Does anyone know the source of water is for ink manufacturers? Type of water? From where? Treated?

VE Could Tell You, But Zen ve would haf to kill you...

Interesting question... I would think most likely distilled and deionized water for stability

According to Frank, Sheaffer and Parker just used what came out of the local supply.

I think I recall Nathan Tardif writing that he was using triple distilled water. I don't know if he did the triple distillation himself.

Thank you. That's what I was looking for.

The question is moot now. I wanted to know because I was diluting Private Reserve Plum 50:50 with water and wanted to know what kind of water I should use. It's amazing that the color was not changed at all. It seemed to improve the smearing problem (when dry), but after trying this for a while I'm finding that the smearing is there. If I write a list (yes I'm a list person) and fold the paper (well after it's dry) the paper gets an all over tint from. So sad. there is no ink with a color like that plum.

Distilled and deionized....you have to get EVERYTHING out of the water so that you can get as much of the value added dye INTO the water as is possible. Inks made with tap water are cheating the consumer on the dye content....instead of dye the consumer is also buying iron/calcium/copper...etc....all the contaminants found in tap water. Ink that is just "mixed" with tap water...well, write on a paper and let the ink dry completely...run tap water over the ink for 8 seconds....some inks come off in seconds and others come off after 30 seconds up to several minutes. Those that come off in seconds tend to be made with tap water.

So Nathan, is there any chance you could come up with an ink like PR Plum? Except for the smearing.

If you want any ink replicated, send a bottle to the distributor or the company...and we will see what can be done. We prefer vintage inks that are no longer produced by anyone.

We won't copy an existing ink (it is not an original thing to do!), but it's perfectly ok to make a similar color with different properties. Nothing wrong with that! ;-)

As for plum colors...there is burgundy, nightshade, swishmix-burgundy....and a couple UK eternals that will be available in 2 weeks or so.

Beaver is an unusual blue based brown...but some think it is a plum. Another plum I've heard of is a mix highlighter plum of Hellfire & Atlantic Salmon in even parts with Lightning Blue to taste... The reason there is no outright burgundy highlighter ink in the electric ink series is simply that the right brightness and contrast has not yet been obtained in a prototype ink.

Nathan,

What I would really be interested in is a bulletproof red and/or a bulletproof turquoise. Any chances these might be on the near horizon? Thanks.

Inkdesigner

I'll add my vote for a bulletproof (or at least waterproof) red!

Jim

Devil Red at SwisherPens.com is a true red and has been tried and true...people who have used it have generally been more than pleased. It has an image of a Tasmanian Devil on the label...NOT a true devil or "rat" as some have claimed!

Hellbender Red is more akin to a waterproof version of Ottoman Rose, and is also available at SwisherPens.com It has an image of a Tennessee salamander on the label.

There is a new red coming into full distribution at the upcoming Atlanta Pen show that is a bright red - not fire engine - more like a red star when using a large telescope...the red of a fox hunting uniform in Virginia...that kind of red.

A kind of robin's egg fleurescent turquoise blue...with no yellow hints, yet with the look of a turquoise...will be in the UK soon.