Noodler's Baystate Blue

[ailleurs]

I've only had BSB for a little while, but yeah, it's the quintessential love it/hate it ink. The color's brilliant, and I'm glad I bought it, but damn, is it ever a pain to work with.

 

+1. I've had a Monteverde Regatta that has had BSB in it since January and no meltdowns either figuratively or literally. I flush the nib every so often and it takes ages to completely clear out, but the color is gorgeous. The nib on my Regatta has clogged a few times if I let it go too long between cleanings, but I don't think that's unique to BSB.

[kathleen]

I was new to fountain pens. I had not read-up on inks in Ink reviews, I blissfully began my ink purchasing, naively thinking "ink is ink" and color is all that determines purchase.

 

I looked at Noodler's color chart, the selection of blue inks, and picked the one I thought to be closest to the color of the cobalt blue antique glassware I like. I picked Baystate Blue and I was not disappointed. It is a very bright blue, and I love it.

 

I soon discovered there is more to ink than liking the color. Some of my other inks, other colors flowed much better. I was inking Esties with 9668, 9968 or 9550 nib. All my Esties wrote beautifully except the pen that was filled with Baystate Blue. I kept cleaning it's nib, and wondering why, I had dry starts and skipping. Using my Estie with BSB was frustrating.

 

When I began to read the ink reviews and posts here I began to consider it wasn't the pen misbehaving but the ink. Sure enough, my "troubled pen" wrote well with Noodler's Forest Green, Diamine Blue/Black , Noodler's Eel Turquoise, it just did not like the Baystate Blue.

 

 

So, no more BSB? No.

I began to read that some members here dilute some of their inks and I decided to thin the Baystate Blue by one third. Since adding the water, it has behaved perfectly. Flow problem solved, BUT Baystate Blue has one other fault; there is now a distinct staining, a reddish, iridescent sheen on the black section of my Estie J. My beautiful blue Esterbrook J, with its beautiful, pearlescent body, is now dispensing a line of ink with its identical hue. I love the color and the brilliance of the pen and its ink. They belong together; the stained section may be the flaw I learn to overlook. It's like my marriage, I love him, but I know, he's not perfect. Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

Edited July 22, 2010 by kathleen

[withoutink]

Re: Staining, I believe a solution of ammonia and water will clean pen stains. But I would verify with others first.

[Rena]

Re: Staining, I believe a solution of ammonia and water will clean pen stains. But I would verify with others first.

 

Nicely done review, withoutink. FYI, ammonia and water didn't do a thing for cleaning a stain in my situation, but Isopropyl alcohol did work. Other people recommend a bleach solution. Personally, I wouldn't want to use either bleach or alcohol on any of my pens on a regular basis. Baystate Blue is a pretty color, but not the ink for me.

[watch_art]

yeah, that oily sheen is kinda nasty. reminds me of oil in a puddle of water outside the mechanics shop after a rain...

[jniforat]

I gave my bottle away!

 

Too bad that there are such issues with this ink, it is such a beautiful color!

 

+1 i'm not using mine anymore either. it's too bad...it's the most beautiful blue i've used

[Lloyd]

I gave my bottle away!

 

Too bad that there are such issues with this ink, it is such a beautiful color!

 

+1 i'm not using mine anymore either. it's too bad...it's the most beautiful blue i've used

 

Read this...

These pens cost ~$8 from Smedon.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Lloyd

[jniforat]

I gave my bottle away!

 

Too bad that there are such issues with this ink, it is such a beautiful color!

 

+1 i'm not using mine anymore either. it's too bad...it's the most beautiful blue i've used

 

Read this...

These pens cost ~$8 from Smedon.

 

very true. also thinking about getting the noodler's pen that jetpens has too.

[mainoffender]

I gave my bottle away!

 

Too bad that there are such issues with this ink, it is such a beautiful color!

 

+1 i'm not using mine anymore either. it's too bad...it's the most beautiful blue i've used

 

Read this...

These pens cost ~$8 from Smedon.

 

 

Yep! Thats where my BSB resides and I wouldn't give it up for anything. Beautiful blue.

