Ink Review #1724: Vinta Laguna

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Vinta St. John's Laguna 1605 is from Vinta’s Series 3 of inks. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Laguna is a deep crimson 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 the ink has some bright green sheen.

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: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering and bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Laguna is closest to Wearingeul Human Problem. Click here to see the red inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pelikan M205 Star Ruby with a fine nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a lovely ink, well-behaved and a pretty color. I liked it in the Pelikan M205 Star Ruby, the pen and ink worked well together.

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

Ink Review #1723: Esterbrook Scarlet

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Esterbrook Scarlet is from Esterbrook’s new collection of inks. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Scarlet is a bright but unsaturated red orange ink.

*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 feathers and bleeds.

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: Medium

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Medium

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

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Scarlet is closest to Robert Oster Direct Sun. Click here to see the red inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Franklin-Christoph 45L in Italian Ice with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a slightly dry flow.

Overall, the performance isn’t quite there for me. There’s too much feathering and bleeding to be called well-behaved. The color isn’t unique enough to put up with how temperamental it is.

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

Ink Review #1722: Scribo Rosso Melograno

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Scribo Rosso Melograno is from Scribo’s standard lineup. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Rosso Melograno is a bright red that leans a bit pink.

*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 color is darker, and dries to a more matte finish.

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: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Rosso Melograno is closest to PenBBS 114 Zhang Ailing. 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 had an average flow.

Overall, I’m not a big fan of the color of this ink. Overall it’s pretty well behaved, but it’s just not the color for me.

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

Pilot Iroshizuku LE Set

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A while back a pen friend sent me a set of limited edition Pilot Iroshizuku inks that was released in Japan. I’m a big fan of Pilot inks so I was so excited to see this set in the mail. Thanks to Fudefan for sending these inks over for review!

Swabs:

Left to right: Fukagawa-nezu, Shimbashi-iro and Edo-murasaki.

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

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: 50-60 seconds

Water Resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was a bit of feathering in every nib size as well as bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Fukagawa-nexu is warmer than Pilot Iro Fuyu-syogun but not as warm as Pilot Iro Kiri-same.

Shimbashi-iro is pretty close to Pilot Iro Ebisu.

Edo-murasaki is closest to Ostrich Purple Amethyst.

Longer Writing:

I used a Taroko Odyssey notebook. All three inks have a wet flow.

Overall, I like all three of these inks, but Fukagawa-nezu is my favorite. I feel like Shimbashi-iro is close enough to Pilot Iro Ebisu that I don’t need a big bottle of it, but full size bottles of the other two are on my wish list.

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

Ink Review #1718: Kobe 28 Suzuran Green

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Kobe 28 Suzuran Green is from Kobe’s standard lineup. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Suzuran Green is a deep olive green.

*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 color is deeper with some black sheen.

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, tiny black sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Suzuran Green is closest to Vinta Carlos. Click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Franklin-Christoph 45 in Kelly Green with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a wet flow.

Overall, like most Kobe inks this ink has a nice color and lovely wet flow. I enjoyed it, but then I enjoy most Kobe inks.

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

Ink Review #1717: Van Dieman's Eucalyptus Regnans

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Van Dieman’s Wilderness collection includes this pretty green ink called Eucalyptus Regnans. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Eucalyptus Regnans is a medium olive green.

*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 is darker and more matte.

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: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low

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

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering and bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Eucalyptus Regnans is darker than Sailor Ink Studio 967. Click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Lamy Safari Savannah Green with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a slightly dry flow.

Overall, I like the color, but the flow is a little drier than I prefer, and there is a bit more feathering and bleeding than I like to see. It’s a good ink, but it could be a little better.

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

1700 Inks!

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We have surpassed 1700 inks! We have hit winter so I tend to reach for darker inks right now, especially bright reds and greens for the holiday season.

The rules: the inks have to have been in the first 1700 ink reviews. They have to be my current favorites in that color, meaning the ones I use them the most frequently. My favorites change often, so these are the ones I have used the most in the last two months.

Black

Ink Review #1716: 3 Oysters Giwa

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3 Oysters Giwa is from the I.Color.U collection. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Giwa is a deep green 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 has interesting black sheen.

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: low shading, low black sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is just a little bit of feathering in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Giwa is less saturated than Robert Oster Green Black. Click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

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

Overall, I find this color interesting, it looks green on some papers and simply black on others. I do wish the flow was a bit wetter.

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

Ink Review #1715: Vinta Kayangan

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Vinta Elysium Green Kayangan 1967 is from Vinta’s Series 3 collection. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Kayangan is a dark hunter green.

*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 has some pretty red sheen.

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: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low

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

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering and a little bit of bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Kayangan is much darker than Diamine November Rain. Click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a TWSBI Eco Transparent Green with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a pretty green ink, but it did have just a little bit of feathering and bleeding. It’s a good basic green with a bit of shading and sheen.

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

Ink Review #1714: Esterbrook Evergreen

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We are continuing on with another green ink today, Esterbrook Evergreen. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Evergreen is a medium classic green.

*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 has just a little bit of red sheen.

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, tiny red sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering and a little bit of bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Evergreen is more blue than Diamine Sherwood Green but less green than Colorverse Laurel. Click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used an Esterbrook Estie Montana Sapphire with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a nice green ink, but there’s nothing about it that stands out from a lot of the other green inks I already have.

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