I love this ink. To me it's a dark reddish brown. I write on a cheap composition notebook, and there is no bleeding through the paper at all with it. I have it in a Lamy AL Star with the medium nib it came with. I wonder if there was something wrong (quality issue) with your sample?
That must be a good composition notebook (cheap isn't always bad🙂)! I think a Lamy Al-Star is a good pen for this ink - the nibs are a little dry and would work well with a wet ink. There's no telling what caused my pen to clog, but I don't think it should count against the ink, not since it flowed well once I resolved that issue. I have no reason to think something was wrong with the sample - results seem to match other reports. (If you're thinking about the bad behavior on my absorbent paper - that's seriously bad paper, few inks behave well on it.)
I do wonder why was this ink formulated to be this wet, it’s one of those things that really annoys me because it changes the line width of my pens. Have yet to find a pen I like it with. Thanks for the lovely review ❤😊
You're very welcome, Valentina! It's nice to see you back. Hope life is treating you well. As to the wetness, I have to assume it's a natural consequence of the various ingredients needed to get the color and stabilize the ink. Of course, I could be wrong, maybe the redditors explicitly asked for a super-wet ink, I don't remember. Anywho, I'm with you - I prefer inks that don't spread so much.
I feel like such an idiot. I recently purchased a Platinum 3776 Century (in Extra-Fne, of course) to purposefully use with this ink. However, I did not consider that this ink will write a much broader line. My new pen is (relatively) horrible to use and I regret buying both the pen and the ink. 😖😖😖 Changing to a better ink (Sailor?) will help but I also think the nib needs adjusting, something I am rather frustrated about for a $200 (AUD) pen.
Sorry for such a combo of bad luck, Storge! (Please note that it does not make you an idiot, so you shouldn't feel like one! 🙂) Platinum gold nibs are quite feedbacky and the EF is so fine that even if the tipping were smooth as can be, it would feel every indentation in the paper. IMO, if the tines are misaligned or the nib is flawed in some other way, the seller should exchange it, and test the replacement for you to ensure it's good. But then that route has its own headaches. As for trying another ink - this one is really well lubricated (one step below the best lubrication), so I'm not sure another ink would help in that regard. But there are other inks that behave better on paper - I'm just not sure any of those are well lubricated (the well-lubricated inks tend to write fatter lines). You might want to filter my spreadsheet by the best lubrication ratings and then check the line widths for how they compare to Writer's Blood's line width (they'd have a hard time being worse - except Baystate Blue, which exists to cause problems... 🤣). Finally, a thought on EF nibs - I have found that while there's a limit to how lightly I can hold the pen and still control it, I can almost always write with a lighter hand - hold the nib off the paper a little more - and thereby get a smoother experience. It takes a lot of work at first to get used to doing this, and often I still "forget" and go back to using more pressure or a tighter grip than needed, but it's worth the effort to keep trying because the writing experience is so much more pleasant that way. All the best, Storge! 😊
@@EFNIR Wow, so kind of you to reply. You're such a treasure! 🤩 What I feel quite silly about is that, after reading/watching reviews, I had thought the Platinum nib would be smoother than my Sailor nib (which I simply adore, it is not scratchy but as an has feedback which I enjoy as it writes with direction and purpose). Sadly the Platinum nib is not smoother 😭. Returning it is not practical as you highlight, so I will have a nib-meister take a look (do you know any in Aussie?) because it is sharp to the touch when all of my other nibs are not. Also, I cannot see anything under my loupe. I have so much ink that I really do not need the Writer's Blood so I have found a new home for it (thanks to Christmas). I also have someone lined up to take the Platinum 3776 Century (as a pre-used gift to a relative) if I still do not like it when it comes back from the nib-meister. Then I will stick to my Sailor nibs which - as you noted - I have learnt to use with a lighter touch. Gosh I love my Sailor! ⚓ 😍 🤤
@@storge306 😊 You're too kind. Yeah, I find it interesting that everyone talks about Sailor's feedback, but not as much about Platinum's - perhaps because their steel nibs are crazy-smooth and write a larger line than the same size designation in gold (sort of the opposite of what you'd expect). I'm afraid I don't know of any Australian nib meisters, but you'd think there's be one there somewhere! Hope you find one who can do just what you need. Aligning the tines and a bit of polishing shouldn't be too hard - I've done both myself, though a Platinum gold EF nib isn't the place to have your first try! Sharp to the touch is strange - is there tipping material? (Hoping that step in manufacturing didn't go wrong! If it did, Platinum themselves ought to make good.) Perhaps a burr or something. You'd probably need very high magnification to see that... Glad your Writer's Blood found a new home. 🎄 Enjoy that Sailor in the meantime, too! 🙂
Maybe it’s my age and fondness now for elasticated-waist trousers, but these days I have no love for fat, swollen, or spready anything-least of all ink lines. Like the Irish whiskey, 'Writer's Tears,' I can’t help thinking the name of this ink itself operates as click bait for its particular community. Me included. Another superlative review-thanks!
