I never cease to be amazed at how much I miss after so many years attending pen shows and following pen-related news. Inevitably, there's always a product or even an entire company that has floated below my radar for a significant amount of time. In some ways, it's really exciting to discover something that other people have been enjoying for years, but it's also a bit embarrassing!
This is exactly the case with the ink company PENBBS. Based in China since 2005, this is an ink company that has a very simple naming process for their inks — they're all numbered. This makes it easy for stock and inventory, but it can be a bit taxing to keep track of the actual color-to-name mapping.
Number 85 is the one that I have the privilege of reviewing today, and it's one that will remain in my regular rotation. Since the name doesn't offer any indication of the color, I feel it's important to start out with a quick description of this ink's color. 85 is a dark blue with slight green hints in certain light, but it also features an amazing red sheen that isn't difficult to tease out.
I've really enjoyed using this ink in my medium cursive italic nib (ground by Mark Bacas), and I feel like it really shows off the possibility of shading this ink offers. If you're using a nib that's any smaller or drier than this, you really won't notice much shading at all. This is expected out of a dark ink, but just something to mention if high levels of shading are important to you.
The sheening factor is what really draws me to this ink. Sure, you also have to use a fairly wet or broad nib to see this feature, but it really is worth it. The red sheen that dries on top of this ink is fantastic. It's really prominent in ink swabs, but it also shows up in ordinary strokes as you're writing. It's a delightful little surprise when the light catches the page just right. If you're a fan of red sheen, this ink does not disappoint.
Writing with this ink has been a joy. Like any italic nib, the one I used to photograph this sample can get a bit scratchy if you hold it a bit off its center stance. With this ink, I could tell that the scratchiness wasn't as prominent when I was holding it a bit off the right angle. This is a huge testament to any ink; the lubrication and flow really are wonderful and can do wonders for a dry nib or slow feed.
In my testing, I didn't experience any bleed or feathering on my Rhodia, Leuchtturm, or Apica papers, but I did notice some feathering when I used this ink/nib comination in a Baron Fig notebook. Now, the Baron Fig paper is very different from the Japanese/German fountain pen papers in that it is also meant to handle some light sketching. The paper is really absorbant and has a lovely tactile feedback that I love. But, it also displays feathering and bleeding more often than other notebooks I use. That being said, I don't think this ink exhibits an unusual amount of feathering or bleed for a dark blue ink on this paper. On the typical papers I use, there were zero issues, but you should take this into consideration if you primarily write on absorbent paper.
Dry time for this ink isn't amazing, but it also isn't horrible. At around 15 to 20 seconds, it's typical for most fountain pen inks that don't already advertise an unusually quick drying time. It's quick enough to mostly dry before slapping your notebook shut, but you should be careful of the previous sentence or so while writing.
This ink doesn't advertise any type of water resistance at all, so I wasn't expecting much. As you might expect, it bleeds like crazy when exposed to water, but the main line doesn't wash away. It's not permanent by any means, but it can withstand an accidental spill or rain torrent if you can prevent the paper from getting smeared.
I really like how this ink performs in the pen and nib, but the cleaning process is equally important for your fountain pens. The PENBBS 85 ink is extremely well-behaved. It is incredibly easy to wash out and doesn't leave behind any residue or stains in the converter. I have no worries about leaving this in my pen for months on end!
PENBBS 85 is available at Vanness Pens in a couple of different options. If you want to go all in, the 60ml bottle will cost you just $16. This is a great deal for the volume of ink you receive. But, if you're not ready to commit just yet, you can also pick up a 4ml sample vial for a couple bucks.
85 is a lovely dark blue with a hint of green and a lot of red sheen. I've become a really big fan of this ink in the few short weeks I've been using it, and I'm excited to see what else this ink maker has to offer.
(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
