EFNIR: Tintenlabor Iron Gall Ink 2 Dark Blue / Black

[LizEF]

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: Tintenlabor Iron Gall Ink 2 Dark Blue / Black

This is review #339 in my series. Here's the YouTube video:

Post-recording notes: German name: Eisengallustinte 2, dunkelblau / schwarz

This and five other iron gall inks were kindly sent to me all the way from Switzerland by Tintenlabor for review. You can learn more at the Tintenlabor website. (Please check out the site for lots of good details about this ink - it's really interesting!) Also, christof shows these inks off more beautifully than I could with my Japanese EF.  Check it out here.

This and the next ink are both blue-black. This one has an iron content of 4 g/l, the next one has more iron. I'm doing them back-to-back to see if I can tell the difference.

The microscope slide was dullsville.

Flow problems began on day 4 (Friday). Prior to that, it was fine. From Friday on, it was inconsistent, sometimes flowing well, other times not. Lubrication and shading increased when the flow did.

Cleaning was a royal pain. Expect to use all your tools. Vinegar was no help, but I hear pure vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) works. I found rubbing / brushing to be the most effective. Cleaning the rivet from the Pilot CON-50 was particularly annoying, so I'll be using a cartridge for the next ink.

Erratum: *recommen_d_

Zoomed in photo (Color is very close.)

Screenshot (Color is too grey, desaturated.)

Scan of Completed Review (Color is very close.)

Absorbent Paper Close-up (top is puzzle paper like thick newsprint, bottom is old 20lb copy paper) (The color is far off on both - too grey.)

Line width (The "I" in "Ink:". 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 300µm. With 339 inks measured, the average line width is 297µm.)

Water Test Results

Chromatogram (Inset is a scan, which shows the colors better.)

Aging (The ink starts as the color on the slide, but quickly changes.  All marks were made within about 10 minutes. The large swab on the card was made first.)

Previous Review: Tintenlabor Iron Gall Ink 1 Violet Blue / Black.

Images also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap.

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

View a list of my inks, complete with review results in a google sheet.

Need to catch up on The Adventures of Quin and Makhabesh? Find the whole story here.

Hope you enjoy. Comments appreciated!

[yazeh]

Great review @LizEF 👍

Luckily, enough, I'm testing the new formula, which is really addictive to use with EF nibs.

My reply went off too fast before, so I'll cut it short. 

Thanks for making Tuesday's magical 🙏🙏🙏

[LizEF]

Here's a scan after one month - a little darker (color is pretty close):

[LizEF]

38 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Great review @LizEF 👍

Thanks!

 

38 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Luckily, enough, I'm testing the new formula, which is really addictive to use with EF nibs.

I got an email today from USPS that I have a package from Switzerland inbound. I should have better-flowing versions tomorrow.

 

39 minutes ago, yazeh said:

My reply went off too fast before, so I'll cut it short. 

Aren't computers / mobile devices fun?

 

40 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Thanks for making Tuesday's magical 🙏🙏🙏

You're most welcome!

[yazeh]

16 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Thanks!

 

I got an email today from USPS that I have a package from Switzerland inbound. I should have better-flowing versions tomorrow.

Will you be redoing the reviews?  Or just adding your new impressions? Do you think it might be more precise to add "old formula"? [too many questions :D] I find in general the blue black inks don't darken as much as the Green Black 2 and Gold  

16 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Aren't computers / mobile devices fun?

This was mobile. In my haste to respond, my fingers slipped. My transition from Desktop to Mobile has been a slippery slope. 

 

[LizEF]

34 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Will you be redoing the reviews?  Or just adding your new impressions? Do you think it might be more precise to add "old formula"? [too many questions :D] I find in general the blue black inks don't darken as much as the Green Black 2 and Gold  

I haven't decided.  Technically, they're new inks.  But I guess the only difference is the flow aid.  I don't really have any way to update the videos on YouTube, so that's one vote in favor of completely new videos...  I have a week to decide - the new inks will be here tomorrow, so a week from today is the earliest I could ink them in my review pen...  (I've considered inking them in another Penmanship, but then they don't get "equal" evaluation...  We'll see.)

 

36 minutes ago, yazeh said:

This was mobile. In my haste to respond, my fingers slipped. My transition from Desktop to Mobile has been a slippery slope. 

Yeah, mobile's a pain.  I rarely do forum replies that way - I just wait until I'm back at my computer.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I think we all know what I'm about to say.

 

Love the color, like the chroma, will shy away from the behavior.  
 

@LizEF, thanks for the magical Tuesday treat!  (Hooray Etthri!)  🐍

 

Please keep them coming.  These iron gall inks are fascinating to see and read about.
 

