Looking For Solid Black Ink

[bokaba]

I am looking for a solid, all-around good black bottled ink. I currently have a Pilot Metropolitan fine and am using the Pilot Namiki black cartridge. I was thinking of getting Noodler's Black or Iroshizuku Take Sumi. Would these be good choices? How do they compare to Namiki? Other suggestions?

[OCArt]

Picking a black in is highly personal and variable. We had a long thread about black inks recently that should useful to you. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/317983-blackest-black-inkbeating-a-dead-horse-or-worth-revisiting/

 

That said there are few better inks than the Pilot/Namiki in blue, black and blue-black. All are well-behaved, relatively inexpensive and offer some water resistance.

[ErrantSmudge]

Besides the other threads in this forum discussing black ink selection, you might find this comparison article from JetPens helpful.

 

http://www.jetpens.com/blog/black-fountain-pen-ink/pt/20

[Witsius]

I've always found Noodler's Black to be a bit on the grey side. Aurora is one of the better black inks that's really black, and it should flow well in a dryer pen like a Metropolitan. I also just recently got a bottle of Sailor Jentle Black, and it's also very solid and dark. No shading at all. But I do have it loaded in a fairly wet Pelikan right now. Still, I expect similar results in other pens.

 

There are lots of variations on black inks. You'll really just have to give a couple a try.

[dylim1]

You can try Noodler's Heart of Darkness.

[Arkamas]

I've used Parker, Noodler's, and Namiki thus far. I really like Noodler's especially given the properties, and I think it's more than dark enough for a black ink. It does take a little time to dry but I don't mind given said properties. I use it mainly for a journal or writing the rare check and I'm planning to get a Lamy Safari in charcoal to use it in. Adds to the effect.

I got the Namiki black recently for use in other pens. I don't know what you think of it. I've been pretty happy with it. (Also I like the bottle) Probably not as dark as say Heart of Darkness like Dylim1 suggested, which seems to live up to its name from the swabs I've seen on GouletPens. Noodler's does seem to make some great inks.

Edited February 3, 2017 by Arkamas

[Arkanabar]

The Usual Suspects when this question comes around are J. Herbin Perle Noire, Aurora Black, and various Noodler's blacks: original Black, Heart of Darkness, Borealis Black, and Old Manhattan Blackest Black.

 

Of these, Heart of Darkness is my favorite; it's nigh unto everything-proof, and in my experience, better behaved than original and Borealis Black.

 

Bear in mind that since scratching the "super-blackest black" itch, I've been content with any black that comes out darker than a medium Bic ballpoint.

[MKeith]

I know that it may seem rather pedestrian, however I use an old standby, Pelikan 4001 black. Always fulfills all my needs ie. great water resistance, flows well without feathering on any decent paper, cleans up easily, and simply black in color.

[ParkerDuofold]

Aurora is my favorite. It's a deep, rich black that has great flow and lubrication.

 

- Anthony

[senzen]

I'm really happy with Perle Noire, currently in an EF Pilot Penmanship and F Muji.

 

[CrispyBacon_87]

If you want a real treat, Sailor Kiwa-guro is the best!

[jmccarty3]

You have saved a bit of money by purchasing your excellent Metropolitan. Why not splurge a bit by trying Iroshizuku Take-sumi? You can try a small bottle or a sample first. This is a black ink with some character, and should suit your Metropolitan perfectly.

[Flaxmoore]

Heart of Darkness is the darkest I own, followed by Sailor Jentle Black, Noodlers Black Eel, then Quink Black, Pilot Black. Perle Noire was grayish to me, Pilot Black never quite flowed right, and the Perle Noire bottle is incredibly useless.

[ksm]

Each year in May my wife grades oral exams. Graders are allowed to use black ink only to fill out exam result forms. The paper is usually crappy.

Last year she used Pilot Plumix with round M nib from Pilot MR and Sailor Kiwa Guro. This combo *just works*.

 

 

I've also used Sailor Kiwa Guro in my Pilot Prera with Plumix <B> nib. Worked like charm.

 

Just remember. Nanoparticle inks are meant to be used, not stored in pens.

Edited February 7, 2017 by ksm

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I am looking for a solid, all-around good black bottled ink. I currently have a Pilot Metropolitan fine and am using the Pilot Namiki black cartridge. I was thinking of getting Noodler's Black or Iroshizuku Take Sumi. Would these be good choices? How do they compare to Namiki? Other suggestions?

 

I'll chime in for Noodler's Black here. There are also a couple of other black Noodler's inks that are both intensely black and very permanent.

 

I've always found Noodler's Black to be a bit on the grey side.

 

Shake up the bottle before you refill with Noodler's Black. That should get you the very dark black ink that the rest of us are seeing.

 

 

There are lots of variations on black inks. You'll really just have to give a couple a try.

 

I agree. With something based on personal preferences as much as ink can be it's a good idea to get as broad a range of what's available as possible.

[MRose]

The only black I have for now is Noodler's Heart of Darkness, the definition of black in this ink is perfect for me. I'm using it for work and also my art, specially sketching. So I recommend this ink with my eyes close...How ever there are so many to choose from that I've had a hard time trying to figure out which one was the right one, do some research see was best for you and your pocket

[Sasha Royale]

I received a small quantity of DeAtramente black from a friend. It is not as saturated black as HOD, or Aurora, but from my fine nib Parker 45, it is dark, wet, and smooth.

[Sleebus]

Noodler's Texas Black Bat is about the blackest black I've ever seen. It's almost like drawing a hole in the paper ala wylie coyote.

[inkandseeds]

Tried a few and settled on Heart of Darkness. Works for me. Good for grading as it provides great contrast with most papers that my students use. Pretty inexpensive. Word of warning, i don't have the most sophisticated or refined tastes.

[BradGad]

When you say "all-around", I think that has to bump J Herbin Perle Noire up a notch... probably to the top of the list... it checks all the boxes in ways few other inks can: rich black, well behaved, smooth writing, easy cleaning, decent value, widely available, and functionally waterproof.

 

I was pleasantly surprised by my sample of take sumi... great flow and smoothness, like you would expect from any Iroshizuku, but also a much richer, darker black than I expected based on web images. A very satisfying ink. As jmccarty3 says, it has character. I'm eager to try sketching with it. 50 ml bottle on order. (Not at all water resistant though, and expensive, which are down checks for an "all around" ink.)

 

For me, these two won out over the other blacks I've tried: Mont Blanc, Sheaffer, Noodler's Bulletproof, Aurora, and De Atramentis Document.

Edited February 9, 2017 by BradGad