Noodler's Ink - Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia

[AgentVenom]

Ink Review: Noodler's Ink - Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia.

Grade: 75.00%.

Paper Tested On: Norcom Composition, 20lb Staples copy paper, and 85g Clairefontaine paper.

 

Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia (MNS) is an ink that makes you wonder if the story behind the label is better than ink itself. MNS has some very unique properties: Not only is it bulletproof/eternal, it is listed as being fluorescent and will change from a dark sepia to a red when exposed to bleach.

 

It's a wet writing ink that dries very quickly, but unlike other fast drying inks, it's resistant to feathering and bleeding. I've not tested it with bleach yet, but when I exposed MNS to water, hand sanitizer and nail polish remover, it held up extremely well. MNS looks very thick and viscous. Steven Brown said that it reminded him of chocolate milk in his review, and I agree. I can't help but think that it reminds me of a Double Fudge Yoo-Hoo.

 

MNS left a residue in the Kaweco cartridge that I used while testing this ink. It came off with a little scrubbing, but I noticed that the ink became a little tacky as it sat in the pen over time (especially in my Ahab).

 

At the end of the day I am still wondering if the story behind the label is better than the ink. It's a great wet writer that flows smoothly and is great for practicing calligraphy, but it's also a sepia/brown, and that's not going to be everyone's first choice.

 

I like the fact that MNS has all these interesting properties, and is definitely a work appropriate ink, I just don't know if it will work its way into my daily rotation.

 

[visvamitra]

Even though it's not perfect and its writing properties are a moot point, I enjoy this ink.

[Feanaaro]

I do see feathering in the pics, actually. Even on the Clairfontaine paper. Certainly not the worst feathering ever seen, but quite noticeable indeed.

[fountainpagan]

Despite all, it is very beautiful and shaded ink.

 

I do like it.

[AgentVenom]

I do see feathering in the pics, actually. Even on the Clairfontaine paper. Certainly not the worst feathering ever seen, but quite noticeable indeed.

 

Agreed. But I thought it did well considering how wet the ink is.

 

Despite all, it is very beautiful and shaded ink.

 

I do like it.

I completely agree. It's really nice to write with.

[AgentVenom]

Here are some pictures of how Manjiro Nakahama stained my Ahab.

 

 

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the review.

I tried a sample of Whaleman's Sepia a while back. Loved the color -- hated the behavior. The ink just would not flow until I had diluted it a fair amount.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[WaskiSquirrel]

I struggled a lot with this ink until one day I put it in my Lamy ABC. It was well behaved, and the nib was broad enough to show it off. I don't know if I'll ever buy another bottle, but I will enjoy using up this bottle.

[Lelouch]

It also stained my clear nib creaper, have you had any luck correcting that?

 

I had bought a 4.5oz bottle without ever trying a sample first, I had been won over by Nathan's video and then the color of the ink in person. Finding a pen that had no problems using it was more of s challenge. After trying two different flexible nib creepers (as Nathan suggested, though as I watch the video again it is the plastic version with a blind cap for the piston as opposed to the vegetal resin version), I've decided to use an Airmail ebonite pen for this ink. I've altered the feed and tweaked the nib a bit (it didn't write well otherwise) and smoothed it. I rather like the result, though the line is still not as wet as I'd like.

[AgentVenom]

It also stained my clear nib creaper, have you had any luck correcting that?

I had bought a 4.5oz bottle without ever trying a sample first, I had been won over by Nathan's video and then the color of the ink in person. Finding a pen that had no problems using it was more of s challenge. After trying two different flexible nib creepers (as Nathan suggested, though as I watch the video again it is the plastic version with a blind cap for the piston as opposed to the vegetal resin version), I've decided to use an Airmail ebonite pen for this ink. I've altered the feed and tweaked the nib a bit (it didn't write well otherwise) and smoothed it. I rather like the result, though the line is still not as wet as I'd like.

I've cleaned it with a 1/3 solution of bleach and it's still stained. It did fade, but it's still noticeably there. I've not upped the bleach because this is the Ahab that I use for all of my ink reviews and I didn't think I would worry about it on the chance another ink did something similar.

 

I think increasing the bleach to water ratio will do the trick; I just haven't tried it yet.

[Biber]

My bottle has some serious separation to it so it sits quietly in the corner of the cabinet. Much as I remember, when I tried it, the ink seemed to have a "sticky" quality to it.

[Cyber6]

Whaleman's Sepia.. is the perfect ink to try with Photo-Flo.

 

I am sure I have save more than one person from dumping this ink down the drain by suggesting to try a surfactant like Photo-Flo.

 

 

I personally love the color... and once is nicely lubricated and flowing well, is a pleasure to work with.

 

 

 

 

C.

[inkstainedruth]

Whaleman's Sepia.. is the perfect ink to try with Photo-Flo.

 

I am sure I have save more than one person from dumping this ink down the drain by suggesting to try a surfactant like Photo-Flo.

 

 

I personally love the color... and once is nicely lubricated and flowing well, is a pleasure to work with.

 

 

 

 

C.

Does Photo-Flo dilute the ink or just lubricate it? I've never used it.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Cyber6]

Does Photo-Flo dilute the ink or just lubricate it? I've never used it.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

The amount you add to it is minimal, so it does not dilute at all. It just helps with the flow.

 

 

C.

[fireant]

I kinda like this ink.

 

Thank you for the review. BTW, your penmanship is lovely!

[AgentVenom]

I kinda like this ink.

 

Thank you for the review. BTW, your penmanship is lovely!

Thank you very much. I truly appreciate it.

[benjitzu]

Thanks for your great review of this, to me, highly underrated ink.

 

With a few drops of distilled water and strict maintenance, I've had no issues with this ink. Bombproof, great color, and epic history/background. For those intimidated by this inks behavior, Noodler's #41 Brown is a great alternative for a bulletproof brown ink.