Fav FP Inks

[The Knize]

Sorry if this is a repeat topic. If it is, please direct me to the prior thread.

But what are folks favorite fountain pen inks these days. (I say "these days," because if folks are like me this varies over time.)

For me, Iroshizuku "fuyu syogun" is the current fave, with Iroshizuku "tsuki yo" being my long-time, and perhaps all-time, favorite.

I was fond for a very long time of "Noodler's Air Corp Blue-Black." And have have fairly recently had a passing strong interest in Noodler's "Zhivago."

[Rudy Vey]

I always liked "Private Reserve Tanzanite"

[Groat]

Each of the iroshizuku inks I've tried have been excellent, as far as the character of the ink. My newest favorite is kon-peki, a very nice turquoise. My long-time (well, as long as I've been using FPs) favorite is asa-gao, a stately and 'respectable' dark blue.

[maxman]

My number one ink is Private Reserve American Blue

[Skullring]

My current favorite is Noodlers La Coulear Royale. It is a beautiful shade of blue and has a nice flow.

Waterman Florida blue is also a nice ink.

[njpaddy]

In one pen I have Noodler's Blue-Black and in the other Noodler's Black Swan In Australian Roses. I'm happy enough with them that I haven't bothered to buy any others.

[orchestrion]

I don't have a huge amount of experience with using different brands. Out of everything I've sampled, I really like Noodler's Tiananmen, #41 Brown, and Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia. The Whaleman's Sepia is a bit on the dry side, but the color and history behind the ink are just plain awesome. I think the Tiananmen is very underrated as far as red inks go.

[mparker762]

Iroshizuku Tsukushi, Konpeki, and Momiji have been consistent residents of my pens for awhile now. I'm a big fan of the Iroshizuku inks in general; interesting colors and lovely shading with an italic nib.

[DogHair]

My favorite since it's release has been the Herbin 1670 Anniversary ink. Smooth, shades nice and definitely made for a wet nib. It may sound weird but it's like writing with blood. The Noodler's Black Swan in English Roses is a close second.

[The Knize]

Wow, looks like some great inks I need to be trying.

Nice to see the love for Iroshizuku.

I have had good luck with Private Reserve, too.

I have been particularly interested in the Noodler's Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia and the Herbin 1670. I did not realize that Nathan T was a Friend. I bet his family sure did have a whaling background.

[Dave258]

I just got a bunch of samples of Noodler's ink yesterday. Loaded up Beaverin one pen and Black Swan in Australian Rose. Love both, and can't wait to work my way through the rest of the samples.

[mikey]

My two favorites are:

Namiki (Pilot) Blue
Aurora Blue

Thanks,
Mike

[Legion]

The pen on my desk at home has Noodlers Forest Green, and my other pens have a sort of violet colour, which I made myself out of various other inks, trying to replicate a vintage ink in an inscription in a book I saw.

[DogHair]

Wow, looks like some great inks I need to be trying.

Nice to see the love for Iroshizuku.

I have had good luck with Private Reserve, too.

I have been particularly interested in the Noodler's Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia and the Herbin 1670. I did not realize that Nathan T was a Friend. I bet his family sure did have a whaling background.

I liked the color and story behind the Whaleman's Sepia but it wouldn't flow for me. After an hour or two I'd have to clean the nib to get it going again.

[Sullybob]

The majority of the time I use black ink. Right now I'm using Private Reserve Velvet Black.

I really like Monteverde Turquoise, it's stunning. Iroshizuke Yu-Yake is also very nice. I keep a pen inked with each of these colors as a back to my regular pen.

You should check out The Goulet pen (http://www.gouletpens.com/Join_Ink_Drop_s/795.htm) company if you want try different inks. For $10 a month, including shipping you get a random sample of 5 different inks, about 2 ml per ink. I signed up for it last month and I am really enjoying playing around with different colors with out having to purchase a whole bottle of ink. I used J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune yesterday and was not impressed with it.

[VampyreWolf]

You should check out The Goulet pen (http://www.gouletpens.com/Join_Ink_Drop_s/795.htm) company if you want try different inks. For $10 a month, including shipping you get a random sample of 5 different inks, about 2 ml per ink. I signed up for it last month and I am really enjoying playing around with different colors with out having to purchase a whole bottle of ink. I used J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune yesterday and was not impressed with it.

That's kinda the point behind Ink Drop. Trying out inks that you may not have otherwise. I've been doing it since February's drop, and only have a couple inks to buy out of the choices I've used so far.

[orchestrion]

I liked the color and story behind the Whaleman's Sepia but it wouldn't flow for me. After an hour or two I'd have to clean the nib to get it going again.

