J. Herbin Rouge Hematite-how long in a pen?

[sharmon202]

I am going to use J. Herbin Rouge Hematite to write my Christmas letters. Can I leave it in a pen for the 1-2 weeks that this usually takes me? How long can I leave it in a pen without it causing a massive clean up or problem? Any other helpful hints? Do I need to slightly shake this in the pen to get even distribution or color, if so how often?

[Laura N]

I have the original version. Do you have the original, or the more recent version? Because I believe there's been a reformulation.

For the original version, I don't need to shake the pen, but I don't leave it for 1-2 weeks either. Perhaps out of an excess of caution, I fill only a small amount and finish it within three days.

It's a great ink for Christmas cards.

I know nothing about the reformulated, more recent version of the ink, however.

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

I have no clue which version I have, but the gold particles settle out of it. I shake it up, but after a day or two, it doesn't write with the nice gold sheen. I put as little as possible in the pen.

[tandaina]

I have the original formula, and indeed it is my Christmas Card ink. (Perfect!)

I use it in a lovely old flex pen because that shows off its sheen best. (Not a collectible or valuable pen by any means, but a lovely nib in a 2nd tier pen). I've left it for a week or two. The pen still writes fine, but sheen does settle out. (The new grey is much better about this, shaking the pen immediately brings back sheen.) The only issue I've had is that the gold flecks are pretty much permanent on the old ebonite feed. They don't wash off. They also don't impede flow or cause any usage issues. But without pulling the pen apart and taking a toothbrush to the feed it will shimmer forever. ;) I don't mind, but if you do then skip this ink or only fill a tiny bit and use the ink up quickly.

[sharmon202]

I have the original version. Do you have the original, or the more recent version? Because I believe there's been a reformulation.

For the original version, I don't need to shake the pen, but I don't leave it for 1-2 weeks either. Perhaps out of an excess of caution, I fill only a small amount and finish it within three days.

It's a great ink for Christmas cards.

I know nothing about the reformulated, more recent version of the ink, however.
I just bought this from Goulet. Why was it reformulated? What is different?

[tandaina]

They took out the gold sheen in the second version of it after people complained of staining, etc. Supposedly there is a 3rd iteration that has sheen again,? But may or may not be the same as the original. In other words my experience with the original may be totally different than yours with newly bought ink.

[sharmon202]

So, I guess I need to try this in something and report...............

[reprieve]

I have the original version as well. It's never given me any trouble. It takes a bit longer to flush out of the pen, and I use ammonia or pen flush to help things along, but otherwise, I've not had any issues with Rouge Hematite. I've never experienced any staining or clogging although others have reported those problems.

[mhosea]

I leave version 1 inked for a few weeks at a time, no problem. When I do have it inked, I use it a little every day.

[laoriginaltec]

I have only used it in lamy's. Just make sure to clean your pen well I just found residual ink in the cap from the last time I inked it with the J. Herbin Rouge Hematite version 1.

[RudyR]

I have version one and have left it in my pen for 2 weeks at the most (like most of my inks). The only bad result I have is that it starts to build up crud along the nib slit if I haven't written longer than 3 days. It wipes easily away. The gold like particles readily remix when I give it a good shaking or rolling. I do this before writing and find that having a good demonstrator helps in proper mixing (I prefer demos mostly).

[sharmon202]

I had not thought about using a demo, I can use my Lamy Vista. thanks

[ce5a12]

For the old version, I've had it stay in my TWSBI 530 for about a year with no staining problem. The feed did look disgusting from the build up of residue but cleaned up well quite easily.

[sharmon202]

I have been using J Herbin Hematite Rouge for Christmas cards and letters for two weeks now, on the home stretch of getting them done (about 85). After using it and trying to get the best out of it...I do not think it is worth the price and trouble of trying to keep the gold dispersed. I am also unsure on letters where it did show up that people receiving letters will notice or understand what it is. It almost never looks like some of the samples I have seen from the previous version of this ink. In the future I will be looking for a Christmas red, PERIOD! Not worth it.

[bjai]

I just bought a bottle of rouge hematite yesterday, no idea which version it is but no sheen at all on all my writing yesterday on copy paper and notebook paper and I was ready to give up. Wrote on a piece of relatively non porus card today and boom! the sheen showed up! Guess it is only visible on certain types of paper? Very thrilled now.

[tandaina]

You do need high quality paper, those tend to be non-porous.

[bjai]

Having used rouge for a week I suspect it is clogging up my twsbi mini as the 1.1 nib keeps having hard starts it is becoming extremely frustrating. Im not sure if its the nib or the ink really.