Pilot Iroshizuku: yama-budo

Pen: Lamy Safari – Charcoal – Fine Nib
Ink: Pilot Iroshizuku yama-budo
Paper: Rhodia dotPad, No. 16 - Top Spiral Bound

Notes:
I really like Iroshizuku inks, but I’m not really a fan of pink (or magenta, or whatever this is). The ink goes down smooth and consistent, just like the rest of the Iroshizuku inks I’ve tried. The bottle they come in is really great looking on an ink shelf or in a desk. While this isn’t really my cup of tea (I prefer coffee anyway), it’s a nice ink. Sometimes purples and pinks can be a bit hairy in terms of legibility, but this ink is the right shade to where it can be easily read. If you’re into the color, I would definitely suggest checking it out. Iroshizuku inks are an absolute pleasure to look at, clean out, and write with.

Thanks for reading, enjoy!

Pros:

Dark enough pink/purple to be easily read
Iroshizuku performance
Packaging and bottle

Cons:

It’s pink, and I’ll probably never use it again

Pilot Iroshizuku yama-budo Foutnain Pen Ink Review 3

Looks really nice on a bright white paper.

Pilot Iroshizuku yama-budo Foutnain Pen Ink Review 4

Legibility is pretty good, even smaller writing that’s relatively close together is easily read.

Pilot Iroshizuku yama-budo Foutnain Pen Ink Review 6

Doesn’t layer all that much, but it’s nice looking! There’s some minor shading going on too, which is a nice touch. Most of the Iroshizuku line exhibits some shading.

Gallery:

Related Reading:

Pen: Lamy Safari – Broad Nib
Ink: Diamine Meadow
Paper: Rhodia dotPad, No. 16 - Top Spiral Bound

Notes:
Just another green ink? Not entirely. Diamine Meadow leans more towards the yellow end of the spectrum. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Diamine makes some of my favorite inks, and Meadow performs as well as my favorites. This ink shades like crazy with a broad nib, and I bet it would be even better in a stub. It’s a great summery color and it’s a pleasure to write with. If you like what you see, definitely check this one out. I would recommend this ink to anyone who likes the shading of Rohrer & Klingner’s Alt-Goldgrun, but aren’t crazy about the mustard-like undertones in the color. I was sent a sample of this ink by one of my Instagram followers, so thanks @klpeabody for the ink!

Yellowy-green, but not obnoxious. This would be right at home in a Lamy Limited Edition Apple Green Safari. This ink has a bit more yellow than Diamine’s Apple Glory.

The broad nib makes for some great shading, but everything is still legible.

Yes, it shades. Layering is pretty nice too. There’s some slight bleed-through on the third pass.

The cursive writing makes me want to put this in a flex nib. So now that has to happen.

Diamine banner. Glad I didn’t screw this one up as bad as I did the one in the upcoming review for Noodler’s Sequoia.

Comparison inks aren’t really relevant, but they were the closest pens with ink in them.

I’m now going to be doing copy paper tests. Nothing crazy, but I have no idea why I failed to include these in everything else. You see some slight feathering, and there’s a little bleed through. Keep in mind, this is a broad nib. I’m sure the ink would do just fine in a fine, or extra fine.

Pros:

Pleasing shade of green

Great shading

Good flow

Cons:

Some mild feathering on copy paper

Gallery:

Related Reading:

Pen Addict Podcast Episode 65 – I’m the guest!
Diamine Denim Handwritten Review
Iroshizuku kon-peki Handwritten Review

Noodler’s Ink – 54th Massachusetts
Blue Black

Handwritten Review

Pen: Lamy 2000 – Binderized Medium Nib
Ink: Noodler’s 54th Massachusetts
Paper: Rhodia dotPad, No. 16 - Top Spiral Bound

Notes: This has been loaded in my Lamy 2000 for quite some time. It’s really smooth and I love the color, especially on cream colored paper. It’s pretty similar to Noodler’s Ellis Island Blue Black, but this ink leans more towards blue than the Ellis Island does. As with many Noodler’s inks, there is some nib creep, so if that bothers you, you have been warned. I personally don’t mind it, as it’s purely aesthetic. Overall, I really like this ink, but I don’t know if it’s different enough from the standard Noodler’s Blue Black (which I already have a bottle of) to justify purchasing a whole bottle. The ink has some very minor shading characteristics that really come out on Tomoe River paper. After three passes, there’s no bleed or feather on Rhodia and the ink only gets incrementally darker with each pass. So what you write or sketch the first time is pretty much what you’re going to end up with. I’d definitely recommend checking out a sample of it, it’s a great example of blue black that’s a pleasure to write with.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the pictures!