Just out of curiosity, what pen/nib size were you using? I had a sample of it filled in my Lamy Safari with a 1.5 mm italic nib for about a week before I used it all. Every time I uncapped the pen it took a little while to get started, but I never experienced any flow issues on the level you did. I'm sorry to hear that...it's certainly an interesting ink.

[The Knize]

The majority of the time I use black ink. Right now I'm using Private Reserve Velvet Black.

I really like Monteverde Turquoise, it's stunning. Iroshizuke Yu-Yake is also very nice. I keep a pen inked with each of these colors as a back to my regular pen.

You should check out The Goulet pen (http://www.gouletpens.com/Join_Ink_Drop_s/795.htm) company if you want try different inks. For $10 a month, including shipping you get a random sample of 5 different inks, about 2 ml per ink. I signed up for it last month and I am really enjoying playing around with different colors with out having to purchase a whole bottle of ink. I used J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune yesterday and was not impressed with it.

Private Reserve Velvet Black is a nice one.

Iroshizuke Yu-Yake--interesting the range of the Iroshizukes folks like.

J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune--Tastes vary! I am enamoured with that one!

[instpasr]

I just got in a bottle of noodlers red-black but the jury is still out on it. So far blue-black is my favorite.

[orchestrion]

I just got in a bottle of noodlers red-black but the jury is still out on it. So far blue-black is my favorite.

I'm a big fan of blue-black inks. Needless to say, I'm eager for the B&B ink to be released.

[DogHair]

Just out of curiosity, what pen/nib size were you using? I had a sample of it filled in my Lamy Safari with a 1.5 mm italic nib for about a week before I used it all. Every time I uncapped the pen it took a little while to get started, but I never experienced any flow issues on the level you did. I'm sorry to hear that...it's certainly an interesting ink.

Cross Verve with a medium nib. Very wet writer. I was surprised to have so much trouble.

[LouieGrandie]

Iroshizuku ink in Tsuyu-Kusa

[Bayamontate]

My favorite inks in no specific order are the following:

Iroshizuku
Caran d' Ache
J. Herbin
Akkerman

[bassopotamus]

Noodler's Galileo Manuscript Brown and Van Gogh Starry Night

[Isaac]

I am REALLY enjoying Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher. I love blue/black inks and this is basically everything that one would need in an ink. Its part of the Warden Series which is basically bulletproof.

Other inks to mention in no particular order:

1. Noodler's Old Manhattan
2. Noodler's Ellis Island
3. Noodler's Ottoman Azure

[superbleu]

I am REALLY enjoying Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher. I love blue/black inks and this is basically everything that one would need in an ink. Its part of the Warden Series which is basically bulletproof.

Other inks to mention in no particular order:

1. Noodler's Old Manhattan
2. Noodler's Ellis Island
3. Noodler's Ottoman Azure

I really wish The OA was waterproof. It's one of my favorite blues. I have a sample of the Kingfisher sent to me by one of our generous members I need to give it a try.

[superbleu]

I liked the color and story behind the Whaleman's Sepia but it wouldn't flow for me. After an hour or two I'd have to clean the nib to get it going again.

Kevin, if you have Private reserve Tanzinite, mix a bit of this with the whaleman's Sepia. the Tanzinite is known as the flow repair ink over on FPN, It will improve the flow of nearly any ink that it's mixed with.

[T007]

I like the Noodlers BayState Blue. The controversy adds to the charm!

[instpasr]

I like the Noodlers BayState Blue. The controversy adds to the charm!

Controversy? :w00t:

[mdevine]

I always liked "Private Reserve Tanzanite"

I use quite a few but this is my favorite as well. I've a bottle of Noodler's Red-Black and Zhivago in use now as well.

[superbleu]

Controversy? :w00t:

there have been many claims of this ink permanently staining pens. Also it reacted badly with the plastic used in the feed/manifold on the Lamy safari/vista nibs. Not sure if this has been resolved yet, but I think it has.

[KenS]

At the moment my fave's are:
Iroz...Kon-Peky
MB Irish Green

Both inks behave well, have deep colors, dry reasonably quickly, and aren't overpowering to see on a full page of writing.

Ken

[Groat]

I like the Noodlers BayState Blue. The controversy adds to the charm!

I was intrigued by this ink for a while, but then a sample came in one of the Goulets' Ink Drops. I thought that the color was really nothing to write home about. On top of that, it was a royal pain in the butt to clear from the Noodler's demonstrator I put it in. It did come out eventually, though.

[bassopotamus]

there have been many claims of this ink permanently staining pens. Also it reacted badly with the plastic used in the feed/manifold on the Lamy safari/vista nibs. Not sure if this has been resolved yet, but I think it has.

The feed issue was just with one batch of Lamys. Seemed to be the pen as much as the ink as I understand it. I like the BSB color, but it stains everything even near it.

