Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace.

PuddleMonkey · 11-29-2025, 10:22 PM

Alright boys I'm doing an ink test. If you have any special requests speak up. Currently I've got 4 pen brands and I'm testing 4 colors. This test started two weeks ago and I expect it to run for a year. I will post the results.

Currently the pen brands being tested are:

Stabilo OHPen
Staedtler Lumocolor
Sharpie Original
Edding 400

The colors being tested are:

Blue
Black
Red
Green

One test is on white gloss card stock, think Panini National Treasures surface. The other card stock is white matte, think vintage cards where the ink really soaks into the paper. The pages were cut in half, one side will be stored in the dark, the other side exposed to light for a year, no direct sunlight but plenty of natural light.

Tomorrow I'm going to try to source card stock for acetate and chrome and run the same 4 colors on that. Are there any other pen brands or surfaces I should be testing?

livfreely · 11-29-2025, 10:58 PM

Have you ever checked out these?

https://www.sakuraofamerica.com/product/pigma-micron/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

PuddleMonkey · 11-30-2025, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livfreely

Have you ever checked out these?

https://www.sakuraofamerica.com/product/pigma-micron/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like it! I'll see if my local craft store has those tomorrow.

livfreely · 11-30-2025, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

I like it! I'll see if my local craft store has those tomorrow.

They are great! Amazon has them. The only difficulty will be finding the thickness you desire.

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PuddleMonkey · 11-30-2025, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livfreely

The only difficulty will be finding the thickness you desire.

I do like a little girth.

dodgerfanjohn · 11-30-2025, 12:54 AM

What kind of monkey business is this?

livfreely · 11-30-2025, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

I do like a little girth.

I believe the 08 is their girth daddy in their micron selection https://www.amazon.com/Sakura-Pigma-...ef_=ast_sto_dp

If you want thicker, then these would do

https://www.amazon.com/SAKURA-Pigma-...ef_=ast_sto_dp

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PuddleMonkey · 11-30-2025, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

What kind of monkey business is this?

Someone has to do it, the industry deserves to know. Maybe Topps will give me an Allen & Ginter card in 2027, signed with the winning pen & color.

NYBBFAN · 11-30-2025, 06:46 AM

Make sure you take before photos.

StateEx · 11-30-2025, 07:54 AM

It would be interesting to have a third test population -- in light, but in a UV protected case (e.g., one touch).

corndog · 11-30-2025, 08:17 AM

I prefer blue ballpoint with a legible signature.

I guess that rules out anyone in the last 30 years.

JoshMN · 11-30-2025, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

I do like a little girth.

PuddleMonkey · 11-30-2025, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StateEx

It would be interesting to have a third test population -- in light, but in a UV protected case (e.g., one touch).

I might be able to do that, I have a newer window in my office that's said to have UV protection.

Badger Ben · 11-30-2025, 04:35 PM

Damn, you really do collect harder than me.

Hollywood42 · 11-30-2025, 06:03 PM

Here is a great thread from years ago you might be interested in - blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=806632

PuddleMonkey · 11-30-2025, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corndog

I prefer blue ballpoint with a legible signature.

I guess that rules out anyone in the last 30 years.

On a baseball sure, but on a card?

PuddleMonkey · 11-30-2025, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

Here is a great thread from years ago you might be interested in - blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=806632

I did pick up a couple gold/silver paint pens today, also got my acetate card stock and some pigma pens and a few other things. Was in that store for over an hour, mostly spent in line. I forgot what time of year it is, definitely my last store trip until next year.

Now if you guys will excuse me I've got some photography, scans and scribbling to do.

corndog · 11-30-2025, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

On a baseball sure, but on a card?

I only collect signed cards from 1975 and older.
Ballpoint pens were the predominant pens used back then (playing days).

Markers on vintage cards just don't appeal to me and you can presume that the signatures are more recent.

Just personal preference.

I actually like signed index cards over signed baseball cards.
I get unsigned cards to keep with the signed index card.
Players had more surface on an index card which made the sigs look better.

DetroitTN · 11-30-2025, 07:50 PM

Finding a great silver and gold permanent marker (not paint pen) has been a challenge. The Staedtlers don't dry on a lot of cards and are easily smeared days later. The lumicolor Staedtler blues are excellent, though

PuddleMonkey · 11-30-2025, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corndog

I only collect signed cards from 1975 and older.
Ballpoint pens were the predominant pens used back then (playing days).

Markers on vintage cards just don't appeal to me and you can presume that the signatures are more recent.

Just personal preference.

I actually like signed index cards over signed baseball cards.
I get unsigned cards to keep with the signed index card.
Players had more surface on an index card which made the sigs look better.

