Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black. Which do you prefer, and why? Differences between them as far as behavior and cleaning? Thanks!
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Well, for starters, there's the fact that you can get a 'coke' bottle of Pilot B/B from Amazon for about $22.00. Not a small bottle, but 350ml. I like the ink and use it all the time and got that big bottle because that has become the ink that goes in pens that I'm repairing and testing, and I don't feel like it is so costly if ink gets lost in the process.
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Well, Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black is probably my all-time favourite ink.I've always had a pen inked up with it and never have any issues. Admitted, as it gets a bit older in the bottle, it loses some of its 'blueness' but I think that's one of its quirks. I do have the Pilot but haven't used it as much.
As it happens, I'm awaiting delivery of a bottle of Platinum Blue-Black which like the 4001 is reported to have IG content. We'll see!
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
For colour and equivalent waterproofness my vote goes to Pilot Blue Black. :) Isn't Pelikan 4001 Blue Black tricky to buy within the US?
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
I also like Pelikan Blue-Black very much, a very well behaving, great looking all time classic ink, proven its qualities since many decades.
Ad Chrissy, it depends on which side of the big water you are located if it‘s easy to get or not ;) In this case I‘m located on the right side and this ink is available almost everywhere. ;)
I do not own Pilot Blue-Black therefore I can’t say anything about it
......wait I can tell something about it.....it‘s not available here almost everywhere :pound:
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Both are great inks but in my experience you have to be careful what pen you use them in. Pilot BB is a wet ink that will feather with my vintage Pelikan nibs. Pelikan 4001 is great for taming these vintage gushers. If you have a dry nib go for the Pilot.
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
I haven't ordered any because I already have more than a lifetime supply of ink, and I have Blue-Black Pilot-Namiki ink that I'm very happy with, but I see the Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black on eBay all the time. Right now there's a 30ml bottle available from Germany for $9.40, and free shipping:
https://www.ebay.com/i/323576099887?chn=ps
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chrissy
For colour and equivalent waterproofness my vote goes to Pilot Blue Black. :) Isn't Pelikan 4001 Blue Black tricky to buy within the US?
Not hard to get, but the import version lacks the waterproofness due to an arcane issue with ingredient listing or some nonsense. The US version is, therefore, not as good (IMHO). However, it is easy enough to source Pel B/B from overseas that it isn't much of an issue.
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Quote:
Originally Posted by
carlos.q
Both are great inks but in my experience you have to be careful what pen you use them in. Pilot BB is a wet ink that will feather with my vintage Pelikan nibs. Pelikan 4001 is great for taming these vintage gushers. If you have a dry nib go for the Pilot.
Pilot is more of a standard flow ink that works well in a range of pens. 4001 is dry. If a nib doesn't get on well with Pilot BB, it's a slightly unusual one.
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Pilot BB is my go to ink. It shades, it sheens when wet, it behaves well and cleans easily.
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Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jon Szanto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chrissy
For colour and equivalent waterproofness my vote goes to Pilot Blue Black. :) Isn't Pelikan 4001 Blue Black tricky to buy within the US?
Not hard to get, but the import version lacks the waterproofness due to an arcane issue with ingredient listing or some nonsense. The US version is, therefore, not as good (IMHO). However, it is easy enough to source Pel B/B from overseas that it isn't much of an issue.
Per Vanness Pens, there is no US version of Pelikan B/B and any bottle found for sale was brought over from Europe. It is therefore the same ink.
An ingredient in the B/B is apparently not allowed for use in the States and Pelikan refused to change their formulation (good for them).
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AzJon
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jon Szanto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chrissy
For colour and equivalent waterproofness my vote goes to Pilot Blue Black. :) Isn't Pelikan 4001 Blue Black tricky to buy within the US?
Not hard to get, but the import version lacks the waterproofness due to an arcane issue with ingredient listing or some nonsense. The US version is, therefore, not as good (IMHO). However, it is easy enough to source Pel B/B from overseas that it isn't much of an issue.
Per Vanness Pens, there is no US version of Pelikan B/B and any bottle found for sale was brought over from Europe. It is therefore the same ink.
Aha - this is news to me.
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jon Szanto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AzJon
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jon Szanto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chrissy
For colour and equivalent waterproofness my vote goes to Pilot Blue Black. :) Isn't Pelikan 4001 Blue Black tricky to buy within the US?
Not hard to get, but the import version lacks the waterproofness due to an arcane issue with ingredient listing or some nonsense. The US version is, therefore, not as good (IMHO). However, it is easy enough to source Pel B/B from overseas that it isn't much of an issue.
Per Vanness Pens, there is no US version of Pelikan B/B and any bottle found for sale was brought over from Europe. It is therefore the same ink.
Aha - this is news to me.
I have a trip planned to Germany in a few months and fully intend on finding a 1 liter bottle to bring home...assuming the B/B comes in 1L bottles...
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AzJon
I have a trip planned to Germany in a few months and fully intend on finding a 1 liter bottle to bring home...assuming the B/B comes in 1L bottles...
Keep airline security restrictions in mind.
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FredRydr
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AzJon
I have a trip planned to Germany in a few months and fully intend on finding a 1 liter bottle to bring home...assuming the B/B comes in 1L bottles...
Keep airline security restrictions in mind.
It would go in my checked bags with the wine. Worst case scenario, the gate guard has an encyclopedic knowledge of customs laws and realizes that I can't bring fountain pen ink into the country and confiscates it. But I have the feeling that none of them will even know what a fountain pen is, so there's that. Pop it into my checked bag and away we go!
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AzJon
... Pop it into my checked bag and away we go!
Pack it with your dark clothing.
2 Attachment(s)
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
I thought these images of some soak tests of the two inks, plus another few stalwarts for comparison, wouldn't go amiss. The usul pretty awful paper but between rinses under running water, I left the piece soaking for 45 minutes instead of the usual 30.
This is before:
Attachment 44667
And after:
Attachment 44668
I was surprised at the behaviour of the J Herbin Bleu Nuit - I'd forgotten these properties!
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
I’ve wanted to try Pilot BB for a while, but since it’s not officially imported into the US in bottle form, no one sells samples. The only way to try it is to either buy an entire bottle or buy a box of cartridges.
For some reason I’ll buy pens sight unseen, but not ink. I suppose that’s because it’s more practical to flip a “once-inked” pen than a “once-inked” bottle of ink.
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Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kulprit
I’ve wanted to try Pilot BB for a while, but since it’s not officially imported into the US in bottle form, no one sells samples. The only way to try it is to either buy an entire bottle or buy a box of cartridges.
For some reason I’ll buy pens sight unseen, but not ink. I suppose that’s because it’s more practical to flip a “once-inked” pen than a “once-inked” bottle of ink.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
PM me. I bought one of the 'coke' bottles of the Pilot b/b and I'd be happy to send you a sample in CONUS.
Re: Pilot Blue Black vs. Pelikan 4001 Blue Black
As said above Pilot is very cheap (I have the 350ml bottle too) and very blue.
Pelikan is a great ink but if you let it dry in a pen, patricularly in a piston filler, it is quite a pain...
Also while Pilot is quite wet, Pelikan is very dry.