Noodler's X-Feather

[kookychick]

As many of you know, Jetpens has started carrying Noodler's ink. They had a few bottles that were damaged during shipping that couldn't be sold. They offered the damaged bottles free to the first 6 people who responded in exchange for a review of the ink. They kindly sent me a bottle!

 

Noodler's X-Feather was designed to resist feathering, especially on cheap papers. It is billed as archival and 100% bulletproof.

 

I tried to use different papers than those used by the other 2 reviewers. I tried Noodler's X-Feather along with Noodler's Esplanade (Singapore exclusive), Noodler's Prime of the Commons Blue-Black (UK exclusive), and Noodler's La Reine Mauve (regular distribution). Esplanade in particular feathers a lot on many different papers, PCBB varies in its feathering qualities, and La Reine Mauve is generally well-behaved.

 

I used Sensa Meridian FPs, custom ground to 0.3mm, in all the handwritten samples.

 

Here are pics of samples on the different papers I tried:

 

Cheap copy paper (Georgia Pacific, 88 brightness, 20#)

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/3070564173_c950baa701_b.jpg

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Mead Composition Book, Vietnam paper

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/3070573589_513eb45e94_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/3071409236_d5d402b06a_b.jpg

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Index card (Oxford brand, really old and slightly yellowed)

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Newsprint (old TV guide from the Sunday paper)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/3070580169_2fdb1abb25_b.jpg

 

Facial tissue (Puffs)

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Ink drying time: As you can see, it smudged at 10 seconds (but not much at 5 seconds). This will be variable depending on how much ink was laid down by the pen, etc. I've used X-Feather to take notes on cheap copy paper, and it seemed to dry pretty fast--I'd heard it takes a long time. It probably does on Clairefontaine paper with a super-smooth finish, but that's not the type of paper this ink was made for!

Ink flow: I really like the flow--it's not too dry in my pens, but not too wet, either! It puts down a nice, tight line, and doesn't widen on the page. I left it in a pen without using it for 5 days, and it started up immediately. I haven't experienced any problems while pausing during writing.

 

Overall, this is a nice, rich black ink that was very well-behaved in my Sensa Meridians. It performed beautifully on cheap recycled papers, and, true to its name, didn't feather! It didn't bleed through anything I tried, either, not even on the facial tissue! Its flow was perfect in my pens, and felt nice while writing. The drying time on cheap, absorbent papers was much better than I thought (on the newsprint, it seemed to dry almost instantaneously). I wouldn't bother using this ink if you mostly use Clairefontaine paper or other papers that are pretty feather-resistant anyway, but if you use a lot of more porous papers or a wide variety of papers, X-Feather will do the trick!

 

edited by moderator regarding link

Edited December 1, 2008 by Ann Finley

[Ondina]

So.. you were the lucky one!. Thanks for the review.

[rcannonp]

You are right about not using it on certain papers that are already feather resistant. I tried it out in a Moleskine sketchbook, and I don't think that it ever dried.

[kv3x]

Excellent review! I tried to write on a napkin in a bar not too long ago. I should have had this ink loaded in the pen I carried at the time.

[Ed Ronax]

Excellent review, thanks.

[Pen Nut]

Good review and thanks for it. Tried this and didnt really get on with it. Drying time was just way too long for my liking.

[psfred]

Dry time for X-Feather on GOOD paper is very very long. I've had trouble using it on even low grade ruled paper pads at work. However, the really junky notebook I have to use (bound, records kept forever) bleeds so badly with anything else I can only use one side of the paper, while X-feather works pretty well. Dries fast in that book, hardly at all on decent paper.

 

Something to keep in mind -- it's not really universal ink.

 

Peter

[romanticimpressions]

Does Noodler's X-feather have issues with nib creep.

[psfred]

It behaves exactly like Noodler's Bulletproof black for me. Some nib creep, but nothing terrible.

 

Peter

[circlepattern]

Cool review, one of the only X-feather reviews on FPN!

[Avastgard]

I just think you should have used broader nibs, since what you were trying to test was feathering.

[Gloucesterman]

Your review is much appreciated and will help the next time I want a bulletproof ink.

[Pen Nut]

It seems that the advice is stay away from quality paper if you want this stuff to dry. What a pity this message isnt on the box or bottle.