I tried digging through most of the old posts as best I can.
And I hear noodler's and PR aren't inks you should use with 51s and there are mentions of getting waterman or parker ink.

I really would like to use noodlers & PR ink because the ones I bought I enjoy and I got several that are barely being used and need a pen to go into.

So I'm wondering if anyones ever had success using noodlers & PR ink with a 51? Anything you like to point out?

How about Parker 4001 ink?

I'd really hate to buy new ink I've already got so much! <_<

I recently bought a "51" that I haven't inked up yet. I think I'll be avoiding Noodler's and Private Reserve because it has been said, in some post that I haven't found again, that they are more saturated inks and are harder to rinse clean. Other than a tedious cleaning problem they are supposed to be safe inks. I've used Noodler's ink in a Hero 100 ("51" clone) with no problems other than a longer rinse time.

FWIW, I've also had no problems with Noodler's in a Hero 100. IME, the aerometric filler takes longer to clean than, say, a piston filler, and this is true with any ink. For example, I had some Pelikan Turquoise in my Hero 100 that took a while to flush out. But it did come out. Any water-based ink will flush out, sooner or later.

I just cleaned several pens. It took me FOREVER to get Quink green out of my 21......

-Bruce

I take it you mean Pelikan 4001 ink? Personally, I haven't used Pelikan 4001 or Noodlers on my "51"s, but I have used Parker Quink, Waterman and Private Reserve inks on a several of my "51"s. Keep in mind this has been on restored "51"s, not ones found in the wild. PR inks are very saturated and like Sidney stated, there will be a slightly longer rinse time (especially on a "51" vac), but I think the concern is that heavily saturated inks would clog up the collector if you don't use the pen often, but I've never had a problem of NOT using a "51" often.

I have Noodlers Ottoman Azure in my "51" vac right now, and it's working perfectly. The vac is decidedly a user pen, and I wouldn't fill my best "51" with either Noodlers or Private Reserve (it gets a steady diet of Waterman and Diamine ink). But other than expecting a longer flush process, I don't have any troubles to report. I'll post an update after using the pen a bit longer.

The last "51" I acquired was well used but in good shape. As I began to clean the pen I filled it with water, intending to let it sit and loosen the ink for a while before I began the tedious process if filling, emptying, and refilling, repeat ad infinitum.

Just for fun, I took the pen full of water and wrote with it (was curious about the last color ink). The pen wrote beautifully so I just started using it. It is now on it's third fill of tapwater and it still looks like ink when I write.

I'll play this little game as long as I can but it will be interesting to see how long I can write with just water and the leftover ink in the pen (it must have had a dried out load of black when it's previous owner picked up the ball point and never went back).

I figure I get to write with the pen and clean it out at the same time!

Andy

Andy I just love that story, when I think of how much 'ink' I have wasted by just flushing and soaking it away out of "51"s I have found in the wild.

But, in answer to Sonnenblume, I do use PR Supershow Blue in a "51" Aero filler as they are easier to flush out. If you are going to use a highly saturated ink in any "51" as long as it is used frequently and flushed out then you should be OK. If ever you think it starts to clog a bit, the a fill of Parker Quink Washable blue does the trick for me, the colour can be a bit strange, but it is all OK in the end.

Jim

It looks good in Andy's most recent snail to me .