Pros:

Very smooth
Great shade for a Blue Black

Cons:

It’s not yet in my collection…

Flow in the Lamy 2000 medium nib is generous.

No feathering on Rhodia and overall good performance.

First pass of the ink is pretty much what you’re going to get.

Lots of dots.

No shading, but shading isn’t always necessary. I really like this ink though.

The comparison inks aren’t really directly related, but hopefully they give you a better idea of what to expect from 54th Massachusetts.

Related Reading:

Noodler’s Ink – Sequoia

Handwritten Review

Pen: Pelikan M605 – Binderized Medium Nib
Ink: Noodler’s Sequoia (green)
Paper: Rhodia dotPad, No. 16 - Top Spiral Bound

Notes: Noodler’s Sequoia. It’s nothing too unique or crazy, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a pleasing shade of dark green that’s capable of some very slight shading. The ink is well behaved in the Pelikan and on Rhodia paper. Copy paper yields a decent amount of feathering and bleeding, but that could be on account of the wet fine nib in the M605. Noodler’s Sequoia could work in some professional environments, as the green is very dark. Overall, it’s a nice ink, but already having a bottle of Diamine Evergreen in my collection, buying this one isn’t necessary.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the pictures!

Reminder: Click here to enter ‘The Cube’ Pen Holder giveaway, Only a few days left!

Pros:

Pleasant color
Smooth in this pen
Nice mild shading

Cons:

Nothing really unique here
Similar to Diamine Evergreen (which I prefer)

Multiple passes of the ink do darken up quite a bit. Usually this is a sign that the ink will shade.

The shading is slight, but it’s definitely noticeable. As with most shading inks, it should be more obvious in a broader nib.

This ink could definitely work in some office situations. It doesn’t scream GREEN INK like a lot of others.

Getting closer and closer to the huge shadow mess up in this review’s doodle…

I have no idea what was going on here. But there’s the comparison inks! You can see that it’s pretty darn close to Diamine Evergreen. The comparison to Meadow helps bring out the green tones.

Feathering and bleeding on copy paper. It got pretty hairy.

Gallery:

Related Reading:

P.W. Akkerman
Vorhoot Violet
Fountain Pen Ink

Handwritten Review

Pen: Lamy 2000 – Binderized Medium Nib
Ink: P.W. Akkerman Vorhoot Violet
Paper: Kyokuto F.O.B. COOP Dot Grid – B5 size

Notes: Well, this is my first review of Akkerman ink, and my first review on the new go-to ink review paper. The B5 is slightly larger than the Rhodia No. 16 pad I had previously been using. Exaclair no longer imports the spiral bound dot grid pads, which is quite upsetting. I hate to tear reviews out of a notepad just to photograph them. This paper is great, it’s bright, it’s dot grid, and it’s spiral bound. Look for a formal review in the near future. Back to the ink…I am pleasantly surprised with this ink, and I’m enjoying it quite a bit. I’m not a purple ink kind of guy, but Akkerman Vorhoot Violet has the potential to join my collection. It’s called violet, but when I think of violet, I think lighter purple. This could definitely be an ‘eggplant’ just as easily. It’s a darker shade of purple that’s easy on the eyes. On cream colored paper, the ink appears much darker. Vorhoot Violet is well behaved in my Lamy 2000, and performs well on both premium and run-of-the-mill copy paper. The only downside to this ink is it’s high price (due to shipping) and it’s location. The ink company is from the Netherlands, and is currently without a U.S. distributor. Be on the lookout on FPN for group buys, as they do pop up from time to time. This is a great ink, and anyone who likes purple (or doesn’t) should give it a try.

Huge thanks to Azizah over at Gourmet Pens for sending me the sample!

Thanks for reading and enjoy the pictures!

