Mystery Ink #25

[azkid]

Hi again, FP Geeks and ink aficionados, welcome to Mystery Ink #25, a continuation of the magical, mystical, methodical Mystery Ink series where volunteers receive and review an unknown ink sample.

As always, Mystery Ink participation is open to FPG veterans, newbies, and lurkers. I will pick from the pool of volunteers and send free ink. Then you write and draw with it and share your reviews, thoughts, opinions, and observations.

Guessing is welcome, but not required. If you guess right? Well... no prize but personal satisfaction. I won't confirm any guesses until the mystery ink is finally revealed.

The point of the Mystery Ink threads is an unbiased review. Fear not about the quality of your handwriting or sketching abilities. We don't care. We are all appreciative of those with the gift of artistic ability, but how well you draw or write doesn't impact your ability to test an ink and provide your opinion on it.

Volunteers located outside the United States are already signed up for the next few months and I shipped out the inks, but all the [emoji2959] vials leaked. Fortunately, I have a little more of #25 left that I will send soon using a more leak proof approach. I will send more of the other inks later.

So, who else would like to participate in the MI#25 review?

[countrydirt]

I would like to participate.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Me, too! :)

[Kulprit]

I’m in, so long as I’m not taking a spot from a newbie.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[calamus]

Guess I'll toss my hat in the ring too. With the same caveat as Kulprit's.
Thanks.

:crazy_pilot:

[mreeveshp]

I would love to participate in another Mystery Ink now that I have a little better grip on it and it is really fun actually reviewing an ink. But I don't want to take somebody's spot if it's their first time. Plus it gives me something to do while I'm still healing from knee surgery.

Thanks
Mreeveshp

Sent from my Note 8 using Tapatalk

[FredRydr]

I'll have a go. I love showing off my chicken-scratch handwriting.

[Scooby921]

Count me in for another one! We'll see if I can round up some other FP users here at the office to get their input on the ink.

[calamus]

Hellooooo... Anybody home?

[azkid]

I will select and post the list today or tomorrow and get the inks on their way.

[sunshineboogie]

Is it too late to join this? What a fun thing! Thanks for all your hard work!

[azkid]

Argh. Things keep coming up. Sorry.

I had enough so everyone gets ink and our International friends get a little extra to make up (I hope) for what spilled last time.

* Fredrydr
* Voiren
* Chrissy
* Pterodactylus
* Suzy01 (has anyone heard from Suzy01 lately? Is she ok?)
* Countrydirt
* Sailor Kenshin
* Calamus
* Kulprit
* Mreeveshp
* Sunshineboogie

PM me your address if I don't have it.

[Scooby921]

If you didn't see it just above your post, newbie sunshineboogie wants to join in. If you don't have extra ink please reassign my package to her/him.

[azkid]

If you didn't see it just above your post, newbie sunshineboogie wants to join in. If you don't have extra ink please reassign my package to her/him.Got it. Will do thanks :)

[calamus]

If you didn't see it just above your post, newbie sunshineboogie wants to join in. If you don't have extra ink please reassign my package to her/him.

You sacrificed yourself for a fellow geek! Truly a noble gesture!!

[sunshineboogie]

If you didn't see it just above your post, newbie sunshineboogie wants to join in. If you don't have extra ink please reassign my package to her/him.

Thanks so much!

[azkid]

Packages are ready to go out tomorrow.

Hopefully the measures I've taken will prevent loss of ink due to leaks. It probably also helps that it isn't -10°F outside.

As for staining, I doubt it will. I have loaded a couple pens and will let you know. Fingers are another matter but I've seen worse.

As for saturation, it on par with like Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo or Diamine Twilight, more than Parker Quink Black or Waterman Black and much less than Diamine November Rain.

It isn't an iron gall ink either and is dye based.

I am loading it in my vintage pens.

[countrydirt]

No leaks and it is here!!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190504/69ee5666d41650c153e933f6483cef91.jpg

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[countrydirt]

First impressions are positive from my desk! I'll play with a day or two and give more feedback. I don't believe I have this color anywhere in my supply.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190504/85a1bee911e413b71dc682c4043679b8.jpg

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[azkid]

Really glad at least one came through without leaks. Crossing fingers for the rest.

I don't see any sign of staining in my Wing Sung plastic converter or the syringe I used.

[Voiren]

I did these a bit earlier :)

46816

My inksplat on 68gsm Tomoe River with some red sheen, plus writing in a Jinhao 599. There's quite a difference between the heavy and light writing - it isn't an especially wet pen so tends to the lighter end.

