Understanding bulletproof/waterproof/washable

[Woods]

I'm pretty new to FPs, and I'm looking for the perfect inks to use day-to-day, but I am so confused about the bulletproof/waterproof/washable stuff. I don't care about my stuff being readable 500 years from now, but I do like the idea of being generally run-proof with water, and would not come out of cheques I write just by using water. There are few inks that make claims about this (I think of Noodler's inks, and Diamine Registrars that do make these claims), but most manufacturers don't really say anything either way...

 

So can anyone clarify what other inks are like? What's decent to prevent running on the front of an envelope that gets a couple rain drops on it? How easy would most inks really be to just wash off a cheque? Would most inks really fade a lot after a few years?

[GardenWeasel]

I'm pretty new to FPs, and I'm looking for the perfect inks to use day-to-day, but I am so confused about the bulletproof/waterproof/washable stuff. I don't care about my stuff being readable 500 years from now, but I do like the idea of being generally run-proof with water, and would not come out of cheques I write just by using water. There are few inks that make claims about this (I think of Noodler's inks, and Diamine Registrars that do make these claims), but most manufacturers don't really say anything either way...

 

So can anyone clarify what other inks are like? What's decent to prevent running on the front of an envelope that gets a couple rain drops on it? How easy would most inks really be to just wash off a cheque? Would most inks really fade a lot after a few years?

 

You can't do better than Noodler's eternal inks for check writing etc. Problem is which one!!

[Woods]

You can't do better than Noodler's eternal inks for check writing etc. Problem is which one!!

 

I'm happy to stick with Noodler's inks - and as for the answer to which one, I say none of them: mix 'em =D

 

I just really want to know about other inks, e.g. Waterman's, MB, etc.

[GardenWeasel]

You can't do better than Noodler's eternal inks for check writing etc. Problem is which one!!

 

I'm happy to stick with Noodler's inks - and as for the answer to which one, I say none of them: mix 'em =D

 

I just really want to know about other inks, e.g. Waterman's, MB, etc.

 

Cool! I'm not aware of other makers having 'eternals' available..

[JacobJournals]

I don't care about my stuff being readable 500 years from now, but I do like the idea of being generally run-proof with water, and would not come out of cheques I write just by using water.

 

 

And why not? What if you're the next Voltaire? da Vinci? Goethe? Wouldn't it be a pity if the next Shakespeare's words were lost in 80 years due to inferior ink and paper?

 

 

Noodler's Eternal/Bulletproof Black is the longest lasting ink in existence and there is no better ink for check writing.

[psfred]

The terms used by Noodler's (Bulletproof, Eternal, etc) are marketing terms, there is no official standard.

 

Iron gall ink (Diamine Registrar's and a couple others) are also water proof in that they will not wash off paper.

 

Noodler's Bulletproof and partially bulletproof inks are made from cellulose reactive dyes that chemically bond to the cellulose in paper. They are NOT waterproof on anything else -- this is a good thing, as otherwise letting them dry in your pen would be very bad. Partially bulletproof inks contain other dyes as well, and these are usually not water and bleach proof, so exposure to water will cause the water soluble dyes to wash out, leaving the waterproof dyes behind. This means the ink will change color.

 

Noodler's Baystate inks are also very waterproof, but not bleach proof. They do not run when wetted, but can be somewhat problematic for some users. You may need to dilute them with water -- I've found that to be necessary in my Heros.

 

Otherwise, you can assume the ink will run if it gets wet. It may or may not leave a readable trace.

 

Inks labeled "washable" will wash out of clothing in normal laundry conditions leaving not stain. Inks labeled permanent will NOT wash out of clothing easily, and may not be completely removable at all -- Noodler's Bulletproofs on cotton or rayon (or linen) are as permanent as fabric dyes.

 

One other point you should be aware of -- calligraphy inks (also known as India inks) are quite waterproof and permanent once dry. They contain shellac or are actually thin acrylic paint and dry to a waterproof film. In the case of the acrylics, they actually polymerize and cannot be removed by solvents that also won't damage a fountain pen. Please do NOT use these inks in your fountain pens, even if the manufacturer says you can. You will be OK, I suppose, so long as they never dry (some of them can be removed with water until they dry), but once the inks "set" they have to be scraped off to get them out. Not a good thing, fountain pens are full of tiny passages that must be clear for ink to be delivered correctly to the paper.

 

Hope that helps!

 

Peter

[GreenVelvet]

What's decent to prevent running on the front of an envelope that gets a couple rain drops on it?

 

A realistic scenario, a valid concern.

 

Have a look at this (an envelope from a correspondent that got wet) to see why I only use bulletproof/waterproof inks to address envelopes (or I use InkFix, a wax to coat the ink on the envelope).

[Paddler]

In my experience, what psfred said is good information.

 

In addition, my tests reveal that vintage Sheaffer Skrip and Parker Quink that is labeled, "Permanent" will run when wet, but leave a legible gray residue behind. So, for instance, if you were writing with Skrip Permanent Royal Blue, and spilled a beverage on it, the blue would run like crazy. When you mopped up the blue, you would find your writing is still there in a medium gray color. It may matter what kind of beverage you spilled on it, but coffee, tea, or acid rain in reasonable amounts won't destroy your text. A G&T, bourbon and branch water, or white lightnin' may be a different story.

 

Paddler

 

[gyasko]

I use MB BB for envelopes -- and a lot of other writing, too.

[someonesdad]

What's decent to prevent running on the front of an envelope that gets a couple rain drops on it?

 

A realistic scenario, a valid concern.

 

Have a look at this (an envelope from a correspondent that got wet) to see why I only use bulletproof/waterproof inks to address envelopes (or I use InkFix, a wax to coat the ink on the envelope).

Or use the quick fix of rubbing a wax candle over the address to make it a bit more resistant to water. Or spray it with artist's fixative or a dull matte acrylic spray.