EFNIR: Karas Pen Co. Desert Varnish

[LizEF]

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: Karas Pen Co. Desert Varnish

This is review #221 in my series. Here's the YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/DTf0D1fhvpE

Post-recording notes: This is a Karas Pen Co. exclusive, made by Papier Plume. I decided to do a more thorough review since I couldn't find any others. But it was day 4 of 5 when I decided I would do a water test, so the writing is only ~1.5 days old when I did the water test. No idea when or whether it will be back in stock, but here's the web page: https://karaskustoms.com/product/desert-varnish-red-bottled-fountain-pen-ink/ .

Cleaning was surprisingly easy - reds are often hard, but this wasn't. Dry time was between 35 and 40 seconds in testing, 31 seconds from the test hashes, and yet the "Dry Time" label smeared and I wrote it considerably before I started the review, so I don't know what to make of it... I'm going with 40 seconds on the assumption the "Dry Time" text was when the feed was very wet...

Zoomed in photo (Very accurate, shading is a little too pronounced.)
https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=75645&d=1676988262

Screenshot (Text is too dark.)
https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=75646&d=1676988269

Scan of Completed Review (Strangely, the text is a little too dark, but the color is close.)
https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=75647&d=1676988278

Absorbent Paper Close-up (top is puzzle paper like thick newsprint, bottom is old 20lb copy paper) (AP: Text is lighter than what I see. CP: Very close.)
https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=75648&d=1676988284

Line width (One of the lines used for dry time. Magnification is 100x. The grid is 100x100µm. The scale is 330µm, with eleven divisions of 30µm each. The line width for this ink is roughly 300µm. With 221 inks measured, the average line width is 295µm.)
https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=75649&d=1676988292

Microscope image (Pretty close in color.)
https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=75650&d=1676988302

Water Test Results
https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=75651&d=1676988310

Chromatogram (Photo (good)and scan (not as close)of chromatogram. The dot has a hint of dusky purple and my eyes claim there's a tiny bit of yellow at the very top, until I get it under a magnifying glass...)
https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=75652&d=1676988317

Previous Review: Anderillium Motor City Peacock Blue (https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/38959-EFNIR-Anderillium-Motor-City-Peacock-Blue).

Images also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap (https://www.instagram.com/zilxodarap/).

Want to influence the inky sequence? Take the "next ink" poll. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchNWvcBM_EFW9Gzi6gcATuA2ZWvQXps_hzaU6aBP-DQ0pWGQ/viewform)

View a list of my inks, complete with review results in a google sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FZFywY7XQn07uOzayBBPMXNBOO0FlaYz3IfalIYBpy0/edit?usp=sharing).

Need to catch up on The Adventures of Quin and Makhabesh? Find the whole story here. (http://www.lizmcguireonline.com/fountain-pen-related/32-the-adventures-of-quin-and-makhabesh)

Hope you enjoy. Comments appreciated!

[mizgeorge]

Well that's a surprise!

Thank you Liz - what a fab review. And in spite of every inky preconception I have, I really rather like it, and would definitely get it were the opportunity to arise. I also definitely see yellow in the chroma.

I'm worried about what's heading towards our protagonists though - I'm envisioning a ghastly Tsutsuji / Kelly Green combo and it's really not pretty...

[Sailor Kenshin]

Holy puffs of smoke in a fiery sky, Batman!

Papier Plume has some cool inks, and I really like this color. Dry time, not so much. Thanks as always for the review and story!

[Yazeh]

Another fabulous review @Lizef, :rockon:

It's funny how the test hash after 1 second is the only one smudged. But the dry time, is more than 41 seconds.
Quin must be really unbalanced with a sphinx on one shoulder and a tiny snek on the other. :pound:

[LizEF]

Well that's a surprise!

:D


Thank you Liz - what a fab review. And in spite of every inky preconception I have, I really rather like it, and would definitely get it were the opportunity to arise. I also definitely see yellow in the chroma.

You're very welcome! Thanks! It really grew on my while I had it in my new titanium nib, also from Karas.


I'm worried about what's heading towards our protagonists though - I'm envisioning a ghastly Tsutsuji / Kelly Green combo and it's really not pretty...

:pound:

[LizEF]

Holy puffs of smoke in a fiery sky, Batman!

:D Right!? Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire! Very cool smear this time.


Papier Plume has some cool inks, and I really like this color. Dry time, not so much.

I haven't tried many of their inks yet - I think this is only the second, but good impressions so far. I'm kinda disappointed that this ink may be gone forever - guess it depends on whether Karas order more. And, yeah, it kinda sits atop the page all huddled together under it's surface tension, refusing to dry. :D (Turns out, dry inks stay wet longer!!)


Thanks as always for the review and story!

:) You're very welcome!

[LizEF]

Another fabulous review @Lizef, :rockon:

Thanks! :)


It's funny how the test hash after 1 second is the only one smudged. But the dry time, is more than 41 seconds.

There were tiny smears on the other hash marks up to 30 seconds, and then a smear on the "D" in "Dry Time". :( Sometimes I wonder why I bother. :D It seems so variable as to be meaningless...


Quin must be really unbalanced with a sphinx on one shoulder and a tiny snek on the other. :pound:

:D I think he holds his staff in the hand on Essri's side, to help keep his balance. :pound: