Ink Review #1433: PenBBS 224 Tolstoy

Today’s green ink is PenBBS 224 Tolstoy from PenBBS Season 14. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Tolstoy is a medium army green.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some nice shading and a little bit of black sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low

Other properties: medium shading, tiny black sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Tolstoy is closest to Vinta Leyte. Click here to see the PenBBS inks together, and click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Lamy Al-star Charged Green with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is an interesting ink! I love the shading and the color. It’s worth a try!

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1431: PenBBS 159 Bitter Herb

We are continuing on with green inks this week, today is PenBBS 159 Bitter Herb from PenBBS Season 12. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Bitter Herb is a medium pea green.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some nice shading.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Bitter Herb is closest to Octopus Fluids Lindgrun. Click here to see the PenBBS inks together, and click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pelikan M600 Vibrant Green with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, it’s pretty well behaved and an interesting color. There’s nothing about it that jumps out at me but it’s a good basic green ink.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1399: Ferris Wheel Press Lady Rose

Ferris wheel Press Lady Rose is from FWP’s standard lineup. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Lady Rose is a medium unsaturated mauve.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks more purple than pink.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low

Other properties: medium shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Lady Rose is darker than PenBBS 178 Rose Quartz. Click here to see the FWP inks together, and click here to see the pink inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pilot Custom 74 Merlot with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a dry flow.

Overall, it’s another unsaturated light pink which seem to be rather popular lately. I found it to be too dry and light for everyday use, but it can be lovely in a wet flex nib or for art.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1398: PenBBS 178 Rose Quartz

PenBBS 178 Rose Quartz is from PenBBS season 13. This ink is based on the Pantone 2016 Ink of the Year-Rose Quartz. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Rose Quartz starts as a pale beige when wet and dries to a pale rosy pink.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink is very light, even where it pooled.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 15 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Rose Quartz is right in-between PenBBS Xu-Zhimo and Ferris Wheel Press Lady Rose. Click here to see the PenBBS inks together, and click here to see the pink inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Sailor Pro Gear Sparkling Pink with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this ink is a gorgeous color but it is very pale. It worked well in a broad nib but I wouldn’t use it in anything smaller.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1397: PenBBS 140 Bloom

PenBBS 140 Bloom is from PenBBS season 11. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Bloom is a medium coral pink.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has lots of gold shimmer.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: no shading, no sheen, and gold shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Bloom is very close to Diamine Pink Champagne. Click here to see the PenBBS inks together, and click here to see the pink inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a TWSBI Eco-T Coral with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a dry flow.

Overall, this ink is generally well behaved except the flow is a little dry. It’s not any better than Diamine Pink Champagne, and they are very similar so you probably don’t need both.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1396: PenBBS 129 Xu Zhimo

PenBBS 129 Xu Zhimo is from PenBBS season 11. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Xu Zhimo is a very pale, unsaturated pink.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks very pale, almost a cream-grey.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 15 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Xu Zhimo is much paler than these other inks. Click here to see the PenBBS inks together, and click here to see the pink inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Kaweco Al-sport Rose Gold with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a dry flow. The ink is so pale it’s hard to even see it.

Overall, this ink is too pale for me to use as an everyday ink. I would use it for art, but not in any of the smaller fountain pen nibs.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1356: PenBBS 182 April Diamond

PenBBS 182 April Diamond is from PenBBS season 13. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

April Diamond is a pale blurple-right in-between blue and purple.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks more blue and has some shading.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 15 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

April Diamond is lighter than Sailor Ink Studio 343. Click here to see the PenBBS inks together, and click here to see the purple inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pilot Vanishing Point Twilight with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a dry flow.

Overall, I think the color is really interesting but the flow is a bit dry for me. I add a little White Lightning (ink additive) to make the flow a bit wetter and then I enjoy it a lot more.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.