Which Ink? Little Chris vs Oxford Blue

What was the best and the worst? Two inks and a superb pen!
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Cheers for now!
Mike

[@Blissfulthings]

I was one of the viewers who was nagging you to try Oxford Blue....im glad you like it 😊

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes! Thank you - it wasn't one I'd bought before, so yours was a really useful recommendation!

[@archivist17]

I agree absolutely: Watching the ink mixing into the water never fails to delight. And Oxford Blue looks a great colour.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jamesaritchie1]

Writer's Blood is still not worth it for me. I absolutely love the name, though. So I poured the Writer's Blood in one of the inkwells I use for art, rinsed out the bottle with distilled water, and poured a bottle of Red Dragon into it. Now I have the name on a bottle that's filled with an ink I really do love.

[@writerlywitterings]

That is serious effort, but worth it!

[@timdraude3464]

I have both inks and 100% agree with your review of both. Oxford Blue is my daily use ink. I absolutely love it. Little Chris is a fun ink, but more of a novelty.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for sharing - and it's a relief to know I wasn't entirely daft!

[@t0dd000]

Bah! Just ordered Writer's Blood because of the name and damn, it looks pretty. And hello from the crew.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Todd - it's worth testing it on various types of paper to see which it likes best!

[@angbane]

Both lovely blue-blacks/ black-blues. Thanks for the tip not to blot sheening inks. all the best with the edits, and congratulations on the new commissions.

[@writerlywitterings]

You’re welcome 😊 Thanks for the note, Angela!

[@michellestephenson1680]

I’m watching this while deep under the influence of allergy medication! Who knew, ink could win out over Benadryl... I need some Oxford Blue now!

[@writerlywitterings]

Sorry to hear that, Michelle - hope the medication works and you're soon back and testing some Oxford Blue!

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

Interesting video as always Michael, but having just spent more than I should on Radio communication equipment I won't be buying anything tor a week or two till I have replenished my coffers, I must say the Little Chris looks interesting, I already have Oxford Blue, I will be trying the Sapphire Blue, but my all time favourite ink to date is Diamine Wild Strawberry, anyway thanks again for a good review, always interesting , never boring and always well presented

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks, Michael. Yes, I'm partial to Wild Strawberry too. A really lovely, bright red that's ideal for marking up edits!

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Oxford Blue is one of my favorite blues! I’m not really a blue fan but super dark and saturated ones are pretty!

[@writerlywitterings]

They are! I rather like this, although it's a little strong for my taste (I prefer pastel shades)

[@MarchMeadow]

Diamine Bilberry is also a wonderful red-sheening deep dark blue that looks similar to the little Chris. Very wet ink and one of my favourites. Love Oxford Blue as well. Great video, thanks!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for the tip! My bilberry didn't give any sheen at all, so I'm really astonished by that. I'll have to try it on different papers again!

[@MarchMeadow]

@@writerlywitterings Yeah, I use Rhodia white A4 grid pads a lot and it sheens brilliantly on that paper, but also on cheaper paper like shorthand pads. Sometimes you have to leave it for a few hours before the sheen comes through -- depending on the paper -- but it's a lovely two-tone effect.

[@MarchMeadow]

Now this is strange... I'm a left-hander and my writing slopes to the left (I "dress to the left") -- I get a wonderful sheen. However, when I try to write with my right hand, sloping to the right -- there's a distinct lack of sheen! This has got to be big news: DIAMINE HAVE (at long last) RELEASED AN INK FOR LEFT-HANDERS! Try it. :-)

[@Richard_Barnes]

Wow! Congrats on the book Mike 🙂 another one done 👍🏻 The Oxford Blue is superb and you Sir, are a great help. Thank you for thinking of me, I appreciate ya. 👍🏻 (As always, there is never a rush my friend, other things are more important. Well, almost, 😂)

[@writerlywitterings]

My pleasure! Hopefully be on its way today - so long as I get to the Post Office in time!

[@johngrubb007]

I have two Diamine/Cult pens sheening inks called Maureen and Christine. I'm wondering if these are earlier iterations of the inks you listed. Both sheen very strongly on Tomoe River but the best sheener I have is the Diamine Skull and Roses. As for Akkerman ink, I found the van Vermeer to be very difficult until I put it in my Pilot Elite 95s with a medium nib. That combination gives me a gorgeous line with amazing shading, especially on Tomoe River and Mnemosyne papers. Sometimes it takes a lot of experimentation with pen/ink/paper combinations to find that really special result. That's why this hobby is so much fun.

[@writerlywitterings]

I believe Christine is "Little Chris" but in the larger size bottle - just as Maureen is the large bottle version of "Little Mo" - I believe the inks are the same, it's just a bit of fun naming things. On the Akkerman inks, my Visconti with a medium nib loves them. As you say, it's odd how much experimentation you sometimes have to do to get the best combination!