[RobbW]

+1 on the Dollar Demo for Baystate Blue. I got mine from Hisnibs.com and it is smooth writing, trouble free and writes immediately, even after a few weeks of no use. I'm really amazed that a pen this inexpensive has such a smooth nib--and, I don't have to worry about it messing up a high-dollar FP (Though I don't personally really worry about that if I use good hygiene and avoid certain Lamys that are no longer in production).

[Truppi327]

+ Another one for the Dollar Demonstrators (I got mine from smeden on FPN).

Another option for BSB is the Noodler's Piston pen. I use only BSB in mine and have found it to be a perfect pairing of pen and ink.

[fabrimedeiros]

I've been using BSB in my Pelikan M215 almost one year and in a Reform Clear Demo. Both pen work great with it. BSB is the most beautiful blue IMHO. The only problem that annoy me is your stain properties, which can stain clear ink windows (most of my pen are Piston Fillers). Some weeks ago, I started to use ammonia 10% and it's been a good product, that can remove BSB from Ink Windows. I think ammonia is far better than bleach in this case. Moreover, ammonia is safer for FP components, but for hard rubber (used in some vintage feeders), because can whitening its color. However, is safe for rubber of plunger.

 

Fabricio

[withoutink]

Well, this weekend I diluted the BSB a bit ~1:1 and no more dry outs. So, the Waterman Phileas is working perfectly with the BSB now. Very fluid, just a tiny bit less bright... almost not noticeable.

[fabrimedeiros]

Well, this weekend I diluted the BSB a bit ~1:1 and no more dry outs. So, the Waterman Phileas is working perfectly with the BSB now. Very fluid, just a tiny bit less bright... almost not noticeable.

 

Good tip! You're right, BSB dries too fast on the paper, even in the tip of nib, if you let your pen uncapped for a long time (or not so long). Dilute it is a great idea!

 

Regards,

Fabricio

[aardvark]

I've been looking for another blue ink (like I need another blue ink). After reading a lot of the posts about Noodler's Bay State Blue, I decided it was too much trouble and I do like my Lamy Safaris. Then I read the one about using it in one of Nathan's piston fillers. So, I'll give it a try and be prepared to dilute it a bit.

 

//mark

[The Bantam Scribbler]

Personally, I never really understood the massive draw and love-hate relationship so many people have with BSB. The color is wide-open, jarring even, with no shading to break it up. Every time I look at it, I feel like it's screaming at me. I just know if I stare at it long enough, its shrill calliope shriek will beckon me ever further toward an inescapable funhouse in Hell. But maybe that's just me. :hmm1:

Edited September 24, 2010 by The Bantam Scribbler

[lapis]

Okay, I'll fess up. I have it, I've used it, it never damaged anything, I never saw any harm done anywhere, but I still don't like it. It is just too flashy, too fluorescent, too neon-like for my eyes. I know, I'm the only member here who sees it that way.

 

Weirdo

[Northwoods]

Okay, I'll fess up. I have it, I've used it, it never damaged anything, I never saw any harm done anywhere, but I still don't like it. It is just too flashy, too fluorescent, too neon-like for my eyes. I know, I'm the only member here who sees it that way.

 

Weirdo

 

No, you're not alone. It's vivid, and that makes it a situational ink in my eyes. It's not something I use every day or for long writings. Some people like flashy, others don't. I tend to be more conservative in my ink choices: bold, but not loud; gravitas over garish.

[Possum Hill]

Okay, I'll fess up. I have it, I've used it, it never damaged anything, I never saw any harm done anywhere, but I still don't like it. It is just too flashy, too fluorescent, too neon-like for my eyes. I know, I'm the only member here who sees it that way.

 

Weirdo

You're not alone. Others have posted that it's just too bright.

 

I generally stick with something more sedate when I expect to have pages full of writing. It's a little like a person who is unrelentingly cheerful -- it's possible to get too much exposure.

[Pengrump]

I gave mine away because I didn't like the color. I tried to like it. But unlike Penman Sapphire, it didn't seem rich and deep to me, but fluorescent. No problems with it, just an aesthetic choice.