Noodlers Black - Nib Creep/flow Issues

[Renfield]

Hey

 

Both my daughters have Noodlers Black in pens for school (Lamy Safari, Fine Nib and Pilot 78G Fine Nib), but both suffer REALLY bad nib creep.

 

First I though they were just being rough with their pens, so I put it in mine, and I have the same issue. (Used the same pens, as well as a hero)

 

Also, The flow is not great. Especially with the Lamy. When the pen is taken out of her pocket (Nib side Up), and she starts to write, the ink does not fall into the feed. She needs to give it a fairly hard tap to get it to fall. That's both refilled cartridge and converter

 

I have flushed the pens, with soapy water, and then clean water, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

The same flow issue happens with a Pilot Parallel, on a refilled cartridge (Refilled with Noodlers)

 

Does anyone else have these issues?

 

They both want Noodlers, because of it's bulletproof traits, but in my opinion, its not worth it.

 

Are there other black inks that will behave better? But still remain (if not bulletproof) at least waterproof?

 

Other inks I have thought of:

Diamine Onyx Black

Diamine Jet Black

Waterman Black? (Waterman is usually well behaved)

Parker Black

 

I don't use black, so cant really help them.

 

Any advice?

[The Good Captain]

Just to say I'm watching this one with interest - you know me and my 'love' of that colour! The only one I've used with any pleasure though is Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black and it dried OK for me. Nice ink except for - you-know-what!

[colrehogan]

Private Reserve Invincible Black is good. Noodler's has an American Black Eel (supposed to be more lubricated; I have not personally tried this one). The Diamine Onyx Black is good. Aurora Black is one that is also very good. Diamine Eclipse is also another nice ink; I think it falls under the purple/black category (more towards the black to me). I have tried the De Atramentis Night Black (there is an unscented and a scented version both under the same name). I like the Noodler's Dark Matter. Platinum Carbon black is a nice ink, but I think it requires more pen maintenance.

 

All of the above inks can be obtained as samples from the Goulet Pen Company, so you can try before buying a sample. I have a lot of black ink at home. I also have the Waterman black, Parker Quink, Levenger Raven Black, Mont Blanc Mystery black.

 

Hope I haven't confused the issue. Most of my pens tend to be on the broad side, but I have used some of these inks in an EF nib pen with no issues.

Edited November 15, 2012 by colrehogan

[Renfield]

Its needs to be relatively waterproof though, not that they have ever really covered their books in water.

 

But just in case

[FPFan]

Try Heart of Darkness. I think it has a little wetter flow and is a better behaved black. IMHO! Or you could try adding a little water to thin the flow. You definately want to look for a wetter ink. (Pelican 4001 is a dry ink.)

[Mafia Geek]

Give pilot black a try, real nice writing and quite water proof, so is the blue for that matter.

[The Good Captain]

Try Heart of Darkness. I think it has a little wetter flow and is a better behaved black. IMHO! Or you could try adding a little water to thin the flow. You definately want to look for a wetter ink. (Pelican 4001 is a dry ink.)

I don't recall any nib creep with the 4001 inks - any colour. I certainly don't get it with the Blue-Black.

[Lazarus Long]

I have a Pelikan M215 with an F nib from a M400 loaded with Noodler's Black. I find the nib creep to be much less than with the Safari F. I haven't had any startup issues.

[Renfield]

I have a Pelikan M215 with an F nib from a M400 loaded with Noodler's Black. I find the nib creep to be much less than with the Safari F. I haven't had any startup issues.

 

Its not startup issues as such. It is the case that the ink does not get into the feed. So it starts straight away, but runs dry when the feed runs dry, because the ink is not dropping down the cartridge/converter. (Until she taps it down)

[colrehogan]

Its needs to be relatively waterproof though, not that they have ever really covered their books in water.

 

But just in case

 

Private Reserve Invincible Black then.

[jolyon]

I had a problem with Bulletproof Black ink in a Sheaffer calligraphy pen. The section was always inky when I took the lid off. I changed to Noodlers Heart of Darkness and the problem disappeared. But that is probably no help to you because Noodlers only allow one UK seller and that seller has hardly any ink. Noodlers must have something against Europeans.

 

But I think the nib creep and the ink flow problem with Bulletproof ink can be solved in another way. I noticed that when used in an old Montblanc Generation pen neither problem occurred, and that pen has a good seal when the cap is on. So I suspect evaporation is a factor. To test the hypothesis I got a Platinum Plaisir pen, 'The advanced cap design is claimed to give one year's protection against the ink drying out'.

I've had Bulletproof ink in it for some time and it always starts writing first time and no problem with flow and no nib creep.

You can buy Platinum Plaisir fountain pens online from Cult Pens for £11.95 with FREE UK Delivery. They are available in a range of colours to suit discerning young ladies. A Platinum ink adaptor would be a valuable accessory for the pen because it doesn't take standard international cartridges. There is a little plastic adaptor available to allow international cartridges to be used in Platinum pens but it looks rather flimsy so it might not last long, And it's not cheap for what it is, when compared with a proper converter.

