Review:Noodler's Walnut

[Johnny Appleseed]

I've heard elsewhere that the bulletproof inks are water soluble. Do you agree?

 

For the most part they are water soluble, as are all fountain pen inks. However, as I understand it from Richard Binder, the actual cellulose-reactive dye componant consists of suspended micro-particles, more like a coloid like milk - which I believe is why some bulletproof inks have a more opaque appearance than other inks. In normal use, the micro-particles remain in suspension by brownian motion. If left in a pen, or allowed to concentrate by evaporation, they can build up and lead to clogging. Proper flushing and maintenance can prevent that. Someone on Pentrace a couple of years ago put Noodlers and other inks in a centrifuge, and the solid portion that seperated out of Noodlers bulletproof inks was many times more than the solid portion in most fountain pen inks. Dillo has commented several times that he finds a film left behind by Noodlers bulletproof inks that can only be removed by manual wiping. If a film such as that is allowed to build up in the feed, it could lead to clogging (though that would also depend on the strength of the film - it is possible that the film would never build up into deposits heavy enough to clog but remain a thin surface film).

 

Noodlers inks are the subject of a lot of controversy, with both detractors and boosters on either side. I think there are real issues and it is foolish to deny that Noodlers Bulletproof inks are not more prone to clogging then less saturated inks. I have seen it myself, and several professional pen restorers have found and reported that as well. It is equally foolish to claim that Noodlers will automatically clog any pen. More prone means it might require a little more flushing. Some pens require more flushing and maintenance than others. Some pens need very little flushing and can run any ink for long periods without trouble. Because not every person or every pen has trouble with Noodlers does not mean that it is not more prone to trouble.

 

As I said, I use Noodlers all the time. I love the bulletproof inks - there is nothing out there that really compares for durability and permanance, and these are important factors to me. I take with that the risk that I might need to be a little more careful, and do a little more maintenance than I would with less saturated and non-bulletproof inks. Since I have a lot of pens and tend to flush completely after each fill (and it takes a while for a pen to come back up in rotation) I really have little to worry about. If the worst happens, I have very few pens I am not willing and able to take apart and clean out the feed. I haven't had to very often with Noodlers.

 

So use it without worry, just a little more caution.

 

John

 

[dandelion]

These reviews are very useful. There is something to be said for collective knowledge. After all, if it can enable the development of complex civilizations, it can facilitate the choice of fountain pen inks. Thank you, handlebar, for this excellent contribution.

 

This is really an excellent review - thanks for bumping it up. It gives a very good sense of the ink. Thanks!

[Carlin]

A+ Review, my Walnut is very similar in colour

[Haumea]

As far as "bulletproof" inks go, you won't have to do very much differently. I would avoid leaving the ink to sit for more than a few days in a pen (when you're not using said pen), but I notice no difference between the bulletproof and nonbulletproof inks in terms of clogging/staining. Bay State Blue, however, you have to be a bit careful about or it'll gum up after a while...

 

Unless it has a bad reputation, you won't have to worry about the "bulletproof" quality. It's only like that on paper, not in the barrel of the pen

[manashttu]

Noodler's Walnut is just a gorgeous color. Looks so good on white paper, and even better on yellow.