Pen-4u

Regular fountain pen users tend to have strong opinions about what kind of ink to use. There are many different brands and colors to choose from, and most people end up settling on one or more favourites and sticking to them.

Fountain pen ink is water-based and free-flowing with no sediment that could clog the nib and ink feed with normal use. It is sold in bottles, to allow the user to fill the ink reservoir using the pen’s particular filling mechanism. While cartridge pens became popular in the 1960s, most fountain pen aficionados these days prefer to use bottled ink.

There are many more shades of ink to choose from these days. Maybe you feel like trying an offbeat color such as purple or turquoise, or you could stay with a classic black, indigo or royal blue. Why not pick a couple of different colors and keep two or three fountain pens filled so that you always have one that fits your mood and purpose.

Many modern inks contain antibacterial additives to keep your pen and ink in good condition. It is important never to use Indian ink or drafting ink in your fountain pen as these are too viscous and will cause obstructions in the feed and nib.

There is no need to use the same brand of ink as your fountain pen, though. Popular brands that work well in any fountain pen include Quink from Parker, Pelikan 4001, Skrip by Scheaffer, Noodler’s and Waterman.

Along with the pen, the nib and the paper you use, the ink in your pen forms a large part of the writing experience, so it is important to select one that you are comfortable with.