Inky T O D - Must Have Inks

[Zdez Zaphareon]

I've been looking to expand my ink sample collection. Still haven't been compelled to buy another bottle of anything so I'm looking for my next fav ink. Fairly new to the ink addiction, but I just want to know a few inks "I must try". Hope to see you guys suggestions and if you want I can list the few samples I gots in my filthy inky hands

[SujiCorp12345]

Some inks I have loved include:

 

Iroshizuku Kon-peki

Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo

Diamine Chocolate Brown

Diamine Asa Blue

Montblanc Irish Green

Montblanc Toffee Brown

Noodler's (Eel) Blue

Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue

Edited January 5, 2015 by Suji

[Thirston]

The following are my "must try" inks. They're on my wishlist but I won't get full bottles until I've tracked down and tried some samples. Anyone care to help?

 

• Montblanc Toffee Brown
• Iroshizuku Fuyu-Gaki
• Iroshizuku Yama-Budo
• Toucan Bright Green
• Rohrer & Kligner Magenta
• Rohrer & Kligner Alt-Goldgrun

[Green Ink]

Hi! My favorites now are:

 

Iroshizuku Kon-peki and Ku-jaku

Sailor Gentle Yama-dori and Shigure

Diamine Red Dragon

J Herbin Stormy Grey

 

If I could go back and make pen purchases I would be careful to not get inks that are similar. For instance, to my eye, Waterman Inspired Blue and Iroshizuku Kon Peki aren't different enough. I would just get the Kon-peki. Also Pelikan Brown and Ancient Copper are similar. I can see differences, but now I would get inks that are wildly different.

 

Also I can't recommend enough getting samples before you purchase. I'm looking forward to following this thread and hearing what you choose!

Edited January 5, 2015 by Green Ink

[Zdez Zaphareon]

I'll try everything that is worth checking out according to you guys, but ofc some I might not like and some I'll love. I don't want to stagnate and just have my noodler's black and J herbin 1670 rough hematite. I want variety and since I left my gaming hobby, all my pocket exchange will now go to this inky fun :v as of right now I have something close to 40ish ink samples but most are not that compelling to me. Keep them coming

[lgsoltek]

Here are some "popular" inks that I have, from a few brands. Some of them may not be my favourite though, but they have a large number of followers.

Diamine: Red Dragon

J. Herbin: Rouge Hématite, Gris Orage, Lie de thé

Noodler's: Apache Sunset

Iroshizuku: Asa-gao, Kon-peki, Tsuki-yo, Yama-budo

Rohrer & Klingner: Alt-goldgrün, Salix, Scabiosa

Sailor: Yama-dori, Shigure

 

Of course there are many others that are popular but I don't have any experience with, like Diamine's Ancient Copper.

[Davros]

The following are my "must try" inks. They're on my wishlist but I won't get full bottles until I've tracked down and tried some samples. Anyone care to help?

 

 

• Montblanc Toffee Brown
• Iroshizuku Fuyu-Gaki
• Iroshizuku Yama-Budo
• Toucan Bright Green
• Rohrer & Kligner Magenta
• Rohrer & Kligner Alt-Goldgrun

I think Anderson Pens has samples of all those inks.

[Zdez Zaphareon]

Davros, you had some samples didn't you? I'm waiting to get my bills of this month to see how much I got left to spend.

[Amberjack]

Here are a few that I like that might be a little 'off the beaten path' for you.

 

Brown: Waterman Havana (now Absolute) Brown. Yes, I know, it isn't Japanese nor does it come in a fancy bottle with a ribbon and wax seal. But it is a beautiful brown that won't break the bank.

 

Pelikan Edelstein Topaz - Most folks think of an amber color when they think Topaz. Not always the case, as with the state stone of Texas (blue topaz) and this beautiful ink from Pelikan. Worth a look.

 

Noodler's Liberty's Elysium - only available at Goulet I believe. But for a 'factory' blue, this one in my opinion, is the nicest blue to come out since Penman Sapphire.

 

And finally, Noodler's Burma Road Brown - sort of an olive green/olive brown color. This one is a 'V-mail' ink, made to closely match inks made during WW2 for 'victory mail' sent from the homefront to the warfront. You may hate it, or you may develop a likely for it as I have.

