Ink Links

Don't forget to enter the big Pen Addict + Huckberry giveaway!

-- All 85 pens in my collection (JustDaveyB)

-- Lamy Turquoise Bottle Ink (Ink of Me Fondly)

-- CIA Agent's Notebook (Notebook Stories)

-- Pilot Custom 743 Fountain Pen Review (Write to Me Often)

-- The Raden Pelikans (these beautiful pens)

-- Palomino Blackwing Pearl Review (The Well-Appointed Desk)

-- De Atramentis Oriental Red (Inkdependence!)

-- Palomino Blackwing Pearl Woodcase Pencil (OfficeSupplyGeek)

-- The Great Pencil Debate (Julian Kay's Blog)

-- Review: BroLeatherWorks’ Midori-style Leather Notebook Cover (Four Words, Four Worlds)

-- Fabriano EcoQua Notebook Review (inktronics)

-- Living History: The Dignitary by allegory (From the Pen Cup)

-- New Carded Papermate Ops N Pops Pen (My Supply Room)

-- Review: Franklin-Christoph Black Magic Writing Fluid (Gourmet Pens)

-- Review: Edison Pearl 2012 LEE (Fountain Pen Quest)

-- Platinum Carbon Black and Sailor Nano Ultra Black (East...West...Everywhere)

-- Pilot Justus (Silent Seeing)

Join Me On App.net - 100 Free Invites

I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience on App.net since joining in November of last year. The conversations are great (256 characters!), the community is fun, and the developers are active in improving the site every day.

The team at App.net has provided 100 free invites for readers of The Pen Addict. Click here to sign up and join the conversation.

You will automatically follow me @dowdy upon creating your account. Hopefully you will feel compelled to continue to do so but no worries if you don't. I also started a blog post only feed @penaddict.

See you there!

Noodler's Bernanke Blue Ink Review

Being a left-handed fountain pen user is tough. I don't know this because I am one, I know this because of the amount of emails and comments I get searching for quick-drying inks that will work for lefties. Noodler's Bernanke Blue is one of those inks.

After receiving a sample vial from my friend @jjlsetter I loaded it up for testing in the TWSBI Mini 1.5 mm stub nib. While I usually prefer blue black inks over traditional blues, this may be one of the best shades I have used. My photography and editing make the blue look almost neon. It is not that bright, but it does pop off the page. The depth and saturation of the color is fantastic, and if you are not a fan of shading inks this has little to none.

The real selling point of the Bernanke series is the quick drying time (be sure to read the story behind the name in the link above.) In my less than scientific testing I find it completely legit. Rhodia paper is known for its long drying times and even with it in play the dry time was almost immediate. You can see the slightest smudge on the five-second mark but that's it. An impressive performance, and the quickest drying ink I have tested.

I have a sample of Bernanke Black that I have yet to test, but I expect the same quick drying performance. So let's hear it in the comments - what is the fastest drying fountain pen ink you use?