Ink Samples Saved Me A Bundle

Ink samples from Federalist Pens saved me a bundle. Eight of them and not one suited my regular rotation so bottles of these inks would have gone to waste.

 

Edelstein Apatite and Laban Zeus are saturated colors that will please many people. Colorverse Butterfly and NGC 6302 along with Laban Hermes are pale and performed best on absorbent paper like the Strathmore Windpower Sketch used for the swatches. Laban Apollo, Aphrodite, and Poseidon are mid-range colors in terms of saturation. I might give Aphrodite a whirl someday, most likely in a pen with a narrow nib like the burgundy New Moon 2. That one just got a fill so Aphrodite will have to wait her turn.

A friend tested the Laban Hermes and found a normally smooth, fude nib to be scratchy. That was telling. However, The Well-Appointed Desk had a different experience with Colorverse Butterfly and NGC 6302. Unlike Jessica, I saw no sparkle or glisten from the Butterfly ink sample. It is possible the bottle from which the sample was taken could have benefitted from a good shake to distribute any reflective material. I am not a sparkle enthusiast so that is no loss for me.

Sometimes I just want to use familiar inks. This week it’s Diamine Eau de Nil, Raw Sienna and Merlot. But it’s good to try something new and samples are the best and most economical solution for me.

What works for you? Do you dip a toe in and buy samples or jump in with both feet and purchase bottles?

 

 

Review: Anderillium Inks

Federalist Pens and Paper sent samples of all sixteen inks offered by Anderillium. That’s a lot of ink!

Swatches on Tomoe River paper made with a cotton swab and the name written with a dip style fountain pen reveal clear, bright colors and a well-rounded selection. I did not see any sheen though other reviewers have. The paper and pen combination can make such a difference.

All of the inks were well-behaved with average to slightly dry flow though I do not have a pen that would properly test their abilities to tame a truly excessive flow. In the past, some inks have been inclined to release a tad too much ink from the pen used for the writing samples. Not the case with any of the Anderillium inks. I could also write at least a half page with one dip making the inks especially useful.

For my own uses, Pompadour Cotinga Burgundy, Colossal Squid Dark and Cuttlefish Brown are likely prospects. The Cotinga and my burgundy Delike New Moon F ought to get along very well while the Colossal Squid should be right for the Lamy Studio F. Cuttlefish Brown could be destined for the Platinum #3776 Music Nib but the Platinum Century Nice M might also make a good mate. So many choices. So many pens clamoring for attention. What’s an inkophile to do?

Caveat: In all my years of writing reviews, I have never had so much trouble getting ink swatch photos to accurately reflect colors. We tried two cameras with a lightbox as well as sunlight in addition to scanning them, something I haven’t done in ages. I will post some of the results, but for the true colors check the manufacturer’s website. Or order ink samples from Federalist Pens. That’s the best way to know what you are getting before making an investment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review: Anderillium Inks Cephalopod Series by KraftyChloé.

Review: Ayush Notebooks From Federalist Pens

My pens have made best friends with Ayush notebooks, a paper from India that is perfectly suited to fountain pen ink and at 100 gsm, sturdy to boot. Yes, they are delighted with this new match and so am I.

Fred from Federalist Pens sent a couple of notebooks to review, but Ayush would have received high marks regardless. What is written on the back of the 3.5 x 5.5″ spiral pocket pad isn’t hype.

The only problem I had was trying to photograph the colors accurately. The paper is not quite white, easy on the eyes and did not shift the ink color. The photo at the end of this post is more accurate. The cover is salmon for the grid format which suits the paper color nicely.

The surface has a very slight softness to it unlike the slick surface of some Japanese brands of paper. It made writing a little less tiring since the nib had no inclination to wander and it also made controlling the nib easier. Being able to write on both sides of the paper makes Ayush economical as well as resource conserving.

The grid lines are neutral and unobtrusive, and at 5 mm, useful with a variety of nib widths. Even a Conklin 1.1 mm stub put down very legible words. Lined paper is 8 mm if you prefer more space. The pads are offered with blank paper for writers like me who tend to doodle or reject the confinement of lines. A dot version is offered as well so there is a format for everyone.

The double-spiral notebooks come in A4 and A5 sizes in addition to the pocket size plus there is a sewn-signature, glue-bound journal that is 135 x 210 mm. With a little use, it should lay flat.

Ayush is good for fountain pens, attractive, and very reasonably priced. Toss a couple of notebooks into your next pen and ink order. I am always looking for ways to meet the minimum purchase requirement for free shipping and these notebooks could be a good way to do it.

Thanks, Fred, for the Ayush paper samples. It’s good stuff and my finicky pens were glad to make its acquaintance. Not a hint of misbehaving from any of them.

From the Ayush paper company: