I recently received my bottle of Noodler's Polar Blue after a month-plus backorder wait, and I have discovered that it will probably be unsuitable for daily use. While I enjoy the Prussian Blue color of the ink and the bulletproof nature, it feathers and bleeds through even my most stalwart papers, at least at room temperature. I have not yet tested the ink at colder temps, but I believe that I will store my Polar Blue away until the next cold season. I shudder to think what will happen when summer comes around if I continue to use this ink in warmer environments.

What can you suggest as a companion blue ink that would have the same bulletproof characteristics, but would be better behaved at room temps? I'd like to avoid Luxury Blue, because of the cost. Legal Lapis and Legal Blue seem to be too blue-blackish for my tastes (at least, that's how they appear on my screen). There are no dealers within a very long drive of my location that carry any of Noodler's bulletproof colors for me to see them in person.

I'm really looking for a true blue, but not something quite as garish as Baystate Blue (which isn't bulletproof, anyway). I also really don't like blue-black inks, nor those blues which tend too far toward green. I'd also prefer the 4.5 oz eyedropper bottle, but it doesn't look like any of Noodler's blues other than Polar Blue are available in this format.

Upper Ganges Blue looks like it might be a good substitute. Or possibly Aquamarine, though it seems to be a bit too light and lean a little green for my tastes in some scans. I think I may also take another look at Legal Blue.

Noodler's Gulf Stream Blue may fit the bill. It's sold by Swisher. The color is similar to Luxury Blue, but I like Gulf Stream better.

Gulf Stream Blue looks nice, but I can't see anywhere that it's billed as "bulletproof", only "waterproof". Noodler's different designation can be confusing. I really wish somebody could properly explain the differences between "bulletproof", "eternal", and "waterproof". They seem to overlap, but not completely.

Hmm...it seems Noodler's has a Germany-exclusive bulletproof Prussian Blue. This might be the perfect match for Polar Blue, although I'm still interested in a more traditional bulletproof blue, as well.

As far as I know, "waterproof" is the least resistant to detergents, solvents and bleaches, then "eternal" is stronger, and finally "bulletproof" is the strongest. Of the "bulletproof" colors, only the Standard Black and Polar Blue are qualified for the company's cash reward for successful removal from paper (see www.noodlersink.com for details).

I've seen the "Waterproof" advertisement only on a specific subset of Noodler's colors sold only by Swisher Pens. I don't know if "waterproof" and "eternal" are of the same strength.

To add more to the confusion, SOME of the Eternals (at least Eternal Brown) are also Bulletproof....though I don't think this is true of all Eternals.....

The label on my bottle of Gulf Stream Blue says "Contract Ink". That's more than waterproof; in fact, according to Nathan Tardif, the maker of Noodler's inks, it's virtually the same as bulletproof under all but the most extreme conditions (to wit, "bleach ... in outrageous concentrations"). Here's what Nathan had to say in August 2005:


And here he is again a few months later:


So, unless you're planning to liquefy your writing, I wouldn't sweat the difference between bulletproof and eternal/contract, [acronym="If I Were You"]IIWY[/acronym].

Good to know! So, now I just have to decide on a particular blue.

My choices so far:

1. Upper Ganges Blue, Bulletproof
2. Luxury Blue, Eternal (expensive)
3. Prussian Blue, Bulletproof, missing-pen.de exclusive (cannot find scanned sample)
4. Aquamarine, Contract Ink, Swisher Pens exclusive (probably too light and cyanish for me)
5. Gulf Stream Blue, Contract Ink, Swisher Pens exclusive

So, given that I don't have unlimited resources, I think I'll start with Upper Ganges and possibly order a bottle of Prussian Blue. If that doesn't work, I'll try Gulf Stream Blue and Luxury Blue as a last resort.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide!