Can Inkophile be 3 years old already?!

It’s that time of year again. The Inkophile blog is now 3 years old as is Inkophile on Twitter. My participation at Fountain Pen Network will reach the five year milestone in a few days. Gosh, that sounds old at least on the Internet. Is there a comparable in dog years?

During this time the number of available ink colors has grown enormously which bodes well for people who love fountain pens. While some companies have retired colors that were peerless, others have come out with ones that are unique. The biggest loser is Montblanc who discontinued Racing Green. The biggest winner is Pilot with its Iroshizuku line. Sailor created the Kobe line but only for market in Japan so that’s a no gain. Platinum has released a line called Mix Free that is aimed at those who want to mix their own colors but it hasn’t reached the U.S. yet though it could arrive early summer. It may not be a game changer but it certainly will thrill those with a creative urge or want a one-of-a-kind color.

Virtually every ink manufacturer has at least a few new colors especially Diamine and Noodler’s. Then there are the recently released Pelikan Edelstein inks. The bottle is very attractive but the ink has yet to win over the pen community though amongst the samples sent by Pear Tree, Topaz and Ruby look promising.

Is the marketplace getting overcrowded? Perhaps. It may take a distinguishing characteristic or marketing campaign to become a standout product in future. Well, unless the ink is a standout on its own. That’s where Pilot made a breakthrough. With a premium ink that delivers in every respect including a beautiful bottle and handsome packaging, Iroshizuku has set the bar high for future luxury products.

There is less news at the economy end. Noodler’s remains the best value for money especially with colors that can tolerate a little dilution. The colorful and often amusing labels make up for the no-frills bottle that helps keep the cost of packaging down. Never at a loss for ink colors or colorful names, Nathan Tardiff continues to add to his line with no end in sight. All to the good for ink lovers.

There are so many new pens on the market you probably know more about them than I do. The only recent additions to my collection are a couple of Noodler’s pens that perform at a level commensurate with their prices. Not new but new to me was a pink Platinum Preppy, a gift from The Pear Tree Pen Company. At the price point, this steel nib is a steal.

Of course there are always new paper products. Rumor has it the revamped Quo Vadis Habana may prove to be the best new item for fountain pen users. The off-white color and narrow line spacing are similar to Moleskine but it has the paper quality necessary to control fountain pen ink. This sounds promising but I haven’t seen it myself.

Despite the economic challenges of the last few years, companies continue to provide pen people with new products. All to the good for a three-year-old inkophile.

A Few Inkophile Favorites

Pictured are bottles of Rohrer & Klingner Solferino from PearTreePens.com, J. Herbin Vert Olive, and Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku, pads of G. Lalo and Rhodia paper, a 1970′s Montblanc 220 fountain pen with an OB nib, an Ebonite Dipless Dip Pen from AllWriteNow.com, and a pen wrap from HisNibs.com.

