Topics

1

Tools & Supplies / Sailor Kiwaguro Nano Carbon Ink

« on: February 02, 2017, 01:43:12 AM »

I purchased a few bottles of Sailor's Kiwa-Guro Nano Carbon Ink and absolutely love the stuff in my fountain pens.   I'm curious though if there's a downside to using an ink like this for dip pens?   How well does this ink work relative to the Iron Gall and Oak Gall inks that so many calligraphers use?   

Anyone?




K

2

Tools & Supplies / What color inks do you avoid?

« on: January 29, 2017, 02:18:20 PM »

I've purchased enough ink over the last couple months to last me until my next life.   The addiction is real.   It's been interesting however to notice that there are certain colors that have zero pull for me and ones I consciously avoid.   In particular, true reds, dusty pinks, dark navy and dark green.   Oddly, brown isn't on that list nor are the more organic mossy or grassy greens.   I also love hot purplish fuchsia, the rust red of paprika and fresh saffron, and a coral/rose color called Rose Madder (or Krapprot, in German.)   Basically, I like reds that push toward orange and or purple.  I don't, however, care for primary red at all.   Dark blue, no.   Dark purple, absolutely.   Primary yellow, no.   Yellow-Orange, unquestionably yes.   I know nothing about the psychological significance of the colors we like and dislike, but it does make me wonder if there are colors that are universally loathed as much as loved.

I love every red/purple/pink you see here.  These colors, to me, are just spectacular:





But bubble gum pink, dusty pink, fire engine red, cherry cough drop red, and maroon do zero for me.  These you may haul off to the dump:





What colors do you avoid using and/or buying?   Are these colors ones you wouldn't wear either, or simply inks you wouldn't use?


K

3

Tools & Supplies / My Favorite Toy So Far - You'll Want One

« on: January 28, 2017, 10:29:40 AM »

I purchased something on a hunch a couple of weeks back that I've just grown to love.   It's a very well-made project folder by Maruman that holds a tablet of some of the absolute best paper along with slots and folders to contain everything else (short of ink and pens) that I use to practice my lettering.   It's really quite the bomb:

http://www.jetpens.com/Maruman-Mnemosyne-HN187FA-Notepad-Holder-with-5-Pockets-Notepad-A4-5-mm-Graph/pd/7109

At just over $25, it might seem a little pricey at first, but once you get one and see the quality of the folder and the A4 tablet of Mnemosyne paper inside, you'll have zero regrets.   In addition to the 70-sheet tablet of outrageously good paper it comes with, I keep 25 sheets of blank practice grids that I've printed out, 20 sheets of individual letter practice pages, an A4 Kyoei Orions Soft Clear sh*tajiki Writing Board (a must!), 100 sheets of Life onion skin stationery, 20 matching airmail envelopes and a couple sheets of postage stamps.  They all fit beautifully and are snuggly kept in place by the elastic band that keeps the folder closed when not in use.   The pad of paper just slides in and out and can painlessly be replaced when you need a new one.

http://www.jetpens.com/Maruman-Mnemosyne-N187A-Project-Notepad-A4-5-mm-Graph/pd/4786
http://www.jetpens.com/Kyoei-Orions-Soft-Clear-sh*tajiki-Writing-Board-A4/pd/14166  (excuse the partial link; the forum website thinks I'm saying sh*t.)
http://www.jetpens.com/Life-Airmail-Letter-Pad-Blank-50-Sheets/pd/13883
http://www.jetpens.com/Life-One-Touch-Airmail-Envelopes-Western-No.-6-Pack-of-10/pd/13884

No, I don't work for Jetpens, but I've come to rely on them for many of my materials, including Tomoe, Rhodia & Mnemosyne papers, Life onion skin stationery and airmail envelopes, and most of the gel pens I use.   Prices are great and their turnaround and service are awesome.

Bite the bullet and get one of these wonderful folders.   You won't regret it.


K

**************

Some images:




 



 

4

Tools & Supplies / Walnut Ink Granules

« on: January 26, 2017, 06:22:52 PM »

Would someone mind giving me an estimate as to how much Walnut Ink can be made with 100gr of Walnut Ink Granules? 

I'd like to mix it to be on the dark end of the spectrum.   Thanks.


K

5

Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Curious about Plume Gauloise No. 750 EF

« on: January 26, 2017, 01:13:16 PM »

I recently ordered a small lot of a vintage nib called Plume Gauloise No. 750EF by Sommerville & Co.   It appears to be virtually identical to the Blanzy-Poure
"Departmentale Cementée" n°2552.   Have any of you written with both?   If so, are they comparable nibs in quality?  Same ink-holding ability and hairlines?

  (750EF)

  (2552)

Thanks in advance for any feedback.


K

6

Tools & Supplies / Brause 66EF & Brause 513

« on: January 26, 2017, 12:19:10 PM »

Do any of you know whether Brause 66EF and Brause 513 nibs are still currently in production, or whether everything floating around out there is vintage stock?   If they are still being produced, how can you tell if you have modern vs. vintage?