Then I call this "Fun with eyedropper!" - it's ink plus water, using the little bits left in the bag. You can see it has a kind of mauve in there too. This is on A5ish Rhodia (No. 16 blank).

46817

[mreeveshp]

Got my sample today no leakage at all. I will hopefully get something uploaded after I see my doctor tomorrow. But from the pictures I've seen it looks like a great ink.

Thanks
Mreeveshp

Sent from my Note 8 using Tapatalk

[Kulprit]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190506/e7fb9241e4081cfe3eca1bd1c4b6da9a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190506/9bd879fda0a25cd5048461561ad2a7fe.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190506/207205b8b402a12b36fb16a0082c5a3e.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[calamus]

https://i.imgur.com/SepEbx6.jpg

Arrived in perfect condition, and packaged so carefully that even if the vial had exploded, not a drop would have leaked out. Thank you azkid!

Anyway, so far I've managed to ink a Pilot Custom 74 with a fine nib and a Platignum calligraphy fountain pen with a 1.5mm stub with the mystery ink. I really didn't want to have to clean out the CON-70 converter afterwards -- they're a pain, although not as bad as a lever filler -- but everything else was already inked. I'll probably write a few words with them tonight just to check them out, but I won't have time to scan anything or post anything else until tomorrow at the soonest. So for the nonce, toodle-oo, y'all!

[FredRydr]

The vial sent to me is having trouble leaving Denver. Perhaps there's an FPGeek working in the Denver Regional Facility, and he is bouncing it around Denver to his pen buddies to try a sample before sending it on. :crazy_pilot:


May 6, 2019
In Transit, Arriving Late
Your package will arrive later than expected, but is still on its way. It is currently in transit to the next facility.
May 4, 2019, 3:30 am
Arrived at USPS Facility
DENVER, CO 80249
May 4, 2019, 2:56 am
Departed USPS Regional Facility
DENVER CO NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 3, 2019, 10:32 pm
Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility
DENVER CO NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 3, 2019, 7:00 pm
Departed Post Office
LITTLETON, CO 80121
May 3, 2019, 6:29 pm
USPS picked up item
LITTLETON, CO 80121
May 2, 2019, 3:30 pm
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
LITTLETON, CO 80121

[Sailor Kenshin]

Got it, loaded it, playing with it.

Pics to come. Thanks, AZK!

[sunshineboogie]

Not sure how to insert an image... Hope this works! It is very difficult to see the sheen on any of the inks. But it's a super fun color! It looks more teal than blue to me.

Thanks azkid!

https://i.imgur.com/fCbIq4q.jpg

[Sailor Kenshin]

Clairefontaine paper without a net!


http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/3415/5727/5202/Mystery_Ink_025-640p.jpg



The paper towel flower shows bright turquoise as well as muted slate and bilberry. I like it.



http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/9115/5727/5203/Mystery_Ink_Chroma_025-640p.jpg


This is a really, really nice ink. I didn't see sheen, though....maybe I'm looking at it wrong, or my nib isn't wide enough.

[azkid]

FredRydr — not sure what's going on there. I'd go give someone a talking to but I'm in TX until Fri.

Before I left I had a chance to test the sheening of the ink. It only happened with my very wet-writing Skyline and only on Tomoe River. The sheen can appear on the edges of lines which is a neat effect.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190508/a779fdeec8e20ac6522bfdb039c4586d.jpg

[calamus]

https://i.imgur.com/8yJFnkq.jpg

[Scooby921]

FredRydr — not sure what's going on there. I'd go give someone a talking to but I'm in TX until Fri.

Before I left I had a chance to test the sheening of the ink. It only happened with my very wet-writing Skyline and only on Tomoe River. The sheen can appear on the edges of lines which is a neat effect.
This is one of my favorite properties of Pelikan Edelstein Topaz. It's not usually a high sheen ink, but it very frequently gets a pink halo outline around the vivid blue letters and I think it looks really cool.

[Chrissy]

Thank you azkid, my new sample arrived very safely and securely packaged. I haven't been handwriting with pens and inks because I've not been well but I will try to get this inked-up in a pen and write with it asap. :)

[calamus]

https://i.imgur.com/rw6YVbW.jpg

I let it hang to dry, hence the drippy "fingers."

I thought I saw some green in the blue. There it is -- a pretty turquoisy sea foam green.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Thank you azkid, my new sample arrived very safely and securely packaged. I haven't been handwriting with pens and inks because I've not been well but I will try to get this inked-up in a pen and write with it asap. :)

Feel better soon!

[Sailor Kenshin]

PS: My chroma's dark center made a monster bug....calamus' made a walking frog monster. :-0

[azkid]

Cool chromas. I definitely see the turquoise, medium blue and dark blue in shading depending on the pen used. I find it fascinating how different colors come through with drier vs wetter pens.

