Top 10 Noodlers inks?

[Pen Affair]

Hey All,

 

As some of you may know, I make my own pens. So that I have some inks to offer my customers when they purchase Fountain Pens, I'm going to start stocking a limited range of Noodlers inks, especially since the availability in Australia seems limited.

 

What I'd like to know is, if I only stock about 5-10 colours, what do you think they should be?

 

I was thinking something like :-

 

Blacks - Bulletproof black, X Feather, Borealis Black

Blues - Midnight Blue, Coral Sea Blue, Turquoise (EEL)

Reds - Cayenne

Brown - Golden Bear or Walnut

Highlighter - Firefly

Novelty - Whiteness of the Whale

 

Obviously I'd like to have a lot more, but I have to start somewhere. Not sure whether X-Feather or Borealis Black are needed, and firefly & whiteness of the whale I imagine or not really in demand, but I wanted them for demo purposes.

 

Any opinions on what is the "essential" Noodlers range would be appreciated.

 

Thanks. Russell.

[J0rdan]

Make sure to stock a green color too; standard Green (my preference) is nice but Green Marine (a little darker, less emerald) also has a following.

Edited January 27, 2009 by J0rdan

[tknechtel]

My favorite Noodler ink is FPN's own Tulipe Noire. Never thought I'd be writing with a purple ink, but it's my choice for a daily writing ink.

[ccajackson]

Asking for color recommendations is a bold move - you will be inundated with our opinions!

 

Rather than offer any specifics, especially because availability sounds like it may be a problem for you, I would suggest representing certain groups. Because Noodler's has a wonderful combination of colors and qualities, my feeling is that you would be good to offer an ink or two from the Bullet-Proof line, a color or two from the Eel line, a "fun" color (such as red, green, purple) and a high-lighter. Unique inks like the Whiteness of the Whale or UV ink can be fun, but may not have much of a general following. As much as I enjoy them, Baystate Inks are a little too "controversial" and may generate more calls (and stains) than you would like.

 

I am an unabashed Noodler's fan, and what made me so are the bullet-proof inks; it never ceases to amaze me when I can poor water over a page and have no adverse effect other than wet hands (simple pleasures for simple minds ). I think others may get hooked this way, too. Also, giving a color or two beyond the standard black, blue or blue-black can be eye-opening for new fountain pen users.

 

Cheers!

C-C

[BillTheEditor]

Hey All,

 

As some of you may know, I make my own pens. So that I have some inks to offer my customers when they purchase Fountain Pens, I'm going to start stocking a limited range of Noodlers inks, especially since the availability in Australia seems limited.

 

What I'd like to know is, if I only stock about 5-10 colours, what do you think they should be?

 

I was thinking something like :-

 

Blacks - Bulletproof black, X Feather, Borealis Black

Blues - Midnight Blue, Coral Sea Blue, Turquoise (EEL)

Reds - Cayenne

Brown - Golden Bear or Walnut

Highlighter - Firefly

Novelty - Whiteness of the Whale

 

Obviously I'd like to have a lot more, but I have to start somewhere. Not sure whether X-Feather or Borealis Black are needed, and firefly & whiteness of the whale I imagine or not really in demand, but I wanted them for demo purposes.

 

Any opinions on what is the "essential" Noodlers range would be appreciated.

 

Thanks. Russell.

Choices of Black - good

Choices of Blue - might consider Ottoman Azure instead of Midnight Blue (would have said instead of Coral Sea Blue, but that's probably going to be an emotional favorite in Oz). Eel Blue is a nice "true blue" too.

Choices of Red - I'd suggest a true(er) red in addition to the Cayenne, which is sort of orange-ish. Probably Rattler Red (Eel)

Choices of Brown - If the Eternal Brown weren't a Pendemonium exclusive, it would be a good additional brown. Red Black would be good here - stands up to water.

