Gradually getting closer to settling on my favourite inks

[blethenstrom]

Thank you. She's been going through a rough spell of late, so I hope it will brighten her day a little.

I'm glad to have this done, so I can start to feel more settled and content with my options. It took a while to feel that way with shaving gear, and already feel that way with my array of pens and paper (particularly Clairefontaine and the Parker IMs). It's nice to feel that whatever you choose from your line up, it will never be wrong.

I agree. I think fountain pens and inks are very much an YMMV area as well.

 

[AimlessWanderer]

I agree. I think fountain pens and inks are very much an YMMV area as well.

Very much so. My preferences differ greatly to the prevailing online trends.

 

[blethenstrom]

Teal and Twilight, which are actually quite similar, are just a little too "moody" for my liking. Particularly the Twilight. They are ones I'm hoping to replace, preferably with something a bit "happier", albeit similarly coloured. All I've done so far, is put a colour spot on the caps, to make storing them in the drawer a little easier to work with.

View attachment 1636372

I haven't yet decided how to test them though. Put one of each group in a different pen to use them at the same time? Just use the same two pens for each colour (one bold nib, one fine nib) over and over? Just leave them in the drawer, and randomly use one at a time over the next year or so in whatever pen happens to be available? Not decided yet.

You did something to your ink bottles that inspired me. Putting labels on the lid and swabbing them. What a great idea! I did all my bottles last night. Did not take too long and now I can see a representation of the ink even if the bottle is in a drawer. Thank you most kind sir!

 

[AimlessWanderer]

You did something to your ink bottles that inspired me. Putting labels on the lid and swabbing them. What a great idea! I did all my bottles last night. Did not take too long and now I can see a representation of the ink even if the bottle is in a drawer. Thank you most kind sir!

You're quite welcome. It has made life easier, finding the ink I want.

I haven't done the Midnight yet, as there's currently only one 80ml bottle in the drawer. Also, keeping track of the others got even easier when I went from this...

... to this...

... and will continue to get simpler with time, as it dwindles down further to ten or so. Please excuse the lighting on that second pic.

 

[blethenstrom]

You're quite welcome. It has made life easier, finding the ink I want.

I haven't done the Midnight yet, as there's currently only one 80ml bottle in the drawer. Also, keeping track of the others got even easier when I went from this...

View attachment 1649145

... to this...

View attachment 1649148

... and will continue to get simpler with time, as it dwindles down further to ten or so. Please excuse the lighting on that second pic.

You are quite organized. I do have an ink journal that I swab and do writing tests with all my inks and that help tremendously. Now cutting down the number of inks I have ... well that is a hard thing. It would the most prudent and practical thing to do, but we will see. Also, now I have my wife in this fountain pen thing so she wanted some different inks as well. We will see what happens..

 

[AimlessWanderer]

Well, I was meant to be gifting a pile of stuff away last year, but it didn't happen. However, I currently have 15 bottles and 4 packs of carts bagged up to give to a friend next weekend. That leaves me with this lot.

I have three pens which only take cartridges (converters won't fit), so I decided to keep all the packs of cartridges shown. In time, I will probably add 80ml bottles of most of the little bottled inks too, just to guard against anything getting dropped from their line in future. I may drop one of the reds though, and possibly add Diamine Grape back in. I have found I like the darker inks in fine nibs, and the less dark ones in a medium nib, so I want to try to keep those options balanced.

 

[Claudel Xerxes]

Since you're a fan of Diamine, and if you haven't done so already, consider trying Syrah, Oxford Blue, and Monaco Red. They seem like they would fit with the inks that you already like.

 

[AimlessWanderer]

Since you're a fan of Diamine, and if you haven't done so already, consider trying Syrah, Oxford Blue, and Monaco Red. They seem like they would fit with the inks that you already like.

I haven't tried any of those.

Syrah seemed a little too close to Amaranth to me, which I found to be a little too pink. The Oxford Blue and Monaco Red were definitely ones I looked at very closely, before settling on the Midnight and Matador, which I have been very happy with. I most likely won't add them now though, as I've been trying to work towards a streamlined selection, which all have a pretty good contrast with the others in my array. The two I already have, fit that role perfectly for me.

I still might reduce a little further actually, as Chocolate Brown and Red Dragon are both a little close to Oxblood, depending on pen and paper. So I might drop either Oxblood or the other two. I'm certainly happy that I've found "my" blues, purples (including Grape) and green.

 

[mjsanta83]

JMJ-

I have been away for a while, so just reading this thread.

Some great inks and explanations of them, I appreciate that. I am looking for a good purple, like the majestic or imperial purple. I have scabiosa and it’s a good color but it feels “dull” to me. If that makes sense. I use oxblood, it’s a great ink.

I hope to find this thread again in the future to help with ink ideas.

I also like the ink drawer. I currently don’t have a writing desk so I keep my inks in a basket inside a bag.