Review Noodler Heart of Darkness

[Randal6393]

Went to the Triangle Pen Show and got a bottle of Visconti Black. Recently was in Washington, DC, and bought a bottle of Sailor Jentle Black. For the last few months, my regular black is Noodler Heart of Darkness. Got interested in comparing the three and want to show you reviews on all of them. Here is the first:

 

http://www.angelfire.com/linux/randalcarter/images/InkReview001.JPG

 

Points of note: HoD is my favorite all-around ink. It likes my Lamy 2000. But I think it loves the Manuscript Calligraphy pen. What do you think? The Pen 1. section and comments are done with the Lamy, the Pen 2. section and Summary/Conclusions section are done with the Manuscript pen. You get more variation with the Manuscript but either one is acceptable writing to me. Next, take a look at the Sailor Jentle Black review and the Visconti Black review.

Edited June 16, 2009 by Randal6393

[Signum1]

Randal,

 

I was using the Heart of Darkness this morning on the eco-friendly paper from Staples. I was impressed with both the paper and ink. In my opinion, an edge pen provides more pleasing results than a round nib (either fine or broad).

 

Judging by your scan the Heart of Darkness looks darker than the Sailor Black and Visconti Black, is that true? You have Old Manhattan Black from Noodler to compare?

 

All in all, thank you for the review of the Heart of Darkness. :clap1:

[someonesdad]

Up until yesterday, I had my Hero 616 Jumbo inked with HOD. Loved it. However, it has exhibited "hood creep", which no other ink (amongst 10 or so I'ved used in this pen) have done. It creeps out onto the hood by the nib, getting black ink on my fingers. This is my favorite pen, so I'm not about to switch. I'll go back to Perle Noire or Noodler's Black, both excellent inks in this pen. I've used numerous hooded Hero pens and I've not seen this problem with any other pen or ink. And before someone suggests tightening the hood or sealing it with shellac, it's definitely creeping from the nib area, not the threaded area of the hood.

[Randal6393]

Hi, Signum1,

 

Sounds like you are doing well. Glad to hear that.

 

Yeah, I love the HoD for daily writing. I have a few pens that write quickly and well with it. Add that to the Staples Eco-friendly and you have a winning combination.

 

The HoD is faster-flowing and formulated to be a VERY dark ink. Where the Visconti and the Sailor Jentle are good black inks but use color blends that aren't, to my eye, as dark as the HoD. In fact, when washing out the pens and switching inks, I noticed the Visconti has a green undertone and the Sailor Jentle a blue undertone. The diluted HoD showed a very slight amount of reddish-brown undertone. So, yes, the HoD is not only darker than the other inks, it is deposited in greater amounts on the paper, sinks in deeper, and directly bonds to the cellulose in the paper. Which is why it is a great ink for everyday writing -- any little bit is seen readily. Have not tried OMB yet but have used the Noodler Black. Decided that the extra tint and great flow of the HoD trumped the Black, so that's what I use for most of my work these days. However, I can see a definite spot in my palette for the Visconti Black. It seems like such a great ink for formal calligraphy.

 

Enjoy,

Randal

 

Randal,

 

I was using the Heart of Darkness this morning on the eco-friendly paper from Staples. I was impressed with both the paper and ink. In my opinion, an edge pen provides more pleasing results than a round nib (either fine or broad).

 

Judging by your scan the Heart of Darkness looks darker than the Sailor Black and Visconti Black, is that true? You have Old Manhattan Black from Noodler to compare?

 

All in all, thank you for the review of the Heart of Darkness. :clap1:

 

[Randal6393]

Yep, that's what you have to do -- match the ink to the characteristics you want. No one ink is good for everything. Although some come close. I use the HoD because it has more traits I like than Noodler Black. But I have gone through about 5 ounces of Noodler Black -- it's a great ink. I also used Sheaffer Skrip Black and Manuscript Black to good advantage.

 

Enjoy,

Randal

 

Up until yesterday, I had my Hero 616 Jumbo inked with HOD. Loved it. However, it has exhibited "hood creep", which no other ink (amongst 10 or so I'ved used in this pen) have done. It creeps out onto the hood by the nib, getting black ink on my fingers. This is my favorite pen, so I'm not about to switch. I'll go back to Perle Noire or Noodler's Black, both excellent inks in this pen. I've used numerous hooded Hero pens and I've not seen this problem with any other pen or ink. And before someone suggests tightening the hood or sealing it with shellac, it's definitely creeping from the nib area, not the threaded area of the hood.

 

[Phormio]

I keep my Safari loaded with this ink. Writes well and is about as black as you want it. However, massive amounts of nib creep. I've taken it to mean that this is the price you pay for HoD.

[Randal6393]

I keep my Safari loaded with this ink. Writes well and is about as black as you want it. However, massive amounts of nib creep. I've taken it to mean that this is the price you pay for HoD.

 

It seems to be, for pretty much all of the Noodler inks. But, if it is the only problem I have with an ink, I will count myself lucky.

 

Enjoy,

[dadoody]

I love the color. Very black. As black as the printer lines I'm writing on or next to. Sometimes darker.

 

I am not bothered by nib creep. When it gets a little excessive, I do a quick wipe. I am pretty much addicted to Noodler ink because it writes smooth and consistent. The flow is always right. Other inks seem too damn dry in my cheap writers, but the Noodler inks make writing a joy for me.

