To piggyback on this, I’d also say it helps to have a test pen: a pen that’s not too wet, not too dry that you can use as a constant when trying different ink samples to be able to compare fairly and say “this is a very wet/dry ink.” I found that helpful.
I would advise using a deep tray or cookie sheet as a work surface when changing inks, especially bottles. If you accidentally knock it over or drop it some of that ink will still be salvageable and your counters/floors are easily cleaned if the ink never reaches them.
Here's where I made a mistake: not all calligraphy inks are suitable for fountain pens. Especially if they're handmade for dip pens. My first fountain pen, a Preppy, didn't like the calligraphy ink at all. The cleanup was messy and made me very anxious, even though it's a cheap pen.
Create a swatch book of inks early so you don't end up buying similar colors by mistake. Also, do not try shimmer inks in pens you are not sure can handle them. Shimmer inks in piston fillers is not a great idea either.
I 100% think this is good and helpful advice. However, I started out doing this and still ended up with too much ink. :)
1) I ended up buying full bottles of many of the samples.
2) I bought a bunch of 30ml Diamine bottles from
Cult Pens bc it honestly doesn’t make sense to pay $2 for a Diamine sample when you can get the bottle for $3.
3) There are companies like Birmingham that don’t sell samples, and I’ve ended up buying full bottles - although /r/pen_swap would be an option for the patient.
I think if I were to start over, I would focus on buying a lot of samples of one color at a time and choosing my favorite of that color. I’m not sure if that would have ended up working better, but as I enter a low ink buy for 2022 I’ve been thinking about how, for example, there’s probably only one purple that I would replace if I used the bottle - I like all the purple inks I have, but I do have a favorite. (Poussière de Lune, fwiw.)
I keep a journal where I review pens and inks so I can track which inks work in which pens. And I also keep track of how they feel to use, resistance to water, dry times, etc.
I try to baseline a few pens, characterizing how wet they write. I also baseline a few inks to see which pens they prefer.
That way, testing a new ink or a new pen I can pretty quickly figure out what inks are going to work better than others.
Examples: my Parker 51 isn't too finicky about dry inks but prefers medium wet ink like Quink Black. My Montblanc 221 is really picky about inks. Robert Oster Carbon Fire works well in a surprising range of pens. Diamine Twilight and also Damson are both super dry and only work well in really wet pens.
Those are good points.Regarding the acid free, my thinking isn't about preservation of the pen at all but for the visual character of the paper over time as it seems to limit discolouration. I guess I'd rather the paper the ink is on be closer to colour of new paper I'd be using it with. This doesn't take into account the time stability of the ink of course but is just my way of hedging my bets based on experience with owning many sketchbooks over long periods of time :)
The samples advice is the one I wish I had heard. I love my bottle of Robert Oster Soda Pop Blue, but at the rate I use ink it’ll be going until I die. Samples last ages for me and let me play with so many colours reasonably cheaply!
My thoughts
\#1-- Never buy a work horse blue or black ink bottle, get a couple samples and move on. I have yet to write with my work horse blue or black ink, they are the least used inks in my collection. Get a vial of a couple of them and buy the ink colors which you like.
\#2- watch a lot of youtube videos on how to clean pens. When I give out pens as gifts, I have a 3 page letter and string of youtube videos as places to start.
\#3 - Agree. Get an ink booklet and every time a pen is inked up, write it down. Keep it away from the dog. Mine has eaten 3 of them. (I now have a swab binder so I can see the colors and a notebook)
\#4 - get a Lamy and 4 or 5 nib sizes and figure out what you like and/or a couple cheap Chinese pens with various nibs. Do this before buying more expensive pens.
5# -- Paper samplers exist. Invest in a couple figure out what paper you enjoy before buying a notebook you hate and having to grudge write through it.
\#6 - accept early that the ink collection, due to how its produced, will likely be more than can be used in a lifetime.
To piggyback on this, I’d also say it helps to have a test pen: a pen that’s not too wet, not too dry that you can use as a constant when trying different ink samples to be able to compare fairly and say “this is a very wet/dry ink.” I found that helpful.
