Diamine Ochre - Staining?

[Renfield]

Hey Folks.

 

I was kind enough to get given three Diamine samples; Ochre, Macassar and Ancient Copper.

 

I noticed when they arrived that the Ochre seemed to stain the vial, whereas the other inks, flowed around the vial and left it a clear plastic.

 

I loaded them into Lammy Vista and Safari pens, by refilling empty cartridges. Tonight when I was cleaning some of the pens waiting for some samples to be delivered from The Goulets, I noticed that the cartridge that contained the Ochre is now stained, but the Macassar and Damson cleaned perfectly. Also the Ochre was a bit more stubborn to clear out of the Vista (I had to remove the feed and clean it thoroughly)

 

There was a few splatters around the sink and onto the white marble work surface, but I did not think much about it, as I am not a tidy worker

 

But when I cleaned it up, the Ochre has left a pink staining on the marble, and the others cleaned up. I tried a few mutli surface cleaners, and no joy. No doubt it will come off eventually, but I wondered if anyone else found this with Diamine Ochre?

 

It is my new favourite colour, and I certainly will not stop using it, I will just have to be more careful

 

Anyone else?

 

Ren

[dragos.mocanu]

Indeed this is an issue with the Diamine Ochre (incidentally, it's my favourite ink as well). I found that it is composed of a very strong magenta pigment that doesn't come off too easily (and apparently it stains celluloid to the point that you can't take it off...I have a few small marks on my Esterbrook where the cap lip comes in contact with the barrel), and a yellow pigment, that washes off completely and immediately. I wonder if it has the same effect on acrylic. Anyone else having issues with this ink?

[K. Cakes]

Indeed this is an issue with the Diamine Ochre (incidentally, it's my favourite ink as well). I found that it is composed of a very strong magenta pigment that doesn't come off too easily (and apparently it stains celluloid to the point that you can't take it off...I have a few small marks on my Esterbrook where the cap lip comes in contact with the barrel), and a yellow pigment, that washes off completely and immediately. I wonder if it has the same effect on acrylic. Anyone else having issues with this ink?

Yep. The magenta stains something terrible. Sink, hands, pen and nib, converter... It takes some elbow grease but it will come off of everything without bleach (which is where I stop using an ink).

[smiorgan]

That's another Diamine ink with strong pink component added to the list:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/247336-diamine-pink-stains/

 

I'm not bothered, that's what my Lamy Safaris are for--though I am now wondering what else is lurking in my recent haul from Diamine and whether the Hope Pink is ever going to flush out (good job I like it)

[OakIris]

I am using Diamine Ochre in my copper Esterbrook; a perfect color match, IMHO. I haven't yet purchased a bottle, just have a sample from Goulet Pens, and noticed the coating of ink on the sides of the sample vial right away, just as Ren observed. I was already forewarned of the "downsides" before I bought the sample, having read about the staining elsewhere, so I was prepared for this and didn't plan to use it in a clear pen anyway.

 

After I first filled the pen I noticed that the ink also left deposits on the nib and feed, the "nib crud" for which Ancient Copper, among other inks containing red dye, is also known. A quick wipe with a soft cloth removes the crud so it isn't a big deal to me, but others might want to be aware of this. I haven't noticed the crud lately; I think it is because the pen is just about empty.

 

Since the ink is running low and will be out before I can refill it, I will give the pen a thorough cleaning - as with any ink, letting it dry out in the pen is a bad idea. I will, however, be buying a bottle of this ink despite its possible/probable staining properties and the nib crud. If it stains, I doubt that I will notice it on the copper colored plastic and, though the crud is a slight annoyance, from what I have read it does not cause any harm to the pen, nib or fill system.

 

I think Diamine Ochre is a lovely color and it looks wonderful coming out of this copper Estie. For me it is a keeper.

 

Holly

 

[dragos.mocanu]

I am using Diamine Ochre in my copper Esterbrook; a perfect color match, IMHO. I haven't yet purchased a bottle, just have a sample from Goulet Pens, and noticed the coating of ink on the sides of the sample vial right away, just as Ren observed. I was already forewarned of the "downsides" before I bought the sample, having read about the staining elsewhere, so I was prepared for this and didn't plan to use it in a clear pen anyway.