(Oh and the groans?  Each represents a time I wished I was invisible.)

[LizEF]

33 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I think we all know what I'm about to say.

 

Love the color, like the chroma, will shy away from the behavior.  
 

@LizEF, thanks for the magical Tuesday treat!  (Hooray Etthri!)  🐍

 

Please keep them coming.  These iron gall inks are fascinating to see and read about.
 

(Oh and the groans?  Each represents a time I wished I was invisible.)

I'm not a big fan of the film it leaves behind, and I'm looking forward to the improved flow of the new versions.  But I'm liking that it doesn't stain, and the oxidation process is interesting, and the color nice.  I think you'll like next week's better.  After that, I do a few "normal" inks.  And the new versions of Tintenlabor will be here in time to start next week (not today). *

 

Anywho, glad you're enjoying them!  And you're most welcome!

 

*And Smoke keeps smashing into the window this morning - the hunting instinct is too strong in this boy! :SMH:

[yazeh]

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

I haven't decided.  Technically, they're new inks.  But I guess the only difference is the flow aid.  I don't really have any way to update the videos on YouTube, so that's one vote in favor of completely new videos...  I have a week to decide - the new inks will be here tomorrow, so a week from today is the earliest I could ink them in my review pen...  (I've considered inking them in another Penmanship, but then they don't get "equal" evaluation...  We'll see.)

As far as I understand, the old formulas won't be available anymore.  It's fun to see ink evolution in real time  

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

Yeah, mobile's a pain.  I rarely do forum replies that way - I just wait until I'm back at my computer.

 

[LizEF]

31 minutes ago, yazeh said:

As far as I understand, the old formulas won't be available anymore. 

All the more reason to do full reviews of the new and mark the old as "unobtainium".  I can do a pinned comment on YouTube about the new formulas and linking to the new reviews when they come out.

[yazeh]

9 minutes ago, LizEF said:

All the more reason to do full reviews of the new and mark the old as "unobtainium".  I can do a pinned comment on YouTube about the new formulas and linking to the new reviews when they come out.

[InesF]

Megan Fox will be temporarily happy with this ink, as it looks like.  

 

Thank you, @LizEF, for another part of the mystery-action-magical story and for working hard to get this ink out of its dark corner (means: out of the dark pen feed). 

I'm fully with @Sailor Kenshin about colour and behaviour and I'm looking forward to what @yazeh will have to report about the more lubricated new version.

 

Meanwhile, I feel being left waiting nail-biting for the next story episode while recking my brains about how our magical party can be re-coloured!   

[LizEF]

6 hours ago, InesF said:

Megan Fox will be temporarily happy with this ink, as it looks like.  

 

6 hours ago, InesF said:

Thank you, @LizEF, for another part of the mystery-action-magical story and for working hard to get this ink out of its dark corner (means: out of the dark pen feed). 

You're most welcome!

 

6 hours ago, InesF said:

I'm fully with @Sailor Kenshin about colour and behaviour and I'm looking forward to what @yazeh will have to report about the more lubricated new version.

This afternoon, I'll be going out to my PO box, where I should find my own sample of the new version!  But @yazeh's review will surely come before mine.

 

6 hours ago, InesF said:

Meanwhile, I feel being left waiting nail-biting for the next story episode while recking my brains about how our magical party can be re-coloured!   

Thanks!

[Baggins]

Could LizEF and Yazeh of a score system in terms of how nice/good is it to write with, for people with mechanical issues like me (need a change of engine block 🤣), to write with, for “normal” nibs (ef, f, m, b).

I for one would appreciate that. 
Oh, btw very nice review, as usual. Thank you for your generosity in doing this.

Z.

 

[LizEF]

16 minutes ago, Baggins said:

Oh, btw very nice review, as usual.

Thanks!

 

16 minutes ago, Baggins said:

Thank you for your generosity in doing this.

You're most welcome!

 

16 minutes ago, Baggins said:

Could LizEF and Yazeh of a score system in terms of how nice/good is it to write with, for people with mechanical issues like me (need a change of engine block 🤣), to write with, for “normal” nibs (ef, f, m, b).

I don't quite understand.  Are you asking for:

1. rating which nib sizes an ink works in?
2. rating how well the ink lubricates between nib and paper?
3. something else?

Please help me understand. Thanks!

[Baggins]

37 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Thanks!

 

You're most welcome!

 

I don't quite understand.  Are you asking for:

1. rating which nib sizes an ink works in?
2. rating how well the ink lubricates between nib and paper?
3. something else?

Please help me understand. Thanks!

I think (don’t really know), that some inks present a quality that makes them easy to write with no matter the nib size. So maybe your 2nd option?

