Check Writing Ink

[Phil1-6]

My current life-time stash consists of cases of Washable Blue cartridges for my two Sheaffers. I would not use these to write checks with. Currently my Parker 75 sits in its case empty waiting for a job to do. I thought about giving it check/contract signing duties.

Probably leaning towards a blue-black ink.

Which ink would you recommend to use to write checks?

Thanks.

 

[brianw]

I use Bulletproofs. Legal Lapis, Heart of Darkness, BBB. And some vintage Qwink that is permanent.

 

[Doc4]

Benevolent Badger Blue strikes me as a good option. I"m partial to Kung Te-cheng, myself.

 

[nemo]

I use iron gall inks for checks, they're usually blue-black and quite permanent.

 

[JPDyson]

Wait, so you guys pull out a separate pen to draw check-marks?

In all seriousness, I cannot recall the last check I wrote. I do suppose I'd use a permanent ink if I had such a need, and one with a fairly reserved color (black, blue-black, darker blue). I seem to recall from retail experience several years ago that red ink can give check scanners trouble.

 

[Taipei Personality]

I use iron gall inks for checks, they're usually blue-black and quite permanent.

+1. For me, either Diamine Registrar or Rohrer & Klinger Salix. I use blue-black iron gall inks daily anyway, so check writing is a natural extension the few times it comes up.

 

[Deacon Frank]

Noodler's Bad Blue Heron is a good "bulletproof" and forgery-resistant ink.

 

[Doc4]

Wait, so you guys pull out a separate pen to draw check-marks?

Not exactly ...

 

[januaryman]

I use either Heart of Darkness or Benevolent Badger Blue, just to feel safe.

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

5OS. Not too worried about it.

 

[malocchio]

a few years back out here in california,a bunch of wise guys figured out how to dip written checks in acetone that would erase the writing but leave the check as new.The mail trucks started getting hit left and right.At that point ,about 15 years ago,I started writing all my checks with an indelible sharpie laundry marker...Acetone won't erase this ink for sure !

 

[Isaac]

THis is what I would use IF I still wrote checks..

Noodler's Bad Belted King Fisher
Noodler's Old Manhattan
Diamine Register's Ink
Montblanc Blue/Black

I believe that is my collection of permanent inks.

 

[Phil1-6]

Thanks for the rresponses. I'll probably go with one of the Noodler's inks. I like Benevolent Badger Blue and the darker of the two "bad" inks.

 

[chuckr9]

Benevolent Badger Blue strikes me as a good option. I"m partial to Kung Te-cheng, myself.

+1 on the Kung Te-cheng

 

[Moneysuckle]

a few years back out here in california,a bunch of wise guys figured out how to dip written checks in acetone that would erase the writing but leave the check as new.The mail trucks started getting hit left and right.At that point ,about 15 years ago,I started writing all my checks with an indelible sharpie laundry marker...Acetone won't erase this ink for sure !

Here's a good test someone did. Fountain Pens weren't tested unfortunately, although I have heard good things about Noodlers. Basically, the Uniball 702, Zebra Sarasa and Gelly Roll pens are excellent for check writing and other archival matters. I believe Frank Abagnale endorses the Uniball. Fisher also came out with a anti-fraud model called the Check Guardian.

 

[Snargle]

For check writing, I alternate between Noodler's Black (Bulletproof) and Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher, depending on what I have loaded at the moment. I'm a bit of a Luddite when it comes to electronic payments vs. paper checks, at least for regular household and credit card bills. The physical act of writing the check gives me a better awareness of how much money I'm spending. Plus it's another opportunity to use my fountain pens!

 

[Slivovitz]

Here's a good test someone did. Fountain Pens weren't tested unfortunately, although I have heard good things about Noodlers. Basically, the Uniball 702, Zebra Sarasa and Gelly Roll pens are excellent for check writing and other archival matters. I believe Frank Abagnale endorses the Uniball. Fisher also came out with a anti-fraud model called the Check Guardian.

Interesting link. I do see that "Cross fountain pen" is on the list, and didn't do too badly, but it doesn't say what ink was used. Maybe we can just assume that it was the included cartridges.

I test all my inks, fountain, rollerball, and ballpoint for water resistance, but maybe I should do some tests for chemicals. I don't keep acetone around, but maybe some ammonia. Even with just water, I've noticed that odd colors of ballpoint inks, such as purple, brown, or green, often don't do as well as the blues and blacks. Some rollerball inks are surprisingly non-resistant, others do well, but you can't assume that if the brand X black does well, then their red or blue will be equally good.

Lately I've been using Montblanc Midnight Blue for checks. It's an iron gall ink, a blue black that usually looks more black. Water doesn't faze it, but I don't know about chemicals.

 

[syngent]

I write my cheques in ghost blue... but don't do that

 

[RichieRich3902]

I still write plenty of checks and I use either Noodlers HOD or Mont Blank blue/black.

 

[brianw]

Diamine's register, or 5 O'