Ink For Moleskine That's Not Blue Or Black

[mawesome]

Okay, so the "ink for moleskine" topic has been extensively covered. However, I've noticed that with very few exceptions these threads sound like this:

 

Bunch of people recommending Noodler's bulletproof black

A bunch more standing behind Pelican blue-black

some others with other blue or black or blue-black suggestions.

A whole bunch saying to ditch moleskines immediately.

 

... just none of these work for me! (Although they all may be very good advice!). Before the anti-moleskine group starts up with the waily-waily, let me explain. I bought a set of three of the soft-bound cahier type moleskines BEFORE I decided to give FPs a try. And those suckers are kinda expensive so I can't just ditch them. Therefore, although I may try another brand depending on my experience with these 'skines, I'm not looking for any notebook recommendations, just inks for moleskines please!

 

AND... I don't really mind black inks but these are creative notebooks and given the beautiful variety of colour out there I don't really want black. I also have an unnatural prejudice against the colour blue. I just don't like it except in rare and specific cases, and I can't imagine wanting to write with blue or blue black all the time, especially if I don't have to.

 

So, does anyone have any not-blue, not-black recommendations for inks to use on moleskine paper? I'll be using a estie with a 9556 nib.

 

I'm particularly attracted to darker colours... something that you can use to write with that is easy on the eyes but also has a hint of colour. I'm interested by PR's ebony green and purple, has anyone tried those with any success? All other suggestions welcome!

[mawesome]

ooh, forgot something. I also just noticed someone supporting dilution of ink before using on moleskine... makes it dry faster I guess? Has anyone tried diluting any pretty colours to get them to work?

[Vshin]

I am one of the moleskine naysayers but I will at least offer a helpful suggestion to consider R&K Scabiosa, which was already mentioned a few times in the other thread... unless you also want to add purple to your list of black and blue.

[torstar]

I'm a Moleskin user and a dilution enthusiast. Somehow water makes it dry faster without a loss of colour, and it's fun to experiment in this area, 20-80% water depending on the variables.

 

I haven't done enough dilution outside of blue and black to comment; there hasn't been much of a need to look into green/red/orange dilution in my little world.

 

Without diluting, the easiest solution for Moleskin is using a less saturated ink and a finer nib.

 

[The worst paper for my drying purposes is Clairefontaine, a few times it was smudging weeks later...]

 

And my starving artist friends (and a few "out theres") can make Moleskin paper almost come to life and sing with any ink they use...

Edited May 2, 2012 by torstar

[The Good Captain]

Noodler's Sequoia and Zhivago and Diamine Evergreen are possibilities. Sometimes though, the paper can vary within one Moleskine so there are no rules.

[professionaldilettante]

Pencil. Or a recycle bin. Then just go get a Rhodia Webnotebook. Much less muss and fuss. That's the whole reason I switched. I found the Webnotebook far more user friendly.

[radellaf]

From https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/202102-ink-for-poor-paper/

 

Try http://inkyjournal.blogspot.com/search/label/100%25%20Moleskine-proof%20ink?m=0

 

 

Named (back when I checked) are:

Sheaffer Turquoise

Iro Ajisai

Pelikan Blue-Black

Sailor Kiwagura Nano Super Black

Rohrer & Klingner Scabiosa

Stipula Musk Green

Sheaffer Red

Diamine Registrar's

R&K's Old Golden Green

Aurora Blue

Noodler's Black

Montblanc Blue-Black

 

Level 2 of compatibility opens up more options depending on your nib and particular paper in the moleskine:

http://inkyjournal.blogspot.com/search/label/moleskine%20friendly%20ink?m=0

 

R&K Pernambuco or Old Bourdeax or Sepia

PR Tangerine Dream, Ebony Blue

Iroshi syo-ro (dark turquoise) or fuyo-syogun (blue dk grey) or Kon Peki (turquoise), Yu Yake (orange), Momji (autumn leaves),

Diamine Monaco Red

Sailor Yuku Akari (light blue) or Shigure purple, Tokiwa green,Irore red

DeA Spätburgunder, Dornfelder

CdA Storm (dark purple-black, one of my favorites)

Noodlers Saguaro Wine or Forest Green, Army Green, Cayenne, Red Black

Pelikan Red

Visconti Burgundy

 

 

That should hold ya.

