Lubricated Ink

[thagbert]

There seems to be some resistance to lubricated ink among some people. Is it considered cheating? "If your pen doesn't write well without lubricated ink, then there is something wrong with your pen!"

Noodler's Eel or Polar series would be an example.

[Laura N]

I don't know that I've ever heard that. But it sounds silly, which is kind of my response to those sorts of categorical put-downs, no matter the context.

By "lubricated ink" do you mean ink that flows well or do you mean ink that's had something added, like Noodler's Eel? I confess to enjoying the former and not needing the latter. But I don't think it's cheating. If it improves your pen's performance, that sounds like a good thing to me.

[KrazyIvan]

If its Noodler's Eel inks, that's to lubricate the piston on piston fillers. At least that's what I was told.

[Mags]

I use cactus.gruene eel lubed ink....it flows so well and never dries in the sense it smears if I am not careful with my south paw.

Mags sent from my blackberry playbook using tapatalks

[GourmetPens]

I do not resist lol. I'll use whatever color I like in whatever works. But then, I am an ink harlot...

[GardenWeasel]

For black ink, I am really a fan of Black Eel. Love it!

[AtomicLeo]

Noodler's Eel black ink is a great ink that I have used several times to fix cranky pens. Was not impressed with the red eel ink, ( I think it is called Red Rattler). Wouldn't dry and had too much flow. I love the Polar Blue color but it doesn't flow well at all. I know it is listed as a lubricated ink but that has not been my experience. Too bad, because I haven't found a blue that even comes close to the color

[thagbert]

I use Noodler's Purple Heart and Cactus Fruit. Both lubricated. I LOVE these colors. In fact they are loaded in my two carry pens.

I have no issues other than being a little wet.

[cedargirl]

We may be talking about two different things here - I quote Richard Binder's website:

"
Lubrication. Inks that lubricate well score high because they give you a smooth glide instead of making your nib feel dry and gritty so that you have to push harder. Some users refer to inks that lubricate well as being “greasy,” but there is no actual grease in fountain pen ink.

Note
Lubrication, as used here, does not refer to the addition of special substances for the ostensible purpose of lubricating the pen’s piston or other filler parts. It refers to an inherent quality of all fountain pen inks, a quality that depends upon the choices made with regard to the ink’s basic components."

[thagbert]

We may be talking about two different things here - I quote Richard Binder's website:

"
Lubrication. Inks that lubricate well score high because they give you a smooth glide instead of making your nib feel dry and gritty so that you have to push harder. Some users refer to inks that lubricate well as being “greasy,” but there is no actual grease in fountain pen ink.

Note
Lubrication, as used here, does not refer to the addition of special substances for the ostensible purpose of lubricating the pen’s piston or other filler parts. It refers to an inherent quality of all fountain pen inks, a quality that depends upon the choices made with regard to the ink’s basic components."

Surely there must be an additive to "Lubricated" inks to decrease friction, increase flow.

[Jon Szanto]

There seems to be some resistance to lubricated ink among some people. Is it considered cheating? "If your pen doesn't write well without lubricated ink, then there is something wrong with your pen!"

Why on Earth would I (or you) care about someone saying something like that? Cheating?

They can blow American Blue Eel out their ass for all I care. And, yeah, I use that ink in one or two pens, where it just matches up very well. I'd squirt them with it, I would...

[thagbert]

There seems to be some resistance to lubricated ink among some people. Is it considered cheating? "If your pen doesn't write well without lubricated ink, then there is something wrong with your pen!"

Why on Earth would I (or you) care about someone saying something like that? Cheating?

They can blow American Blue Eel out their ass for all I care. And, yeah, I use that ink in one or two pens, where it just matches up very well. I'd squirt them with it, I would...

Don't care at all. Just looking for their motivation. Often the stated reason is not always the real reason.

[Jon Szanto]

Oh. Good luck finding out their motivation.

[blopplop]

There seems to be some resistance to lubricated ink among some people. Is it considered cheating? "If your pen doesn't write well without lubricated ink, then there is something wrong with your pen!"

Noodler's Eel or Polar series would be an example.

Any ink that makes my pen glide across the page better-- I LIKE.

[southpaw52]

Does lubricated ink actually make for better ink flow? If that were the case won't all ink would be lubricated to make them function better? Personally I do not like my ink on steroids.

[thagbert]

I have not read anything definitive here. I think the question should be;

Is lubrication an incidental byproduct or an intended consequence through specific formulations?

[Chemyst]

Does lubricated ink actually make for better ink flow? If that were the case won't all ink would be lubricated to make them function better? Personally I do not like my ink on steroids.

If you push the limit too far, you end up with "nib creep", which is disliked by some users.

[Chemyst]

Is lubrication an incidental byproduct or an intended consequence through specific formulations?

Depends on the ink.

Some of it is a byproduct of using dyes or other ink components that require a higher surfactant loading.

Other inks are intentionally loaded with surfactant specifically to improve flow.