Pros:

Great color
Very smooth
Huge (150ml) bottle makes the shipping cost easier to justify

Cons:

No U.S. distributor…yet
Price of shipping

Gallery:

Related Reading:

De Atramentis Oriental Red
Fountain Pen Ink

Handwritten Review

Pen: Pilot Vanishing Point - Binderized Medium Nib
Ink: De Atramentis Oriental Red
Paper: Rhodia DotPad, No. 16

Notes: I’m going to start by saying that I’m not the biggest fan of De Atramentis inks. I’ve tried a bunch of them, and they constantly fall flat for me for one reason or another. Oriental Red is no exception. On the Kyokuto paper that I was supposed to be switching to for good, this ink was HORRIBLE. Feathering, bleed through, you name it. I had to use up the last two pages in my Rhodia DotPad. The ink writes smooth on Rhodia and there’s some shading. This red isn’t too vibrant, and has a dull, muted look to it. There are a ton of other red inks that both look and perform a lot better than this one. The muted red reminds me of Diamine Monaco Red. If you like the shade, I would suggest going with the Diamine instead, it was much, much better behaved than this one. After writing the review, I flushed it out. No reason to keep using it, really. The only good thing I can say about the ink was that it cleaned out pretty easily, especially because some red inks can be tricky. They can’t all be winners…

Thanks for reading and enjoy the pictures!

Pros:

Nothing, really.

Cons:

Super feathery, even on good paper
Not well behaved
Rhodia was the only paper that the ink worked well on

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 3

You know it’s bad when Baystate Blue looks / works great in comparison…

Gallery:

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 1

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 2

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 4

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 5

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 6

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 7

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 8

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 9

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 10

DeAtramentis Oriental Red Fountain Pen Ink Review 11

Related Reading:

Noodler’s Ink – #41 Brown

Handwritten Review

Pen: Lamy AL-Star – Coffee Brown – Medium Nib
Ink: Noodler’s #41 Brown
Paper: Kyokuto FOB COOP Dot Grid – B5 (Available at JetPens.com)

Notes:

Noodler’s #41 Brown is a very true brown. ~~No crazy name, just a number and the word brown.~~ Update: Well, I didn’t do my research…The name of this ink has a crazy political meaning with all of the expected undertones common in the naming of Noodler’s Inks. I only have a sample vial, so I was unable to see the label. For more information on the name, check out Noodler’s page for #41 Brown and Seize the Dave’s review for more info. The ink flows nicely and writes smoothly in the AL-Star’s medium nib. There’s something about a Lamy Medium that’s just perfect for ink reviews. This one happens to be a good specimen (some aren’t so great) and it’s smooth and a pleasure to write with. There’s some mild shading, which for me is always a welcome characteristic of ink (unless it’s a black ink). I’m not the biggest fan of brown inks, but this one is pretty nice. The color looks especially nice on cream colored, or off-white paper. I really like the ink on the “R” by Rhodia pads – which are a bit heavier and smoother than regular Rhodia. Noodler’s #41 Brown is true to it’s name. You really get what you would expect from an ink that’s called “Brown”. If you like brown ink, check this one out. I’m enjoying the sample, but this one’s not going into my collection of full bottles.

I shot these outside – let me know if you prefer the ‘laboratory’ look in other ink reviews, or the great outdoors. There are a few more reviews from this group of pictures, hope you like them!

Pros:

It works.
True brown – not towards green or red at all
Nice mild shading

Cons:

I don’t really like brown inks

Gallery:

Noodler's Brown #41 - Handwritten Fountain Pen Ink Review

Related Reading:

Sailor Kiwa Guro Nano Black

Handwritten Review

Pen: Lamy AL-Star Matte Black Limited Edition – Fine Nib
Ink: Sailor Kiwa Guro Nano Black (wow that’s a mouthful)
Paper: Rhodia dotPad, No. 16

Notes: Well, it’s taken me forever, but here’s my review of Sailor’s Kiwa Guro Nano Black (wow again, mouthful). After much trial and even more error, I have gone through a lot of black inks and this one is my go-to. All others have fallen short for me in one way or another. It’s the best balance of smooth writing, fast drying, darkness, and performance. It’s probably the best ink I’ve used period. Kiwa Guro is filled with tiny “nano particles” (a.k.a. pigment) that puts down a smooth, permanent, archivally safe line. Essentially, it’s a pigmented ink that works great on every type of paper I’ve thrown it at. It dried pretty quick on Rhodia and other slick papers, and it’s nearly instant and feather-free on copy paper. There’s no shading (which I like in a black ink) making it a true, dark black. I really love the semi-matte finish. This ink is right at home in a matte black pen, in which I happen to only have a few of…There’s really not much more I can say, other than that if I’m writing with a black ink, there’s a 99% chance it’s this one. After trying at least 20 black inks over the years, this one was the most enjoyable. Do yourself a favor and pick up a sample before you commit to an entire bottle, because at around $25 – it doesn’t come cheap.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the pictures! I brought this one back into the “laboratory” and went for the sterile white background. Let me know if you guys prefer this to great outdoors approach in my review of Noodler’s #41 Brown.

