Your Favorite Replacement For Mb's Iron Gall Blue Black

[Blade Runner]

I like the "old school" iron gall blue black, but now that MB no longer produces it, I would like to hear about your favorite replacement, how it compares, and where to get it in the USA. Thank you!

[Brian C]

R and K Salix. Just as dry and a more vibrant blue without any of the greyish purple that MB has.

[Blade Runner]

R and K Salix. Just as dry and a more vibrant blue without any of the greyish purple that MB has.

Thanks. Where can I get some?

[Brian C]

amazon, ebay, Goulet's, it's widely available.

[MKeith]

Anderson Pens has it. Looks like Goulet doesn't have it in stock.

Edited December 28, 2014 by MKeith

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

I find Salix has a far greater Blue aspect than the discontinued MBBlBk c/w I-G.

 

One thing about the I-G inks is that over time they react with both the constituents of the paper and with air (oxidisation), so are the least likely amongst inks to be 'matched' using swatches / swabs.

 

I don't think you're going to find an off-the-shelf doppelgänger, so a bit of blending holds the promise of coming closest.

 

On 21 October Member LPWaterhouse asked if EESRI was a close match to MB Midnight Blue, to which I gave a rather longwinded two part response starting with Post № 392 https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/205705-ecclesiastical-stationery-supplies-registrars-ink/?p=3157109. I hope those are of some use to you.

 

Bye,

S1

[jamesgibby]

i think they do a Midnight Blue ink that is more or less blue/black

[Izzy]

I have the MB Midnight Blue and it is almost identical to my MB Blue/Black but it does not have the permanent quality of BB. Saying that I love the ink

[Jeff_H]

I have the new MB Midnight Blue, and I find it very very black. When I put it on white Rhoda paper and show it to colleagues at work, they all say it looks black. I've used it in my 146 w/fine nib and my Legrand Douè with medium nib.....same results. Is there something you experts recommend I blend in with it to bring out the blue, or could I possibly have a bad bottle?

[Sandy1]

I have the new MB Midnight Blue, and I find it very very black. When I put it on white Rhoda paper and show it to colleagues at work, they all say it looks black. I've used it in my 146 w/fine nib and my Legrand Douè with medium nib.....same results. Is there something you experts recommend I blend in with it to bring out the blue, or could I possibly have a bad bottle?

 

Hi,

 

I have yet to try the non I-G bottled version of MBMBl, but I speculate that it is the same as was previously available in cartridges when the bottled ink had I-G content.

 

I did a wee review of the cartridge version, and found that all samples (seven pens and six papers) the ink retained a Blue aspect - it did not Grey-out or Black-out.

 

Here's a sample of down-strokes from six pens of various wetness on 24lb laser copy/print paper:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20MBMBl-C/5e0b963a.jpg

 

As your ink is so dark as to be perceived as Black, adding Blue won't do much - the Blue will be 'submerged' by the dark ink. Rather, I suggest diluting the ink somewhat to recover the Blue aspect. However, first I'd confirm that there is a Blue aspect by adding a drop of the ink to a white saucer or soup plate full of water. If no Blue is seen, then your bottle may be mislabeled or the ink has some other fault.

 

Bye,

S1

 

 

__ __

- My Review of MBMBl in cartridges https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/199390-montblanc-midnight-blue-cartridges/?p=2030867

- Dilution - A Rough Guide @ Post № 23 : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/218161-need-help-selecting-my-first-japanese-pens/?p=2315439

- Recipes for Blue-Black which combine dilution and blending : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/223337-essri-mixes/?p=2219295

Edited December 29, 2014 by Sandy1

[Blade Runner]

Thanks for all the input. R&K Salix looks like a good candidate. I rather like the idea of more blue. Cheers.

[Michael R.]

Lamy Blue-Black, Diamine Registrar's ink (both are iron gall nut inks; at least older versions of the Lamy are ?!), Organics Studio Blue Merle (non iron gall nut but still a nice dark blue black with grey tones).

 

The suggested R&K also is a great ink brand!

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[mrchan]

I have the new MB Midnight Blue, and I find it very very black. When I put it on white Rhoda paper and show it to colleagues at work, they all say it looks black. I've used it in my 146 w/fine nib and my Legrand Douè with medium nib.....same results. Is there something you experts recommend I blend in with it to bring out the blue, or could I possibly have a bad bottle?

If you find your ink is very dark then I highly doubt its the newer version of Midnight blue as the newer one is disappointingly less dark than the older IG version.