Noodler's Polar Black Vs. Eel Black

[NobodysPerfect]

I'm looking into getting a black ink and, since I have a few dry-writing pens, was looking at a lubricated ink. I live in New England, so I thought that Noodler's Polar Black might be a good idea because of the winter weather. However, I've read a few reviews that the freeze resistance isn't very impressive and that the ink is not very well behaved.

 

Would the American Eel Black be a better idea for a general use lubricated black ink? What's the difference between the two, taking the freeze resistance out of the equation? Is there a better behaved option for a lubricated black ink from another brand, or should I just get regular Noodler's Black instead and give up on the lubricated ink idea?

[Morphling27]

Just to clarify for you - the lubrication properties should help a pen write better, but it's made to keep piston filling systems top notch - as they need lubrication from time to time.

 

It would seem like you need a more 'wet writing' ink would be the way to describe the properties. I honestly can't think of any black inks I use that are super wet, Noodler's black is pretty middle of the road in behavior. J. Herbin's perle noir is wet in some pens for me and a bit drier in others.

[Arkanabar]

Right now, my best-behaved blacks are a couple of classic blacks old enough to have phenol in them (Montblanc-Simplo Black with SuperCleaner SC21, and Parker Permanent Black Quink with Solv-X) along with Noodler's Heart of Darkness. Those classic blacks aren't super saturated, but they're plenty black enough to read.

 

Waterman black is supposed to be pretty wet, if not astonishingly saturated. If you're having ink behavior problems, some samples you might try include Waterman black, Iroshizuku Take-sume, Herbin Perle Noire, Aurora Black, Parker Quink Black, Noodler's Heart of Darkness, and Sheaffer Skrip Black.

[sharmon202]

Aurora black, good for what ails a pen!!

[JimCouch]

+1 for Aurora Ink. Try it, you'll like it.

[bone215]

I find Aurora black to flow well, as does my cartridges of Pilot-Namiki black. I assume the Pilot black ink in the bottle is the same. I also own my first purchased ink bottle of MontBlanc black which is getting onto about 12 years or so and still works fine.

 

I use glycerin via a small drop to about a 3 ml sample vial to increase ink flow.

 

Some swear by Noodlers black products, perhaps as Arkanabar suggested, a few samples first and then you can decide how they behave in your pens on your papers?

[PolarMoonman]

I've tried several of the Polar inks and was not impressed behavior was erratic and not good. Heart of Darkness is my go to ink, I've been very pleased with it.

[Randal6393]

Waterman, Noodler's, Aurora. All three are fairly wet and should meet your needs. Might want to try Architekt Black, re-packaged De Atramentis, fairly wet and good, smooth look to it.

[amberleadavis]

I like Polar black a lot. It's also water proof.