Rohrer and Klingner - Salix (IG)

Rohrer & Klingner - Salix (iron gall) - Ink drop

They may have been around for over 2000 years, but this was my first experience using an iron gall ink! I was hesitant to use them based on warnings from the past. The more I’ve learned about modern iron gall inks, the less concerned I’ve become.

Salix is a soft, calming, dusty blue. At its lightest, it’s a pale, sky blue grey. More common in writing, however, is the darker side of Salix. Here it’s a soft, almost furry, dark blue that leans towards a deep blue black at its darkest. I’m not sure if this is true of all iron gall inks, or simply a feature of Salix, but this ink darkens over time. Initially, it’s a much brighter blue than I describe above. The brightness fades over the first few minutes, resulting in the dustier, darker deep blue.

Rohrer & Klingner - Salix (iron gall) - Ink Swatch Card

As a writing ink, Salix performs exceptionally well. It was clean, crisp, and well-defined on all of the papers that I tested, including the normally dreaded standard office copy paper! For Salix, there wasn’t even a hint of feather or bleed. It also lived up to my expectations regarding the water resistance of iron gall inks. I tested this on both Rhodia 80g, and office copy paper, and it proved itself to be highly water-resistant in both cases. I’m impressed!

I think it’s sensible to follow Rohrer & Klingner’s advice and to clean iron gall inks out of pens at least every 7 days. However, I’m confident that with good maintenance practices, Salix, and many other modern iron gall inks pose little risk. I’m happy to have this water-resistant beauty available to use and enjoy!