You have the dry/wet and the lubrication. sometimes drier inks with excellent lubrication, that requires no effort to write with. Kyoto inks have a yellow (number 4? I have it but can’t find the bottle now). That ink is beautiful (for me), but, even in a Lamy Safari B it is hard to write with. It takes a lot of effort to write a letter or a bigger note with it. 
So “easy to write with”.

there was a post in one of the ef ink reviews that discussed color vs ease of writing. Sorry if I’m not able to explain better.

[LizEF]

20 minutes ago, Baggins said:

I think (don’t really know), that some inks present a quality that makes them easy to write with no matter the nib size. So maybe your 2nd option?

You have the dry/wet and the lubrication. sometimes drier inks with excellent lubrication, that requires no effort to write with. Kyoto inks have a yellow (number 4? I have it but can’t find the bottle now). That ink is beautiful (for me), but, even in a Lamy Safari B it is hard to write with. It takes a lot of effort to write a letter or a bigger note with it. 
So “easy to write with”.

there was a post in one of the ef ink reviews that discussed color vs ease of writing. Sorry if I’m not able to explain better.

Interesting.  I've never encountered an ink that was hard to write with except for those that won't flow and those that make the pen feel scratchy (poor lubrication).

 

1 hour ago, Baggins said:

for people with mechanical issues like me (need a change of engine block 🤣)

Am I correct in assuming that this part indicates a problem such as arthritis or carpal tunnel issues that make writing difficult?

 

If all that is correct, then we come down to:

 

1. The ink needs to go well with the specific pen.  Most of the time, the range of inks is pretty wide.  When you have a very wet pen, then you don't want an ink that's super wet (and based on my recent experience, you also don't want one that's too dry).  And if you have a very dry pen, you don't want a dry ink.  But I suspect that most pens have a fairly average flow and thus most inks will work well in most pens.

 

2. Lubrication.  Except for the worst-lubricated inks, this likely doesn't make a difference once you reach a western F or larger nib.

 

27 minutes ago, Baggins said:

Kyoto inks have a yellow (number 4?

Looks like Yamabukiiro - review by LGSoltek - who describes it as wet, but not lubricated.  Assuming that's correct, this suggests you need inks that lubricate well.  IMO, for a Japanese EF, it has to lubricate at least what I call average, but one of the above average ratings is better.  The broader and smoother the nib, the more lubrication it needs.  The fact that you could feel something unpleasant in a Lamy B suggests that you need all your inks to have above average lubrication.  Here are my lubrication ratings, from worst to best:

1. awful
2. well below average
3. below average
4. a little below average
5. average
6. a little above average
7. above average
8. well above average
9. excellent
10. velvet (this is a special one, where it makes the nib feel sort of like it's got the texture of a Sailor nib, but not exactly)

My suggestion would be to look up inks you already have and enjoy in my spreadsheet and see what their lubrication is listed at.  (And perhaps their flow.)  I'd be interested if all the inks you currently enjoy are those with good lubrication.  If so, there's your answer, and you can filter my spreadsheet on lubrication to see what other inks might work well for you.

 

If the inks you currently enjoy are in the sheet, but don't always show good lubrication, then we should try to figure out the mis-match (e.g. perhaps they're all wet-flowing).

 

Anywho, the idea is to try to isolate which properties of the ink translate into "easy to write with".  Once we've done that, then it should be fairly easy for you to look at ink reviews which cover the relevant properties and know that you will or won't find it "easy to write with".

 

Does that make sense?

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks as usual for the comprehensive review.

This looks to be a nice ink, but I don't really need any more IG Blue-blacks anytime soon....  And some of their other colors are tempting me more....  (Yeah, like I REALLY need more ink...  especially IG inks that I'd have to use up faster before the iron content precipitates out, like what happened with the bottle of Ackerman IJzer-Galnoten because I couldn't go through the ink quickly enough.... )

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[LizEF]

1 minute ago, inkstainedruth said:

Thanks as usual for the comprehensive review.

You're welcome!

 

2 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

This looks to be a nice ink, but I don't really need any more IG Blue-blacks anytime soon....  And some of their other colors are tempting me more....  (Yeah, like I REALLY need more ink...  especially IG inks that I'd have to use up faster before the iron content precipitates out, like what happened with the bottle of Ackerman IJzer-Galnoten because I couldn't go through the ink quickly enough.... )

  Next week's will be more tempting.  New versions of some of the inks I've reviewed are now here, along with 2 inks I haven't reviewed yet.

 

For me, the gold and purple are the most tempting.

[inkstainedruth]

The gold I'd have to really see in person, I suspect.  The purple ones, OTOH?  I've been drooling over both the Purple-Black and the Violet-Black....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth