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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.