 

Good luck in your search!

 

-Jack

[Runnin_Ute]

Diamine: Steel Blue, Classic Red, Sherwood Green, Blue Black

Noodler's: Apache Sunset, 54th Massachusetts

Levenger: Pomegranate

BlackStone: Blue Cashmere, Red Cashmere, Green Cashmere, Black Cashmere

Waterman Serenity Blue (formerly Florida Blue)

[kestrel]

I will second Tsuki-yo, Shin-ryoku, and Yama-budo, especially the latter. All three are lovely colors and very well behaved. I would add Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher which requires a little more attention to cleaning your pen but is worth it. J. Herbin's Violette Pensee is a great purple with a history. The same company's Eclat de Sapphir is a gorgeous blue. Noodler's Ottoman Rose is one of only two inks I hoarded in the event it goes out of production. Penman sapphire is the other and, of course, it IS now out of production. Diamine Bilberry and Ancient Copper are unique. Nobody has mentioned Noodler's Black, a good basic black.

 

Enjoy experimenting.

[aardvarkbark]

I'll add:

 

Diamine Oxblood and Ochre.

[ThePrecursor]

Noodler's Heart of Darkness- Quite possibly one of the best blacks ever

For blues: my must-haves are iroshizuku ama-iro, kon-peki and shin-kai, great shading on all of these.

[ScienceChick]

+1 on PE Topaz; Pelikan 4001 Turquoise is, to my eye, a less expensive alternative

 

Diamine: Marine, Majestic Blue, Syrah, China Blue

Iro: Syo-ro

J. Herbin: Bleu Myosotis, Poussiere de Lune (love the grayed tones to these)

Private Reserve: Ebony Purple

PE: In addition to Topaz - Garnet and Turmaline(!!)

 

Have fun!

[Algester]

Sailor Sou-ten, Sailor Yama-dori (people kill for this ink though)

[Davros]

Davros, you had some samples didn't you? I'm waiting to get my bills of this month to see how much I got left to spend.

I do, but I only have the Fuyugaki out of the ones on your list!

[amberleadavis]

Zdez Zaphareon - this topic is one that we address with different titles, but still should be the Topic O'Day.

 

Inky T O Ds

Inky T O D - What The Heck Is An Inky T O D? Who Picks Them?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/267286-inky-t-o-d-what-the-heck-is-an-inky-t-o-d-who-picks-them/

Inky T O D - Welcome To The Co-Razy Community

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/269818-inky-t-o-d-welcome-to-the-co-razy-community/

 

You might also want to look at these threads:

 

Inky T O D - What Ink Will You Try Next?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/265124-inky-t-o-d-what-ink-will-you-try-next/

Inky T O D - What Would You Buy For The Fpner Who (Theoretically) Has Everything?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/264836-inky-t-o-d-what-would-you-buy-for-the-fpner-who-theoretically-has-everything/

Inky T O D - Inks You Would Buy For A New Fpner.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/264719-inky-t-o-d-inks-you-would-buy-for-a-new-fpner/

Inky T O D - Have You Ever Stopped Using An Ink Because You Are Hoarding It?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/266253-inky-t-o-d-have-you-ever-stopped-using-an-ink-because-you-are-hoarding-it/

 

And this one will really have some info:

Inky T O D - If Your Ink Collection Were Gone Tomorrow, What Would You Buy Again?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/277840-inky-t-o-d-if-your-ink-collection-were-gone-tomorrow-what-would-you-buy-again/

[Zdez Zaphareon]

:') I feel honored to have a T O D, this is the 3rd topic I've made. Btw, I'm writing all down and making a little list so I can decide which ones are the first to get ordered.

[Zdez Zaphareon]

Sailor Sou-ten, Sailor Yama-dori (people kill for this ink though)

do you know where I can get the cherry blossom ink on the first page of your post, it's yamadori I think, not the whole bottle but just samples. Found it =山崎川桜 Yamazakigawa Sakura Edited January 5, 2015 by Zdez Zaphareon

[Rocket1]

Herbin rose cyclamen

Noodler's black Swan in English roses

Herbin stormy grey