Pros:

Blacker than the blackest black times infinity
Very fast dry time
Matte pencil-like finish
Very smooth
Has a pleasant smell
Cool bottle with insert to get all the ink at the bottom

Cons:

Pricey

Sailor Nano Black Bottle – for Tally! Ignore the cologne in there, even though the cologne has notes of Japanese Sumi Ink which are present in the scent of the Sailor ink.

Gallery:

Related Reading:

Noodler’s Ink – Baystate Blue

Handwritten Review

Pen: Noodler’s Ahab Flex in Medieval Lapis
Ink: Noodler’s Baystate Blue
Paper: Kyokuto FOB COOP Dot Grid – B5 (Available at JetPens.com)

Notes:
Well…the infamous Noodler’s Baystate Blue…here it is. Noodler’s Baystate Blue has obtained a spot as one of the worst-behaving, pen-destroying inks out there. It eats vintage ink sacs, melts Pilot feeds, and turns any demonstrator you have into a blue pen. With that being said, it’s one of the most vibrant, saturated, and bright inks I have ever used. With all of the problems commonly associated with the ink, I decided to fill up my unruly Noodler’s Ahab. For some reason, two negatives make a positive here. The ink writes smoothly, and flows nicely in the Ahab. Adding some flex to the written line doesn’t make the ink shade, I suspect due to it’s high level of saturation. Writing normally is smooth and consistent though. The ink does manage to bleed through just about every paper I use it on, so every day practicality is at a minimum. If you like the color (which many do, myself included) I would suggest dedicating a cheap pen to the ink. On the positive side, it’s super vibrant, and smooth. On the negative side it feathers, bleeds, and eats pens. Proceed at your own risk when trying this ink!!! Also, huge thanks to Peter for sending me the bottle!

Pros:

Super vibrant.
Very Smooth
Super Saturated

Cons:

Destroys pens
Stains everything
Lots of feathering and bleed through, even on good paper
Long dry time

Gallery:

Noodler's Baystate Blue Fountain Pen Ink Review

Related Reading:

LIFE
Noble Notebook

-Handwritten Review-

Specs:

5.8″ x 8.3″” (A5)
Lined Ruling
8mm ruled, fine cream colored paper with watermarking
100 sheets
Turquoise Cover with gold foil logo, thread binding with a taped spine
$15.99 USD from Nanami Paper (no affiliation, but fast shipping and nicely packaged!)

Review Supplies:

Sailor Professional Gear Imperial Black in Fine Nib
Diamine Eau de Nil ink
Various other ink / nib tests

Notes: What drew me to this notebook was how great it looks. The embossed gold “LIFE” on the cover, surrounded by screened scrollwork in black ink really pop off of the turquoise heavy card stock cover. It also helps that this notebook is full of wonderful, thick, high quality Japanese paper. I’ve been using more and more Japanese stationery lately, and this notebook is really great. Thanks for reading and enjoy the review!

Appearance and Construction:
This notebook is awesome looking. Outward appearance is very impressive and the construction is just as good. The turquoise cover corresponds to the ruling (in this case, turquoise = lined ruling) and really stands out on my black desk. I keep the notebook out on my desk even if I’m not using it, just to stare. In terms of construction, there are 4 signatures. A signature is a smaller section of bound paper that makes up stitch-bound notebooks. A standard notebook of this size uses around 10. The construction is simple and sturdy and I’m confident it will stand up to being bounced around in a bag or carried around. There are also small dots at the top and bottom of the page. I’m not sure of the purpose, but I like the visual appeal.

Performance and Feel:
The LIFE Noble notebook is loaded with 100 fountain-pen friendly sheets of cream colored paper. It’s nice and smooth, but the watermarking in the page gives it some welcome feedback. The fine Sailor nib never got hung up on the page and it doesn’t shed fibers into narrow nibs. The feedback from the paper’s texture is noticeable, but it’s a welcome feel for me. There’s a bit of show-through from the other side of the page, but no bleed through (even with Baystate Blue). I’m content with the feel and performance of the paper, no complaints here.

Color & Ruling:
The paper in this notebook is a pleasing shade of cream. It’s on the darker side, but it’s not too yellow and doesn’t change the appearance of the color of ink too drastically as some papers can. When held up to the light (or looked at closely), you can see the watermarked lines from the milling of the paper running in horizontal and vertical lines. These watermarks give the paper a rustic and quality feel, but do not get in the way in terms of performance. The ruling is printed in a very light grey ink and is minimally intrusive, allowing your eye to focus on what is on the page, not the guides. I prefer 6 or 7mm ruling for a notebook of this size to accommodate my smaller writing, but the 8mm rule in this notebook isn’t a deal breaker.