[@archivist17]

Great news on the new commissions! Plus, well done on the edit. That's always an epic undertaking.

[@writerlywitterings]

Much appreciated!

[@steveconquest6684]

Hiya Michael, Oxford Blue is definitely #1 for me. Why? Because it's Oxford, and it's blue. My other favourites are Syrah, Delamere Green, Ancient Copper and Grape. All Diamine, all perfect. Thank you for the review. Cheers

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for sharing - and I can't argue with any of those choices!

[@rdkylp]

I really like Diamine's Royal Blue for daily use. For my long study sessions, I really enjoy Diamine's Imperial Blue with flex nib. Integral signs looks good with that.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for sharing - of course, I hadn't thought about the impact of a flex nib with the different colours ... damn. I may have to do some rethinking!

[@harisivakumar207]

Hello again, Usually, a sheening fountain pen ink has a lot of dye content which is why it sheens so much. I personally haven’t used a sheening ink just yet and I heard from other people that they tend to be a little more maintenance-prone than other standard inks, meaning you have to clean the pen out more than you would think.

[@writerlywitterings]

I believe you're right there - it certainly takes more flushes to clean my pens than I am used to. Thanks, Harikash!

[@harisivakumar207]

@@writerlywitterings Please, call me Hari.

[@Tracywhited2]

Congrats on the edit ! I definitely need to get some Diamine inks.

[@writerlywitterings]

You should, Tracyann, they are enormously reliable, work in all my pens, and as well as being really very good value (in the UK, £5.90 for 80mls), they have easily the broadest range of colours and shades of any manufacturer (well over 100).

[@Tracywhited2]

@@writerlywitterings I have no clue why I haven’t got piles of it by now. Lol. But I’m fixing that. Absolutely beautiful samples you’ve shared

[@thuntz29]

Oxford Blue is one of my favourite inks, alongside Sherwood Green. I’m still trying to find my perfect red/maroon colour (Syrah is taking the lead)... I’m glad you enjoyed Oxford Blue! I need to try the 150th anniversary Diamine inks, they look gorgeous.

[@writerlywitterings]

I think I need to have a look at a few of them, too! There are some great colours in the line up!

[@stargazer1359]

@@writerlywitterings Blood Orange is a fav. Rich, deep color.

[@richardsimms251]

Great. RS

[@writerlywitterings]

That's really good of you. Many thanks!

[@thewaaaghproductions2285]

Oxford blue is great! Smelly though...

[@writerlywitterings]

I have to admit, I used in a pen which had been full of KWZ inks, so all I could smell was vanilla every time I opened the pen!

[@markcohen5094]

Have you ever tried the Parker Penman Sapphire? It's kind-of the original sheening ink, I think. Sailor has made a copy for one of the Japanese stores. (Also called Sapphire) .. By the way, found your books through these videos and very much am enjoying The Last Templar.

[@writerlywitterings]

Not yet! I did have a Pelikan Sapphire, which was glorious, but I haven't tried Parker recently. I'll have a look. And thanks so much for your comments on the books!

[@misswoodhouse5720]

Hi, I feel it my duty to boast about my favourite blue ink, it's Robert Oster School Blue. A lovely dark blue and the red sheen is so lovely, almost will sheen on anything even copy paper :) Thank you for doing another ink test, I am so interested in the Oxford Blue. Does or has Diamine ever done a Cambridge blue? if they have Oxford then they should have Cams as well :)

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for sharing! I don't think they have a Cambridge as well (yet). Perhaps the owners went to Oxford? Or they were keen Colin Dexter fans?

[@misswoodhouse5720]

@@writerlywitterings Haha, good analysis. I always wonder about this. I really think its time I bought a bottle of Oxford blue now. A few years ago I was writing a history essay (The Great Exhibition) in Oxford. I miss England so much I am meant to be there now but stuck in Australia still. It is pretty COVID safe here, we only ever had tiny outbreaks the biggest was Melbourne and it was under control fairly quickly.

[@writerlywitterings]

@@misswoodhouse5720 I hope you manage to get over here before too long! Hopefully with the vaccine, we are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. Meanwhile, I can recommend Oxford Blue - a really good, strong colour, and works in all my pens!

[@aleksandarpeshev2499]

well, as it turns out, I do not have enough inks after all :D

[@writerlywitterings]

No one can ever have enough, my friend!

[@christopherdecock4256]

Please review the new Conway Stewart Honey Noire Level-Fill

[@writerlywitterings]

Will do very shortly!

[@llion2806]

I would NEVER use Diamine for any Business related writing again. Why? Because they are NOT water resistant. Noodler's is for business but Diamine can be for personal writing.

[@writerlywitterings]

I can understand that - although I have to admit, I've never got a manuscript wet enough for there to be a problem!

[@chrischurm8821]

Forgive me if I have missed it, but could you tell me what nib size you prefer to use? Regards Chris.

[@writerlywitterings]

I don't know why this suddenly materialised in my notifications! Personally I like fatter fines (Visconti, Conway Stewart) and mediums when writing at home. For note taking I like Kaweco fines and "thin" writers like the new TWSBI Swipe fine. However for the ink tests I always use a 1.1mm stub from TWSBI. And for general use, signatures etc, I love a juicy B or BB!

[@randyselleck6703]

Hello, just getting to know your videos the last couple of weeks and enjoy them. Also, after 50+ years since grade school, interested in writing with a fountain pen again. My challenges is being left-handed. Can you recommend some quick drying inks that you like? Also, can you recommend one of your books that I should begin with? Congrats on the new commission.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks so much for the note, Randy, and for the thoughts. On quicker drying inks, I would suggest something like the Pelikan range, which tend, I think, to dry a bit more quickly. I haven't gone for talking about drying times, because from personal experience it varies so much with the size of the nib, the type of pen (some are designed to be very wet writers, others work quite dry). Diamine are still one of my favourite ink suppliers, purely because they have such a wonderful range of colours and shades (over 100), but I am not convinced as to how fast drying they are. The big advantage of Diamine is that they sell smaller, 30 ml, bottles, so you can at least try them out for a very small investment? As to books - that is very hard, but if you like medieval warfare, FIELDS OF GLORY is the first in a trilogy (kind of band of brothers) set in the 1300s about a vintaine (platoon) of archers on the long march to Crecy; if you like humour, you may like REBELLION'S MESSAGE, first in my Bloody Mary Tudor series; if you like medieval crime, there's always THE LAST TEMPLAR. Oh, and for a modern spy story, try ACT OF VENGEANCE. I've been rather prolific, I'm afraid!

[@archivist17]

Hi Randy! I'm another left hander, and I've found that however dry the ink, it'll smear if your hand follows the line. Until I became an 'under writer' (not an underwriter), I had terrible problems. Now, though, I can use nice wet nibs, which, for me, makes the fountain pen experience so much better.

[@randyselleck6703]

@@archivist17 Thank you. Yes, I am preparing to begin practicing the under writing method, as I have been a side writer all of my life. they say you can't teach an old do new tricks. But I am determined to try. Will let you know! Thanks again!

[@randyselleck6703]

@@writerlywitterings Thank you Michael to take the time to provide detailed information. Since I enjoyed The Name of of the Rose, I will start with your Last Templar suggestion. Love that you write on several fronts. Cheers!

[@archivist17]

@@randyselleck6703 If it's any consolation, I was a side writer until I was about 50. I had extra handwriting lessons at school, so hated fountain pens and cursive writing for many years.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Glad you are warming to Writers Blood! Ha ha ha!

[@writerlywitterings]

A bit. I have got 80 mls to get through, after all!

[@JBFire97]

Thanks as always for the video. Was the edit for the Sniper?

[@writerlywitterings]

Afraid not, this was the edit of One Last Dance Before I Die. I think I'm going to go straight on to the next new novel before I return to The Sniper. So much work, so little time!

[@xfilion]

Hi Mike, author question. When you flicked through your edit your left margin looked quite wide. What setting do you work with? On blue ink, my favourite is/was a Barrier Reef made by a company called Blackstone. Cult Pens was the only place I've seen it sold in the UK. Unfortunately, and this is where the 'was' comes in, they may have ceased trading since the pandemic.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Xfilion, thanks for the message - ah, you were a little confused by the print out! It was Nisus Writer Pro, which is similar to (but better than) Word. It has the same ability to use "comments" and "track changes". Agent and editors send me Word documents with suggested changes and comments on manuscripts, and I print them with those changes etc. The print out you say had a wide margin because the tracked changes are all printed in that margin.

[@xfilion]

@@writerlywitterings I should have worked that out as my editor uses tracked changes (a lot). Thanks for coming back to me. Name's Kevin btw.

[@danieldelahaye]

Hey! Yesterday I tried out a beautiful ink of mine, the Lamy Turmalin (2020 limited). It's a dark teal ink with red sheen. I just love it! BUT the sheen tends to smear. I was surprised, because I wrote on a Rhodia pad with a Lamy Safari F nib. I know that Rhodia isn't absorbent, so the dry time is increased compared to more absorbent papers. Also, Lamy F is not a Japanese F, but it's not a 1.9 stub either... So my question is: do you have smearing problems with sheening inks? And if yes, do you have some "practice" to avoid smearing? TIA! And thank you for the video!

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Daniel - I do tend to use wet nibs, so I spend a lot of time staring at sheets of paper, just waiting for inks to dry. Sheening inks tend to want to be wetter, I think - it's something to do with the way the ink settles on the paper. I haven't had any smears yet, but I do know Rhodia pad paper tends to dislike soaking up moisture, and do take a fair bit longer to dry, if that help!

[@danieldelahaye]

I see and thank you! I should probably get a stub nib.