 

After I first filled the pen I noticed that the ink also left deposits on the nib and feed, the "nib crud" for which Ancient Copper, among other inks containing red dye, is also known. A quick wipe with a soft cloth removes the crud so it isn't a big deal to me, but others might want to be aware of this. I haven't noticed the crud lately; I think it is because the pen is just about empty.

 

Since the ink is running low and will be out before I can refill it, I will give the pen a thorough cleaning - as with any ink, letting it dry out in the pen is a bad idea. I will, however, be buying a bottle of this ink despite its possible/probable staining properties and the nib crud. If it stains, I doubt that I will notice it on the copper colored plastic and, though the crud is a slight annoyance, from what I have read it does not cause any harm to the pen, nib or fill system.

 

I think Diamine Ochre is a lovely color and it looks wonderful coming out of this copper Estie. For me it is a keeper.

 

Holly

 

I used to fill my Copper Estie with Ochre (for about 2 months now), but I discovered 3 magenta specs just where the cap lip sits on the barrel, and switched the ink immediately. I suggest you don't wait for those to appear...you can only spot them at a close inspection, but if you're like me and cherish that Esterbrook a lot, you will spot them too.

I will use the ink in a Parker 45 from now on, the chance of getting ink in the cap is smaller, and the plastic has a darker color.

[OakIris]

I used to fill my Copper Estie with Ochre (for about 2 months now), but I discovered 3 magenta specs just where the cap lip sits on the barrel, and switched the ink immediately. I suggest you don't wait for those to appear...you can only spot them at a close inspection, but if you're like me and cherish that Esterbrook a lot, you will spot them too.

I will use the ink in a Parker 45 from now on, the chance of getting ink in the cap is smaller, and the plastic has a darker color.

 

Hmmm, interesting. I have yet to get any ink leaking into the cap of my Estie....I used to have a major problem with a Parker 21; every time I removed the cap - and the pen was only used here at home at my desk so never got jostled about - there would be ink in the cap and thus on the nib section and my fingers. I finally stopped using it, though I still have it. I've noticed no such problem with any of my Esterbrooks.....

 

Thank you for the warning, but I think I will take my chances and keep using the Ochre in my Estie - I don't usually go out of my way to match ink color to pen color, but this match is hard to resist. A few specks of magenta will just add character, right?!? (Hope I don't live to regret this decision. )

 

By the way, what ink are you using in your copper Estie now?

 

Holly

Edited June 18, 2013 by OakIris

[dragos.mocanu]

 

Hmmm, interesting. I have yet to get any ink leaking into the cap of my Estie....I used to have a major problem with a Parker 21; every time I removed the cap - and the pen was only used here at home at my desk so never got jostled about - there would be ink in the cap and thus on the nib section and my fingers. I finally stopped using it, though I still have it. I've noticed no such problem with any of my Esterbrooks.....

 

Thank you for the warning, but I think I will take my chances and keep using the Ochre in my Estie - I don't usually go out of my way to match ink color to pen color, but this match is hard to resist. A few specks of magenta will just add character, right?!? (Hope I don't live to regret this decision. )

 

By the way, what ink are you using in your copper Estie now?

 

Holly

The Estie doesn't seriously leak in the cap, but it will leave some ink traces over time (where the nib ends and the section begins)...The sad thing is that it doesn't need much ink to stain... sometimes when I replaced the cap I touched the cap lip with the nib, and left a bit of ink there as well, and as the pen sat idly, the ink seems to have decomposed on the barrel, just where the cap lip sits. I don't know if it penetrated the cellulose, but it seems I really can't get it off (tried a lot of elbow grease...to no avail). But as I said previously, you really have to look close to spot those magenta specks.

At the moment I've got it filled with Diamine Sherwood Green, which is another favourite of mine (simply gorgeous), but then, my favourite color is green, so I may be biased ...and it seems to complement the copper color of the barrel very nicely (it all seems very natural, like a tree branch with deep green leaves).

The Diamine Ochre is waiting for it's next host, a gorgeous black Dollar Pen with a 2442 nib (so I won't care about staining this time).