[DogHair]

I was intrigued by this ink for a while, but then a sample came in one of the Goulets' Ink Drops. I thought that the color was really nothing to write home about. On top of that, it was a royal pain in the butt to clear from the Noodler's demonstrator I put it in. It did come out eventually, though.

Same here. Nice blue but nothing earth shattering. Pain to clean and stained my converter.

[BrowardDet]

Noodler's Ink, preferably a bulletproof one.

[djh]

I have a bunch of different inks and one of my favourites is still MB Racing Green. I was lucky enough to scoop a couple of bottles after I heard that it was being discontinued. OF the Noodlers inks that I have, Manjiro Nakahama would be one of my favourites.

[nemo]

For daily use I'm always using Lamy, Pelikan, Rohrer & Klingner, and Parker Quink. Special times (high quality paper) I have some iroshizuku asa-gao which seems to feather a bit on cheaper paper. My pens are set up as wet writers.

Generally I use blue or blue/black in my vintage pens, including iron gall inks.

[brianw]

Iron Galls in a FP ?????? :scared::scared::scared: NEVER only dip pens !!!!!!

[DogHair]

I just got in a bottle of noodlers red-black but the jury is still out on it. So far blue-black is my favorite.

How would you describe it? I always felt it would be muddy. I've seen pictures but it's hard to tell for sure.

[instpasr]

How would you describe it? I always felt it would be muddy. I've seen pictures but it's hard to tell for sure.

Is does look like red mud from the south or even dried blood. I've grown to like it a lot because it's easy to pick out of a line up on a sign in sheet for sure.

[DogHair]

Is does look like red mud from the south or even dried blood. I've grown to like it a lot because it's easy to pick out of a line up on a sign in sheet for sure.

Thanks. I'll have to add it to my list. I've recently been stuck on Black Swan in English Roses. Excellent red/black ink.

[instpasr]

Thanks. I'll have to add it to my list. I've recently been stuck on Black Swan in English Roses. Excellent red/black ink.

I think that one is going on my short list.

[nemo]

Iron Galls in a FP ?????? :scared::scared::scared: NEVER only dip pens !!!!!!

Have used iron gall inks for years, no problems yet! Don't be scared, Montblanc makes a good one.

[PozzSka]

I have to write in blue at work so my mostly used color (which luckily I like a lot) is private reserve DC supershow blue.

I have several cartridges in kaweco green (another color I really like, but they don't sell bottles), similar to PR Sherwood

I like lamy blue, but prefer the PR I mentioned. Platinum blue black is boring to me, but it writes well enough and dries quickly.

[instpasr]

I have to write in blue at work so my mostly used color (which luckily I like a lot) is private reserve DC supershow blue.

I have several cartridges in kaweco green (another color I really like, but they don't sell bottles), similar to PR Sherwood

I like lamy blue, but prefer the PR I mentioned. Platinum blue black is boring to me, but it writes well enough and dries quickly.

Blue! Blue simply won't do. I grew up in the era when black was the only color ink that existed in the military, I still won't accept anything signed in other than black. I use blue black and red black now.

[DogHair]

Blue! Blue simply won't do. I grew up in the era when black was the only color ink that existed in the military, I still won't accept anything signed in other than black. I use blue black and red black now.

I keep a pen full of blue/black for anything official or legal. Everything else gets whatever ink I'm currently enjoying.

[instpasr]

I keep a pen full of blue/black for anything official or legal. Everything else gets whatever ink I'm currently enjoying.

I've got a rotation of blue/black, red/black and heart of darkness which I forgot about. I rotate pens everyday or so and it keeps the ink rotation moving along.

[Cambyses]

Herbin Poussière de Lune is my current daily. It's a beautiful red/purple/gray. For three years I used the (now lamentably discontinued) Mont Blanc Englischgrün/British Racing Green/Racing Green every day. I have a bottle and a half stored away for when the mood strikes me again, but I've been happy with my change so far. I get a lot of compliments on the Herbin. As you might be able to tell, I'm the kind of guy who orders the same thing at the same restaurant every time, so not a lot of fancy ink switching for me :001_smile

[brianw]

Herbin Poussière de Lune is my current daily.

I always have a pen loaded with this color.... One of my all time favorites as well

[ROBBI52A]

Noodlers Legal Lapis or private reserve

[bluepunk18]

Nothing really fancy for me (yet). Your standard Waterman blue and Lamy Blue/Black. Both work great in any pen I've put it in. I am interested in looking at the pilot inks now!

[The Knize]

Can't believe I started this thread and then have not been back to it for awhile!

Right now I am blown away by the Herbin 1670 Rouge Hematite.

The Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun (gray with a little blue) is continuing to be a favorite. I got some Noodler Whaler Sepia, but the jury is still out on that one for me.

