Parker Quink Ink Fading Terribly In Just 3 Days!

[bagho]

Hello everyone! Greetings from India.

 

To my utter surprise and disappointment, the much-hyped Parker Quink Ink has failed me miserably. As you can see in the photos, the one written 2 years ago was the manuscript of my book. It was written with a 2013 batch of Blue Parker Quink Ink + Parker Sonnet 18K Fine nib. Although the book has been published, the manuscript has been almost lost.

 

I thought the ink was faulty, and so I got a new 2016 batch of Parker Quink blue from a reputed bookstore chain (to avoid counterfeit ink). This time, I used a Waterman Medium Nib pen. But look! How it faded to nihility in just 3 days!

 

I am so disappointed with Parker Quink. My old Camlin Ink never failed me like this, and my notes from 15 years ago written with Camlin Ink remain as bright as yesterday's!

 

Has anyone faced the same issue? Should I just ditch this overhyped Quink Ink and try finding some Camlin, or is there any other workaround?

 

Thank you!

 

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/baghro/P_20160831_022817_p_zps3bs31oe8.png

 

 

[amberleadavis]

Ditch the Parker and go back to the Camlin.

[bagho]

Ditch the Parker and go back to the Camlin.

But why is this happening? I'm curious to know. I searched the internet and haven't found anyone complaining about this much fading with Quinks.

[pen lady]

Could it be the fault of the paper? Bleach is used to whiten paper pulp during manufacture. Maybe too much bleach was used in the paper you are using? That would be my guess.

[Olya]

All that I have read about Quink leads me to believe that the Washable version is sold in India and in that part of the world, and washable inks tend to fade horribly, esp on paper containing acid. I have exactly that experience with washable inks. I have bought a bottle of Quink Blue (not called permanent anymore, whilst the washable is still called Quink Washable Blue) and have had no fading whatsoever. Only when exposed to direct sunlight did it fade quickly to a grey hue. I bought my bottle in Europe. So if you want to use Quink that does not fade, you'll have to order it from Europe or look for an alternative.

 

My Quink Blue shades and sheens and behaves generally really well. My Quink Washable Blue did the same as yours in the pics above. So again I suppose they sell the washable but don't label it as such.

Edited August 30, 2016 by Olya

[inkstainedruth]

I used to use Quink Permanent Blue in cartridges. But then had trouble getting it in the US -- they just don't sell it here (only Black, Blue-Black, and [Washable] Blue). I tried to order some from an eBay seller in the UK, but they weren't allowed to ship it to here.

Washable Blue is awful -- I've had it fade in a closed journal. The Black is ok -- it's one of the inks I use as a tester ink. But Washable Blue? Ick.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstaineduth

[pajaro]

If you want to write and keep the writing long term, you should use archival supplies. Permanent ink and the right paper. You don't want the paper to deteriorate and more than you want the ink to fade.

Edited August 31, 2016 by pajaro

[Jerome Tarshis]

I used to use Quink Permanent Blue in cartridges. But then had trouble getting it in the US -- they just don't sell it here (only Black, Blue-Black, and [Washable] Blue). I tried to order some from an eBay seller in the UK, but they weren't allowed to ship it to here.

Washable Blue is awful -- I've had it fade in a closed journal. The Black is ok -- it's one of the inks I use as a tester ink. But Washable Blue? Ick.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstaineduth

 

Agreed, washable blue is awful. But Parker does sell permanent blue in cartridges here in the United States. Now, at least. I bought some less than ten days ago in San Francisco.

[tamiya]

I keep around a bottle of Quink Washable, mainly to flush my pens with

 

The recent French stuff does seem to fade a lot faster than old UK/SolvX formula. Just my gutfeel, haven't been bothered by it enough to do any side-by-side experiments yet.

 

Perhaps they skimp on dye, perhaps its the need to be able to work with Ink Eradicator.