Overall Thoughts and Recommendation:
The LIFE Noble notebook looks great, is well made, and loaded with high quality fountain pen-friendly paper. Since this is an imported item, it’s a bit pricier than other notebooks of its size. This A5 notebook was $15.99 and larger sizes have larger prices to match. If you’re looking for a great looking journal that you’re going to cherish, it’s worth checking out the LIFE brand. If Rhodia’s WebNotebook paper is too slick for you, then definitely check this one out. I bought this notebook based solely on how it looked, but I was pleasantly surprised by its overall high quality and performance with fountain pens.

Thanks for reading!

Related Reading:

Kaweco Pearl Black Ink

Handwritten Review

Pen: Kaweco AL-Sport – Grey – Medium Nib
Ink: Kaweco Pearl Black
Paper: Kyokuto FOB COOP Dot Grid – B5 (Available at JetPens.com)

Notes:

First thing’s first, HUGE thanks to Kaweco for sending me a giant box of fountain pens, ink, and goodies. This ink was the first one I loaded up because I couldn’t want to start using my new AL-Sport. Kaweco Pearl Black (the name it says on the invoice, not the bottle) is from a new line of bottled ink that Kaweco is putting out. This is the same as the ink in the bottle, but conveniently loaded up in an international short cartridge. I rarely review inks in cartridges, but I really like this deep, dark black. While I’ve already established my go-to black ink (see the review here), this black isn’t far behind. It’s dark and highly saturated, and there’s only the tiniest amount of visible shading in the writing. It’s neither wet not dry, landing somewhere in the middle. It’s exceptionally nice in the smooth Kaweco medium nib. While I won’t be exclusively switching to cartridges, it’s nice and easy to keep a few of these in my bag just in case they’re needed. It helps that the ink inside is great too. I’ll have no qualms with keeping it loaded in one of my (now many) Kawecos.

I opted to keep the “artsy” shots from the group of outside ones, but the actual head on shots of the review are in laboratory conditions with 5000k lighting, custom white balance, and all of that fun other photography stuff that drives me nuts.

Pros:

Velvety smooth
Medium-high saturation
True Black
Dries fast

Cons:

Nothing to report!

Gallery:

Related Reading:

Diamine Oxblood Review
Sailor Kiwa Guro Nano Black Review
Rotring Rapid Pro Ballpoint Review
Kaweco AL-Sport Fountain Pen Review

Field Notes
Drink Local Edition
Fall 2013

-Handwritten Review-

Specs From Field Notes:

Printed 9/13, Edition size:
30,000 “Ales” books, 30,000 “Lagers” booksDrink Up! “Drink Local” Ales and Lagers editions feature heavyweight New Page Sterling Premium 120# covers with a “soft touch” varnish. Each book represents a different brew, with a brief history of each style on the back cover. Inside is Finch Opaque Smooth 50# text paper with a “Hefeweizen” yellow-orange graph grid, all bound together with bright gold staples. 3-Packs include a letterpress-printed coaster.
Dimensions: 3.5″ x 5.5″

Review Supplies:

1940s Parker Vacumatic
Sailor Kiwa Guro Nano Black Ink
Various other ink / nib tests

Notes:
Fall is upon us (FINALLY.) and another season means a few “COLORS” edition from Field Notes. This one is called the Drink Local Edition, and it’s really, really impressive.

The colors are inspired by various ales and lagers, but you definitely do not have to be a beer connoisseur to appreciate the fall-themed hues of these little notebooks. The red, brown, yellows, and black are all great for the season.

The covers have a really nice rubbery soft-touch feel (similar to the R by Rhodia pads). The “Hefeweizen” yellow grid lines are a nice departure from standard grey or blue rule. The paper in Field Notes notebooks usually aren’t the most fountain pen friendly, but if you use a well behaved ink in a finer nib, you shouldn’t have any problems. I don’t mind a little show or bleed through, it makes the notebooks feel like they were used, not sitting under museum glass. It’s the small details like the gold staples, and the included coasters that make the limited edition Field Notes extra special.

The colors and materials are some of my favorite that Field Notes have released. Hurry up and grab some of these limited edition books before they’re all gone!

Field Notes Drink Local Edition Ales Lagers Fall 2013

The group, all nicely bundled up.

…and now they’re all fanned out.

You can kind of see the soft-touch cover at this angle. You can definitely see the gold staples. The covers are matte finished, but the logos are varnished. It’s all about the small details.

The Sailor Kiwa Guro works pretty well on the Field Notes paper – which is pretty thin.

Gratuitous 1940s Parker Vacumatic shot.

I tried to get the gold staples to shine…it didn’t really work too well, but man is that a nice shade of red.

The back of each notebook has an explanation of the drink it was inspired by.

Dark brown innards with special edition practical applications.

The inside of the front cover may be a little hard to write on.

Packaged with their coasters.

Stacks on stacks.

Hefeweizen yellow grid on the inside is complimented nicely by the golden staples.

Gallery:

De Atramentis Plum
Fountain Pen Ink

Handwritten Review

Pen: Sailor Magellan Demonstrator – Medium nib
Ink: De Atramentis Plum Scented Ink
Paper: Kyokuto F.O.B. COOP Dot Grid in B5

Notes: Wow…Finally a De Atramentis ink that I actually really like! I wish the rest of their line performed as well as this one does. No feathering or bleeding, and it’s just the right amount of wetness. The color is like a darker Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku, which I really like. I only wish the Ku-Jaku was a bit darker, but the De Atramentis Plum definitely fills that void. This is a scented ink, but the pleasant plum scent is really only noticeable when filling the pen from the bottle, of if you get dangerously close to the feed. To me, the scented ink thing is kind of gimmicky, but I guess if you were using a dip pen and had a open ink well, it could add to the experience. The smell doesn’t affect the performance, which once again is really great. The ink shades really nicely, from a light turquoise to a deep blue-green. Make sure you click on the images and blow them up to full size, it’s really nice to look at. I was expecting some purples, because that’s typically what I think of when I hear the word “plum”, but not here. If you’ve had less than enjoyable experiences with De Atramentis ink before (I’m looking at you, Oriental Red), check this one out. You won’t be disappointed. Oh yeah, and thanks to Azizah over at Gourmet Pens for sending over the sample!

Thanks for reading and enjoy the pictures!

Pros:

Smooth
Well-behaved
Great color
Scented

Cons:

The scent is there, but it’s hard to detect

Gallery:

Rohrer & Klingner Scabiosa

Fountain Pen Ink Review

Pen: Lamy 2000, Binderized Medium Nib
Ink: Rohrer & Klingner Scabiosa
Paper: Kyokuto F.O.B. COOP – Dot Grid – B5

Notes: I can’t believe how much this ink looks like P.W. Akkerman’s Vorhoot Violet, BUT that’s only for now. Scabiosa is an iron gall ink that will slowly darken as it oxidizes and bonds with the page. I really liked the Akkerman, and it’s nice to have an ink close to it in color that’s much easier to obtain. Scabiosa is an iron gall ink, meaning it’s made from iron salts and tannic acids (usually from oak galls). Since there is a higher level of acidity in the ink that most others, it’s not recommended that you leave it in a fountain pen for more than a week between flushings. The good thing about iron gall ink is it’s permanence and water resistance once it’s set into the page. This kind of ink was used for hundreds and hundreds of years, and most old documents and papers were written with the stuff. The acidity of the ink can corrode through the paper over the centuries, but it’s a durable ink and I think it’s pretty cool that it’s still made and used today. Scabiosa is a nice shade of purple, but after a few days it’ll begin to darken up. The ink does exhibit some nice shading too. If you want to try out the go-to kind of ink that was used for centuries, Rohrer and Klingner’s Scabiosa is a fine example. This ink was also part of the awesome ink sample package that Azizah at GourmetPens.com sent over a few months back – so thanks again!

Pros:

Has an interesting scent to it
Good flow

Cons:

Slow dry time
Can’t leave in a pen for too long due to it being potentially corrosive

Roher and Klingner Scabiosa Iron Gall Fountain Pen Ink Review

I’m still liking the Kyokuto notebook as my new review pad. The B5 size is better suited for an ink review.

Some nice shading here. As the ink darkens up, it’s going to be interesting to see what happens to the variation in the color of the lines. I’m going to rephotograph the review in a week or so and post the results.

The ink does darken up with each additional pass, but there’s little ghosting and no bleed through.

I switched up my pangram. The quick fox and the brown dog were getting kind of boring.

Dry time is pretty long, but once it’s dry, it’s basically permanent.

I revisited the review of Akkerman’s Vorhoot Violet so you guys could see how close in color they are. I added the comparison swatch of the Scabiosa. They’re pretty darn close.

