REVIEW: NOODLER’S BULLETPROOF BLACK
The photographs are of a sample written with a Waterman Hemisphere (fine nib) on 80gsm recycled paper. I cap my pens when not writing so cannot comment on how the ink starts up after a leaving the pen uncapped for a few minutes. The review includes a nib creep rating. I am not worried about nib creep unless the ink creeps onto the section or leaks into the cap and I’ve not had this problem with any of the Noodler’s inks I’ve tried. The reason for including this rating is to inform those of you with differing views on nib creep.
General comments:
Although black ink has never been my favourite, I like using this ink because it really pops off the page. I don’t know if the ink contains lubricants, but the nib absolutely glides across the paper the way an Olympic iceskater glides across the ice. I have used this ink only in my Hemisphere.
Colour:
Good saturation, there is nothing gray about this black ink. Please note that the photographs don't do this ink justice, it is a true black ink.
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Ink flow:
Very reliable. It lays down a tight line and lubricates the nib very nicely.
Dry time:
This ink dries somewhat slower than Iraqi Indigo or Legal Lapis, full stops and other punctuation marks may take half a minute or so to dry.
Nib creep:
Negligible. I don't have a photograph of a pen inked with Bulletproof Black. However, the amount of nib creep is very similar to what I experienced with Noodler's Golden Brown (see photo).
Click to view attachment
Start up:
Excellent. It starts up easily even after the pen has not been used for several days and lays down a solid line immediately.
Bleedthrough:
No bleedthrough with this ink.