[treal512]

Okay, thanks to this thread I just went a little crazy, but it only cost me $13. I bought one of each:
 
Pentel Slicci Gel 0.3 mm - Black
Pilot Hi-Tec-C Maica Gel 0.4 mm - Blue Black
Uni-ball Signo UM-153 Gel 1.0mm - Black
Uni-ball Signo UM-151 Gel 0.5 mm - Brown Black
Uni-ball Signo UM-151 Gel 0.38 mm - Black
 

 

[miceblue]

I just got a bottle of Noodler's Ink in blue; I like its colour a lot. It has more of a sky-blue kind of look compared to the stock Lamy's more purple. My "purple" ink isn't completely out though, so I'll have to wait a few more days for it to run dry and use the converter for the new ink.


The test above was just dipping the tip into the ink well without the stock ink cartridge in place; I tried to suck out as much ink as I could from the pen before testing the new ink.

 

[leftnose]

I love blue ink.  From top to bottom, I think Private Reserve makes the best.  Lake Placid Blue, Midnight Blue, DC Supershow, Ebony Blue, American Blue.  They're all fantastic.  But they all behave like modern super saturated inks and take a while to dry and can feather on bad paper.  Visconti Blue is probably my most used ink as it behaves well with good dry time but still has a great deep saturated color.  Waterman Florida Blue (or whatever it's called now) is still the best "vintage" blue to me.

 

[treal512]

  I love blue ink.  From top to bottom, I think Private Reserve makes the best.  Lake Placid Blue, Midnight Blue, DC Supershow, Ebony Blue, American Blue.  They're all fantastic.  But they all behave like modern super saturated inks and take a while to dry and can feather on bad paper.  Visconti Blue is probably my most used ink as it behaves well with good dry time but still has a great deep saturated color.  Waterman Florida Blue (or whatever it's called now) is still the best "vintage" blue to me.

 
I don't know much about inks, but what I do know is that Private Reserve does indeed dry slowly and can feather, like you say. The only bottle of ink I have is the "fast drying" ultra black Private Reserve and it has been a mess for me. Can't say that I was using a good FP or the right storing techniques to avoid such an experience though.
 
As for blue ink, I'm looking forward to the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Maica's blue black ink.
 

 

[leftnose]

Yeah, Private Reserve is definitely a "pleasure" ink rather than a "business" ink.  Visconti Blue, Aurora Blue (too purple for me), or Waterman Florida Blue are all better for getting work done.

 

[jay-w]

The thing with fountain pens is you have to be conscious of not only your pen and nib but also the ink and paper you use and combinations thereof.

 

[proton007]

The thing with fountain pens is you have to be conscious of not only your pen and nib but also the ink and paper you use and combinations thereof.

It is only in our time that we have the luxury to choose from multiple types of papers and inks.
In the days when FPs were used daily (my childhood for instance) there wasn't a lot to explore. Writing in multiple notebooks daily meant that I just bought a reasonably good notebook, average by any standards today.

About nib and inks, well, they generally used to smoothen out after a few weeks of writing.

Now that we have so many inks and papers we don't have enough users. What an irony.

 

[proton007]

144 esterbrook nibs for $30. Lets see if it turns out to be a good purchase or not.

 

[miceblue]

Note to self: buy Lamy-brand ink next time

This Noodle's ink bleeds through paper, writes larger in my lab notebook, and the colour isn't uniform when writing. >.>

 

[IcedTea]

waterman inks are also very well behaved

 

[brhfl]

[…] and the colour isn't uniform when writing. >.>

While I definitely understand this being seen as a negative, this 'shading' aspect is often regarded as a huge plus in the FP community. A lot of inks are going to shoot for this. 
 
Pelikan inks tend to run a bit dry, addressing your other concerns. 
 
And not all Noodler's inks are made equal. Dude has made an ink with… pretty much any combination of qualities imaginable… Don't let this one sour you!

 

[Silent One]

Got any Pilot Iroshizuku inks lying about?

 

[miceblue]

[…] and the colour isn't uniform when writing. >.>

While I definitely understand this being seen as a negative, this 'shading' aspect is often regarded as a huge plus in the FP community. A lot of inks are going to shoot for this. 

Pelikan inks tend to run a bit dry, addressing your other concerns. 

And not all Noodler's inks are made equal. Dude has made an ink with… pretty much any combination of qualities imaginable… Don't let this one sour you!

Ah, is it? I like my lettering in one colour. XD

I'll keep that in mind though.

 

[treal512]

Need more pics.
 

 
My new Maruman Mnemosyne Today's Act notepad and pens arrived today

 
 
(not the best camera)

 

[skimminst]

  waterman inks are also very well behaved

Well, I am using Waterman's "Havana Brown" ink: It is very smooth and of ritch colour but takes some time to dry...
 
Luckily I have a Lamy AL-Star (broad nib) in coffee brown finish what makes a great match to the ink.