The Proof is in the Water

*Many Q-tips died to bring us this information.*

(This is a guest post by Tony. Whereabouts unknown.)

In my opinion, every fountain pen user should have at least one waterproof black ink in their collection (yes even you person-who-never-ever-uses-black-ink). Unfortunately, by last count there are approximately 137 different black fountain pen inks currently on the market that claim to be waterproof. Some are more waterproof than others. Some have additional properties over and above their waterproof-ness that you may or may not want. Toss in terms like "eternal", "bulletproof", "nano-pigment", along with a host of others and it becomes almost impossible to decide which one best suits your needs[1].

You could go out and buy samples of every single one and test them, but that takes time and money which could be better spent elsewhere. Wouldn't it be much more convenient if someone else did all that legwork for you? Well today is your lucky day: Brad has graciously allowed me some space on his web log to be that someone.

For this article I have assembled 17 common and readily-available waterproof black inks. The list is limited to inks I had on hand or could easily acquire (with my own money, thanks Brad) from site sponsor Vanness Pens. That said, I feel like this sample covers enough of the bases to be both useful and not overwhelming. I am also including three permanent black inks that are not for fountain pens to serve as a "control group". Each ink will be tested on 6 different types of paper known to be fountain pen friendly. For the best balance of presenting the inks' color properties I have decided to use a glass nib pen and a cotton swab[2]. Once the ink has been put to the page, I'll allow it to dry completely, take a "before" picture, and then submerge the sheet of paper in a basin of water for 5 minutes. Finally, after removal from the bath each page will air dry and have an "after" picture taken.

We've seen the results. I think the "losers" are pretty clear, but who's the winner? There are a few contenders. My personal preference is DeAtramentis Document Black. Platinum Carbon Black is also a solid performer. If you're on a budget, Noodler's Black will serve you just fine. The two Rohrer & Klingner inks are good options if you prefer a wetter ink. I want to recommend Colorverse Selectron, but it's only available in a two bottle set with Electron, and it's the tiny 15ml part of the pairing.

(Disclaimer: I paid for all items used in this review with my own money. Nary an ink sample was provided to me free of charge.)

[1] I'm not testing any of these additional properties. As of this writing, my laser is still in the shop.

[2] I recognize that a cotton swab doesn't always give the best results, but I felt that it would give more consistent and controllable results across trials than another method such as a letter opener or knife blade.

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Ink Reviews.

The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 451 - Changing the World One Person at a Time

Dandelion, via Bungubox. — *Dandelion, via Bungubox*.

What a week to be a Pen Addict! Kaweco goofed up something silly, Pilot attempted a “Special Edition,” and Kaoru dunked all over everyone with the release of Dandelion. Lots of smiles in this one.

Show Notes & Download Links

Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code PENADDICT at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Ooni Pizza Ovens: Bring the world’s best pizza to your own backyard. Use the code PENADDICT21 for 10% off.

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Podcast.

Pentel Q1005 Smash Drafting Pencil Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Some of the oldest mechanical pencils in my collection are from Pentel, which is a testament to how robust and useful they are. But that doesn't mean there's no room left to expand the collection. I'm always interested in what these companies are doing in the modern decade, and the Q1005 (styled as Smash) mechanical drafting pencil is a unique and interesting option in this crowded space.

The Pentel Q1005 is a lightweight and well-built mechanical drafting pencil that feels great in the hand and does a great job. There aren't many frills, but the extra features are tasteful and well done. My favorite feature by far is how Pentel implemented the lead grade indicator dial. In a lot of cases, it's easy to accidentally nudge the dial, which defeats the purpose of using it in the first place. With the Pentel Smash, this is fixed by using notches in the dial that keep it in place while the pencil is in use. If you want to change the dial, you have to unscrew the grip section from the pencil a few turns, pull the dial out a bit, and then rotate it to the appropriate setting before screwing the grip section back in place. It's a simple but great solution to this problem as opposed to just relying on friction.

Another feature of this pencil is the grip section. While it's not my favorite grip, it sure is comfortable. The grip and cone is one piece of plastic, which makes it smooth to grip and also means you can't accidentally unscrew the nose cone when using the pencil. There's also a separate rubber pieces that protrudes through the plastic grip in a grid pattern to provide some really unique feel when using the pencil. Since the rubber pads are under the plastic, they move a little bit while using the pencil. This felt weird to me at first in a way that shook my confidence in the pencil and the accuracy of the marks I was making, but my fingers quickly grew accustomed to the unique feel. I like using it now, but my only real gripe is that the two-part system is a magnet for dust and lint. So many tiny grooves and spaces for stuff to collect.

The clip on the pencil is fairly strong, but not overly so. It's easy to operate and also keeps the pencil secure wherever you clip it. The clip doesn't need to be that strong since the pencil is lightweight.

Even though the pencil is lightweight, it's still weighted in the right places — namely toward the grip and cone. This low center of gravity means the pencil is easier to control when making precise marks.

I have no idea if this is correct, but I'm guessing that the namesake of the pencil comes from the fun rubber piece that covers the lead advance button. This accordion-like rubber material is so much fun to mash down over and over again. I'm not sure if it offers and real functional benefit, but it sure is fun to play with. Underneath the cap / click button, you'll find an obligatory emergency eraser that tops off the lead refill tube. Pretty standard stuff for a mechanical pencil.

Pentel has done something different in bringing the Smash to the US market by opening a Pentel-branded Amazon Shop, which is the only place you will find (for now) the four new colors of the new Pentel Katakana Smash Special Edition (both links are affiliate links). At $17, they are more expensive than the traditional Black Smash, which you can find at JetPens for $12.50, which is a great value for such a well-made and unique mechanical drafting pencil.

(Pentel of America provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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