Noodler's Widowmaker

[carpedavid]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4829780217_9c74e92ea2_b.jpg

 

Noodler's Widowmaker is a hard color to pin down, as it changes character based on the underlying paper. On the bright white paper of a Rhodia pad, it comes across as a very dark, earthy magenta, whereas on the cream color of a Moleskine notebook, it looks a bit like dried blood, with a brown cast to it. While the ink itself is highly saturated, and thus the hue doesn't actually change, the contrast between the ink and the paper greatly affects one's perception of it.

 

Like most other Noodler's inks, this one is very highly saturated, so I advise shaking the ink bottle before filling to make sure the dye is evenly distributed. Also, good pen hygiene is important; make sure to flush your pen well between every few fills of this ink. However, the high saturation does result in a very consistent line – in all but the widest nibs there is no shading to speak of. Also, as is common with Noodler's ink, Widowmaker is very feather-resistant. I saw almost no feathering on any of the paper I tested it on, including garden variety copy paper, which tends to feather dramatically with most fountain pen inks.

 

Unfortunately, I'm not sure whether the Noodler's fountain pen I used to test this ink lays down an extra wet line, or whether this ink has a higher penetrating power than normal, but I saw significant show-through in my Moleskine journal and a fair amount of bleed-through on thinner paper of all varieties. Thicker paper, like a heavier-weight copy paper or Ecosystem's journal paper stood up better, overall.

 

With regard to dry time, this ink behaves like most of the other Noodler's inks I've used, in that it exhibits a wide range based on the paper. On Moleskine journals and Rhodia notebooks, the ink takes upwards of a minute to fully dry. On the more absorbent paper of an Ecosystem journal or on standard copy paper, however, it dries between 8 and 10 seconds. Generally, it is going to be too slow to dry for lefty over-writers, regardless of paper, but it behaves well enough for fast-paced writing by everyone else on absorbent paper.

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4829780197_c70bc26a7e.jpg

 

Noodler’s Widowmaker comes in a 3 oz. bottle that is filled to the brim – so be careful when opening. See the picture above for what a gentle bump to the very, very full bottle can do. Noodler’s intentionally uses stock bottles and lids to keep their prices low, which means that they aren’t intended to be attractive in and of themselves. They are functional and stable, but not something one would display on one’s desk.

 

Widowmaker is an interesting ink, but I'm struggling to find an appropriate role for it in my collection. It's dark enough to be easy to read, so I can see using it for journaling, but I personally prefer ink with a higher degree of shading, like J. Herbin 1670. For those that prefer a solid, consistent line, and typically use absorbent, heavier weight paper, Widowmaker might be a good choice.

 

Review Materials: for the wide lettering, I used a 1.9mm steel calligraphy nib on a Lamy Joy. For the narrow lettering, I used the fine medium steel nib on a Noodler's piston fill pen. The paper is Rhodia 80gsm from a No. 16 Bloc pad.

 

Read all of my ink, paper, and other reviews at seize the dave.

[jniforat]

thanks for this review. this is the second review i've read about this ink, and I'm going to order a sample soon

[kathleen]

thanks for this review. this is the second review i've read about this ink, and I'm going to order a sample soon

 

Love the beautiful script you used to head the review. Interested in what pen and nib you used.

How does this red compare to Noodler's Nikita?

I think I could like the ink but I hate its name.

[carpedavid]

thanks for this review. this is the second review i've read about this ink, and I'm going to order a sample soon

 

Love the beautiful script you used to head the review. Interested in what pen and nib you used.

How does this red compare to Noodler's Nikita?

I think I could like the ink but I hate its name.

 

Thanks for the kind words. I used a 1.9mm steel calligraphy nib in a Lamy Joy for the heading of the review.

 

I'm not sure how Widowmaker compares to the Noodler's Nikita, myself. Anyone else out there use both? I'm a big red ink fan, so maybe I'll have to pick up the Nikita to find out.

