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Thread: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

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    Default What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    I often read that to test a vintage/ new pen, one must have Waterman "Serenity" blue.
    I don't want to buy another of bottle of blue just for testing.

    For now, I have a bottle of Parker Quink. Is that acceptable?

    Are there any other acceptable inks for the test drive of a new pen. What do you use?

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    Parker Quink is probably fine. Pelikan Royal Blue is popular, too. I use Waterman Florida Blue. When that runs out, i’ll probably switch to the Pelikan.
    Last edited by guyy; October 14th, 2021 at 01:11 PM.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    Quink is absolutely fine. I also use vintage Swan Blue Black and Aurora Blue. They all rinse well.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    The idea comes from using ink that was manufactured around the same time when the pen was first produced, as it was designed for use with those pens. So I figure if the ink was around then, it's good to use.
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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    My testing ink is usually Waterman but it can be any of the blue colours rather than specifically being Serenity Blue.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    Thanks for your responses. You saved me from buying another blue ink.

    Historically, I would've gone for IG inks. I guess Pelikan blue black/ or Essri (which is in continuation of Stephens) or maybe Registrars.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    It depends on the pen. I favour iron gall inks, so I'll happily use them in vintage pens. If a pen/nib is misbehaving, though, I'll ink it up with WSB. But if I didn't own a bottle, I'd also use any of the Big 3: Parker, Waterman, or Sheaffer. Or Pelikan. Or Aurora. Or...

    OK, so I'm not that picky.
    Vintage. Cursive italic. Iron gall.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    Quote Originally Posted by Yazeh View Post
    I often read that to test a vintage/ new pen, one must have Waterman "Serenity" blue.
    I don't want to buy another of bottle of blue just for testing.

    For now, I have a bottle of Parker Quink. Is that acceptable?

    Are there any other acceptable inks for the test drive of a new pen. What do you use?
    I use the Waterman inks interchangeably for that purpose: blue, blue-black and brown.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    I use any of the Diamine fountain pen inks I have. I know they are safe, and I have confidence in them.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    Waterman Black, Quink Blue, Skrip Blue 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: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    The concept of a "test" ink is such that you want to know it's qualities - that it flows well and is right down the middle, not too wet and not too dry. A big bonus is easy flushing, especially when dealing with earlier vintage pens (lever/button/etc) that use a sac and aren't as easily flushed as a modern c/c pen.

    So the ink brand or color isn't that important, but with those above qualities, it is just imperative that you try to use the same one every time. That's the whole point: have a benchmark ink that you KNOW how it behaves, and when you put it in a new pen it should behave like that. If the pen is off, you know it isn't the ink because it is the ONE ink you can always rely on.
    "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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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    Thanks Jon. I mostly use Noodler's inks or IG inks, hence my question. Ironically some of the fluorescent bulletproof inks while quite wet are very easy to clean. But I don't dare to use them in a new pen, in case the seller accuses me of using "Noodler's" if there's something wrong with the pen.
    I have a bottle of Quink, that I use from time to time. But I'm not "intimately" familiar with it.
    I know better than using pink/ red inks in lever fillers. The cleaning is eternal

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    Quote Originally Posted by Yazeh View Post
    Thanks for your responses. You saved me from buying another blue ink.
    They should be ashamed.

    Waterman Serenity Blue is my preferred benchmark. Trying to limit my numbers of blue inks failed several dozen bottles ago.
    In the words of Paul Simon, you can call me Al.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    Hi,

    Diamine Registrar's works great for me. Sometimes ESSRI.
    Pens are Swan's made 1910 to 1952, always with ebonite feed and section and 14K gold nibs, flex or not.
    I do a lot of nib adjustment/fine adjustment - here this dry and low lubricating ink shows any flew at once.

    Best
    Jens
    Last edited by Schaumburg_Swan; October 15th, 2021 at 03:53 PM.
    Schaumburg_Swan aka SchaumburgSwan
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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    I think the idea of a test ink is using an ink that you are very familiar with how it behaves in several different pens.

    I use Waterman Serenity Blue or Inspired Blue because I know how they perform. I also use Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuyu-kusa - again because I know how it performs in all of my pens.

    That said, if you are planning to use a pen for mainly IG inks, then I would recommend using an IG ink - same with a shimmer ink. I would recommend, however, that you choose an ink that you are very familiar with.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    Pelikan 4001 Konigsblau (RB)

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    I recall the Sailor pen doctors using the old iron gall MB BB. Somewhat surprising. I’m not sure if they used it at every pen clinic, or just the ones i remember. I went to a few at Maruzen in Nihonbashi and maybe that’s just what Maruzen had around.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    At first I only dip test. Vintage or modern I always use Lamy blue. It’s the only bottle of ink I am not overly concerned about “contaminating” with ink residue from what is likely not a clean nib.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    Quote Originally Posted by da vinci View Post
    At first I only dip test. Vintage or modern I always use Lamy blue. It’s the only bottle of ink I am not overly concerned about “contaminating” with ink residue from what is likely not a clean nib.
    Good point. I have actually decanted some 4001 RB into a second smaller container for that same reason: if something goes bad, I only lose a little. I like Serenity Blue less, but since I don't use it much, I don't use it for testing, comparing, or QC checks.

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    Default Re: What is your test ink for vintage pens? (besides Waterman Serenity blue)

    I use my go-to bottle of Sailor Jentle Blue as it’s the best flowing ink that I own. I also use it for troubled modern pens. For me, it’s diagnostic in that if a pen can’t write smoothly with that on board, it’s time for a trip to the nib meister.
    "Nolo esse salus sine vobis ...” —St. Augustine

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