This is a casual attempt to take a look at various ink sources and determine real prices (per unit volume, etc) for different inks from various sources, and perhaps work out some _least expensive sources_ and the like.
Being the parsimonious individual that I am, I decided to do a sort of thumbnail analysis of prices of ink broken down by actual price per unit volume for inks that are easily and widely available.
I am USA based and my analysis is based on a few basic guidelines:
Ink should be easily available to a purchaser in the US, order-able over the internet and payable by paypal or credit card, etc.
Costs will be ‘all in’ that is they will include all applicable taxes or shipping. Sellers who offer free shipping for moderate sized orders will be computed with no additional shipping costs. For example, Jetpens offers free shipping for orders over $25.00, consequently, Jetpens prices will be figured without shipping costs.
There will be a supplemental list of entries that may be only locally available or sold out or otherwise of interest as data, but which do not constitute a widely available product.
Jetpens is my current default source for ink balancing consistent availability and low relative price. Suggestions for appropriate sources are most welcome. Always looking for other sources, lower prices, etc that I can incorporate into the list.
I intend to keep adding and revising information over time. All info welcome.
Main List:
**Ink** **bottle size and price** **price per milliliter** **source**
Quink (various colors) 2oz. @$8.75 $0.146/ml jetpens.com
Pelican 4001 (various colors) 2oz. @$9.25 $0.148/ml jetpens.com
Diamine (various colors) 80ml@$12.50 $0.155/ml jetpens.com
Waterman Nostalgia (various) 50ml@$8.64 $0.17/ml jetpens.com
Lamy T52 (various colors) 50ml@$8.75 $0.175/ml jetpens.com
Platinum FP ink (various colors) 30ml@$6.75 $0.22/ml jetpens.com
Pelican 4001 (various colors) 1 oz.@$6.70 $0.225/ml jetpens.com
Rohrer & Klinger IG ink 50ml@$12.00 $0.24/ml jetpens.com
Pilot FP ink (various colors) 70ml@$16.50 $0.24/ml jetpens.com
J. Herbin (various colors) 30ml@$9.00 $0.30/ml jetpens.com
Pilot Iroshizuku (various) 50ml@$28.00 $0.56/ml jetpens.com
Sailor Nano Carbon Ink 50ml@$33.00 $0.66/ml jetpens.com
Provisional List:
Sourced from www.xfountainpens.com
Chesterfield Ink (chatter states that this is rebranded and repackaged Diamine ink.
It comes in plastic bottles in 50ml, 25ml and 3ml. Each ink is posted with a ‘list price’ that is three or four dollars per bottle more than the ‘our price’ number, which is what you pay.
In any case, it is worth noting that even if the rebranded Diamine identification is accurate, the Chesterfield branded ink is still more expensive than the glass bottled Diamine, when sourced from Jetpens.
Shipping on orders over $15 is free, so no shipping costs are added.)
They are on the provisional list simply because I have not ordered from them.
Archival Vault Ink (Bk) 50ml@$9.99 $0.20/ml
“ 25ml@$6.99 $0.28/ml
Many Colors 50ml@$7.99 $0.16/ml
“ 25ml@$4.99 $0.20/ml
3ml ink samples are also available for $1.49 for Archival Vault ink and $0.99 for the rest.
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Supplemental List: This is for data that may be out of date, or reflect ink that is not widely available or otherwise fails to meet the main listing requirements, but is still of informational interest.
**Ink** **bottle size and price** **price per milliliter** **source**
Hero FP ink (BK,BL-BK,BK,R) ~2oz@~$4.00 $0.067/ml tmart.com
Note: Free shipping in the USA. This would be a great price if I could get delivery of the merchandise. I placed an order for four 2oz bottles of ink and waited. I figured for that price, I could afford to experiment a bit. Well, the payment cleared, the order shipped, and the shipper (Fed ex….. not sure, it was very unclear) stated that the package was damaged and undeliverable. I am now in the midst of a frustrating email tag with tmart.com wherein they tell me to ‘contact the post office’ and send them photos of the damaged package. I keep explaining to them that I have received nothing and that the post office has nothing to do with the equation, and that I am not about to spend hors doing legwork for their screwups. Time will tell if this resolves. Great price, but no goods.
Sheafer Scrip (Blue, Black) 50ml@$7.16 (incl tax) $0.143/ml Duke University
Note: Purchased Locally Bookstore
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Higgins FP India (black) 2.5oz@$4.55(incl tax) $0.061/ml Michaels Art
Note: Purchased locally (I need to 2x check the price) Supply store
Note: The local Walmart stores do not stock any fountain pen ink, although they do carry pigment based India drawing ink.
@fountainpenrevolution.com:
Camlin (blue) 500ml@$36.00(incl $3 ship.) $0.072/ml fountainpenrevolution.com
Chelpark(BL-BK, GR, BL, Sapphire BL, Turquoise) “ “ “
Note: All ink current out of stock @ fountainpenrevolution.com
Will update.
diogenesNY
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