Choices of Highlighter - Hard to argue with Firefly

Novelty - I don't think there's any more WoW available. It was a very limited production and Nathan says he can't make any more because the ingredients are no longer available. Maybe Lexington Gray?

 

Agree that you need a Green choice -- Green Marine is always popular and has a vaguely South Pacific connection (it is supposed to be the same color as the combat uniforms worn by US Marines in the S. Pacific theatre during World War II). Squeteague is kind of a unique sort of blue-green.

[Robert Hughes]

I've been using Bulletproof Black and Legal Lapis with good effect, also have recently been using some Old Manhattan Black, which is at least as blackety-black-black as any ink can be...

[Pen Affair]

I've been using Bulletproof Black and Legal Lapis with good effect, also have recently been using some Old Manhattan Black, which is at least as blackety-black-black as any ink can be...

 

I would have preferred OMB, but neither the local supplier list I have, nor the Noodlers site list it as an available colour. Even my local supplier list has WoW, but I note it's not on the Noodlers site either.

 

Speaking of listed colours, why the heck does the samples page (http://www.noodlersink.com/samples.html) on the noodlers web site look so bad? I sent someone there yestrday to tell me what Blue they want, but just realised it makes all the inks look bad. Even bulletprood black shows up as a muddy, patchy dark red colour.

 

Thanks for the opinions. I don't mind lots of opinions, so keep 'em comig.

 

Russell

[BobR]

I understand that purple is a very popular ink color, one of the top sellers. I've used Noodler's Purple and it's excellent. I have never had La Coleur Royale, but it's very popular around here and worth looking into as well. Good luck on your venture!

[ccajackson]

I've been using Bulletproof Black and Legal Lapis with good effect, also have recently been using some Old Manhattan Black, which is at least as blackety-black-black as any ink can be...

 

I would have preferred OMB, but neither the local supplier list I have, nor the Noodlers site list it as an available colour. Even my local supplier list has WoW, but I note it's not on the Noodlers site either.

 

Speaking of listed colours, why the heck does the samples page (http://www.noodlersink.com/samples.html) on the noodlers web site look so bad? I sent someone there yestrday to tell me what Blue they want, but just realised it makes all the inks look bad. Even bulletprood black shows up as a muddy, patchy dark red colour.

 

Thanks for the opinions. I don't mind lots of opinions, so keep 'em comig.

 

Russell

If I'm not mistaken, OMB is a proprietary/exclusive color of Fountain Pen Hospital (www.fountainpenhospital.com).

 

C-C

[m00t]

I love La Reine Mauve for its conservative true purplism, and Antietam is my favorite red by far - I've always wanted it to look like my stroke of the pen makes the paper bleed. Nikita is another good true red which really pops off the page.

[mrt77]

I love La Reine Mauve for its conservative true purplism, and Antietam is my favorite red by far - I've always wanted it to look like my stroke of the pen makes the paper bleed. Nikita is another good true red which really pops off the page.

 

Where did you buy La Reine Mauve? I can't seem to find it anywhere online.

 

thanks.

[Jimmy James]

I think I'd suggest the following:

 

Blacks - Heart of Darkness and Borealis -- This gives you the option of two different types of bottle, bulletproof and non-bulletproof, and deletes X-Feather, which I perceive to be a niche a little too narrow for this limited selection.

 

Blues - Midnight Blue, Coral Sea Blue, Turquoise (EEL) -- That seems like the right number of blues and plausible choices, so I'm leaving it alone.

 

Reds - Burgundy and Nikita -- Nikita is a truer red and gives you the 4.5 ounce sized bottle while Burgundy gives you something reddish but perhaps more acceptable for wide use.

 

Purple - La Reine Mauve -- this gives you an additional Bulletproof color other than the HoD black.

 

Green - Gruene Cactus (possibly as an Eel color) -- this ink seems to be an unconventional but still appealing green

 

Brown - Walnut

 

I don't think highlighting or novelty will sell as well as the above colors. If possible, I'd suggest trying to fit in an 11th and adding in Aircorp Blue-Black because I think blue-black shades are a popular niche the above list does not cover.