Edited June 26, 2009 by dadoody

[Philip1209]

"The horror! The horror!"

 

(sorry, I couldn't resist.) Nice review- thanks for posting! I'll have to try this ink out soon. How would you say it differs from Noodler's Black?

[Randal6393]

"The horror! The horror!"

 

(sorry, I couldn't resist.) Nice review- thanks for posting! I'll have to try this ink out soon. How would you say it differs from Noodler's Black?

 

I love a little humor -- and that joke had about as little humor as any. (Old vaudeville line, I think.) The only real difference between Black and HoD is that Black has red undertones when diluted where HoD consistently stays black with only a few brownish-red undertones. So, a much blacker black. Other persons on FPN say Old Manhattan Black is even darker. But, not having tried it, I don't really know.

 

As for performance, Black is a general-use ink and works out OK for most purposes. HoD is specifically formulated to bind well with high-cellulose papers. Which is why it has such a high rating for resistance to chemicals and being waterproof. Most common papers such as copy, multi-purpose, and office papers (legal pads, etc.) are high-cellulose.

 

Both Black and HoD are good general use inks, can't hardly go wrong with either one. I used up a bottle of Black, got a full bottle of HoD (with the cute free Preppy -- not a bad deal), and gave my remaining most-of-a-bottle of Black to a friend that is breaking into fountain pens. Things are working out so well that I am comtemplating Polar Blue for my next bottle of ink.

 

Enjoy,

[Scriptorium Pens]

QUOTE (Philip1209 @ Jun 25 2009, 09:53 PM) "The horror! The horror!"

 

(sorry, I couldn't resist.) Nice review- thanks for posting! I'll have to try this ink out soon. How would you say it differs from Noodler's Black?

 

I love a little humor -- and that joke had about as little humor as any. (Old vaudeville line, I think.) The only real difference between Black and HoD is that Black has red undertones when diluted where HoD consistently stays black with only a few brownish-red undertones. So, a much blacker black. Other persons on FPN say Old Manhattan Black is even darker. But, not having tried it, I don't really know.

 

The quote is a classic line from Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness, and is perfectly appropriate. Nothing to do with vaudeville.

[Ed Ronax]

Excellent review, thanks.

[bluemagister]

I am not partial to the eyedropper bottle, but HoD is an excellent daily use ink that really looks good on bright, white copy paper (like 98 brightness paper). It's trouble free, doesn't have bad bleedthrough and I've never had anything but spectacular performance on any of the Pilot EF nibs I've used it on. I would recommend that anyone needing a good, basic, well-behaved black ink try this one out.

 

Nice review! This ink, to me, is really underappreciated and deserves more attention! I am glad you reviewed it!

[Randal6393]

Am pleased that you enjoyed my efforts, bluemagister. The bottles are probably the weakest feature of any of Nathan's inks. However, that is one way he keeps the price of his inks down so I can't complain. I also have at least six of the Montblanc shoes and a few Levenger bottles with plastic wells. So I move inks around and mix and add water to my heart's content. Of course, my wife complains a lot -- but that's good for her and gives her something to do.

 

PS: Have you ever tried to get various colors of ink out of sheetwall without repainting the bathroom? No cellulose to speak of, so I can't understand what the ink is actually binding to.

 

I am not partial to the eyedropper bottle, but HoD is an excellent daily use ink that really looks good on bright, white copy paper (like 98 brightness paper). It's trouble free, doesn't have bad bleedthrough and I've never had anything but spectacular performance on any of the Pilot EF nibs I've used it on. I would recommend that anyone needing a good, basic, well-behaved black ink try this one out.

 

Nice review! This ink, to me, is really underappreciated and deserves more attention! I am glad you reviewed it!

[PJohnP]

PS: Have you ever tried to get various colors of ink out of sheetwall without repainting the bathroom? No cellulose to speak of, so I can't understand what the ink is actually binding to.

 

 

A lot of sheetwall is covered with a paper-like surface, so you're likely having the ink-binding effects there...

 

 

 

John P.

[AlasAllTooHuman]

Do you have to use this ink in an eyedropper pen?

[kwpalzang]

Hm, I have a Manuscript Calligraphy pen too. Two in fact, I think. Unfortunately the cap cracks quite easily in my experience... I wish they would design their pens sturdier... they certainly are not ugly pens. I should bring the old pen back out and give it a whirl perhaps :hmm1:

[Randal6393]

Do you have to use this ink in an eyedropper pen?

 

Eyedropper, c/c, piston-fill -- the filling method doesn't really matter all that much. What does make a difference is how wide the stroke is and how fast the pen flows. I have HoD in a Platinum Preppy eyedropper with a Fine nib. Use it to practice cursive scripts. But, on the other end of the spectrum, I have it in a Lamy 2000 Bold converted to 1.1 mm Italic nib. Does a beautiful italic script.

 

Enjoy,

[bluemagister]

I use this in a Foray ballpoint refill, a Pilot Varsity and a Pilot Penmanship. Flawless, dark, and smooth every single time. This ink is a gold medal winner in my book!

[tommyweir98]

Those 4.5 ounce bottles should last a long time unless you use that color exclusively.