Thanks for the input.


K

7

Tools & Supplies / Lenox Army Pen No. 11

« on: January 22, 2017, 10:21:12 PM »

A couple years back I ended up getting an odd box of nibs in a swap, specifically something called a Lenox Arm Pen No. 11, by a business named Taintor Bros., Merrill & Co. out of NYC.   I can find zero information about the nibs, and have only found an oblique reference to the business.   It appears to have been a publishing house, at least according to a current eBay listing for a school textbook from the 1870's.   

The nibs simply read:  Lenox Pen No. 11 / T.B.M & Co. N.Y.   They have a little flex to them, but not much.


      


I own no nibs of this shape and am curious what the intended use may have been for an "Army Pen."   Andrew x 2 (@AndyT @AAAndrew) do you guys have any ideas?




K

8

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Encre Noire

« on: January 22, 2017, 01:55:56 PM »

Dear Inkheads,

Years ago, I was on a bit of a buying binge of men's fragrances.   One in particular that I've always loved is one called Encre Noire (Black Ink) by Lalique.   It's a dark, earthy, woody, hyper-masculine fragrance that you'll likely either love or hate.    I've been buying a lot of ink as of late and can't help but think back to Encre Noire (there's a men's and a women's version) and whether there might be a way of turning the bottles into inkwells without destroying them.   

Any ideas?  Any other Encre Noire fans out there?

 



K

P.S.   The men's version was unfortunately reformulated a couple years ago and is now just a shadow of its former self.   If any of you have an interest in it and want to know how to identify the original, drop me a note and I'll give you the details.   The original is definitely worth seeking out, and it's not particularly expensive.   You could probably still find a bottle of the first version for about $50/100ml.   I know nothing though about the women's version and whether it has been tweaked as well.

9

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Question for you Inkheads

« on: January 21, 2017, 10:37:17 AM »

What has been your biggest ink catastrophe?   Please describe in detail.

I've yet to spill a whole bottle, but I fear it's just a matter of time.


K

10

Tools & Supplies / Spencerian No 23 "Falcon Modified Silverine"

« on: January 18, 2017, 07:18:38 PM »

I was going through some storage boxes today and found a box of nibs that I'd impulsively purchased on eBay a couple years ago and never touched.  I didn't open it until today.   It's a box of Spencerian No 23 "Falcon Modified Silverine" nibs which I've just begun playing with.   However I know nothing about them and am curious to learn more.   Google doesn't pull up a whole lot of info.   Is anyone familiar with it?   What kind of writing was it intended for?   Any ideas?   


K

11

Tools & Supplies / Pen Nibs / Ultrasonic Cleaning

« on: January 13, 2017, 05:36:30 PM »

Do any of you folks think that using one of those inexpensive ($29) ultrasonic jewelry cleaners would help to extend the life of your really good nibs?   I'm picturing taking 100 nibs you've used for awhile that have really worked well for you but are showing some wear and discoloration and just dropping them into one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Magnasonic-Professional-Ultrasonic-Jewelry-Eyeglass/dp/B00HZVYAVM

Is this just overkill or do you think it may be worth considering?



K

12

Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / How Many Nibs Do You Use?

« on: January 12, 2017, 02:15:31 PM »

I'm curious how many nibs on average a full-time professional calligrapher goes through in a given year.   

Have any of you full-time folks ever done the math?   I'd love to hear what you discovered.   Thanks.



K

13

Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Possible Nib for Copperplate: Brandauer "Oriental" #342 EF

« on: January 10, 2017, 11:49:35 PM »

I'm just getting into Copperplate and am wondering which of the nibs I've got may be best to use.   I'm sure you've all got your own favorites.   One nib in particular that I'm curious about is an old beak nib known as the Brandauer "Oriental" 342 EF.   Do any of you use this nib or any other beak nibs for Copperplate?   If so, do you have any advice for how one of these nibs may need to be used differently than the Gillott 303, 170 and 604EF that so many people seem to favor?

For anyone who hasn't used these nibs, the Oriental #342 is the one on the far left in the photo.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

  (Photo courtesy of the IAMPETH site)

K

14

Open Flourish | General Discussion / How well do caffeine and precision lettering mix?

« on: January 10, 2017, 11:43:49 AM »

I'm just beginning my exploration into Copperplate and Spencerian.  I'm also a diehard coffee addict who relies on the leaded stuff.  I find decaf to be pointless.   Is it possible to develop any degree of precision and finesse with these lettering forms while humming on a good caffeine buzz?


K

15

Tools & Supplies / Rohrer & Klingner Antiktusche

« on: January 08, 2017, 11:59:18 PM »

Hey, Ink Fanatics . . .

I just recently ordered a few bottles of Rohrer & Klingner drawing ink on a whim and am curious what to expect.   Should I know anything in advance about how best to use them for pointed pen work?   Any tricks to ensuring I get the most from the inks?



K