[Jimmy James]

I love La Reine Mauve for its conservative true purplism, and Antietam is my favorite red by far - I've always wanted it to look like my stroke of the pen makes the paper bleed. Nikita is another good true red which really pops off the page.

 

Where did you buy La Reine Mauve? I can't seem to find it anywhere online.

 

thanks.

 

I've seen it listed at isellpens.com and at Swisher. It seems like I ran across it somewhere else, but I forget exactly where that was.

[mrt77]

I love La Reine Mauve for its conservative true purplism, and Antietam is my favorite red by far - I've always wanted it to look like my stroke of the pen makes the paper bleed. Nikita is another good true red which really pops off the page.

 

Where did you buy La Reine Mauve? I can't seem to find it anywhere online.

 

thanks.

 

I've seen it listed at isellpens.com and at Swisher. It seems like I ran across it somewhere else, but I forget exactly where that was.

 

Thanks. I shall order a few bottles in the morning

[Pen Affair]

I think I'd suggest the following:

 

.......

 

I don't think highlighting or novelty will sell as well as the above colors. If possible, I'd suggest trying to fit in an 11th and adding in Aircorp Blue-Black because I think blue-black shades are a popular niche the above list does not cover.

 

You could be right on the highlighter, another colour may be better. I just hate not having something that someone may ask for. I guess I could sya that about the entire range though. As for the WoW, well apparently I can get it locally,and if it is truly out of production, then may be my only chance to snap some up.

 

I agree on HoD based on the reviews I've read, but it's not on my local suppliers list Although he did say he could probably get it, but I don't know what the wait might be.

 

How much do people use the EEL's and other eternals? They are a more expensive ink which is my concern, so people may just bypass them for the standard range. I'm assuming the blacks will be the most requested too, so obviously I need more bottles of those than the other colours. Although I guess the alternate thinking is people may have blue/black in parker from the local stationers, but will come looking for alternate colours online - eh, who knows.

 

Good helpful suggestions, thanks.

 

Russell.

[Pictrix]

Well, as you know, one of the best parts of FP's is the choice of ink color Not everyone is a color-hound of course... but if you wanted a "wow" color, Cactus Fruit will get attention.

 

But since your ability to stock colors is limited, have you considered putting together a "cmyk" set? There's some great threads here about mixing colors, and using a basic CMYK setup with Navajo Turqoise, Shah's Rose, Yellow and Black (I'd presume Bulletproof). With a set of those (or even just the CMY) a customer can formulate a lot of colors and have a lot of fun messing with it. Toss in a couple syringes, a few small bottles (5-10ml) and some gloves and there you go. Alternatively, you could keep a little "stash" of these colors and just mix up something custom for a customer as well...

 

Just a thought...

I don't know what the min. order is, but I am all too familiar about how it can be trying to keep everything you'd like to "in stock"

 

--Pic

[Pen Affair]

But since your ability to stock colors is limited, have you considered putting together a "cmyk" set?

 

Yes I had thought about that, but figured "demand" would be limited for a start, so that's on the wish list (for me, if no one else). I'd more like to maybe offer sampler sets of the inks to try and get people into them in the first place. Not sure about repackaging the inks into sample sizes though, as to where reliable containers of some kind may be available in Australia.

 

I guess the good thing about FP inks seems to be that they last forever, so even old stock is good stock, do there's less pressure to sell quickly.

 

Russell.

[fierdog]

I dunno... I think for novelty you HAVE to put down Blue Ghost.

 

I'm also going to plug Ottoman Rose and Saguro Wine in the "reds" category.

[framebaer]

My Advice:

Skip The Noodlers entirely ...

 

and buy the Iroshizuku inks by Pilot!

 

I bet they are available in Austrailia directly from Pilot You Lucky OZ dogs!! :thumbup:

[menick]

Polar blue needs to go in there.