Tsuki Yo Or Blue Steel(S)

November 21, 2017

Hello All (again),

These posts are getting closer and closer together. I must have papers I need to grade. Anyway, the latest ink obsession to come my way is the world of Turquoise/Teal inks. I know those are different colors, but it seems to me that there's a range between them that is quite interesting. I have what seem to me to be bookends--Robert Oster's Fire and Ice and Sailor Yama Dori. A couple inks that seem to fall in between those two might be (from internet images) Iroshizuku Tsuki Yo and Noodler's Blue Steel. There's also a De Atramentis Steel Blue that seems to fall somewhere in that vicinity, but is not as close (to my eye) as the previously mentioned two. So I'm looking for advice. I've watched reviews of Tsuki Yo and Noodler's (D) Blue Steel and know some basics. I'm inclined to the Blue Steel option because one of our foremost ink authorities here describes it as "fuss-free." That's useful to me, as I'm left-handed and some fussy inks can be problems (I think De Atramentis Steel Blue might have some of these issues). I also write a lot on cheap paper--at least when I'm grading. Suggestions?

November 22, 2017

I don't have first hand experience with either of the Steel Blues, but I routinely use Tsuki Yo; it is a favorite and certainly qualifies as fuss-free. Another option in this group is Sailor Sei Boku. It is a lovely color, well behaved, and permanent. Some people worry about the fact that it is a pigment ink, but I have never had an issue with it in a huge variety of pens, more than one left for months.

ETA: I used both of these in my teaching days. Sei-boku can handle anything less aweful tgan facial tissue. Tsuki Yo is a bit more picky, but will still be fine on bad paper as long as you're using a fine nib.

Edited November 22, 2017 by displacermoose

November 22, 2017

Thanks for the thoughts. How would you describe the color of Tsuyki-yo? I know Sei Boku is usually characterized as a blue-black, which is a color range I've never really found myself in. Does this conversation move us into that category? I know, oddly enough, whenever I google Noodler's Blue Steel, Noodler's Blue-Black always pops up. I've often wondered if google is somehow intuiting that they are similar inks (perhaps I'm giving them too much credit).

November 22, 2017

I don't think of Sei-boku as blue black. It is marketed that way, but it fits in with dark-medium blue in my mental colorscape. Both it and Tsuki Yo have lots of color (and they are quite similar); they are dark and strong but not greyed or subdued. When I think blue black I think of Pilot blue black which is one of the most boring inks on the planet. But honestly, the category of blue black is not well defined.

November 22, 2017

In my somewhat limited experience with Tsuki Yo (a sample) I would call it a blue black. Some good turquoise/teal like inks Diamine Steel Blue, KWZI Iron Gall Turquoise, Lamy Pacific among others.

November 22, 2017

Noodlers Blue Steel is exclusive to Dromgooles. It is a most wonderful ink. Their Bluebonnet is also just as wonderful.

November 22, 2017

I will keep my eye on Sei Boku then. I have tried KWZ IG Turquoise and like it, but I don't trust IG inks all that much. Specifically, I don't know how long I have with a bottle (or even a sample) before the ink changes color and becomes hard to get through the pen. I haven't tried Lamy Pacific or Diamine Steel Blue, but will add them to the list. The difficulty I see with these two is that they look kinda light for my taste. I could be wrong about that. It's hard for me to gauge Pacific Blue from the pictures. I know that Brian Goulet recommends Lamy Turquoise. Are they basically the same ink? Or slightly different? I tend to have a hard time liking light inks. Fire and Ice is about as light as I can tolerate in the blue range, and I don't think it's that light. I actually love that ink, though. Blue Steel and Bluebonnet are both on my radar, even if I can only get them from one store in Texas. I've heard some say that Bluebonnet is lighter than Blue Steel. I've also heard some say that they look quite similar. To me, it almost looks like Bluebonnet is more of a true blue, while Blue Steel treads that teal line, but again, I'm just looking at pictures.

November 22, 2017

I will keep my eye on Sei Boku then. I have tried KWZ IG Turquoise and like it, but I don't trust IG inks all that much. Specifically, I don't know how long I have with a bottle (or even a sample) before the ink changes color and becomes hard to get through the pen. I haven't tried Lamy Pacific or Diamine Steel Blue, but will add them to the list. The difficulty I see with these two is that they look kinda light for my taste. I could be wrong about that. It's hard for me to gauge Pacific Blue from the pictures. I know that Brian Goulet recommends Lamy Turquoise. Are they basically the same ink? Or slightly different? I tend to have a hard time liking light inks. Fire and Ice is about as light as I can tolerate in the blue range, and I don't think it's that light. I actually love that ink, though. Blue Steel and Bluebonnet are both on my radar, even if I can only get them from one store in Texas. I've heard some say that Bluebonnet is lighter than Blue Steel. I've also heard some say that they look quite similar. To me, it almost looks like Bluebonnet is more of a true blue, while Blue Steel treads that teal line, but again, I'm just looking at pictures.

I have heard that Lamy Turquoise and Pacific are the same, and if not very close. (I never tried Turquoise and then bought Pacific) My bottle of IG Turquoise is 2-3 years old I would guess. No problems yet.