Noodlers Kung Te-Cheng

[Sharkle]

I don't think you understand what I'm saying. Nathan is practically spelling out that this ink will stain or corrode some pens. It's probably as bad as Baystate Blue in that regard, or worse. I wouldn't use it in any of my pens.

 

12 pack of Heros for $35. Easily replaced after the pen melts and a 50% of a lovely smooth nib.

 

:roflmho: and not a bad suggestion for the hell-bent among us, because this is a fantastic color. Thanks for the review and subsequent info.

 

[tzmcneill]

This is absolutely amazing. BSB comes out and people went out of their way to complain and bash it for staining. Now this new ink comes out with a warning and the first thing people do is ignore the warning, perhaps coming to the conclusion that it really doesn't stain that badly. My guess is that the ink probably contains elements of BSB, hence the warning. Perception is an interesting thing.

 

tom.

[Deirdre]

Maybe it's time to pick up some of the little squeeze-filling Pilots again. (78G?)

[mstone]

This is absolutely amazing. BSB comes out and people went out of their way to complain and bash it for staining. Now this new ink comes out with a warning and the first thing people do is ignore the warning, perhaps coming to the conclusion that it really doesn't stain that badly. My guess is that the ink probably contains elements of BSB, hence the warning. Perception is an interesting thing.

Presumably, that's two distinct sets of people. I use BSB, because I care more about the ink (and the writing) than the pen. Others don't. It takes all kinds to make a world. I also don't use it in a yellow safari. :roflmho:

[Spindrift]

If you’re looking for very inexpensive pens that can be easily sacrificed to dangerous inks, checkout Ebay; I have actually purchased .98 cent Chinese pens that write remarkably well. Just be sure to check the shipping cost before bidding.

[TConnell]

Good Evening!

 

I'd like to add some additional information to my initial impressions of this ink. I have seen NO staining problem. I've filled cartridges, convertors, and the barrels of the supplied "Preppy" pens and I'm happy to say that the ink seems to wash out of them completely. It DOES, however, take a few changes of water to get the residual color flushed away.

 

I can live with that.

 

The pens I used for the initial scanned document have been cleaned and put away. In common with most saturated inks I've used, a short bath in my ultrasonic was needed to get out all the ink.

 

Next, I want to fill a not TOO expensive, steel nib pen with Kung Te-cheng and use it for a week or two to see if any corrosion problems show up.

 

Thanks to everyone for the lively conversations generated herein.

 

Tom Connell

 

P.S.: By the way, I didn't see nib creep on any of the pens I used.

 

 

 

[Empacherguy]

Stain or no stain, I flat out love the color!! Wow! Super rich! And from your scans it doesn't look quite as purpley as Aurora's Blue. It very much reminds me of the cobalt blue around the rim of my Dansk dinner plates - which is to say, Cool! Perhaps I shall pick a sacrificial lamb-pen to try it with - one that won't show the potential stain.

[Possum Hill]

Sorry, Nathan would not say this about his main line of inks, because only risk-addicted people would buy them. It would be a self-defeating business strategy. And only a small quantity of this one was made. So what's so special about the chemical formulation? This is not just another case of CYA.

Not just risk-addicted people, but people who believe either the risk is overstated or the public reaction is hysterical would buy.

 

Nathan might have used the same warning for all his other ink if he'd thought about it.

 

Maybe this new ink will stain some pens and maybe it will clog a few. For me those are trivial risks and the warning is both CYA and brilliant marketing. Just look at all the attention it's getting.

Edited December 16, 2008 by Possum Hill

[El Mocho]

So what's so special about the chemical formulation? This is not just another case of CYA.

 

 

There's something in the label about not feeding the ink after midnight. It probably won't make too much difference.

 

(/kidding)

[dcwaites]

Good Evening!

 

I'd like to add some additional information to my initial impressions of this ink. I have seen NO staining problem. I've filled cartridges, convertors, and the barrels of the supplied "Preppy" pens and I'm happy to say that the ink seems to wash out of them completely. It DOES, however, take a few changes of water to get the residual color flushed away.

 

I can live with that.

 

The pens I used for the initial scanned document have been cleaned and put away. In common with most saturated inks I've used, a short bath in my ultrasonic was needed to get out all the ink.

 

Next, I want to fill a not TOO expensive, steel nib pen with Kung Te-cheng and use it for a week or two to see if any corrosion problems show up.

Thanks to everyone for the lively conversations generated herein.

 

Tom Connell

 

P.S.: By the way, I didn't see nib creep on any of the pens I used.

 

Try this one on eBay from gotoschool888 - 350141193348

 

http://www.yourhomethings.com/gotoschool/fpen/21-0147-A1A7-B.jpg

 

I have a couple of these and while not great writers, they are reliable and are eminently suitable for such testing purposes.

 

You could also pick up 10 Hero 616s, for a starting bid of US$7.xx plus postage, from his site.

 

As usual, not affiliated, just a happy customer. I picked up 3 Jinhao X-450s from him, which are a step up from the Huashilai 3000 in the above link, just for this purpose.

 

 

[Possum Hill]

So what's so special about the chemical formulation? This is not just another case of CYA.

 

 

There's something in the label about not feeding the ink after midnight. It probably won't make too much difference.

 

(/kidding)

I think you're not supposed to WRITE with it after midnight. Then it seizes control of your hand and makes you write soap opera scripts - in Chinese of course.

[Deirdre]

I think you're not supposed to WRITE with it after midnight. Then it seizes control of your hand and makes you write soap opera scripts - in Chinese of course.

So long as it's not Klingon opera....

[dcwaites]

So what's so special about the chemical formulation? This is not just another case of CYA.

 

 

There's something in the label about not feeding the ink after midnight. It probably won't make too much difference.

 

(/kidding)

I think you're not supposed to WRITE with it after midnight. Then it seizes control of your hand and makes you write soap opera scripts - in Chinese of course.

So what ink did H P Lovecraft use?

 

 

[Spindrift]

With regard to the Hero 616, check out the shipping cost. I think you'll find that you pay in shipping, what you save on the purchase price.

[WillSW]

With regard to the Hero 616, check out the shipping cost. I think you'll find that you pay in shipping, what you save on the purchase price.

 

 

May I suggest trying ebay? A dozen 329s from Speerbob is $35 + $7 shipping, so each pen comes to $3.50. The 10-pack of 616s also comes to $3.50 a pen. A Canadian seller has them even cheaper. More than fair for trying an ink that may melt, blow up, shrink, possess, or just make your pen unbearably scratchy with the feeling of writing over doomed souls.

[HerosNSuch]

I don't think you understand what I'm saying. Nathan is practically spelling out that this ink will stain or corrode some pens. It's probably as bad as Baystate Blue in that regard, or worse. I wouldn't use it in any of my pens.

 

 

That's why I keep a few Reform 1745's around. They are good pens, and cheap enough that if I wad one up with an exotic mix or bottle that says, "Caution: may cause pens to implode and create black hole in your desk drawer."

 

I haven't had an implosion to date, but just in case...

[Bug Guy]

That's why I keep a few Reform 1745's around. They are good pens, and cheap enough that if I wad one up with an exotic mix or bottle that says, "Caution: may cause pens to implode and create black hole in your desk drawer."

 

I haven't had an implosion to date, but just in case...

 

 

Two other suggestions. Namiki VP has pretty cheap nib units you can swap out if the ink becomes hostile. You can also use Monteverde Inkball. The nib unit on those are also around $10 in price.

[Stephen-I-am]

Swishers says "This is the STRONGEST of all vintage Emperor/Royal Inks". What does that mean?

 

Stephen

[dashreeve]

whoaaa what a lovely shading with the sailoor music nib!

 

That's exactly what I was thinking!! Now I want to go get the pan AND the ink.

[Jersey Diabolo]

...or just make your pen unbearably scratchy with the feeling of writing over doomed souls.

Poetic. Creepy, but poetic.

 

I'm going to take Nathan at his word on this ink.

 

Inks like this, BSB, and iron galls are like the femme fatales in 1940s movies. Beautiful, dangerous, and unless you're a magician or a dunce, you keep your wits about you or there's gonna be trouble. And when there's trouble, somebody usually gets hurt. Inks like these, they don't respect nice pens. Don't even think about trusting them. Cheap pens, see? A dime a dozen. And remember, keep them and yourself out of hot water. Cool water ...maybe a little ammonia.