What Waterproof Inks Could I Use With A Pilot Parallel Pen?

[Monica B]

HI,

I'm somewhat new to the forum... My question is...can I use waterproof inks with a pen like this?

 

If you haven't seen a pilot parallel here are some photos that someone posted on Flickr:

flickr.com/photos/carmelscribe/sets/72157622082982460/

 

I got that pen to learn calligraphy and have been using constantly. But I think the brauser and speedball nibs give a shaper line, but I endedup liking this Parallel pen for drawing because is capable of drawing monolinea, while I couldn't do it with a brauser.

 

I don't use the cartridge. I just fill the entire barrel with "NOn-Waterproof Higgins" ink.

 

I have a bottle of "waterproof Higgins" ink, but haven't used, I'm wondering if I could use that with a pen or is this only for dip pens?

 

I would like to watercolor over my drawings without smudging.

What would be the other options? Dr PH Martins' Bombay India Ink ?

Could I fill the pen with acrylic inks or that would clog the pen?

 

Monica

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Randal6393]

Yep, waterproof inks are normally for use with dip pens. You might get away with using the Higgins in a fountain pen for a while but sooner or later ... If you want to do watercolor over a drawing, use an India ink in a dip pen. Not too expensive, works well.

 

Enjoy,

[brunico]

Acrylic and India inks will gum up a fountain pen sooner or later, but people here have successfully used these inks and homemade inks in their Parallels, presumably flushing the pen straight after. I hope they see your question and share their experience. As you know from the flickr link, you can disassemble the pen (though I've never managed myself!) if it doesn't work out.

 

As for other options, here's a review that tests Noodler's Black and Platinum Carbon black on different papers. The Platinum (like Sailor Kiwa-guro) is a carbon ink that has smaller particles than sumi ink, making it fine for fountain pens. There are other waterproof fountain pen inks and other reviews by watercolourists, some in greater detail about the wash-resistance, but hopefully this will give you a start.

[OakIris]

You should be able to use any of the bullet proof/waterproof inks that are made for fountain pens.

 

I am surprised that you are not having problems with the Higgins ink; generally speaking, Higgins inks are rather thick - great for dip pens, but not for fountain pens, which is basically what your Pilot Parallel is. I think that almost all calligraphy inks that are marked as waterproof contain shellac so they won't work at all - they will clog up your pen and make it unusable. India ink contains both shellac (or gellatin) and soot (lampblack) so is definitely only for dip pen use. I should think that acrylic inks are equally bad for fountain pens.

 

I am sure there are other users of this pen here on FPN - we do have some fine artists here! - so hopefully they will post in your thread to tell you with what inks they have had success.

 

Holly

 

ETA - lol, took me so long to write this that two others have already responded with basically the same information. I guess you get the picture!

Edited August 29, 2013 by OakIris

[Monica B]

Holly,

right now I have inside this pen a "non waterproof Higgins" ont he bottle it reads foutain pen india. So maybe that's why it didn't dry .

 

I also have a small bottle of waterproof higgins. but I was afraid of using, so it was a good thing i didn't.

 

I also did something crazy a while ago...I got one tube of M. Graham watercolor with a very staining pigment named Maroon Perylene...it stains plastic palettes heavily...so I diluted in water and filled the pen.

 

It was fun to use, but after one or two days it started to dry a little inside the transparent plastic piece..Watercolors have gum arabic, and MGrahams adds honey to them, and I thought the pigment was a dye but I guess it had some granulation so, my mistake.

 

So I fully disassambled the pen and cleaned with water. Then I replaced with the Higgins mentioned above that has been filled weeks ago, and still working. Is amazing how much ink the body of this pen can hold.

I have a 3.8mm, maybe that's why it hasn't clogged.

 

But I'm interested in this noddler's ink, I'm going to see if I can find online.

 

Monica

[OakIris]

Sounds as if you have had good luck with the Higgins, Monica. I do have a yet-to-be-opened bottle of Higgin's Eternal Black. The box says it is "archival carbon writing ink," which sounds as if it should be pretty permanent, but it doesn't say anywhere that it is or isn't waterproof. The box also shows that the ink can be used for calligraphy (dip pen,) in a fountain pen or in an airbrush. I still only plan to use it with my dip pens. (To be honest, I don't have any black fountain pen inks; not my favorite color for an ink. )

 

I am not sure where you live, but Noodler's inks are readily available online. You might also check with local art supply stores. Some of them do carry a limited number of fountain pens and inks along with calligraphy pens and inks; at least one of the ones here in Denver does carry a pretty good selection of Noodler's.

 

Holly

Edited August 29, 2013 by OakIris

[Monica B]

Holly

I found the nodlers ink online at the John Neal Bookseller website, and they say the black ink they is lightfast and waterproof and can be used with my pen and fountain pens...

 

So waterproof is what Im looking for, so I'm going to order and experiment with that.