Fountain pen - recommendations

[equationgirl]

Here's some more ink samples:



Not really much in the way of sheen but that ak take some playing around the paper types. Still nice colours though.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I didn't actually notice a lot of sheen from the Cult Pens "sheen inks", but then I rarely do anyway. Even with the glitter inks it's really a question of holding the page in bright sunlight at a particular angle and suddenly thinking "oh that's pretty!"

 

[equationgirl]

I didn't actually notice a lot of sheen from the Cult Pens "sheen inks", but then I rarely do anyway. Even with the glitter inks it's really a question of holding the page in bright sunlight at a particular angle and suddenly thinking "oh that's pretty!"

I think on balance I won't start on some lifetime quest for the perfect combination of pen, ink and paper for sheen to happen, and concentrate on finding colours I like best. Diamine violet and the Lamy inks are winning so far.

 

[equationgirl]

Diamine Imperial Purple is my usual, it's beautiful. As for pens, I have only two: a standard Kaweco Sport and a Kaweco Sport Luxe, both fine nib.

The Imperial Purple is nice, isn't it?

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I think on balance I won't start on some lifetime quest for the perfect combination of pen, ink and paper for sheen to happen, and concentrate on finding colours I like best. Diamine violet and the Lamy inks are winning so far.

This is pretty much my position now. I went through a brief period of buying lots of sheening and sparkle inks, as I was doing some calligraphy and writing headings in my journal, and in practice I found I got a lot more value out of just using a colour that I liked with a degree of shading that I liked, because I was generally looking at it in subdued light with a lot of ambient which just doesn't give you much in the way of reflective effects.

Also the sparkle inks need you to shake the pen frequently if you want to have the glitter evenly distributed and not just on the first letter you write. They are fun, I'll admit, but more special occasion stuff.

 

[Nikkormat]

The Imperial Purple is nice, isn't it?

I have to say, that Herbin Rose Cyclamen looks very nice indeed. Maybe one to try in future.

 

[equationgirl]

I did not know about shaking the pen FridgeMagnet just adds to the work. Good colours definitely seems to be the way ahead, Diamine make over 80 and there's lots of other ink manufacturers too. I have some herbin inks and fountain pens, and they make some great colours. It's just annoying that the cartridges aren't interchangeable with Lamy or Parker.

I also found that Rhodia make slim A5 notebooks, similar to exercise books, so bought a couple.

 

[equationgirl]

Nikkormat yes it's a really nice bright colour, not quite as bright as the Lamy Beryl which is quite an intense colour.

 

[Nikkormat]

Well, thanks to this thread I'm £140 lighter A Sailor 1911 F in dark blue, Herbin Violette Pensee and Rose Cyclamen are on their way.

 

[equationgirl]

Well, thanks to this thread I'm £140 lighter A Sailor 1911 F in dark blue, Herbin Violette Pensee and Rose Cyclamen are on their way.

Post some pictures when they arrive!

I was rummaging in one of my cupboards and found some inks which I must have tried and then packed away. One is a shimmering ink, which does sort of glitter a bit, but again no lifelong quest is about to be embarked up. The colour is nice enough without the glitter. It's Diamine Magenta Flash.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Sailor 1911 F

Good pen. Wish I hadn't dropped mine and fucked the nib.

Japanese F nibs really are fine by the way, as you will discover.

 

[equationgirl]

I must admit, I've fallen down an internet rabbit hole with ink. Mountain of ink www.mountainofink.com is particularly good as there are a ton of ink reviews on there, so the reviewer does all the work, and I found out that Diamine do an ink advent calendar which I may investigate later in the year (24 7ml inks plus one 30ml ink of Christmas Day).

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I must admit, I've fallen down an internet rabbit hole with ink. Mountain of ink www.mountainofink.com is particularly good as there are a ton of ink reviews on there, so the reviewer does all the work, and I found out that Diamine do an ink advent calendar which I may investigate later in the year (24 7ml inks plus one 30ml ink of Christmas Day).

they also sell the advent ink individually now, in bottles with little feet

of which I only have one

 

[equationgirl]

they also sell the advent ink individually now, in bottles with little feet

of which I only have one

I only have one too, Purple Bow, the glass bottles are fab.