🤣 I understand all too well! Of course, the name was chosen by the good folk of Reddit's r/fountainpens, so I suppose we can't accuse Diamine of coming up with this particular click bait. Thank you, Jack, and you're most welcome!
🥳 Happy New Year to you, too, Kirstin! I hope you have a nice, dry pen for it - it's a gusher! And if you do get it, I hope you enjoy it. The good news is that it's a Diamine, and they're more than affordable.
@@EFNIR Yup, I´m really pleased with all of my Diamine inks so far. Affordable and reliable. The only one that gives me trouble is the Golden Brown. I like the colour but it seems to be sooo dry. I haven´t found a pen that it works well in.
@@MidlifeByKirstin Super-dry inks can be a challenge. A really smooth, wet nib that's not too broad can help (so it's not demanding as much ink flow and doesn't need lubrication to feel smooth). Good luck - hope you find a home for it. :)
:) Diamine playlist made: "EFNIR: Diamine Inks" ruclips.net/p/PLuDpVcfnCaS85VlkY9fb3mdEEKfO_qJc5 I'll work on others based on the number of reviews (don't want to do playlists for brands I only have a few of).
@@PATRK55 I'm afraid I've never used Syrah, and don't have a sample, so I can't say. I'd recommend checking out @AnInkGuy to see if he's reviewed both - should give you good info on how they compare.
Yes, but there are lots of people who want it. Of course, in the case of the reddit inks, they choose the color first (and I think everyone knew it didn't really look like blood) and the name comes second - and in this case, I think the name is more metaphoric than literal (in most folks' minds).
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Great stuff!
Not quite my tone. Your humour left me with a big smile!
Wishing you a great year ahead and, as always, many thanks.
😊 Thanks, Kevin! Very happy to provide smiles! May this year be your best yet, with many more to come! 😁
And another ink goes onto the 'samples to buy list'. Thanks for this and all the other reviews.
😅 Welcome to the "hopelessly inky" club! You're most welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting.
I love this ink. To me it's a dark reddish brown. I write on a cheap composition notebook, and there is no bleeding through the paper at all with it. I have it in a Lamy AL Star with the medium nib it came with. I wonder if there was something wrong (quality issue) with your sample?
That must be a good composition notebook (cheap isn't always bad🙂)! I think a Lamy Al-Star is a good pen for this ink - the nibs are a little dry and would work well with a wet ink. There's no telling what caused my pen to clog, but I don't think it should count against the ink, not since it flowed well once I resolved that issue. I have no reason to think something was wrong with the sample - results seem to match other reports. (If you're thinking about the bad behavior on my absorbent paper - that's seriously bad paper, few inks behave well on it.)
I do wonder why was this ink formulated to be this wet, it’s one of those things that really annoys me because it changes the line width of my pens. Have yet to find a pen I like it with. Thanks for the lovely review ❤😊
You're very welcome, Valentina! It's nice to see you back. Hope life is treating you well. As to the wetness, I have to assume it's a natural consequence of the various ingredients needed to get the color and stabilize the ink. Of course, I could be wrong, maybe the redditors explicitly asked for a super-wet ink, I don't remember. Anywho, I'm with you - I prefer inks that don't spread so much.
I feel like such an idiot. I recently purchased a Platinum 3776 Century (in Extra-Fne, of course) to purposefully use with this ink.
However, I did not consider that this ink will write a much broader line. My new pen is (relatively) horrible to use and I regret buying both the pen and the ink. 😖😖😖
Changing to a better ink (Sailor?) will help but I also think the nib needs adjusting, something I am rather frustrated about for a $200 (AUD) pen.
Sorry for such a combo of bad luck, Storge! (Please note that it does not make you an idiot, so you shouldn't feel like one! 🙂) Platinum gold nibs are quite feedbacky and the EF is so fine that even if the tipping were smooth as can be, it would feel every indentation in the paper. IMO, if the tines are misaligned or the nib is flawed in some other way, the seller should exchange it, and test the replacement for you to ensure it's good. But then that route has its own headaches.
As for trying another ink - this one is really well lubricated (one step below the best lubrication), so I'm not sure another ink would help in that regard. But there are other inks that behave better on paper - I'm just not sure any of those are well lubricated (the well-lubricated inks tend to write fatter lines). You might want to filter my spreadsheet by the best lubrication ratings and then check the line widths for how they compare to Writer's Blood's line width (they'd have a hard time being worse - except Baystate Blue, which exists to cause problems... 🤣).
