דיוחנן - kosher rapidograph ink.... Experiences or comments pls
I recently tried this kosher ink for my rapidograph and I am extremely pleased with it. It does not clog the nib like other kosher rapidograph inks, and it's very dark and strong. It's at least as good as the Rotring commercial grade rapidograph inks (of course these can only be used with batch numbers that have been lab tested and approved kosher), and in addition you do not need to add a drop of regular Sta"m ink (as per the instruction of the Shevet Halevi, which is messy and time consuming).
I was wondering if anyone else had an opinion or comments with regards to their experience with this ink...
Rabbi Gutnick,
ReplyDelete1. How much was the bottle? I have used the brand's normal use STa"M ink before.
2. Can you please show a sample of the ink on a piece of klaf?
Retail price in Israel is 50 shekels a bottle
ReplyDeleteI'm only aware of 1 other sofer's ink made for Rapidograph, Dio Lanetzach, and I've found it to be as good as the over the counter ink.
ReplyDeleteMetaygim have some difficulty using either of these sofrus inks. Unlike a sofer doing tiyug, they work quickly and the ink often doesn't flow as well as the over the counter ink so tagin can come out faded.
On my list of shailahs to clarify the Shevet Halevi's daas, is once we have safrus ink that works well with a Rapidograph, whether he'd permit lechatchila the use of over the counter ink by adding of a single drop of safrus ink into it.
(The mixing of the over the counter and safrus inks can sometimes cause the ink to become thick and not work in the Rapidograph so make sure to first test it by mixing the inks in a small container.)
Where can I purchase IT in US?
ReplyDeleteI spoke with Yochanon last week. He informed me that after Pesach he came out with an improved version of his Rapidograph ink that is more black and that flows better. Hopefully, it will work as well as the over the counter ink.
ReplyDeleteWhile mentioning over the counter ink, on top of Rav Vozner having issues with it, one issue that's bothered me is that the Rapidograph inks that are on the approved list are based on tests some years ago that confirmed they didn't contain ingredients from non kosher animal species and stam yeinam. However, these companies can change ingredients at any time. Over shavuos I saw this concern mentioned in a very fine sefer that came out a few years ago called Mishnas Hastam.
I was under the impression that Rapidograph ink was fine for use when writing tagim or touch-ups. I'm happy to learn that ink with hechshers for Rapidograph pens are available, however the Rapidograph manufacturer's ink should be fine (unless we hear that they've drastically changed their ingredients, and started adding non-kosher products - which would require a change to their conformity at ASTM International Standards).
ReplyDeleteFirstly, the only over the counter inks that should be used are those that were checked. That list can be found in sefer Yerios Shlomo. As I mentioned, these tests were done some years ago. We're not going to hear about any changes which could be an issue such as, animal oil, wine or black pigment from an animal source unless they are retested every number of years, which I'm not aware is being done.
ReplyDelete"However the Rapidograph manufacturer's ink should be fine." While certainly not pasul and somewhat less critical in tagin, Rav Vozner was against it's use, particularly for touch ups, (i.e. adding kotz R"T and certainly to be machshir a letter such as nifsakim). He allowed adding a drop of sofer's ink to the over the counter ink but with the availability of sofer's ink for the Rapidograph for some years now it should be used when possible. You can read about Rav Vozner's opinion in Lishkas Hakodesh. (2nd volume?) and in Rav M.S. Klein's sefer, Sheilas Moshe.