Ink Review #2021: Pilot Iroshizuku Hana-ikada

Let’s take a look at Pilot Iroshizuku Hana-ikada today. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Hana-ikada is a light cotton candy 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 ink is darker than it is in writing.

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: 20 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 a few dots of bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Hana-ikada is similar to Sailor Jentle Sakaura-mori. Click here to see the pink inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Diplomat Aero Antique Rose with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a lovely pale pink. It can be rather light in smaller nib sizes so I would stick to medium and broad nibs to keep it legible. It’s different enough from Pilot Iroshizuku Kosumosu that I want both.

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

Ink Review #2020: Pilot Iroshizuku Sui-gyoku

Last year Pilot came out with three new Iroshizuku inks so today let’s take a look at one of them-Sui-gyoku. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Sui-gyoku is a medium teal.

*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 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:

• 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: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Sui-gyoku is darker than PenBBS Mentha Aquatica. Click here to see the teal inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Leonardo Furore Grande in Verde Smeraldo with a flex italic nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, I really like this ink! I love the color and it’s well-behaved. A full bottle is 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 #2019: Pilot Iroshizuku Hotaru-bi

Last year Pilot came out with three new Iroshizuku inks so today let’s take a look at one of them-Hotaru-bi. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Hotaru-bi is a bright spring 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 nice 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:

• 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: 20 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 all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Hotaru-bi is similar to Tono & Lims Hyogo: True Story. Click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

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

Overall, the color is a bit bright for me, but it’s well-behaved.

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

Ink Review #1092: Pilot Blue

When I purchased my Pilot Custom 823 Smoke with a broad nib, there was a bottle of Pilot Blue ink included in the box. I’m 100% in love with my 823 by the way-it’s amazing and my only regret is that I didn’t buy a second one with a medium nib at the same time (in a different color of course!). So let’s take a look at Pilot Blue! I purchased my 823 with the included ink from Pen Chalet, but you can buy Pilot Blue on its own from Vanness Pens.

The Bottle:

The bottle is a heavy glass 70ml.

The color:

Pilot Blue is a standard classroom and work appropriate blue.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some coppery 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: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, tiny sheen, and no shimmer. The sheen was only visible in large swabs on Tomoe River paper.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and a few spots of bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Pilot Blue is less vibrant than Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuyu-kusa. Click here to see the Pilot inks together, and click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Montegrappa Copper Mule with a fine nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a slightly wet flow.

Overall, it’s a good basic blue. I found it to be just a little bit better behaved than Pilot Black or Blue Black. It is a large 70ml bottle so it will take me a long time to go through that much ink.

Disclaimer: I purchased this ink myself, and all photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1091: Pilot Blue Black

Let’s take a look at another standard Pilot ink, Pilot Blue Black. Thanks to Vanness Pens for providing a sample for review!

The color:

Blue Black is a classic blue black.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some red 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: Low

Feathering: Low-there was a bit of feathering on Rhodia and Leuchtturm in the larger nib sizes.

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low-there was a bit of bleeding on Leuchtturm.

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

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering but no bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Blue Black is a bit darker than Sailor Jentle Blue. Click here to see the Pilot inks together, and click here to see the blue black inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pilot Vanishing Point Galaxy with a broad nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a slightly wet flow.

Overall, just like the Pilot Black I reviewed yesterday, I enjoyed this ink, but it does have a bit more feathering and bleeding than I like on some papers. While it’s a good basic blue black, there are better blue black inks out there.

Disclaimer: A sample of this ink was provided by Vanness Pens. 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 #1090: Pilot Black

Now that I’ve made it through all of the Pilot Iroshizuku inks I want to get the Pilot standard inks reviewed too, starting with Pilot Black. Thanks to Vanness Pens for providing a sample for review.

The color:

Pilot Black is a classic, standard black ink.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has 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.

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: Low-there was a bit of feathering on Rhodia and Leuchtturm in the larger nib sizes.

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low-there was a bit of bleeding on Leuchtturm.

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

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and a few spots of bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Pilot Black is similar in color to Colorverse Sunspot. Click here to see the Pilot inks together, and click here to see the black inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pilot Custom 823 Smoke with a broad nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a slightly wet flow.

Overall, I enjoyed this ink, but it does have a bit more feathering and bleeding than I like on some papers. I would call it a good black ink but not a great one.

Disclaimer: A sample of this ink was provided by Vanness Pens. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.