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Tintenlabor Tannenwald Ink Review # 227 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall inks. What differentiates these inks from other brands is that the iron content is clearly stated. The highest iron content in the range is 6 g/L, and the lowest is 1 g/L. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. Tannenwald is a 4 g/L ink. It is a wet, lubricated ink, grass/apple green (when wet) and oxidizes to dark green or black depending on wetness and the amount applied. It has excellent water resistance: the more the ink cures, the more waterproof it becomes. It dried up in the Ahab, which has the worst seal in the history of pens. The moral of the story use a pen with a good seal or use one regularly. Cleaning was surprisingly easy after a month in a Kaweco. As a safety measure I add a pure pinch of ascorbic acid to the pen jacuzzi. It was much easier to clean than some staining inks. Never use ammonia-based pen cleaning solutions with iron gall inks in the initial cleaning. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Quotes: Quotations are given in English translation; wording may vary between editions and translators. 1. “What has once been thought can never be unthought.” — Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Swiss writer 2. “Nature never deceives us; it is we who deceive ourselves. — Gottfried Keller 3. “Every landscape is a state of the soul.” — Henri-Frédéric Amiel, Swiss philosopher 4. “Nature does not belong to us; we belong to it.” — attribution uncertain 5. “The earth does not belong to us; it is we who belong to the earth, and we pass.” — Charles Ferdinand Ramuz, Swiss writer Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Note 1: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews. Note 2: The scan was taken immediately after writing. The oxidization is slower on these papers, but it’ll happen in 24 hours. Hammermill 20lb Wet ink (photos) 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Photos were taken a month later. Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20 lb copy paper Closeup Photos were taken a month later. 🔍 Comparison Col-O-ring. Scans are approximative. I have no colour similar to this one. --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Eternal Sunset of the Spotless Mind Inktober52: Sunshine. I made a draft of the last Inktober52 prompt with my Cat & Mouse theme. As it is with iron gall inks, they oxidize from their base colour to different degrees of darkness, depending on the ink application. Hence, it forced me to go beyond conventional art and dig deeper into the psyche and explore. The process was liberating. Tintenlabor Rothorn (red base), Tannenwald (green base) and a mystery ink in development, Uniball Signo White Gel pen, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. Brumes de souvenir (Mists of Memory) Miniature Tintenlabor Tannenwald iron gall ink, Hosia Ink Studio An Nang, Talens Square Sketchbook. Someone to care for My cat was sitting on my lap; I did a quick sketch and voilà. Tintenlabor Tannenwald (dark green), Rothorn(red-burgundy) iron gall inks, Signo Uniball White gel pen, Talens Mixed Media. I Love you with your fir! Inspired by the name Tintenlabor Tannenwald (fir forest), I incorporated conifers into the tabby’s pattern. Tintenlabor Tannenwald, Jacques Herbin Diamant Bleu, Noodler’s Eel Rattler’s Red, Uni-ball Signo, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco(EF/F/M/B/BB/stub 1.1, 1.9), Noodler’s Ahab with FPR Ultra-flex. - What I Liked: Water resistance. Drawing, dark green colour. - What I Did Not Like: Nothing much. - Writing Experience: This is rock solid iron gall ink. - Pros: Dark classy colour. Waterproof. - Cons: Tariffs might apply as it’s only available from Tintenlabor website in Switzerland. Shipping is fast. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Excellent. - Ghosting: A bit on copy paper. - Bleed Through: Only with BB and wet flex nib on copy paper. - Flow Rate: Average. - Lubrication: Good. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: I used it in Kaweco for a month with no problem. - Saturation: Deliciously dark. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: It’s possible. - Staining (Pen): The green dye stained the Pilot Kakuno’s section. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Surprisingly easy. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottles directly from the Tintenlabor website. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/tannenwald --- 💬 Closing A very solid ink from Tintenlabor. It evokes the melancholy of coniferous forest in fall and winter. If you love green-blacks, want something waterproof and have a well-sealed pen this ink is great candidate. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor Rothorn Ink Review # 224 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall inks. What differentiates these inks from other brands is that the iron content is clearly stated. The highest iron content in the range is 6 g/L, and the lowest is 1 g/L. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. Rothorn is a German term that translates to “Red Peak” and is commonly used as a name for various mountain summits in the Alps. Rothorn has an iron content of 4 g/L. It is a wet, well-lubricated ink: bright red when wet, oxidizing into a dark burgundy or red-black depending on nib size and paper. It has good water resistance; the more the ink cures, the more waterproof it becomes. Oxidation is immediate on Iroful paper, and slower on Midori and Tomoe River 68 gsm paper. The ink is very well-behaved on copy paper. As a writing ink, Rothorn shines with wider nibs. As a drawing ink, it requires more time to cure than Basalt when used for line work. For cleaning, it is best to add a small pinch of pure ascorbic acid to water. Never use ammonia-based cleaners with iron gall inks. I’ve been impressed by these newly formulated inks, which offer excellent lubrication and wetness. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews. Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20 lb copy paper Wet ink Closeup – A month later. 🔍 Comparison Col-O-ring. Scans are approximative. --- 💧 Water Test Note how water resistance improves after 48 hours. --- 🎨 Artwork Rothorn Cat and mouse are present but in rock formations Mouse knows best! Jacques Herbin Gris Galet, Tintenlabor Rothorn, Monteverde Caribbean Blue, Pelikan Edelstein Apricot Achat, Talens Mixed Media Square Sketchbook. The Red Horn Incident! Inspired by my own linguistic mishap of Rothorn, which I first read as Red Horn. 😁 Kattr the Red Horn warrior attacked Rothorn, offended that his illustrious name was being misused. There could be only one strongman worthy of such a title. But when the Alpenhorns blared from the mountains that bore this name, Mús the Magus said dryly, “You should have studied linguistics before pillaging.” Tintenlabor Rothorn & Tannenwald (green), J. Herbin Bleu Calanque, Uni-ball Signo White Gel, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.9), Osmiroid Copperplate nib. - What I Liked: Lovely oxidized colour. Excellent drawing ink. - What I Did Not Like: Needs more time to become waterproof. - What Some Might Not Like: Fear of IG ink; Using it in expensive pens. - Writing Experience: Excellent. - Pros: Waterproof, retains colour, well-lubricated. - Cons: Tariffs for some countries. Not wildly distributed. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Excellent. - Ghosting: Very faint. - Bleed Through: Faint. - Flow Rate: Average. - Lubrication: Excellent. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Very good. But needs a well-sealed pen. - Saturation: Deliciously saturated. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Relatively easy. A pinch of ascorbic acid can help. - Water Resistance: Very good after 24 hours, won’t budge after 48. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottle from Tintenlabor website: https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/rothorn --- 💬 Closing I have been using and testing a lot of iron gall inks in 2025. What I’ve learned is that these inks are suited for those who use pens that are well-sealed, can be easily dismantled and use them regularly. I still don’t get tired of the colour transformation. These inks give a new meaning to the expression, watching ink dry. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor Basalt Ink Review # 220 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that the iron content is disclosed. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. Basalt is a grey-purple ink that oxidizes into a dark grey. It has a 4 g/L iron content. The highest iron content is 6 g/L and the lowest is 1 g/L. I’ve had the privilege of testing many versions of this ink and appreciate the work that goes into developing it, so I may be biased. Ink has excellent lubrication with a caveat. For example, it was cushiony with an EEF Osmiroid Copperplate nib, but slightly scratchy with a Kaweco EF nib. However, with a light touch, the Kaweco EF resistance went away. It is ironic, as the Copperplate nib is needle-nosed with minimal tipping. As it uses the same stabilizing base purple as other Tintenlabor inks, there’s the possibility that this ink will have a longer shelf-life than other iron gall inks. This is one of the best inks for copy paper. Ghosting is faint and there’s minimal bleed-through with only BB, 1.9 nibs. It’s best to use iron gall inks in well-sealed pens that are used regularly and can be taken apart. Cleaning was simple. A few flushes and the pens were clean. However, as I test and review many inks, I added a pinch of pure ascorbic acid powder in the water and then ran it through the pen jacuzzi (ultrasonic cleaner). Never use ammonia-based cleaners with iron gall inks. After having used many pigments, iron gall, shimmer, and dye inks, I can say that the most difficult pens to clean are those with a fixed feed, combined with heavy dyes (purple, pink, blurple) and not IG or pigment inks, so if you’re afraid of IG inks bear this in mind. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) 1. “The stones of the earth speak slowly.” — Willa Cather (1873–1947), American novelist. 2. “Geology gives us the story of time written in stone.” — Victor Goldschmidt (1888–1947), Swiss–Norwegian mineralogist; pioneer of modern geochemistry. 3. “Nothing is built on stone; all is built on sand—except our need for stone.” — Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986), Argentine writer and poet. 4. “What we call chaos is just patterns we haven’t recognized yet.” — Douglas Adams (1952–2001), British novelist. 5. “Stone is more eternal than any human work carved upon it.” — André Malraux (1901–1976), French novelist and art theorist. Rhodia / Iroful Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews. I made a mistake with the Borges quote and had to correct it digitally. Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb No scan of the back side of the page. No show-through and minimal bleed-through with very wet pen at parts only. 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Wet ink Closeup after oxidation While not visible in photos, the purple tinge is visible to the naked eyes. 🔍 Comparison Col-O-ring. Scans are approximative. --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Bliss Inspired by a photo of cat by a dear friend. 🙏 Talens Mixed Media Square Pocket Notebook. The Lady and the Hummingbird A nostalgic piece inspired by the myth of Huitzilopochtli, The Aztec god, who returns fallen warriors as hummingbirds to their lovers... Note the beauty of Jacques Herbin inks in contrast and the purple hue of Basalt in washes. Tintenlabor Basalt, Jacques Herbin Rouge Amarante & Vert Cactus. Uniball Signo White Gel pen, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. Gangham Style Party! I've been working on this for some time, playing with different shades of grey. Note how with the wash technique I exposed Diamine Earl Grey’s purple, whereas I kept Basalt’s purple undertones in check by letting it oxidize. Before Cat got to know Mouse, she was a K-pop backup dancer! Tintenlabor Basalt iron gall ink (black), Diamine Earl Grey (purple), Jacques Herbin Gris Galet (background), Lennon Tool Bar Cat General, Pelikan Edelstein Apricot Achat, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. --- - Pens Used: Osmiroid EEF Copperplate flex, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1). - What I Liked: Gorgeous color wet, elegant when oxidizes, waterproof, sketching. - What I Did Not Like: Writing with EF Kaweco nib. - What Some Might Not Like: Iron gall ink. Maintenance. - Writing Experience: Excellent. - Pros: Gorgeous dark purple-grey, well-lubricated, excellent on copy paper. - Cons: Tariffs. It might seem boring for writing on good paper. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Yes. - Ghosting: No. - Bleed Through: None, or very faint on copy paper. - Flow Rate: Wet. - Lubrication: Excellent. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Excellent. - Saturation: Oxidized to a lovely dark grey, black depending on paper. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): No. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Easy, unless forgotten in pen. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - Available directly from the vendor in 30 or 50 ml bottles. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/basalt --- 💬 Closing This ink has been an eye-opener. Maybe because I went through many variations of it and used it both for writing & drawing. If you’re looking for a dark grey-black ink that can handle different types of paper, this could be the one. For those of you who love sketching and drawing, this ink can bring a different flair to your work. It oxidizes quickly on most papers and in washes, one can extract the lovely nostalgic purple from the grey. I was sorry to let this go and hop on to the next review. It is ironic that I who disliked dark greys, have been using and reusing this ink immoderately. Drawing and sketching give a different meaning to fountain pen inks. If, however, you tend to forget your inks in your pens, this ink is not for you. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Well, I suppose this is also something of an introduction, as it’s my first post to the forum after lurking awhile. So I might as well give a little background. I’m an artist, and I’ve used dip pens for most of my adult life. I had an old LAMY Safari Vista lying around, and rediscovered it recently. It had been loaded with Noodler’s Walnut, so I can now attest that you can leave a LAMY filled with Noodler’s Walnut for over 8 years and not have a clogging problem, not that I’d advise doing this. Anyway, more pertinent to the titular question: I am essentially new to fountain pens and their inks, and new to journaling with a fountain pen. I am also a sucker for anything coffee related. I am interested in the KWZ ink “It Smells Like Coffee”. But I cannot seem to discover exactly what type of ink it is. Is it iron gall? Pigment? Dye based? Then, I have follow-up questions. What are the archival implications for journaling with an iron gall ink, vs. a pigment or dye based ink? I use a LAMY F nib. Clearly allowing the Noodler’s Walnut to just sit about in there for years on end did not do anything nefarious to the pen, but if I lapsed like this with another type of ink, would there be heck to pay? How long does an unused but filled pen (LAMY if you want particulars, because it’s all I have) have before trouble starts? What is the best choice for keeping a journal acid-free/archival? Thanks so much - like I said, I’ve been lurking. I’ve been impressed with the forum… from the kind and informative answers, to the well thought out “Start Here” thread. I haven’t been terribly successful using the search engine, so I apologize in advance if my KWZ ink question in particular has been asked before.

Tintenlabor – Blausee Ink Review # 211 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall inks. What differentiates this brand is that it discloses the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the ink-Meister, David. The inks have been streamlined, with the current lineup reflecting a more focused selection of colours and iron contents. Blausee has a 4 g/L iron content. The highest iron content is 6 g/L (Goldrausch) and lowest is 1 g/L (Alpstein). It is named after the lake Blausee (Blue Lake) in Switzerland with turquoise water. Blausee writes turquoise and oxidizes to a blue-black or black (Noodler’s Ahab with an ebonite feed, fitted with a FPR Ultra-flex nib) depending on the wetness of pen. The latter combo can bleed through copy paper and even other decent papers. However, for those of us who doodle, the same combo is fantastic for creating black lines. Ink is wet but has slightly-to-below-average lubrication, depending on the pen/ nib combo. You can see the oxidation process in the video below. Note, as the ink has been more than 2 weeks in the pen barrel, it has oxidized slightly compared to the photos below. Cleaning: For my peace of mind, I went with a pinch of pure ascorbic acid in the pen jacuzzi. The pens and their parts were happy. Never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Photos were taken under artificial (LED) lights. Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20lb Oxidation and closeup: Note the wetness of ink with the flex nib on the bottom right image. 🔍 Comparison It's difficult to capture the depth of the ink. I took photos and scan this time. Ink is almost identical to Noodler's Pasternak. You can see how the scan is misleading. --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Inktober - Day 22 - Button When told that his whiskers were crooked, Captain Chatssard buttoned up his jacket, grabbed his pistol, and ignoring Princess Myshchovaka’s dramatic fainting , defended the honour of his whiskers. Costume: Tintenlabor Blausee (Blue), Basalt) dark grey) iron gall ink, J Herbin Corail des Tropique, Pebeo Gold marker Background: Diamine Grey, Uniball Signo white gell pen, Staedtler Green pen Talens Mixed Media Notebook Inktober - Day 28 – Skeletal Inspired by The Dead Lovers by an anonymous German painter, 1470, mixed with members of the carrion fraternity who while despised by many, clean and purify nature. Uniball Signo white gel pen. I took photos to show off the oxidation and creative process. Inktober - Day 27 - Onion (Twist) A square took a free spirit to a diner, not knowing that she would launch the hula-hoop craze in the 50s and change his life forever. Diamine Grey, Tintenlabor Echinacea, Blausee (iron gall inks), Uniball Signo White Gel pen. Pebeo metalliic marker Red, Talens Mixed Media. Blausee is the little diamond patterns. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco Sport (EF/F/B/Stub 1.9), Lamy Safari M, Noodler’s Ahab, FPR Super-flex. - What I Liked: Colour, writing, drawing, ink washes, water resistance. Drawing with a flex nib. - What I Did Not Like: Writing with a very wet pen can be both a joy and pain. Choose your paper wisely. - Writing Experience: Lovely with most nibs, even flex, though dry times were long. (too much ink) which oxidizes to black. - Pros: Lovely colour when wet, works well with most paper pen combos. Water resistant. - Cons: Not suited for vegetal resin Ahab barrels. If you eyedrop a pen, ink can oxidize in the barrel. Ink becomes blue-black or blue. Needs strict cleaning regiment for peace of mind. There might be tariffs for some. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Lovely. - Ghosting: Yes, with very wet pens. - Bleed Through: Same as above. - Flow Rate: Wet. - Lubrication: below average to good, depending on nib size and pen, - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Very Good. - Saturation: Gorgeous. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Yes, with a flex nib on copy paper. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): Yes, on Ahab’s barrel, none on Kaweco’s. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: It’s an iron gall ink. - Water Resistance: Very good. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottles, directly from Tintenlabor. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/blausee --- 💬 Closing I have been wowed by the evolution of Tintenlabor inks. This new series have surprised me by their quality and performance. After using this ink for a month, I have enjoyed using it. However, my favorites remain Schokolade & Echinacea. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor – Schokolade (Chocolate) Ink Review # 205 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that you would know the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. The inks have been streamlined and now comprises a few new colours. Chocolate has a 4 g/L per liter iron content. The highest iron content is 6 g/L (goldrausch) and lowest is 1 g/L (alpstein). Ink writes like a reddish hot chocolate and oxidizes to dark brown or black. You can see the oxidation process here with a Jinhao fude nib. (Quote is by Oscar Wilde). Ink is wet and was excellent with most nibs. I won’t recommend ebonite feed, flex nib combo for writing, especially on cheap papers. Too much ink on bad paper spells disaster. However, the same combo is fantastic on watercolor/ mixed media papers for drawing. Cleaning: I used three pens for this month-long experiment: a Kaweco Sport, an Ahab (both eyedroppered), and a Pilot Kakuno. I cleaned with a touch of pure ascorbic powder dissolved in water, using the pen jacuzzi. The Ahab’s barrel was full of iron oxide. Surprisingly, when I rinsed the Kaweco barrel under tap water, it came out clean. After half a day of soaking, the feed was spotless too. Since I was about to fill the barrel with another IG ink, I didn’t bother repeating the ascorbic acid / pen jacuzzi routine for the Kaweco. I assume the resin barrel of the Ahab reacted with the ink, while the Kaweco’s plastic barrel did not. It seems Ahab’s vegetal resin barrel is more reactive and prone to iron oxide deposits, while the ABS plastic of the Kaweco s chemically more resistant, rinsing clean with little effort. Never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. After using this ink for a month, I can say this ink has become one of my favorite, especially for artwork, when one can play with different dynamics by diluting the ink. --- 🧪 Chroma Just wow! --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20lb Oxidation and closeup: 🔍 Comparison --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Tower of Silence Inktober yearlong challenge 2025: Tomb, Other inks used: Tintenlabor Alpstein, Mood Tape Grand African – Paper is Talens Mixed Media for all drawings. I ate your mouse! My cat brought a live mouse indoors to play with. Rest assured, I caught the mouse and saved it. So, I had to draw my cat, Wednesday Addams style. Inktober challenge 2025: Day 2: Weave Once upon a time a princess’ kitty is banished for refusing to eat a mouse. The princess orders a carpet be woven from her luxurious hair, as she mourns. Thus, punishing her cruel father, the King, who wishes to marry her off. When the carpet is finished, she cuts her hair and flees the confines of the palace to join her kitty in exile. J Herbin Corail des Tropiques / J Herbin Gris Nuage, De Atramentis Document Cyan/ Turquoise mix, Van Dieman's Here Kitty Kitty. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco Sport (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.9) , Ahab with FPR Super-flex. - What I Liked: Colour, writing, drawing, ink washes, water resistance. Drawing with a flex nib. - What I Did Not Like: Writing with a flex nib. - Writing Experience: Lovely with most nibs, not so with flex, because of wetness, long dry times (too much ink). - Pros: Lovely colour, wet, well lubricated, maintains brown after a month. - Cons: Not suited for vegetal resin Ahab barrels. There might be tariffs for some. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Lovely. - Ghosting: Faint. See below. - Bleed Through: Yes, with very wet pens. - Flow Rate: Wet - Lubrication: below average to good, depending on nib size and pen, - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Very Good. - Saturation: Gorgeous. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Only with a very wet flex pen. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): Yes, on Ahab’s barrel, none on Kaweco’s. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Moderately easy with Kaweco, needed ascorbic acid for Ahab barrel. - Water Resistance: Very good. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottles, directly from Tintenlabor. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/schokolade --- 💬 Closing I have been wowed by the evolution of Tintenlabor inks. The new series have surprised me by their quality, performance and behaviour. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor - Alpstein Ink Review # 200 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that you would know the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister David. Alpstein is an ink for the iron gall weary. It has only 1 g/L of iron content, compared to the 3/4/5/6 g/L for other inks. It mimics the limestone peaks of Alpstein mountain range in northeastern Switzerland. It has a dry flow, below average lubrication and it would benefit either from a wet pen or soft nib. Ink is pencil grey. It had difficulty to keep up with the wet ebonite feed from the Karas Customs with a very wet feed from FPnibs. But over time the flow adjusted. I used two barrel fulls of inks. If there’s oxidation, it’s faint. Ink is water resistant but not waterproof. It needs a right pen, paper to shine. Cleaning was easy, a few flushes and voilà. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 🔍 Comparison --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Punk Inktober yearlong challenge 2025, I interpreted punk in the sense of late 1940s and 50s. More specifically from The Wild One with Marlon Brando, and then added a modern twist to it with my cat & mouse theme (graffiti]. Ink is Tintenlabor Alpstein 4 Artist Silver marker and Red Sharpie Bus stop Inspired by inverted ink bottle as a bench with my cat & mouse theme. There’s a nod to Montblanc 146 (bus line number) and Alpstein mountain range. Tintenlabor Alpstein, Schokolade (Brown Black), Moodtape Grand African (Green) and FaberCastel blue Water colour crayon, Talens Mixed Media paper. Me & My Guy! A playful ink drawing inspired by the 1930s song “For Me and My Gal.” The title came after the drawing, flipping “gal” to “guy” for a lighter twist. Note the gorgeous colour variations when applied liberally. Tintenlabor Alpstein, Talens Mixed Media notebook. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.9) , Karas Vertex FPnibs full flex ebonite extra wet feed. - What I Liked: Doing ink washes. Chroma and sketching. - What I Did Not Like: dry flow and paleness. - What Some Might Not Like: It’s a pale grey, not wet, not lubricated. - Writing Experience: Meh! I would say, it’s best on a Peter Pauper style paper. - Pros: Great ink for artist. And sketching. - Cons: dry flow. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Yes - Ghosting: A bit o.n copy paper. - Bleed Through: As above. - Flow Rate: Dry - Lubrication: Below average but not scratchy. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Ok - Saturation: Pale - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): No. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Easy - Water Resistance: Good. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottles. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/alpstein Note: Postal restrictions may affect shipping to certain countries, including the US. --- 💬 Closing I can’t say I was wowed by this colour for writing, however, the artist in me was wowed with the gorgeous grey washes. This is great ink for monochromatic drawing. It’s also a great ink, for those who want to use Iron gall inks but are weary of the cleaning process. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor goldrausch – “Gold Rush” (formerly Gold Black) Ink Review # 198 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall inks. What separates this brand from similar ones is that the iron content is disclosed. In this case, 6 g/L, which is the highest. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. This is my favorite Tintenlabor ink; it’s unique and fun to use. It starts as gold, then oxidizes to a gorgeous dark brown with lovely shading, or to a glossy black, depending on the wetness of the pen. With a very wet Ahab, it could bleed through some papers, yet in a Lamy Safari it was fantastic, the same with the Kakuno. After a month, I was sorry to say adieu. Cleaning is much easier than with other IG inks. After rinsing overnight, there was a black residue inside all sections, which I removed with a Q-tip. I still gave it a diluted ascorbic acid “special treatment” in the pen jacuzzi (tip of a teaspoon in a cup of water) and a bit of rinsing. Everything was clean in less than 18 hours. Ink is water-resistant / waterproof. The more oxidized it is, the more waterproof. Note: With IG inks, never use traditional ammonia-based cleaning solutions. Note 2: Tintenlabor has renamed some of the old inks and discontinued the rest. However, it is my understanding that David will make them for you, if you ask kindly. In conclusion: if you want the brown colour, opt for a dry pen; if you want the glossy black opt for a wet pen. Ideally, use pens that can be dismantled completely. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Note: I did the review before the name change happened. Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill Oxidization 🔍 Comparison --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Home Tintenlabor Gold Black Diamine Registrar's J Herbin Diabolo Menthe Yellow highlighter Bleach Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Tintenlabor Goldrausch and Alpenstein ( grey) Paper is Talens Mixed Media --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1) Ahab with FPR superflex and ebonite feed. - What I Liked: Writing, color, sketching, oxidization to brown or glossy black. - What I Did Not Like: If I were to nitpick, sometimes it looked transparent with fine nibs. - What Some Might Not Like: IG ink phobia. - Writing Experience: Excellent - Pros: Marvellous oxidization, - Cons: It’s an IG ink. So you can’t forget it in a pen. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Lovely with dry pens. - Ghosting: With wet pens. - Bleed Through: Yes, with very wet pens. - Flow Rate: Wet - Lubrication: ok - Nib Dry-out: If you let the ink too long in a pen, it might evaporate. - Start-up: Good in general. - Saturation: Saturated baby! - Sheen: Glossy black with Ahab but no sheen, - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): It could leave a black residue in section. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Relatively easily compared to other IG inks. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - [ ] Available in 30/50 ml bottle. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/goldrausch --- 💬 Closing In all my years of testing and reviewing inks, this ink exceeded my expectations. It’s a unique product for the discerning ink lover. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Essri (Ecclesiastical Stationery Supplies Registrars Ink) Ink Review # 191 --- 🧾 Description One of the classics of iron gall inks. Its lineage goes back to Stephens in 1834. In 1976, when the former ceased production, one of the former associates launched ESSRI (Ecclesiastical Stationery Supplies Registrars Ink), carrying on that iron gall ink tradition ESSRI comes in 110 ml plastic bottles, which should ideally be decanted into smaller glass bottles, as plastic is porous and allows air exchange over time. Like all iron gall inks, it has an expiry date. A Dutch scientific website dedicated to the history and preservation of iron gall inks [https://www.irongallink.org/how-to-make-ink-trouble-shooting-chart.html] suggests that gently blowing into the bottle before sealing it may prolong the ink’s life: the expelled carbon dioxide, being heavier than oxygen, can create a protective barrier over the surface. When I mentioned this trick in some of my earliest IG reviews, a few readers mocked the idea. But a few years later, I revisited my inks and found that a quarter-full 20 ml bottle had precipitated, while a full bottle from the same batch remained perfectly stable. Ink oxidizes immediately from medium/ dark blue to blue black. If one uses wet flex nibs, it oxidizes to black almost immediately. This is still one of the best Iron gall inks I’ve ever used. Bottom line: If you’re condemned to use cheap paper, no ink beats Essri in comfort, behavior, and ease of use. Note, as with all Iron gall inks, one should ideally use a diluted ascorbic acid solution, patience, and lots of flushing to clean the pen. Never use conventional cleaning solutions for iron gall inks. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb --- 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm / Hammermill 20lb Oxidation 🔍 Comparison I redid the Essri swatches to compare with the original swatch done three years ago. Comparison with other grey inks: --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Mountain Dew Essri - Talens Mixed media Oxidation Invoking Tishtar Cat and mouse enact a traditional Tirgan custom: the symbolic throwing of water to encourage rainfall. Rooted in ancient Persian mythology, this midsummer practice was associated with Tishtar—the celestial figure linked to Sirius and water—who battles drought to bring rain. The festival occurs shortly after the summer solstice and reflects seasonal concerns with heat, fertility, and renewal. Fountain pen inks used: ESSRI, Diamine Sepia, J. Herbin Bleu Calanque Solstice Inktober challenge While researching the solstice in different cultures, I came upon an ancient pre-Islamic Persian tradition. It honored the midsummer battle of Tishtar—the deity of water—against the demon of drought, to summon rain. While this festivity happens a week or so after the summer solstice, it seems fitting to celebrate one of the four elements. Inks used: Essri Iron gall ink J Herbin Bouton d'or/ Bleu calanque Noodler's Apache Sunset --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1) , Ahab with a FPR ultraflex nib. - What I Liked: Ease of use, behavior on cheap paper. - What I Did Not Like: Expirey date. - What Some Might Not Like: Iron gall ink. - Writing Experience: Exceptional. - Pros: Waterproof, excellent for cheap paper. - Cons: It comes only in 110 ml plastic bottles and needs to be decanted into glass bottles. Expiry date. Cleaning. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Lovely - Ghosting: Minor ghosting with a wet flex nib. - Bleed Through: None. - Flow Rate: Wet - Lubrication: Surprisingly good. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Excellent. - Saturation: Dark charocoal - Sheen: A bit on Iroful - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Like most iron gall inks, one needs pure ascorbic acid for cleaning, Q-tip and patience. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - [ ] Available only in 110 ml bottles, from Essri website. Shipping is included in the price. Link: http://www.registrarsink.co.uk/registrars_ink.html --- 💬 Closing Among all the iron gall inks I’ve reviewed, Essri is still among the best, especially for those condemned to use cheap paper. Its downsides, as noted above, are a huge volume plastic bottle and expiry date. Nothing is eternal. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor (Ink lab) is a new Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall-based inks. The website is in German, so you must use the translation app in your browser. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products Note how the iron content is marked in each bottle: Inks come in 30 or 50-ml bottles, and some specialty inks are only in 10-ml bottles. Disclaimer: The owner and wizard, Inkmeister David, kindly sent me bottles (with my participation in shipping) to test. He patiently responded to my numerous questions and gripes, and insisted that I be as transparent as possible about my experience. This ink experience has been one of the most fun, challenging, and ultimately rewarding ink journeys. What is special about these inks is that the iron and dye content is known to the user, so that you can choose your ink depending on your risk tolerance, use, and preference. As of this posting, several colours are available in various iron and dye content: Green, Purple, Blue, and blue-black, and two specialty grey and gold inks. I’ll be reviewing these inks in detail for each colour family. I’ve come to realize that each colour family is distinctly different. For example, Dark Green 2 and Dark Purple 2, while having the same iron and dye content, are distinctly different in behaviour. So today, I will give an overview of the green inks and post separate reviews of each ink on the Reviews forum. Over time, I will post my notes on the other inks here. A note about cleaning: Do not use ammonia-based cleaning solutions with these inks. The best way is to use a pinch of ascorbic acid or common lime/ lemon juice (filtered, obviously ) or a ratio of 1/10 vinegar. The lower the iron content, the more user-friendly the ink is for the average user. High-iron content inks are more challenging and require patience and perseverance. Dark Green inks come in three declinations, and in 30/50 ml bottles. 1. Dark Green 1 (High dye, low iron content (3 gr/l). Low maintenance, Excellent flow, good behavior, lovely color, and low oxidation. 2. Dark Green 2 (Low dye, medium iron content (4 gr/l), medium maintenance, Low lubrication, immediate oxidation, from bright green to charcoal. 3. Aprilis Argente (high dye, highest iron content 6 gr/l), high maintenance, low lubrication, sluggish flow. Ink oxidation from medium green to charcoal from 20 seconds to 24 hours, depending on the paper (slowest on Midroi/ and TR 68 gsm) I love all three inks for different reasons. Note: I misnamed the swatches by marking the iron content. You can see the actual dye and how it oxidizes over time. These swatches have oxidized over one month: Col-O-ring paper is very water repellent, so oxidation takes time. (The more water resistant the paper is (think watercolor paper), the longer the oxidation. ) After a month: Dark Green 1 is a gorgeous shade of green. It is easy to use and has lovely shading. Cleaning is easy with modern pens that can be dismantled, but vintage pens are more time-consuming. Everyone can use this ink. Dark Green 2 is a pure Iron gall ink with a low dye content that oxidizes magically into charcoal immediately. Cleaning was easy in most cases. The ink only left some iron deposit on one nib, but it disappeared. This could be remedied by dipping a Q-tip in any solid cleaning paste, (Putzstein, Pink Stuff, Pierre d’Argent etc) and rubbing it on the nib. Aprlis Argentes is a specialty ink made for cheap paper, hence its sluggish flow. It took a lot of pens and testing to find the right combination. I needed to prime some pens regularly. The only analogy I can see is taming and training a wild horse. It was an ink rodeo, rewarding but not for everyone. Paradoxically, it’s the ink I used most (half a bottle). Which ink did I love most? It’s a difficult question to answer. I think I loved them all equally. Which one do I recommend? It all depends on your personality, pens, and risk tolerance. Dark Green 1 is for most people and pens. Dark Green 2 is for those who want immediate oxidation and don’t mind low-lubricated inks. Aprilis Argente is for those who like a challenge and use copy paper. What pens? This is a tricky one to answer. It depends on the ink. The higher the iron content, the wetter the pen should be. Inks range from water-resistant to waterproof. The dye content can be washed away with the lower the iron content. I'm now in the process of testing the purple inks, which are pretty different. In a week or two, I'll post my general comparisons here. And here are several test drawings: Dark Green 1 (Talens Mixed Media paper) S Strathmore Paper Dark Green 2 (Talens Mixed Media paper) and Aprilis Argente Talens Mixed Media Paper and here is a combination of the three. It's challenging to distinguish Dark Green 2 from Aprilis Argente, but whatever, from light grey to near black, can be either of the two. Paper is Strathmore. Final notes: It is my understanding that some of the flow issues might be fixed in the future...