Inkophile’s Favorites for 2010

Some new, some old, here are a few of my favorite things…

• Rohrer & Klingner Ink – Two colors have been in my cabinet for years so this was not a brand new find. However, when Pear Tree Pens began to offer it this year, I started to expand my collection and am happy to report R&K has earned several places in my regular rotation. Solferino, Verdigris, Alt-Goldgrün, and Magenta are my current favorites but Morinda and Blau Permanent are not far behind. The palette is a well-round offering with something for every need. At $12.50 for 50ml the cost is in my acceptable range especially considering the quality.
• Iroshizuku remains the ink that tops my guilty pleasures list. For color and performance this one is hard to beat. Ku-jaku joined my collection this year and instantly won a place on my favorites list displacing several turquoise and aqua inks.
• J. Herbin Ink continues to be my mainstay. There isn’t a dud in the bunch plus they are exceptionally easy to clean from a pen. Lie de Thé is my favorite and most-used brown with Poussière de Lune in my rotation nearly as often.
• A sample of the Rhodia dotPad (courtesy of Karen at Exaclair) quickly earned a place in my paper arsenal along with anything from G. Lalo now that I’ve tried various weave samples from Jean Elie at Pen and Co.
• For calligraphy or flex nib practice, Clairefontaine French-ruled paper rules here. Thick, juicy ink lines dry slowly but it is definitely worth the wait.
• This was a lean year for me when it comes to new pens but a Noodler’s Fountain Pen was a nice addition to my collection. I am fond of ebonite so that added to its appeal.
• Courtesy of the generous Peggy Love (who also insured I have a lifetime supply of Apica Journals), I got my hands on a trio of Levenger True Writer Rollerballs with Fiber Tip refills. They won’t replace my fountain pens but they certainly are convenient and very easy on my hand. These pens are useful for writing situations that include frequent stops and starts since they do not have to be capped as quickly as a fountain pen. I have enjoyed filling pages with doodles and even managed a bit of line variation by playing with the angle at which the nib contacts the paper. A girl’s gotta have fun, you know?
• An old favorite has taken up residence in the number one position in my rotation and it isn’t a fountain pen. Shocked? Well, sometimes you’ve just got to go with what’s convenient and a mechanical pencil is hard to beat. No uncapping, no flow issues, no muss, no fuss. While I only use it for notes to myself, that is what I write most often so why not use the best tool for the job? Besides anything that works on a Post-It gets high marks from me. After trying several mechanical pencils, I’ve concluded that my old Autopoint Jumbo All-American Pencil, with a 0.9mm HB lead, is just right. Because the wide lead does not dig into paper, it erases easily. Unlike my other MPs, the lead has never broken. Not once! While that is in part attributable to the chunky lead, it is also a result of the design of the pencil. Years ago I bought the ivory and the red. The former blends in while the latter stands out. Both are winners in my book.

 

Inkophile's Favorite Products for 2010

 

So that’s my list of new or rediscovered items for 2010. Unlike in years past my regular rotation remained the same led by a Sailor Sapporo, a 1911 and a couple of Pilot Pocket Pens. The Pilot 742FA and Montblanc 220 OB are off for repair so we shall see how they work out on their return in January. There is one Lamy Safari with a custom cursive italic nib that is always inked with Montblanc Racing Green. It remains my #1 writer though I wish the nib had a snazzier body. Two Namiki Falcons with soft fine nibs are always close at hand and a Levenger True Writer is usually inked as well. That makes my core rotation total seven pens, give or take a True Writer or two.

Inks come and go but I am consistently pleased with Waterman Blue Black in my vintage pens especially those with flexible nibs. At the price point and with its easy availability, WBBk is an excellent match for pens that go through a volume of ink. It is also a good one to include with a gift pen. It won’t cause damage and it writes well from any nib. If the recipient loves it, a new bottle can readily be found.

Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Quo Vadis Habana, and Apica continue to be my favorite brands of paper. Triomphe and G. Lalo are excellent stationery though often I use a lined Rhodia pad for casual letters. For variety I have a few pads of Japanese paper that are lovely with even the roughest nibs. Lastly my stock of the long discontinued Exacompta Black Block is waning so I don’t use it as often as I would like though it has a softness that suits me perfectly. If you run across this one, do let me know. I would love to add a few tablets to my reserves.

So that’s my list of favorite things. Rumor has it that Santa just might have on his sleigh one of the new Noodler’s flex nib pens with a bottle of Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses. Yeah, I know. That’s a mouthful but can you picture that pair? The demonstrator (clear) model with plum ink should be lovely. Hopefully, it gets delivered to the right home. I don’t think any of my neighbors would appreciate this dynamic duo but I could be mistaken…maybe…

So What’s The Deal With Iron Gall Ink

Iron gall ink is old. Really old. Traces of it have even been found on the Dead Sea Scrolls. It has been around that long but does it belong in your fountain pen?

