Noodlers Ink

[Phthalo Blue]

Noodler's bulletproof inks are actually suspensions, and maybe it would be correct to think of the cellulose-reactive "dyes" as very fine pigments that are really pretty benign for most pens. They sink. It's more conspicuous with different inks, like 41 Brown (orange stuff sinks), Polar Blue (violetish stuff), and pretty much all of the blacks, save for the few non-bulletproof blacks. I noticeably had problems with X-Feather in a Hero, but none in my Lamy pens... The heavy bulletproof stuff will settle and get stuck pretty good here and there...

 

I'm a Noodler's black fan, and I've long thought the same. Surely the bulletproof inks must must use a pigment of some kind; no molecular dye could withstand the torture tests that Noodler's bulletproof passes with flying colours.

 

My guess is that it's a superfine pigment, the kind used in some inkjet cartridges and in some disposable liquid ink drawing pens and rollerballs (eg http://www.uniball.co.uk/The-Ink/uni-Super-Ink.aspx). The particles are so fine (nanometres) that they easily pass through the capillary feeds of rollerballs, fibre-tip pens and, of course, fountain pens. And somehow they're made to bind chemically with cellulose. But over time they will have more of a tendency to clog your pen than ordinary ink dyes – hence the need to flush occasionally.

 

However, I guess it's all a commercial secret, so we'll never know for sure!

 

Regarding settling, wouldn't Brownian motion and electrostatics (zeta potential) keep such small particles in suspension in the ink bottle?

Edited January 29, 2013 by Phthalo Blue

[notbob]

I have more than a few Noodler inks and have decided the brand, overall, is not my favorite. I certainly don't have any problem putting them in a fountain pen. They are not likely to dry out too quickly. In fact, if anything, too many Noodler inks take forever to dry. That's my only reservation with them. Insanely long dry times, to the point where some Noodler inks, on some types of paper, almost never dry. While I love Legal Lapis, on Tomoe River paper the blue component will smear almost forever. Other Noodler inks take hours or even days to dry on other hard surface papers like CF and Rhodia. I think it's the lubricants and surfactants Noodler uses in them to make them BP or freeze-proof or whatever. That's my only issue with Noodler inks. As for using them in a fountain pen, no problem. That's what they are made for. Used on the right paper, Noodler inks are brilliant, in both color and execution.

 

 

[loqutus]

Most of my ink collection is made up of Noodler's and I've never had an issue with any clogging a pen.

 

My experience with Noodlers is the same. I've also noticed as above that they take a lot of flushing to get out if they do dry out in a pen.

Edited January 29, 2013 by loqutus

[Phthalo Blue]

Most of my ink collection is made up of Noodler's and I've never had an issue with any clogging a pen.

 

My experience with Noodlers is the same. I've also noticed as above that they take a lot of flushing to get out if they do dry out in a pen.

 

Likewise, I've never had a clogging or a flow problem with Noodler's bulletproof black. Whether this ink is a solution or a suspension – and opinions seem to vary – I've always found its performance to be exemplary. Then again, I'm careful not to let my pen dry out and I always flush the filler, collector and nib with water occasionally – good practice with any pen and any ink.

 

My only quibble with Noodler's is that it's often hard to obtain – especially over here in the UK.

 

PS. As a newcomer to FPN, I'm still finding my way around. I see that Inky Thoughts contains a wealth of discussion and advice on topics like "how often should I flush my pen?" and "should I shake my ink bottle?"

Edited January 30, 2013 by Phthalo Blue