Hero 232 Blue Black ?

[jyaan]

I got a bottle of Hero 232 Blue-Black in the mail today, but it looks purple. Is this normal for this ink or do I need to contact the seller? It doesn't look like any of the scans I've seen.

 

When I rinse a pen containing blue-black iron gall ink, the tap water turns the diluted ink into a dusty purple. This makes me wonder if the ink has been contaminated or reconstituted (improperly).

[OCArt]

Herp 232 B-B is one of my favorite inks. Like all iron gall inks it will look different until it dies and , for lack of a better word, ages. The aging time-- I suppose it is oxidizing- varies with paper. It will also look different with different pens.

[jyaan]

The color is actually slightly more purple in reality. I would personally never call what I got blue-black. Anyway, does this look right?

Edited June 16, 2016 by jyaan

[jyaan]

Herp 232 B-B is one of my favorite inks. Like all iron gall inks it will look different until it dies and , for lack of a better word, ages. The aging time-- I suppose it is oxidizing- varies with paper. It will also look different with different pens.

I tried a Lamy Safari EF as well as Zebra G and Esterbrook Falcon (dip) pens. Papers were Rhodia, a Staples notebook (Brazil), and HP Laserjet. All are purple. It also looks purple in the bottle so it's not oxidation.

 

Does yours look purple? If not, perhaps you could name an ink that has a similar hue to your Hero 232?

[OCArt]

Yes jyaan, your swabs match mine. I do think you will see the color change more as it ages.. Save the swab test and look at it again next week.

[jyaan]

Yes jyaan, your swabs match mine. I do think you will see the color change more as it ages.. Save the swab test and look at it again next week.

Wow, interesting. I was expecting something more like ESSRI, although I do like the color (and I don't have anything like it). Glad nothing strange is going on with it. Thanks.

[PS104]

I like it

But we're obviously of two different mind sets

I'd buy it if my B&M sold it

[jyaan]

This ink looks really great with a wetter nib -- especially on an ink-resistant paper such as the Rhodia I used here. I particularly like how it shades from dusty purple to black.

[sciumbasci]

How safe is that ink to use? How is the QC? I don't want to risk my Safari.

 

I bought an hero pen and was so much disappointed that I'm buying alternatives to Chinese hooded pens.

[doggonecarl]

I got a bottle of Hero 232 Blue-Black in the mail today, but it looks purple. Is this normal for this ink or do I need to contact the seller? It doesn't look like any of the scans I've seen.

 

When I rinse a pen containing blue-black iron gall ink, the tap water turns the diluted ink into a dusty purple. This makes me wonder if the ink has been contaminated or reconstituted (improperly).

 

Interesting. I noticed the same thing with the new bottle of Cross Blue-Black--the violet undertones when I tested the ink for water resistance. Cross, which I understood to be re-branded Pelikan ink, is now made in China. Perhaps by Hero, since it shares the color attributes.

 

Dry, Cross B/B looks similar to Lamy Blue/Black.

[jyaan]

 

Interesting. I noticed the same thing with the new bottle of Cross Blue-Black--the violet undertones when I tested the ink for water resistance. Cross, which I understood to be re-branded Pelikan ink, is now made in China. Perhaps by Hero, since it shares the color attributes.

 

Dry, Cross B/B looks similar to Lamy Blue/Black.

Hero 232 has an odd soapy smell. When brushed with water, the letters remain but become a shade lighter and tint the water. Platinum Blue-Black, Sailor Sei-Boku and Noodler's 54th are all more waterproof.

 

Anyway, based on old scans I've seen on FPN, I think the 232 formula has changed. Perhaps they're consolidating manufacturing with other brands to save on costs?

 

How safe is that ink to use? How is the QC? I don't want to risk my Safari.

 

I bought an hero pen and was so much disappointed that I'm buying alternatives to Chinese hooded pens.

I think any modern fountain pen ink should be safe as long as you clean your pens properly and don't let ink dry out in them. I use a bulb syringe to make it quick and easy.