Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Pen Roll for $2-3!

by Tony Thomas

I found this pen roll on eBay and Amazon for between $2-3 including shipping!

Of course, it is made from "pleather" (not real leather), but it is pretty well made and looks like it will last a while.

I would not use it for really expensive pens (since they would rub together), but it is great for inexpensive ones.

Check it out!

Friday, May 9, 2014

More Fun With Diluted PR Supershow Blue

by Tony Thomas

I decided to try my diluted DC Supershow Blue with an italic nib.  To the left is the result.

It is actually a very pleasant medium blue with a fair amount of shading.

Really pleased with the results and looking forward to diluting other dark inks to see what I can come up with.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Ink Dilution: Two Inks for the Price of One?

by Tony Thomas

I have been experimenting recently with ink dilution and it has been an interesting experience.

While I have been diluting Noodler's Bulletproof Black for years with good results, I thought I would try a shade of blue.  My latest subject is Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue, a very saturated dark blue ink.

I used a 1:1 mixture of ink and distilled water with a tiny amount of Dawn dishwashing liquid (a non-ionic surfactant) to improve flow.  I only make about 4-6 ml at a time so that I can test with small amounts.

The result is a lighter shade of blue with a good amount of shading.  The surfactant added probably results in a thicker line (more of a medium/broad than a fine), but I can tweak the flow by adding less surfactant.

I am very pleased with the results!