it opens new doors to the fountain pen experience.

Absolutely not. If it were, all of my pens would be in really deep trouble. Truth be told, it's rather uncommon for me to put the same color of ink back in a pen.

Guess it depends on where you are but you have hundreds of colors to choose from now.

Does that help?