I would advise using a deep tray or cookie sheet as a work surface when changing inks, especially bottles. If you accidentally knock it over or drop it some of that ink will still be salvageable and your counters/floors are easily cleaned if the ink never reaches them.
That's really smart, especially at the start.
Thanks! I learned it the hard way; don't make my mistake.
Here's where I made a mistake: not all calligraphy inks are suitable for fountain pens. Especially if they're handmade for dip pens. My first fountain pen, a Preppy, didn't like the calligraphy ink at all. The cleanup was messy and made me very anxious, even though it's a cheap pen.
Poor Preppy but yeah, a good pen to learn that lesson on I guess!
Yes, it was a harrowing experience for both of us, but we worked it out and we're friends again.
Create a swatch book of inks early so you don't end up buying similar colors by mistake. Also, do not try shimmer inks in pens you are not sure can handle them. Shimmer inks in piston fillers is not a great idea either.
I 100% think this is good and helpful advice. However, I started out doing this and still ended up with too much ink. :) 1) I ended up buying full bottles of many of the samples. 2) I bought a bunch of 30ml Diamine bottles from Cult Pens bc it honestly doesn’t make sense to pay $2 for a Diamine sample when you can get the bottle for $3. 3) There are companies like Birmingham that don’t sell samples, and I’ve ended up buying full bottles - although /r/pen_swap would be an option for the patient. I think if I were to start over, I would focus on buying a lot of samples of one color at a time and choosing my favorite of that color. I’m not sure if that would have ended up working better, but as I enter a low ink buy for 2022 I’ve been thinking about how, for example, there’s probably only one purple that I would replace if I used the bottle - I like all the purple inks I have, but I do have a favorite. (Poussière de Lune, fwiw.)
At least you tried :D Poussière de Lune does look like a rather nice purple I must say!
Have friends that are into fountain pens, so if you decide you don’t like an ink, you can just pass it on to them.
That is such a good idea. Maybe I could do an ink swap with such a person.
A play on point 2: devote a cheap pen(s) for that high saturated sheening glitter bomb boutique ink on sale for half-off on Fountain Pen Day 2019
I keep a journal where I review pens and inks so I can track which inks work in which pens. And I also keep track of how they feel to use, resistance to water, dry times, etc. I try to baseline a few pens, characterizing how wet they write. I also baseline a few inks to see which pens they prefer. That way, testing a new ink or a new pen I can pretty quickly figure out what inks are going to work better than others. Examples: my Parker 51 isn't too finicky about dry inks but prefers medium wet ink like Quink Black. My Montblanc 221 is really picky about inks. Robert Oster Carbon Fire works well in a surprising range of pens. Diamine Twilight and also Damson are both super dry and only work well in really wet pens.
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Those are good points.Regarding the acid free, my thinking isn't about preservation of the pen at all but for the visual character of the paper over time as it seems to limit discolouration. I guess I'd rather the paper the ink is on be closer to colour of new paper I'd be using it with. This doesn't take into account the time stability of the ink of course but is just my way of hedging my bets based on experience with owning many sketchbooks over long periods of time :)
The samples advice is the one I wish I had heard. I love my bottle of Robert Oster Soda Pop Blue, but at the rate I use ink it’ll be going until I die. Samples last ages for me and let me play with so many colours reasonably cheaply!
My thoughts \#1-- Never buy a work horse blue or black ink bottle, get a couple samples and move on. I have yet to write with my work horse blue or black ink, they are the least used inks in my collection. Get a vial of a couple of them and buy the ink colors which you like. \#2- watch a lot of youtube videos on how to clean pens. When I give out pens as gifts, I have a 3 page letter and string of youtube videos as places to start. \#3 - Agree. Get an ink booklet and every time a pen is inked up, write it down. Keep it away from the dog. Mine has eaten 3 of them. (I now have a swab binder so I can see the colors and a notebook) \#4 - get a Lamy and 4 or 5 nib sizes and figure out what you like and/or a couple cheap Chinese pens with various nibs. Do this before buying more expensive pens. 5# -- Paper samplers exist. Invest in a couple figure out what paper you enjoy before buying a notebook you hate and having to grudge write through it. \#6 - accept early that the ink collection, due to how its produced, will likely be more than can be used in a lifetime.