Is there a difference between drawing ink and writing ink?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I use fountain pens. I've been ogling the lovely drawing ink colours in the local art supply store, but have heard dire warnings about pens damaged by drawing inks ... surely that can't be right?

no idea... I covet a lovely fountain pen but my handwritting is so awful i'm sure it would all go disasterously wrong... so are you supposed to have a special "drawing pen" then? perhaps find a cheap one to expirement with.. sorry I can't help maybe somone else will.

I use a fountain pen NQC. I can imagine it's maybe something to do with the compounds that make up the colours. I've had to use a registrar's ink in the past and there's something in it that can react with the metal nibs so I used to flush it regularly to keep it flowing well.

I don't use particualrly expensive pens though so it's not something I worrid about. Maybe buy a couple of cheaper pens to use with your coloured inks. Are you intending to write with them or draw?

Ooo look - A Fountain Pen forum

It's for writing, I just like nice colours. I normally use Herbin inks, and really, I have loads, so I should just use those.

I use Rotring and Lamy pens, my current favourite is a very cheap Lamy, I think the body is plastic but the nib is so good ... what pens are you hooked on?

(Oh, and always bottled ink, never cartidges. I have a fancy carbon fibre Rotring somewhere that can't take cartidges, the end just twists to suck up ink, very pretty.)

I think writing ink has no shellac in, but drawing ink does. ACtually that might be the extra ingredient in registrar's ink too.

but I am not sure

I have Waterman and Lamys for ordinairy writing, but I do write with drawing (dip) pens sometimes. The nibs are so fragile though - you get it just the way you like it then drop the bugger
maybe quills you cut yourself are the way to go

Regular pens break if you drop them on the nib, too.

I guess I'll stick with regular ink, then. Fewer colours, but hey ...

MrsB, if you like Lamys, you should try Rotrings, they are also very good. Rotring make engineering or draughting (drafting?) pens, too.

Oh, meridian, my handwriting is dreadful too, but fountain pens make it better, not worse. Ok, it's still illegible, but in a swirly interesting way, rather than in a crap way. I think.