Moleskine ink smudging question

"Hi.

I was looking for some type of message board to post this query to, but couldn't find one. So I thought I'd send it to you in hopes that you would post it as a sort of general Moleskine request for comments.

I recently switched from pencils (Black Warrior) to G2 pens for writing in my Moleskines. However, I find that the ink doesn't dry fast enough. When I turn a page to write on the next, little dots of ink get pressed on the previous pages. This really bothers me. I am wondering if other Moleskine users have found ways to dry the gel ink so that this kind of smudging doesn't happen.

Thanks
Kevin
...
Image: Stampington

Comments

[eric]

I experienced the same problem with the G2 fine point pens. Try the G2 extra-fine point for less smudging.

I've had good luck fountain pens such as a cheapo ($8) Parker and a Waterman Phileas.

HTH

[Jim Six]

I use a variety of pens in my journals. I, too, experience some smudging, sometimes with G2 ink.

My favorite pen for writing in a Moleskine — never any smudging that I can think of — is a Pilot V Razor Point Extra Fine.

Just my .02!

Allbest,

Jim

[Ninth Wave]

I have a Moleskine size piece of paper that I use as a blotter between pages. I use Rieves (sp?) BFK lightweight, which is an absorbent printmaking paper, just because I had some lying around, but I imagine any light absorbent paper would work. My experience with G2s is that almost all of the ink dries quick enough, it's just a few points that take longer (with regular writing), so the blotting always does the trick for me.

[meaghan]

I too have experienced the same problem. I have a volant that I have ripped a page out of at the end that I use in my plain pocket sized moleskine to be the blotter.

[Bill]

My Moleskine is a working notebook, and I have never understood the fascination with G2's. I use basic but good-quality ballpoints (I happen to use Parker ballpoint refills in mine, but the brand really doesn't matter as long as the refills don't leak and dribble). The results are just fine, the ink is dry as soon as it hits the paper, and it's waterproof.

If your Moleskine is a work of art or destined for an archive for the ages, try something like the old Rapidograph pens, which use draftsman's ink.

Bill

[John]

I've long been a fan of the G2, too. But I'd stick with the Black Warrior pencils. They are totally waterproof, completely fade-proof, and acid-free. They can rub-off, but so does G2 ink if there's any sweat at all on your fingers.

Faber-Castell's PITT Artist pens are great, too. They boast the properties of a pencil, but are totally un-rub-able.

They don't, however, have that sweat cedar smell of the Black Warrior or the fun of sharpening one. If you want to try something different, PaperMate makes two other versions of the Mirado pencil (the Classic and the Woodtone), and Dixon makes its own very nice black pencils, with a nice matte finish. And the Faber-Castell Grip 2001 is a fun toy, too.

[Rob]

I have had great luck with Sanford Uniball Delux Micro black pens. I have a piece of blotter paper in my moleskin for pages with heavy ink on them. Some dark sketches bleed without it and it comes in handy when I can't find a good pen.

[Chris]

I tend to use a G2 also, but I'm not a big fan. I hate the fact that they smudge. Recently, I've been using a uni-ball Vision Elite (super fine). The ink isn't as dark as the G2 and it smudges though it says waterproof. It doesn't seem to be archival quality ink either. Anyone find any pens that don't smudge are archival and comfortable to boot? I'm still in search of that perfect pen.

[kstroke]

I had issues with this, too. I switched to the extra fine G2 (helped a ton) and put an index card in as a blotter for extra insurance.

[Mike]

I have this problem but tend to ignore it. When I've written on both pages, I can't hardly see the little dots on the opposite side once its written on. The only time I've really had a problem was with page numbers. Sometimes I like to write out a whole bunch of page numbers at once and they get all mushy when I press them together.

The blotter suggestions above are one way to solve the problem. Personally I just let the little dots happen.

I do hear, however, that left-handed writers have a big problem with smearing ink. That's probably a bigger problem than the dots on the opposite page.

My advantages and disadvantages list for the G2 are as follows:

Advantages:
- lasts forever and never fades
- acid free, won't eat holes in the page in 2000 years.
- waterproof. I boiled a page for ten minutes and the ink was still there very legable.
- smooth writing.
- cheap, $1 each.
- easy to find, every drug store, grocery store, and office supply store in the US seems to have them.
- fits fancy snobby pens like Waterman and Rotrings.

Disadvantages:
- doesn't dry right away leading to smearing and ink blots on opposite pages.
- doesn't have the sex appear of a fountain pen
- sometimes the ball gets clogged up and doesn't roll properly. I usually just toss them and get another at that point.

They're not for everybody, but for my own personal desires, the G2s are worth the disadvantages. I can be sure that should my little snobby notebook survive for 2000 years, my words will still be in them even if its soaking in water for 20 of those years.

If I had to switch to anything, I'd probably switch to an even snobbier fountain pen. Right now, however, I can't get myself to do it with all of the nice things of the G2 still in the back of my head.

Pencils aren't bad either but I don't know what sort of longevity they have over extremely long periods of time. I tried to do some googling on the topic but couldn't find anything good.

For the sake of tradition and minimalist style, I think a nice wooden pencil and a nice fountain pen are the weapons of choice.

Still, for today's modern world, the G2 seems to me to be the best evolution in the art of hand writing.

[Joy]

1. Why am I just finding out about Black Warrior pencils?

2. Mike Shea said: 'I boiled a page for ten minutes and the ink was still there very legable.' Ummmm....why :) ???

-Joy

[rkmiller]

Has anyone tried the Uniball Signo RT Gel .038 pen? I've never had a problem with smearing, smudging, etc., and the refill fits in my Rotring Freeway. It's waterproof, acid-free, all that. I like it better than the G2, even the extra-fine, since those always seem to clog or stop writing on me. Mainly I use fountain pens, though, as my pens of choice.

[Scott]

I have a bit of a pen fetish, so the pens I use in my various journals change all the time, but for portability you can't really beat the Waldmann Pocket Pen (they have both ball point and fountain pen!). The ball point has a pressurized cartridge so it is similar to the Fisher space pens in that it can write upside down and on top of all sorts of surfaces. As you'd imagine, this ability is pretty useful when you are out and on the go with your moleskine. Plus, the fountain pen is pretty cool due to its size. You should definitely check it out for only 50-60 bucks for the ballpoint/fountain set from Levenger.com.

[Mike]

2. Mike Shea said: 'I boiled a page for ten minutes and the ink was still there very legable.' Ummmm....why :) ???

Because science cannot be stopped!

Honestly, I just wanted to see how durable G2 ink was on a moleskine page compared to a fountain pen. The fountain pen ink flew off in seconds leaving a completely blank page. The G2 page was fully legible after the ten minute boiling.

G2 ink will last as long as the page itself does. Longevity is one of the main reasons I pen words down in a Moleskine in the first place. Who wants all of my brilliant prose to just wash away with a spilled cup of coffee?

[Joy]

Thanks Mike:::::that clarifies that!

[Abizer]

Mike,

Try using one of the Noodler's inks that are permanent - such as black or Legal Lapis on a boiling test page and you'll find it's plenty permanent.

[Bradley Woods]

I dont think anyone has mentioned it but I prefer the Cross Ion pen. They are about $30, wonderful to write with, small enough to carry in pocket. I highly recommend them.

[Joy]

I decided to play ink scientist as well. Same boiling water, same 10 minutes. The results, in order of waterproof-ness:

1. Pitt Artist Pen
2. Uni Ball Vision [Fine]
3. Uni Ball Vision Elite [Fine]
4. Pigma Micron .05
5. Pigma Micron .03
6. Pilot G-2
7. Pilot V-Ball
8. Pilot Precise V-Ball

Respectfully submitted,
Joy

[Mike]

I took a look at the Noodler's ink, but it appears that most water-resistant inks aren't safe for fountain pens. Fountain pens need to be easy to clean and the gunk that keeps water-resistant ink on paper is the same gunk that will clog up a nice fountain pen. I'm still googling, though, perhaps one day I will find a solution.

On a lot of queries I run on archival qualities of pens and ink, I often get back an excellent and information rich website called Dark Matter. Give it a read:

http://www.canit.se/~griffon/writing/

Good stuff.

Two things I'm still interested in finding out: What inks held up over the past 2000 years or so on older materials, and how long can pencil writing and drawing last?

[Joy]

I did more testing today, and was surprised and pleased to find that Sakura Gelly Rolls [in a number of colors, including very light] passed the boil test with flying colors.

Next, I'm testing some graphite and colored pencils.

[Simon]

I'm not left handed, but I write like I am, with the oh-so-lovely hooked wrist. I'm tempted to write a letter of complaint to Pilot, with all the writing smeared and smudged, despite the "smudge-proof" G2. I'd like to find something waterproof and archival-safe that will not smear from my hand going over it, but no luck so far. The Pilot VBall at least seems to dry quickly enough to not be a problem.

[Joy]

Pencil boiling test:

Everyone passed the 10-minute test.

I tested several dark, medium, neon and light colored Prismacolors, two medium and dark colored Faber-Castell CPs, medium and dark colored Derwent Studio CPs and medium and 2B and HB graphite [generic brand].

-Joy

[John]

Mike, pencil lasts because it's just a metal on the page (with clay and sometimes wax binding). There's no pigment and no medium holding the pigment to run.
Pilot makes some G2 pencils that are very nice, but they still don't have the romance of cedar. Still, the grips are nice for a G2 lover:)

[Abizer]

Mike,

Noodler's ink is specifically formulated as a fountain pen ink. The permanent inks become permanent when they come into contact with cellulose, but will wash of plastic and metal with plain tap water without staining. Very useful for vintage pens - particularly those with see through parts.

[Hugo Goldfinger]

I EXPERIENCED THE SAME - INK BLEEDS THROUGH THE PAGES AND I REFUSE ONLY USING BALL PENS AND PILOTS. THE PAPER IN A BOOK THAT COSTS NEARLY 17 EURO (OR ABOUT 20 $) IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO WRITE WITH A GOOD FOUNTAIN PEN, WITHOUT BLEEDING THROUGH OF INK SO WITHOUT DIRT ON THE OPPOSITE SITE OF A SHEET !!!

MOLESKINE IS NOT THE ONLY ADEQUATE NOTEBOOK SO I CONSIDER TO USE MORE CLAIREFONTAINE PAPER AND NOTEBOOKS AGAIN. FOR SOME YEARS THEY HAVE ACID-FREE PAPER TOO. SHOULD BE WORTH CONSIDERING.

I HOPE MODO & MODO REALIZES THE PROBLEM OF BLEED THROUGH. I HAD THIS PROBLEM NOT IN EVERY BOOK. THE PAPER IN MY SMALL DIARY IS JUST FINE BUT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO TEST THE PAPER WITH A FOUNTAIN PEN IN THE SHOP. SO BUYING MOLESKINE IS A RISK.

HOPEFULLY MODO & MODO WILL SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.