Tintenlabor Dark Blue 3 (New Formula) (Eisengallustinte 3, dunkelblau / schwarz) Ink Review # 189 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that you would know the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. This is the new formula of Dark Blue 3, a Blue Black iron gall with 5 g/l iron and high dye content. I haven't tested the old formula, so I cannot compare them. But this is a wet ink. On most papers I tested, the ink oxidized immediately from sky blue/petrol blue (depending on the nib width) to blue-black/ grey. Midori was the only exception, which took 12 hours. Ink is almost waterproof from the moment it dries. With a very wet, primed flex nib, I saw feathering on Midori and Hammermill. While there was some ghosting and bleed through on the latter, there was none on my cheap shopping list paper. As with iron gall inks, it's best to clean them directly with a diluted ascorbic acid solution (to make your life easier). Never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. For more information, check this thread, especially our resident scientist @InesF explanations on page 2. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm While it's written Blue 2 on the Tomoe River paper, it's actually Blue 3. Hammermill 20lb --- 📸 Photo Rhodia, Hammermill, Iroful Midori, Tomoe River 68 gsm Oxidation 🔍 Comparison Tintenlabor Dark Blue 2 vs Dark Blue 3 - Artificial vs natural light Swatches: --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Dragonfly Tintenlabor Azur Noir/ Dark Blue 3 ( it's the background blue black) Paper is Talents Mixed Media. Part of Inktober yearlong challenge 2025. Dragonflies were very important in Samurai culture. Fado Tintenlabor Azur Noir (fado singer), the Portuguese guitar, and the landscape were done with Tintenlabor Dark Blue 3 – Paper is Strathmore. I'm a fan of fado music — a traditional Portuguese genre often played with the Portuguese guitar. It evokes saudade, an untranslatable feeling that blends nostalgia, longing, loss, and yearning. I Don’t want to be Human Tintenlabor Dark Blue 3/Noodler’s Red Rattler Eel A salute to all the cats who’ve had enough of human nonsense — and let their tongues, and their mouse companions, say it all. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1), Kanwrite with FPR ultraflex - What I Liked: Nice wet, decent lubrication. - What I Did Not Like: Nitpicking: With some nibs, the base color was petrol blue, not my favorite colour. - What Some Might Not Like: Cleaning and IG inks. - Writing Experience: Delightful. - Pros: Waterproof. Lovely colours. Small bottle. - Cons: You can buy it only from the website. It's not as good as Essri for copy paper. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Good. - Ghosting: Yes on Hammermill, not on shopping list. - Bleed Through: Flex nib can't handle copy paper. - Flow Rate: Wet, to very wet. - Lubrication: Very good. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Great with most pens. Kakuno was a bit fussy. - Saturation: Lovely - Sheen: Did not notice. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Only with a wet flex primed nib. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): You'll need a Q-Tip. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Like all IG inks, water, a pinch of ascorbic acid, Q-tip and patience is necessary. - Water Resistance: Excellent after oxidation. --- 🛒 Availability - [ ] Available in 30/50 ml bottle directly: https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/eisengallustinte-3-dunkelblau-schwarz --- 💬 Closing This is lovely ink by Tintenlabor. The final question remains: What is the difference between Dark Blue 2 and Dark Blue 3? Both oxidize to a charcoal grey colour. Blue 2 has low dye content, and Blue 3 has high dye content, but both look similar in the end. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. ;) Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor Violet Blue/Black (Eisengallustinte 1, violettblau / schwarz) Ink Review # 187 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss company that specializes in iron gall ink. The unique feature of these inks is that you can choose them knowing the iron content of the ink. Disclaimer: Bottles of ink were sent generously by the Ink-Master David himself. I'll review the four blues, which have an increasing degree of iron from 3 to 6. Violet Blue is gorgeous, royal blue iron gall ink that oxidizes to shades of blue/ black or navy, immediately or over time. The ink has slightly below-average lubrication. Oxidation is longest on Midori and immediate on most other papers. It's slowest on mixed media and watercolour paper. For cleaning, I flush the pen with clear water, then let it soak in a diluted vinegar solution, flush several times, rinse, and repeat. Do not use ammonia-based cleaning solutions with iron gall inks. I enjoyed using this ink. It has a soft, mellow look to it. This ink suits those who need water resistance, use their pens regularly, and like iron gall inks. If you are risk-averse and don't want to be bothered cleaning your pens with vinegar, it won't be a good fit for you. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Check the Midori photo for the correct color. Hammermill 20lb copy paper --- ## 📸 Photo 20 days later, photography Hammermill, Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Oxidation in real time (Tomoe River 68 gsm paper) --- 🔍 Comparison I didn't add the old formula swatches for simplicity --- 💧 Water Test After 24 hours. --- 🎨 Artwork Wolf pup Tintenlabor Violet blue 1 (background), Gold Black, and Noodler's Red Rattler's Red. Pup Tintenlabor Violet Blue, Gold Adora-mouse-te Tinten labor, Violet Blue, Gold, and another IG ink --- - Pens Used: Pilot F3A, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1) , Waterman W2 vintage flex - What I Liked: · Colour, oxidation from royal blue to blue black - What I Did Not Like: If I want to nitpick, it's the cleaning. - What Some Might Not Like: Iron gall ink, lower than average lubrication. - Writing Experience: Excellent with most pens. - Pros: Lovely oxidation, well-behaved, water-resistant. - Cons: Not 100% waterproof. Medium maintenance ink, cleaning, etc. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Yes. - Ghosting: Yes, on cheap paper. - Bleed Through: Yes, on thin, cheap paper. - Flow Rate: Wet - Lubrication: Decent - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Excellent. - Saturation: Gorgeous. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: No - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining: Did not notice. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: I flushed the pen a few times and soaked it in diluted vinegar. - Water Resistance: Very Good. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottle directly from: https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/eisengallustinte-1-violettblau-schwarz --- 💬 Closing This is another excellent colour from Tintenlabor; it is elegant, mysterious, and a pleasure to use. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments. The more the merrier.

