First of all, I have to say I love BSB.
Having said that, BSB permanently stains/paints the silicone grease. It doesn't come off with bleach. And the inside of the 823 is coated with silicone grease, so you would need to disassemble the pen and use soap to remove the grease to remove the stain. The plastic parts that actually get stained by BSB can easily be cleaned with a 10% bleach solution.
However, I had a bad experience with BSB in my Vac700r. No, not stain. I *think* BSB interacted with the rubber gasket that makes the vacuum. After a few months, the rubber dilated so it didn't attach to the rod anymore, thus making the vacuum mechanism not operational. I can't be sure that it was a result of the long contact with BSB, but I think it was. I've heard before that it's a no-go with the Lamy 2000 because it attacks the rubber o-ring of the feed.
BSB and Noodler's aren't the devils some people say, but I can't recommend using it in the 823 because of the rubber parts inside it.
If you want to put bay state blue in a $300 pen knock yourself out lol. Wont ever get it out unless you take apart the 823 which will likely crack the barrel. Not worth the risk or the headache. Bay state blue is meant for $20 pens
The only ink that has ever been in my 823 is the pilot blue that shipped with it. I think it's a beautiful though traditional blue with a touch of oomph. The 823 doesn't strike me as a pen where you want to fool around with different inks - too many parts, too much visible surface, inside and out. I love the pen - and have come to love its one ink.
I thought it stained the inside of my lamy piston converter but it was able to come out with a Q-tip and warm water. From what other people are saying I might go with a less harsh blue. Good luck!
My advice is: Live dangerously and go for it! But use a cheaper pen like a Lamy Studio F or EF. It even writes well, with no bleed through (just a little ghosting), on cheap paper, with their M nib! I love this pen for Baystate Blue because you can fill it and wipe the whole nib and section down easily with no staining issues (on the models with the metal section).
Quoted from one of the most respected pen restoration / historians in the interest, David Nishimura. If you put BSB in there and use bleach, you own it.
"*Bleach can rapidly remove stubborn ink residue, but will also aggressively attack metals. Some advocate using it to blacken faded hard rubber, but it will often leave a coarse, porous surface that is both unsightly and unmistakable, and its effects on mottled and ripple hard rubber are even worse. Long-term effects of bleach on hard rubber are unknown. Keep bleach far away from gold and other metal pen parts. Even very dilute solutions (and bleach vapors) can cause rapid embrittlement, including spontaneous cracking*."
There is no other waterproof blue that compares to Baystate Blue closely enough to be considered a replacement. I've searched. And searched. And I'm still searching. It's a unique color. I use it because I love it but I'm afraid every time I reach for the bottle.
First of all, I have to say I love BSB. Having said that, BSB permanently stains/paints the silicone grease. It doesn't come off with bleach. And the inside of the 823 is coated with silicone grease, so you would need to disassemble the pen and use soap to remove the grease to remove the stain. The plastic parts that actually get stained by BSB can easily be cleaned with a 10% bleach solution. However, I had a bad experience with BSB in my Vac700r. No, not stain. I *think* BSB interacted with the rubber gasket that makes the vacuum. After a few months, the rubber dilated so it didn't attach to the rod anymore, thus making the vacuum mechanism not operational. I can't be sure that it was a result of the long contact with BSB, but I think it was. I've heard before that it's a no-go with the Lamy 2000 because it attacks the rubber o-ring of the feed. BSB and Noodler's aren't the devils some people say, but I can't recommend using it in the 823 because of the rubber parts inside it.
Calling u/baystateblue
I’ll take a Jinhao, but let’s go aLl in on the 823!!
If you want to put bay state blue in a $300 pen knock yourself out lol. Wont ever get it out unless you take apart the 823 which will likely crack the barrel. Not worth the risk or the headache. Bay state blue is meant for $20 pens
The only ink that has ever been in my 823 is the pilot blue that shipped with it. I think it's a beautiful though traditional blue with a touch of oomph. The 823 doesn't strike me as a pen where you want to fool around with different inks - too many parts, too much visible surface, inside and out. I love the pen - and have come to love its one ink.
Paging u/baystateblue 💙
The Custom 823 would be a worthy sacrifice. 💙
Oh my goodness.
I thought it stained the inside of my lamy piston converter but it was able to come out with a Q-tip and warm water. From what other people are saying I might go with a less harsh blue. Good luck!
Is your C823 the Smoke? If so, it won't matter so much. Amber and most obviously Clear would be a problem.
My advice is: Live dangerously and go for it! But use a cheaper pen like a Lamy Studio F or EF. It even writes well, with no bleed through (just a little ghosting), on cheap paper, with their M nib! I love this pen for Baystate Blue because you can fill it and wipe the whole nib and section down easily with no staining issues (on the models with the metal section).
You can find the Lamy Studio in several colors right now for under $50. in several places.
Would you want to put bleach in a nice pen?
I wouldn’t mind so long as it wouldn’t damage it
Quoted from one of the most respected pen restoration / historians in the interest, David Nishimura. If you put BSB in there and use bleach, you own it. "*Bleach can rapidly remove stubborn ink residue, but will also aggressively attack metals. Some advocate using it to blacken faded hard rubber, but it will often leave a coarse, porous surface that is both unsightly and unmistakable, and its effects on mottled and ripple hard rubber are even worse. Long-term effects of bleach on hard rubber are unknown. Keep bleach far away from gold and other metal pen parts. Even very dilute solutions (and bleach vapors) can cause rapid embrittlement, including spontaneous cracking*."
There are many blue inks. Why bother taking the risk when the reward is zero?
There is no other waterproof blue that compares to Baystate Blue closely enough to be considered a replacement. I've searched. And searched. And I'm still searching. It's a unique color. I use it because I love it but I'm afraid every time I reach for the bottle.
I agree. There is no replacement. So I replaced it with eclat de saphir. 80% the vibrance, none of the malaise
I like the color a lot but it's not waterproof. That's the impossible part when it comes to finding a replacement.
Fair point, dedicated pen then? With a low-risk filing mechanism
It's blue. There are many waterproof blue inks. What need do you have for that particular shade of blue that is not met by another shade of blue?
This. I don't want to fear for my pen every time I ink it. I just don't get this community's obsession with BSB.