I was quite tempted by Polar Glow...

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I got Jack Frost, which has sparkle and sheen. I thought that was probably enough.

 

[equationgirl]

I got Jack Frost, which has sparkle and sheen. I thought that was probably enough.

What colour is that, a blue?

 

[FridgeMagnet]

What colour is that, a blue?

Yeah, blue with a reddish sheen and a slight silver sparkle.

 

[izz]

they also sell the advent ink individually now, in bottles with little feet

of which I only have one

Well clearly this requires remedy. Here's my favourite ink looking like a paperweight

 

[izz]

...and the underside, as the glitter's moving around. I agree the shimmering Herbin's aren't great in any kind of delicate-nibbed pen but I'm on a 1.1 and it's lovely.

 

[Nikkormat]

My new Sailor 1911. It's very pretty. The fine nib is very fine - much finer than my Kaweco Sports - but not unpleasantly so. It does not write as smoothly as my Kawecos do, but then it's new so will probably take some time to smooth out.

 

[equationgirl]

Well clearly this requires remedy. Here's my favourite ink looking like a paperweight

View attachment 223770

That's lovely. What ink is it?

 

[equationgirl]

My new Sailor 1911. It's very pretty. The fine nib is very fine - much finer than my Kaweco Sports - but not unpleasantly so. It does not write as smoothly as my Kawecos do, but then it's new so will probably take some time to smooth out.

View attachment 223772

That's a really nice looking pen Nikkormat.

 

[equationgirl]

I've given in to temptation and bought a bottle of the Herbin ink izz posted and Winter Miracle from the Inkvent range.

 

[izz]

I've given in to temptation and bought a bottle of the Herbin ink izz posted and Winter Miracle from the Inkvent range.

You won't regret it, nice fat nib tho

 

[equationgirl]

The Amethyste ink arrived today so tried it a Lamy with a broad nib as per izz's suggestion.



It's a really pretty dark purple, but even though I shook the bottle well before using the ink, there's barely any sparkle to see.

 

[izz]

Disappointed for you equationgirl, how irking. Which pen did you use ? I'll try and remember to get a photo next time I use mine.

e2a it can be a bit claggy. so I store my pens nib upwards. Although I think it's less claggy than the other glittery Herbins. Looking forward to the other ink you ordered

 

[equationgirl]

Disappointed for you equationgirl, how irking. Which pen did you use ? I'll try and remember to get a photo next time I use mine.

e2a it can be a bit claggy. so I store my pens nib upwards. Although I think it's less claggy than the other glittery Herbins. Looking forward to the other ink you ordered

I think it's the paper Lamy use in their notebooks, it's slightly too absorbent . Cult Pens had written quite a bit about glitter inks and how to get the best results. I used a broad nib Lamy Vista but I have a spare 1.5 nib so might try that.

Other ink hasn't arrived yet, but will keep you informed. I can't remember if I said I'd also ordered an ink called Bloody Brexit (blue with a red sheen) that Diamine produced for a German company.

 

[equationgirl]

izz on different paper there was quite a bit of sparkle in the ink so it does definitely sparkle when I write.

The Diamine Inkvent Winter Oracle arrived, here's a sample next to the Herbin Amethyste:

 

[equationgirl]

I did buy some Tomoe River paper as an experiment to see if I could get better results for sheen, and it works brilliantly. I'll see if I can post some pictures later. I bought some Jack Frost ink and that's very pretty on the Tomoe River paper. One of the ink blogs I was looking at recommended it.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

A lot of fountain pen folk will say that Tomoe River is absolutely the best thing ever and absolutely perfect for any ink or pen and... well, it isn't quite that great. Just to warn people. It's generally good paper but can have issues with drying times, and given that it's so physically thin there is always going to be some showthrough from the darker inks.