Close-up of the two inks.

I guess I’m drawn towards loading my Lamy 2000 with purple inks? Either way, writing performance is as expected from this pen. It’s still one of my favorites.

Gallery

Related Reading:

Apica
CD15 Notebook

-Handwritten Review-

Specs:

7″ x 10″ (Semi-B5)
Lined Ruling (32/page)
6.5mm ruled, bright white paper with a spot for the date
34 sheets (68 Pages)
Stitched binding with taped outer spine
Many colors and sizes available
$9.45 USD (!!!) for a 3-pack from JetPens

Review Supplies:

Diamine Eau de Nil ink
J. Herbin Liquid Ink Rollerball
Various other ink / nib tests

Notes: Notebook reviews…I’m really not a huge fan of doing these, so this one is going to be quick. I was drawn in by the low price, high praise, and good design. That being said, I really like this notebook. A lot.

Appearance and Construction:
This notebook looks pretty awesome. The taped spine, the textured cover, and the silver frame/filigree on the cover all look great. I really love the poor English on the cover (Apica is a Japanese brand) that says: “Most Advanced Quality Gives Best Writing Features”. The notebook is bound with stitching, and I have no doubt it’ll hold up for the life of the notebook and then some.

Performance and Feel:
Does it work? Yes, you can write in it. Does it work with fountain pens? Very, very well. The paper is silky smooth, and bright white. The brightness of the paper shows off the true color of the ink that you’re using, and does so nicely. It’s a pleasure to write in, and the size and thickness are right for throwing in a bag or carrying around. B5 is probably my favorite paper size. It’s big enough to have all the room I could need, but it’s compact enough to not take up an entire desk. Ghosting and bleed through are very minimal (if at all) and writing on both sides of the page didn’t pose a problem for me.

Color & Ruling:
6.5mm rule x 32 lines per page is perfect for my small handwriting. The pages are nice and bright, which like I mentioned before, is great for showing off the true color of an ink. This notebook is shaping up to be one of my favorites.

Overall Thoughts and Recommendation:
The price to quality ratio here is exceptionally great. For a three pack of these notebooks, which each have 34 sheets of paper, it’s going to cost you under $10. This is an incredible value for three notebooks of this size and quality. The paper is FP friendly, and the notebooks are designed well too. The Apica CD line is available in many colors and sizes too. I highly recommend you check these out, it’s hard to be disappointed.

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Related Reading:

P.W. Akkerman
Shocking Blue
Fountain Pen Ink

Handwritten Review

Pen: Lamy Safari, Fine Nib
Ink: P.W. Akkerman Shocking Blue
Paper: Kyokuto F.O.B. COOP Dot Grid – B5 size

Notes: Here’s another ink from P.W. Akkerman that I happen to like quite a bit. Shocking Blue isn’t really all that shocking (when compared to Noodler’s Baystate Blue), but it is a great medium blue with some nice subtle shading. Typically I use darker blue-blacks, or lighter blues like Iroshizuku Kon-Peki or Sheaffer Peacock, but this ink is making me want to explore that middle ground a little more. It’s exceptionally smooth in this Lamy fine nib, I’m really enjoying the combo. The major downside to this ink is the availability in the United States. It’s hard to find, and it usually ends up costing around $24.00 per bottle, plus international shipping from Europe. It’s recommended that you buy 3 at a time so the shipping is affordable. That adds up to around a $100 ink purchase. On the plus side, the bottles are huge and look really cool. Hopefully a pen shop in the US starts distributing this ink soon, because the two I’ve tried so far have been great. I won’t be buying a bottle of it, but Shocking Blue has started a search for a readily-available alternative.

Huge thanks AGAIN to Azizah over at Gourmet Pens for sending me the sample!

Thanks for reading and enjoy the pictures!

Pros:

Nice Medium Blue
Subtle Shading
Good performance in Field Notes

Cons:

No U.S. distributor…yet
Price of shipping

Gallery:

Related Reading:

Pilot Iroshizuku: Ina-ho

Pen: Pilot Vanishing Point // Gun Metal & Matte Black // Medium nib
Ink: Pilot Iroshizuku fuyu-gaki
Paper: Rhodia dotPad, No. 16

Notes:
This is the first ink from Iroshizuku I’ve used that doesn’t perform well on all papers. There’s some blotchy feathering and bleeding on my standard ink review paper (Kyokuto FOB COOP) and it gets even worse on regular copy paper. It does play nice with Rhodia though. Other than the performance of the ink, it’s a really interesting color. Ina-ho means “rice ear”, it’s a nice shade of medium gold. It manages to look gold rather than yellow and there’s some interesting texturing where the ink and paper meet. I really like the color, but its performance is somewhat prohibitive. The gold tones remind me of Noodler’s Rome Burning quite a bit, but hopefully this ink cleans out of the pen a little easier. If you don’t mind sticking to Rhodia, check this one out. It’s a really enjoyable color as long as the paper quality is good. Overall, I was slightly underwhelmed, considering the rest of the Iroshizuku line performs wonderfully.

Also, thanks AGAIN to Azizah over at Gourmet Pens for sending me a sample!

Thanks for reading, enjoy!

Pros:

Unique gold color
Wet flow
Interesting shading

Cons:

Doesn’t play nice on all kinds of paper

Gallery:

Related Reading:

**Welcome to the new layout of edjelley.com – please let me know what you think!*

Pilot Iroshizuku: Fuyu-gaki

Pen: Rotring 600 Lava
Ink: Pilot Iroshizuku fuyu-gaki
Paper: Kytokuto F.O.B. COOP B5 Dot Grid

Notes:
Another day, another Iroshizuku is loaded up for review (I wish there was really one per day…). The time it’s Fuyu-Gaki, which translates to Winter Persimmon. This ink should not be confused with Yu-Yake (the other Iroshizuku orange) because of their similar name and similar color. Orange is one of my least favorite colors, not just for ink, but for life. I actually don’t mind this one though. There are elements of red and almost pink that blend with the yellow to make this ink stand out from the rest. It’s elevated above a standard orange. The ink itself is quite transparent, so expect to see the ruling on the page through your writing. It’s definitely not an every day use color, but it is fun for doodling or drawing. It may even fit in as an underlining ink. The Iroshizuku line has great performance across the board, and Fuyu-Gaki is no exception. While I don’t think I’ll be adding a bottle to the collection, I’m definitely enjoying the sample.

Also, thanks AGAIN to Azizah over at Gourmet Pens for sending me a sample!

Thanks for reading, enjoy!

Pros:

Bright!
Good Performance
Easy Clean Out

Cons:

Tough color to use every day

Gallery:

Related Reading:

Noodler’s Ink – Dark Matter

Handwritten Review

Pen: Levenger L-Tech Stealth, Medium Nib
Ink: Noodler’s Dark Matter
Paper: Kyokuto FOB COOP Dot Grid – B5 (Available at JetPens.com)

Notes:
It’s astounding how I do not already own a bottle of this ink. It has to be my second favorite black ink out there, and I’ve gone through 3 samples already. This ink does some awesome grey to black shading that I absolutely love. It’s dark, but not too dark, and could easily work as a go-to black ink. The dark grey elements in the ink make it unique, and give it some needed character, which is rare in a black ink. The name of the ink is also pretty cool. Here’s a link to the story, definitely check it out. Another thing about the ink that makes it more interesting is that it’s a reformulation of a vintage military issue ink. Most importantly, it looks and performs great. It’s nice and smooth, and the flow in the Levenger L-Tech’s medium nib is great. There’s no way that I’m not buying a bottle when this sample runs dry, I’m hooked.

Pros:

Grey to black shading is awesome
Great flow
Cool name / back story

Cons:

NONE.

Gallery:

Related Reading:

Diamine Salamander
Ink Review

Pen: Lamy Al-Star – Medium Nib
Ink: Diamine Salamander
Paper: Kyokuto F.O.B. COOP B5 Dot Grid

Notes:
At the time of writing, I said I was still on the fence about this ink. I’ve been converted. I’ve been enjoying it quite a bit. It looks kind of like burnt oil, pond scum, spa mud, garbage water, and after a quick google image search, it looks a lot like a salamander. Do all of these gross-colored things I’m comparing it to mean I don’t like the ink? Not at all. It’s like a darker version of Rohrer and Klingner’s Alt-Goldgrun, which was a bit too light for me. The subtle shading shows off the yellow undertones of the ink, while the sections where the ink pools look near-black. Once the ink is dry, it’s more obvious that this is a dark green with brown and black hues as well. I’ll gladly try any new ink that Diamine makes, they’re one of my favorite brands in terms of color offerings and performance. The Salamander flows and dries just like I’d expect, and the ink goes down smoothly in the Lamy’s medium nib. Will I be buying a bottle of Salamander? I’m not sure yet, but it’s certainly a unique offering from Diamine that I’m enjoying quite a bit.

Pros: