Is Blue Black Ink In General 'unstable'?

[crazyaboutpens]

I recently got a few bottles of chelpark blue black which were manufactured in 2011. As this ink is not made anymore I had to buy what they had as I wanted to try the blue black from chelpark. When I filled one of my pens with this ink and got down to write, the ink was not at all blue or black or anything near! It was like some greenish blue cousin of Camlin green! Same thing happened with a bottle of camlin blue black I bought a few days back (it was manufactured in the '80s I think). I threw all of the 3 bottles.

Now my question is 'Is blue black ink is quite unstable? Or is this just my experience?'

[jmccarty3]

Many blue/black inks have a green or teal cast to them, which I dislike as well. Take a look around the ink reviews--I believe there is a thread that compares a good number of blue-blacks, and you will find several that are not green. Try Diamines 1864 Blue Black (not their regular blue-black), Montblanc Midnight Blue, and Iroshizuku Shin-kai.

[Paddler]

I think it has to do with paper chemistry; at least with Parker's blue black Quink. It is green on some papers and blue black on others (same pen and same fill).

[Joane]

Seconding MB Midnight Blue as an excellent blue-black with no green. I don't think it's a question of stability but rather a number of blue-blacks have that green cast. I stopped using Waterman Blue-Black, a longtime favourite, because it became too green. What don't they get about "blue + black = blue-black?"

[jmccarty3]

Here is a thread for your interest, also in the Inky Thoughts subforum:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/282538-inky-t-o-d-color-swatches-blueblack-please-post-your-pictures-and-tell-us-your-thoughts/page-4?do=findComment&comment=3379813

[Sandy1]

 

Hi,

 

Chelpark BlBk was reformulated some years ago from an iron-gall ink to a simple aniline dye ink.*

 

In addition to the above Replies, it may be the case that your ink is of the I-G formulation, and the I-G component has degraded. As mentioned in my wee Review of Ecclesiastical Stationery Supplies Registrars Ink, I-G ink can degrade due to time alone, and that degradation may be hastened by improper storage, especially high temperatures and exposure to UV light.

 

Bye,

S1

 

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* Ink Review - Chelpark Permanent Blue-Black : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/216369-chelpark-blue-black/page__view__findpost__p__2272481

[ac12]

That is my problem with blue-black inks, there is a HUGE range of color.

Some are greenish, some are grayish, etc. It all depends on what the manufacturer decides they want to call blue-black.

So you have to sample different inks to find the color that YOU like.

 

I personally do NOT like blue-blacks that look grey.

So my choice of blue-black is Diamine Midnight. It is not really a blue-black, but a VERY DARK blue.

[hbdk]

There are a LOT of different BB inks around, many with a teal like hue, and some more like a grey/blue. Personally I like Hero 232 (probably an iron gall ink), Diamine BB, Diamine Denim (more blue than black but still quite dark) and Pelikan 4001 BB - a true BB in a wet pen but more like a grey/blue in a dry pen.

[delano]

That is my problem with blue-black inks, there is a HUGE range of color.

 

 

 

I share your pain. There is too much of a diversity of color that is all called by the same name. Short of buying all the blue-black ink available and testing it myself, scouring reviews and collating them, hoping at least many of the inks are covered, just seems to me too daunting to be practical.

[crazyaboutpens]

The chelpark blue black which I had was the dye based formulation. It had quite a bit of sediments as well. The camlin one was IG I think. I have a page written with it I will share the picture soon as my scanner is running on its last legs....

[crazyaboutpens]

 

 

I share your pain. There is too much of a diversity of color that is all called by the same name. Short of buying all the blue-black ink available and testing it myself, scouring reviews and collating them, hoping at least many of the inks are covered, just seems to me too daunting to be practical.

I agree. For example sheaffer blue black which my dad got me is more like blue grey. I washed off the writing with it and I found out that it is based off a green dye...

[Sandy1]

The chelpark blue black which I had was the dye based formulation. It had quite a bit of sediments as well. The camlin one was IG I think. I have a page written with it I will share the picture soon as my scanner is running on its last legs....

 

Hi,

 

As the ink has 'quite a bit of sediment', I suggest not using the ink.

 

Sediment in I-G ink is typically not a problem so long as it is not drawn into a pen whilst filling, but sediment in an aline dye ink indicates gross chemical break-down and /or biological contamination.

 

So sorry for you.

 

Bye,

S1

[crazyaboutpens]

 

Hi,

 

As the ink has 'quite a bit of sediment', I suggest not using the ink.

 

Sediment in I-G ink is typically not a problem so long as it is not drawn into a pen whilst filling, but sediment in an aline dye ink indicates gross chemical break-down and /or biological contamination.

 

So sorry for you.

