Hero Dux 404

[GJMekenkamp]

Hi,

 

Does anyone have experience with Hero inks?

 

More specifically: experience with the Hero Dux 404 ink? See attached images.

 

Looks a lot like the Parker Penman bottle.

 

Will this damage my FP? Are there any other Hero inks that are good/well-behaving?

 

(i'm starting a writing project which requires too much ink to use Akkerman inks etc, cheaper option would be inks from eBay like Hero Inks)

[fabri00]

You can buy large bottles of Pelikan or Pilot ink, if the issue is the cost.

[GJMekenkamp]

You can buy large bottles of Pelikan or Pilot ink, if the issue is the cost.

And the bottle looks awesome , I really like the Parker Penman bottle, and this one looks like it

[sakayume]

Well, it says it's a non-clogging excellent quality ink.

 

... I'd probably buy the large Pelikan or Pilot bottles though.

[GJMekenkamp]

Well, it says it's a non-clogging excellent quality ink.

 

... I'd probably buy the large Pelikan or Pilot bottles though.

That's what they all say (non-clogging excellent quality)

 

I doubt that though, probably will go with other ink, when thinking about it, it doesn't really matter, ink is not that expensive , but sometimes I have to watch out, being a student sucks

[Randal6393]

Have to jump to the defense of Hero pens. I used a Hero black ink a few years ago. The ink was as nice as any I now own, pretty good standard black, just a little on the grey side. Have not used the Dux, but it should be a dependable ink. After all, Hero is the largest maker of fountain pens in the world. We just don't see the major part of their output outside of China. Of course, there are many excellent inks around the world. So if you feel antsy about trying one ... just go on to the next.

 

Enjoy,

[Flaxmoore]

Hi,

 

Does anyone have experience with Hero inks?

 

More specifically: experience with the Hero Dux 404 ink? See attached images.

s-l500 (1).jpg

s-l500 (2).jpg

s-l500.jpg

 

Looks a lot like the Parker Penman bottle.

 

Will this damage my FP? Are there any other Hero inks that are good/well-behaving?

 

(i'm starting a writing project which requires too much ink to use Akkerman inks etc, cheaper option would be inks from eBay like Hero Inks)

 

Hm.

 

Shipping may be problematic- from what I see shipping is 13 bucks, which is to the US. May be lower to the Netherlands.

 

A bottle of plain Diamine Black from Fontoplumo is about 15 EUR shipped, so around 18 cents an ml. You'd likely have it faster, and it's more of a known quantity in terms of what you get.

 

*back of envelope calculations follow*

 

I wrote my Master's thesis by hand- about 120 pages handwritten, 60 typed single-spaced. Include all my notes and work besides it, say I put in 500 pages.

 

In my Metropolitan, a cartridge fill, so roughly an ml, lasts for roughly 10 pages. The whole thing would thus have been about 50ml of ink, say 75 just for a little leeway.

 

For the Diamine, that's about $13.50 for ink. Using the Noodler's I did, it would have been about $12.50. Using the cheapest ink I have, a gargantuan bottle of Pilot Blue-black I got for $27 at 350ml, about $6.

 

Personally I'd go for a big name, but something you can get locally. I understand Hero makes a lot of ink, but I'd want a known quantity in mine.

[basterma]

I am in China and this ink is everywhere. I have been using their blue black ink for almost two years and it is a great ink. I don't obsess about ink, so my standards may be less stringent than others posting about inks, but I have had no issues with it so far.

[GJMekenkamp]

 

Hm.

 

Shipping may be problematic- from what I see shipping is 13 bucks, which is to the US. May be lower to the Netherlands.

 

A bottle of plain Diamine Black from Fontoplumo is about 15 EUR shipped, so around 18 cents an ml. You'd likely have it faster, and it's more of a known quantity in terms of what you get.

 

*back of envelope calculations follow*

 

I wrote my Master's thesis by hand- about 120 pages handwritten, 60 typed single-spaced. Include all my notes and work besides it, say I put in 500 pages.

 

In my Metropolitan, a cartridge fill, so roughly an ml, lasts for roughly 10 pages. The whole thing would thus have been about 50ml of ink, say 75 just for a little leeway.

 

For the Diamine, that's about $13.50 for ink. Using the Noodler's I did, it would have been about $12.50. Using the cheapest ink I have, a gargantuan bottle of Pilot Blue-black I got for $27 at 350ml, about $6.

 

Personally I'd go for a big name, but something you can get locally. I understand Hero makes a lot of ink, but I'd want a known quantity in mine.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hero-Dux-50ml-404-Ink-Fountain-Pen-Ink-Writing-Ink-Black-High-Quality-NEW-/172128550869?hash=item2813a93fd5:g:-IcAAOSwhkRWeotY

 

This one is 6.99 + 0.49 shipping costs (at least in NL)

 

Yeah, I probably will go for a more well-known brand

[GJMekenkamp]

Found the 440 to be like a real replicate of PP

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/295313-hero-super-ink-black/

Yeah, this one is not going to be bought by me.

Edited April 1, 2016 by GJMekenkamp

[Flaxmoore]

Sounds even worse than PP- those would at least function.

[hankosaurus]

Hello Forum.

 

I have been using Hero Dux 404 black ink for most of a year in a number of pens from Montblanc, Waterman, Cross, Jinhao, Hero, and Baoer. I like it so much that I got several extra bottles to have on hand. In terms of opacity and tone, I find it to be as agreeable as any black ink I have ever used. I have used Parker, Sheaffer, Montblanc, and Camel black inks also. No clogging so far. I flush my pens out after every several fillings.

 

[OCArt]

Hello Forum.

 

I have been using Hero Dux 404 black ink for most of a year .....

 

 

Hi Henry, does the bottle have the little plastic insert that makes filling from a near empty bottle possible? (Sorry I can't seem to think of a better way to describe it.) Thanks!

Edited November 30, 2016 by OCArt

[hankosaurus]

"Hi Henry, does the bottle have the little plastic insert that makes filling from a near empty bottle possible?"

 

Hello OCArt.

 

I apologize for not responding to your question when asked. I just now stumbled across this thread again after years. The Dux 404 glass bottle does not have one of those devices you mentioned. I know exactly what you are speaking of, as some of my old ink bottles have that.

 

I came back to give an update on my experience with Dux 404 (Hero) black ink. I bought some in about 2015 and it seemed to work very well. But now, in late 2018, that same ink seems to be solidifying in the bottle a bit. It is no longer smooth on the bottle wall, having an appearance that reminds one of buttermilk film in a glass. Moreover, I think it is clogging the several pens I had loaded with it recently. They are skippy, and slow-starting. A rinse out and reload did not fix the problem. Changing to an altogether different ink made the problem go away.

 

I am concluding that Dux 404 such as I received has a limited shelf life. So, I'm throwing out my supply of Dux 404. and now I am on the lookout for a good black ink that can stay in the bottle without degradation for years, and which will not clog my pens if the ink stays in them for months.