Gold Ink Problems

[Cally]

Hi Everyone,

I have been searching for a great gold ink and thus far have purchased W&N, Schmicke calligraphy gouache and c robertson liquid metal. with all of them I am getting no ink showing on the upstroke, am i doing something wrong or is this typical of these inks?! it's so frustrating that it's happened with all of them.

Cally

[joi]

if you're not getting anything on the upstroke with any of those it might be the angle you are holding your pen, make sure it's lower rather than higher.  also what nib are you using?  i have the w&n, and the schmicke gouache and have not had problems with either.  i have not tried the robertson liquid metal.

[Cally]

I had not thought about this joi, thank you. Im using the zebra G, i hope this solves my problem as i love the colours of these inks!

[joi]

I had not thought about this joi, thank you. Im using the zebra G, i hope this solves my problem as i love the colours of these inks!

oooh that zebra g might be your problem as well. no way can i get an upstroke with any gold ink from a zebra g nib!

[Cally]

Which nibs do you get the best results from? Im glad its not entirely my fault;)

[joi]

Which nibs do you get the best results from? Im glad its not entirely my fault;)

depending on the paper, i get good results from just about anything BUT a zebra g!  i just dumped out my nib bowl and all these i have used with gold ink (my go to gold ink is dr. ph martin's copperplate gold, but to each their own!):

-leonard principal EF
-brause 76 (the rose)
-hiro 41
-brause 361 (blue pumpkin)
-hunt 101
-Spenciarian no. 1
-leonardt 30
-hunt 22

hope that helps!

[AnasaziWrites]

I had not thought about this joi, thank you. Im using the zebra G, i hope this solves my problem as i love the colours of these inks!

oooh that zebra g might be your problem as well. no way can i get an upstroke with any gold ink from a zebra g nib!

Your Dr. Martin's might be a touch thick. (Please pardon the poor lettering)

[joi]

I had not thought about this joi, thank you. Im using the zebra G, i hope this solves my problem as i love the colours of these inks!

oooh that zebra g might be your problem as well. no way can i get an upstroke with any gold ink from a zebra g nib!

Your Dr. Martin's might be a touch thick. (Please pardon the poor lettering)

oooh look at that..."poor lettering"...pffft!
i usually add a drop or 2 at most of rubbing alcohol to a new bottle of dr ph martin's copperplate gold to thin it just a bit.  i have a light hand so have to use some serious pressure with a zebra g, hence why i cannot get an upstroke hairline with gold ink.
but like i always say...to each their own..that's just how i roll...

[Faeleia]

My zebra G nib is super tightly shut. Even if I'm using walnut ink, only the faintest sometimes disappearing line shows up with no flex. I prefer the tachikawa G that someone kindly gave me - my fav G nib ever. It flexes easier. Even Nikko G is witch w/a by to me. The coating may not have gone, but the writing is def worse after my abuse of it. I think I was supposed to throw it

[Nickkih]

For me the nikko g gives me very good results with gold ink.

[tintenfuchs]

I also have the W&N and the Schmincke. If you're getting dry upstokes, try adding a bit more water. For the gouache, the best consistency is when it feels like cream (imho). The W&N needs a lot of shaking and stirring and I also add quite a few drops of water.
Maybe try a more flexible nib, for metals I really like the Hunt 101.

[JanisTX]

I'm with Joi on this!  I have a light touch and I have a very hard time with both the Nikko G and the Zebra G, and most especially when I am using a metallic ink!  They're just not worth the trouble to me, in my humble opinion!  I have much better results with a finer nib, such as the Leonardt principal or the Brause EF66!  Isn't it crazy how some of us prefer nibs that others hate, and vice versa?!

Janis

[Marcia Aronow]

My Fav golds are Dr. Martin's copper plate gold (11R) & Dr. Martin's Spectralite 54K 18 carat gold.  With both add a couple of drops of alcohol & stir, stir, stir.  My best results are with a Zebra G nib, especially after it's become a little soft, on cotton papers.  Gold is very forgiving...unlike black, which shows every imperfection.    Good luck!

[elsa.d]

I can never get a solid upstroke with gold ink and any G nib. I like to use many different nibs with gold ink, but probably my go to is hiro 41.

My Fav golds are Dr. Martin's copper plate gold (11R) & Dr. Martin's Spectralite 54K 18 carat gold.  With both add a couple of drops of alcohol & stir, stir, stir.  My best results are with a Zebra G nib, especially after it's become a little soft, on cotton papers.  Gold is very forgiving...unlike black, which shows every imperfection.    Good luck!

 Marcia I totally agree that gold is so much more forgiving. People are always saying how black is easiest to work with, but I find it so difficult because it shows every single flaw!

[SueL]

I agree with the zebra G being really difficult with gold ink. When i first tried the gold gouache i thought i would go for the most forgiving nib - the Gs. But try as I might, I could get it to work. I almost gave up on the gold ink until I tried it other nibs.