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Thread: Yup...another black ink question.

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    Senior Member Sailor Kenshin's Avatar
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    Question Yup...another black ink question.

    Black ink. Sigh.

    It's time for me to get a new bottle of black ink. I've narrowed it down to this quartet:

    Skrip Black
    Monteverde Midnight
    Diamine Onyx
    Namiki Pilot

    Which of the above is blackest, laying down a smooth dense line that doesn't feather AND which plays well with many different pens?

    (Unless there's a MV ink I haven't thought of). Already owned:
    JH Perle Noire
    Pelikan
    Quink
    Levenger Raven (horribly feathery, apropos I guess)
    Chesterfield Obsidian (really a gray)
    Waterman
    MV Black Ash
    Vintage MB that I hesitate to use too often

    Thanks for your help!
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM2NGSSD

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    Senior Member silverlifter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Quote Originally Posted by Sailor Kenshin View Post
    Which of the above is blackest, laying down a smooth dense line that doesn't feather AND which plays well with many different pens?
    None of the above. Aurora Black is the ink you are looking for
    Vintage. Cursive italic. Iron gall.

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    Senior Member Sailor Kenshin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Quote Originally Posted by silverlifter View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Sailor Kenshin View Post
    Which of the above is blackest, laying down a smooth dense line that doesn't feather AND which plays well with many different pens?
    None of the above. Aurora Black is the ink you are looking for

    Thanks. AB is talked about as one of THE black inks, but I've used it, and didn't really care for it.
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM2NGSSD

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Have you tried Sailor Kiwa-guro? (I haven't used any of the four you are asking about, sorry)
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    I love Aurora black 'cause it's black, but it is wet and it will feather.

    If you hesitate to use your old MB black in the 50ml bottles, there is plenty of it around "new in the box" and at prices less than the new stuff.
    Last edited by FredRydr; March 4th, 2020 at 05:18 AM.

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    Senior Member mreeveshp's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    I like my Noodler's Borealis, its very dark seems to work good in all my pens and works great on all the paper I've tried it on even cheap mead paper. Plus 4.5oz for about $20 is a great deal.

    mreeveshp

    Sent from my Note 8 using Tapatalk

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    Senior Member Jaguarish's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Have you considered pilot iroshizuku take-sumi?

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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Two suggestions:

    Kobe #24 Nakayamate Black available from Vanness. It's as black as any ink I know, and it performs well.

    The new TWSBI Black. I've found it to be quite dark. Good results on any paper I've tried, but so far haven't used it in a fountain pen, only dip pen.

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    Senior Member carlos.q's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Of the options offered I have Skrip black which I find plays well with many different pens, dries quickly and will not feather on most papers. It also has moderate water resistance which is always a plus.

    It is a simple no nonsense black ink that is often overlooked and under appreciated.
    Last edited by carlos.q; March 4th, 2020 at 02:16 AM.

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    Senior Member Sailor Kenshin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    I love Aurora black 'cause it's black, but it is wet and it will feather.

    If you hesitate to use your old MB black in the 50ml bottles, there is plenty of it around "new in the box" and at prices less than the new stuff.
    Really? The old 'shoe' bottle? I love how the chroma for this ink breaks down into teal, orange, and greenish.
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM2NGSSD

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Quote Originally Posted by Sailor Kenshin View Post
    Really? The old 'shoe' bottle? I love how the chroma for this ink breaks down into teal, orange, and greenish.
    Yes. A search in eBay "montblanc ink bottle 50ml" just now nets ~125 listings, about 10% are 50ml bottles (one is even empty!). Add "black" to the search and it cuts down to 11 listings, 5 are still 50ml bottles because black is so common. Ignore the high minimums and auctions, and go for the Buy-It-Nows and Make-Offers. (My maximum including shipping is $24, the price of new 60ml bottles from Montblanc.)

    But get this: one is IG blue-black for about $20! I'd snap that one up, but I already have 1 1/2 bottles.
    Last edited by FredRydr; March 4th, 2020 at 06:22 AM.

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    Senior Member awa54's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    I recently picked up a bottle of the Namiki branded Pilot "basic" black to pad an order up to free shipping... It's blacker than most "watery" black inks and seems well behaved, though I haven't used it on low quality paper yet.

    I can't comment on the others you listed, as the only one I've used is the Sheaffer and that wasn't recently enough to have any detailed opinions aside from the fact that it was the least disappointing of the Slovenian inks color-wise... I wasn't a fan of the color change from the old American Skrip formulas, though the "new" inks certainly perform well enough. My memory of the old formula Skrip black was that it was a bit thin, not an intensely black ink, but a fairly true color (unlike Parker black which is more of an ultra dark blue-black).

    An earlier recommendation was made for Noodler's Borealis, if you wanted to try it I have an almost full bottle, however the reason it never got used up is that it's caused issues with every pen I've ever used it in, even dilluted it's been problematic.
    Last edited by awa54; March 4th, 2020 at 09:15 AM.
    David-

    So many restoration projects...

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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Quote Originally Posted by awa54 View Post
    I recently picked up a bottle of the Namiki branded Pilot "basic" black to pad an order up to free shipping... It's blacker than most "watery" black inks and seems well behaved, though I haven't used it on low quality paper yet.

    I can't comment on the others you listed, as the only one I've used is the Sheaffer and that wasn't recently enough to have any detailed opinions aside from the fact that it was the least disappointing of the Slovenian inks color-wise... I wasn't a fan of the color change from the old American Skrip formulas, though the "new" inks certainly perform well enough. My memory of the old formula Skrip black was that it was a bit thin, not an intensely black ink, but a fairly true color (unlike Parker black which is more of an ultra dark blue-black).

    An earlier recommendation was made for Noodler's Borealis, if you wanted to try it I have an almost full bottle, however the reason it never got used up is that it's caused issues with every pen I've ever used it in, even dilluted it's been problematic.
    A very kind offer of Borealis, but given your description, I'll sadly decline.

    Thanks not only for the offer, but the ink recollections. I have Skrip Black carts, enjoy them, but I need a bottled black. Namiki and Skrip are inexpensive enough that I may get both.
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM2NGSSD

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    Senior Member Pterodactylus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Ever thought about:

    Platinum Carbon Black
    and
    Pelikan Fount India

    Both quite black black inks.

    Carbon black a bit on the glossy finish side, when looking against the light, fount India on the matt finish side.
    Both well behaving and waterproof (if somebody cares about this feature).

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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    I have used Fount India with dip pens to write in my journal books for years. It will survive for at least 6 months in full sun and indirect rain.
    "Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little." -Epicurus-

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    Senior Member Sailor Kenshin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Thanks, Ptero...waterproofness isn't a concern.

    I had ordered Pilot/Namiki Black. I got sent BLUE Black. Sigh. But I'm amazed by Chesterfield Obsidian being a gray, really. Seen as such, it's a nice color! Just not black.
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM2NGSSD

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    Senior Member awa54's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    OK, I'm not hallucinating... you posted this topic here *and* on the "other" place!

    I was starting to believe that there was something wrong with the thread (or my head), since my post here wasn't on the doppleganger thread, nor was the vintage MB info.

    SK, you're messin' with my head!!
    David-

    So many restoration projects...

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    Senior Member Pterodactylus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Quote Originally Posted by awa54 View Post
    OK, I'm not hallucinating... you posted this topic here *and* on the "other" place!

    I was starting to believe that there was something wrong with the thread (or my head), since my post here wasn't on the doppleganger thread, nor was the vintage MB info.

    SK, you're messin' with my head!!
    Oh my goddess.... I canˋt believe it....... Is it really true?.......

    Did he posted on the dark side?

    Incredible a practitioner of the dark side of the force.

    "It takes strength to resist the dark side. Only the weak embrace it!"

    But maybe it‘s not too late yet to bring him back to to the light side.

    May the force be with you.

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    Senior Member Sailor Kenshin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Quote Originally Posted by awa54 View Post
    OK, I'm not hallucinating... you posted this topic here *and* on the "other" place!

    I was starting to believe that there was something wrong with the thread (or my head), since my post here wasn't on the doppleganger thread, nor was the vintage MB info.

    SK, you're messin' with my head!!



    Must be because my head has been messed with by receiving BLUE BLACK when I ordered BLACK.
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM2NGSSD

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    Default Re: Yup...another black ink question.

    Ordering black but receiving blue-black is likely the Forces of Inkiness just trying to guide you on your path. Clearly they're not convinced you truly seek black.*

    Anyway, no (far too late) suggestion here, as I only really use Carbon Black. But for the edumacation of passers-by, I was much impressed by the ability of Platinum Black (non-Carbon) to work on really dire paper without feathering.

    *Insert cross-legged levitating smilie going "ommm" here.
    In the words of Paul Simon, you can call me Al.

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