Chrissy—hope you get to feeling better soon. I'm also glad the sample came. Through inside the bottle instead of outside. :)

[calamus]

PS: My chroma's dark center made a monster bug....calamus' made a walking frog monster. :-0

Do you think it might be a shape-shifting monster?

[Sailor Kenshin]

PS: My chroma's dark center made a monster bug....calamus' made a walking frog monster. :-0

Do you think it might be a shape-shifting monster?

High possibility....

[mreeveshp]

Love the color of this ink it has good shading and is good flowing ink. I'm going to try to get some more once I get another pen cleaned out. Sadly it's kind of slow going since I'm not supposed to put wait on my knees for too long each day.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/3b4a7c14288855be29ac3839fb4e646a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/cc8cc0c70cb385c4fe7e3d8520b170bc.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/0d016c00ab83e29ddd8c5da13d939004.jpg

Thanks
Mreeveshp

Sent from my Note 8 using Tapatalk

[Voiren]

My additional vial also arrived very securely! (Was away from home a few days).

[Sailor Kenshin]

http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/5815/5775/9749/Mystery_Ink_25_-_2-640p.jpg


One more test, above. I really like this ink, and have one or two guesses, but I'll keep quiet for now.

[FredRydr]

...I really like this ink, and have one or two guesses, but I'll keep quiet for now.
Don't wait for my report. The USPS hasn't a clue.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I am puzzled as to why my cream TRP looks white in the scan. Maybe I need an actual photo.

[Chrissy]

I've now written with MI#25 in my Tomoe River 68gsm notebook. I like this ink very much, and I can see some shading as well as some red sheen on my paper.

47063

[mreeveshp]

I've now written with MI#25 in my Tomoe River 68gsm notebook. I like this ink very much, and I can see some shading as well as some red sheen on my paper.

47063I noticed that red sheen too when I wrote a note in a cheap small pocket sized leather notebook that I got at wal mart for maybe $5. I haven't seen the red sheen on anything else but now I'm on the hunt for it to try to get a good photo

Thanks
Mreeveshp

Sent from my Note 8 using Tapatalk

[azkid]

I'm really digging this ink. It seems to have that same sort of lubricated feeling on the nib as Waterman Serenity Blue.

My drier pens bring out the lighter blue elements. Wetter pens display the dark blue and (on some paper) the sheen.

Shading didn't show up well below but it is there.

Dry times generally range from 5-20 seconds depending on pen wetness.

Most interesting is the ink seems very tolerant of the pens I've tried, ranging from bone dry EF Wing Sung 3008 to gushy M Skyline. The latter didn't feel too wet nor the former too dry.

The only thing that would prevent me from buying this ink as a go to blue is if it resists water poorly. I'll test that before we're done. If it passes I am buying more of this, lickety split.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190514/3d9acf45a2d8dd0086af026461036dc9.jpg

[Sailor Kenshin]

I dunno...does this look more 'cream?'

Sidewriting added on a whim.

http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/4515/5785/4724/Mystery_Ink_25-3-640p.jpg

This ink reminds me of a couple already in my possession, though I suspect it really isn't.

Thanks once again to AZK!

[azkid]

Yeah that's more cream to my eye. Thanks all for the reviews so far!

[Voiren]

Here was my sketch using the Jinhao, and a little inksplat and test on Oxford Optik as well - it was lighter on there. (Though I think I've lost a little of the turquoiseness in the sketch photos - I couldn't get them looking dark enough and also turquoise enough at the same time).

4710247103

47104


For May, I have it in my Pelikan 100N - I have to remember to take a picture with more writing on it in the daylight... This was a Muji recycled notepad, cream paper. It is a lot darker in this one.

47105

[Sailor Kenshin]

I am seeing sheen at last...in a Kokuyo Campus notebook!

That. Is. RED.

[FredRydr]

It's probably not worth it, but I decided to hassle the post office and sent a formal request through the USPS website to trace undelivered mail. I imagine an annoyed employee extracting an inky packet from sorting machinery and tossing it in the bin.

[Voiren]

And here's some longer writing samples. (I was practising so these could be neater).

47127

Pelikan 100N OB on the left, Jinhao 599 on the right. Oxford Optik notebook.

47128

Above: There might be a hint of red in this?

47129

Above: Towards the bottom with the Pelikan I did get some lighter shaded areas.

47130

Finally, closeup of the Jinhao writing.

[Sailor Kenshin]

This ink seems a bit chameleonesque!

[azkid]

Wow, yeah. The shading the jinhao pulled out of it is amazing!