[sciumbasci]

Been using Quink black for a long time now. Longer than a bottle of 57ml should last me. It smudges a lot, especially with the faintest sweaty hand and even long after it has dried. But as sort of a shading and cleans extremely well, and does not stain at all! Excellent for the student on the go

 

Ever tried the Blue Black? It fades to a teal green, which is somehow entertaining.

[Tas]

Ditch the Parker and go back to the Camlin.

 

This.

[Olya]

Dye content and erasability are not correlated. Here is a list with inks that can be erased, ie washables, though I think it is not complete. I, and some others, have had also Waterman Serenity Blue fade, which is why I have stopped using any of the inks which can be erased. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/6887-eradicable-inks-and-the-pelikan-super-pirat/?do=findComment&comment=89648

Edited August 31, 2016 by Olya

[ac12]

Some papers cause ink to fade. What happens is as the ink dries, it is sucked into the paper, so there is less dye on the surface of the paper for your eye to see. The less dye in the ink, the lighter it will get.

[DaveBj]

I agree with those who have said that the paper might be at fault. I've used Quink Black for decades, and I've never seen anything like this. Have you tried it on any other paper?

[welch]

I used to use Quink Permanent Blue in cartridges. But then had trouble getting it in the US -- they just don't sell it here (only Black, Blue-Black, and [Washable] Blue). I tried to order some from an eBay seller in the UK, but they weren't allowed to ship it to here.

Washable Blue is awful -- I've had it fade in a closed journal. The Black is ok -- it's one of the inks I use as a tester ink. But Washable Blue? Ick.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstaineduth

 

 

I found the same fading when I tried Quink Washable Blue several years ago. Quink Permanent Blue is fine -- like Waterman blue but more of a purple tinge -- but Parker will not sell it to dealers. Art Browns, the 80 year old pen shop that was in Manhattan, treied to order some Quink Blue, but were told that a US customer could only get some by writing to Parker US. Costs about $15, and Parker sells only one bottle at a time.

[inkstainedruth]

 

 

I found the same fading when I tried Quink Washable Blue several years ago. Quink Permanent Blue is fine -- like Waterman blue but more of a purple tinge -- but Parker will not sell it to dealers. Art Browns, the 80 year old pen shop that was in Manhattan, treied to order some Quink Blue, but were told that a US customer could only get some by writing to Parker US. Costs about $15, and Parker sells only one bottle at a time.

 

Wow. What a colossally stupid way to do business.

Ironically, I read a couple of years ago that in their annual report, Newell-Rubbermaid wrote glowing things about the Parker brand and barely mentioned Waterman. Oh, and as a heads up to the brand, if any corporate execs are currently lurking on FPN? I just bought a backup bottle of Waterman Mysterious Blue. Quink? Not so much. I'd buy Permanent Blue in bottles if they'd sell it. But have little to no interest in Quink Blue-black, and ZERO in Washable Blue.

 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[anakayub]

We have permanent blue sold here, in Malaysia
Got a few reds and greens too

[mitto]

The fault probably is more with the paper than with the ink. I have been using quink for years and have never encountered such an experience with the ink.

Edited September 3, 2016 by mitto

[tamiya]

We have permanent blue sold here, in Malaysia

Got a few reds and greens too

Was back last month & noticed a change in the boxes for the French Quink Black & (I assume Perm) Blue, they had a icon which looks like a sea wave...?

 

Although some Parker displays still have halfused bottles on display - Couldn't find any stock of Red in MY nor SG, only found 1 Green with a newer style box to one bought year before in 2015.

[anakayub]

I think the sea wave is the old Newhaven format...

 

I managed to buy 3 bottles of green and red in AEON at least a year ago to hoard. And I think 2 years back Sogo had them too. Permanent blue/blue black/black are not hard to find.

 

I find the red and green to be just nice for the price and are definitely in regular use. I use GvFC now for my black & blue (more water resistant for work), and I still use the blue black for drafting notes (and a good pen flusher). I haven't shopped for new bottles of ink since switching to GvFC for the other 2 colors (75 ml takes a while to finish).

Washable blue has a light blue label, while permanent blue's label is darker, violet-like (to me at least).