Genuine Ink

[FredRydr]

I can get real ink from my local fishmonger, now.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d4oeOdJoTKA/VmYDmNfN58I/AAAAAAAAJXw/-h7XqHhC_Qc/s800-Ic42/2015_12_07_17_09_24.jpg

Fred

[Neo]

Is that safe for fountain pens?

[inklord]

No, but it's safe for pasta... Problem for me is, I once fell in love with a pair of common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) in a sea aquarium. We flashed signals back and forth (I used hand signals, they used color patterns) and I had the (perhaps anthropocentric) feeling that a good time was had by all. That being said, ever since then anything putting cuttlefish or octopus in harms way has become rather alien to me.

[Jon Szanto]

Accept no substitutes.

[VertOlive]

No, but it's safe for pasta... Problem for me is, I once fell in love with a pair of common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) in a sea aquarium. We flashed signals back and forth (I used hand signals, they used color patterns) and I had the (perhaps anthropocentric) feeling that a good time was had by all. That being said, ever since then anything putting cuttlefish or octopus in harms way has become rather alien to me.

Fish are friends!

[migo984]

Cuttlefish ink can be used for writing - it has been since Roman times. That's what true sepia ink is made from. It needs to be diluted, and the 'raw' ink should only be used with dip/glass pens. I imagine it pongs after a while though :)

You can buy bottles of genuine sepia ink in Japan, suitable for use in fountain pens. It's available from Hakase, in either light or dark. They only make 10 bottles a month. I can't recall how much each bottle costs but it's eye-wateringly expensive.

[inklord]

Indeed, but I really would be careful in a fountain pen - for a 'whiff' of acting out how it smells when prepared, watch the movie "The Door in the Floor" with Jeff Bridges (a rather good, albeit challenging movie apart from the scene showing the preparation of cuttlefish ink)

[Neo]

Found this article.

https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/38kxvo/hakase_squid_ink_sepia_doodles_and_notes/

It's a bit much, although I understand that there must be additional processing steps due to the cuttlefish ink.

[Dhruv]

Cuttlefish ink can be used for writing - it has been since Roman times. That's what true sepia ink is made from. It needs to be diluted, and the 'raw' ink should only be used with dip/glass pens. I imagine it pongs after a while though :)

You can buy bottles of genuine sepia ink in Japan, suitable for use in fountain pens. It's available from Hakase, in either light or dark. They only make 10 bottles a month. I can't recall how much each bottle costs but it's eye-wateringly expensive.

I have both light and dark sepia ink.
Light one costs 6000 yen per bottle and should be used with Nib finer than M or with M.
Dark one costs 7000 yen per bottle and should be used with nibs broader than M.

Some eye-candy
http://i3.minus.com/iseeR0gk3xC2b.JPG

[Chrissy]

I'm sure I prefer the bottles empty, than filled with cuttlefish ink.:)

[Dhruv]

Thanks. Glad that you liked them. :)
They are very pretty bottles indeed. But cost is a killer. Plus flat rate postage to India @2300 yen.
Buying this ink isn't that viable. Okay for a one-off purchase. The color of this ink makes writing look like those old days writing parchments that are dug up. So, it's nice. :)
I'll do a review of both the inks whenever I get some free time.

[Lady Onogaro]

Thanks. Glad that you liked them. :)
They are very pretty bottles indeed. But cost is a killer. Plus flat rate postage to India @2300 yen.
Buying this ink isn't that viable. Okay for a one-off purchase. The color of this ink makes writing look like those old days writing parchments that are dug up. So, it's nice. :)
I'll do a review of both the inks whenever I get some free time.

I look forward to seeing your review, Dhruv. :)

[FredRydr]

I like it because if you're in an Italian restaurant, you can just empty your pen over the pasta for a real treat, and then sign the bill with the ink that remains in the feed..

Fred

[Dhruv]

Might as well throw that pen away soon. :P
The concentration of squid ink/cuttlefish ink in the ink meant for FP usage is 5%-15% depending on which one you take.
100% is like killing your pen.

The percentage of melanin came from the attached MSDS. The MSDS says that cuttlefish ink is basically melanin.

Edit: I really wanted a Hakase too. But at ¥200,000 price-point, I really want something other than a Pilot #15 nib made plain for Hakase. Hakase has it's charm, but it will come later into my collection.