Which ink for lab notebooks?

[Chris]

I remember working for a company which issued beautiful lab notebooks.

Each scientist had their own book, signed for in a central register.

 

Each page was numbered with a unique book number and page number with perfectly organised boxed for dates, project names, signatures and counter-signatures; the cover was well bound in chemcial-resistant covered boards; the paper was superb and FP-friendly....

 

and on pain of serious disciplinary measures, we were compelled to write in...

 

black biro

 

Chris

[RevAaron]

Iridium, now that you mention it I do recall that the Eternal are UV safe, but below the bulletproof.

 

I agree- Zhivago should be called "partially bulletproof." What makes it partially bulletproof is that the pH has been adjusted for so the cellulosic dye can set. Contrary to what a lot of folks think, if you take a bulletproof ink and mix it with another, it doesn't become a 'partially bulletproof' like Swisher's MB. If you crank up the acidity enough, you can make it so the cellulose reaction can't happen, or happens very slowly. Seems it can also cause the dye to precipitate or stain.

 

Aaron

[Sholom]

Our company uses the National Brand Computation Notebook (#43-648) as its standard lab notebook. My lab fountain pen (a blue Pelikano - survives wiping with isopropyl alcohol) is filled with Noodler's Walnut. Walnut does bleed red when splattered with water, but remains extremely legible; the red bleed serves as a record of the book's water exposure and a reminder to be more careful with placement of the book in the lab. When I am consulting off-site, I've been using either a Pilot 78G filled with Noodler's (Swisher) Aquamarine or a Parker 45 filled with a roughly 1:1 mixture of Walnut and Green Marine (Melnicki's formula I believe but with more Walnut). Also once used a Parker 51 filled with Noodlers/Swishmix Tahitian Pearl in the book. Too soon to say much about water resistance of those (should be good although the Walnut/Green Marine mix should bleed some) but all four inks write well in these notebooks: no line spread or print-through. On the yellow-green pages, I like the look of the mixture best, then the Tahitian Pearl (but the 51 isn't spending time in lab!). The Walnut is very legible though, and the Aquamarine sure stands out.

[JayKay]

For all my lab notebooks I use bulletproof black in a pilot 78g in F. The pen writes more like an XF and doesnt even put down enough ink to feather, on anything I've tried it on yet. I label bones with bulletproof black and a dip pen without any ill effects or problems. The rest of the collection books are written in pencil.

[mschaffer]

Our company uses the National Brand Computation Notebook (#43-648) as its standard lab notebook. [...[

 

My company uses the Ampad equivalent to the National Brand (paper seems almost identical with FP ink). Some of the Noodler's inks perform well (like Old Manhattan Black) and some bleed like mad (just like other paper) but, since the Pilot Iroshizuku Series inks have been available, I have been using these with the Ampad notebooks with good results for me---in the office. In the pilot plant, it's all about sharpies, and "rite in the rain" pads, though (dirty, spashy, wet messes).

 

 

[Sarah797]

I am a chemistry student, and I have using Barbakem Scientific Lab Notebook. I have preferred regular and simple blue ink pen.

[Karmachanic]

If I had a lab notebok I would definitely use Colorverse ink! For purely scientic reasons. Gravity Wave!

Edited April 4, 2018 by kd3