Iron gall became the ink of choice during the Middle Ages and was common well into the 20th century. Made from iron salts and tannic acids from vegetable sources, the blue-black is the quintessential vintage color.

Originally used with tools like reeds, quills, and later dip pens, these inks fell out of favor with good reason as fountain pens and modern formulations emerged. Not only do iron gall inks have a reputation for damaging pens but writing surfaces as well. In other words, those old formulas did not play well with paper.

Recent inks are less risky because they contain only small amounts of the offending components. Diamine, Montblanc, Lamy, and Rohrer & Klingner offer blue-black colors with R&K adding a purple version as well.

That iffy reputation made me reluctant to risk pen damage. However, when Pear Tree Pens offered an appealing discount on ink, I couldn’t refuse.

For the past week I’ve tested the two made by R&K. The colors are excellent for conservative uses and the properties are in line with some of my favorite brands. Flow, drying-time, coverage, show-through and bleed-through all measured well for me. There is some question about how light-fast these inks might be but I haven’t used them long enough to have an opinion. If you like shading, both Salix and Scabiosa are lovely.

Some people use iron galls with good success though others report these inks can do serious damage to pens if maintenance isn’t regular. Then there are those pen users who report no issues despite infrequent cleaning but I suspect they use their pens often enough to prevent ink drying out in the feed or nib. Or perhaps they are exceedingly lucky.

Despite those good reports, I find it hard to make a full-fledged recommendation for what is likely a high maintenance ink. It is worth noting that the companies that offer them are top-notch so that is an endorsement of sorts. Thus if you practice careful pen hygiene, you might enjoy Salix or Scabiosa in your regular rotation.

Using these Rohrer & Klingner iron gall inks has been a bit like tapping into history. In fact one of them could be just the mate for that vintage-looking leather covered journal I’ve been considering. Hmmm…

 

Rohrer & Klingner Salix and Scabiosa Inks

Overrun by Fountain Pens

Does this happen to you? No matter how limited I try to keep things, my desk gets overrun by fountain pens. Time to whip them into line or at least to make my fountain pen excess more manageable.

Actually, only a few duos get regular use based more on the inks than the pens. Sure, I’m a sucker for color but other properties as well. Nevertheless, there are a few pens that are so much fun to use, they are rarely given a rest especially when matched with the perfect ink.

(Note that the ink scan is far from ideal. Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku is darker and a bit more green while Diamine Violet is slightly more red than the image appears on my monitor. Even Rohrer & Klingner Alt-Goldgrün could be a tiny bit more yellow. The image of the pens is spot-on but then black is hard to get wrong even for me. )

A Simple Fountain Pen Ink Rotation

After much winnowing the core of my rotation now includes

• Turquoise – Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku in Sailor Sapporo Fine
• Blue-Black – Diamine Blue-Black in Pilot Custom Black Stripe Fine
• Purple – Diamine Violet in Namiki Falcon Soft Fine
• Magenta – Rohrer & Klingner Solferino in Pilot Elite ‘Isaac Newton’ Fine
• Dark red – Noodler’s Red-Black in Sailor 1911 Fine
• Brown – J. Herbin Lie de Thé in Levenger True Writer Fine
• Dark green – Montblanc Racing Green in Lamy Safari Custom Cursive Italic
• Medium green – Rohrer & Klingner Alt-Goldgrün in Lamy Safari 1.1 mm

Alt-Goldgrün is so right for so many uses that it deserves a better performing pen than the Safari. That is the only weak spot in my lineup and it could get remedied as soon as a few pens return from the spa.

A Few Favorite Fountain Pens

For additional variety, two or three duos from my Very Nearly Perfect List will do.