Edited May 2, 2012 by radellaf

[sidewinderwcc]

Pencil. Or a recycle bin. Then just go get a Rhodia Webnotebook. Much less muss and fuss. That's the whole reason I switched. I found the Webnotebook far more user friendly.

 

Thank you for your wonderfully helpful reply.

 

I have had some luck with Noodler's Apache Sunset with a fine nib.

Edited May 5, 2012 by sidewinderwcc

[Uncle Red]

Cool, Apache Sunset is a great color. Have you tried any of the others?

[XiaoMG]

I don't think I can provide much that's useful, but I would like to add that I found R&K Scabiosa somewhat unpleasant in my Moleskine, contrary to expectations I had walking into it. It's not a terrible ink, but it fluffs out and has minor feathering on the Moleskine paper. It and Sailor Seiboku have been pretty disappointing in that regard, though I like them otherwise.

 

Afraid I still haven't found any fountain pen colors that work well in my Moleskine. Gel pens have immense advantages for this kind of situation.

[radellaf]

Well, y'know, if all else fails (you have really poor paper in a particular moleskine), there's always Noodler's X-Feather. Never had to resort to it, but have a bottle just in case 80/20 dilution of BB doesn't work.

[XiaoMG]

Well, y'know, if all else fails (you have really poor paper in a particular moleskine), there's always Noodler's X-Feather. Never had to resort to it, but have a bottle just in case 80/20 dilution of BB doesn't work.

The title of this thread is asking about non-black, non-blue colors.

[Bigeddie]

Montblanc Ink of Joy plays nicely. Most of my pens are loaded with blue and black, but Iroshizuku Kon-Peki is a very pretty blue and also does well in my current moleskine.

[mhphoto]

Not a Moleskine fan, but like you I have several and I aim to fill every page.

 

I wrote a short story the other day using J. Herbin Rouge Hematite and was pleased to see that it neither bled through or even had any bad show through areas. I was using a Noodler's Flex, but wasn't flexing except for the title, and even that didn't bleed through.

[radellaf]

deleted

Edited May 7, 2012 by radellaf

[nottmbantam]

Like you, I like my Moleskines, although I did order a couple of Leuchttram 1917 books so have them to look forward to when the Molesines finally get filled. I also prefer darker colours but my range of inks is rather limited.

 

Mont Blanc Irish Green is a nice bright vibrant colour, as is the Diamine Matador - a really bright red. I also have MB Burgundy Red but have decided I don't really like it as on the Moleskine, it comes looking like a faint brown colour. I use EF nibs on all my pens, so the thinner lines I think give a fainter colour.

 

Just my £0.02p worth.

[robynsnest]

I am apparently in the minority in that I really like moleskine. However, I'm sure this is due to me using mostly EF nibs. I really like the paper and the color and I use all kinds of ink on it with no problem whatsoever. I use J. Herbin, Noodlers, Diamine, Sailor.....trying to remember what else I've used....

[adam11]

R&K Scabiosa is very nice and should do OK with finer nib like your Esterbrook.

[radellaf]

The nib and flow really do make all the difference. Even my old, very feathering, bottle of BSB is working OK in a Pilot 78G fine. A Prera M can be wet enough to use lighter colors in but I'm sure many would call it on the dry side. Those "juicy" nibs that I personally dislike are often over the limit even for the best inks. Flow is probably more important than width, as I have another pilot F that is wetter, and much less versatile with inks in a moleskine.

This is all with old-stock or Turkish paper. Some books are so bad that there may be nothing colorful that will work.

[annettefhorn]

I like Moleskines and use one of the daily calendars for to-do lists. The inks I'm currently using with it are:

 

• Diamine Green-Black (very slightly diluted) in TWSBI fine nib
  
• Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo (straight) in EF Pelikan
  

 

No problems at all with either one.