Same Ink, Different Pens

[Leon]

Why do inks behave differently depending on the pen? I'm not just talking about nibs that write too wet or too dry. I mean inks that look one way in pen X but a different way in pen Y.

 

Example: one of my favorite inks is Noodler's Borealis Black. When I use it in my Lamy Studio (extra fine black nib), the ink is a gorgeous, rich, and--for me--utterly perfect shade of black. But when I use the same ink in my Lamy AL-Star (fine black nib), the ink comes out distinctly lighter and duller on the page. It looks like a different ink entirely.

 

Is this a normal phenomenon (not just for Lamy but in general)? What are some possible reasons for the difference in performance?* I'm curious about the "physics" of what is happening in one pen vs. the other.

 

 

* Just to cover my bases: before the AL-Star was inked with Noodler's Borealis Black, it was inked with Diamine's Red Dragon. In between inks, I gave the AL-Star the standard flush and overnight-dry routine like I always do, so I'm inclined to think the prior presence of Red Dragon is not the explanation for why the Borealis Black looks duller than it should. But I'm open to being shown otherwise.

Edited July 20, 2016 by Leon

[ac12]

Not physics. My guess is the Al-Star is simply writing dryer than the Studio. Adjust the nib on the Al-Star for more flow, and you will get that black you are looking for.

[dcwaites]

1. Wetness of nib (governed by the size of the gap between the tines)

Size of nib - EF nibs tend to write a denser (and therefore richer and darker) line than F or Med. nibs of the same wetness.

Design of nibs - my hooded nibs (Parker 51, Lamy 2000) tend to write a less intense line than open nibs.

[shawndp]

The same can be said of the same pen with different inks. I really hated my Visconti HS with Edelstein, but R&K or Montblanc make it a real star. I have revisited many pens that I didn't love at first with different inks and sometimes have been pleasantly surprised. I am tempted to say it is the physics of ink transmission but a part of me would like to call it "chemistry". In any case, it certain pen and ink combinations work better than others and it is always a good idea to try more than a few before writing off a pen or an ink...

[Bo Bo Olson]

Go to Ink Reviews and look at any of Sandy1's Ink Reviews she uses 4-5 pens & widths on 4-5 papers and often it's hard to believe it's the same ink.

Edited July 21, 2016 by Bo Bo Olson