I like to use Sailor inks, especially bue-black and brown. Can one consider them as safe inks, or would it better to avoid to use them in old pens (in which I usually use Waterman and Diamine inks) ?

Jimmy

They are safe inks. Use them without fear.

Thanks Laura. If the pens are not used for 3-4 days, the ink flows darker and somewhat metallic for a while. That's why I wondered.

Jimmy

Jimmy,

What you describe is common and can occur with almost any ink. Water in exposed ink (e.g., on the nib and feeder) evaporates and leaves behind a darker solution. Writing a line or two causes the good (unexposed) ink to flush out the bad one. I have used Sailor's black, blue, brown and grey without any problem. Hey, Sailor calls their inks "Jentle"!

===> A word of CAUTION. Sailor inks are alkaline (pH >7), whereas many if not most other inks are acidic (pH <7).
Therefore: never mix a Sailor ink with a non-Sailor one, and make sure you flush out any trace of non-Sailor ink before you fill your pen with Sailor ink.

Enjoy!

-Gerard

Thank you Gerard. I see that from time to time with some other inks, but never so strong. It almost never occurs with the other inks I use, that's why I asked. I like these Sailor very much.

I was curious after your post, so I measured the pH of the red-brown : it is about 8.4. I already have had problems when switching from another ink to Sailor, even with the pen well flushed (at least I thought so). Good to know why.

Jimmy

Sailor Blue stained my Pelikan demonstrator. This came as a big disappointment because it is my favourite ink.

I have had very good experiences with Sailor Black, Blue, Blue Black, and Gray. My next purchase will be the Brown.

My stalwart daily ink is Sailor Blue Black and it has never given me problems. It is however, thinner in consistancy than most of the other inks I have used