Graf von Faber-Castell Part 1

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Let’s take a look at four Graf von Faber-Castell inks: Midnight Blue, Cobalt Blue, Royal Blue and Gulf Blue. You can finds these inks for sale at Atlas Stationers.

Swabs:

Left to right: Midnight Blue, Cobalt Blue, Royal Blue and Gulf Blue

Writing samples:

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

Dry Time: 30-40 seconds

Water Resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: All have low-medium shading.

On Walmart Pen + Gear copy paper there was some feathering in every nib size and a few dots of bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Midnight Blue is lighter than Aurora Blue Black.

Cobalt Blue is darker than Akkerman 06 Binnenhof Blues.

Royal Blue is closest to Thornton’s Blue and Parker Blue.

Gulf Blue is similar to Montblanc Miles Davis.

Longer Writing:

I used a Taroko Enigma notebook. All four had dry flows.

Overall, these are nice inks, but they are dry, so I’m not in love with them.

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

Ink Review #2598: KWZ Sapphire Blue

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KWZ recently started making shimmer inks. KWZ Sapphire Blue is the first one I’ve tried-it’s a Galen Leather exclusive. Thanks to Galen Leather for sending this ink over for review!

The color:

Sapphire Blue is a medium blue with silver shimmer.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the shimmer is very subtle, way less in your face than other shimmer inks.

Writing samples:

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

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: High

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On 20 lb copy paper the ink performed really well, no feathering or bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Sapphire Blue is closest to J Herbin Kyanite du Nepal. Click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer Writing:

I used a Pilot VP Azure with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink has an average flow and very consistent shimmer without having to agitate the pen often.

Overall, I love this ink. I love that the shimmer is so consistent and that it’s more subtle than other shimmer inks. It has some nice shading, is water resistant and performs well on copy paper. This ink is absolutely worth a try, and I can’t wait to try out the other KWZ shimmer inks!

Thanks to all my Patrons! I couldn’t do these reviews without you! You can find my Patreon page here.

Disclaimer: This product was provided by Galen Leather for the purpose of this review. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #2597: KWZ IG Mandarin

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Today’s ink is KWZ IG Mandarin from the Iron Gall collection. My sample came from Vanness Pens, but they no longer have any in stock. I tried to find some at other retailers and couldn’t find anyone who had some in stock, so I’m unsure of where you can buy some.

The color:

IG Mandarin starts out as a bright orange and quickly dries to a medium brown.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks darker than it did on the Col-o-ring swab.

Writing samples:

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

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On 20 lb copy paper the ink had some feathering and bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

IG Mandarin is warmer than Diplomat Pine Tree. Click here to see the brown inks together.

Longer Writing:

I used a Kaweco Al-sport Akkerman Orange with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink has an average flow.

Overall, I love watching the color change from orange to brown. This is a great option for a modern iron gall ink.

Thanks to all my Patrons! I couldn’t do these reviews without you! You can find my Patreon page here.

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

Ink Review #2596: KWZ Thief's Red

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KWZ Thief’s Red is from the KWZ Standard collection. My sample came from Vanness Pens, but you can find it at most retailers.

The color:

Thief’s Red is a bright cherry red.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper it 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.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On 20 lb copy paper the ink had some feathering and some bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Thief’s Red is similar to Monteverde Valentine Red. Click here to see the red inks together.

Longer Writing:

I used a Lamy Al-star Purple with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink has an average flow.

Overall, I really like this ink. It’s a nice color, well behaved and affordable.

Thanks to all my Patrons! I couldn’t do these reviews without you! You can find my Patreon page here.

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

Ink Review #2595: KWZ Red 1

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KWZ Red 1 is from the KWZ Standard collection. My sample came from Vanness Pens, but they no longer have it in stock. I couldn’t actually find it in stock anywhere, so I’m unsure where you can find some.

The color:

Red 1 is an unsaturated medium red.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper it 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.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 60 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On 20 lb copy paper the ink had some feathering and some bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Red 1 is similar to Ferris Wheel Press Candy Marsala. Click here to see the red inks together.

Longer Writing:

I used a Pilot Ishime Maroon with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink has an average flow.

Overall, this is a lovely ink. I really enjoyed using it. Hopefully I can find some in stock somewhere soon.

Thanks to all my Patrons! I couldn’t do these reviews without you! You can find my Patreon page here.

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

Ink Review #2594: KWZ Flame Red

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KWZ Flame Red is from the KWZ Standard collection. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Flame Red is an unsaturated medium red.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper it 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.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 60 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On 20 lb copy paper the ink had some feathering and some bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Flame Red is more vibrant than Inkebara Alice Red. Click here to see the red inks together.

Longer Writing:

I used a TWSBI Eco Blossom Red with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink has an average flow.

Overall, I really enjoyed this ink. It's a great color for the fall and winter.

Thanks to all my Patrons! I couldn’t do these reviews without you! You can find my Patreon page here.

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

Ink Review #2593: KWZ Cherry

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KWZ Cherry is from the KWZ Standard collection. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Cherry is a medium merlot red.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper it 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.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On 20 lb copy paper the ink had some feathering and some bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Cherry is a little more vibrant than Pennonia Sour Cherry. Click here to see the red inks together.

Longer Writing:

I used an Esterbrook Estie Maraschino with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink has an average flow.

Overall, I really like this ink. It’s a good color, well behaved and has a good flow. It’s an all over great ink.

Thanks to all my Patrons! I couldn’t do these reviews without you! You can find my Patreon page here.

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

Ink Review #2592: De Atramentis Black

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De Atramentis Black is from the Standard collection. This ink is also known as: Motorbike, Steam Locomotive, Halloween, Johannes Gutenberg, Cross Boys, Martin Luther, George Washington, Imperator Caesar Augustus, Acts of Murder Eifel, Fritz Reuter, Egyptian, Licorice and Durant. You can find these inks for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Black is a medium black.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks darker than it does on the Col-o-ring swab.

Writing samples:

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

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On 20 lb copy paper the ink worked pretty well, just a little bit of feathering and bleeding in the flex nib.

Comparison Swabs:

Black is a little bit lighter than these other black inks. Click here to see the black inks together.

Longer Writing:

I used a Kaweco Al-sport Anthracite with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink has a wet flow.

Overall, this is a good basic black. It’s not the darkest black ink out there, but it’s a good medium black.

Thanks to all my Patrons! I couldn’t do these reviews without you! You can find my Patreon page here.

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

Ink Review #2591: Papier Plume Oyster Grey

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Today’s ink is Papier Plume Oyster Grey. You can find this ink at Papier Plume’s website or Vanness Pens. Thanks to the reader who sent this ink in for review!

The color:

Oyster Grey is a deep grey with a blue undertone.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks very dark.

Writing samples:

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

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On 20 lb copy paper the ink had some feathering and bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Oyster Grey is closest to Birmingham Oxidized Brass. Click here to see the grey inks together.

Longer Writing:

I used a Pilot Custom 823 Smoke with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink has an average flow.

Overall, this is a good solid dark grey ink. It’s dark enough to be easily read and well behaved.

Thanks to all my Patrons! I couldn’t do these reviews without you! You can find my Patreon page here.

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

Robert Oster Holiday 2023

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I am absurdly late with this post, but let’s take a look at Robert Oster’s Holiday 2023 collection. You can finds these inks for sale at a Vanness Pens.

Swabs:

Left to right: The Grinch, Sun on the Snow, Candied Mint, and Tinsel Town.

Writing samples:

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

Dry Time: 40-50 seconds

Water Resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: All have medium shading and shimmer. The Grinch has silver shimmer. Candied Mint has green shimmer. Sun on the Snow has gold shimmer. Tinseltown has bronze shimmer.

On Walmart Pen + Gear copy paper there was some feathering in every nib size and a few dots of bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

The Grinch is closest to Vinta Nahan.

Sun on the Snow is closest to Van Dieman’s Golden Orb Web.

Candied Mint isn’t super close to any of these, but it’s probably closes to Ferris Wheel Press Brilliant Beanstalk.

Tinseltown is less blue than J Herbin 1670 Violet Imperial.

Longer Writing:

I used a Taroko Enigma notebook. All three had slightly dry flows.

Overall, these are lovely inks. I didn’t have any issues with clogging or hard starts. These are absolutely worth a try. I think The Grinch is my favorite out of the four.

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