Tintenlabor – Dark Blue 2 – (New formula) (Eisengallustinte 2, dunkelblau / schwarz) Ink Review # 188 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that you would know the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Mesiter, David. This is the new formula of Dark Blue 2, a Blue Black iron gall with 4 gr/l iron content and low dye. I haven't tested the old formula, so I cannot compare them. But this is a wet ink with below-average lubrication. With Kakuno, it was lovely to write with Safari, depending on the nib sizes. On most papers I tested, the ink oxidized immediately from light blue to blue-black/ grey and finally charcoal. Midori was the only exception, and it took 12 hours. As with iron gall inks, it's best to clean them directly with a diluted vinegar solution (to make your life easier). Never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Midori scan is off. Check photo below. Hammermill 20lb --- 📸 Photo 8 days later Hammermill, Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Oxidation in real time: Note how the color slowly oxidizes on Midori. Closeup, Rhodia (top) - iroful - 8 days later ) 🔍 Comparison --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Complicity Tintenlabor, Violet Blue / Dark Blue 2, Talens Mixed Media Paper Nap Where do we go now? Lamy Safari Stub 1.1 - Talens Mixed Media Paper --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1), Noodler's Nib Creaper with a Waterman W2 vintage flex nib - What I Liked: · Colour, oxidation from royal blue to blue black - What I Did Not Like: If I want to nitpick, it's the cleaning. - What Some Might Not Like: Iron gall ink, lower than average lubrication. - Writing Experience: Excellent with most pens. - Pros: Lovely oxidation, well-behaved, water-resistant. - Cons: IG ink 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Yes. - Ghosting: Yes, on cheap paper. - Bleed Through: Yes, on thin, cheap paper. - Flow Rate: Wet - Lubrication: Below average, but decent with most pens, - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Excellent. - Saturation: Gorgeous. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): Iron residue was in the converter and section. Q-tip and vinegar are a must. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Flush dye away, then soak in diluted white vinegar and rinse. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - [ ] Available in 30/50 ml bottle directly from https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/eisengallustinte-2-dunkelblau-schwarz --- 💬 Closing This is another excellent colour from Tintenlabor, a darker, low dye, medium iron content. Excellent choice for those needing nice waterproof ink, like IG inks, who use their pen regularly, and don't mind high-maintenance inks. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. ;) Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier. :)

Tintenlabor Purpur-Schwarz 1 (Purple Black 1 Iron gall ink) Ink review # 184. Background: Tintenlabor is a Swiss-based ink company focused on Iron gall inks. What differentiates these inks from other IG inks is that you know the iron content and can choose your ink accordingly. Disclaimer: I was sent the inks free of charge, and I only participated in the shipping You can find more about this ink here: https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/sondertinte-eisengallustinte-1-purpur-schwarz-probe-a-10-ml https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/sondertinte-eisengallustinte-1-purpur-schwarz You can check @LizEF excellent review here: Overview: Tintenlabor has two purple black inks: 1) Purple Black 1: high-dye, low-iron ink 3 gr/l. 2) Purple Black 2 is medium iron, low dye ink. Both inks use the same dye. Purple Black 1, which I’m reviewing today, is a specialty ink using a unique purple dye that stabilizes the iron content, slowing the oxidation process and logically lengthening the shelf life of the ink. Because the dye is expensive, each bottle is three times the price of, for example, Green Black 1. If you're unsure, you can order it in 10 ml bottles. In my experience, the wetter the pen and narrower the nib, the darker the colour. With M nibs above, the colour is a shade of lavender that slowly oxidizes over time and darkens. The more water-repellent the paper (water-colour paper), the slower the oxidation process and the waterproofness. Ink has below-average lubrication. Writing with all pens was pleasant, pure joy. Cleaning was surprisingly very easy with the Kanwrite. A few flushes, and the pen was clean. The Pilot Elite needed a few more flushes with white vinegar. In conclusion, this is one of the most compelling, elegant purple writing inks I’ve used. It was more challenging to use in artwork. Chroma: Writing Samples: Photo: Iroful wet ink last line: The same on Tomoe River 68 gsm: Photo taken a week later: Comparison: The swatch scans were done on March 30th, 2025 Note: When I did the swatches, instead of the name, I wrote the iron content. Tintenlabor Purple Black 1 has 3 gr/l iron content, and Purple Black 2 has 4 gr/l. These scans were done on May 8th, 2025. Note that both inks have oxidized. Water test: Left side (10 seconds under running water, after 24 hours). Note that ink becomes waterproof with time. Art Work: Taurus, part of Inktober yearlong challenge 2025 -- Paper in most cases is Talens Mixed Media. Tintenlabor Dark Green1/2 /Purple 1 Noodler's Polar Brown Faber Castell Turquoise The following two works showcase concentrated ink when I mistakenly opened my eyedropper fountain pen. It goes well, I think with Miss Rebel without a cause The blue ink is Tintenlabor Violet Blue. Of course, the ink dripped on the other page, and I managed to carve a mouse from the Rorschach Inkblot impression on the paper. and finally Adoration with Purple Black 1 and Green Black 1 by Tintenlabor There are many more creations, which encompass purple 1 & 2 below, in case you are interested: https://www.deviantart.com/yazeh1/gallery?q=purple+1 · Pens used: Pilot Elite EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1), Kanwrite with FPR ultraflex nib. · What I liked: Writing, drawing, and washes. · What I did not like: I’m trying to look for something. · What some might not like: Fear of IG inks. Price · Writing experience: Excellent. · Pros: Beautiful colour, lovely writing experience. · Cons: Not suited for cheap, thin paper. Price · Shading: Some. · Ghosting: Yes on cheap paper. · Bleed through: Yes on Hammermill. · Flow Rate: Wet · Lubrication: Below average with some finer nibs. · Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. · Start-up: Ok · Saturation: Royal purple. · Shading Potential: Excellent · Sheen: No · Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Yes, with flex. · Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice. · Staining (pen): No · Clogging: Did not notice. · Cleaning: Very easy in general with most pens. · Water resistance: Good · Availability: 10, 30, 50ml bottles. Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments. The more the merrier

Tintenlabor Dark Green 2 (Dunkelgrün / schwarz 2) Ink review # 185 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company that specializes in iron gall-based inks. These inks are unique in that the iron content is known to the user beforehand. You can find more about this ink here. There are three Green inks: Dark Green 1 (3 gr/l) Dark Green 2 (4 gr/l) and Aprilis Argente (6 gr/l). The new formulation of Dark Green 2, a low-dye, medium-iron-content ink that instantly oxidizes from bright green to dark grey or black, even on watercolour paper. The flow is wet, and the lubrication is below average but still pleasant. I will post a comparison review of the two formulas later on here. Other inks with high oxidation rate are Gold Black and Aprilis Argente. This ink can leave black iron residue on some pens and stain nibs. A diluted solution of white vinegar, water, and lots of soaking was necessary to clean. I removed the nib stain with a stain remover (Pink solution) and Q-tip from the nib. Do not use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. 🧪 Chroma ✍️ Writing Samples Rhodia & Iroful Midori & TR68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Oxidation in real time on Iroful paper (artificial LED light). I wasn't fast enough. Oxidation in real time on TR 68 gsm. The bright green line is the colour going down. 🔍 Comparison Observe how the oxidation process changed the colour of the inks over time. Dark Green 2 (New Formula) oxidized overnight. After application After oxidation 💧 Water Test 🎨 Art Work Black Panther A fun drawing using the Dark Green 2/ Purple Black2 (new formula) on Fabriano watercolor paper. I ain't your taurus Part of the year-long Inktober challenge: Taurus Tintenlabor Dark Green 2 (old formula) Montblanc Origins Coral Funky Fungi Tintenlabor Dark Green2 /Violet Blue, Noodler's Red Rattler's Eel Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF / F / M / B / Stub 1.1), Vintage Unic wet noodle flex What I Liked: Oxidation, iron gall ink What I Did Not Like: Not easy to clean What Some Might Not Like: Cleaning, iron gall Writing Experience: Pros: Immediate oxidation. Waterproof, Cons: Cleaning could be difficult. You need to soak in white vinegar (not balsamic, obviously ) 🧷 Ink Characteristics Shading: Some shading, especially with M nib and above. Ghosting: Yes on Hammermill Bleed Through: Yes, with wet/ flex pens. Flow Rate: Wet Lubrication: Good Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. Start-up: With most pens ok. Saturation: Delicious and complex Shading Potential: With some pens yes. Sheen: Did not notice. Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice Staining (Pen): Yes. Black iron residue can stick on the converter. Clogging: Did not notice Cleaning: A pain. Lots of soaking in vinegar. Though surprisingly only water with Jinhao X159. Water Resistance: Excellent. 🛒 Availability Available in 30, 50 ml bottles 💬 Closing I enjoyed using this ink, despite its drawbacks. If you want this extreme oxidation, this is the one for you. If you want one with less hassle, TIntenlabor Gold Black could be another option. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments. The more the merrier!