Finally, a thought on EF nibs - I have found that while there's a limit to how lightly I can hold the pen and still control it, I can almost always write with a lighter hand - hold the nib off the paper a little more - and thereby get a smoother experience. It takes a lot of work at first to get used to doing this, and often I still "forget" and go back to using more pressure or a tighter grip than needed, but it's worth the effort to keep trying because the writing experience is so much more pleasant that way.
All the best, Storge! 😊
@@EFNIR Wow, so kind of you to reply. You're such a treasure! 🤩
What I feel quite silly about is that, after reading/watching reviews, I had thought the Platinum nib would be smoother than my Sailor nib (which I simply adore, it is not scratchy but as an has feedback which I enjoy as it writes with direction and purpose). Sadly the Platinum nib is not smoother 😭. Returning it is not practical as you highlight, so I will have a nib-meister take a look (do you know any in Aussie?) because it is sharp to the touch when all of my other nibs are not. Also, I cannot see anything under my loupe.
I have so much ink that I really do not need the Writer's Blood so I have found a new home for it (thanks to Christmas). I also have someone lined up to take the Platinum 3776 Century (as a pre-used gift to a relative) if I still do not like it when it comes back from the nib-meister. Then I will stick to my Sailor nibs which - as you noted - I have learnt to use with a lighter touch.
Gosh I love my Sailor! ⚓ 😍 🤤
@@storge306 😊 You're too kind. Yeah, I find it interesting that everyone talks about Sailor's feedback, but not as much about Platinum's - perhaps because their steel nibs are crazy-smooth and write a larger line than the same size designation in gold (sort of the opposite of what you'd expect).
I'm afraid I don't know of any Australian nib meisters, but you'd think there's be one there somewhere! Hope you find one who can do just what you need. Aligning the tines and a bit of polishing shouldn't be too hard - I've done both myself, though a Platinum gold EF nib isn't the place to have your first try! Sharp to the touch is strange - is there tipping material? (Hoping that step in manufacturing didn't go wrong! If it did, Platinum themselves ought to make good.) Perhaps a burr or something. You'd probably need very high magnification to see that...
Glad your Writer's Blood found a new home. 🎄 Enjoy that Sailor in the meantime, too! 🙂
Maybe it’s my age and fondness now for elasticated-waist trousers, but these days I have no love for fat, swollen, or spready anything-least of all ink lines. Like the Irish whiskey, 'Writer's Tears,' I can’t help thinking the name of this ink itself operates as click bait for its particular community. Me included. Another superlative review-thanks!
🤣 I understand all too well! Of course, the name was chosen by the good folk of Reddit's r/fountainpens, so I suppose we can't accuse Diamine of coming up with this particular click bait. Thank you, Jack, and you're most welcome!
@@EFNIR I wasn’t aware of the Reddit involvement…yet more Liz-learning for me-thanks, as always…😘
@@Snick3927 :) You're very welcome, Jack. As I recall, this, Earl Grey, and Aurora Borealis are the r/fountainpens inks so far.
Happy New Year! I didn´t want to buy any inks this year, but I like the colour and your review is just to good not to.
🥳 Happy New Year to you, too, Kirstin! I hope you have a nice, dry pen for it - it's a gusher! And if you do get it, I hope you enjoy it. The good news is that it's a Diamine, and they're more than affordable.
@@EFNIR Yup, I´m really pleased with all of my Diamine inks so far. Affordable and reliable. The only one that gives me trouble is the Golden Brown. I like the colour but it seems to be sooo dry. I haven´t found a pen that it works well in.
@@MidlifeByKirstin Super-dry inks can be a challenge. A really smooth, wet nib that's not too broad can help (so it's not demanding as much ink flow and doesn't need lubrication to feel smooth). Good luck - hope you find a home for it. :)
You should consider making playlists by brand, I can only buy diamine inks where I'm from ):
On an other note, how does this compare with Syrah? Seems to be a similar shade
:) Diamine playlist made: "EFNIR: Diamine Inks" ruclips.net/p/PLuDpVcfnCaS85VlkY9fb3mdEEKfO_qJc5 I'll work on others based on the number of reviews (don't want to do playlists for brands I only have a few of).
@@PATRK55 I'm afraid I've never used Syrah, and don't have a sample, so I can't say. I'd recommend checking out @AnInkGuy to see if he's reviewed both - should give you good info on how they compare.
Making ink that Looks like human blood is a bit dark don't you think?
Yes, but there are lots of people who want it. Of course, in the case of the reddit inks, they choose the color first (and I think everyone knew it didn't really look like blood) and the name comes second - and in this case, I think the name is more metaphoric than literal (in most folks' minds).
@@EFNIR definitely the pen you whip out on Halloween and right "red rum" with.
@@bland9876 🤣