Confusion Needs Clarification

[Lion]

Being newer(only four months) to the fine art of fountain pens I have a question about the longevity of the ink? I have heard it said that if you store your bottles of ink in a cool and dark place it will last for years. Then I've heard it said that ink is only good for a couple of years.....which is right???

[shandy]

I must admit Leo that I write so much I don't have any ink over a year old!
I have known folks use vintage ink from the 50's and have not had a problem..But they opened un-opened bottles. I would imagine that no matter who well one may flush a pen there is going to be some for of debris get into the ink after a time.

I have used fountain pens for almost 40 years..Ink has never been a problem (apart from getting it all over my hands when being careless when filling

On that note. Something a lot of people use as an excuse not to use a fountain pen is that it might leak..In all the years I have been using them I have never had a leak in any fountain pen!

[Lion]

Ian, Thanx for your time and answer to my quandary.....

[Shangas]

Hi Lion,

Stored PROPERLY (cool, dark, dry place), fountain pen ink will last for ages. I know people who regularly use vintage fountain pen ink from the 1920s, 30s and 40s and which works fine.

This whole "OMFG TEH INKZ A MUNTHZ OVADOO! FROW IT OOOUT!!! :'(" kerfarffle is just rubbish. It's a marketing-ploy by pen-companies to make you buy their ink more often. If all ink was really that appalling in quality, the pen industry would've collapsed yesterday.

On that note. Something a lot of people use as an excuse not to use a fountain pen is that it might leak..In all the years I have been using them I have never had a leak in any fountain pen!

Grrrrgh!!!

*Headdesk*

FOUNTAIN PENS DO NOT LEAK!! WHOEVER SAYS SO IS AN IDIOT!

A fountain pen will never leak. They're designed specifically NOT to leak! The only reason they would leak is because you're shaking it like a thermometer, or because the pen is genuinely broken. A proper, clean, functioning fountain pen will never ever ever leak. Take it from a person who regularly uses antique fountain pens. If fountain pens leaked as badly as everyone thinks they do, then FP production would've ceased the day it began, but in the 21st century, there are still DOZENS (literally) of fountain pen manufacturers. So they must be doing something right.

Fountain pens DO NOT LEAK.

And yes, I do mean literally dozens of fountain pen manufacturers.

Parker,
Sheaffer,
Waterman,
Montblanc,
Visconti,
Monteverde,
Lamy,
Bexley,
Conway Stewart,
Montgrappa,
Caran d'Ache,
Delta,
Omas,
Nakimi,
Pilot,
Pelikan,
Cross,
Faber-Castell,
Inoxcrom,
Conklin,

Need I name more?

If fountain pens leaked like a broken faucet, all these companies would be out of business.

Companies in bold: Been in business 100 years or more.
Companies in Italics: Recently founded, between 20-30 years old.

If fountain pens leaked, the old companies would never have lasted as long as they have, the new ones would never have been started. Bexley in particular, is a very very new company, only founded in 1993. Its OFFICIAL title is the Bexley Fountain Pen Company

[2careless]

I think it depends on the ink.
If your ink is scented, that scent can go foul after a long time, since scents are air-borne material (or you can't smell it right?)
Any chemist around?

[shandy]

I see we agree on this Shangas! As I said I have never ever had a pen leak. It always tickles me that that old chestnut still comes up!

Originally Posted by Shangas

Grrrrgh!!!

*Headdesk*

FOUNTAIN PENS DO NOT LEAK!! WHOEVER SAYS SO IS AN IDIOT!

A fountain pen will never leak. They're designed specifically NOT to leak! The only reason they would leak is because you're shaking it like a thermometer, or because the pen is genuinely broken. A proper, clean, functioning fountain pen will never ever ever leak. Take it from a person who regularly uses antique fountain pens. If fountain pens leaked as badly as everyone thinks they do, then FP production would've ceased the day it began, but in the 21st century, there are still DOZENS (literally) of fountain pen manufacturers. So they must be doing something right.

Fountain pens DO NOT LEAK.

And yes, I do mean literally dozens of fountain pen manufacturers.

Parker,
Sheaffer,
Waterman,
Montblanc,
Visconti,
Monteverde,
Lamy,
Bexley,
Conway Stewart,
Montgrappa,
Caran d'Ache,
Delta,
Omas,
Nakimi,
Pilot,
Pelikan,
Cross,
Faber-Castell,
Inoxcrom,
Conklin,

Need I name more?

If fountain pens leaked like a broken faucet, all these companies would be out of business.

Companies in bold: Been in business 100 years or more.
Companies in Italics: Recently founded, between 20-30 years old.

If fountain pens leaked, the old companies would never have lasted as long as they have, the new ones would never have been started. Bexley in particular, is a very very new company, only founded in 1993. Its OFFICIAL title is the Bexley Fountain Pen Company

[Lion]

The only thing I see going with RBs and BPs is that they can be made very cheap today and have become throwaways!!!

[JimC]

Leo, I only have experience with a few inks over the years. I never was (until recently) one to "try something new."

I have a Waterman Blue and Waterman Red that were purchased 10 years ago and I broke out to try them again. They write quite nicely in the few pens I have loaded.

I also have some Namiki Blue, about a half a bottle, that is a bit older. A shake for good measure (although probably not needed) and it works fine.

A Levenger Cobalt Blue was always "dry" and never wrote well even new. I tried an old bottle, and it was worse for wear after 8-10 years. I have an unopened bottle that is free for the asking. Maybe someone else will do better than me in the couple of pens I tried...

I did try a couple of "old" (10+ years) cartridges, and the blue seemed to fade considerably upon drying.

Otherwise, never had a problem, but these aren't vintage inks, either...