What’s so great about those pigmented/carbon inks? Inks like Platinum Carbon Black and Sailor Kiwa Guro Pigmented Nano Black are nice inks because they are so dark and intense, especially for those who like a really solid color. They’re great for artists who use them in watercolor drawings, those who sketch, and if you need an ink that is water-resistant. The downside is these inks contain fine particles that can clog your pen’s feed, so …
How do I know if an ink will fade? If an ink is not labelled as light-fast, fade-resistant, or iron-gall, it will likely fade over time – and faster when exposed to sunlight/light. If you need an archival ink, iron-gall inks were designed for this purpose. Permanent inks should not fade either.
Are these new sparkly inks safe for my vintage pens? If you want to be really, really safe, then putting inks like Waterman or Sheaffer in your vintage pens is best. As there is shimmery, or gold/silver particles ink these newer inks, it can reduce flow if the ink dries out in your pen. It can also be more difficult to clean out of pens that use sacs – the particles may stick to the …
I’m looking for a water-resistant ink. Can I put India ink in my fountain pen? Although water-resistant, you should not use India ink in your fountain pen as the ink contains pigments and other components that can (and will) clog your pen’s feed. If you need a water-resistant ink, consider an iron-gall fountain pen ink, but do remember this requires proper care and maintenance of your pen.
Why are some vintage pens so expensive? Supply and demand, but it’s so more complicated than just that. Vintage pens with price tags that make your heart skip a beat are appraised based on the maker, model, body material, nib material, filling system, availability, condition, nib type, and even if it comes with its original packaging or not. If there’s only one pen made in one celluloid with a 14 carat gold super flexible nib in …
What inks produce shading? Inks produce a gradient of their color that is more easily visible with wet writers, flex nibs, and broad/calligraphy-type nibs. Some inks that stand out are: Waterman Inspired Blue, Rohrer & Klingner Alt-Goldgrün, J. Herbin Vert Olive, Noodler’s Apache Sunset, Diamine Aqua Blue, Diamine Meadow, Diamine Havasu Turquoise, Diamine Ancient Copper, Diamine Burnt Sienna, Diamine Soft Mint, J. Herbin Lie de Thé, Montblanc Irish Green, and many more. As always, you …
What is casein? Conway Stewart produced a lot of pens from casein as casein offered colors and designs that could not be produced by hard rubber. Casein is not vegan! It’s made from rennet and skimmed milk, which then goes through a formaldehyde treatment to harden the material. The material is hygroscopic, so water exposure must be minimalized and the pen should absolutely not be soaked in water. When exposed to heat and light, just …
My Swan fountain pen has a weird black rod on top of the nib. What is that? Mabie Todd pens sometimes have an under over feed – in addition to the feed that the nib sits on, there is a feed on top to guarantee ink flow as the nib is flexed. There were also Gold top feeds – a thin gold channel on top of the nib, which served the same purpose, by moving …
The clip broke on one of my vintage pens and I can’t find that clip as a spare. Will another clip fit? It’s possible another clip will fit, but it will depend on the clip. A lot of vintage pens are being sold as individual items or in lots as repair/spare parts, so if you keep looking, you might find the clip you need. You can still use your pen without a clip though! Some …
What is an oblique nib? An oblique nib has a tip that is cut or ground at a slight angle, and the pen must be rotated slightly to achieve proper contact on the page. If you’re unfamiliar with this, it can look and feel funny, and it may take some practice to get the hang of it and become comfortable with using your oblique nib.
