If you only had four different inks...

[tomat]

If you only had four different inks which inks could you not live without?

 

I am waiting for my first fountain pen (Lamy Safari), and are contemplating on which ink (colour and brand) to buy.

 

I thought that it would be a good idea to collect the accumulated wisdom and experience of the FPN on which ink is generally considered the most useful on a day to day basis. (I thought of asking about the top three inks, but that would probably make the task of choosing to difficult. With four inks you have the possibility of having more fun than the typical "black", "blue" and "red/green/brown" colour option.)

 

It would also be helpful to know if you have any particular reason to choose a specific colour/brand (e.g. -I need red and green for writing Christmas cards, or -You should always use NN for writing on envelopes because mail men often are red/green colour-blind or -I write in the shower and the waterproof ink from NN is especially suited for this use).

 

I'm looking forward to receiving your help.

Tom

[oya]

I have only 3 inks- blue (Pelikan 4001 royal blue), black (Tinte- 2,85€ for 30ml) and red (Tinte). So I don't really have a dilema (yet).

Other shades I can get by mixing them together.

[tawanda]

I strongly advise you to stick to Idamine inks for now. They are solid reliable inks that do not require high maintenance (like Noodler's and Private Reserve) and they have a massive range of colours. My personal favourites are Diamine Blue-Black, Florida Blue, Damson, and Rustic Brown. Throw in Quartz Black too, for good measure!

 

The great thing aboutt his company is that they offer their inks in small 30 ml plastic bottles so you can try different colours without it being too expensive.(£2.54 per bottle). As far as I know they are the only company to do this.

[Jimmy James]

Private Reserve Midnight Blues

Diamine Majestic Blue

Noodler's Dark Matter (which is a black)

Private Reserve Ebony Green

[lapis]

I advise that you at least get a Herbin, a CdA and a Diamine ink. PR and/or Noodler's next.

As for 4 inks I'd take my 4 favourite colours (of inks):

 

1. Medium Blues: Herbin's Éclat de saphir, CdA's Blue Sky, Florida.

2. Dark blues (and/or blue-blacks): Tanzanite, PR's DC Electric blue, Levenger's Cobalt blue, Herbin's Bleu Nuit, Majestic blue.

3. Reds: Tiananmen, Erdbeertinte, Dakota red, Monaco Red, Skrip red.

4. Greens: Amazon, White Forest, Kelly.

 

Nelly

[tnmike1]

Since I became a recent convert to totally Diamine, using these;

 

Teal

Blue Black

Chocolate Brown (but changing to Rustic)

Sherwood Forest--may replace Teal

 

So if I eliminate Teal, my fourth would be Maroon or Monaco Red

 

Bottom line: I'll have Blue black, a greenish-hue, a brown and a red

[gregamckinney]

My list varies a bit from week to week, but at the moment:

 

Aurora Black

Aurora Blue

Diamine Pumpkin

Diamine Monaco Red

 

Great colors. (Nearly) trouble free inks.

* The pumpkin can leave some crust on nibs of pens with less than airtight caps.

 

Regards, greg

[dannyboy]

I, too, am a fan of Diamine inks. My list would be 1) Diamine Sapphire Blue; 2) Sailor Red-Brown; 3) Diamine Woodland Green; and 4) Herbin Terre de Feu. I'm eager to try Diamine Rustic Brown and it may take 2nd place!

[vans4444]

Diamine Chocolate Brown

Waterman Florida Blue

Diamine Majestic Blue (reserved for wet pens)

Parker (Quink) Washable Black (recent revelation)

[zquilts]

Waterman South Seas Blue

J.Herbin Lierre Sauvage

Stipula Maschiato (sp?) (mossy green)

Noodlers Polar Black

[Hemingway]

Thats a tough one.

Maybe:

-blue: Sailor bbk

-black: R&K black

-green: Noodlers Pushkin

-and: Noodlers Legal Lapis.

 

Peter

[JonDoh]

If I could have only one ink then that would be Waterman's Florida Blue. But, to round out a nice color selection I would add for my four inks, Private Reserve Tropical Blue, Private Reserve Velvet Black and Aurora Blue.

[tknechtel]

Diamine Damson, Diamine Indigo, Waterman Florida Blue, and Sailor Jentle Red-Brown.

[wood]

Sheaffer brown, Sheaffer black, Pelikan purple, Sheaffer blue

 

Yes I have other inks! I can't stand Herbin.

[cfpen]

Only four inks ?

It could be :

- Waterman Purple

- Waterman Havana Brown

- Herbin Orange Indien OR Caran d'Ache Saffron

- Caran d'Ache Amazon

 

Ok it makes five inks but it is too difficult to choose between Orange Indien and Saffron.

[adam11]

Today: Dupont Noire and PR Tanzanite.

Tomorrow: who knows?

[PatientType]

If only four ...

 

Noodler's Manhattan Blackest Black

Private Reserve American Blue

Noodler's Widow Maker

Private Reserve Burgundy Mist

 

But ... I have no intention of being limited to four.

[Yuki Onitsura]

Kind of hard to limit yourself to just 4 inks when there are so many but if I had to pick just four I'd go with:

1. Waterman Florida Blue - my go-to ink. If a pen won't work with this in it, it probably won't ever work.

2. Diamine Sepia - has a nice retro feel to it. Shades very nicely in the wetter nibs too.

3. Diamine Orange - because it's bright and vibrant but not so much that it hurts to read (like some pinks, for example)

4. Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo - nice rich colour and great shading. Probably the nicest ink bottle around too ^^

 

Yuki

[penspouse]

Noodler's Sauguaro Wine

Levenger Gemstone Green

PR DC Supershow Blue

PR Purple Mojo

 

Reasons - Love the colors.

Edited November 10, 2009 by penspouse

[Penman222]

Aurora Blue

Waterman Havana

Mont Blanc Racing Green

Noodler's Black