You're a weird guy, corndog. I did have room on one of the tests so I added a blue and black ball point and pencil just to see how they hold up. The one I'm most excited for is the oil based Sharpie. I didn't know they made those. That craft store had a ton of crap. It's also like 90% women in there and they all look miserable.

bear0555 · 12-01-2025, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StateEx

It would be interesting to have a third test population -- in light, but in a UV protected case (e.g., one touch).

This would be awesome. Ultra Pro, BCW, and cracked BGS, PSA 1T, and PSA 1LR to test the protection levels. Would be nice to know if the holders provide any protection.

corndog · 12-01-2025, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

You're a weird guy, corndog. I did have room on one of the tests so I added a blue and black ball point and pencil just to see how they hold up. The one I'm most excited for is the oil based Sharpie. I didn't know they made those. That craft store had a ton of crap. It's also like 90% women in there and they all look miserable.

Boo · 12-01-2025, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

You're a weird guy, corndog. I did have room on one of the tests so I added a blue and black ball point and pencil just to see how they hold up. The one I'm most excited for is the oil based Sharpie. I didn't know they made those. That craft store had a ton of crap. It's also like 90% women in there and they all look miserable.

towerymt · 12-01-2025, 08:39 AM

The ballpoint was signed in the 60s (I think, based on style of 'K')
Marker is far more recent.
I know my preference

PuddleMonkey · 12-01-2025, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bear0555

This would be awesome. Ultra Pro, BCW, and cracked BGS, PSA 1T, and PSA 1LR to test the protection levels. Would be nice to know if the holders provide any protection.

I don't even know what some of these things are.

I despise graded cards myself, I'm willing to bet these holders probably don't protect squat. It's all marketing. They'll use words like, "protect up to 90%", if they word this stuff correctly they can essentially guarantee nothing and be held responsible for nothing but lead you to believe otherwise. Anyone have any marketing material by PSA/BGS about UV protection?

11-29-2025, 10:22 PM	#1
PuddleMonkey Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 4,610	Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace. Alright boys I'm doing an ink test. If you have any special requests speak up. Currently I've got 4 pen brands and I'm testing 4 colors. This test started two weeks ago and I expect it to run for a year. I will post the results. Currently the pen brands being tested are: Stabilo OHPen Staedtler Lumocolor Sharpie Original Edding 400 The colors being tested are: Blue Black Red Green One test is on white gloss card stock, think Panini National Treasures surface. The other card stock is white matte, think vintage cards where the ink really soaks into the paper. The pages were cut in half, one side will be stored in the dark, the other side exposed to light for a year, no direct sunlight but plenty of natural light. Tomorrow I'm going to try to source card stock for acetate and chrome and run the same 4 colors on that. Are there any other pen brands or surfaces I should be testing?

11-30-2025, 06:46 AM	#9
NYBBFAN Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 5,140	Make sure you take before photos. __________________ https://gallery.us175.com/ https://inv.us175.com/wantlist

11-30-2025, 08:17 AM	#11
corndog BODA Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: From a table in McDonalds, with lovely fake flowers on it. Posts: 18,298	I prefer blue ballpoint with a legible signature. I guess that rules out anyone in the last 30 years. __________________ He has no rival, He has no equal.

11-30-2025, 06:03 PM	#15
Hollywood42 Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Minnesota Posts: 39,512 Hollywood42	Here is a great thread from years ago you might be interested in - blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=806632 __________________ Collecting the Twins All my PC wants/haves available at hollywood42cards.com

11-30-2025, 07:50 PM	#19
DetroitTN Member Join Date: Mar 2022 Posts: 561	Finding a great silver and gold permanent marker (not paint pen) has been a challenge. The Staedtlers don't dry on a lot of cards and are easily smeared days later. The lumicolor Staedtler blues are excellent, though __________________ True adulthood means knowing the differences between "your" and "you're", "to" and "too", & "their", "they're", and "there". Last edited by DetroitTN; 11-30-2025 at 07:58 PM.

11-29-2025, 10:58 PM	#2
livfreely Member Join Date: Apr 2025 Posts: 1,274	Have you ever checked out these? https://www.sakuraofamerica.com/product/pigma-micron/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11-30-2025, 12:54 AM	#6
dodgerfanjohn Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 5,464 sternroolz	What kind of monkey business is this?

11-30-2025, 07:54 AM	#10
StateEx Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 1,064	It would be interesting to have a third test population -- in light, but in a UV protected case (e.g., one touch).

11-30-2025, 04:35 PM	#14
Badger Ben Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 97	Damn, you really do collect harder than me.

12-01-2025, 08:39 AM	#24
towerymt Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: VA Posts: 8,853	The ballpoint was signed in the 60s (I think, based on style of 'K') Marker is far more recent. I know my preference __________________ In search of... 2018 Topps Chrome Update Max Scherzer #HMT77: Superfractor 2019 Topps Update Carter Kieboom #US109: Platinum