EFNIR: Robert Oster Lemon Grass

[LizEF]

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: Robert Oster Lemon Grass

This is review #104 in my series.  Here's the YouTube video:

Post-recording notes: Color is a little brighter green than any of the images show.  Scan is closest, but it's a bit too neon. Cleaning was quick and easy.

And here is a screen of the final result, for those not interested in the video:

Scan of Completed Review:

Zoomed in photo:

Absorbent Paper Closeup (top is puzzle paper like thick newsprint, bottom is old 20lb copy paper):

Images also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap

Previous Review: Diamine Earl Grey.

Want to influence the inky sequence?  Take the "next ink" poll.

Hope you enjoy.  Comments appreciated!

[yazeh]

It's funny how delightful looks with your medium dipped Jinhao and yawn inspiring with EF. I nearly swallowed a very irritated, insufferable  flying sphinx

[LizEF]

1 minute ago, yazeh said:

It's funny how delightful looks with your medium dipped Jinhao and yawn inspiring with EF. I nearly swallowed a very irritated, insufferable  flying sphinx

That's because of the pictures - it really does look like the same color as the swatch, but the cameras and scanner didn't want to capture it.  I'm hoping the new scanner (arrives in a couple weeks) will do better.  We'll see.

 

Meanwhile, did you cough up a hairball after nearly swallowing the sphinx?

[yazeh]

16 minutes ago, LizEF said:

That's because of the pictures - it really does look like the same color as the swatch, but the cameras and scanner didn't want to capture it.  I'm hoping the new scanner (arrives in a couple weeks) will do better.  We'll see.

What I meant to say in a round about way, is that if I had an ink like that, I'd prefer it with a medium nib

 

16 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Meanwhile, did you cough up a hairball after nearly swallowing the sphinx?

Quite a bit

 

[LizEF]

14 minutes ago, yazeh said:

What I meant to say in a round about way, is that if I had an ink like that, I'd prefer it with a medium nib

Ah, well, that's understandable.  Unless you're using it for markup, or you naturally write with teeny tiny letters, a larger nib is generally preferable.

[mizgeorge]

Thank you as always Liz - great review

 

This an ink I really wanted to like - and I like most of the Robert Oster inks in the same colour area - but I found it searingly dry compared to some of the others, even in wetter pens, to the extent that it wasn't pleasant to use. I'll use it with a dip pen, or for drawing, but didn't like writing with it at all.

 

 

[LizEF]

4 minutes ago, mizgeorge said:

Thank you as always Liz - great review

You're welcome!  And thank you.

 

5 minutes ago, mizgeorge said:

This an ink I really wanted to like - and I like most of the Robert Oster inks in the same colour area - but I found it searingly dry compared to some of the others, even in wetter pens, to the extent that it wasn't pleasant to use. I'll use it with a dip pen, or for drawing, but didn't like writing with it at all.

For me, the argument against this ink is that it's somewhere between Green Lime and Forest Green, and not unique enough to warrant purchase unless you adore the color.  I'd rather have Green Lime on one end, and something murky on the other...  Interesting that it didn't seem super dry to me, but every situation is different.

[Carrau]

7 hours ago, mizgeorge said:

Thank you as always Liz - great review

 

This an ink I really wanted to like - and I like most of the Robert Oster inks in the same colour area - but I found it searingly dry compared to some of the others, even in wetter pens, to the extent that it wasn't pleasant to use. I'll use it with a dip pen, or for drawing, but didn't like writing with it at all.

 

 

+1-very dry.

[inkstainedruth]

When the Robert Oster inks first became available, it was a tossup for me whether to get this ink or Moss.  I opted for Moss, which I like a lot.  But I would like to see a side by side writing sample between the two inks at some point, to see whether I should get Lemon Grass as well.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[LizEF]

16 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

When the Robert Oster inks first became available, it was a tossup for me whether to get this ink or Moss.  I opted for Moss, which I like a lot.  But I would like to see a side by side writing sample between the two inks at some point, to see whether I should get Lemon Grass as well.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I have the two swatch cards sitting here next to each other.  Moss is darker, a bit murkier, a little muted.  The two swatches at the start of the video, are fairly accurate comparisons.  I have way too many pens inked at the moment (none with these inks), but if you want, PM me and I could send you a letter with writing samples.

[namrehsnoom]

Thank you for the continuing greatness of this series. A very creative concept for exploring inks.  I’m always on the lookout for the next episode -:)

Lemon Grass is another example of a happy ink… these yellow-greens just strike a cord with me. But I didn’t enjoy this one for writing. It just felt horribly dry. I used my sample with pleasure, but will not get a bottle.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I really like this sort of color, and it's got a good dry time.  But I have soooo many similar greens....

 

The doodles are adorable.  Thanks for the review!  

[LizEF]

2 hours ago, namrehsnoom said:

Thank you for the continuing greatness of this series. A very creative concept for exploring inks.  I’m always on the lookout for the next episode -:)

 You're welcome, and thank you!

 

2 hours ago, namrehsnoom said:

Lemon Grass is another example of a happy ink… these yellow-greens just strike a cord with me. But I didn’t enjoy this one for writing. It just felt horribly dry. I used my sample with pleasure, but will not get a bottle.

I was surprised at how bright it was - my memory said it was more muted, like my images of it, but it's actually quite bright.  I wonder if an ink can get less dry with age.  Or maybe my pen is getting wetter...  

[LizEF]

21 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

But I have soooo many similar greens....

Exactly!  This is pretty much where I am.  Greens coming out my ears, so to speak.

 

21 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

The doodles are adorable.  Thanks for the review!  

Thank you!  And you're very welcome!

[LizEF]

Here's the line width measurement. The line is one of those used for dry time.  Magnification is 100x.  The grid is 100x100µm.  The scale is 330µm, with eleven divisions of 30µm each.  The line width for this ink is roughly 325µm.