Looking For Ig Blue/black In The Uk

[Dip n Scratch]

I am in the UK and I was looking for a blue/black that would be getting towards darkness. Well it would be with the iron-gall content...

Alright. So Rohrer & Klinger's Salix and there's Diamine Registrar's ink. Both of these I have used.

I have also used Hero B/B cartridges. I suspect this to be the same as Hero 232 bottled ink. Furthermore I believe that Hero ink also has IG content.

 

The problem is getting the Hero ink. Amazon UK doesn't have it.

It is available on ebay, but I have only found it from a Aussie seller & the shipping is wince-inducing for this Yorkshireman.

The three named inks all have different qualities & exhibit different shades, as far as I can see.

I have not had samples of all three at the same time, so I can write using the same nib.

I think it important to see how they look when using a medium and a EF nib, the sorts that I would usually be using.

[lapis]

I got my Hero 232 bottle direct via ebay from China (I think) and it was inexpensive, just like its shipping. In any case by far the "best" of all three you mentioned. The R&K is too pale and the Registrar's is way too dry.

[Dip n Scratch]

I wanted to obtain sample vials of all 3 named inks in post#1 and use my Ranga 1 dip pen.

Then there are no differences accountable to using differing pens.

The first IG ink I used was the R&K Salix. It didn't turn as dark as I expected.

 

Diamine Registrar's ink I suppose is a old-school blue/black. You only see the blue content as the pen lays down the ink. It then turns black as it dries & oxidises.

Hero 232 blue/black can be more like a black/blue depending on the pen. Salix is a grey blue & I don't know what to make of it at present.

[Noihvo]

 

[Sakura FP Gallery]

Why don't you try Nick Stewart's Randall blueblack. He is based at the UK ! Check out his blog : quinkandbleach.wordpress.com

[Dip n Scratch]

The ESSRI blue/black would have to offer something different to the Diamine Registrar's ink to interest me. But yes... It is very cheap. The quantity is the issue.

If I am to use unfriendly paper, like a Moleskine notebook, then I found that even Herbin Lie de The brown had bad show-through. I graduated to R&K Salix & pure iron-gall ink pretty fast.

The pure IG ink was pretty nasty towards plain steel nibs, it corroded them. The major plus point was that it wrote without show-through.

I have ordered some samples of R&K Salix and Diamine Registrars ink for evaluation purposes.

[Noihvo]

 

[doggonecarl]

Pelikan Blue/Black is iron gall, I believe.

[The Good Captain]

Your choice has to be Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black. Search for the bits on here for the 'official' Pelikan comment that states that the 4001 does contain 'some iron gall'. It's my personal favourite ink of all time.

Widely available here in the UK. A real 'belter'!

[jmccarty3]

If you have access to it, I can highly recommend the KWZ IG Blue-Black. I've used it in a variety of pens, and it behaves perfectly.

[Amory]

Why don't you try Nick Stewart's Randall blueblack. He is based at the UK ! Check out his blog : quinkandbleach.wordpress.com

Nice link. I enjoyed his posts very much. Amory

[DanielCoffey]

I graduated to R&K Salix & pure iron-gall ink pretty fast.

The pure IG ink was pretty nasty towards plain steel nibs, it corroded them. The major plus point was that it wrote without show-through.

I have ordered some samples of R&K Salix and Diamine Registrars ink for evaluation purposes.

 

 

None of the modern IG inks that are commercially produced should have any bad effect on unplated steel nibs. I used both Diamine Registrars and ESSRI for a couple of years on an old german-made steel semi-flex nib from the 30s without any ill effects.

 

I am currently using a bottle of KWZI Iron Gall Blue #1 in a TWSBI 580, again with no issues. It is readily available in the UK. If you wanted a blacker final colour, try the KWZI Iron Gall Blue Black

Edited July 22, 2018 by DanielCoffey

[Dip n Scratch]

I have looked at the Randall Blue/Black. The artwork is fantastic... But i'd need a sample of said ink to coax me into buying that rather than the ESSRI or the KWZ.

Who has the KWZ IG Blue variants in the UK. I have investigated & found the standard inks only (so far).

Daniel: Could you tell me where you got your bottle & the price?

[Runnin_Ute]

Pelikan 4001 Blue Black is my favorite, although I also have KWZI Iron Gall Turquoise. Konrad does a terrific job with IG inks.

[DanielCoffey]

Who has the KWZ IG Blue variants in the UK. I have investigated & found the standard inks only (so far).

Daniel: Could you tell me where you got your bottle & the price?

 

I got mine from The Hamilton Pen Co and the KWZI IG inks are £16.50 (free postage) for 60ml. The non-IG KWZI inks are £12.50 for 60ml.

 

If they are marked as out of stock in a particular colour, it could just be that they are waiting for more sales before putting in another order. They are happy to accept requests for something in the next batch.

 

I bought IG Blue #1 which dries a blue/black then settles to a grey/black, IG Aztec Gold which dries as honey/brown and settles to mid-brown. I also have standard Azure #4 and Green #4 which have been reviewed on FPN.

[DanielCoffey]

Dip n Scratch - I am waiting for some plastic 5ml vials to arrive so if you want to try a sample of the KWZI IG Blue #1, send me a PM. I don't have their IG Blue/Black yet however.

 

I should have the vials by the end of the week.

[Dip n Scratch]

Dan: You have a PM.

Thanks for the offer. I need to try the ink in several pens. and with different nibs.

The IG Blue Black might be jet black in many pens if they are wet or run a very fine nib.

I had this effect with Diamine Registrars Ink in a Lanbitou 3059 which had a 0.38mm nib.

The same pen laid Diamine Majestic Blue down so thickly it was black with a red sheen when dry.

It was the first time any ink had sheened & it wasn't 'good' paper like Clairfontaine or Rhodia.

 

BTW: I have NEVER bought Tomoe River paper. It may have some sort of mystique... It is expensive & I don't know what is so 'special' about it. I know that at only 52gsm it is pretty much 'bank' paper.

[Ghost Plane]

Another vote for KWZ or R&K.

[Dip n Scratch]

I have been waiting for several packets of Hero 359 Blue/Black cartridges.

The last time I had them the colour darkened as it dried/oxidised. That suggested they were Hero 232 Blue Black that had some iron-gall content.

The latest lot seem to suggest a formula change: The ink gets paler as it dries. I was using Tomoe River paper as well as some Oyster colour 100gsm laid paper. The behaviour is the same on both papers. Has anyone else used the Hero 359 and Hero branded 2.6mm cartridges dated around August 2017?

I will let you know if they darken in the next 24 hours, but I don't expect that they will if there hasn't already been a change.

 

So far it looks like KWZ IG #1 and Pelikan 4001 Blue/Black are the best. I am waiting for several samples of other colours. This includes other KWZ IG blues, the #1 is a 'invisible' blue.

I found R&K Salix to be too 'dry' for my taste, too dry for Tomoe River paper. Rhodia is a bit better with this ink, but still too much on the dry side. Although the Pelikan 4001 B/B is said to be dry it is better than the Salix as far as flow is concerned

[Dip n Scratch]

Can you get samples of the Randall Blue/Black? I will try and get a message to Mr Stewart & I hope he will understand why I would just want a sample before buying a full bottle.