[nemo]

Can't believe I started this thread and then have not been back to it for awhile!

Right now I am blown away by the Herbin 1670 Rouge Hematite.

The Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun (gray with a little blue) is continuing to be a favorite. I got some Noodler Whaler Sepia, but the jury is still out on that one for me.

Ah, the J Herbin ink, possibly the oldest ink manufacturer in the world if I remember correctly.

I like blues and J. Herbin Éclat de Saphir is a favorite of mine. Usually I go for inks from big pen companies but these guys have passed the test since 1670. I'm not into reds (is that what the Anniversary Rouge is?) but I was tempted!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/pennemo/INK/j-herbin-logo.jpg

[The Knize]

<I'm not into reds (is that what the Anniversary Rouge is?) but I was tempted!>

I am not generally into reds either, but the 1670 Rouge Hematite is very much a red, or maybe a brownish red. It is sort of the color of red sealing wax. The shading is amazing so it really has all sorts of variations of reds in anything written in it. As BRuhling aptly put it, it is "like writing with blood." It is certainly the only red ink I have used that I seriously have had a desire to use to write personal notes. Not because it was so red, but because it was just that cool looking.


I have some real favorites that are J Herbins. I have heard great things about J. Herbin Éclat de Saphir.

[LuckyR]

I like the Noodlers BayState Blue. The controversy adds to the charm!

Agreed. My daily go to ink. If I did legal work I would use DC SS Blue as it is more "conservative", though I would sample SS Electric first.

[strop]

Guess I don't get out much. Until I hung around here I never heard of FPN, Noodler's, isellpens, Edison, Goulet,etc. and my wallet is cringing. Since my experience is limitted I've only used Levenger, Waterman and Pelican inks, and a little Schaeffer's when you could get it at most places 25 years ago.

How do these inks compare to the others...j. Herbin, Noodler's, Iroshizuki, Lamy, Caran d'Ache, etc.

Thanks.

Mark

[jazzman]

I like the Noodlers BayState Blue. The controversy adds to the charm!

I have eleven Noodler's inks, so I'm a fan of the company. But Bay State Blue should be outlawed. Not only does it look weird on the page, but it's a real pain to clean, not only from the pens, but from the sink where it inevitably ends up being emptied before finishing a barrel-full. Federal legislation is called for!

(Now, how's that for controversy?)

[instpasr]

I have eleven Noodler's inks, so I'm a fan of the company. But Bay State Blue should be outlawed. Not only does it look weird on the page, but it's a real pain to clean, not only from the pens, but from the sink where it inevitably ends up being emptied before finishing a barrel-full. Federal legislation is called for!

(Now, how's that for controversy?)

Federal legislation hmm.... Maybe we should refer to it as the ink that shall not be named :lol:

[csmorris]

Federal legislation hmm.... Maybe we should refer to it as the ink that shall not be named :lol:

And whatever you do, DO NOT use it at the same time as Williams and and Lilac Vegital!

[ouch]

Yay. My first order of inks has been shipped.

[Sullybob]

Yay. My first order of inks has been shipped.

:thumbup::thumbup:

[brianw]

Yay. My first order of inks has been shipped.

Watch out for the splinters in you a$$ as you begin the slide into this bottomless pit!!!!!

[BRuhling]

Watch out for the splinters in you a$$ as you begin the slide into this bottomless pit!!!!!

As distinguished from all the other bottomless pits this forum encourages???????

[brianw]

As distinguished from all the other bottomless pits this forum encourages???????

Yes... this ones greased with silicone grease and ink.... most of the others are with shaving cream or whiskey.....

[OldSchoolYoungin]

Plain old Noodler's Blue is probably my favorite. Didn't like it at first, but it quickly grew on me.

[ouch]

Am I going to find myself reusing Iroshizuku bottles by refilling them with aftershave? Or will my old Musgo Real bottles be filled with Diamine?


I ordered PR midnight blues fast dry (paranoid lefty), Noodler's Bernanke blue (liked the name), and J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune (also liked the name).

[brianw]

Am I going to find myself reusing Iroshizuku bottles by refilling them with aftershave? Or will my old Musgo Real bottles be filled with Diamine?


I ordered PR midnight blues fast dry (paranoid lefty), Noodler's Bernanke blue (liked the name), and J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune (also liked the name).

Oh Boy.... it's worse then I thought !!!!! He will now be buying by the liter !!!!!!

[instpasr]

Yes... this ones greased with silicone grease and ink.... most of the others are with shaving cream or whiskey.....

This ones greased with silicone grease and ink and absinthe.

[pal]

Other than Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black and Royal Blue, I have found that the Private Reserve inks suit my taste very well. My favorite at this time the either American Blue or Chocolate. The price is right as well.