Four Common Inks Given the Water Test

[odin]

Hi all,

 

I've just applied the "water test" to four common inks:

 

1. Sheaffer skrip, Blue-Black, round bottle with inkwell

2. Pelikan 4001, Blue-Black

3. Waterman Blue-Black

4. Parker Quink Blue (Washable? I don't remember as I don't have the original bottle anymore)

 

The test was done as follows:

 

1. A carton note card and a normal, light paper for quick notes were used

2. Each ink had its name written a few times on one line (ex. "Parker Parker Parker)

3. The ink was allowed to dry for 15 minutes

4. Each sample was then run under the tap for 30 secs

5. Each sample was soaked in a water-filled plate for 2 hours

6. Results were compared

 

Results:

1. Attached file "Big.jpg" (carton note card):

line 1: Sheaffer

line 2: Parker

line 3: Pelikan

line 4: Waterman

As you can see, Sheaffer did best, followed by Pelikan, whereas Waterman is barely visible with Parker almost totally invisible

 

 

2. Attached file "Small.jpg" (light paper):

line 1: Parker

line 2: Sheaffer

line 3: Waterman

line 4: Pelikan

Results are almost the same as with the sample above

 

 

 

Hope this helps in choosing a water-proof ink!

 

Cheers,

Odin

[CharlieB]

Ummm.... this doesn't really help me much, because your clear winner is an ink no longer commonly available. As I understand it, the Sheaffer that you've described is the out-of-production US-manufactured Skrip ink. The Sheaffer blue black ink currently on the market is manufactured in Slovenia using a totally different chemical formula and is marketed in a bottle shaped like an upside down cone.

[odin]

 

I forgot to add that each ink in the test above comes from a FP that has been exclusively used with the corresponding ink, i.e., each is "pure" and not contaminated by a different ink.

 

Odin

[odin]

CharlieB,

 

You're right about that. Yet, if you are a frequent traveller, I'm sure you'll find plenty of old bottles in pen shops.

 

Anyway, this leaves the Pelikan as a runner-up.

 

Pretty disappointed with the Parker and Waterman, though, as they write beautifully. The Waterman has such a deep and creamy color, it's a shame it won't stand any washing up.

 

Odin

[Viseguy]

The Waterman has such a deep and creamy color, it's a shame it won't stand any washing up.

Thanks for this test. A "before" picture would have made it even more informative. The performance of old Skrip Blue-Black was quite impressive! I'm curious to see what your Waterman B-B sample looked like before the soaking. I've seen Waterman B-B described many ways, but never "deep and creamy". I take it you used a very wet-writing pen?

Edited October 21, 2007 by Viseguy

[odin]

Hi Viseguy,

 

Didn't think of putting a "before" picture, as I thought this would be common knowledge.

 

Yes, the Waterman ink came from a Waterman Expert, medium nib, which draws a very nice, quite dark, thick, creamy line. A joy to write with, really.

 

Cheers,

Odin

[ethernautrix]

Thank you, odin, for the water-testing.

 

Recently, I started using Pelikan Blue-Black, and I really like the color, so it's reassuring to know that while it isn't waterPROOF, it is water-RESISTANT.

 

Thanks again!