Gel Pens And Fading

[Charles Skinner]

I just bought some "gel" refills for my Montblanc "ball point pens." I like them better than the ink that came in the pen. My question is: ---- Do you believe gel pen ink will last longer before fading than regular ball point ink? Or not as long? This is important for me because of my journal writing.

 

Write on into the beautiful sunset!

 

C.S.

[aurore]

Cannot speak for MB, but in general it really depends. Some ballpoint refills fade a lot (CdA for example), some fade less. The same goes for gel refills. In general most of my JPN gel refills have faded slower than most of my G2 ballpoint refills (Parker, Faber Castell, Aurora).
But actually this does not mean it is the same with MB refills

Edited October 27, 2018 by aurore

[sciumbasci]

I have notes written with a Pilot G2 from high school. The paper sheet turned yellow, the scribbles are still crisp.

 

If permanency and archival qualities are of concern to you, a pencil is as archival as it gets. Doesn't fade, doesn't eat the paper, will remain legible for centuries.

[usk15]

2 years ago I have done an water/sun exposure test myself on different bp and gel refills:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/316088-ballpoint-refills-test/

[amberleadavis]

2 years ago I have done an water/sun exposure test myself on different bp and gel refills:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/316088-ballpoint-refills-test/

 

 

Absolutely wonderful!!!

 

I've done fade tests too and my results were similar.

 

http://www.sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Tests/Fade/2012/Subjects/slides/24-2012-10-14_001.jpghttp://www.sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Tests/Fade/2012/Subjects/slides/26-2012_10_29.jpghttp://www.sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Tests/Fade/2012/Subjects/slides/30-2012-10-14_001.jpghttp://www.sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Tests/Fade/2012/Subjects/slides/105.jpghttp://www.sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Tests/Fade/2012/Subjects/slides/113.jpg

 

The Sakura gel pens were the best I used.

[usk15]

 

 

Absolutely wonderful!!!

 

I've done fade tests too and my results were similar.

 

The Sakura gel pens were the best I used.

 

 

Thank you!

I think I remember reading about your test a while ago, maybe you can post a link to your test.

 

For testing BP/Gel/RB refills there should be a standard:

Writing on cheap paper, good paper, shiny paper.

Sample exposed to wash/normal dry/sun-direct light for at least 4-6 months.

Also refill itself left for a while before start writing again, to see if any consistency gone/improve.

 

Unfortunately I have moved house and I don't have proper condition to conduct any tests for now.

[amberleadavis]

On the test we tried the same ink on thirty papers. The modern papers made no difference to how fast the ink faded. *papers that were not acid / lignin free were a prone to color change but that didn't necessarily effect the ink.