Blue Racer - Bookbinder's Snake Ink

[visvamitra]

Bookbinders is an Australian online store that creators claim to be “on a relentless quest in search of products that will fire the imagination of the 21st century writer”. There mauy be something to their words – the company presents their products in attractive and inspiring way. Some time ago Bookbinders started yo offer Snake Ink to their customers. The ink is sold in 30 ml bottles inspired in design “by the wily snake oil salesmen of the early 1900’s, and in colour by the beautiful and dangerous snakes of the world”.

Snake Ink is available in 5 different colours. The samples of three new inks were send to me by mmg122 – thank you !

1. Blue Coral (blue), Blue Coral revisited
   
2. Blue Racer
   
3. Eastern Brown (brown)
   
4. Emerald Boa (green)
   
5. Everglades Ratsnake (orange)
   
6. Ground Rattler
   
7. Red-belly Black (black)
   
8. Red Spitting Cobra
   

You can read about Blue Rcaer snake here:

Blue Racer ink can be described as something in between blue and blue / black. I don’t think it’s true blue black – it’s too light.

The ink behaves well but not spectacular – in regular nib (Delta Stantuffo) it feels dry and lacks lubrication. If you enjoy the feel of writing with Sailor inks or Noodler’s Eel inks this one will disappoint you.

I haven’t experienced any feathering or bleedthrough even on cheaper papers. That’s a plus. Blue Racer shows zero water-resistance. It tends to offer some shading.

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Tomoe River, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Lyreco, Waterman Kultur, medium nib

Copy paper, Waterman Kultur, medium nib

Oxford, Hero 5028, stub 1,9

Water resistance

Comparison

Edited July 30, 2016 by visvamitra

[Kenlowe]

Super color and nice interesting review from a make that is new to me.

 

Thanks for posting.

Edited July 30, 2016 by Kenlowe

[mmg122]

Glad to see the ink arrived safely, Vis. Thanks for the review and all the work you put into them.

[cleosmama]

Funny--I like the ink splash, but I'm not all that impressed by its color as a writing sample.

 

Thanks so much for these reviews, Vis.

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the review.

This looks like a nice color, but I'm not sure I'm all that keen on the non-water resistance. I think it might go on my "maybe" list.... Anyone in the US carrying the line? I've seen a few reviews, but this the first one that really grabbed my attention.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Barkingpig]

Thanks for the review.

This looks like a nice color, but I'm not sure I'm all that keen on the non-water resistance. I think it might go on my "maybe" list.... Anyone in the US carrying the line? I've seen a few reviews, but this the first one that really grabbed my attention.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

ANDERSON PENS has been carrying this ink for some time.