Some Ink Tests

[USG]

2025 was a big year for Asvine 

(All inks have matured in the pens for days, weeks, or months)

 

Asvine C80s:

ENLARGE TO SEE DETAILS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now the Sheen Pics

 

 

 

 

Almost no sheen

 

 Didn't dry

 

 

[Mechanical]

15 hours ago, USG said:

My plunger cap has flattened threads too.  After reading many threads about how the barrels on these pens crack I'm not inclined to put a wrench on it and risk cracking the plastic.      

 

LINK to one of the Threads

 

Well, that was eye-opening! I definitely won't be disassembling my 823.  On the other hand, I really like using this pen; it suits me in so many ways.

 

edit:  Also, @USG, isn't that Pilot Blue Black quite nice?

[USG]

3 Asvine V800s:

 

The inks have been in the pens long enough to have darkened to the point where they look similar

 

 

 

 

Sheen

Nothing from the Pres. Blue

Outlining from the next 2

 

[Lithium466]

17 hours ago, USG said:

3 Asvine V800s:

 

The inks have been in the pens long enough to have darkened to the point where they look similar

 

 

 

 

Sheen

Nothing from the Pres. Blue

Outlining from the next 2

 

You're getting impressive results from Athol violet. I'm not, that's one of the inks that will be donated at the next occasion.

Same thing with Diamine Royal blue, but at least it has better lubrication than Athol violet. And I'm on the fence with Presidential blue...for it has "something", but subdued. And not much of a wow factor in your writing sample 🤔

[Lithium466]

On 1/16/2026 at 6:49 PM, Mechanical said:

 

Well, that was eye-opening! I definitely won't be disassembling my 823.  On the other hand, I really like using this pen; it suits me in so many ways.

 

edit:  Also, @USG, isn't that Pilot Blue Black quite nice?

You are spot on with Pilot BB. Should that be a done deal as lifetime ink for the undisassemblable 823? It checks many of the boxes...

Ah decisions decisions...

[Mechanical]

10 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

You are spot on with Pilot BB. Should that be a done deal as lifetime ink for the undisassemblable 823? It checks many of the boxes...

 

Indeed, I don't think I'll be switching the Pilot BB out of my 823.  I do occasionally think of get another 823... just for trying a different ink. :-)

[USG]

14 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

You're getting impressive results from Athol violet. I'm not, that's one of the inks that will be donated at the next occasion.

Same thing with Diamine Royal blue, but at least it has better lubrication than Athol violet. And I'm on the fence with Presidential blue...for it has "something", but subdued. And not much of a wow factor in your writing sample 🤔

 

I'm convinced now, more than ever, that many inks aren't consistent from bottle to bottle. 

- I put Athol Violet in an Asvine V800<F> and find none of the attributes you describe.  Judging by the line width it's no dryer than Blue Velvet.

- I have Diamine Royal Blue in a Majohn P140<F> and I find it to be a nice vibrant ink.  I didn't notice if it was dry or lubricated.

- As for Presidential Blue, it was the wettest of the V800 bunch (by line width) but I didn't see much pizazz so I unscrewed the section and washed it out.

 

14 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

You are spot on with Pilot BB. Should that be a done deal as lifetime ink for the undisassemblable 823? It checks many of the boxes...

Ah decisions decisions...

 

Don't get me wrong, I like Pilot BB, but only in it's mature state.  To that end I have it in a couple of pens already so I don't think it's going to find it's way into the 823.... so still looking for a suitable ink for the 823 and  the Blue V800 that used to have Presidential Blue.... 

 

3 hours ago, Mechanical said:

 

Indeed, I don't think I'll be switching the Pilot BB out of my 823.  I do occasionally think of get another 823... just for trying a different ink. 🙂

 

Call me crazy, but I've had that thought too....  If prices weren't off the wall atm, I'd grab another 743 before thinking about getting another 823 glue-job. 

 

As a matter of fact, as much as the V800s, with their smooth #8 nibs, scratch the Vac itch, a V200 with a titanium nib is probably going to be my next project... 

[Baka1969]

 

Rhodia paper

[Penguincollector]

  I received volume two of Yamamoto Paper’s A5 FP Friendly Paper Sampler as an Xmas gift.I heard a podcast review of these papers yesterday, and was intrigued by the podcaster’s review of Yamamoto Art Paper 104gsm. This is the only picture I took before I sneezed and ruined my work.  Some letters along the left margin got a little weird. In person it sheens really well.
 

[USG]

56 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

  I received volume two of Yamamoto Paper’s A5 FP Friendly Paper Sampler as an Xmas gift.I heard a podcast review of these papers yesterday, and was intrigued by the podcaster’s review of Yamamoto Art Paper 104gsm. This is the only picture I took before I sneezed and ruined my work.  Some letters along the left margin got a little weird. In person it sheens really well.
 

