"water Based Ink"

[Patrick L]

Hi everybody !

I bought a standard Noodler Black ink and noticed that they (Noodler) specify on the label that it's a "WATER BASED INK". Why do they mention this ? Are not all fountain pens ink water based ?

[LedZepGirl]

All fountain pen inks are water based. Oil based would be to volatile and damage your pen and lead to clogs most likely.

[Patrick L]

All fountain pen inks are water based. Oil based would be to volatile and damage your pen and lead to clogs most likely.

 

Thanks for your reply dear friend. But why does Noodler feel obliged to mention on their labels that their ink is water based if all fountain pens ilks are water based ?

[Kabe]

Perhaps it's a way of adressing the rumours (nowadays, more like undeniable truths) surrounding some of their inks. If it's bulletproof black, it was most likely added to ensure the buyer that, despite it's bulletproofingness (!), the ink is not iron gall ink.

[LedZepGirl]

Also probably to ensure the buyer that there isn't any harsh solvents in it that could be harmful to their pen, themselves or the environment. Some solvent based industrial grade inks are pretty smelly and contain things that are not good for any living thing to be in contact with for some time.

[koa]

Maybe to assert that the ink is based on water, not on something else, like, like, alchemy!! Or magic! or the Dark sciences! (Actually, I have my doubts about the Heart of Darkness... Maybe Noodler's needs an ink named after a Faustian theme)

 

And, of course, non-oil based inks are better for the environment, and better for you.

 

(Still want the bunny emoticons back, but I will patiently wait, and thank the crew responsible for the upgrade!)

[Possum Hill]

Perhaps it's a way of adressing the rumours (nowadays, more like undeniable truths) surrounding some of their inks. If it's bulletproof black, it was most likely added to ensure the buyer that, despite it's bulletproofingness (!), the ink is not iron gall ink.

Undeniable truths can be stated out loud. Go ahead and state them. We're waiting with bated breath.

 

Edit: Iron gall inks are also water based.

Edited September 20, 2009 by Possum Hill

[Possum Hill]

All fountain pen inks are water based. Oil based would be to volatile and damage your pen and lead to clogs most likely.

 

Thanks for your reply dear friend. But why does Noodler feel obliged to mention on their labels that their ink is water based if all fountain pens ilks are water based ?

To point out that Noodler's ink is just ink, no matter how much people want to make more or less of it.

[Randal6393]

Wonder if the current craze for soy-based printing inks doesn't have something to do with Nathan's statement?

[ZeissIkon]

Wonder if the current craze for soy-based printing inks doesn't have something to do with Nathan's statement?

 

Possible, I suppose, though "soy-based" printing inks are as opposed to linseed based -- one vegetable oil for another, neither more renewable than its opposite.

[ksoyangco]

Hi everybody !

I bought a standard Noodler Black ink and noticed that they (Noodler) specify on the label that it's a "WATER BASED INK". Why do they mention this ? Are not all fountain pens ink water based ?

 

Perhaps it's to highlight that it doesn't contain any carbon? Some of the blackest blacks that I know, Sailor Nano Black (Kiwaguro) and Platinum Carbon Black, contain some amount of carbon and one has to be more careful in maintaining and cleaning their pens with these inks in them.

 

"Carbon Black contains fine particulate carbon which can build up a little with time. It won't harm your fountain pens, but, it can restrict flow. Remember to clean your pens a little more often when using the Carbon Black ink! Carbon black is more permanent than most inks and a good choice for addressing envelopes."

http://www.pendemonium.com/ink_facts.htm

[NedC]

Actually the soy based inks aren't directly replacing linseed oil inks but inks compounded with a petroleum base that had long ago replaced linseed oil based inks in commercial printing.

 

A lot of waterproof permanent markers use solvent based inks, often alcohol but sometimes other, nastier solvents to which anyone who has gotten light headed from marker use, intentionally or not can attest, perhaps that's why Nathan labels them water based.

[CAG_1787]

My understanding is that it is to differentiate it from other waterproof fountain pen inks on the market, like the aforementioned carbon inks or iron-gall inks, both of which use a totally different chemical reaction to achieve their archival nature.

[Jerome Tarshis]

Might it not be simplest to infer that Nathan Tardif is more eccentric than many? When one considers what unusual things he has put on his labels, is it worth speculating about this conventional statement? One can ask him. An obvious idea.

 

Carbon-based and iron-gall inks are water-based, too. No differentiation there. Not on being water-based rather than, as with ballpoint inks, oil-based. For that matter, rollerball inks are water-based, are they not?. It is no very impressive distinction.

[tonybelding]

I suspect it's meant to make it clear that despite being waterproof (or Bulletproof®), it's not any kind of calligraphy ink or india ink, and is safe for fountain pens. Since Nathan started out in pen repair and restoration, I'm sure he's seen many a pen that was gunked up with india ink.