Edited June 20, 2013 by dragos.mocanu

[OakIris]

The Estie doesn't seriously leak in the cap, but it will leave some ink traces over time (where the nib ends and the section begins)...The sad thing is that it doesn't need much ink to stain... sometimes when I replaced the cap I touched the cap lip with the nib, and left a bit of ink there as well, and as the pen sat idly, the ink seems to have decomposed on the barrel, just where the cap lip sits. I don't know if it penetrated the cellulose, but it seems I really can't get it off (tried a lot of elbow grease...to no avail). But as I said previously, you really have to look close to spot those magenta specks.

At the moment I've got it filled with Diamine Sherwood Green, which is another favourite of mine (simply gorgeous), but then, my favourite color is green, so I may be biased ...and it seems to complement the copper color of the barrel very nicely (it all seems very natural, like a tree branch with deep green leaves).

The Diamine Ochre is waiting for it's next host, a gorgeous black Dollar Pen with a 2442 nib (so I won't care about staining this time).

 

I had second thoughts about using the Diamine Ochre in my copper Estie. I like the color, but really don't want to risk staining my pen and this does seem to be an issue with this ink, at least for some. So I cleaned and flushed out the pen this weekend and filled it with a sample of Iroshizuku Tsu Kushi 'Horsetail;' this is a nice brown ink that is supposed to be a well behaved ink and it does look good with the copper color of the pen.

 

If I venture back into the "Ochre" world, I will use it in an easily cleaned "modern" pen whose color or pattern won't show staining; I do like the Diamine inks I have or have tried, this one just has some unfortunate "baggage" that comes with it.

 

This weekend I had a mini-meet with some friends and was given a bottle of the Sherwood Green ink, so if I am unable to afford a bottle of the "Horsetail" by the time the sample runs out (which is rather a likely scenario - wish the Pilot inks weren't soooo expensive!) I may give this ink a try next - your impression of the ink and the copper Estie being "very natural," "a tree branch with deep green leaves" is very appealing to me!

 

By the way, I cleaned and flushed out 3 of my Esties this weekend and they all had various amounts of dried ink in their caps - so much for my comment that ink doesn't leak into the caps of MY pens! lol I guess because I never got ink on my hands when using the pens - unlike my experience with my Parker 21, that leaked ink into the cap every time I removed the cap from it - I "assumed" no leakage was occurring.

 

Holly

[Felix1]

I've also noticed a propensity for staining. Otherwise, a great ink.

[dragos.mocanu]

 

I had second thoughts about using the Diamine Ochre in my copper Estie. I like the color, but really don't want to risk staining my pen and this does seem to be an issue with this ink, at least for some. So I cleaned and flushed out the pen this weekend and filled it with a sample of Iroshizuku Tsu Kushi 'Horsetail;' this is a nice brown ink that is supposed to be a well behaved ink and it does look good with the copper color of the pen.

 

If I venture back into the "Ochre" world, I will use it in an easily cleaned "modern" pen whose color or pattern won't show staining; I do like the Diamine inks I have or have tried, this one just has some unfortunate "baggage" that comes with it.

 

This weekend I had a mini-meet with some friends and was given a bottle of the Sherwood Green ink, so if I am unable to afford a bottle of the "Horsetail" by the time the sample runs out (which is rather a likely scenario - wish the Pilot inks weren't soooo expensive!) I may give this ink a try next - your impression of the ink and the copper Estie being "very natural," "a tree branch with deep green leaves" is very appealing to me!

 

By the way, I cleaned and flushed out 3 of my Esties this weekend and they all had various amounts of dried ink in their caps - so much for my comment that ink doesn't leak into the caps of MY pens! lol I guess because I never got ink on my hands when using the pens - unlike my experience with my Parker 21, that leaked ink into the cap every time I removed the cap from it - I "assumed" no leakage was occurring.

 

Holly

 

Please note that recently I've noticed some pink 'gunk' at the opening of the cartridge of a Parker 45. The cartridge was filled with Ochre...so I won't be using the Ochre with any of my fountain pens anymore, I will probably use a dip-nib with it (because I really really love the color).

 

Aside from this, a small amount of leakage is normal with Esties...because the threads of the section will never be a perfect match for the threads of the removable nib...but it will not leak seriously. If you clean the inside of the cap monthly (every time you flush the pen or so) you should be fine.