Rohrer & Klingner Salix is a water-resistant dark slate blue iron gall ink with medium shading and maybe a hint of red sheen.
Iron Gall Ink Behavior
This is an iron gall ink which is water-resistant, but can also cause corrosion in some metal nibs and pen parts, especially if it dries in a pen. Only use this ink in a pen that seals very well, and if there is any doubt, flush and clean the pen frequently and thoroughly.
Iron gall inks typically go down light and darken as they dry. They are not fully water resistant until they are dry, and even though the iron gall component of such inks is water-resistant once it dries, the color may still wash away.
This ink goes down a much lighter blue and darkens significantly, as shown in this before and after pair of photos:
Here is a video, about a minute long, of the ink drying and darkening:
The ink will continue to darken over time as well.
Scans
There is significant shading on every paper, but especially Iroful.
Photos
There is a very slight maroonish color in the heavy ink areas, but it doesn’t quite behave like typical sheen.
There is a slight maroonish tint added to the heavier areas of ink, but it’s not always easy to see.
Microscope
This one makes especially nice dark patterns in the foreground fibers. Areas with low/medium/high amounts of ink have nice contrast, and the previously mentioned added tint from sheen as it gets heavier.
Chromatography
There is only a dark slate blue line at the start and very minimal spread from there, as is typical of water-resistant inks.
Verdict
This is a very good understated permanent ink. Despite all the warnings about iron gall inks, I have kept this inked in the same TWSBI ECO for two years now without problems. TWSBI pens seal so well that drying out over time isn’t a significant problem. I use it occasionally, such as when addressing envelopes, so it’s starting to get low now, but there is no sign of problems with the nib.
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