Technically speaking, you can use fountain pens to write on any paper. However, if the paper isn’t heavy enough, the ink will feather and bleed through, producing extremely unsightly results.
Sadly, that special type of paper isn’t that cheap. Plus, you may not always have a say in the paper type. However, you can always control the ink. Much to our delight, some inks can be used to write on almost any paper.
Today, I’m reviewing the best fountain pen inks for cheap paper. Let’s see!
In This Guide...
The 5 Best Fountain Pen Inks for Cheap Paper: Reviews
What special about the ink? How does it look? What about the flow and drying time?
Let’s take a look at some great options for using your fountain pen with cheap paper:
Now, let’s take a closer look at some inks and answer these questions.
Noodlers Ink 4.5Oz Heart of Darkness
As you might already know, fountain pen inks are based on either soluble dyes or insoluble pigments. Both formulas adhere to the paper merely by physical means. Noodler was the first company to revolutionize this concept for good.
The special formula of this ink selectively binds to the cellulose fibers that can be found on almost all types of paper. This way, the dried ink can resist water, UV, bleach, or any other forgery materials — that’s why Noodler markets it as a “bulletproof” ink!
I absolutely like how wet this ink is made. This guarantees seamless flow, especially on rough paper that tends to snag the nib.
Pros
- Affordable
- Superior saturation
- Special “bulletproof” formula
Cons
- Takes time to dry
Get more information on Noodlers Ink 4.5Oz Heart of Darkness
Sailor 50ml Kiwa-Guro Ultra Black Pigmented Ink
If you’ve been into fountain pens for a while, you must’ve heard about Sailor. This company is one of the most authentic Japanese brands on the market.
Although their Kiwa-Guro ink is a bit expensive, it’s specifically built to be used on cheap copy paper. Thanks to its dense pigment particles, it dries up to give an ultra black shade that doesn’t fade with water.
On the downside, this ink needs about 2 minutes to completely dry. This makes it a bit unfriendly for beginners.
Pros
- The heavy pigment particles guarantee excellent durability
- It has a shiny finish without any sheen
- Rarely feathers or bleeds
Cons
- Takes a long time to dry
- A bit expensive
Get more information on Sailor 50ml Kiwa-Guro Ultra Black Pigmented Ink
Sailor Jentle Reservoir Blue Black Ink Bottle
As the name implies, Sailor made this ink with a “gentle” formula that suits cheap, thin office paper. Despite being a water-based ink, it doesn’t feather or bleed through any medium.
One of the most unique things about this ink is its color. It has a distinctive dark blue shade that looks incredibly premium. Thankfully, this doesn’t reflect on its price at all.
The only thing that bothers me is its odor. This can be quite relative between people, but I always smell a strong chemical odor whenever I use it. I’m aware that any ink has a sort of a weird smell, but it typically appears only if you sniff it up close. This ink, however, has a much wider range.
Pros
- Gives a unique color
- Excellent saturation
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Has a strong chemical smell
Get more information on Sailor Jentle Reservoir Blue Black Ink Bottle
Rohrer & Klingner Bottled Scabiosa Fountain Pen Ink
If you want to get the optimal water resistance, you should definitely consider the Scabiosa ink from Rohrer & Klingner.
This ink is manufactured from iron gall, meaning that it contains iron salts and oxides. This composition reduces the drying time to a fascinating 10 seconds! This way, novices can use it often without worrying about smearing and smudging.
Unfortunately, just like any iron gall ink, you’ll have to pay extra attention to your pen’s maintenance. Otherwise, the accumulating iron oxides will corrode the inner components of your pen.
Pros
- Highly saturated tone
- Excellent water resistance
- Comes in a wide variety of colors
Cons
- Might corrode the pen components if not properly cleaned
Get more information on Rohrer & Klingner Bottled Scabiosa Fountain Pen Ink
Pilot Fountain Pen Ink 70ml Blue Black
The last ink on my list comes from Pilot, another Japanese authentic marvel. The blue-black tone of this ink should be suitable for the classroom and work use. It gives sufficient saturation without being too heavy. However, it tends to show a bit of a coppery sheen sometimes, which can be quite annoying.
In terms of the flow, it lies well into the wet extreme, which should let your hand move over the paper with the least amount of snagging. But bear in mind that you should use a fountain pen with a fine nib to modulate the flow to an acceptable level.
Pros
- Affordable
- Provides snag-free writing
- Doesn’t feather or bleed
Cons
- Tends to give a coppery sheen
Get more information on Pilot Fountain Pen Ink 70ml Blue Black
What to Consider Before Buying Fountain Pen Ink
The advantage of writing on cheap paper isn’t the only requirement that fountain pen inks should meet. Here are some of the other important factors that you should consider.
Composition
Inks are made of either soluble dyes or insoluble pigments.
Pigment-based inks excel in terms of stability; the solid pigment particles precipitate between the paper fibers, which help them resist water to a great extent. On the downside, these particles can also clog your pen’s minute passages.
That’s where the dye-based inks come in handy. If they happen to clog the pen, they can be easily flushed down with nothing but water. But as you might expect, it struggles in terms of waterproofness on paper.
Flow
Choosing between wet and dry inks depends mainly on the fountain pen you’re using.
If you have a pen with a fine, dry nib, go for a wet ink to up the flow. By extension, pens that have broad nibs should be paired with dry ink to limit feathering and bleeding.
Choosing the Best Fountain Pen Ink for Cheap Paper
As it turns out, you don’t have to spend a small fortune to showcase your writing skills with an elegant fountain pen.
Let’s take a look at these good inks for cheap paper one more time:
After my elaborate research, I can say that Noodlers Ink 4.5Oz Heart of Darkness is the best fountain pen ink for cheap paper. Thanks to its ingenious formula, it guarantees impeccably durable writing that can’t be dissolved by anything.
It is also one of our favorite black fountain pen inks in general.
Our second favorite is the Sailor 50ml Kiwa-Guro Ultra Black Pigmented Ink, this is a great ink and the only reason it loses points is because it takes longer to dry than the Noodlers.
Next in line is the Sailor Jentle Reservoir Blue Black Ink Bottle, which is a really interesting shade of blue/black and also another all around great ink.
If you are looking for a wide variety of colors, be sure to check out the Rohrer & Klingner Bottled Scabiosa Fountain Pen Ink‘s product page for the wide array of color options.
Finally is another great option, the Pilot Fountain Pen Ink 70ml Blue Black. Pilot is another great brand when it comes to anything fountain pen.
No matter what you are looking for, this guide has the best fountain pen ink for even the worst cheap paper!