 

Bye,

S1

Well I noticed the sediments when I was cleaning the eyedropper which I used with the ink. I threw all three bottles. My dad got me a bottle of sheaffer blue black but the reason why I got blue black in the first place was that the chelpark blue black was advertised as being permanent which is very important if you want your notes to be still readable after 3-4 years (chelpark washable royal blue fades so much in a year that it is illegible). Did you too notice the same?

[Sandy1]

Well I noticed the sediments when I was cleaning the eyedropper which I used with the ink. I threw all three bottles. My dad got me a bottle of sheaffer blue black but the reason why I got blue black in the first place was that the chelpark blue black was advertised as being permanent which is very important if you want your notes to be still readable after 3-4 years (chelpark washable royal blue fades so much in a year that it is illegible). Did you too notice the same?

 

Hi,

 

Washable inks are more likely to fade over time than non-Washable FP inks. Some Members have reported fading of Washable inks within a very short time (weeks), yet there are some instances where a Washable ink has survived for decades.

 

Much depends on the paper and the storage conditions - not just the ink.

 

I expect the Sheaffer Blue-Black ink will endure for 3 - 4 years on fairly good paper.

 

If you have a choice of paper for your notes, I would suggest using a laser copy/print paper of 90gsm that is made by a multinational company, (such as HP, Xerox, etc.), which is more likely to have less acid than some local-market notebooks. Ideally, papers should meet the ISO 9706 standard.*

 

While I strongly support the practice of sourcing your ink and paper from local suppliers, if you cannot choose your paper, then you could look into importing a more permanent ink, such as the I-G ESSRI http://www.registrarsink.co.uk/registrars_ink.html

 

Bye,

S1

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* Wiki 'Acid-Free Paper' : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid-free_paper

Edited June 10, 2015 by Sandy1

[crazyaboutpens]

 

Hi,

 

Washable inks are more likely to fade over time than non-Washable FP inks. Some Members have reported fading of Washable inks within a very short time (weeks), yet there are some instances where a Washable ink has survived for decades.

 

Much depends on the paper and the storage conditions - not just the ink.

 

I expect the Sheaffer Blue-Black ink will endure for 3 - 4 years on fairly good paper.

 

If you have a choice of paper for your notes, I would suggest using a laser copy/print paper of 90gsm that is made by a multinational company, (such as HP, Xerox, etc.), which is more likely to have less acid than some local-market notebooks. Ideally, papers should meet the ISO 9706 standard.*

 

While I strongly support the practice of sourcing your ink and paper from local suppliers, if you cannot choose your paper, then you could look into importing a more permanent ink, such as the I-G ESSRI http://www.registrarsink.co.uk/registrars_ink.html

 

Bye,

S1

__ __

* Wiki 'Acid-Free Paper' : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid-free_paper

I am using Classmate paper which is the best quality paper I can afford for notes taking. Classmate paper is held in quite high regard in India. I do think it is acid free, but I am not sure. As for permanent ink, I have a bottle of Chelpark sapphire blue which is advertised as being permanent but I don't have the ink for that long so I cannot really comment. I use Camlin permanent Black and Waterman Intense Black for Black inks. I have heard that camlin royal blue is quite permanent as well but I don't have the ink for that long so I cannot really comment.

EDIT: I just checked and classmate claims that their paper is chlorine free, don't know what that means...

Edited June 10, 2015 by crazyaboutpens

[Buzz_130]

I enjoy writing with blue and blue-black inks as they are professional and yet provide a signature look to them. i find it hard to characterize a color as unstable when the manufacture of the inks (regardless of color) may be in question.

 

If permanence is you driving concern, you could also consider nano-pigment inks from Sailor and Platinum. Both make an excellent black, and the Sailor Kiwa Guro is an excellent blue-black. I like Platinum Blue, and the fade tests and waterproof value of these inks is excellent.

 

As Sandy1 also pointed out, iron gall inks may also fill your need. This class of ink has been used for centuries and oxidizes into a blue-black or black. Like their nano-pigment cousins, IG inks fall into the high maintenance category.

 

Good luck with your search.

 

Buzz

[crazyaboutpens]

I enjoy writing with blue and blue-black inks as they are professional and yet provide a signature look to them. i find it hard to characterize a color as unstable when the manufacture of the inks (regardless of color) may be in question.

 

If permanence is you driving concern, you could also consider nano-pigment inks from Sailor and Platinum. Both make an excellent black, and the Sailor Kiwa Guro is an excellent blue-black. I like Platinum Blue, and the fade tests and waterproof value of these inks is excellent.

 

As Sandy1 also pointed out, iron gall inks may also fill your need. This class of ink has been used for centuries and oxidizes into a blue-black or black. Like their nano-pigment cousins, IG inks fall into the high maintenance category.

 

Good luck with your search.

 

Buzz

I had considered IG and nano pigment inks but theses are not available here easily. Moreover here if an ink costs 60rs. (1$) also, it is considered expensive. I got sheaffer blue black as a surprise gift from my dad....