Thicker Inks

[BruceW]

Which ink brands tend to be thicker (more importantly, have higher surface tension)? And what is a good method to distinguish them?

 

I've been using a syringe used for printer cartridge refills and all of my inks seem rather similar in the size of the drop each produces before it falls. And when the drops flatten onto a porcelain surface they are still similar in size. That includes PR Black, Aurora Blue, Pelian Black, Noodlers Sequoia.

 

Could it be that they all have similar surface tension, or is my measure too crude? Are there other inks with a bit higher surface tension?

 

I'm trying to find some in order to see the difference in behaviour when used in a flexed vintage nib.

 

Thanks for your help,

BruceW

Edited June 16, 2005 by BruceW

[antoniosz]

You can read and try to duplicate what this paper says:

http://www.firsttenangstroms.com/pdfdocs/STPaper.pdf

But remember it is not only the surface tension of the ink that matters but also the wetting of the nib and feed materials by the ink

 

AZ

[BruceW]

Hmm... the method is good but would require a true macro lens, which I don't have. So this is a level of precision I probably can't duplicate. I'll review the document a bit more to glean some workable ideas for my more crude resources.

 

If I understand your reference to wetting the feed & nib, my old Watermans are rather wet writers and put a lot of ink through the feed/nib, except that occasionally a shaded line has no ink in the middle, only outlines.

 

It could sometimes be a factor of writing too fast for too extended a period. But one pen has a little more space between the tines and sometimes just doesn't want to feed the ink past the nib hole. But when it does feed the ink, it practically gushes.

[Guest Denis Richard]

Hi Bruce,

 

I would guess that Noodler's inks should have a higher surface tension, just based on the fact that they were designed to avoid feathering.

 

I doubt the difference between inks could be easily messured without professional tools though.

 

Denis.

Edited June 17, 2005 by Denis Richard

[KCat]

I would guess that Noodler's inks should have a higher surface tension, just based on the fact that they were designed to avoid feathering.

that and the fact that many of them have what I've started calling "Noodler's Creep" - they like to seep onto the tops of nibs and such. I don't mind it. Some people more picky about wiping ink off the nib.

[Guest Denis Richard]

I would guess that Noodler's inks should have a higher surface tension, just based on the fact that they were designed to avoid feathering.

that and the fact that many of them have what I've started calling "Noodler's Creep" - they like to seep onto the tops of nibs and such. I don't mind it. Some people more picky about wiping ink off the nib.

yup... that too. BTW, Waterman nibs, with their close to inexistent slit keep Noodler at bay under the nib

[wimg]

Hi Denis,

 

That is only true for some Watemans, not for all. Edsons, Liaisons, Séréités and Carènes come to mind, because they do have a narrow slit without a breathing hole at the top. But the Expert certainly shows ink creep...

 

Warm regards, Wim

[Guest Denis Richard]

Hi Denis,

 

That is only true for some Watemans, not for all. Edsons, Liaisons, Séréités and Carènes come to mind, because they do have a narrow slit without a breathing hole at the top. But the Expert certainly shows ink creep...

 

Warm regards, Wim

True.. true... but Wim, don't you know that there is one and only one pen in the world for which you are not allowed typos.. ever... ever !! pffff... "Séréités"

[Viseguy]

... what I've started calling "Noodler's Creep" - they like to seep onto the tops of nibs and such.  I don't mind it. ...

Hey, I like that, KCat! Nice coinage. I don't mind it either. I've never seen "creep" in any other kind of ink, have you?

 

BTW, the Swishmix inks seem to creep even more than the others. Doesn't bother me. I now own half a quart of 'em!

[wimg]

Hi Denis,

 

That is only true for some Watemans, not for all. Edsons, Liaisons, Séréités and Carènes come to mind, because they do have a narrow slit without a breathing hole at the top. But the Expert certainly shows ink creep...

 

Warm regards, Wim

True.. true... but Wim, don't you know that there is one and only one pen in the world for which you are not allowed typos.. ever... ever !! pffff... "Séréités"

Hey, I got the accents right, that must count for something!

Warm regards, Wim

[Titivillus]

... what I've started calling "Noodler's Creep" - they like to seep onto the tops of nibs and such.  I don't mind it. ...

Hey, I like that, KCat! Nice coinage. I don't mind it either. I've never seen "creep" in any other kind of ink, have you?

 

BTW, the Swishmix inks seem to creep even more than the others. Doesn't bother me. I now own half a quart of 'em!

I've seen creep in Visconti ink and PR but only on particular pen nibs. It might be more a factor of the nib surface in combination with the ink that causes it to creep to the surface.

 

Kurt H

[KCat]

I've seen creep in Visconti ink and PR but only on particular pen nibs. It might be more a factor of the nib surface in combination with the ink that causes it to creep to the surface.

 

Kurt H

I have recently seen Creep in my Estie relief nib with WM Havana. I thought I had put Noodler's Red-Black in it when I saw it was seeping out of the breather hole. But nope, it's the Havana. It's too minor to bother about - not as evident as the Noodler's of which Legal Lapis seems to be my most ambulatory ink.

 

i too think there's nib material involved to an extent. the LL doesn't creep much on my CGB or my Sport nib, but seems to just loooove to envelop my M400 two-tone.

[wimg]

Hmm, I'm sure I have seen creeo happenign in more inks than just Noodler's. I'll try to keep track of it from now on.

 

Oh, Waterman South Seas Blue does it too, for sure! That's one already. And Omas Vespucci Red, that makes two. PR DC SS 2003 Blue too. PR Spearmint. Ok, four now.

 

I'll check more inks as I try them .

 

Warm regards, Wim

[lorenzo114]

Glenn Marcus has one of the best pages on fountain pen ink I've found. He's done a good job of catagorizing ink.

 

He used to have a chart listing inks from thin to thick, but that is gone with the latest redesign. I think I will e-mail him and ask him to put it back.

 

Anyway, this is a good source for ink reviews, and he welcomes contributors.

 

Glenn Marcus' Ink Page

 

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Mike