A creepy photo.

**Slivovitz** · 07-01-2012, 01:05 PM

Does this picture give you the creeps?

The inks in the three Esterbrooks above are, L-R, Namiki Blue, Noodler's La Reine Mauve, and Noodler's Black. The LRM is one of the nicer purples I've tried, but it's expensive, and all the pens I've tried it in end up with the nibs looking like this. The same pen had Lamy Blue in it before this, and the nib just had a couple of little ink spots. The only other ink I've tried which is close to this creepy is Kung Te-Cheng.

Wondering why certain inks are creepier in my pens than others, I found this article on Richard Binder's site. For those who haven't seen it, I think it's an interesting explanation of what is happening. Quick summary, it's not a defect in the ink, but the result of scratches and imperfections in my nibs. Certain inks just bring out these imperfections more than others.

I think I can live with a certain amount of creepiness, as long as I don't dump a lot of ink in the cap. I'll have to pay more attention, though, to which nibs are creepy, not just which inks.

**Kentos** · 07-01-2012, 01:58 PM

Did not know "creep" was used in that context with Fountain Pens. Learn something new everyday :)

**maxman** · 07-02-2012, 02:06 PM

Ok, I'm gonna say it.....
I don't like Noodlers ink.
this is part of the reason why.

I know everyone has a thing for Noodlers, but I don't.

**The Nid Hog** · 07-02-2012, 02:21 PM

I very much like the color of Noodler's Kung Te-Cheng, but I get crazy creep from it in just about any pen I use. It seems a shame to have a lovely ink that requires its own dedicated junk pen.

**cvac** · 07-02-2012, 02:54 PM

I have LVM and a sample of KTC. The creep on KTC wasn't as bad as LVM but KTC ran really dry. It was also very hard to wash out of my Sheaffer Imperial IV...it took many flushings with JB PPF to get everything cleared out. I think I will stick with regular Diamine inks in that pen from now on.

I am mildly annoyed at the nib creep/gunking properties of Noodler's Bulletproof inks but not enough to stop using them entirely. I simply have to wipe off the nib a lot more often than normal and just deal with the creep.

For a waterproof alternative, you could try Pilot/Namiki Blue or an iron gall ink. The former works very well and is a lot less nib creepy than any of the Noodler's I've tried. IG inks tend to run dry and can be corrosive, which is why I'm only using them in certain pens...I wish Pilot/Namiki would come out with more waterproof colors...

**life2short1971** · 07-02-2012, 03:06 PM

Can you wax the nibs with the exception of the areas fluid travel? I know nothing of them. It just seems buffing or waxing should end the creep.

**blantyre** · 07-02-2012, 03:09 PM

Rainex?

**Isaac** · 07-02-2012, 04:21 PM

My esterbrook had some MAJOR creep this weekend. It was so bad that I had to clean out my cap a few times. Oh well

**Jimmy James** · 07-02-2012, 05:07 PM

Probably the simplest solution to nib creep is to find a pen with a painted nib. Take for instance the Platinum Preppy. Ink won't creep on a painted nib like that. Another example would be the loose Monteverde #6 sized nibs you can buy from HisNibs. You could buy a pen with that size nib and then swap the nib out for the black replacement nib.

**Doc4** · 07-03-2012, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by The Nid Hog

I very much like the color of Noodler's Kung Te-Cheng, but I get crazy creep from it in just about any pen I use. It seems a shame to have a lovely ink that requires its own dedicated junk pen.

I don't get creep with KTC, and it's in several pens of mine.