Tintenlabor – Aprilis Argente - Dark Green (dunkel grün / schwarz) Iron Gall ink Ink review # 183. Overview: Aprilis Argente is the last of Tintenlabor's three dark Green iron gall inks. It has the highest iron content (6 gr/l) and is a specialty ink designed for cheap paper and wet pens. Due to its high iron content, it has a sluggish flow compared to Dark Green 2 (4 gr/l). Background: Tintenlabor is a new Swiss-based ink company focused on Iron gall inks. What differentiates these inks is that you know the dye content beforehand. Disclaimer: I was sent the inks free of charge, and I only participated in the shipping You can find more about this ink here: https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/aprilis-argente-dunkelgrun-schwarz The website is in German, so you must use the web browser translation function, unless you speak German You can check my overview and comparison of the three Dark Green inks by Tintenlabor below: Here you can find the review of Tintenlabor Dark Green 1, the ink with the lowest iron content: In case you're wondering why I skipped Dark Green 2, David, the Inkmeister, informed me that he has fixed its flow issues, so I'm waiting for the new bottles to arrive. Review Aprilis Argente is the last of the three dark Green inks. It's a specialty high-iron (6 gr/l) high-dye ink designed for cheap paper and wet pens. It's not for everyone, so if you're risk-averse, avoid it. This ink is for people who like challenges, wet pens, and iron-gall inks. This ink took me on a journey. It gave me the worst grief, doubting my sanity and everything I thought I knew about pens. Ultimately, it gave me the most pleasure after I tamed it. In that process, I used half a bottle of the ink! This ink is the pickiest about its pen and doesn't follow the dogma of ebonite feed/ vintage pen. I had difficulty using it in a vintage wet noodle, whereas I could easily use it in a Jinaho 163. Go figure. It worked well in Safarim, but I had to rub the converter with a Q-tip and vinegar. Its oxidation is slower than Dark Green 2, slowest on Tomoe River 68 gsm, Midori, Hammermill, Rhodia, and fastest on Iroful. In time, it turns into lovely grey/charcoal black. Cleaning can be a pain in some pens, and you'll need diluted vinegar or lemon juice. Do not use ammonia-based cleaning solutions with iron gall inks. Chroma: Writing Samples: Unfortunately, the scanner deforms Midori's cream color. I checked this ink on a variety of cheap papers. The ink behaved flawlessly on most papers. However, with the vintage flex, there can be some bleed-through. The black spots you see are not bleed-through, but ink that I added inadvertently to the reverse of the scan. This cheap shopping list shows you various Tintenlabor inks/bulletproof & pigment ink with different nibs. Photo: This is oxidation on Iroful in real time. The last word is still wet; you can see the green dye. Here's a photo of Midori. The oxidation process is slower. The first line was written a week before the actual review. A comparison between Dark Green 2 and Aprilis Argente. Comparison: You can see the oxidation process on the swatch cards in one month. Note that I have named the inks by iron content and not the actual name: So the inks are: Dark Green 1 (3 gr/l) - Dark Green 2 (4 gr/l) and Aprilis Argente (6 gr/l) Water test: Left side (10 seconds under running water, after 24 hours) Art Work: Xolotl and the Sun This was inspired by the legend of the Aztec God of lightning and thunder, Xolotl. It is said that each night, the God accompanied the sun through the underworld. Yellow ink is a highlighter. You can still see some dye that hasn't oxidized. Bonjour Tristesse Talens square Mixed Media paper. The wash was done right away. Finally, inspired by @LizEF Quin & Makhabesh's Grey Spot Adventure, with a yet-to-be-written character, Professor Eeneess (many thanks to @InesF), in her lab with her quills, infinity drawer, alembic, etc. This is on a Talens Mixed Media. Re-inventing Colour..... I've done many drawings with this ink; you can find them here: https://www.deviantart.com/yazeh1/gallery?q=aprilis · Pens used: Pilot Kakuno Ef, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1), Kanwrite with FPR nib, and many other pens. · What I liked: A challenge, the colour. · What I did not like: The challenge, flow issues. · What some might not like: It’s a high-maintenance ink. · Writing experience: Ok. But you will need to prime the feed. · Pros: For very wet vintage pens and copy paper. · Cons: Flow issues, · Shading: Yes · Ghosting: Very good in general. · Bleed through: Very good in general. · Flow Rate: Sluggish, you might need to prime the feed. · Lubrication: Low, but not unpleasant. · Nib Dry-out: It will happen. · Start-up: You might need to prime most pens or have a water brush nearby. · Saturation: Delicious. · Shading Potential: Good. · Sheen: No. · Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. · Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice. · Staining (pen): It could · Clogging: Did not notice. · Cleaning: It could be a pain in the feed! You’ll need either pure lemon juice or white vinegar solutions. · Water resistance: Very good. · Availability: 30- 50ml bottles, Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments. The more the merrier