How Black is Black: Five (5) Black Inks

Since buying and using the Sailor Carbon ink that I bought in cartridges, I haven't flushed out any fountain pens.

But yesterday after a writing spree, my two Pelikan m200s went dry.


Now I can compare the five black inks I own: Aurora, J. Herbin Perle Noire, Noodler's Heart of Darkness and the two Sailor inks: Nano Carbon and Jentle.


The pens I used, from top to bottom: Sailor Sapporo, Sailor m1911, Pelikan m200 (Blue), Pelikan m200 (Grey) and Charcoal Black Lamy Safari

I tested all five inks on Staple's Bagasse paper with the results below:

With the naked eye it appears the Sailor Carbon Black and the Noodler's Heart of Darkness are the darkest. When I write without thinking of comparison I found the Sailor Nano Carbon just a tad darker than the Sailor Jentle.

The Aurora and J. Herbin blacks seem similar on this paper and just a little less saturated than the two Sailor inks.

The fountain pens and nibs I use definitely influence the way the inks respond.

It is very difficult to capture the written page so I gave up photographing the other samples as they do not significantly differ from the Staple's Bagasse.

Overall I don't find one of these five inks better than the others, all dried quickly, all are very responsive in four different fountain pens and on three types of paper (Canson cachet drawing paper, quality Clairefontaine Triomphe 90g tablet paper and the Staple's Bagasse). None of the inks seemed to feather or change the nib line.

Although I think the Sailor Nano Carbon is the darkest of the dark, I don't believe I will buy it over more accessible inks, notably the J. Herbin and Aurora. However, I am glad I purchased the Sailor Nano Carbon and especially pleased how much I appreciate a cartridge in the Sailor pens. The cartridges seem to have more ink than the converters and are easier to use.

I'd say you couldn't go wrong with any of these five inks and if price and availability are concerns the Aurora, J. Herbin and Noodler's are more than satisfactory. If you like variety, the Sailor Nano Carbon is a good choice.

Carrying a fountain pen

Last night exhausted from painting walls, and going up and down two flights of stairs for molding cuts, I grabbed a box of old Crane stationary that I discovered in a huge pile of loose card and started to write a few lists.

The paper is thick, claims to be ivory and has a fine watermark.

All the pens on my cart accepted this marriage of pen, ink and paper without a belch.

So it got me thinking, dangerous after midnight.

What three pens will I use for the upcoming paper experiment and which two pens will I take to New York.

And why?

I discovered after awhile that two pens were making a neck to neck run to the finish line for ease of use and good line: Rotring 600 FI and Senator President B.

The Senator President was a happy surprise, a smooth writer, easy in the hand, bold nib, easy to fill piston. Since I received him on 27 October, I have grown very fond of his presence in rotation and do hope that someday I'll find an end-cap to keep him warm.

The Rotring 600 on the other hand that I've had only since 12 November was at first a great disappointment. I found the nib too narrow and not lovable. But he, too, is growing on me and the pen's razor sharp, consistent strokes, firmness in the hand, and adaptability to ink is quite the bonus.

These two will probably come with me to New York.

For the paper testing, I'll be using Tanzanite, Amethyst and Concord Bream, Private Reserve, Levenger and Noodlers, respectively. Private Reserve's Tanzanite is among my favourites; Levenger Amethyst is new to me, and I loathe the Concord Bream I got in an exchange.

The inks were pre-selected by the proctor.

Now for matching pens.

Fine nibs generally create less havoc on paper, but I prefer wider nibs. So in the interest of a challenge, I'll use both and see how the paper tests fare.

I think I'll use a Lamy Safari with a B nib for the Tanzanite, the Rotring 600 with the Levenger Amethyst and still undecided for the Bream.

Lots of flushing to do this weekend.

PS - Flushed the White Lamy Safari B and the Rotring 600. The Amethyst leaked three times since I filled it. And I think I'll use one of my Sensa Meridian's for the Bream and just not fill it up completely. The Noir seems to be almost out of ink. These three pens will give variety: Fitalic, M and B.

Not an INK-ling!

When does a collection become a mania? Or is obsession a better word? Or is there even a word for collecting the collectible?

I've gone through all my fountain pens, some once, several twice, and others more times than I can recount. With many identified and given their official pedigree, I turn to ink.

On my last visit to the Fountain Pen Hospital, I bought my first bottles of Noodlers, but since then I haven't added any bottles or cartridges to my stock of inks.

Now glued to FPn I have added several other Noodlers, a bottle of Private Reserve Chocolate and a few test bottles from Pear Tree.

Isn't that enough, I keep asking myself? When is enough I say again?

I pulled a card, Two of Swords, a stalemate. No more ink today!