Sometimes what’s fun from a hobby perspective isn’t always what’s best for everyday use. That multichromatic triple-shading ink with shimmer? Probably not the best choice for quick meeting notes or signing closing paperwork on your mortgage. That triple-broad double-eagle reversible stub architect nib? That’s gonna bleed through a legal pad. While most of us enjoy our crazy stationery, it can’t take us everywhere.
The most common questions I get, both here on the blog and in-person when I’m behind a table at a pen show, concern what pen/ink/paper I can use everyday, without worrying how it’s going to perform. I often recommend that those planning on using their pens for everyday writing keep at least a couple of “workhorses,” or pens designed to write, without regard to unique design, collectibility, etc. I feel so strongly about this that I’ve devoted an entire series of articles on the blog to this topic, which I’ve compiled into an archive that’s constantly being updated.
So-called “safe”- dare I say “boring” - inks don’t have to be ugly, especially if you like muted shades. It’s when you get into super-saturated colors and special properties when things get tricky.
But while pens get the most attention, more critical components of “everyday writing” are ink and paper. With fountain pens, I would say that ink is the key variable, since you often cannot control the paper you’re forced to use in a context such as the office. You therefore need to have a handful of “workhorse” inks in addition to your “workhorse” pens, that you can use knowing that they will likely perform decently on most paper options. Back in 2020, I even put together a sample pack of some of my favorite inks, including Waterman Blue, Sheaffer Skrip Red, and Lamy Black. While I may consider running that one back in the future, I’m not sure that recommending specific inks is all that helpful or necessary. For the most part, standard inks made by major pen company such as Waterman, Lamy, Sheaffer, Pilot, TWSBI, etc. will generally be “safe” to use in most pens and on most papers, and even boutique lines such as J. Herbin and Diamine - both made by ink companies that have existed for a very long time - are extremely reliable provided you stick to the water-based core lineup for your office writing, as opposed to inks with special properties such as shimmer that can be unpredictable on anything other than high-quality paper.
“Boring” is relative. I’d consider all three of the inks pictured here to be “safe” inks in the sense that they water-based inks from longstanding, well-regarded brands. The Herbin “Vert de Gris” is a new discovery that I spent all day yesterday using at the office.
Advantages and Considerations When Using So-Called “Boring” Inks
So why don’t quality, reliable inks get more attention? Honestly, the fountain pen internet and social media tends to be driven in large part by people who either don’t actually write with their pens everyday, or use their inks for art and journaling where practical considerations are less relevant. When those creating the content consider the inks “boring,” they don’t get promoted and fall by the wayside. But I’m here to tell you that sometimes “boring” has a lot to offer! Consider:
Ease of Cleaning. While some exceptions exist (pinks and purples in particular tend to be hard to clean no matter what), I value inks that flush out of pens quickly when you refill or change colors. Most of the brands I mentioned above take little to no effort to flush, and shouldn’t stain most materials, vintage or modern.
Expense. Looking for an ink that you’re going to use a lot? While ink isn’t the most expensive part of this hobby, if you write through several converters a week like I can when I’m really busy, you probably don’t want to be stocking up on ink at $50 per bottle. Most of the inks I consider workhorses are less than $20 for 30-50ml.
Permanence. People tend to treat “permanence” (more specifically, the lack thereof) as a negative rather than a positive when it comes to fountain pen ink, but I’ve come to believe it’s overrated. While it’s nice to have some water resistance, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve spilled water or a drink on some notes, and completely lost what I had written. On the other hand, I’ve frequently spilled ink when filling pens, when a pen leaks during travel, or when I accidentally drag a shirtsleeve across some writing that’s not quite dry. If it’s permanent ink, it’s probably going to stain. On the other hand, a few weeks ago I spilled a sample vial of Iroshizuku Tsukushi onto the rug in my office. I ran the rug through the washing machine and the ink washed out completely on the first try. On the other hand, I spilled a bottle of permanent blue-black on some carpet several years back and had to recarpet the room. Personally, I’ll take the safe/impermanent/washable option for those inks I plan to use everyday, but I’m also a klutz.
Oops.
Now here’s the part where I sort of contradict myself: When I first entered this hobby, it used to be a reliable rule-of-thumb that if you were looking for a “safe” ink (i.e., to use in a finicky, valuable, or vintage pen) any ink made by a “pen company” was generally suitable. Today, I still get e-mails from people asking whether “X” shimmer ink is safe for vintage pens, since it’s made by “X” pen company. Having seen the rapidly expanding market for fountain pen ink, including inks that shimmer, sheen, and multi-shade, pen companies are expanding into these more specialized offerings. So while you can take the “pen company manufacturer rule” into account, it’s no longer something you can solely rely upon, and you have to do some homework. I generally advise people that if you want to purchase a particular ink for use everyday, and you want the ink to be versatile enough to use in as many different pens, on as many different papers as possible, it’s wise to avoid inks with special properties.
Come Visit Us At an upcoming pen show!
As I mentioned above, I’m getting ready to visit this year’s Baltimore Washington International Pen Show, as well as the Arkansas Pen Show the following week, and at both shows I’ll be conducting a free workshop tentatively titled “Stationery for Daily Use with the Gentleman Stationer,” in which I plan to discuss pens, inks, paper, and notebook systems appropriate for managing your daily life and work. The class will be similar to the “Everyday Writers: Choosing the Best Pens for Home and Office” seminar that I held at the last Baltimore Show I attended as a vendor, back in 2020.
We will also plan to bring a curated selection of pens, inks, and notebooks with us to both shows, so you’ll have the opportunity to test out many of the goods in our shop in person. We hope to see you there!
The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program, and is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including certain ink brands mentioned in this article.