[carlos.q]

+1 Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black. Check out this water test:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/220120-pelikan-brilliant-black-water-tests/

[Lloyd]

I'm sorry to hear this ink isn't working for you and your daughters. I've never had such a problem with Noodlers Bulletproof Black. I have it in my Parker '51' (XF nib) and my Kaweco Sport (XF nib) and it works flawlessly.

[Paddler]

I have a Pelikan M215 with an F nib from a M400 loaded with Noodler's Black. I find the nib creep to be much less than with the Safari F. I haven't had any startup issues.

 

Its not startup issues as such. It is the case that the ink does not get into the feed. So it starts straight away, but runs dry when the feed runs dry, because the ink is not dropping down the cartridge/converter. (Until she taps it down)

I don't have the same pens, so I don't know what the converters are like. These days a converter should have a small, sliding metal spring or a glass bead inside to break the surface tension when you turn the pen nib down. If your converters don't have this feature, you can add it. A small piece of lead shot or a small stone will work.

 

As for nib creep, try rubbing the top of the nib with a finger. The oil from your skin will usually keep the ink from spreading.

[K. Cakes]

I find a lot of Noodler's inks have this problem, its one of the reasons I've migrated toward other brands. Platinum Carbonis the blackest black, very well behaved, and waterproof, it's also available in cartridges. Sailor Nano blackis also very black, and waterproof. I highly recommend both if you can find them in your neck of the woods.

[Renfield]

I find a lot of Noodler's inks have this problem, its one of the reasons I've migrated toward other brands. Platinum Carbonis the blackest black, very well behaved, and waterproof, it's also available in cartridges. Sailor Nano blackis also very black, and waterproof. I highly recommend both if you can find them in your neck of the woods.

 

I can get both, quite expensive inks, but can be gotten.

 

Both from different online stores, and both say they contain micro particles, and as such need a LOT more maintenance, and they hold no responsibility if your pen chokes and dies.

 

Quite unnerving!

[K. Cakes]

I find a lot of Noodler's inks have this problem, its one of the reasons I've migrated toward other brands. Platinum Carbonis the blackest black, very well behaved, and waterproof, it's also available in cartridges. Sailor Nano blackis also very black, and waterproof. I highly recommend both if you can find them in your neck of the woods.

 

I can get both, quite expensive inks, but can be gotten.

 

Both from different online stores, and both say they contain micro particles, and as such need a LOT more maintenance, and they hold no responsibility if your pen chokes and dies.

 

Quite unnerving!

 

 

Yes, I'd heard that as well, and was definitely unnerved before using them! However, I have yet to have problem with either ink. And I definitely recommend them for schoolwork because as long as you're using the pens everyday I don't think there will be any clogging issues. It's really only a problem when you let the ink sit unused, or don't give them a thorough cleaning every once in a while. If you're not sure about them you may be able to find Platinum Carbon cartridges, around here they're pretty cheap at less than $4 USD.

 

Other than those two I also like J. Herbin's Perle Noir. Herbin is my writing ink, the other two are my drawing inks(super waterfast for washes). Perle Noir is great, but I think its only water-resistant, not waterproof. Don't quote me on that though.

[vistafan]

I had the same problem. Perhaps try Rohrer and Klingner Salix - it is a blue, iron gall ink which is waterproof.

[jolyon]

After seeing that remarkable video clip of Pelikan's 4001 brilliant black being completely waterproof after 2 hours I've tested some of these inks. They certainly take a long time to become waterproof in the cold damp weather at present. After 13 hours they all still dissolve to some extent when rubbed with a brush pen containing water. The inks I tested are Pelikan Black, Pilot Black, Platinum Carbon Black, Sailor Nano Black, Noodler's Bulletprof Black and Noodler's Heart of Darkness Black. I also compared them with Rowney Kandahar Indian Ink. That one dries almost immediately and is completely waterproof. It would behave like the ink in the video. Not that I'm suggesting the video was faked to promote Pelikan ink.

Osmiroid used to make a special pen that could be filled with indian ink. I never risked filling it with that ink though. The ink corrodes dip pen nibs very rapidly and dries thick and hard and shiny in minutes.

[CapeClear]

I use Pelikan 4001 brilliant black for important work stuff and good old Parker Quink for general notes. I spend a lot of time running between the office and the courthouse, often in the rain given that we're in Ireland, and have never had a bleed issue with the Pelikan. Even on cheap legal pads I haven't witnessed any bleeding. The Quink has the expected amount of bleeding. I love the standard Diamine inks but have had trouble in the past with bleeding. I keep meaning to try a 'popular' legal black but I usually just spend my ink money on more exotic fare :$.