The secondary players:

• Green – Iroshizuku Shin-Ryoku in Pilot Elite ‘Socrates’ Fine
• Dark green – Private Reserve Avacado in Waterman Carene Stub
• Red – Rohrer & Klingner Morinda in Lamy Vista 1.1 mm
• Orange – Iroshizuku Yu-Yake in Retro 51 Scriptmaster II Fine
• Blue – Diamine Mediterranean Blue in Namiki Falcon Soft Fine or Montblanc 220 OB
• Black – J. Herbin Perle Noire in Levenger True Writer Fine
• Dark brown – Noodler’s #41 Brown in Noodler’s Aero Medium Fine (still testing this one) or Pilot Elite Fine

There are a few inks that either haven’t met the right pens yet or other inks nabbed the great pens first.

• Noodler’s Cayenne
• Rohrer & Klingner Magenta
• Sailor Deep Moss Black
• J. Herbin Café des Îles
• Iroshizuku Syo-Ro
• Stipula Moss Green

These inks will eventually meet ideal mates and join the secondary list which will bring my total rotation to twenty-one with ten to twelve inked at a time. Add to that a few inks being tested for Inkophile reviews and it’s no wonder my desk always looks so overcrowded!

Do you have a core group of inks and pens? Do add your list to the comments. I would love to know which ones make you happy.

Pen and Ink Serendipity

Now that it is officially summer and my seasonal palette has been established, an unexpected duo has taken first place in my rotation. Both the ink and the pen have been here for years but never joined. So putting them together was sheer serendipity and the result delightful especially for this time of year.

Diamine Violet + Namiki Falcon + Rhodia = Happiness

Namiki Falcon SF, Diamine Violet, Rhodia grid paper

Not only did this beautiful combo just come out of hiding, but not long ago two more special ones emerged. Montblanc Racing Green is the perfect match for my Lamy Safari custom cursive italic. The second is Private Reserve Avacado in my Waterman Carene stub. Both came about without planning. The inks just happened to be up for use and the pens just happened to need filling. Ink and pen mating should always be so easy.

Have you been surprised by a particularly lovely but unplanned pen and ink pairing? Do tell!

Iroshizuku Substitutes – When Color Matters

The subject of color substitutes has come up in the past for a handful of unique though retired inks. Some are just simply irreplaceable like the long discontinued Parker Penman Ruby and Sapphire inks. Others like the recently discontinued Montblanc Racing Green have a few close color neighbors though none that have the other stellar qualities of MBRG. Sometimes only the original will do.

Then there is the category of substitutes for inks that are not marketed internationally like the Sailor Kobe and Pen Gallery inks. One has to order from Japan for those beauties.

Lastly there are inks that, for some fountain pen aficionados, are too pricey, whether on principle or for budgetary constraints. Pilot’s Iroshizuku line now fits that category so finding substitutes, albeit imperfect ones, has resurrected a discussion about likely prospects at Fountain Pen Network. Check it out if you balk at paying $35 retail or even $28 at discount for a single bottle of ink.

Caveat: None of the substitutes will function like Iroshizuku but the colors should be acceptable. In fact I prefer Rohrer & Klingner Magenta over Yama Budo but that might be considered heresy so do keep that little tidbit under your hat. Much appreciated.

More at The DizzyPen.

Pen, Paper and Ink Finds for 2009

It only takes a brief glance around my office to see that I have tons of great products to enjoy. Many were new to me this year though a few sat around far too long before getting a chance to play.  All of this turned out well in the long run, as I am enjoying them immensely now.

So here is a list of some of the best things that became Inkophile favorites in 2009.

• Pentel Pocket Brush Pen – Whether used with pigment ink or J. Herbin Lie de Thé, this pen is great fun.
• Pilot Elite Pocket Pen with a soft fine nib – For everyday writing with a little variation, this is my ideal pen.
• Waterman Deluxe Carene Stub – A sturdy, well-balanced pen that lends an italic flair to my writing.

• De Atramentis Sepiabraun – In my Namiki Falcon it produces both shading and outlining.
• De Atramentis Stihlblau – A bright medium blue with a little green in it. It’s a happy color.
• Diamine Vermillion – A watercolor-like orange-red that isn’t shy.
• Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo – An almost dark blue ink with a hint of green and great flow.
• J. Herbin Perle Noire – I am not a fan of black ink but this one won me over.
• Montblanc Racing Green – Every time I use this ink it looks made for me. My new signature color.
• Noodler’s Red-Black – Defies description but does resemble aged brick, sort of.
• Private Reserve Orange Crush – Deep red-orange that can produce writing that is orange at the top of each letter but red at the bottom.
• Sailor/Pen Gallery Uranari Green – This is a limited edition that is easily my favorite green ink for 2009.

• Clairefontaine French-Ruled Notebook – My favorite paper for flexible nibs.
• Exacompta Basics Sketchbook – The perfect match for my Pentel Pocket Brush Pens.
• Exacompta Index Cards – Work very well with fountain pen ink.
• Exacompta Journal 21 – Love the paper but want it in an undated journal. It’s super smooth.
• G. Lalo Verge de France Rose Stationery – Works will all my pens and inks.

Even with all this expansion to my collection, there remain two holes that I hope to fill in 2010: a light-weight stub nib and a full flex nib, preferably 14k with converter fillers and long enough to use without posting. The maker matters less than the quality of the nib. There may come an ink or paper that catches my eye as new product is released during the year but the pens are what I would use most.

So those are my new favorites and my wish list for next year. How about you? Any standout favorites from 2009? What will you look for in 2010?

(Note that more than a few items on my list were gifts from Karen Doherty at Exaclair, Inc., U. S. distributor of J. Herbin, Exacompta, G. Lalo, and Clairefontaine. De Atramentis Stihlblau was a gift from Ryan Roossinck of The Pear Tree Pen Company. Several inks were gifts from friends who had no connection to any retailer or product line at the time the gift was sent. A very big thank you to all of my generous friends. You have introduced me to products that will be favorites forever.)

How Do You Put Together Ink and Pen Duos?

The holidays still seem distant so my December rotation may look understated for this time of year. No bright reds or greens though Diamine Monaco Red may yet get a call to join in, dressed in a red marble Levenger True Writer to fit the season. They are mates from last year and already known to be quite happy with each other.

December 2009 Ink Rotation

Besides the possible Monaco/TW hookup, the line up is set with ten colors from six ink makers. Six pen companies are represented. Pilot/Namiki, Levenger, and J. Herbin got the most nods which would probably hold true in any month though usually a Sailor pen would be in the mix as well.

December 2009 Pen Rotation

Do you plan ahead with your rotation? Seasonally adjusted line ups suit many fountain pen aficionados. Monthly rotations are less common but October, November, and December are so commercial in the U.S. that it’s easy to think of them as dominated by specific holiday colors. Of course, some people are “contrarians” and use peach in December but maybe south of the equator, that would be the perfect color for the month.

So what works for you? Are you swayed by the month and its holidays or do you prefer a seasonal palette? Are you  a free-spirited inkophile who prefers an “anything goes” rotation?

Oh, I just realized there is an even better choice. All of the above!

Note: The images in this post are not great matches for the true colors. The worst of the lot are the Eclat de Saphir sample and the Mink True Writer at the center of the pen photo. The former should have more red to it and the latter got a really bad job of editing in GIMP just to be roughly the correct color. It will have to do for now.

Moleskine Meets Fountain Pen Ink

And the winner is…

Moleskine Meets Fountain Pen Ink

Favorite Montblanc Inks

These are a few of my favorite inks, Montblanc at least. The samples are from bottles and not the cartridges. All three turn out darker from a pen but you can still get a sense of the colors from the image below. The properties are similar though not identical and vary from pen to pen. But all are excellent quality and it least one is in my rotation at all times. That’s a pretty good recommendation I’d say.

Montblanc Fountain Pen Inks