What's Everyone's Favorite Black Ink?

[PS104]

Aurora is my favorite

Have to confess though that Noodler's has some of the most seductive names for their blacks (as they do for all their inks) that I am more than tempted to wander off the reservation. They must have hired some Mad Men to think of the names.

Edited July 12, 2015 by PS104

[Sh.Andrews]

I generally use a given manufacturer's ink in that manufacturer's pen.

Not sure why, but I do the same. If I do stray from the brand/brand, I tend to keep it within the same country, ie: french ink in a french pen, german ink in german pen.

 

Glad to see that it's not just me.

[Sh.Andrews]

Ha I was just going to post something similar so if it's okay, I'll tag my tuppence worth onto this thread

 

http://www.taskyprianou.com/fpn_waterman_intense_black_page_1.jpg

http://www.taskyprianou.com/fpn_waterman_intense_black_page_2.jpg

http://www.taskyprianou.com/fpn_waterman_intense_black_swatch.jpg

Enjoyed your post. Very creative!

[Frank C]

Not sure why, but I do the same. If I do stray from the brand/brand, I tend to keep it within the same country, ie: french ink in a french pen, german ink in german pen.

 

Glad to see that it's not just me.

 

People have tried to make fun of my "ink rules" in the past:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/245296-pen-and-ink-filling-rules-how-do-you-choose-ink-pen-combinations/

 

Basically, I figure that a given manufacturer makes ink to go with that manufacturers pens. If they make a decent ink, I use it in their pens. One of the things I like about fountain pens is the tremendous variety of ink-pen-nib combinations. There is always something new and different to try.

Edited July 12, 2015 by Frank C

[FinalEleven]

I like Sailor Kiwa-Guro Nano Black ink. Pilot Iroshizuku Take-Sumi closely behind.

[roklpokl]

Montblanc Mystery Black is what I currently use for black and I really like it, also Waterman Black if you don't mind that is a bit light on black.

 

Aurora black behaves great but for me it's just too black.

[haruka337]

Another nod for Sailor Nano Kiwa Guro!

 

I have mixed feelings about Aurora black. I use it at work, for now, to finish the bottle I do have, but I'm not going to repurchase it. Not as dark as I had anticipated nor as lubricating for my fountain pens, but enough people on this forum seem to like it--that's gotta mean something.

[Tas]

Enjoyed your post. Very creative!

 

Thank you. Any excuse to scribble . . .

[HDoug]

Sailor Kiwa Guro!

 

Doug

[Morwen]

I have a few, in that order:

1. Noodler's X-Feather

2. Noodler's Black

3. Graf von Faber-Castell Carbon Black

4. Aurora Black

 

I just like black to be really deep dark black, no shading, no leaning to other colors, and these are like that.

[tinkerteacher]

Sailor Kiwa Guro, if you're willing to put up with its maintenance issues. Nice, almost 3D matte effect.

 

Pilot Black for an absolutely bullet proof, if a quite boring coloured, black ink, that works in any pen and on any paper.

 

Also, don't forget the "sshh, don't tell anyone it's not black" inks such as Sailor Ink of Witch and Oku Yama.

[wastelanded]

I don't use a lot of black ink, but I like Pelikan. Nice brownish undertones, and a bit of red sheen in a wet pen.

 

Noodler's Black you can't go wrong with as well, and more water resistance for envelopes, etc.

 

Aurora is a very attractive black as well, like black satin.

Edited July 12, 2015 by wastelanded

[I.M.]

I've not yet found my favourite black. I (sometimes) like the smell of Pilot Black, but it's not quite dark enough for my liking. Edelstein Onyx is okay. My current bottle of black is the recently discontinued 'High quality ink *black*' of Faber Castell. I've also tried MB's Permanent Black, and Mystery Black; of the two I prefer Mystery Black, and I plan getting a bottle of it once I've emptied the Faber Castell.

[brunico]

Sailor Kiwa-guro. The ink of Japanese calligraphy, in a fountain pen.

 

I'm not sure why Aurora Black is hyped so much: it's good, but I didn't think it was anything special among all the black inks I've used. Maybe people come to it from inks like Parker Quink that do the minimum they have to do to leave a mark on the paper? In which case, it would seem like nectar.

[Tasmith]

Noodler's X-Feather. Deep dark black, well behaved and bulletproof.

 

Tried Waterman's Black, Pelikan 4001 Black and Aurora Black, but like Noodler's better.

Edited July 12, 2015 by Tasmith

[claudewick]

1. Sheaffer Skrip

2. Aurora

3. Montblanc

[inkstainedruth]

Probably Noodler's Heart of Darkness for me, followed by Noodler's Old Manhattan. But Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black is inexpensive and pretty well behaved; still trying to make up my mind if the luxurious look of Iroshihzuku Take-sumi is worth the price, given that I don't use black inks a while lot. And Quink Black is a good tester ink, especially in vintage pens.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[ZaphodBB]

Sailor's Kiwa-Guro, Platinum Carbon Black and Noodlers Bulletproof Black...in no particular order.

[visvamitra]

@Tas - your scribbles are stunning :)Even when done in black.

[Tas]

@Tas - your scribbles are stunning :)Even when done in black.

 

Praise indeed. Thank you.