I'm amazed that the ink works great in such a wide variety of pens even if it looks different out of each. I don't think I have tried any other ink that flows quite so well in everything from a relatively dry writer to a gusher.

I inked up the MB221 and it even works really well in that finicky pen.

I ended up buying another bottle because I like it so much. Fred, I will send another sample your way this week.

[Chrissy]

Wow, yeah. The shading the jinhao pulled out of it is amazing!

I'm amazed that the ink works great in such a wide variety of pens even if it looks different out of each. I don't think I have tried any other ink that flows quite so well in everything from a relatively dry writer to a gusher.

I inked up the MB221 and it even works really well in that finicky pen.

I ended up buying another bottle because I like it so much. Fred, I will send another sample your way this week.
I'm dying to find out what it is and hope I have time to buy it while I'm in the US if I need to buy it there. :)

[FredRydr]

...I ended up buying another bottle because I like it so much. Fred, I will send another sample your way this week.Save the postage. I will be buying a bottle based on the reviews in this thread.

[mreeveshp]

I had it happen again!!! Friday I was writing a quick note in my small notebook and a whole word turned RED for about a minute. I was so amazed by this effect that I even showed my doctor (I'm slowly converting him to fountain pens) but this ink is like another post said it's like a chameleon and I LOVE it.

I wish I had tomoe river or rhodia or even clairfontaine, but while I'm going through the surgeries and living off my savings I have to be very picky about any spending. But I'm getting ready to try some other papers today.

Thanks
Mreeveshp

Sent from my Note 8 using Tapatalk

[azkid]

I'm making a short to do list with my Montblanc 221 after four wheeling yesterday. The adventure highlighted some gaps in the system. :)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190519/423d79e4d433028b2531a6ffe244c131.jpg

The pen brings out some subtle shading—from the dark blue to the medium. I don't get sheening in this pen on this Rhodia pad.

I did see some on—of all papers—the more absorbant Clairefontaine bullet journal paper. Haven't seen any on their higher zoot stuff though.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190519/7c8a7f5e9724a4c28a5ee20619d3b60b.jpg

I will try to test on some crappy paper and see how it does.

[sunshineboogie]

When will the mystery be solved?!?!!

[azkid]

There are a couple people we haven't heard from. Hope they are OK.

But yeah it is about that time. Stay tuned for the reveal Monday or Tuesday...

[Scooby921]

Some of the lighter color results people have been showing are completely throwing off my guesses. The dark blue with red sheen is very reminiscent of Parker Penman Sapphire, Akkerman Shocking Blue, Sailor Sky High, and Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue. I've played with three of the four and never seen such a light blue hue out of any pen. Quite nice to see this much variation and shading change from an ink. Some of the ridiculous sheen people are seeing also reminds me of Organics Studio Nitrogen, but that ink is the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to flow and performance. So yeah....I have no idea what this is, but I do like it.

[azkid]

Any other guesses?

As for feathering, it does a little if you look closely, and only on the worst paper. Some examples:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190520/4f4f55fb3d51c791f2c8f5a589381c41.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190520/ce57ff3b8a9c73eb27532a526be0e741.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190520/1dda2df527edc0a4e718909432a19a99.jpg

Did I post about water testing yet? It does ok. Most of the dye is dislodged with water but it leaves behind a trace. So spills are somewhat recoverable if caught early. That's all I expect from a work ink.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190520/81e1065f41c615da0b59823487caec12.jpg

[Voiren]

The thing we thought it could be at the pen club based on the lighter Jinhao writing was GvFC turquoise, but the darker colour does not look like that at all!

[Scooby921]

The only other ink popping into my head as a possibility is Noodler's 54th Massachusetts. It can be dark, with an ever slight green hue, but it can also be light. A lot of Noodler's inks are also known for good shading. Not sure how many are known for sheen though.

[azkid]

Alright time for the reveal!

I had heard of this brand but only occasionally on here, so I was curious to try a sample.

Being a sucker for dark blue ink and shading ink, and gambling that most of you didn't have it already, I selected this ink from down under, from a few similar colors.

From literally the first seconds testing it I was hooked by the smooth flow and lubricating feel of the nib. And it kept on exceeding expectations: from subtle, beautiful shading and chameleon colors, to unexpected red sheen, to its survival from water exposure.

This ink has tossed my working theory about ink flow out the window—here is an ink that flows in a controlled way in my driest to wettest writers.

While it is on the expensive side at $17 per 50 mL, at least for this ink, it seems like a good value.

The ink is... Robert Oster - Carbon Fire.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190521/dd8587c0e9271bd5d460b89f19ddb090.jpg

Thanks so much all of you for your patience and for the great reviews and insights. This discovery is so much more fun together.

I will start the MI #26 thread shortly so folks can put their names in the proverbial hat.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I never would have gotten it! My first guess was also Akkerman Shocking Blue. And I can't remember my other guess.

Thanks, AZK!

[Voiren]

Ohh - I've tried pens with the much-lauded Fire & Ice in it, but I hadn't been aware of this one.

[FredRydr]

...Akkerman Shocking Blue....
How would you compare them?

[Sailor Kenshin]

...Akkerman Shocking Blue....
How would you compare them?

By some spooky coincidence, I just did. Shocking Blue displays less of a greenish, turquoise undertone, and looks lighter and more blue than the RO ink.

[Chrissy]

Thanks azkid. :) Good job. :applause:

[calamus]

I've been curious about the RO inks for a while, particularly Fire and Ice. Marine, too. I should have guessed it was an RO ink just from the sheen and all the reviews I've read online and drooled over. What's weird is that I didn't see any sheen except for the prominent red in the chroma test I did. Maybe I don't know what to look for, or I haven't tried it on the right paper yet. Anyway, thank you AzKid!

[Sailor Kenshin]

I've been curious about the RO inks for a while, particularly Fire and Ice. Marine, too. I should have guessed it was an RO ink just from the sheen and all the reviews I've read online and drooled over. What's weird is that I didn't see any sheen except for the prominent red in the chroma test I did. Maybe I don't know what to look for, or I haven't tried it on the right paper yet. Anyway, thank you AzKid!

I think the red is very paper-dependent....only saw the Christmas-tree-bulb red in a Kokuyo Campus notebook. Not on Rhodia, Clairefontaine, or TRP.

[mreeveshp]

I got to get a bottle of this ink whenever funds are available I loved the color and it wrote good even on mead five star paper without any feathering just looked darker since it soaked in so much more but I did see the red sheen on that paperhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190522/001b54958ec4b1002a35d1af6917d3e0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190522/56136828216440732b7cb4de2e7511a5.jpg

Thanks
Mreeveshp

Sent from my Note 8 using Tapatalk

[Pterodactylus]

I´m really sorry for being that late, but I was more than busy the last weeks.

I have to say I love MI#25 !

The color is great, it behaves really well, the nib glides very smooth with this ink, the shading is awesome and it plays well with water.

No problems with feathering, bleed or show through.
It also behaves really good on bad paper.


https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/259fb5e6-8a21-42f5-a528-43fbc5b86e8d/dd950m6-3fa28afe-1c78-45ed-bba0-7a3fd88c3495.jpg/v1/fill/w_1252,h_638,q_70,strp/quote_mark_twain_by_ptero_pterodactylus_dd950m6-pre.jpg (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Quote-Mark-Twain-801410910)
Quote Mark Twain (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Quote-Mark-Twain-801410910) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus) on DeviantArt

(Montblanc Noblesse 1122 - M ..... Mystery Ink #25 - Robert Oster - Carbon Fire provided by azkid)



https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/259fb5e6-8a21-42f5-a528-43fbc5b86e8d/dd950md-87c3dcd2-3638-4af3-89e2-f9d3341a3426.jpg/v1/fill/w_769,h_1040,q_70,strp/woman___ink_play_with_lines_by_ptero_pterodactylus _dd950md-pre.jpg (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Woman-ink-play-with-lines-801410917)
Woman - ink play with lines (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Woman-ink-play-with-lines-801410917) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus) on DeviantArt

(Montblanc Noblesse 1122 - M ..... Mystery Ink #25 - Robert Oster - Carbon Fire provided by azkid)


This ink is a for me a really good one which looks awesome, therefore from my side a clear buy recommendation.

[Pterodactylus]

One thing I´ve observed now is that the ink seems to have a quite high surface tention.

One time my nib dried out because the ink stayed in the rear area of the converter (because of the surface tention).
I do not have an agitator in my converter.
It neither bothers me nor it is that unusual for some inks, just an observation.

I still like it very much and it plays really well with water. :)


https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/259fb5e6-8a21-42f5-a528-43fbc5b86e8d/dd9aedg-55911eba-111f-490e-b503-d9bdd482792d.jpg/v1/fill/w_1027,h_778,q_70,strp/gnat_sketch_by_ptero_pterodactylus_dd9aedg-pre.jpg (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Gnat-sketch-801662020)
Gnat sketch (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Gnat-sketch-801662020) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus) on DeviantArt

(Montblanc Noblesse 1122 - M ..... Mystery Ink #25 - Robert Oster - Carbon Fire provided by azkid)