Favorite Low Maintenance Inks?

[framebaer]

We use Waterman's Blue Black exclusively to test ALL PENS at the Nashua Pen Spa. We use this ink precisely for the reasons stated in the thread opening!

[framebaer]

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Edited September 7, 2009 by framebaer

[tfwall]

Herbin: The whole line, also.

 

I particularly enjoy Rouge Opéra.

[Pfhorrest]

Pelikan 4001 inks. I can leave their Black, Blue, Blue-black and Red in any pen for an exceedingly long amount of time (writing with it or not) and it will not clog or 'settle' in my pen like some PR inks do.

[tanalasta]

In Black: Either Aurora Black or J'Herbin Perle Noir

In Blue: Aurora Blue or J'Herbin eclat de saphir.

[mirabilis]

Between Herbin and Diamine, Herbin is easier to flush.

[significantpass]

I like Aurora blue and Dunhill black.

[Sholom]

Of course some pens are fussier than others, but I have found Noodler's Ottoman Azure (in a Parker 45 or a Monte Rosa 042) and Eel Blue (in an M&K Pelikan 120 or a Parker 51) to be as trouble-free as Waterman Black or Havana Brown.

[tfwall]

Speaking of trouble-free inks, WHERE do you buy Waterman online? I'm having a tough time finding a reliable and well-known dealer who actually has any in stock.

 

Pear Tree Pens usually has some, if you are in the States.

[ajcoleman]

The Waterman inks I have used seem to set the bar for low maintenance as you describe it, but in my experience Noodler's Blue is a similar performing ink.

[specialk0449]

The Waterman and the J. Herbin brands are my favorite low maintenance inks. I use PR inks in some of my modern pens but never in my vintage Pelikans.

[bwnewton]

I still am amazed at how low-maintenance and well-behaved the much overlooked Lamy Blue is. IMO, it even outperforms Sheaffer Skrip Blue (Slov) on inexpensive, low-quality paper. And, it's relatively inexpensive and comes in a great user-friendly bottle.

[mstone]

Noodler's Squeteague, Herbin's Lie de The.

[corniche]

Greetings all,

 

WM Florida Blue and blue-black.

J. Herbin Bleu Myotosis and Bleu Nuit, (those are the Herbin inks I use, but I've heard the entire line is easy to flush/clean).

From the ink experience I've had; the cyans, reds and some purples seem to be the most challenging.

 

Best wishes,

 

Sean

 

Edited November 11, 2010 by S. P. Colfer

[zwingtip]

MB Racing Green

Noodler's Dark Matter

 

I want to say Waterman Violet, but it stains and feathers on cheap paper.

Edited November 11, 2010 by zwingtip

[tonybelding]

Noodler's Dark Matter

 

Dark Matter is replicated from a 1940s ink, and I'll take a guess that the original was probably from Sheaffer. It's what I've got in my Esterbrook 444 Dip-Less set right now. Previously I had tried a "bulletproof" ink in it, but the constant evaporation and exposure to air caused it to deteriorate badly after a while. I'm guessing Dark Matter should handle that much better, though it's too early to report any results.

 

I know the original poster at the beginning of this thread specified washable ink. . . However, I have to note that I've tried a lot of the bulletproof inks, and I found Violet Vote is the most trouble-free of them. It also washes easily off skin, flushes easily out of pens, doesn't stain anything other than cellulose. (Obviously if you spill it on cotton, then you've got a problem!) It's a staple ink for me.

[mikey]

Namiki Blue

Aurora Blue

[art_ok]

Agree with Aurora Blue. I bought it accidentally (ordered Aurora Black, but they send me Aurora Blue). What a disgusting, horrible colour that Aurora Blue is. Bland, darkish blue with purple tint - yuck! Absolutely hate the colour but still use it occasionally just because I like other properties of Aurora Blue.

 

Surprised to hear that many consider Waterman inks low maintenance. My personal experience tells me that any paper starts feathering and bleeding through if I bring pen with Waterman ink closer than 2 meters to it. Also I was always worried about acidic properties of Waterman. I do have bottle of Havana Brown and love the colour but almost never use it. Everyone has its own understanding what "low maintenance" is. I do not mind to flush my pen once in a while but hate when I unable to use my pen because ink feathers as mad on unknown paper.

 

The best low maintenance inks for me are Noodler's black and Noodler's Legal Lapis. Never had any issues with them in any of my pens.

[tonybelding]

Surprised to hear that many consider Waterman inks low maintenance. My personal experience tells me that any paper starts feathering and bleeding through if I bring pen with Waterman ink closer than 2 meters to it. Also I was always worried about acidic properties of Waterman.

 

I was tempted to mention the acidity when everybody else was pointing to Waterman ink, but I didn't want to start another of those "is it real or an urban legend" fights.

 

 

The best low maintenance inks for me are Noodler's black and Noodler's Legal Lapis. Never had any issues with them in any of my pens.

 

I've observed that age and exposure to air and evaporation can cause Black to deteriorate in the bottle. Once the black "soot" starts coming out of suspension, you can try to shake up the bottle . . . but it'll soon settle again, and even separate inside your pens. Legal Lapis will do something similar, though it's only the black component that breaks down. Eternal Brown did the same. The only one that seems immune is Iraqi Indigo/Violet Vote, though I haven't torture-tested it.

 

Also, Legal Lapis has a tendency to start smelling like ammonia after a while. Not sure what that means, but it doesn't seem like it would be something good.

[RockFL]

+1 on Montblanc inks. Easy clean up and very well-behaved. I really enjoy the Irish Green.