 

Very Good PGC 😀👍  Looks like it picks up the nuances....

I have 4 of those inks

• American Blue
• Kin-Mokusei
• Shin-Kai
• #743

I run a sample of those 4 inks on some Cosmo Snow and take close ups.

See if you can do the same on the Yamamoto Art Paper.

Then we can compare our results.

[USG]

2 hours ago, Baka1969 said:

 

Rhodia paper

 

Hi Baka, How have you been?

That's a very intense blue color and a lot of sheen.😀👍

It looks very nice.

 

I don't have that ink.  What would you call that color?

Have you experienced any clogging from the particles?

 

[Baka1969]

1 hour ago, USG said:

 

Hi Baka, How have you been?

That's a very intense blue color and a lot of sheen.😀👍

It looks very nice.

 

I don't have that ink.  What would you call that color?

Have you experienced any clogging from the particles?

 

 

Howdy, I'm trying not to age so fast. lol

 

The blue itself is quite saturated. It is an outright unique ink. The ink in the picture is a very good representation of what it looks like in person. It's lighter than most blue inks. Yet very vibrant. 

 

It has a lot of glitter particles. Make no mistake, this is a high maintenance, prima donna ink. I have it in a Lamy Al Star with the 1.5 stub and it still clogs up if I don't use it several times a week. I've had to flush the nib twice. 

 

That said, sometimes one has to put up with a diva because the results are worth it.

 

This Edelstein Golden Lapis is pretty amazing. It has a TON of shimmer. More than most of the shimmer inks out there. This makes the ink a color shifter on paper and most bright lighting. 

[Baka1969]

I hate this ink sub forum. Now I have to go and get another dozen or three inks. I already have dozens. I see all of these "must have" ink colors. I should have as many inks as I do pens....One for each. 

 

 

This is just a few.

[Lithium466]

5 hours ago, Baka1969 said:

 

Rhodia paper

Beautiful. I tried very hard to like that ink, but it was just a serial clogger. Without the shimmer, it looses some of its magic.

[Penguincollector]

  Funny, I had Golden Lapis in my WingSung 698 SF for months without any issues, even though it had so much shimmer that I just added 2 other Pelikan inks after that fill without rinsing to use it all up. I love it. 

[Penguincollector]

9 hours ago, USG said:

 

Very Good PGC 😀👍  Looks like it picks up the nuances....

I have 4 of those inks

• American Blue
• Kin-Mokusei
• Shin-Kai
• #743

I run a sample of those 4 inks on some Cosmo Snow and take close ups.

See if you can do the same on the Yamamoto Art Paper.

Then we can compare our results.

  I will endeavor not to sneeze on this next test.

[Baka1969]

8 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

Beautiful. I tried very hard to like that ink, but it was just a serial clogger. Without the shimmer, it looses some of its magic.

 

I do like the color independently of the shimmer. That said, I probably wouldn't have bought it without it. 

 

I think the funny (or ironic) thing is is the Edelstein inks are Pelikan's high-end ink. Yet, it's probably not the best idea to put Golden Lapis in a pricey Pelikan pen. I know i wouldn't. 

 

2 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

  Funny, I had Golden Lapis in my WingSung 698 SF for months without any issues, even though it had so much shimmer that I just added 2 other Pelikan inks after that fill without rinsing to use it all up. I love it. 

 

That's an excellent idea. I will have to do that once I get low on GL. also, I will repurpose that bottle. It's too good looking to throw it out. I have several "empty" bottles that I picked up from Goulet and Anderson (Cardinal) that have used for some of my Noodlers inks. When I pick up empty bottles, I try not to have duplicates. I have a decent variety of great looking ink bottles. I even have a few vintage ones. 

[Mechanical]

16 hours ago, Baka1969 said:

 

Rhodia paper

 

Well, that's quite nice @Baka1969!  Say, is this Edelstein ink fairly dry.... like the Pelikan 4001 inks?

[Baka1969]

45 minutes ago, Mechanical said:

 

Well, that's quite nice @Baka1969!  Say, is this Edelstein ink fairly dry.... like the Pelikan 4001 inks?

 

I'd say it's just on the drier side of moderate. 

[Lithium466]

@InesF put it in the "inks with middle-high delivery" (without the shimmer particles)

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1mSWCRuy2QofZDOiqrwxnNDqp-MJNIFhOMyRc0qyNj9U/htmlview#gid=0

 

More than the delivery or flow or I'm never sure how to describe that, I would rate the lubrication as above average (better than the 4001 inks I tried, which is not all).

 

@Penguincollector the WS 698 is an excellent idea, I'll try!