Ink Review #1723: Esterbrook Scarlet

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:

• EF Pilot Vanishing Point

• F, M, B Pilot Ishime

• Vintage Mabie Todd Swan (flex nib)

• Rhodia Goalbook

• Taroko Enigma notebooks (68gsm TR)

• Leuchtturm A5

• Pen & Gear Paper from Walmart

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.