 

Dave

[RobbW]

How does Widowmaker compare to 1670? On my monitor is looks close, maybe a touch less orange and a touch darker.

[carpedavid]

How does Widowmaker compare to 1670? On my monitor is looks close, maybe a touch less orange and a touch darker.

 

That's a good description. It's a bit more magenta whereas 1670 is a bit more orange. It's much more saturated, so it has a lot less shading potential than 1670, and is a bit darker.

[cubic archon]

The appearance with the finer nib reminds me a bit of Diamine Monaco Red - a bit more on the purple side than the brown side though (Monaco Red really *is* a dried blood ink).

 

By the way, all of the bottles of Noodler's I own have a stain on them like that

[Crewel]

By the way, all of the bottles of Noodler's I own have a stain on them like that

 

I thought I was the only one. .. With BSB at that.

Edited August 3, 2010 by Crewel

[kathleen]

thanks for this review. this is the second review i've read about this ink, and I'm going to order a sample soon

 

Love the beautiful script you used to head the review. Interested in what pen and nib you used.

How does this red compare to Noodler's Nikita?

I think I could like the ink but I hate its name.

 

Thanks for the kind words. I used a 1.9mm steel calligraphy nib in a Lamy Joy for the heading of the review.

 

I'm not sure how Widowmaker compares to the Noodler's Nikita, myself. Anyone else out there use both? I'm a big red ink fan, so maybe I'll have to pick up the Nikita to find out.

 

Dave

I just recently purchased the Noodler's Nikita and relish using it. You would love it since you are a "big red ink fan". It is a very bright, true red, like the fire engines of the 1950s. Without meaning to hijack this thread, can someone please tell me, why are so many fire trucks today white, and chartreuse? Everyone of my generation knows fire trucks are suppose to be RED!

 

 

 

[IWantThat]

Beautiful ink, but I don't think I would be able to touch the bottle since it has a S-P-I-D-E-R on it!

[RobbW]

 

 

That's a good description. It's a bit more magenta whereas 1670 is a bit more orange. It's much more saturated, so it has a lot less shading potential than 1670, and is a bit darker.

 

 

Thanks! The more experience I have with Noodler's inks, the more I appreciate what Nathan is doing.

 

 

Without meaning to hijack this thread, can someone please tell me, why are so many fire trucks today white, and chartreuse? Everyone of my generation knows fire trucks are suppose to be RED!

 

Fire-engine red looks black in the fog and in the dark. Chartreuse and white stand out.

[Twoodi]

I just love this colour I use it all of the time!

[debraji]

Wow, what a gorgeous review! I love seeing the ink used with different-sized nibs; it really gives me a sense of its possibilities.

 

And, yeah, I too have some Noodlers labels fairly obliterated by a slosh of ink.

[pmsalty]

Nice review of my go to red ink. I use it for corrections on my employees work and for notations on my financial reports. It dries a little slowly but even though I'm a lefty I haven't had any smearing problems.

PMS

[PatientType]

A very good review. The very broad nib really shows off the ink.

 

I'm also a Widow Maker enthusiast. This and Tienanmen are the only red inks I use. I've given away the brighter reds. I use the dark reds primarily for letters. I also switch off with Noodler's Squeteagua (blueish/green) and Private Reserve Sherwood Green. I'd also like to try Noodler's Antietam, but by the time I empty the two bottles of Noodler's red I'm using now, first class US postage will be $2.75 an ounce.

[rudyhou]

thanks for sharing. i have been battling a decision in whether to get noodler's widowmaker or j.herbin's 1670 or iroshizuku's momiji. i wanted a red that's more on the earthy tone (easy on the eyes) instead of the orange-hue most reds have, and with all of my inks, i prefer one with some shading. judging from your review, it is J.herbin that i must have. widowmaker is still a very nice red, though, and one that i'll keep on my list of inks-to-get.

 

-rudy-