Iron-Gall Inks

[jwhite]

So I've been curious about these and was wondering if anyone had any personal experience with the breed. What extra maintenance would be recommended or are they best to avoid? I would rate my FP knowledge as barely adequate.

 

[nemo]

I love iron gall inks and use them regularly. Usually they are blue black and darken as they dry. I have Lamy blue-black (older version, bottled), Montblanc, Rohrer & Klingner, and some Ecclesiastical Stationery Supplies registrar's ink I got from SmoovD. Diamine makes a good one (Registrar's). I've never had a problem even though I occasionally get a little sloppy on cleaning, (some have the same ink in them for months). They are not like old fashioned dip-pen inks and only contain a small percentage of iron gall yet are quite permanent and water resistant.

Often (in my experience) they tend toward the dry side and work well in pens with a normally juicy flow. Every fountain pen user owes it to him/herself to try at least one. Just follow good pen hygiene (routine flushing, don't let inks dry in the pen).

 

[jwhite]

Thanks Doug, I was looking at the R&K and the ESS as they seem to retain more of the blue in reviews I've seen as well as some nice shading. I'm looking for a nice permanent Ink for hand written receipts that have a little personality while remaining business like.

 

[penned]

Montblanc blue/black has good flow and nice shading, but only the bottled ink has iron gall.
Montblanc b/b ink cartridges do not contain iron gall, the color is not as permanent as the bottled ink.
Ned

 

[SmoovD]

Count me as another fan of i-g inks. My favorite, of those that have not been discontinued, is the ESSRI, followed closely by R&K's Scabiosa. This past week I received shipment from Belgium of a few bottles of some homemade i-g. As I have been out of town the past week, I will probably have to give it a go tomorrow.