What Is The Blackest, Black Ink

[jimhughes]

I'm looking for the Blackest, Black Ink possible. I use predominately XF or XXF Nibs, on Rhodia, Clairefontaine, paper. I've tried Bernacke Black Noodlers, Parker Black Quink. My 2 inks of choice now are Herbin Pearl Noire or Noodlers Heart of Darkness. I'm interested in Platinum Carbon Black, Aurora Black, Noodler Texas Black Bat. and have ordered a Uranus Black from SpeerBob. Suggestions, compatison samples , Please. Waterproof is not necessairly important. If you were going to buy one ink only what would be your choice to resolve the issue? TIA, Jim

[raging.dragon]

Noodler's Black is probably the most flexible option. It has minimal feathering on cheap paper, is fairly well behaved, waterproof and fraud resistant. However, the options are diverse and personal prefere will play a role in your choices.

[colrehogan]

Private Reserve Invincible Black.

[jimhughes]

Thank you both. Jim

[The Good Captain]

Meddler's "Los Bravos".

[Fuzzy_Bear]

Aurora is not waterproof. Aurora and Pelican 4001 Black are black as well as Noodler's HOD. Noodlers Eel or Polar Black are also good as well as being bulletproof.

[L Raydell Mundo]

Since "blackest black" appears to be your primary criteria, I'd say Aurora Black.

[MyDarnSnakeLegs]

I got both Aurora's Black and PR Invincible Black at the DC show, and that PR ink seems to be blacker than the Aurora ink, and I it doesn't seem to feather as much. Though, I haven't tried them in the same pen, so it could be a matter of how much ink is being put down.

[ethernautrix]

This was my quest -- to find the blackest black, but not just the blackest black, the most troublefree, water-resistant blackest black. There are many very good black inks on the market, but I decided after much experimentation (that is, use) that Noodler's Black, while not the blackest of blacks (then again, sometimes it is as black as other blacks, depending on which pen and ink flow and all that), was the best black for my needs.

 

When I think the Noodler's Black could be just that tad bit blacker, I add a smidgen of Noodler's Old Manhattan Black. No ink is blacker. I'm not saying that all other inks are less black; I'm saying that it's a tie between at least several.

 

I guess it comes down to your flow and paper and nib preferences.

[requiescat]

I use and like Noodler's Black for bulletproofness, reasonable darkness, and resistance to bleed-through/feathering on most papers I use, although it's probably not the blackest out there. I also use Platinum Carbon for sketching, but it has a grey sheen when the light reflects off it, which may not suit you, and it requires diligent pen hygiene--if you're prone to leaving a pen unused for a few days it tends to start to clog.

[torstar]

Aurora has never failed me.

[iveyman]

To me, Noodler's Old Manhattan Black is the blackest black. I use it for writing and signing all my business documents.

[tonybelding]

PR Invincible Black was my absolute favorite.... until they changed the formula. I got a sample vial of the new stuff, and I can't use it.

 

I'll be mourning this loss longer than Penman Sapphire, I suspect. Well... I still have one full bottle of the good stuff.

[jimhughes]

Thanks for the suggestions, Blackest black is Primary, but well behaved is almost equally important. I do use trashy paper to make a quick note. I'm not the most meticulous pen cleaner so the Platinum Carbon Nano may not be a good choice. I have over extended my ink budget, while SWMBO is out of town, and ordered the Aurora, Noodler's Black and Invincible black. Have some Manhattan Old Black I can mix with Noodler's Black. We'll see what transpires. I appreciate the help and guidance, Jim

[dali3464]

Hope the testing goes well! I've always found Aurora to be particularly good. Mr Binder refers to Aurora at this page as "the richest, most intense black of all safe inks".

[arneyz]

Noodler's Bulletproof Black is the darkest of the dark. Wayyyy too dark for my taste. For black, I've been using J. Herbin's Pearle Noir. It has more of a watercolor character to it (I think we call it shading?) that I like in an ink.

[kwinana]

Why not try Sailor's carbon black; it is an exceptionally dark, well controlled, smooth ink.

[kwinana]

Aurora is pretty dark too and is smooth flowing too.

Edited September 25, 2012 by kwinana

[RobbW]

Noodler's Heart of Darkness and Old Manhattan Black are the blackest I've seen. The former is cooler in tone, the latter is warmer, to my eyes.

[isaacrn]

Noodler's Old Manhattan Black is by far the blackest ink I have used. I have two bottles of the stuff just in case