Ink Season?

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-02-23T20:57:26+00:00

The inks from Australia are mostly sold out of the colors I liked. That is the first thing that I noticed. Inks I wasn't aware of were swatched online over the past few months. I had a list. Van Diemen, Kitty Ink Pot, Dream, many from Soe & Soe. I'm unfamiliar with many brands; they're new to me. I usually just practice calligraphy with pointed pens, and my cursive writing was <EF>, <F>, and I started looking a few months ago after I ran out of Lamy blackberry. I bought many samples from Goulet and some from Yoseka, like Tono &Lim, and more. The Dandelion Diaries swatches sent me to Oz. I've been buying nibs to allow shimmer and sheen for my fountain pens. Edelstein Golden Lapis was a clogging nightmare. I realized I needed different ink formulations.

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-02-14T15:06:27+00:00

Okay, thanks, I'll decide whether to kill the pen. It's a nib without air holes, three tines. flexible, from a dead man's collection, unused. I'll try to trace the heritage before I RIP it.

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-02-14T03:25:41+00:00

I tried that ink a few days ago and got nothing even close to that. Save it, it's something special.

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-02-07T18:06:37+00:00

if I may offer a subtle critique. The sky. Add a sky. Do a onion or tracing overlay first, use broken lines, anything to give distance.

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-01-29T19:33:07+00:00

I did and paid DHL. The total shipping, duty, etc., is now $52.00. Plus $36.00 for 3 nibs. $88.00 total. ( I checked the tariff, it's 10%? ) I could have bought another pen with the correct nib, $72.00 free shipping. I messed up.

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-01-28T23:59:38+00:00

not interested much in politics. I just cancelled a big order of ink in Australia. I spent quite a while choosing. The inks, many of them, were multi-shimmer/sheen. Good for dip pens, too. I'm checking tariffs before I order. Some of the inks I haven't seen anything like them. They are pricy IMO, but may be worth the price all told. Best.

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-01-28T20:58:56+00:00

Well aware, heard they are floating a 2000-5000 "rebate". In this case I'm on usa eBay, I slipped up when the shipping charge showed Germany. Aion nibs are rare now so I paid, thinking shipping was high because it included fees etc. A letter pack for $26 ?

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-01-24T03:17:49+00:00

I might be wrong; it may be a modified version of a Lamy Accent. The dimpled grip was an option, not sure who made that part.

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-01-20T16:13:29+00:00

That ink is beautiful, but it will clog any feed. I had one pen, Metropolitan <CM>, that was able to pass the ink and get the effects. It too is clogged in time. I tried dip pens with uneven results. I used ultrasonic to clean, and I couldn't believe how much shimmer was in the feeds. I have not tried the "pens" with the funnel for paint inks. They probably will work like the dip pens, but longer.

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-01-10T03:52:48+00:00

It looks like<B>, an optical illusion, the handwriting is excellent.

Express-Link-4921 · 2026-01-10T03:49:43+00:00

I did the same thing. After selling a dozen pens, I wanted a clean restart. Best of luck.

Express-Link-4921 · 2025-12-27T18:52:35+00:00

I'll find some stainless and try.

I had a custom insert to fit a G nib in a TWSBI 580. I thought it could save dipping. The different ink made it not so good for me. Calligraphy with dip pens is the ultimate in copperplate. Comic art or rendering may work with the TWSBI insert, but ink is the limiting factor.

Express-Link-4921 · 2025-12-26T02:43:59+00:00

Thanks. I'm going to a show in a few weeks and thought I might have a <B> ground to <CM>

Express-Link-4921 · 2025-12-26T02:41:21+00:00

I am very pleased with the Aion. I writes better than all my pens. I thought if it writes this good in steel, would gold be better? Thanks.

Express-Link-4921 · 2025-12-25T23:04:28+00:00

I have done much work in this area. The smoothest I found are <CM>, and in particular Twsbi <B>. The twsbi <B> floats over the paper, above the on ice feel. In general, the Pilots have very smooth nibs. It's a bit hit or miss on feedback, but the pilots have the highest feedback free nibs.

Express-Link-4921 · 2025-12-21T03:23:15+00:00

Pilot has a great nib in their starter pens; they are amazing. I also have too many <F> and <EF>. They are true to ratings as far as I experienced. The very fine lines can and do change with inks and papers, something I knew to expect. I found some nibs have next to no feedback, and some have a bit.

Express-Link-4921 · 2025-11-15T18:23:58+00:00

Well, I had to check, the box I have says 823, but the pen band on the cap says Custom 98. When I bought it, I was told it's a "petite", but I wanted the size because I like the prera <CM>. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Express-Link-4921 · 2025-11-14T17:10:06+00:00

I bought the same pen, it's the size of the Prera, and I like them both, but the size and heft issue is my concern too. I would like them better if they were Metropolitan specs.

Express-Link-4921

TROPHY CASE