on saleNoodler's Lexington Gray - Ink Sample

Product Code IS-N19042

In Stock

out of stock

on saleNoodler's Lexington Gray - Ink Sample

Product Code IS-N19042

In Stock

out of stock

$1.46

MSRP $1.95

2ml sample of Noodler's Lexington Gray fountain pen ink, in a labeled plastic vial.

Condition
New
Brand
Noodler's
Type
Ink Samples
Color
Silver/Grey
Fast Drying
No
Fluorescent
No
Shimmer

Whether or not the ink contains glittery particles.

No
Freeze Resistant

Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to better withstand freezing temperatures.

No
Volume
2ml
Iron Gall

Ink made from iron salts and tannic acids. Though quite permanent and waterproof, these inks are typically known for causing chemical corrosion to metal pen parts (especially the nib) and should be used sparingly or with less-valuable pens.

No
Lubricated

Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to increase flow in your pen.

No
Pigmented

Whether or not the ink contains finely-ground solid particles in liquid suspension.

No
Scented
No
Water Resistant

Whether or not the ink, once dried on the paper, will resist being washed away with water.

Yes

Customer Reviews

Based on 125 reviews
74%
(93)
17%
(21)
6%
(7)
2%
(3)
1%
(1)
S
Skye
Solid, no nonsense, worth the purchase price

Lexington Gray is an unexpected surprise. Definitely worth buying a larger bottle if you are seeking a solid medium gray. Minimal feathering on standard copier paper and nice flow from my gray Jinhao Shark with the EF nib. This ink gives me the benefit of the soft color of a pencil lead which causes less eye strain for me, and the ease of writing with a fountain pen. Best of both worlds.

P
Ptrck85
Stunning True Gray

Another winner from Noodler. A true gray (in my opinion) that's neither too bright nor too dark. Will order a bottle when my sample runs out.

N
Nicholas
Very usable, very water resistant

Noodler's is, love them or hate them, one of the only manufacturer's of waterproof non-pigment inks. I love pigment inks, but they tend to require a more pen cleaning and tend to dry slowly. Not so with Lexington gray. This is a nice gray ink with moderate (not excessive shading), reasonably drying time, and extremely good waterproofness. In my testing smudging with a wet brush, this effectively as waterproof as Platinum Carbon black, which is about as good as it gets.

S
Steve
One of the least pleasing grey inks

I was pretty disappointed by this ink. I had read wonderful reviews here and on youtube. Honestly, as I look at it on paper, it reminds me of a gray Crayola marker: flat and boring. When comparing it with Diamine Earl Grey or Diamine Silver Fox, Lexington Gray is more yellowish. The edges aren't as well defined. It seems less dynamic and interesting.

A
Austin W.
A mind of it's own.

I purchased this ink because I wanted a shading ink that was still on the grey black continuum and saw a bunch of solid reviews. I am a newish the fountain pen hobby and own a couple different pens, a Lamy Safari, Kaweco brass sport with a fine and extra fine nib and a TWSBI Eco. I used this ink with all my pens and to say the least, I was not impressed and rather disappointed. I found it frustrating working with this ink because how wildly different it would work depending on my pens/nibs. So it was very hard for me to anticipate how the ink would behave. I even thought at one time my nib was bad, because the color was so light in with a fine nib and super dark in my extra fine nib in another. Though I realized that it mostly was an ink issue, not a nib issue. While it did work well in one of my pens, it didn't like it in any other. And I would prefer owning inks that are more predictable across my pens and nibs. I am glad I only bought a sample. I would recommend that anyone who wants a Noodler's ink it is best to try a sample before you buy a whole bottle to save your self some heartache if it doesn't like your pen.

FAQ about Ink Samples

How do I fill my fountain pen from an ink sample vial? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

It depends on the fountain pen's filling mechanism.

Check out our blog post on How to Fill a Fountain Pen from an Ink Sample Vial.

How much writing can I do with 2ml of ink? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

It really depends on how big or small you write, and the nib size you’re using. We find that usually you can get 2 good fills for a typical converter with our Ink samples, or one good fill with a piston-filling pen. How much writing depends on you more than anything else, so we recommend experimenting with different nib sizes to find what works best for you. 

What is shading, sheening, or shimmering ink? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

Shading - A common (and often desired) result of a fountain pen ink pooling in certain parts of a letter when writing, so that the color and saturation of the ink appears different within a single letter or word. This characteristic cannot be achieved with ballpoint or rollerball pens and is a very appealing aspect of fountain pen use for those particularly drawn to all the pretty ink colors.

Sheen - Characteristic of a fountain pen ink where when ink pools another color can be seen on top of the ink, especially when looked at in different light angles using certain paper types. There is no way to guarantee an ink will sheen, but using a larger nib on a pen will help obtain sheening results in your writing.

Shimmering - Fountain pen ink that has small particles of glitter mixed in.

Is shimmering ink safe to use in fountain pens? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

Yes! Shimmering ink is a great way to add some flare to your writing. We have found that a larger nib will showcase more shimmering particles while writing, but you can use any nib size and shimmering ink. All the ink we sell is safe for use in fountain pens.

You can learn more in our blog: How to Write with Shimmering Ink.

What's your return policy for ink samples? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

We do not accept returns for ink that has been used. Otherwise, we accept returns on unused ink products for up to 30 days from purchase. You can read all our Return Policies here.

To initiate a return, please submit a request at the Return Portal. Our Customer Care team might reach out to you for more information.